Swiss National Science Foundation
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, German: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, SNF; French: Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientifique, FNS; Italian: Fondo nazionale svizzero per la ricerca scientifica) is a science research support organisation mandated by the Swiss Federal Government. The Swiss National Science Foundation was established under private law by physicist and medical doctor Alexander von Muralt in 1952. Organisation 
The SNSF consists of three main bodies: Foundation Council, National Research Council and Administrative Offices. The Foundation Council is the highest authority and makes strategic decisions. The National Research Council is composed of distinguished  researchers who mostly work at Swiss institutions of higher education. They assess research proposals submitted to the SNSF and make funding decisions. The National Research Council comprises up to 100 members and is subdivided into four divisions:
 Division I: humanities and social sciences
 Division II: mathematics, natural sciences and engineering sciences
 Division III: biology and medicine
 Division IV: programmes (National Research Programmes and National Centres of Competence in Research)
Mandated by the federal authorities, the Swiss National Science Foundation supports basic science in all academic disciplines. Research programmes 
The National Research Programmes (NRP) and National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCR) are research programmes of the SNSF. Mandated by the Federal Council, NRPs generate scientific knowledge aimed at solving pressing problems. They generally run for up to five years and have an overall budget of eight to twelve million Swiss francs. Since 1975, the SNSF has launched over 69 NRPs. NCCRs aim to strengthen research structures in Switzerland. Each NCCR is based at an institution of higher education and consists of a centre of competence as well as a national and international network. See also 
 List of universities in Switzerland
 Science and technology in Switzerland
 United States National Science Foundation
 Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences

Notes and references

External links 
  
 National Research Programmes (NRPs)
 National Centres of Competence in Research (NCCRs)
 Horizons, research magazine

Scientific organisations based in Switzerland
Organisations based in Bern
Foundations based in Switzerland
1952 establishments in Switzerland
Organizations established in 1952
Funding bodies of Switzerland
Research funding agencies