The Grants Office St.Gallen is home to the Regional Office Eastern Switzerland of the Euresearch network. We are your contact for all questions regarding funding by the European Commission. Euresearch is the central information network on European research and innovation funding. We are in close contact with the Network Office in Bern and other Regional Offices in Switzerland.
The funding instruments of the European Union for research in innovation are bundled in 7-year framework programs. Since 01 January 2021 and until the end of 2027, Horizon Europe is the current framework program. The European Union funds a variety of formats, topics and institutions. The most common programs at universities are Collaborative Projects, European Research Council funding and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Since 1 January 2025, Switzerland has been associated with Horizon Europe on a transitional basis and almost all calls are open to partners from Switzerland. Up to programme year 2024 participation as an ‘Associated Partner’ from a third country was often possible in many parts of Horizon Europe. The budget of the Swiss partners was then covered by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
The most common programs
Collaborative projects are "top-down" and work on predefined topics in research areas prioritized by the EU. The thematic guidelines formulated in the call must be addressed in full. Swiss institutions can participate in collaborative projects. At least three independent institutions from three different EU Member States or EU-associated countries (one of them as coordinator) must be involved.
The ERC funds researchers at different career stages with Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants and Advanced Grants in 5-year individual projects. Funding is ‘bottom-up’, i.e. researchers are free to choose their research topic.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions support research projects and collaboration between countries, sectors and scientific fields. Funding is "bottom-up", i.e. researchers are free to choose their research topic.
We check your eligibility and advise you on the application process. Contact us at an early stage. Valuable information is also provided by Euresearch.
