SNFinfo print, October 2011

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Editorial Pure excellence?

Every now and again, the same dispute tends to flare up about European research funding: should funds be awarded solely on Daniel Höchli Director of the the basis of scientific Administrative excellence? Or do we Offices of the SNSF need additional criteria to increase the cohesiveness of the European Union and enable countries that are not so strong on research to achieve greater success? – The SNSF and many other national funding agencies are firmly in favour of allocating funds solely on the basis of excellence. They have now got together to form a new umbrella organisation called Science Europe (see “In Focus”, p. 2) that should make their voice even more audible.

The demand for “pure excellence” must not stand on its own, however. The SNSF combines it with its commitment towards countries where conditions are less research-friendly.

The co-operation with Bulgaria and Romania (see main article) is the latest example of this.

The key evaluation criterion in these special programmes is again scientific excellence. But the programmes also contribute to efforts aimed at better tapping the large research potential of these countries. We are delighted that so many researchers from Switzerland have chosen to participate in these co-operations.

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N° 14 > October 2011

I n f o r m a t i o n f o r r e s e a r c h e r s f r o m t h e S w i s s N a t i o n a l S c i e n c e Fo u n d a t i o n

Enlargement contribution: co-operation with researchers from Bulgaria and Romania The SDC and the SNSF are continuing their longstanding co-operation in research funding in the framework of the Swiss enlargement contribution: the “Romanian-Swiss Research Programme” was launched at the end of September and is soon to be followed by the “Bulgarian-Swiss Research Programme”.

Evelyne Glättli, International Co-operation

With its enlargement contribution, Switzerland is participating in the reduction of economic and social disparities in the enlarged EU. Among the countries benefiting from the contribution are Romania and Bulgaria, with whom scientific research is one of the chosen areas of co-operation. The “Romanian-Swiss Research Programme 20112016˝ (RSRP) and the “Bulgarian-Swiss Research Programme 2011-2016˝ (BSRP) have been established for this purpose. The total funds available for joint research projects from the enlargement contribution amount to approximately ten and four million Swiss francs respectively, whereby 15% will be provided by the partner country. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has mandated the SNSF to conduct the two programmes. There is a longstanding tradition of collaboration between the two organisations, which have jointly supported research co-operations with transition countries since the early 90s (SCOPES and ESTROM programmes).

Research in key areas The new programmes will be conducted together with a partner organisation from the relevant country and will focus on the following topics: • Romania: research on major diseases; impact of waste and pollutants on envi-

© Keystone

Switzerland's enlargement contribution to the EU paves the way for joint research projects with the new member states in the east.

ronment and climate; sustainable energy; economic growth and social disparities.

• Bulgaria: ecological forestry/farming and waste management; social disparities and regional differences; drug development; innovative building methods and materials.

The projects will be submitted and conducted by research groups in Romania, Bulgaria and Switzerland and will run for three years. The call for proposals for Romania is open from 30.09.11 to 31.01.12 and the call for Bulgaria in all probability from 15.11.11 to 15.03.12. www.snsf.ch > International > Europe Enlargement contribution: Romania, Bulgaria

Page 2 > Young researchers: is Switzerland doing enough? • Page 2 > In Focus: Science Europe Page 5 > A decade old: equal opportunities in research funding • Page 5 > Introduction of overhead

CURRENT ISSUES

The SNSF wants to know exactly where it stands: is Switzerland doing enough for its young scientists?

Dieter Imboden, President of the National Research Council of the SNSF

© Keystone

Important for Swiss research: increasing the appeal of a research career for high-school students.

In order to keep abreast of the needs of young researchers and the new developments affecting them, the SNSF aims to talk directly to those concerned. On its 60th birthday, it wishes to know and not just speculate: what are the main challenges in research funding and the promotion of young scientists? With an event entitled “Young researchers: is Switzerland doing enough?˝, to be held on 11 January 2012 in Berne, it is offering young scientists a platform where they can define precisely what it is they want from the SNSF, the universities and the political authorities. They will also have the opportunity to put their demands directly before decision-makers from these domains. Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter will be among those addressing the subject at the highprofile event, which is linked to the SNSF's 60th anniversary.

The availability of a sufficient number of talented young researchers holds the promise of a bright future - not least for research in Switzerland. The SNSF has clearly and emphatically made the promotion of young scientists a priority in its multi-year programme 2012-2016.

Together with other organisations, it faces the important task of increasing the appeal of a scientific career for young high-school students and inspiring them to pursue such a career after completing their studies. At this event, the SNSF wishes to hear the voices, arguments and ideas of young researchers so that it may take note of them for the future.

If you are interested in this subject, we would like to invite you to participate in the event at the University of Berne. We look forward to your input. To register, please go to the SNSF website.

