Glühbirne

Here you will find open calls for the UniBE funding schemes as well as selected external calls. The external calls were chosen by the Vice-Rectorate Research and Innovation for their broad relevance to University of Bern researchers.

Research funding databases with a comprehensive range of opportunities for different funding needs can be found here.

Horizon Europe – European Framework Programme 2020-2027

2025 Calls for Proposals

The 2025 calls for collaborative projects are open! Researchers in Switzerland can participate – with funding from the EU – and coordinate.

Deadline: 1 September 2025

UniBE Short Travel Grants for (Post)Docs

Up to CHF 8,000 for PhD students and Postdocs as well as Senior Research Assistants to undertake a research stay abroad of 2-8 weeks.

Deadline: 1 September 2025

UniBE Doc.Mobility

Financing for PhD students who are not funded through the SNSF to undertake a 6-12 month research stay abroad.

Deadline: 10 September 2025

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025

Support for researchers with a doctorate and a maximum of 8 years of postdoctoral experience, who are new to Switzerland, to carry out a project for 12-24 months.

Deadline: 19 September 2025

UniBE Digital Venture Fellowship

CHF 100,000 for early-career researchers to translate their scientific findings into innovative, digitization-related products or services and take their first entrepreneurial steps.

Deadline: 14 October 2025

ERC Starting Grant 2026

Up to EUR 1.5 million for outstanding researchers with 2-7 years of research experience after PhD to lead an innovative project with their own team for 5 years.

Deadline: 16 October 2025

Promotion Fund

Up to CHF 5,000 for networking activities (e.g., seminars, conferences, workshops, internet platforms, peer mentoring, continuing education measures) organized by mid-level faculty from doctoral level.

Deadline: 1 December 2025

120% Care Grant

Funds to hire a support person to take over tasks so that early-career researchers with care responsibilities can temporarily reduce their workload.

Deadline: 19 February 2026

Initiator Grant

Up to CHF 30,000 for early career researchers post PhD to prepare an application for third-party funding.

Deadline: 22 August 2025

Switzerland–Middle East and North Africa Research Partnership Grants

CHF 15,000 for research costs and for scientific networking and communication in projects between Switzerland and MENA partner countries.

Deadline: 4 September 2025

Bern Interdisciplinary-Grant (BIND Grant)

Up to CHF 150,000 for the preparation of an interdisciplinary project proposal to a national or international funding agency, in which at least 2 disciplines of UniBE, Inselspital or UPD are represented.

Deadline: 19 September 2025

Digitization Commission 2025 Call

Funding for Profile-Raising Projects, Preparatory Projects (for subsequent Network Projects), Network Projects, and Perspective Projects for the Mittelbau.

Deadline: 30 September 2025

Switzerland–Africa Research Partnership Grants

CHF 15,000-40,000 for research costs (no salary costs) as well as for travel and events in projects between Switzerland and African countries (excluding Maghreb region and Egypt).

Deadline: 2025 (various)

European Partnerships – transnational projects

Projects in the areas of biodiversity, urban transformation, clean energy, secure water supply, transforming healthcare systems, rare diseases, and One Health and antibiotic resistance.

Deadline: continuous, in advance

Seed Money

Up to CHF 10,000 to cover costs arising from the preparation of Horizon Europe collaborative project applications in which the University of Bern plays a substantial role (equivalent to coordination).

Deadline: continuous, in advance

Travel Grant

Up to CHF 1,000 for short trips necessary for the launch or preliminary clarification of European research and education projects. Horizon Europe, COST and EUREKA project applications are eligible, or in special cases other international applications.

Deadline: 30 November 2025

Investment Fund for Cost-Intensive Equipment for Research

Co-financing for the acquisition of equipment worth more than CHF 500,000 that primarily serves a research purpose.

Further funding opportunities for your innovation projects can be found on the Funding and Competitions page of the University of Bern's Innovation Guide.

Deadline: 19 September 2025

UniBE Digital Venture Fellowship

CHF 100,000 for early-career researchers from all disciplines to translate their scientific findings into innovative, digitization-related products or services and take their first entrepreneurial steps.

Deadline: 20 September 2025

BeLEARN Booster

CHF 10,000 per partner for pioneering cooperation projects in the field of digitalization and education.