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Programmes and Projects

Higher education institutions receive federal project contributions (in accordance with Article 59 of the Higher Education Act, HEdA) that enable them to conduct innovative projects – either jointly or individually – which are of Swiss-wide relevance to higher education policy. Half of the funding for the projects and programmes comes from the federal government and half from the higher education institutions.

As part of its planning, swissuniversities proposes the strategic direction of the programmes and projects every four years and applies for funding for them from the Swiss Higher Education Council.

swissuniversities coordinates the larger programmes and distributes the funds, among other things by means of project calls to the institutions eligible for contributions. In the case of smaller projects, one higher education institution assumes the lead role. Below is an overview of past, current and planned programmes and projects.

If you have any questions regarding the conditions of eligibility to contribute or participate, feel free to reach out to the mentioned contact persons. 

2021-2024

See information on German and French website.

2017–2020

On November 26, 2020, the Swiss Higher Education Coucil decided to extend the programmes P-1, P-5, P-7, P-8, P-9 and P-11 until December 31, 2021 because of COVID-19. Further information on the individual programmes and projects is provided on the relevant project pages.

No.ProjectLead Funding for projects 20172020 (CHF)
1

PhD programmes and development of third-cycle education
Summary
Project proposal (German/French)

swissuniversities 27,000,000
3Strategy to Combat Lack of Qualified Workers in the Healthcare Industry
Summary
Project proposal (German)
Berner Fachhochschule 2,999,653
4Swiss Learning Health System (SLHS). A national platform for health systems and services research, policy and practice
Summary
Project proposal (German)
Universität Luzern 4,400,000
5Scientific information: Access, processing and safeguarding
Summary
Project proposal (German)
swissuniversities 30,000,000
6swissuniversities Development and Cooperation Network (SUDAC)
Summary
Project proposal
swissuniversities 4,000,000
7Equal opportunities and university development
Summary
Project proposal (German)
swissuniversities 12,000,000
8

Enhancing digital skills in teaching 2019-2020/2021-2024
Project proposal (French)

swissuniversities 20192020: 10,000,000
9Development of academic skills in subject-specific didactics
Summary
Project proposal (German)
swissuniversities 24,000,000
10Development of a National Network to Promote STEM Education – Teacher Training and Further Training for Teachers within all Types of Higher Education Institutions
Summary
Project proposal (German)
FHNW 3,000,000
11

Pilot programmes to strengthen the dual competencies profile of young talent at universities of applied sciences and arts (UASAs) and universities of teacher education (UTEs)
Summary
Project proposal (German)

swissuniversities 7,000,000
12Swiss Centre for Islam and Society
Summary
Project proposal (German)
Universität Freiburg 1,600,000
13AGE-NT Age(ing) in Society: National innovation network Summary
Project proposal (German)
FHO 

3,987,311

14Innovation in Biocatalysis: Toolbox for Sustainable Bio-Based Production
Summary
Project proposal (German)
ZHAW 2,000,000
16Proposal and Implementation of a Swiss Research Centre for Barrier-free Communication
Summary
Project proposal (German)
ZHAW 

578,000

18Sustainable Development at Swiss Higher Education Institutions – Student Projects
Summary
Project proposal (German)

Akademien der Wissenschaften Schweiz

 

1,500,000

 

 

Special Programme: Increasing the number of medical school graduates
Summary
Report (German/French)

swissuniversities and participating institutions

 

 

100,000,000

 

2013–2016

The Swiss University Conference supported ten programmes and nine projects during this period (in accordance with the Federal Act on University Funding, (UFundA).

SUC programmes

No.TitleParticipating institutionsAmount 2013-2016 (CHF)
P-01Doctoral programmesall universities22,917,000
P-02Scientific information: access, processing and safeguardingall universities36,312,000
P-03Research in the humanities and social sciencesall cantonal universities4,368,000
P-04Equal opportunities for women and men at universities / gender studiesall cantonal universities13,740,000
P-05SystemsX.ch: The Swiss Initiative in Systems BiologyUniversities of Basel, Bern, Freiburg, Genève, Neuchâtel, Lausanne, Zürich, EPF Lausanne, ETH Zürich48,775,000
P-06Nano-Tera.chUniversities of Basel, Genève, Neuchâtel, Lausanne, USI, EPFL, ETH15,556,000
P-07Sustainable Development in Teaching and Research at Swiss Universitiesall cantonal universities3,927,000
P-08Swiss Public Administration Network SPANUniversities of Bern, Lausanne, USI, IDHEAP4,908,000
P-09Swiss School of Public Health SPPH+Universities of Basel, Bern, Genève, Neuchâtel, Lausanne, Zürich, USI6,871,000
P-10Konsolidierung von Lehre und Forschung im Bereich medizinische Grundversorgung / HausarztmedizinUniversities of Basel, Bern, Genève, Lausanne, Zürich3,000,000

Joint projects and innovation projects

No.TitleParticipating institutionsAmount 2013-2016 (CHF)
KIP 02Albert Einstein Center for Fundamental PhysicsUniversität Bern (Leading House)1,987,000
KIP 03Centre du droit des migrationsUniversities of Neuchâtel (Leading House), Bern, Fribourg2,000,000
KIP 04Center for Religion, Economy and PoliticsUniversities of Luzern (Leading House), Basel, Freiburg, Lausanne, Zürich2,000,000
KIP 05Swiss Earth Observatory Network SEONUniversities of Zürich (Leading House), Basel, Freiburg, Lausanne, ETH1,500,000
KIP 06Center for Advanced Surface Analysis CASAUniversities of Lausanne (Leading House), Genève, EPFL2,000,000
KIP 07A Swiss Platform for Advanced Scientific Computing PASCUSI (Leading House), all universities12,000,000
KIP 08Swiss Non-Human Primate Research Competence CenterUniversities of Freiburg (Leading House), Zürich1,400,000
KIP 12Centre de compétence en sciences du sportUniversities of Lausanne (Leading House), Genève4,000,000
KIP 18Platforms for translational research in medicine (SwissTransMed) Universities of Bern (Leading House), Basel, Genève, Lausanne, Zürich, ETH, EPFL7,000,000