Registration for the event: www.snsf.ch > Services for researchers > Events

in focus

Science Europe: a new voice for the European scientific community

Dieter Imboden President of the National Research Council of the SNSF

On 21 October 2011, about 50 national research organisations from over 20 European countries gathered in Berlin to found a new pan-European umbrella organisation called “Science Europe˝ (SE). The association, registered in Brussels, will combine the strengths of its two precursors, the association of the heads of European research funding and performing organisations (EUROHORCs), which was dissolved the day before, and the European Science Foundation (ESF), which will be progressively wound down during the next few years.

The formation of SE is the logical answer to the idea of the “European Research Area˝ (ERA), which

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was launched by the EU to encour- for the development of the ERA, age and facilitate cross-border col- which has been jointly developed laboration in scientific research. by the ESF and EUROHORCs in A few years ago, the idea gained the years before. It will support the momentum when the European formation of multilateral agreeCommission realised that the free ments for scientific co-operation with the ultimate circulation of people, knowledge and The ultimate goal is goal of developing money can only be to create a “European a “European Grant Union˝. Furtherachieved in close Grant Union” more, by forming co-operation with six scientific comnational research organisations. SE will render the mittees, it will continue the tradidialogue between the EU and tion of the ESF standing committhe national organisations more tees, which lend a voice to scienhomogeneous and more efficient tists for the development of sci– for the benefit of research and entific policies. The foundation of SE marks the beginning of a new researchers.

Science Europe will continue the challenging phase for European activities defined in the Roadmap research.

www.snsf.ch Current issues SNSFinfo Applications & evaluation Funding policy International/Swisscore National Research Programmes National Centres of Competence in Research Communication & transfer

Agora: call for proposals attracts great interest

Project funding: earliest possible start of projects remains unchanged

The SNSF has received 77 proposals for public science communication projects covering a wide range of disciplines and communication formats. The success of this initial call confirms the scientific community's eagerness to pass on its knowledge and engage in dialogue with the public. The funding decisions will be communicated to the applicants at the end of January 2012 and projects will be allowed to start as of 1 February 2012 at the earliest. Due to the large number of applications received, the SNSF will only be able to finance a limited number of excellent projects. The next call for proposals will open in mid-May 2012 and close on 15 August 2012. (29.09.2011)

The spring submission date for project funding was moved from 1st March to 1st April and this has led to some confusion regarding the earliest possible start of research projects. As under the old system, projects funded by the SNSF can get underway as of 1st April (if the project was approved in spring) or 1st October (if the project was approved in autumn). Researchers can nonetheless delay the start of their project by up to one year after the official decision, if necessary. Projects can start on any first day of the month within that period of time. Researchers communicate the actual start date to the SNSF in their “Request for release of funds” upon being prompted to do so via mySNF. (18.08.2011)

Publication grants: changes as of October 2011 As the DORE programme expires this autumn, the DORE publication grants are now integrated into the general publication funding of the SNSF. Since 1 October 2011, all publication grants are paid from the normal publication budget. As of this date, all applications for publication grants need to be submitted via the mySNF portal. The manuscript has to be sent both electronically (PDF or CD/DVD) and in printed form. (30.08.2011) © Andri Pol

Current issues SNSFinfo Applications & evaluation Funding policy International/Swisscore National Research Programmes National Centres of Competence in Research Communication & transfer

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SNSF: changes to terminology, classification and website The SNSF has renamed certain divisions within its Administrative Offices as well as one of its specialised committees.

Furthermore, it has reclassified its funding schemes and made the corresponding changes on its website. The funding schemes will be divided into the following five categories in future: Projects, Careers, Programmes (with pre-defined topics or formal/organisational requirements), Infrastructures and Science communication. To provide better support for researchers, the SNSF has published new guidelines for the selection of funding schemes and – for project funding – new guidelines for applicants and a description of the evaluation procedure. (24.08.2011)

Making research output more visible Since August, the SNSF has collected data on the output of SNSF-funded research.

During and after a project, researchers are able to enter details regarding publications, events and communication activities along with other types of research output on mySNF. By introducing this initiative, the SNSF is responding to a requirement embedded in the new Act on Research and Innovation which calls for the output of SNSF-funded research to be better visible to the public and the political realm.

To simplify the lives of researchers, it is possible to import publications directly and to use project data that is already in the system. The first consolidated results on output data will be available in two to three years. (13.07.2011)

www.snsf.ch Current issues SNSFinfo Applications & evaluation Funding policy International/Swisscore National Research Programmes National Centres of Competence in Research Communication & transfer

Eastern Europe: nearly 100 research partnerships

The SDC-SNSF Research Fund for Global Issues

Last December, the SNSF and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) issued a second call for proposals in the framework of SCOPES, the ongoing Eastern Europe programme 2009-2012.

