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Scientific research that strives for both knowledge and application is becoming increasingly important both na-tionally and internationally.

www.sns f . ch In f o rma t i on f o r re sea rche r s f rom the Sw i ss Na t i ona l S c i ence Founda t i on

infosnsf n° 13 > juNe 2011PRInT

Page 2 > DORE: end of a programme • Page 2 > In Focus : use-inspired or not?Page 5 > Annual Report 2010: rising application volumes • Page 5 > 4th “Tour de Suisse” by the SNSF

EDITORIAl

Fluid boundaries

The terms “basic re-search” and “applied research” have been in use for quite some time in the research policy domain, mainly as opposites: the former strives for new insights, the latter for marketable prod-

ucts. Contrasting the two no longer makes sense in today's research environment; the boundaries between them have become fluid. Many research projects are aimed at applica-tion in a broad sense, which excludes commercial exploita-tion, however. For example, projects in the social and cultural sciences studying ques-tions of integration or equal opportunities, or technology and natural science projects, in areas such as robotics. They often involve partners from the practical realm, who gave the initial impetus or are looking to implement the results. In order to accommodate these devel-opments and define adequate assessment criteria for research funding, the SNSF has decided to introduce the category “use-inspired basic research”. The term, which may sound some-what unwieldy at first, stands for a world charaterised by fluid boundaries and hybridity. In this sense, research is also the mirror of a changing society.

Research categories reviewed

Walter LeimgruberPresident of the

Humanities and Social Sciences division of the SNSF

The SNSF knows that research cannot be pigeon-holed and labelled, yet in practice it uses various categories for funding policy reasons. In its multi-year programme 2012-2016, the SNSF reconsiders the categorisation of scientific research.

The SNSF primarily supports basic research, but its remit is not confined to the latter. While it does not fund use-inspired research aimed at the immedi-ate commercial exploitation of results, it does support applied research that focuses on generating scientific knowl-edge despite addressing research ques-tions of a practical nature. In accordance with the classification devised by Stokes (1997), the SNSF will refer to this type of research as “use-inspired basic research” in future, even though a clear line of demarcation cannot be drawn between the new term and the two categories mentioned above.

Knowledge and application“Use-inspired basic research”, the new category devised by the SNSF, takes account of the growing national and international significance of scientific research that targets both knowledge and application. At the same time, its use is aimed at ensuring the adequate evalua-tion of applications in applied research, in particular with regard to the forth-coming integration of the DORE pro-gramme for universities of applied sci-ences and universities of teacher educa-tion in project funding. A new criterion, “broader impact”, will be added to the set of criteria by which applications involv-ing applied research are to be judged in future. Furthermore, reviews from exter-nal experts from the practical realm will be solicited for such applications.

In order to avoid any confusion over cat-egorisation, the SNSF will stop using the longstanding terms “investigator-driven research” and “targeted research” with immediate effect. Although both of these terms referred solely to the SNSF's inter-nal organisation with respect to its fund-ing schemes, they were often mistakenly regarded as research categories.

Angelika Kalt , Deputy Director of the SNSF

elections to the executive Committee of the Foundation Council and the National Research Council

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2 > SNSFinfo PRinT june 2011

CURRENT ISSUES

DORE: a successful funding programme comes to an end In the past eight years, the SNSF has supported practice-oriented research at universities

of applied sciences and universities of teacher education by funding a total of 302 DORE projects in seven areas of research.

