Global Research Funding for Indian PhD Students and Postdocs in Sustainable Development, Climate, Health, and Governance (SOR4D Programme) Swiss National Science Foundation in Switzerland

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have announced the second phase of the Solution-oriented Research for Development (SOR4D) programme, offering a major global research funding opportunity for Indian students and researchers. This open call supports transdisciplinary research partnerships between Swiss and Global South institutions, focusing on real-world development challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The SOR4D programme is designed for collaborative projects that address sustainable economic development, climate change and environment, human development (including education, health, and livelihoods), and peace, governance, and inclusive societies. All research must be transdisciplinary and produce practical, usable solutions with societal impact.

The programme has a total budget of approximately CHF 19.3 million, supporting multiple projects over three years. Individual project budgets range from CHF 500,000 to CHF 1,000,000, covering expenses such as fieldwork, personnel (research assistants, coordinators), local partner engagement, workshops, and data collection. Importantly, there is no direct scholarship stipend for students; funding is allocated to consortium projects rather than individual researcher salaries abroad.

Eligible participants include Indian researchers from universities, research institutes, NGOs, and think tanks, as well as PhD students (through project budgets at partner institutions), postdocs, and early-career researchers. Cross-discipline teams spanning humanities, social sciences, environment, health, and engineering are encouraged. Indian participants must join a consortium led by a Swiss institution; solo applications are not permitted.

To apply, Indian researchers should build partnerships with faculty or research labs in Swiss universities, co-design a research concept that solves real problems and involves local partners in both India and Switzerland, and ensure the team includes a Swiss university lead, Indian research co-applicants, and non-academic partners such as NGOs, government bodies, or civil society organizations. Proposals must be written in English and submitted through the official SNSF portal by the final submission deadline of 18 May 2026.

This opportunity provides Indian students and researchers with international research experience, strong academic and practical impact, and is excellent for those pursuing PhD, postdoctoral, and global research careers. For more information, visit the official SNSF SOR4D programme page and open calls portal.