The available funds were sufficient for approval of 28 of the 85 applications submitted. In total, the number of research co-operations currently in progress under SCOPES now reaches 99. Most of them will run for a period of three years. The co-operation networks stretch from the Western Balkans to Central Asia and from Ukraine to Moldova. The SDC and the SNSF are planning to continue the Eastern Europe programme under similar conditions from 2013 to 2016. (28.09.2011)

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the SNSF have jointly created a fund for research on global issues in and with developing and emerging countries. The Fund has been endowed with some 100 million Swiss francs for its first eight years. The new funding instrument consists of a first module with pre-defined thematic priorities and a second one for which the project themes can be freely chosen by researchers. The first calls for proposals on two pre-defined themes are planned for early 2012. The SDC and the SNSF will be organising in December 2011 a joint orientation and exchange event.

(11.07.2011)

Fourth call for new National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR) The SNSF is launching a fourth call for NCCRs. The call is not subject to thematic specifications. Proposals need to cover a sufficient thematic and disciplinary range.

The SNSF requires that every draft proposal is accompanied by a letter of support from the home institution. It will also accept proposals backed by more than one home institution. The submission deadline for draft proposals will be 16 January 2012. Research is expected to start in early 2014. The available funds will permit the establishment of five or six new NCCRs. (14.07.2011)

Current issues SNSFinfo Applications & evaluation Funding policy International/Swisscore National Research Programmes National Centres of Competence in Research

Karl Gademann receives the National Latsis Prize 2011 The crossroads of chemistry and biology inspire the research of organic chemist Karl Gademann. By isolating and synthesising natural materials, he discovers unexpected links which open up new research fields. He receives the National Latsis Prize 2011 in recognition of his achievements in the total synthesis of natural products of biological interest. Worth 100,000 Swiss francs, the National Latsis Prize is one of the most prestigious scientific awards in Switzerland. The prize will be awarded on 12 January 2012 at the Rathaus in Berne. (30.08.2011)

Š Derek Li Wan Po/SNF

Communication & transfer

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Media training for researchers: course schedule 2012

Research Day: the SNSF visits Geneva

The SNSF supports practice-oriented media training courses for researchers in German and French. In 2012, the courses in German will take place at the MAZ in Lucerne on the following dates: 20/21 January; 8/9 June; 9/10 November. The courses in French will take place at the Maison de la communication in Lausanne on the following dates: 11/12 May; 7/8 September. Online registration: www.maz.ch / www.media-training.ch (06.10.2011)

On 7 december 2011, as part of the Research Day, the SNSF will be visiting the University of Geneva to present the SNSF’s funding schemes at information stands and lectures.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and to participate in workshops where individual funding schemes will be discussed in more detail. Researchers from all universities are welcome. (07.09.2011)

CURRENT ISSUES

A decade of equal opportunities in research funding If all genders are to enjoy the same opportunities in research, there is a permanent need for equal opportunity efforts. For this reason, the SNSF created its own Equal Opportunities Commission and the position of an equal opportunities representative.

© Franca Pedrazzetti

Women are still strongly under-represented in top positions and in specific disciplines.

The study “Gender and research funding˝, published in 2008, did not detect any disadvantages on the basis of gender in the SNSF funding process. So why is the SNSF continuing to pursue gender equality? The simple reason is that equal opportunities do not exist in the research environment that we know: female researchers are clearly underrepresented in leading positions and in certain disciplines. The SNSF would like to put down a marker and improve the conditions for female researchers as far as possible. An example of this is the removal of gender-specific barriers in its funding schemes such as the planned measures to make postdoc schemes more attractive to researchers who have a family (the so-called 120% solution) as detailed in the multi-year programme 2012-2016. Additionally,

the SNSF tries to achieve an appropriate proportion of women on its committees. All the same, the assessment after a decade of gender equality is mixed (see insert “Ten years of equal opportunities in research funding˝).

Mobility and networks On 14/15 November 2011, an international conference on mobility and networks will take place, celebrating ten years of equal opportunities in research funding. Well-known researchers will present their work on issues such as mobility patterns and impact factors in their relationship to gender. An international discussion panel chaired by Dieter Imboden, President of the Equal Opportunities Commission, will conclude the event. MWI

Introduction of overhead: a simple but effective model The SNSF's progress report on the overhead introduction phase shows that the simple implementation model has proven effective, although the medium-term target of a contribution rate of 20% has not yet been reached. According to a survey, the rectors of institutions of higher education generally use the overhead contributions for their research and administration infrastructure.

