---
title: "Swiss National Science Foundation"
chunk: 1/1
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_National_Science_Foundation"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:35:15.836178+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, German: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, SNF; French: Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientifique, FNS; Italian: Fondo nazionale svizzero per la ricerca scientifica) or Swiss National Fund is a science research support organisation mandated by the Swiss Federal Government. The Swiss National Science Foundation was established under private law by physicist and medical doctor Alexander von Muralt in 1952.


== Organisation ==
The SNSF consists of three main bodies: Foundation Council, National Research Council and Administrative Offices. The Foundation Council is the highest authority and makes strategic decisions. The National Research Council is composed of distinguished  researchers who mostly work at Swiss institutions of higher education. They assess research proposals submitted to the SNSF and make funding decisions. The National Research Council comprises up to 100 members and is subdivided into four divisions:

Division I: humanities and social sciences
Division II: mathematics, natural sciences and engineering sciences
Division III: biology and medicine
Division IV: programmes (National Research Programmes and National Centres of Competence in Research)
Mandated by the federal authorities, the Swiss National Science Foundation supports basic science in all academic disciplines.


== Research programmes ==
The National Research Programmes (NRP) and National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR) are research programmes of the SNSF. Mandated by the Federal Council, NRPs generate scientific knowledge aimed at solving pressing problems. They generally run for up to five years and have an overall budget of eight to twelve million Swiss francs. Since 1975, the SNSF has launched over 69 NRPs. NCCRs aim to strengthen research structures in Switzerland. Each NCCR is based at an institution of higher education and consists of a centre of competence as well as a national and international network.


== Horizons magazine ==

The research magazine Horizons is published jointly by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences. This quarterly magazine presents the latest findings and new knowledge in all scientific disciplines. Horizons is published four times a year in French (Horizons) and German (Horizonte), subscription is free and the magazine is also available in English online.


== See also ==
Swiss Science Prize Latsis
List of universities in Switzerland
Science and technology in Switzerland
United States National Science Foundation
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training


== Notes and references ==


== External links ==
Official website (in English)
National Research Programmes (NRPs)
National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs)
Horizons, research magazine