Between 2004 and 2011, DORE (DO REsearch) provided funding for research projects on various topics in the fields of social work (78 funded projects), arts/design (62), health (56), education (48), music/theatre (41), applied psychol-ogy (10) and applied linguistics (7). A number of institutes and areas of research were established and expand-ed during this period. This has strength-ened practice-oriented research at uni-versities of applied sciences and uni-versities of teacher education. The pro-gramme is now coming to an end due to the integration of this research in the SNSF's regular project funding. Although DORE had its own budget, it invited a great deal of competition for grants. All in all, 750 project applications requiring over 130 million Swiss francs in funding were submitted. The scien-tifically challenging projects submitted by researchers had to hold their own against rivals from seven disciplines. In addition to the 46 million Swiss francs awarded by the SNSF, 15 million Swiss

francs' worth of funding was invested in DORE projects by industry partners. The collaboration between universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education, on the one hand, and industry partners, on the other, allowed for the formulation of socially relevant

and topical research questions as well as for the valorisation of research results. Information on research topics and on the scientists and practitioners respon-sible for the individual projects can be found in the SNSF's project database (at www.snsf.ch). ARP

The Biology and Medicine division of the SNSF invites its future applicants from the universities of applied sciences to an interactive conference on the life sciences and health, to be held in Berne on 8 July 2011. The main purpose of the conference is to enable scientific discus-sions between the researchers and the National Research Council. Researchers from the universities of applied scienc-es are invited to present their projects (orally or with a poster).

Information: Stéphanie Wyss, Head of Biolo-gy and Exp. Medicine, e-mail: [email protected].

The SNSF will be pleased to consider re-quests from other substantial scientific communities at the universities of applied sciences who may be interested in a simi-lar event. Contact: Angelika Kalt, Deputy Director of the SNSF, e-mail: [email protected].

Interactive conference: life sciences & health research at universities of applied sciences

Key question for applicants: is my research project use-inspired or not?

IN FOCUS

As of summer 2011, applicants will be able to select the category “use-inspired” along with the dis-cipline and keywords to describe their research project in mySNF. Declaring an application to be use-inspired has a number of consequences. In the research plan, the applicants will need to describe the broader impact of the planned project, which will be considered in the evaluation of the application. “Broader impact” forms a criteria set together with “scientific relevance”, “originality” and “topicality” in order to ensure that use-inspired projects are not faced with the hurdle of an addi-

tional criterion. The SNSF will endeavour to have such applica-tions reviewed by external experts from the practical realm or, if nec-essary, evaluated by panels.Applicants must declare their appl ica t ions as “use-inspired” only if the fol lowing points are applica-ble: there must be a need for research from a practical point of view; the research results must be trans-ferable to the practical realm – although not directly – and must have the potential to make a

broader impact.The label “use-inspired” also ena-bles the SNSF to track the suc-cess rates of such applications as compared to applications in basic research and to respond with

appropriate meas-ures, i f needed. The SNSF does not receive any addi-t ional funds for the support of use-inspired projects. If demand contin-

ues to rise, the success rates of project funding applications will stagnate – whether use-inspired or not.

There must be a need for research from a practical point of view.

Angelika KaltDeputy Directorof the Administrative Offices of the SNSF


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Current issues

Applications & evaluation

International/Swisscore

National Research Programmes

National Centres of Competencein Research

Communication & Transfer

Funding policy

Researchers have submitted 1,145 applica-tions requesting a total of 401 million Swiss francs in project funding on the submis-sion date of 1 April 2011. The number of applications submitted is thus higher than on 1 March 2010 (1,067 applications) even without Sinergia applications, for which separate deadlines apply as of this year. Seventy-four project applications requesting a total amount of 14.5 million Swiss francs were received for DORE (DO REsearch) on the final submission date of 1 March: the SNSF funding scheme for practically oriented research at universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education is to

be discontinued. The SNSF will evaluate the submitted project applications in the coming months and make the corresponding funding decisions by September. (28.04.2011)

Project funding at the SNSF: high number of applications in April

Prospective researchers: all applications to SNSF Research Commissions to be submitted via mySNF

As of the second half of 2011, all can-didates for a fellowship for prospective researchers applying through an SNSF Research Commission will have to submit their application via mySNF. Each Research Commission has its own submission dead-lines. The funding scheme of each Research Commission will be launched two months before the deadline. Candidates must open a user account before they can submit their application. It is advisable to apply for an account no later than two weeks before the submission deadline. (27.05.2011)

