The Academia-Industry Training (AIT) India programme is an innovation-based funding instrument of the Leading House South Asia and Iran. It is open to 10 sciencepreneurs who are looking to discover the market potential of their applied research project in India as well as their entrepreneurial potential.

The AIT India programme allows young scientists to validate their innovative concepts in direct contact with peers, experts and business representatives in Switzerland and India. The objective is to enable researchers to gain a better understanding of the potential market viability of their research concept and thereby allow them to refine their concept accordingly. In addition, it allows them to expand their international network and develop their own entrepreneurial skills. The two most promising projects will win CHF 10,000.00 each to grow and internationalise their businesses.

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from founding members of science-based Swiss startups with a high level of market potential. This programme is tailored for Master’s students, PhD students, postdocs and researchers from Swiss universities, universities of applied sciences, universities of teacher education, research institutes and centres of technological excellence who are pursuing a concrete business opportunity based on their research. Please see our 2023 flyer for more information on the details of the programme(PDF 6,0 MB).

How to apply

Applications are now closed for the 2023 programme. If you would like to be informed whenever the Leading House announces a new call, please register for our newsletter.

Research Partnership Grants aim to offer support to Swiss researchers who are interested in entering into research collaborations with institutional partners located in any of the nine countries that fall within the mandate region of this Leading House: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The grants have three main purposes:

• foster new partnerships
  Research Partnership Grants are useful at an early stage in developing new partnerships or fleshing out recently established partnerships, especially with institutions and countries across South Asia and in Iran that have so far been underexposed AND/OR
• allow existing partnerships to grow and develop
  A Research Partnership Grant can offer Swiss researchers who have already successfully completed a project with a partner in South Asia or Iran the possibility of continuing joint research with the objective of preparing a grant application for a full joint research project (e.g. through the Swiss National Science Foundation, EU funding or a national or regional funding body). These grants may also allow for joint teaching or curriculum development to be intensified AND/OR
• support emerging research talent
  Research Partnership Grants may also be used to support the next generation of scientists, i.e. those who have gained a Master’s degree but who have not yet completed their PhD and who have no more than six years of professional research experience, in becoming integrated in international collaborations. They help to establish new partnerships through personal contacts, thereby making them more sustainable, and attract young talent to Switzerland, while at the same time encouraging Swiss researchers to enrich their careers by spending time in an academic environment abroad.

Applications are accepted from applicants who are permanent residents of Switzerland and have an employment contract with a federal or cantonal university, a university of applied sciences, a university of teacher education or any officially recognised research institute in Switzerland (in accordance with the listings on the SERI website). Calls are open for activities in all scientific disciplines and research fields. Applicants should, however, be able to demonstrate that their project will be sustainable by gaining access to external funding once the grant period comes to an end. Any further eligibility criteria will be detailed whenever a call for grants is published.

The 2022 Call for Research Partnership Grants with South Asia and Iran is now closed. There are currently no open calls for grants. These will be published on this website and via the Newsletter (subscription below).

Swiss researchers planning to organise a symposium or workshop with partner organisations in any country in South Asia or Iran may approach the Leading House to find out more about funding possibilities.