Scientific Exchanges

Proposals can only be submitted by eligible persons employed by a Swiss research institution. Partners abroad cannot submit proposals.

No, applicants can apply only once per calendar year. Please note, however, that it is possible for an applicant to have two ongoing Scientific Exchanges grants in a single calendar year, if the application for one of these grants was submitted the previous year.

No, PhD students are not eligible to submit proposals for research visits, though they can submit proposals for scientific events.[

When submitting a proposal for a research visit, the person employed in Switzerland is the only applicant. For a scientific event, co-applicants are allowed, but they must fulfill the same criteria as the main applicant. Co-applicants must also submit all required documents.

For a scientific event, the grant covers travel, accommodation and meal expenses of researchers from abroad who are taking part in the event. For research visits, travel and accommodation expenses as well as the costs of guests’ [MK3.1]meals are covered.

No, this option is not included in this funding scheme. In the case of scientific events, the funding scheme can only support participants coming from outside Switzerland. The scientific events themselves must take place in Switzerland. An exception may be possible if the added scientific value of the event would be substantially diminished if it were to place in Switzerland (e.g. a workshop that includes field work activities), though in such cases a clear institutional link to Switzerland must be demonstrated[MK4.1][AF4.2][MK4.3]. Such cases should always be discussed in advance with the SNSF.

The monthly rates relate to the country the visitor is from. For instance, a Swiss researcher visiting Cambodia cannot use the higher monthly rate of CHF 3500, whereas a visitor from Cambodia to Switzerland can.

If an applicant or a participant of a scientific event travels by car, the SNSF will cover up to CHF 0.6/km, though only up to the allotted amount.

The evaluation process usually takes 2 – 2½ months; however, there is no guarantee that any particular evaluation is completed in less than 4 months.

The grant is always transferred to the applicant's university or institution. Applicants should therefore contact their employer's finance department before requesting the release of funds.

A financial report has to be submitted. Travel costs have to be documented (e.g. tickets listing the actual cost). The costs of accommodation and meals should be recorded using the confirmation form provided by the SNSF, which provides sufficient documentation, so no actual bills or receipts have to be submitted. Please note that the grant is not considered a salary, and unused funds must be reimbursed.

No, expenses for travel and living costs must be kept separate.

Costs can be calculated as follows:

• Travel costs: actuals
• Living costs: planned flat rate according to the submitted budget