Nano-Tera.ch: continued federal funding recommended

The research initiative Nano-Tera.ch is expected to bring Switzerland to the cut-ting edge of 21st century technology. Based on engineering sciences and information technology, the initiative focuses on hu-man health and security as well as on the environment. In November 2010, the SNSF performed an interim evaluation of the initiative in collaboration with experts from abroad. Based on the positive results, the SNSF recommends that the government extend funding for Nano-Tera.ch for another four years. This research initiative has contributed positively to stimulating and improving networking among engineers with various specialisations in Switzerland. Between 2008 and 2011, the government invested 60 million Swiss francs in Nano-Tera.ch. A further 60 million Swiss francs are contributed by universities, universi-ties of applied sciences and businesses. Mandated by the Federal Council, the SNSF functions as an independent body respon-sible for quality assessment. (18.05.2011)

Agora – public science communication projects: first call for proposals

The new funding scheme Agora aims to intensify the dialogue between science and society by enabling researchers to communicate with the public and pass on their knowledge. Under Agora, researchers from all disciplines can submit applica-tions for public science communication projects. These projects can take the form of events, debates, exhibitions, films, books or works of art. Deadline for the submission of proposals is 15 August. (15.05.2011)

SystemsX.ch: the SNSF recommends continued federal funding

The aim of SystemsX.ch has been to bring systems biology in Switzerland to world class level. In October 2010, the SNSF performed an intermediate evaluation of the initiative in collaboration with experts from abroad. Based on the positive results and in view of areas where further work is desirable, the SNSF recommends that the government extend funding for SystemsX.ch at the current level for another four years. The resulting continuity would contribute to firmly establishing systems biology in Switzerland and to closing gaps. It is important that both the government and the universities concerned continue their financial support. The SNSF recognised a need to undertake further work in modelling of complex systems and to intensify collaborations with business. Between 2008 and 2011, the government invested one hundred million Swiss francs in the research initiative SystemsX.ch. Mandated by the Federal Council, the SNSF functions as an independent body responsible for quality assessment. (10.05.2011)

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Funding policy

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Funding policy

NRP 67 “end of life”: 123 pre-proposals submitted

Subsequent to the launch of the National Research Programme “End of life” (NRP 67), 123 pre-proposals requesting a total of 41.5 million Swiss francs were submit-ted to the SNSF. The programme has been allocated a budget of 15 million Swiss francs, of which 13 million are for research. The evaluation of the submitted pre-proposals will be completed by the middle of August. At the end of August, the SNSF will invite researchers whose pre-proposals were approved to submit a full proposal. (31.05.2011)

NRP “Nanomaterials”: additional call for proposals

The SNSF launches a second call for full proposals for the National Research Programme “Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials” (NRP 64) in the follow-ing areas of application: food products and food packaging, consumer products, energy, construction and high risk/high potential projects on innovative nano-materials. There will be no pre-proposal stage. The full proposals must be submit-ted via the web platform mySNF by no later than 1 December 2011. Two million Swiss francs are available for this second call. (26.05.2011)

Conclusion of the NRP “Non-Ionising Radiation – Health and environment”: assessing the risks of wireless and mobile phone radiation more accurately

Electromagnetic fields and radiation produced by radio antennae or mobile phones can influence biological processes such as, for instance, electrical brain activity during sleep. This has been shown by researchers from the National Research Pro-gramme “Non-Ionising Radiation – Health and Environment” (NRP 57). However, they have not been able to establish any links between everyday exposure to radiation and health problems. Since 2007, researchers of NRP 57 have been assessing the health risks posed by our exposure to electromagnetic fields and non-ionising radia-tion in 11 different research projects. (12.05.2011)

