What does NCCR mean in RESEARCH

National Centers of Competence in Research (NCCR) are research networks established by the Swiss National Science Foundation to promote and advance multidisciplinary research collaborations. The NCCRs facilitate inter-institutional, long-term and strategic cooperation, enabling researchers from different disciplines to create a common research agenda and develop new approaches.

The NCCR program is an important part of Switzerland's efforts to continually foster innovation and improve scientific excellence. It supports novel interdisciplinary projects that have the potential to drive forward the development of current knowledge and technologies, as well as generate new insights into critical social issues.

NCCRs are typically funded by direct awards from the Swiss National Science Foundation, with additional funds coming from universities, cantons, industry partners, and other sources. The total amount of funding depends on the type of project being undertaken and can range from several million francs up to tens of millions depending on its scope and duration.

Yes. Industrial or private partnerships can play an important role in providing resources for specific projects within an NCCR as well as helping to ensure that any research outputs generated have a broader impact within society at large. Such involvement must be approved by the national committee overseeing the respective NCCR before any funding is provided.

An individual NCCR typically lasts for up to seven years in order for researchers to adequately explore their chosen area of focus. This does not mean that all activities related to the scope of an individual project need to end when the grant period ends; it simply means that all related activities should be completed within this timeframe.

An NCCR may involve a variety activities ranging from basic research projects through to more targeted efforts such as focusing on knowledge transfer and collaboration between academia and industry, or exploring cutting edge technological advances within a given field. Projects can also include public outreach initiatives aimed at engaging stakeholders beyond those directly involved in its operations such as policymakers, business leaders etc.

As of April 2021, there were 19 active National Centres of Competence in Research spread out across Switzerland’s various cantons covering an array topics including robotics engineering, nanoscience technology, diabetes research, climate change mitigation strategies etc.

Applications for status as a National Centre will first be reviewed internally by staff from within the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF). Selected applications will then go before a panel consisting both internal SNSF staff members and experts from outside organizations who will make final decisions based on criteria set down by SNSF itself.