Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten EDA
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Research and Development

Research and Development (R&D) is defined as a field of the Swiss contribution in all countries (except Cyprus and Malta). R&D comprises a wide range of topics such as R&D policy and system development, applied research with know-how and technology transfer or popularization. Out of this list, the countries with R&D projects focus on specific types of eligible projects. For more information on the types of eligible projects, see Annex 1 of the Framework Agreements or consult the webpage of the National Coordination Units where the project proposals have to be submitted.

Switzerland has superior qualities and skills in education, science and technology which are recognised internationally. The federal legislation puts the onus for the promotion of scientific research on the Confederation, i.e. the State Secretariat for Education and Research SER and the Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology OPET. The SER is the federal government’s specialised agency for national and international matters concerning research, general and university education and space. The OPET is the federal government’s competence centre for innovation promotion, vocational education and training and Universities of Applied Sciences.

These two institutions have created various instruments including in particular the Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF and the Innovation Promotion Agency CTI to promote research and development.

The SNSF – financed by the SER – is the most important instrument of the Confederation for the promotion of research. The main thrust of the foundation's activity is the financial backing of high-quality individual projects in the sphere of general basic research. The SNSF is also responsible for carrying out the National Research Programmes NRP and for the National Centres of Competence in Research NCCR.

The CTI is the Swiss Confederation’s innovation promotion agency. It is financed by the OPET. For more than 60 years it has supported the transfer of knowledge and technology between businesses and universities.

Basic research is carried out in Switzerland mainly by universities and the Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH domain). Part of the ETH domain are as well Federal Institutes for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, for Material Sciences and Technology Empa, for Aquatic Sciences and Technologie Eawag and the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI. The Universities of Applied Sciences on the other hand concentrate on applied research and development and pursue the establishment of close contacts between their laboratories and those in the private sector. The dialogue between science and society is ensured by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences which are as well committed to the fields of early detection and ethics.

The following project databases help to find relevant projects with the respective contact points:

• ARAMIS research information system provides data about research and development activities financed or implemented by the Swiss Confederation
• SNSF Project Database informs about research projects in all disciplines supported by SNSF
• Reseachportal.ch connects research data of several universities

The following Swiss institutions will be pleased to discuss a possible co-operation or to assist you in finding relevant institutions beyond this list.

State Secretariat for Education and Research SER SER is the federal government's specialised agency for national and international matters concerning general and university education, research and space

Address: Hallwylstrasse 4 - CH-3003 Bern Web: http://www.sbf.admin.ch/htm/themen/forschung_en.html Contact person: Aude Jaunin E-mail: direktion[at]sbf.admin.ch Phone: +41 (0) 31 323 20 47 Fax: +41 (0) 31 322 78 54

Swiss Federal Office for Professional Education and Technology OPET Federal centre of competence for innovation promotion, universities of applied sciences and professional training

Address: Effingerstrasse 27 - CH-3003 Bern Web: http://www.sbfi.admin.ch/berufsbildung/index.html?lang=en Contact person: Franziska Schwarz E-mail: franziska.schwarz[at]bbt.admin.ch Phone: +41 (0) 31 325 14 15 Fax: +41 (0) 31 322 21 15

Rector' Conference of the Swiss Universities CRUS Including as well die Federal Institutes of Technology in Zürich and Lausanne

Address: Sennweg 2 - CH - 3012 Bern Web: http://www.crus.ch/homenavigation/home.html?L=0 - only in German and French Contact person: Johanna Ziberi E-mail: johanna.ziberi[at]crus.ch Phone: +41 (0) 31 306 60 58 Fax: +41 (0) 31 306 60 50

Rector' Conference of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences KFH

Address: Falkenplatz 9 - P.O. Box 710 - CH-3000 Bern 9 Web: http://www.kfh.ch/index.cfm?&lang=e Contact person: Hans-Kaspar von Matt E-mail: hans-kaspar.vonmatt[at]kfh.ch Phone: +41 (0) 31 300 70 12 Fax: +41 (0) 31 300 70 19

Rector' Conference of the Swiss Universities of Teacher Education COHEP

Address: Thunstrasse 43a - 3005 Bern Web: http://www.cohep.ch/ Contact person: Léa Urben E-mail: lea.urben[at]cohep.ch Phone: +41 (0) 31 350 50 20 Fax: +41 (0) 31 350 50 21

Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences Especially committed to the fields of early detection and ethics and standing for the dialogue between science and society

Address: Hirschengraben 11 - P.O. Box 8160 - CH-3001 Bern Web: http://www.swiss-academies.ch/index.php Contact person: Markus Zürcher E-mail: markus.zuercher[at]sagw.ch Phone: +41 (0) 31 313 14 40 Fax: +41 (0) 31 313 14 50