Research Partnership Grants aim to offer support to Swiss researchers who are interested in entering into research collaborations with institutional partners located in any of the nine countries that fall within the mandate region of this Leading House: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The grants have three main purposes:

• foster new partnerships
  Research Partnership Grants are useful at an early stage in developing new partnerships or fleshing out recently established partnerships, especially with institutions and countries across South Asia and in Iran that have so far been underexposed AND/OR
• allow existing partnerships to grow and develop
  A Research Partnership Grant can offer Swiss researchers who have already successfully completed a project with a partner in South Asia or Iran the possibility of continuing joint research with the objective of preparing a grant application for a full joint research project (e.g. through the Swiss National Science Foundation, EU funding or a national or regional funding body). These grants may also allow for joint teaching or curriculum development to be intensified AND/OR
• support emerging research talent
  Research Partnership Grants may also be used to support the next generation of scientists, i.e. those who have gained a Master’s degree but who have not yet completed their PhD and who have no more than six years of professional research experience, in becoming integrated in international collaborations. They help to establish new partnerships through personal contacts, thereby making them more sustainable, and attract young talent to Switzerland, while at the same time encouraging Swiss researchers to enrich their careers by spending time in an academic environment abroad.

Applications are accepted from applicants who are permanent residents of Switzerland and have an employment contract with a federal or cantonal university, a university of applied sciences, a university of teacher education or any officially recognised research institute in Switzerland (in accordance with the listings on the SERI website). Calls are open for activities in all scientific disciplines and research fields. Applicants should, however, be able to demonstrate that their project will be sustainable by gaining access to external funding once the grant period comes to an end. Any further eligibility criteria will be detailed whenever a call for grants is published.

The 2023 Call for Research Partnership Grants with South Asia and Iran is now closed. There are currently no open calls for grants. These will be published on this website and via the Newsletter (subscription below).

The Academia-Industry Training (AIT) India program is aimed at young researchers and founding members of science-based Swiss start-ups who are looking to discover the market potential of their applied research project in India and to develop their entrepreneurial skills.

What is the Academia-Industry Training India program?

The AIT India program allows young scientists to validate their innovative concepts in direct contact with peers, experts and business representatives in Switzerland and India. The objective is to enable researchers to gain a better understanding of the potential market viability of their research concept and thereby allow them to refine their concept accordingly. In addition, it allows them to expand their international network and develop their own entrepreneurial skills.

The program consists of a two-day kick-off event and preparation in Switzerland, a week in India, and a week in Switzerland. Each edition accepts ten young researchers and awards CHF 10,000 to each of the two most promising projects to enable them to grow and internationalize their ventures.

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from founding members of science-based Swiss start-ups with a high level of market potential. This program is open to Master’s students, PhD students, postdocs and young researchers from Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, and universities of teacher education, as well as from research institutes and centers of technological excellence who are pursuing a concrete business opportunity based on their research.

Application process and program

• Application deadline: August 5, 2024
• Jury presentation: August 29, 2024 (online)
• Kick-off and preparation camp: September 26–27, 2024 (Lausanne)
• Trip to India: November 18–22, 2024
• AIT Camp in Switzerland: February 4–7, 2025

Please find further details on admission and the program in the AIT India flyer.(PDF 17,5 MB)

How to apply

Applications are now open for the 2024 edition of the AIT India program. Application deadline: August 5, 2024.

Program partners

The AIT India program is an innovation-based instrument of the Leading House South Asia and Iran, executed together with Swissnex in India and Venturelab as key program partners. Mandated by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), the ZHAW is the Leading House for research collaboration with partner institutions in South Asia and Iran.

Swiss researchers planning to organise a symposium or workshop with partner organisations in any country in South Asia or Iran may approach the Leading House to find out more about funding possibilities.