Financing

Start-up Grant

A new start-up grant has been launched at the University of Fribourg!

This grant is intended for projects that have already received funding from BRIDGE or Innosuisse schemes.

Submission deadline: 1 December 2025

Important dates 2025/2026:

Registration opening: 30 September 2025
Submission deadline: 1 December 2025
Presentation (if pre-selected): 16 January 2026
The decision will be communicated by mid-March 2026.

Please refer to Article 4 (Sections 1 and 2) of the Directives for detailed eligibility requirements.

Directives

Submission form

Interim 6M report

Innosuisse and BRIDGE

Innosuisse and Bridge finance innovation. Innosuisse has rolling deadlines and BRIDGE several deadlines each year:

Innosuisse: Funding for national projects

BRIDGE: BRIDGE - From research to innovation

Proof-of-Concept Grants

Unlock Innovation with our Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Grants!

The PoC Grant supports technological feasibility and economic viability of innovative ideas.

Purpose: Prototyping, benchmarking, and identifying market opportunities.

Centenary fund 2x year up to 7’000 CHF

Submission deadlines: 1 March, 1 October

Research Pool 2x year up to 70’000 CHF

Submission deadlines: 31 January, 31 July

Search tools:

Use the advanced research tool to explore funding opportunities: To the PIVOT-RP portal
Explore funding opportunities by choosing "Innovation" in the drop-down menu - "Type":

Type

Target

Source

Model

Results (NaN Results)

Agora - where research meets the public

SNSF
Scientific communication
Senior researcher, Postdoctoral fellow, Professor

The Agora scheme aims to foster dialogue between scientists and society. It encourages researchers to communicate their current research to an audience of lay people. Agora projects have to initiate a dialogue between researchers and the public in which they interact and listen to each other.

Next submission deadline

Agora Rolling Call (CHF 5’000-50'000)

Submission at any time! At least 4 months before the start of the project

Agora (CHF 5’000-200’000)

Check the date for the next open call on the website.

Website

Ambizione

SNSF
Career funding
Senior researcher, Postdoctoral fellow

Ambizione grants are aimed at young researchers 1 to 4 years after their PhD who wish to conduct, manage and lead an independent project at a Swiss higher education institution. The scheme supports young researchers from Switzerland and abroad alike. Scientists holding non-professorial academic positions at higher education institutions are also eligible to submit an application.

An Ambizione grant covers the grantee's salary and the funds needed to carry out the project.
An Ambizione project grant, however, comprises only project funds.

The grants are awarded for a maximum of four years. The maximum amount for project funds is CHF 400,000 for four years.

Please consult the Ambizione Regulation to determine your formal eligibility (Chapter 2 of the Regulation).

Contact hosting department as soon as possible as internal deadline may apply.

Website

AXA Fellowships

Foundation
Career funding, Projects
Postdoctoral fellow

The AXA Fellowship is a funding scheme aiming at supporting young promising researchers on a priority topic aligned with AXA and the Society. Our support should be transformative for the researcher and the advancement of her/his research field.

Website
Information for project submission

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Foundation
Projects
Senior researcher, Postdoctoral fellow, Professor

Website

BRIDGE Discovery

Innovation
Other, Programmes, Projects
Senior researcher, Postdoctoral fellow, Professor

This funding scheme is aimed at experienced researchers from all disciplines who wish to undertake an innovative project with the potential for great social or economic impact. Researchers can submit a proposal on their own or as part of a consortium of up to three researchers.

BRIDGE Discovery funds projects for up to four years. Grants cover the salaries of project employees and research costs directly linked to the project.

Submission deadline

28 February 2022

Website