National research focus
In Switzerland , a national research focus (NFS; Pôle de recherche national ; Polo di ricerca nazionale ; National Center of Competence in Research ) is a research funding program carried out by the Swiss National Science Foundation and on behalf of the federal government. The aim of the NCCR is to sustainably strengthen Switzerland as a research location in areas of strategic importance for the future of Swiss science, economy and society.
Each NCCR consists of one or more competence centers and a network of partners from the university or non-university sector. An NCCR is assigned to a clearly identified and thematically delimited research area.
Long-term research projects of the highest quality and with special emphasis on interdisciplinary, but also new, innovative approaches within the disciplines involved are funded. In addition, the NCCR should get involved in the areas of promoting young talent, transferring knowledge and promoting equality.
The NCCR are funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation for a maximum of 12 years. In addition to the federal contribution, the NCCR are also financed by the universities' own funds and third-party funds.
List of NFS
So far, 42 NCCRs have been launched in a total of five program series, with the first two series now being completed. On December 16, 2019, Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin announced the launch of six new national research priorities in the fifth series, the start of which is planned for 2020. The running and completed NFS are listed below.
1st series (beginning 2001, completed 2013)
| Short title | title | Home Institution |
|---|---|---|
| NFS sesame | Swiss etiological study on mental health | University of Basel |
| NCCR CO-ME | Computer-aided and image-guided medical interventions | ETH Zurich |
| NCCR FINRISK | Assessment and risk management in the financial sector | University of Zurich |
| NFS Genetics | Limits of Genetics - Genes, Chromosomes and Development | University of Geneva |
| NFS IM2 | Interactive multimodal information management | IDIAP Research Center Martigny |
| NFS climate | Variability, predictability and risks of the climate | University of Bern |
| NCCR MaNEP | Materials with novel electronic properties | University of Geneva |
| NFS MICS | Mobile information and communication systems | ETH Lausanne |
| NCCR Molecular Oncology | From basic research to therapeutic application | ETH Lausanne |
| NCCR Nanosciences | Nanosciences - impulses for life sciences, sustainability, new information and communication technologies | University of Basel |
| NCCR Neuro | Plasticity and repair of the nervous system | University of Zurich |
| NFS North - South | Research partnerships to alleviate syndromes of global change | University of Bern |
| NFS Plant Survival | Survival success of plants in near-natural and agricultural ecosystems | University of Neuchâtel |
| NFS Qauntenphotonics | Quantum photonics | ETH Lausanne |
| NCCR Structural Biology | Molecular Life Sciences: Three-Dimensional Structure, Folding, and Interactions | University of Zurich |
2nd series (beginning 2005, completed 2017)
| Short title | title | Home Institution |
|---|---|---|
| NFS Affective Sciences | Emotions in individual behavior and in social processes | University of Geneva |
| NFS image review | Power and meaning of images | University of Basel |
| NCCR Democracy | Challenges to Democracy in the 21st Century | University of Zurich |
| NCCR Mediality | Media change - media change - media knowledge: historical perspectives | University of Zurich |
| NFS Trade Regulation | Framework of international trade: from a fragmented to a coherent set of rules | University of Bern |
3rd series (beginning 2010, ongoing)
| Short title | title | Home institution (s) |
|---|---|---|
| NCCR QSIT | Quantum science and technology | ETH Zurich, University of Basel |
| NFS robotics | Intelligent robots for an improved quality of life | ETH Lausanne |
| NFS TransCure | From transport physiology to therapeutic approaches | University of Bern |
| NFS SYNAPSY | Synaptic foundations of mental illness | ETH Lausanne, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne |
| NFS MUST | Ultra-fast processes in molecular building blocks | ETH Zurich, University of Bern |
| NCCR Chemical Biology | Visualize and control biological processes using chemical methods | University of Geneva, ETH Lausanne |
| NFS LIVES | Overcoming vulnerability in the course of life | University of Lausanne, University of Geneva |
| NFS Kidney.CH | Control of homeostasis by the kidneys | University of Zurich |
4th series (beginning 2014, ongoing)
| Short title | title | Home institution (s) |
|---|---|---|
| NFS PlanetS | PlanetS | University of Bern, University of Geneva |
| NFS On the Move | On the Move: The Migration-Mobility Nexus | University of Neuchâtel |
| NFS Digital Fabrication | Digital Fabrication - Advanced Building Processes in Architecture | ETH Zurich |
| NCCR MARVEL | Materials' Revolution: Computational Design and Discovery of Novel Materials | ETH Lausanne |
| NFS Molecular Systems Engineering | Molecular Systems Engineering | University of Basel, ETH Zurich |
| NFS RNA & Disease | RNA & Diesease: Understanding the Role of RNA Biology in Disease Mechanisms | University of Bern, ETH Zurich |
| NCCR SwissMAP | SwissMAP - The Mathematics of Physics | University of Geneva, ETH Zurich |
| NFS Center for Bio-Inspired Stimuli-Responsive Materials | Center for Bio-Inspired Stimuli-Responsive Materials | University of Freiburg |
5th series (beginning 2020)
| Short title | title | Home institution (s) |
|---|---|---|
| NFS AntiResist | AntiResist: New Approaches to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria | University of Basel |
| NFS Dependable Ubiquitous Automation | Dependable Ubiquitous Automation | ETH Zurich |
| NFS Evolving Language | Evolving Language: The Origins and Future of Language | University of Zurich, University of Geneva |
| NFS microbiomes | Microbiomes: Microbial Communities in Health and Environment | University of Lausanne, ETH Zurich |
| NFS SPIN | SPIN: Spin qubits in silicon | University of Basel |
| NFS search cat | Suchcat: Sustainable Chemical Processes Through Catalysis | ETH Zurich, ETH Lausanne |
Web links
- National research priorities (NCCR) ( Swiss National Science Foundation )
- The national research priorities NCCR ( State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation )
Individual evidence
- ↑ Swiss National Science Foundation ( SNSF): National Research Priorities (NFS) - SNSF. Retrieved November 18, 2019 .
- ↑ a b State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI: The National Research Priorities NCCR. Retrieved November 18, 2019 .
- ↑ Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research: Six new national research priorities strengthen top Swiss research. Retrieved December 16, 2019 .
- ↑ Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF): NCCR Guide 2019. Accessed on November 18, 2019 .