February 2021

NEWSLETTER - Research Services

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Horizon Europe launch imminent

The new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation « Horizon Europe » will offer wide opportunities for collaborations and funding in most scientific domains, for individual and collaborative projects. The programme will run with an all-time record budget of 95 billion Euros over 7 years (2021-2027).
The launch of the programme is imminent now, with the adoption of the final programme regulations in March/April, slightly delayed by the complex adoption of the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027) due to the Covid-19 pandemia situation. The programme will enter into force retroactively on 1 January 2021.
The first calls for projects will be published on a provisional basis already in February/March, in particular for the European Research Council (ERC Starting and Consolidator Grants). The full call agenda shall be available in March.
The Swiss full association to Horizon Europe remains the clear objective of the SERI and the working basis for any Swiss researchers’ submissions in the first calls. The researchers must always request the funding of all their costs to the European Commission (EC Requested Contribution).
Interested researchers are kindly requested to get all necessary information now (à Horizon Europe for Switzerland 17-18.2.2021 hereafter under « Events »; key links below) and to anticipate the fast approaching first calls. Research Services will be glad to advise and support.

More information:
Horizon Europe (European Commission)
Horizon Europe (Euresearch)
Info/FAQ « State of Play - Horizon Europe » (SERI)
Horizon Europe Calls (Euresearch) – available soon
Contact us

 

RESEARCH SERVICES LATEST NEWS

New Euresearch appearance and website

The Swiss network for information on European Research and Innovation, Euresearch, renews his appearance and his website.
Homepage Euresearch

The European Open Science Cloud: a tool for Open Science in Europeurope

Open Science is meant to become the new norm. This leads to a revolution in research practices, where our unprecedented ability to access, combine and process heterogeneous information transforms the research landscape. Global Open Science is becoming a driver for enabling a new paradigm of transparent, data-driven science as well as accelerating innovation. In Europe, this vision is being realised through an ambitious programme under the heading of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC).
The report from the EOSC Symposium 2020 is now available. It collects summaries of the main takeaways and links to the recorded sessions.
You can download the report and visit the EOSC Association and  EOSC Services and Resources portals for more information.

e-Infrastructures in Horizon Europe

The European e-Infrastructures activities aim at achieving a single and open European space for on-line research where researchers enjoy leading-edge, ubiquitous and reliable services for networking and computing, and seamless and open access to e-Science environments and global data resources. Would you like to know more about the e-Infrastructures programme in Horizon Europe and the European Commission’s priorities? See the recording of the presentation given by the European Commission officer at the EGI Conference 2020.

COVID-19 - Impact on research programmes and related calls

Check out the Research Services COVID-19 webpages with the latest updates on impact, research projects and networks.

Innosuisse successfully concludes energy funding programme

Developing and implementing solutions to relevant issues relating to the energy transition in Switzerland: this was the aim of the energy funding programme, which is managed by Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, and will be completed at the end of 2020 after a period of eight years. The core element was the establishment and management of eight Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCERs) in seven action areas.
The parties involved are continuing their activities in order to develop solutions for the energy of the future for Switzerland beyond 2020.
Information

Simplified selection process for the SPIRIT programme

From 1 February 2021, the SPIRIT programme no longer requires a pre-proposal. Researchers can submit their project proposals directly. The program aims to strengthen cross-border research that involves researchers in Switzerland and in partner countries in the global South. No thematic limitations apply. SPIRIT is focused on equal opportunities and aims to raise awareness of gender-specific questions. Submission deadline on 2 November. The first call based on the new model will be launched in August 2021. Remark : No pre-proposals nor full proposals will be accepted during the transition phase (February till July 2021).
Information

A pioneering multilateral Open Science policy

The funding network CHIST-ERA, in which the SNSF actively participates, has published its Open Science policy statement. This is the first multilateral declaration of its type in Europe.
CHIST-ERA is a network of funding organisations in Europe and beyond that promotes long-term research on digital technologies with a high potential impact. It is supported by the European Union through the ERA-NET funding scheme.
For years the SNSF has been committed to open science, requiring the scientists it supports to make the results and data from their projects freely accessible. This reinforces the efficacy of the research.
Information

