SNSF Starting Grants

Lead your own independent project and research team in Switzerland.
Important dates for the SNSF Starting Grants 2026 callDates for the interviews phase 2: Panels SSH: 28-29 January 2027 Panels MINT: 11-12 February 2027 Panels LS: 4-5 February 2027Announcement of phase 2 results: end of March 2027Earliest possible project start date - latest possible project start: 1 May 2027 - 1 May 2028Information on the SNSF Starting Grants 2027 callStG2027 call news: SNSF Starting Grants 2027StG2027 call documentChanges to the last call: Regulations: What's new
The SNSF Starting Grants represent the SNSF’s highest level of career funding. The call enables researchers to carry out their own independent project and lead a research team in Switzerland. Applicants must have several years of research experience following their PhD – or an equivalent qualification or medical degree – during which they have already contributed to scientifically independent and impactful research in their field.
SNSF Starting Grants are open to all disciplines and topics. Applicants can request a budget of up to 1 million francs for project funding over a five-year period. In addition, applicants can apply for funds to cover their own salaries (see article 3.2 of the call document for conditions).
An extra budget has been earmarked to support additional outstanding female applicants.
As an applicant, you meet the personal requirements for this call if you have a doctorate, a medical degree or a qualification equivalent to a doctorate. In addition, you must fulfil the following three criteria: 1) you must fall within the eligibility window; 2) you must not yet have achieved the objective of this call; 3) you must have a link with Switzerland (Swiss-link).
Please consult the call document to verify that you meet all the participation requirements. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact the SNSF by email at stg@snf.ch.
Repeated submissionsApplicants whose project was rejected in a previous SNSF Starting Grants call are entitled to submit a second application, regardless of the topic of the project and its evaluation. Repeated submissions (Art. 1.4 of the call document)
Position and salaryHigher education institutions that offer assistant professorships must offer at least such a position and title for the duration of the grant. Applicants who do not already have such a secured position should request funding for their salary at the level of assistant professor via the SNSF Starting Grant.
Research institutions that do not offer assistant professor positions and titles must offer a position comprising independent project and management responsibility (“group leader position”) for the duration of the grant. Applicants who do not already have such a secured position should request funding for their salary at the level of group leader via the SNSF Starting Grant. Employment during the grant (Art. 1.5 call document)The applicants’ own salaries (Art. 3.2 call document)
Applications for an SNSF Starting Grant will be submitted entirely via the SNSF portal from the 2026 call onwards. Instructions can be found on the SNSF website: Submitting a proposal.
Please include the following important elements when preparing and submitting an application:Research plan (Art. 4.1 Call Document)CV and major achievements (Art. 4.3 Call Document) Requested funding (Art. 3.1 Call Document)Confirmation letter from the host institution (Art. 1.5 and Art. 1.6 Call Document)
Uploading the application: (Art. 4.5 Call Document)
Multiple applications and duplicate funding: (Art. 1.3 Call Document)
The higher education institution or research institution must complete and sign the confirmation letter in accordance with the provided template (template for the 2026 call).
The evaluation of the submitted proposals is based on the principle of competition. Discipline-specific panels of scientists will evaluate the proposals in a two-phase procedure.The applications are assessed and rated on the basis of the submitted documents for phase 1 and on the basis of additional external peer reviews and interviews for phase 2. The applications are then ranked in comparison with one another.Evaluation panels and external reviewers (Art. 5.1 of the call document)Evaluation procedure (Art. 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of the call document)Evaluation criteria (Art. 5.2 of the call document)Evaluation form – SNSF Starting Grants Outcome and communication of decisions (Art. 5.3 of the call document)
Legal basis: The general provisions of the SNSF apply to the SNSF Starting Grants:Funding RegulationsGeneral Implementation regulations for the Funding Regulations Call Document 2027: submission deadline 04.05.2026Call Document 2026: submission deadline 05.05.2026Call Document 2025: submission deadline 15.01.2025Call Document 2024: submission deadline 01.02.2024 Call Document 2023: submission deadline 01.02.2023Call Document 2022: submission deadline 01.02.2022
Ethics and integrity: Research activities and methods that have ethical implications or may raise questions requiring sound ethical assessment must be declared in the application. Hence, please take note of the relevant Swiss laws and ethical standards. Furthermore, the rules of scientific integrity must be respected.
The following lists contain the names of the members of evaluation panels. The evaluation bodies will be reorganised and adjusted after the submission of applications on the basis of the proposals submitted.The SNSF does not consider interactions between applicants and members of evaluation panels regarding applications to be compatible with academic best practices.
Mobility grants in projectsFlexibility GrantMedia trainingGender equality grant
Eligibility
Submission and parallel applications
Proposal and documents
Employment and host institution
Project duration: Maximum 5 years