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Agora in Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Agora funds communication projects that foster dialogue between science and society, enabling researchers to share their current research directly with a lay audience.

Submission deadline:

16.09.2025 17:00 CEST

Agora call: The submission deadline for projects with a budget of up to 200,000 Swiss francs is in autumn. Funding decisions are communicated in March 2026 (earliest project start: 1 April 2026).

Agora rolling call: Projects with a budget of up to 50,000 Swiss francs can be submitted at any time. Funding decisions are communicated within four months.

Funding is available for communication projects by researchers that are developed and realised in collaboration with experts from communication, knowledge transfer, culture, media and similar. The researchers themselves should mainly carry out direct communication with the public.

Except for the budget, the project plan length and the submission deadline, all information regarding application submission pertains to both Agora projects and Agora rolling call projects. Projects span three years, and applications must be submitted in English.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🎯 1. Scientific Relevance, Rigor & Feasibility

Peer reviewers assess three core criteria:

Methods & feasibility (most weight)

Scientific relevance, originality & topicality

Track record of applicant(s) .

Proposals must clearly present innovative ideas, detailed methodology, and realistic execution plans.

🧑‍💼 2. Strong Applicant Track Record

A solid publication history and relevant expertise matter—especially in disciplines beyond biology and medicine—but methodology and relevance carry more influence .

🔎 3. Review Process & Tiered Funding

SNSF employs a Bayesian ranking method with tie-breaker lotteries for proposals of equivalent quality near the funding line .

Ensure your proposal is among the top-rated to benefit from potential lottery selection.

📚 4. Appropriate Scheme Selection & Citizenship Link

Select the right funding mechanism (Project, Postdoc.Mobility, Starting Grants).

Most schemes require a Swiss institutional link (salary or appointment) to be eligible, especially for prestigious Starting Grants.

👫 5. Optimal Team Size & Collaboration Focus

SNSF favors small, focused teams (2–5 PIs) for innovation.

Large consortia are reserved for national programs; typical research grants should remain streamlined .

🗓️ 6. Robust, Two-Phase Evaluation

Career and starting grants follow a two-phase review:

Initial eligibility and peer review

Panel interview or discussion

Only top proposals advance to the final stage .

✅ 7. Complete, Well-Structured Submission

Use SNSF’s required formats (CV, research plan, data management, ethics).

Proposals lacking mandatory documents or completeness fail at screening .

🏆 8. Gender Equity & Innovation Emphasis

SNSF has introduced standardized CVs aligned with DORA, and supports tie-breaker lotteries to reduce bias; evaluation procedures promote equity .

High innovation and novelty are valued, and citing promotional language for novelty can help – though authenticity matters.

📋 Quick Summary Table

Success Predictor	What to Do
Methods & Feasibility	Write detailed, clear methodologies and milestones
Novelty & Relevance	Emphasize originality and topical impact
Solid Track Record	Use high-quality publications and relevant background
Swiss Anchoring	Secure institutional affiliation or salary in Switzerland
Appropriate Scheme	Select project type and team structure wisely
Complete Application	Follow all SNSF instructions; upload full documents
Bias Mitigation Tools	Use the new CV format and aim for lottery eligibility
Innovation & Language	Convey novelty well—ideally with genuine, not exaggerated, tone

✍️ Tailored Action Plan

Pick the right scheme suited to your stage and Swiss link.

Draft an innovative project with strong methodology and realistic feasibility.

Secure a Swiss host/institution to meet eligibility.

Prepare the standardized CV, ethics statement, and data plan meticulously.

Emphasize novelty and topical importance—but avoid hype.

Align proposal with DORA principles and structured formats.

Structure your team effectively (small & focused).

If equally strong, a tie-breaker lottery may work in your favor.

Specialties

Data Science

Eligibility Requirements

Responsible applicant

Researchers are eligible to submit an Agora application if the project focuses on their own research and is conducted in collaboration with one or more Agora specialists (see co-applicants). Applicant researchers must meet the requirements set out in Article 10 of the Funding Regulations (PDF). Their work-time percentage may be lower than 50 percent, but not lower than 20 percent.

Co-applicants

Agora specialists are co-applicants. These individuals, whether self-employed or employed, possess skills in communication, media, scientific mediation, education/training or art, or demonstrate other qualifications relevant to knowledge transfer or public dialogue. They contribute conceptually to the project and support it in terms of content and operational or technical implementation. The Agora expert’s fee may be charged to the grant, but the salaries of employees at Swiss universities are generally not covered.

Project requirements

An Agora project may focus on research findings, scientific challenges or the role of research itself. It aims to convey fundamental scientific knowledge and foster dialogue with the public. The choice of communication methods is flexible, provided they effectively support meaningful interaction between researchers and their target audience.

The project must:

make the target group familiar with the current scientific research conducted by the applicants;
target groups that are freely defined but do not consist of the professional addressees in academic teaching and research or members of the applicant’s research institution. The primary target groups are located in Switzerland;
have a significant impact on the target group in terms of raising awareness, engagement and participation in scientific topics; and
have links to research that is or was awarded funding by the SNSF or another qualified institution under a competitive procedure and/or is the subject of a recognised (peer-reviewed) scientific publication.

The following projects are not eligible:

Projects conducted within the scope of implementation and technology transfer partnerships.
Projects that involve marketing campaigns or institutional communication measures and media relations.
Projects that conduct research into science communication.
Projects with links to ongoing National Research Programmes (NRPs) or National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs).
Projects aimed at achieving commercial goals.

Eligible Countries:

Switzerland

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: Wildhainweg 3 CH-3001 Bern

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