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Funding policy

Information leaflet: taking a close look at stem cell therapies

MHV Prize 2011 for classical philologist Rebecca Lämmle

Countless stem cell therapies are current-ly being offered on the Internet and else-where. They are said to cure or alleviate diabetes, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's etc. Together with the Federal Office of Public Health, the National Research Programme “Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine” (NRP 63) has compiled a leaflet which describes the risks of untested stem cell therapies and gives advice on how to spot dubious offers. (04.05.2011)

Since 2009, the SNSF has annually awarded the Marie Heim-Vögtlin (MHV) Prize in recognition of outstanding scien-tific achievements by MHV grantees. The winner of the 2011 prize is the classi-cal philologist Rebecca lämmle. In her dissertation she explores the poetics of Greek satyr plays.The prize ceremony will be held by the SNSF on 28 June 2011 at the University House in Berne. (20.04.2011)

NRP 61 “Water Management”: videoclips to introduce the research projects

Water channels from Valais – a model for Africa? Where will new lakes emerge when the glaciers melt? Is there enough water for tourism, water power and agriculture in Crans-Montana? – The National Research Programme “Sustain-able Water Management” attempts to reach out to laypeople and specialists from other fields with a series of short, four-minute videoclips in which the scientists themselves describe what they do on site, why their research is important and what their vision is

for a sustainable water management. (27.04.2011)

© Lisa Rigendinger


CURRENT ISSUES

SNSF: project applications up by 17 percent In 2010, researchers submitted substantially more project applications to the SNSF

than in previous years. At the same time, the SNSF awarded research grants worth a total of 726 million Swiss francs, a new record.

For several years now, the SNSF has been confronted with increasing demand for research funding. According to the recent-ly published Annual Report 2010, the number of applications in project funding, the SNSF's main funding scheme, rose abruptly by 17% last year to 2,784 appli-cations, or a total funding amount of 1.1 billion Swiss francs. A rise in the number of applications has also been noted in the area of career funding, which is geared at junior researchers. As the growth in avail-able funds cannot keep up with the rising demand, the SNSF is increasingly forced to reject projects of good quality or cut back on the requested funding.

Reasons why demand is risingThe SNSF believes that the volume of sub-mitted applications is increasing because of the growing number of scientific per-sonnel at Swiss universities, the high work rate of researchers in Switzerland and continuing pressure to secure com-petitive third-party funding. The overhead contributions introduced in 2009, which allow for the reimbursement of indirect research costs, may constitute a further incentive.

Over 3,000 funded projectsIn 2010, the SNSF awarded more research funds than ever before, name-ly 726 million Swiss francs (an increase of 2.7 percent over the previous year). These funds were allocated to around 3,100 research projects. The total fund-

“Tour de Suisse”: the SNSF meets the universities At the end of 2010, the SNSF conducted its traditional round of visits to the Swiss universities,

known as the “Tour de Suisse”. This opportunity for discussion was highly valued by both sides, particularly in view of the federal government's Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (BFI), which is currently under preparation.

ferent and complex the universities' salary arrangements and the various models are. The SNSF will fine-tune the principles discussed (e.g. minimum work-time percentage, minimum time to be spent on dissertation) during the vis-its in the second half of 2011 at the ple-nary meeting of the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS).

Research semester as an incentiveAfter a lengthy period of discussion, a measure to optimise the recruitment of members of the National Research Council was unanimously approved by

the universities: as of 2012, the SNSF will, under certain conditions, finance a research semester for Research Coun-cil members who leave office. CRUS has recently spoken in favour of such SNSF research semesters after consulting with the universities.The results of the “Tour de Suisse” dis-cussions – which also addressed current issues such as overhead, open access and the fight against scientific misconduct – will not disappear in a drawer at the SNSF: the participants will be informed in detail about the processing status of the various topics and suggestions. BL