Single postdoc scheme for fellowships abroad

The SNSF supports postdocs who wish to do research abroad with a single scheme: Postdoc.Mobility. The Early Postdoc.Mobility scheme is being integrated into Postdoc.Mobility. ​​​​​The SNSF fellowships fund a research stay abroad, which generally lasts two years. It enables researchers to acquire more in-depth knowledge, increases their scientific independence and enhances their research profile. The fellowships are aimed at researchers who wish to pursue an academic career in Switzerland after their time abroad. The SNSF adapted the Regulations on Postdoc.Mobility in August 2020. They are now closely aligned with the DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment) principles. The SNSF assesses the overall performance of researchers when evaluating project proposals. Two submission deadlines are possible each year (1 February and 1 August).
The applications will be evaluated by the SNSF Research Council.
Information

17 Swiss COST projects to strengthen collaboration with Europe

Ideas that go beyond borders
COST Actions help to address scientific, technical and social challenges in Europe. On average, researchers from 28 countries participate in each Action. All academic and technical fields of expertise are eligible.
Swiss-based researchers can participate in COST Actions. The SNSF offers COST grants to support their research. This funding option is also open to young researchers who are looking to expand their international network at an early stage in their career.
Information

More infos

SNSF Newsletter
SEFRI Newsletter
Euresearch Newsletter

 

EVENTS

Horizon Europe National Event

A national on-line information event will bring together official representatives of the European Commission, SERI, etc., national contact points, high-profile researchers in European R&I programmes, and administrative/technical experts for Q&A.

Date : 17-18 February 2021
National event « Horizon Europe for Switzerland »

 

SUCCESS STORIES

ERC Synergy Grant

ERC Synergy Grants bring together complementary skills, knowledge and resources from excellent researchers with the goal of jointly addressing research problems.Professor Aurélien ROUX of the Faculty of Science, Biochemistry Department, received a prestigious ERC Synergy grant (2021-2027) for the project R2-TENSION – “In-situ spatiotemporal imaging of membrane hydration, electrostatics, tension and curvature to understand cell response to osmotic shocks and cell migration” in collaboration with Prof. Sylvie ROKE, EPFL.
Congratulations to the new grantee !

NFRP-2019-2020 (EURATOM)

A new project with UNIGE participation has been selected for European funding EURATOM, the framework programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for nuclear research and training activities (Euratom FPRD) which coordinates the research programmes of the Member States for the peaceful civil use of nuclear fission and fusion energy and which is an integral part of Horizon 2020.
Professor Habib ZAIDI, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics for the projet SINFONIA - Radiation risk appraisal for detrimental effects from medical exposure during management of patients with lymphoma or brain tumour.
Congratulations to the new grantee !

H2020-ICT-2020

A new project with UNIGE participation has been selected for European funding Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Professor Christian LÜSCHER, Faculty of Medicine, Department of basic neurosciences for the project DEEPER - Deep brain photonic tools for cell.type specific targeting of neural diseases.
Congratulations to the new grantee !

H2020-WIDESPREAD-2020 - 5

A new project with UNIGE participation has been selected for European funding Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation (WIDESPREAD) addressing the causes of low participation of some European countries to the framework programmes by fully exploiting the potential of Europe's talent pool. It ensures that the benefits of an innovation-led economy are both maximised and widely distributed across the European Union. Synergies with European Structural and Investment funds are an important component. Professor Christoph Michel, Faculty of Medicine, Department of basic neurosciences for the project TwinBrain - TWINning the BRAIN with machine learning for neuro-muscular efficiency.
Congratulations to the new grantee !