Since 2009, the SNSF has financed via overhead contributions the indirect research costs incurred at research institutions through projects funded by the SNSF. The now published progress report on the introductory phase (20092011) confirms the effectiveness of the simple implementation model: each year parliament sets the level of the overhead contribution, which is paid pro rata to the eligible institutions on the basis of the SNSF funds they received in the previous year. The report partly draws on a survey conducted by the SNSF at these institutions, in particular at the universities. Together with the Rectors' Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS), the SNSF continues to demand an increase in the overhead to 20% in

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the medium term (currently 15%) as well as the inclusion of the National Centres of Competence in Research in the list of funding schemes eligible for overhead.

However, the increase must not be to the detriment of direct research funding, and it cannot be implemented in the 2013-2016 period.

200 million for indirect costs During the three-year introductory phase, the SNSF made overhead contributions of 200 million Swiss francs in total. The biggest shares were paid to: the University of Zurich (15%), ETH Zurich and the University of Geneva (14% each), and the University of Basel (12%). According to the survey, the contributions were most often used to pay

for research and administration infrastructure and sometimes to compensate for grant reductions implemented by the SNSF. It is generally the rectors or the governing bodies of the institutions who decide how the overhead contributions are to be used. Only minor changes to the mode of payment were proposed; 88% of the institutions covered by the survey do not see any problems in this respect.

Based on the positive development of the scheme up to now, the SNSF has issued indefinitely valid overhead regulations, which still need to be approved by the Federal Council. HOC Overhead progress report 2009-2011: www.snsf.ch > Current > Dossiers > Overhead

PICTURE FROM RESEARCH

Measuring methane emissions in agriculture: cattle’s contribution to greenhouse emissions

© Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zurich/SNSF

A flying laboratory: the instruments in the containers under the wings measure the methane and carbon dioxide concentrations in the air during the entire flight.

After carbon dioxide, methane is the second most important greenhouse gas. It is not the result of industry and traffic but largely of agriculture. If calculated in carbon dioxide equivalents, it amounts to 7% of Swiss greenhouse gas emissions.

This calculation of the national greenhouse gas inventory is based on a rough estimate. The team of Werner Eugster from the ETH Zurich would like to verify this estimate. The researchers attach equipment to captive balloons and motorised gliders to measure the concentration of methane near the ground. Their work will provide the basis for a sound judgement on whether Switzerland is fulfilling its obligation to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases as defined in the Kyoto protocol. www.snsf.ch > Media > Press releases

snsf internal National Research Council: re-elections 2012-2015 The 2008-2011 term of office of the National Research Council will expire at the end of the year.

The Executive Committee of the Foundation Council of the SNSF has therefore unanimously re-elected all the current members of the National Research Council for the 2012-2015 term of office. The reelection will be effective up to the expiry of the maximum term of office of eight years, which may be extended in exceptional cases.

Furthermore, the Executive Committee of the Foundation Council has elected ten new members of the National Research Council: Humanities and Social Sciences division (all as of 1 January 2012): • Georg Frederik von Krogh, professor of management and economics/ETHZ, for the area of economics with a focus on business administration

• Andreas Furrer, professor of private and comparative law/University of Lucerne, for the area of law with a focus on private law • Sabine Schneider, professor of modern German literature/University of Zurich, for the area of literary studies with a focus on German and English studies Biology and Medicine division: • Hanns Ulrich Zeilhofer, professor at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology/University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, for the area of cellular and molecular neurobiology (as of 1 October 2011) • Andreas Lüthi, Professor, Friedrich Miescher Institute/University of Basel, for the area of integrative neurosciences and neurophysiology • Petra Hüppi, professor at the Department of Paediatrics/University of Geneva, for the area of clinical neurosciences

SNSFinfo print is published three times a year. • Edition: 14,150 (9,200 German, 4,050 French, 900 English) Published by Swiss 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 pri@snf.ch • website www.snsf.ch Produced by Press and Information Office of the SNSF, Philippe Trinchan (Head of Department)

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• Beatrice Beck-Schimmer, professor at the Institute of Anaesthesiology University Hospital Zurich/University of Zurich, for the area of perioperative medicine • Marc Donath, professor at the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism University Hospital Basel/University of Basel, for the area of internal medicine • Hugues Abriel, professor at the Department of Clinical Research, Insel/University of Berne, for the area of cardiovascular physiology The five members of the Research Council mentioned last will take up office on 1 April 2012.

Programmes division (as of 1 October 2011): • Stefanie Hellweg, professor, Institute of Environmental Engineering (IFU)/ETHZ, for the area of social and natural sciences with links to the environment

Editorial Board Alan Knaus (chief editor) Corinne Ammann, Célia Francillon, Daniel Höchli (HOC), Omar Solanki, Maya Widmer (MWI) Translation Textra, Pfäffikon (SZ) • Proofreading Birgit Roth, Galgenen (SZ) Design Agence Symbol, Granges-Paccot (FR) Printing Imprimerie Saint-Paul, Fribourg