The SNSF's visits to the universities, the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences (KFH) and the Swiss Conference of Rectors of Universities of Teacher Education were mainly devoted to the SNSF's multi-year programme 2012-16. In particular, the discussions focused on the SNSF's salary policy for doctoral candidates and postdocs as well as on the conclu-sion of the DORE (DO REsearch) pro-gramme and the corresponding innova-tions with regard to use-inspired basic research (see pages 1 and 2 in this edi-tion). The discussions showed how dif-

The rising demand for funding reflects the current dynamism of the Swiss research scene.

ing amount was distributed as follows: 24 percent Humanities and Social Sci-ences; 34 percent Mathematics, Natural and Engineering Sciences; 42 percent Biology and Medicine. HOC/Hj

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PICTURE FROM RESEARCH

SNSFinfo print is published three times a year. • Edition: 14,450 (9,400 German, 4,150 French, 900 English)

Published bySwiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) Wildhainweg 3, P.O. Box 8232, 3001 Berne Tel ++41 (0)31 308 22 22 • Fax ++41 (0)31 301 30 09 • e-mail [email protected] • website www.snsf.ch

Produced byPress and Information Office of the SNSF, Philippe Trinchan (Head of Department)

editorial BoardAlan Knaus (chief editor)Brigitte Arpagaus (ARP), Inge Blatter (IB), Daniel Höchli (HOC), Xavier Pilloud, Helen Zwahlen (HZ)

Translation Corinne Ammann, Omar Solanki

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Avalanches and debris flows: unravel the dynamic processes inside these natural phenomena

Avalanches and debris flows are dangers that mountainous regions such as Switzerland face to a particularly high extent. Numerical models would be beneficial to the security of these regions as they would be able to identify hazardous zones with the highest degree of precision. However, those wishing to develop such models must first unravel the dynamic processes that occur inside these natural phenomena. This is precisely what researchers from the EPFl lausanne are attempting to do with the help of lasers.

www.snsf.ch > Media > Picture from research

A dam break experiment being conducted: a laser beam illuminates the front area of the drain. Researchers follow the movements of individual particles with the help of a camera.

The representatives of the scientific organisa-tions of the Foundation Council elected Crispino Bergamaschi (Rector's Conference of the Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences/KFH) to succeed Richard Bührer (KFH) as well as lucas Bretsch-ger (ETHZ) to succeed Rico Maggi (University of lugano) to the Executive Committee of the Foundation Council. The Federal Council elected two further members of the Foundation Council: Wolfgang A. Renner as a business representa-tive and Walter Steinlin, president of CTI. They replace Andreas Steiner and René Imhof, who stepped down from their positions. The new members took up office on 1 April 2011.

The Executive Committee of the SNSF Founda-tion Council elected eight new members to the National Research Council:

Humanities and Social Sciences division (all as of 1 October 2011):

• Marianne Schmid Mast, Professor of Psychol-ogy/Universtity of Neuchâtel, area of responsi-bility: psychology

• Claudio Bolzman, Professor at the University for Social Work/Geneva, area of responsibility: social work in relation to sociological health research

• Dario Gamboni, Professor of Art History and Contemporary Architecture/University of Gene-va, area of responsibility: art history

• Corina Caduff, Head of Z+ (Platform for trans-disciplinary teaching), Professor at the Zurich University of the Arts, area of responsibility: arts with a focus on transdisciplinary research

elections to the executive Committee of the Foundation Council and the National Research Council

• Peter J. Schulz, Professor of Sign Theories and Health Communication/University of lugano, area of responsibility: communication and media studies

Mathematics, Natural and engineering Sciences division (all as of 1 October 2011): • Marcel Mayor, Professor at the Department of

Chemistry/University of Basel, area of respon-sibility: chemistry

• Michael Schmidt, Professor of Physical Geogra-phy/University of Zurich, area of responsibility: environmental sciences

• Christian Bernhard, Professor at the Department of Physics & Fribourg Centre for Nanomaterials/Universtity of Fribourg, area of responsibility: physics

SNSF INTERNAl

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