Published on 02.03.2026

Open Calls


Looking for your next funding opportunity? Here’s a friendly roundup of the main calls currently open or approaching this spring.

SNSF & Innosuisse Funding

A few important SNSF deadlines are just around the corner:

  • Project Funding – 1 April 2026
  • SNSF Starting Grants 2026 – 5 May 2026.

Depending on your career stage, you may also want to explore other SNSF instruments and discipline-specific calls currently open. We recommend checking the SNSF website regularly so you don’t miss a funding opportunity.

On the innovation side, BRIDGE (SNSF & Innosuisse) continues to support the transfer of research results into practice:

  • Proof of Concept – 1 June 2026.
  • Discovery – 28 April 2026.

These instruments are particularly relevant if you are working on application-oriented research and aiming to bring promising results closer to implementation.

EU Funding

Several Horizon Europe calls with upcoming deadlines may be of interest:

  • Digital, AI & Robotics (Cluster 4): Topics include Next-Generation AI Agents, Agile and Intelligent Robotics Platforms, “Science for AI” (RAISE), GenAI4EU Booster, and Open Internet Stack Sovereign Solutions. Deadline: 15 April 2026.
  • Smart & Sustainable Mobility (Cluster 5): Topics such as ports and shipyards of the future, battery electric heavy-duty vehicles, and AI-assisted aircraft design. Deadline: 14 April 2026.
  • Circular Systems & Bioeconomy (Cluster 6): Two-stage call “Decontaminate and bioremediate aquatic pollution” supporting zero-pollution ambitions in aquatic systems. First-stage deadline: 16 April 2026.

For full call texts and eligibility conditions, please consult the EU Funding & Tenders Portal or the Euresearch website.

In addition, the next major ERC call expected in 2026 is the ERC Advanced Grant, with a deadline typically scheduled in late summer (usually August). The ERC Starting and Synergy Grant calls are generally expected in early autumn.

We encourage you to contact SPR as early as possible for support with eligibility checks, consortium building and proposal preparation.

University of Fribourg Funding

Several internal funding instruments are currently open or approaching:

  • AcrossEU Seed Funding 2026: Supports small-scale collaborative projects within the AcrossEU alliance. Deadline: 25 March 2026.
  • Research Pool: Funding to support research initiatives at Unifr. Deadline: 31 July 2026.

Further internal calls, such as Doc.Mobility and the Centenary Research Fund will have additional rounds later in 2026. Please consult the internal calls calendar for full details and upcoming deadlines.



If none of these opportunities seem like the perfect fit, feel free to explore additional funding sources via Pivot-RP or contact SPR directly. We are always happy to help you navigate the funding landscape and identify the right scheme for your project.