Draft:National Centres of Competence in Research

The Swiss National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs) are long-term research programs funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to promote scientific excellence in Switzerland. NCCRs are collaborative research networks that bring together researchers from different disciplines, institutions, and regions to address complex research questions.

Structure
Each of the currently 14 NCCR programs has a focus on a specific research topic or theme and is typically funded for a period of 12 to 14 years. The designs of an NCCR are to conduct innovative and high-impact research, provide training opportunities for young researchers, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and technology to society.

Swiss NCCRs are organized around a central research question or theme, which is typically interdisciplinary in nature. These have included Bio-Inspired Materials, Digital Fabrication, Exoplanets, and so on. The research teams within an NCCR work together to tackle different aspects of the research question, and often collaborate with researchers from other NCCRs and institutions, both within and outside Switzerland.

In addition to conducting cutting-edge research, NCCRs should promote the development of young researchers. This can be done through training opportunities for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, as well as opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking.

History
Since 2001, the NCCRs have been an important funding instrument for basic research from the Swiss federal government, which has launched a total of 42 NCCRs over the course of five series, representing an investment of over CHF 1,2 billion.

The NCCRs have made a lasting impact on the research priorities and structures in the institutions that have housed them. For example, the University of Bern reports that their programs have led to new professorships, training courses, infrastructures and platforms.

The previous round was launched in 2019 with 100 million CHF funding from the Swiss Confederation, with a focus to "boost Swiss research and innovation long term in major fields such as automation, antibiotics resistance and quantum technology". A call for proposals for NCCR Series 6, due to start in 2026, was launched at the end of November 2023.