The call is now open!
The call for projects "Research Partnership Grants" aims at developing new joint project proposals or connecting already existing funded projects in Switzerland and in the MENA partner countries into long-lasting cooperation. The goal of this instrument is to allow researchers to conduct desk-based research, fieldwork, feasibility studies, archival research, qualitative interviews, surveys, artistic practices, design thinking, or other forms of collaborative work, in order to apply for grants from other funding agencies (e.g. national funding agencies or EU funding schemes), and/or to develop long-term partnerships between two institutions or research groups. The Research Partnership Grants instrument has already been launched in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Main applicant
Q: Can a researcher outside Switzerland apply as the main applicant for a Leading House call?
A: No, the main applicant is the Switzerland-based principal investigator. The researcher in the partner country is the co-applicant.
Q: Who bears the main responsibility for the awarded project?
A: The Switzerland-based main applicant bears the responsibility for the project including its technical, administrative, and financial coordination as well as timely delivery of activity and financial reports. The Swiss main applicant is legally bound to the Leading House via a contract signed by them and the Leading House.
Multiple applications
Q: Can a single project be allocated a "Research Partnership Grant" more than once?
No, if a project is allocated a "Research Partnership Grant", it is not allowed to apply when the call is launched again. The following scenarios are possible:
- A "Research Partnership Grant" proposal which has been rejected can be submitted again at a subsequent call for projects, taking into account the comments of the evaluators.
- During or after a "Research Partnership Grant", the same researcher can apply for the same grant at a subsequent call, but with a different project and different partners. The application will not be eligible if the applicant has more than one ongoing LHMENA grant.
Eligible disciplines and fields of research
Q : Which disciplines are eligible? Are there priority disciplines?
All disciplines are eligible for this call. There are no priority disciplines or quota. Projects will be selected according to the evaluation criteria mentioned in the call for projects.
Q. How can I apply?
A: Applications must be submitted on the https://hes-so.k-review.com/ platform. For guidance on how to use the K-review platform, please refer to the user guide on the application procedure.
Q: In what language do I have to apply?
A: All information submitted in the application, including supporting documents, must be in English unless otherwise specified in the call guidelines.
Q: I just found out about the call but it is past the submission deadline. May I still submit my application now for future consideration?
A: No, you may not. Please check the Leading House homepage for more information on upcoming calls.
Q: As a main applicant (Switzerland-based), can I collaborate with multiple researchers from more than one university and/or public research institute in the same partner country?
A: Yes, you can - provided all co-applicants meet the eligibility requirements of the call.
Q : Can the Leading House help me find a partner in Switzerland or in a partner country?
A: The Leading House cannot help researchers from the MENA region find partners in Switzerland. Researchers based in Switzerland can contact the Leading House MENA to get information on eligible universities in the MENA region or to be put in touch with potential partners in their field. This is done on a case-by-case basis and in the limit of our network.
Salary costs
Q: Can the grant be used to pay salaries?
A: No, the grant cannot be used to pay salaries, nor is it meant to be a scholarship. There is an exception for the work-related institutional costs in Swiss universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education. The grant can be used to pay project-related costs (e.g., travel and accommodation for field research), provided these are clearly justified in the proposal. The outsourcing of project-tasks (e.g., data collection and processing) can only be covered in exceptional cases (see below). Please refer to the call guidelines for more information and a complete list of eligible costs.
Funds transfer
Q: Is it possible to transfer the awarded grant directly from the Leading House to the partner country?
A: No, all grants are transferred from the Leading House to a project account at the university/institution of the Switzerland-based main applicant who is then responsible for disbursing the dedicated portion of the grant to the co-applicant in the partner country, if applicable.
Q: Is there a limit to how much of the grant a Switzerland-based main applicant can transfer or spend in the partner country?
A: There is no fixed percentage set for the share of the grant that can be allocated to the partner country. However, the call guidelines clearly define which types of costs are eligible for each category of partner. Please consult the call text for detailed information on eligible expenses.
Outsourcing and subcontracting costs
Q: Can the grant be used to pay for outsourcing in the partner country?
A: Research activities that cannot be conducted by the Swiss partner, in particular those that must be conducted in the partner country (field work, data acquisition, interviews, surveys, translation), can be outsourced to the partner(s) in the MENA region or to third parties. Maximum 20% of the overall grant can be used for this budget line.
In-cash, in-kind, and third-party contributions
Q: What is the difference between in-cash, in-kind, and third-party contributions?
A:
- In-cash contributions are monetary contributions made by the Swiss and partner institutions to effectively complement the project.
- In-kind contributions are contributions made by the Swiss or partner institutions without any (cash) money being paid towards the project (e.g., salaries, free use of infrastructure, hardware, provision of goods).
- Third-party contributions are contributions made by the external partner(s) through effective cash payments (e.g., grants, scholarships, awards).
Cost sharing
Q: How much do research partners in Switzerland and partner countries have to contribute financially to the research?
A: Each partner is expected to make a financial and/or in-kind contribution to the research budget. In most cases, an equitable share of in-cash and in-kind contributions are expected and evaluated as part of the review criteria. For each call, the Leading House will outline specific contributions required of all partners in its call guidelines.
Q: How are applications evaluated?
A: The Leading House evaluates all applications in accordance with principles of fair competition to ensure an equal opportunity for all applicants. The evaluation process includes a first formal eligibility check by the Leading House. All eligible applications are then forwarded to external reviewers who will conduct the review in accordance with international peer-review standards. Further information regarding the evaluation criteria and specific evaluation processes can be found in the specific call guidelines.
Q: What kind of report is required for the grant my research group was awarded?
A: In fulfilment of the grant agreement/terms of contract, the Switzerland-based main applicant must submit both an activity and a financial report to the Leading House. For specific details regarding the reporting format, content, and deadlines specific to each call, please refer to the grant agreement and call guidelines.
Q: I want to be notified of upcoming Leading House calls. How should I do?
A: You can write to the Swiss Leading House MENA and ask to be added to our mailing list in order to receive notifications on our next calls. Additionally, a consolidation of funding opportunities for all five Leading Houses along with SNSF and other funding bodies in Switzerland can be found on the research.swiss platform