Funding for Workshops and Conferences

Sharing the latest scientific developments at congresses or conferences has always been an integral part of research activities. Various funding sources are available to support the organization of local congresses or to contribute to the travel costs of researchers wishing to participate in a conference in Switzerland or abroad. The list below shows specific grants for conferences. However, it should be underlined that most SNSF funding schemes and all FP7 programmes might include the costs related to workshops and conferences.

SNSF - Scientific Conferences

The conference venues must be in Switzerland. This funding is mainly intended to cover travel and accommodation expenses for guest speakers from abroad.
Deadline: at least 6 months prior to the date of the planned event
URL: http://www.snf.ch/E/funding/science-communication/scientific-conferences

SNSF - International Exploratory Workshops

This grant funds workshops taking place in Switzerland, but exceptions can be granted if justified. The workshop can last between two and five days with up to 30 participants from different institutions. The funding is a flat-rate contribution towards the travel costs (return fare) and the room and board expenses of no more than 10 participants from abroad (maximum CHF 30,000 per workshop).
Deadline: the call is always open (three cut-off dates per year when the evaluation process begins)
URL: http://www.snf.ch/E/international/worldwide/international-exploratory-workshops

SCOPES – Conference Grants

Conference Grants (CGs) enable scientists from Eastern Europe or from the new independent states of the former Soviet Union to participate in international scientific conferences held in Switzerland. For this purpose, Swiss conference organisers will receive a financial contribution towards the travel and subsistence costs of the Eastern European scientists participating at the conference.
Deadlines: Applications for CG can be submitted during the whole duration of the 2013-2016 SCOPES programme.
URL: http://www.unige.ch/recherche/euresearch

UNIGE – Administrative Commission

The Administrative Commission can support conferences / symposia taking place at the University. The funding covers meals and accommodation costs, travel costs of speakers, room rental, etc.
Several deadlines per year – Check the Administrative Commission website
URL: http://www.unige.ch/rectorat/commissions/comad.html

Academic Society of Geneva

The Academic Society of Geneva can support the organization of a conference or other academic event.
Deadlines: 1 month prior to the date of the event if the requested amount is less than CHF 2,000, for larger amounts, deadlines are 15 March, 15 May, 15 September and 15 December (for medicine, only 15 May and 15 December) (every year)
URL: http://societe.academique.unige.ch

Ernst and Lucie Schmidheiny Foundation

The Ernst and Lucie Schmidheiny Foundation aims at contributing to the development of the University of Geneva. Possible funding includes travel expenses to a congress.
Deadlines: 1 April and 1 October (every year)
URL: http://www.fondation-schmidheiny.ch

Swiss Academies

The Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences offers young researchers grants for travel expenses to a scientific event abroad, upon justified request.
URL: http://www.sagw.ch/en/sagw.html

The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences supports the organization of scientific meetings. The application may be submitted at any time. The decision process requires at most 2 months.
URL: http://www.samw.ch

The Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences, with its “Germaine de Staël” programme, promotes the collaboration between Swiss and French researchers by reimbursing travel and hotel expenses.
URL: http://www.satw.ch