Eccellenza 2020

45 new Eccellenza projects are being financed and conducted by professors from which 6 are attributed to UNIGE. 4 new projects in the Faculty of Science and 2 in the Faculty of Medicine.
Simon Braun, Faculty of Medicine, for the project "Epigenome editing to study chromatin remodeling during brain development"
Ivana Gasic, Faculty of Science, for the project "STubulin Quantity Control and Microtubule Homeostasis"
Monika Lendl, Faculty of Science, for the project "TITANIA: TIme variabliTy As a New window on exoplanet clImAtes"
Pierre Megevand, Faculty of Medicine, for the project "Neuronal biomarkers of seizure activity in human epilepsy"
Steven Randolph Schramm, Faculty of Science, for the project "Turning noise into data: a discovery strategy for new weakly-interacting physics"
Thomas Sheldrake, Faculty of Science, for the project "Geochemical imprint of volcanism in corals - GEOVOLCO"
Information

Congratulations to the new grantees!

 

CALLS FOR PROJECTS - SUBMISSION DEADLINES

SNSF - BRIDGE Discovery

Innosuisse and the SNSF are launching the fifth call for proposals for the funding scheme BRIDGE Discovery.
Information
Submission deadline: 1st March 2021

SNSF - JPND JTC Call 2021 - EU Joint Programme

Neurodegenerative Disease Research
The EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND): joint launches a transnational call on linking pre-diagnosis disturbances of physiological systems to neurodegenerative diseases.
Information
Submission deadline: 2nd March 2021

SNSF - BRIDGE Proof of Concept

The seventeenth call for BRIDGE Proof of Concept projects is open until 8 March 2021. Young researchers who want to apply their research results and realize an innovative product or service can submit their project proposal.
Information
Submission deadline: 8 March 2021

SNSF - ERA-NET NEURON JTC Call 2021SPIRIT

The NEURON Network launches a joint transnational call for projects on 'Neurodevelopmental Disorders'.
Information
Submission deadline: 9 March 2021

SNSF - Doc.CH

The Doc.CH grants in the humanities and social sciences are awarded by the SNSF to promising researchers who wish to write a dissertation in the humanities and social sciences in Switzerland on a topic of their own choice.
Information
Submission deadline: 15 March 2021

SNSF - Project fundings

Under the project funding scheme, qualified researchers define their research themes and objectives themselves and conduct their project under their own responsibility.
Information
Submission deadline: 1st April 2021

Horizon Europe: News on incoming ERC Calls

First calls for ERC Starting and ERC Consolidator Grants are expected to open early 2021. Researchers having obtained their PhD between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018 are expected to be eligible for StG-2021 and those with PhD date between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013 for CoG-2021.
Interviews for Advanced Grant candidates are likely to be introduced in 2021.
The panels structure is expected to be adapted for certain disciplines.
It is likely the next Synergy Grant call will be included in Work Programme 2022.
If you are planning to submit an ERC Starting or Consolidator Grant, please get in touch with us: euresearch@unige.ch
First deadline (tbc):
ERC StG: 24 March 2021
ERC CoG: 20 April 2021

SNSF - COST

The SNSF funds COST projects within the scope of the recently approved COST Actions of the series CA182## or CA191##. Researchers with at least one year's experience since obtaining their doctorate that are actively participating in one of these COST Actions are eligible to apply.
Information
Submission deadline: 6 May 2021

SNSF - Ageing Well in the Digital World - programme AAL

Interested in applying for the open Call for Project Proposals 2021? The topic of this year’s Call is: “Advancing inclusive health & care solutions for ageing well in the new decade”.
Date of publication: 15 December 2020
Evaluation of the applications: July 2021
Communication of the results: August 2021
Indicative total funding: 21.019.900 €
Find out more about AAL programme and projects.
Submission deadline: 21 May 2021 at 17:00 hours Central European Time (CET).

SNSF - COST

COST funds pan-European, multi- and interdisciplinary, bottom-up networks of researchers across all science and technology fields. COST does not fund research itself, but provides support for networking activities carried out within COST Actions.
Information
Submission deadline: 29 October 2021

More calls

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Euresearch

CONTACTS

Dr Laure Ognois-Zaugg
Director Research Services

Dr Alex Waehry
Head European and international research support − Euresearch

Dr Caroline Loutre
Head National and regional support

SNSF Research commission at UNIGE

Research Services website