National Centres of Competence in Research

The National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) are an innovative funding instrument provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The program supports long-term research projects in areas that are of strategic importance to the future of science, the economy and society in Switzerland. Funding is awarded to research projects of outstanding quality which have a special emphasis on both interdisciplinary and new innovative approaches within disciplines. A NCCR has a maximum running time of twelve years.
The UNIGE leads four NCCRs, two of them as the main leading house and two in collaboration with EPFL and Lausanne University. In addition the UNIGE has led the NCCRs Frontiers in Genetics and MaNEP from 2001 to 2013.

On-going NCCR

Affectives Sciences Emotions in Individual Behaviour and Social Processes This NCCR is one of the world’s first interdisciplinary research networks to examine emotions in a comprehensive manner. Psychologists, neuroscientists, philosophers, economists, lawyers and anthropologists work together on research on the psychological, biological and social mechanisms that generate and control emotions. Web site Co-directors: ,

Chemical Biology Visualisation and Control of Biological Processes Using Chemistry This NCCR uses chemistry tools to obtain a better understanding of life at the molecular level. The NCCR is also engaged in establishing a platform for chemical screening aimed at developing a new generation of molecules with biological effects. Web site Director: Co-director: (EPFL)

LIVES Overcoming Vulnerability: Life Course Perspectives The researchers conduct comparative, longitudinal analysis to examine the impact of socio-structural and personal resources on overcoming vulnerability. Life trajectories of about 25’000 people will be studied across health, family, work, and institutional domains. Web Site Director : (UNIL) Co-director:

Synaptic Bases of Mental Disease Bringing together brain research and psychiatry This NCCR aims to discover the neurobiological mechanisms of mental and cognitive disorders, since one of the major challenges in psychiatry is to achieve a better understanding of how these illnesses originate. This research focus will help train a new generation of psychiatrists. Web Site Director: (EPFL/UNIL) Co-director:

Completed NCCR

Frontiers in Genetics The University of Geneva has led this NCCR from 2001 to June 2013. The scientific achievements of this NCCR are outstanding. Frontiers in Genetics allowed the creation of five state-of-the art platforms and of a graduate school. The new Institute of Genetics and Genomics in Geneva (iGe3) will take over the activities of the NCCR. This institute brings together members of the School of Sciences, Medicine and the University Hospital (about 60 groups). The aim of IGe3 is to promote research and education in the fields of genetics and genomics.

MaNEP - Materials with Novel Electronic Properties The UNIGE has led this NCCR from 2001 to June 2013. MaNEP has been a scientific success with more than 3’100 articles published and 9’000 quotes. It has become a key player acknowledged both nationally and internationally.  Over the 12 year period, collaborations with industry have increased from two to twenty eight. The impact of the NCCR in Switzerland on quantum electronic materials and as regards the restructuring of physics, mathematics and astronomy of the UNIGE has been extremely positive. The Association MaNEP Switzerland aims at maintaining and developing the network of 250 high-level scientists established by MaNEP.