In accordance with Article 4 of the Research and Innovation Promotion Act of 2012, the federal government recognises the SAMS as a research funding institution. The SAMS does not have sufficient financial resources to provide funding for major research projects. Funding for these projects is provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
The SAMS promotes research in the following areas through various funds or funding programs, thanks primarily to collaboration with private foundations:
- Young physicians interested in research: MD-PhD program
- Young Talents in Clinical Research: funding program
- Biomedical ethics: Käthe Zingg-Schwichtenberg Fund
- Neurosciences: Robert Bing Prize, Théodore Ott Fund, Théodore Ott Prize
- Palliative care: funding programme (completed in 2018)
- Health services research: funding programme (completed in 2016)
- Medical imaging: Helmut Hartweg Fund
All applications must be registered online. Detailed information and registration form can be found on the page of the relevant fund or funding programme, using the menu on the left-hand side.
Next submission deadlines
Théodore Ott Prize: early 2026 (every 5 years)
Young talents in clinical research: 30 June 2025 (once a year)
Käthe Zingg-Schwichtenberg Fund: probably mid-2025 (once a year)
National MD-PhD program: probably early 2025 (once a year)
Stern-Gattiker Prize: early 2026 (every 2 years)
Robert Bing Prize: early 2026 (every 2 years)
Helmut Hartweg Fund: no open call (insufficient dividend yield)
Théodore Ott Fund: no separate call anymore (award of Ott-MD-PhD grants)