
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.
Career / Early-Career Researchers
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: 25 November 2025

MSCA Doctoral Networks
Support for doctoral students for 3 years as part of an international training program based on a large joint research project.
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.
Project / Collaboration / Interdisciplinarity
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: 28 August 2025

ERC Advanced Grant 2025
EUR 2 million for outstanding researchers with 7-12 years of research experience after PhD to lead an innovative project with their own team for up to 5 years.
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: 8 October 2025

MSCA Staff Exchanges
Intersectoral, international and interdisciplinary cooperation for the mutual exchange of personnel and knowledge.
Deadline: 25 November 2025

MSCA Doctoral Networks
Support for doctoral students for 3 years as part of an international training program based on a large joint research project.
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.
Infrastructure / Facilities
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.
Innovation
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.