Switzerland and India are strengthening their research cooperation
The SNSF and its Indian partner organisations are expanding their joint funding programme. New funding opportunities will support the exploration of research ideas, mobility and long-term scientific collaboration.
For 20 years, Switzerland and India have been funding projects carried out by researchers from both countries. The partnership is now being expanded. At the first Indo-Swiss Flagship Event in New Delhi, the SNSF and its Indian partner organisations launched the Indo-Swiss Research Framework. This new framework complements existing bilateral programmes and is intended to facilitate long-term scientific cooperation.
President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, and the Indian Minister for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, opened the event. It brought together researchers and representatives from higher education institutions and funding organisations.
Testing ideas together
The new framework programme will be launched in November 2026 with a call for the EXPLORE Grant. This will enable consortia of Swiss and Indian researchers to test joint project ideas and prepare research proposals for up to twelve months.
"EXPLORE is the first step towards a sustainable framework programme with India. Interest amongst researchers in both countries has grown significantly in recent years. We can now provide consolidated support and long-term vision for promising partnerships", announced Torsten Schwede, President of the SNSF Research Council.
Further offers will follow from 2027. These measures are intended to support collaboration between new and existing consortia and to facilitate greater mobility.