Basic research – the basis for innovation and social well-being
The SNSF uses the bulk of its budget to fund basic research – an investment that pays off in many ways. Now, in a series of articles and videos, the SNSF is highlighting the long-term benefits of new findings.
What do a risk model from Zurich Insurance, a robot from Anybotics and a new antibiotic from Roche have in common? All three were developed drawing directly on findings from basic research. "Basic research creates the basis for innovation and the social well-being of our country," emphasises Torsten Schwede, President of the SNSF Research Council. "That's why we fund it with a total of around 800 million francs per year, a large part of our budget."
In search of new insights
But why doesn't the SNSF leave this task to private companies? "Because basic research is not commercially oriented," says Torsten Schwede. "You can't make money with it in the short term."
This is because basic research funded by the SNSF primarily aims to gain new insights. Why can sunlight change the properties of atoms in such a way that they combine with other atoms? How exactly do the cells that activate during an immune response work? What factors influence managers to favour employees who are similar to themselves? Researchers are seeking to answer these and many other questions.
Added value, jobs and tax revenue
The answers form a huge treasure trove of knowledge that is available to all interested parties. Thousands of companies in Switzerland utilise this knowledge. These include numerous start-ups that are only created thanks to the results from basic research, often in the context of a university. The companies develop products or services. As a result, they increase added value, create jobs and generate tax revenue.
Over the coming months, the SNSF will be demonstrating these relationships using selected companies such as Zurich, Anybotics and Roche. A series of articles and videos will be published on its communication channels (see box).
Mastering challenges for society
Basic research also enables society to tackle and overcome major challenges. Between 2011 and 2024, the SNSF funded over 1,300 projects related to artificial intelligence (AI).
Vaccines are another example. Scientists have spent decades researching how the so-called messenger mRNA works. The SNSF alone has supported almost 700 projects since 1982. Such long-term basic research provided the essential groundwork for the rapid creation of Covid-19 vaccines in 2020. Vaccines against other pathogens and against cancer are also being developed using mRNA technology.
Highly qualified specialists
Another benefit: Around 20,000 people, mainly early-career researchers, work at universities and other institutions as part of SNSF-funded research projects. Many of them go on to work in industry as highly qualified specialists. They make a significant contribution to Switzerland's competitiveness and appeal as a business location.
New findings, great added value, social well-being, highly qualified specialists – for Torsten Schwede the conclusion is clear: "On behalf of the federal government, the SNSF supports the best basic research projects – a task that private companies could not take on. This investment is paying off for Switzerland in many ways."
Focus on successful companies
Under the motto "Basic research today – Innovation tomorrow. The SNSF drives progress", the SNSF will be reporting in the coming months on a number of companies whose innovative strength is also based on the results of basic research. "We are thus focusing even more strongly on the link between research findings and economic success," says Christophe Giovannini, Head of Communication at the SNSF. "This connection is usually not recognisable at first glance."