University Funding
Call for Research Funding Proposals 2026
The Research Committee funds research projects and networking activities and, in cooperation with the Graduate Academy, supports junior researchers in building their academic careers. On this page, you can find the four funding lines. More details can be foundin the Information Sheet.
Regular applications can be submitted on two dates each year and will be dealt with at the subsequent regular Research Committee meetings. Decisions will be communicated in the week following the meeting. Urgent applications can be submitted at any time and will be dealt with as quickly as possible. The urgency must be well-justified.
Submission dates for 2026:
2 March and 14 September
FoKo meeting dates for 2026:
2 April and 15 October
Applications must be submitted via the FIS under the tab ‘Internal Grants’. When preparing your application, please consult and follow the provisions in the Information Sheet. If you have any questions, please get in touch with the secretariat of the Research Committee (foko@unilu.ch). Please note that the faculties also provide their own funds for smaller grants and/or other purposes (e.g. conference participation). Publication funding is managed by the ZHB (library services).
Funding lines
Project funding
Preparatory funding is available to help develop competitive third-party funding applications. Researchers who are eligible for SNSF project funding based on their career stage are eligible to apply. Funding can be used for temporary positions, teaching relief, and project-related materials. The maximum contribution is CHF 25,000.
In addition, smaller research projects without direct third-party funding can be supported with up to CHF 10,000. Members of the professorial staff, staff in the category “Teaching and Research Officers” (Lehr- und Forschungsbeauftragte), and postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply.
Application forms
- Projects: Preparatory Funding (with third-party funding application)
- Projects: Research Contribution (without third-party funding application)
Early career funding
Doctoral students with an outstanding dissertation project can apply for mobility stays abroad of three to twelve months or relief from assistant, teaching and administrative duties of up to six months to complete their dissertation. The funding includes a lump sum as a contribution to living, travel and research costs or the costs of relief.
For postdoctoral researchers, a contribution towards the preparation of an application to a career development instrument of the SNSF or the EU can be financed. The funding includes exemption from teaching and administrative duties or an increase in workload of up to 30% for a maximum of four months, as well as project-related material resources. The maximum funding amount is CHF 20,000.
Application forms
- Mobility stays for doctoral students (UniLu Doc.Mobility Stipendium)
- Completion grant for doctoral students (UniLu Doc.Protected Research Time)
- Preparatory funding for Postdocs
Interdisciplinary research networks
This funding line supports the establishment of interdisciplinary research networks with the aim of creating new research content and structures. The call for proposals is aimed at consortia of at least four members of the professorial staff, staff in the category “Teaching and Research Officers” (Lehr- und Forschungsbeauftragte) and/or postdoctoral researchers from at least two faculties or departments. Networks can be thematically or methodologically oriented.
In this call for proposals, a contribution of up to CHF 10,000 can be applied for as start-up funding for in-depth conceptual development of the network (salaries, workshops, retreats). Funded networks can apply for further funding after a successful development phase.
Application form
Scientific exchange
This funding line targets scientific staff at postdoctoral level and above and supports contributions to conferences with significant participation from the University of Lucerne and with an international or interdisciplinary character. A minimum of 50% international participation and/or a clearly interdisciplinary character is expected. Contributions for visiting scholars, lecture series and other activities that serve scientific networking can also be applied for. The maximum contribution is CHF 10,000.
