Funding

Agency:

Institute for Ageing Research IAF and Age‑Stiftung

Category: Award

Focus: Supports innovative ideas addressing the challenges of ageing. It recognizes both technological (AgeTech) and social innovations that enhance older adults’ independence, social participation, quality of life, and health.

Amount:

• Consulting voucher from Margerite (product evaluation or design sprint workshop worth CHF 3,500)
• Cooperation voucher from the IAF Institute for Age Research (co-creation workshop or joint proposal worth CHF 4,000)
• Professionally produced video about the innovation (sponsored by IAF)
• Pitch coaching provided by the City of Zurich
• Presentation and networking opportunities at the Swiss AgeTech Conference in Zurich

Eligibility: Swiss-based individuals or teams with a technological innovation project addressing aging-related needs.

Deadline: 14.06.2026

Agency:

Horten Stiftung

Category: Project funding

Focus: Supports multidisciplinary teams in translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world healthcare solutions. The program emphasizes innovative translational research, including the development of novel or improved diagnostics and treatments, with direct relevance to Phase I and II clinical trials. Focus areas include brain health (mental health, psychiatry, neurology) and immunology (immunology, infectiology, vaccinology).

Amount: Up to CHF 4 million for 4 years

Eligibility: Interdisciplinary, inter-institutional consortia based in Switzerland.

Deadline: 15.06.2026

Agency:

Swiss Academy of Medical Science (SAMS) and the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation

Category: Fellowship

Focus: The program supports young medical doctors to start out in patient-oriented research thanks to protected time and consecutive small project grants.

Amount:

• Beginner grant: Up to 75’000 CHF;
• Project grant: Up to 40’000 CHF per year for 2 years

Eligibility: Medical doctors working in Switzerland within 5 years of their state medical exam.

Deadline: 30.06.2026

Agency:

Age-Stiftung

Category: Project Funding (German speaking part of Switzerland)

Focus: Supports diverse project initiatives that benefit older people and enable the implementation of sustainable solutions, with particular emphasis on approaches that address people in vulnerable life situations or fragile phases.

Amount: Varies

Eligibility: Applied research, institutions, communities, projects

Deadline: 21.07.2026

Agency:

Swiss National Science Foundation

Category: Mobility grant

Focus: The Postdoc.Mobility program is designed to support researchers who have completed their doctoral studies and are looking to advance their careers by pursuing research abroad.

Amount: The amount of the fellowship depends on the cost of living in the country of residence.

Eligibility: Early career researchers (before 3 years after PhD)

Deadline: 04.08.2026

Agency:

European Academy of Neurology

Category: Mobility grant

Focus: It supports research projects in basic, clinical or applied neuroscience, conducted in a European academic neurology department outside the applicant’s country of residence.

Amount: €2,000 per month, plus travel expenses of up to €500.

Eligibility: Applicants must be European neurologists with active RRFS or Full EAN membership, having ≥ 2 years residency (training fellowship) or up to 5 years post‑graduation (full membership route), and plan their project in a host country other than their country of residence.

Deadline: 31.08.2026

Agency:

Swiss National Science Foundation and Innosuisse

Category: Project funding

Focus: The BRIDGE Proof of Concept program supports young researchers in Switzerland who wish to turn their research findings into innovative products or services

Amount: 130'000 CHF for a year

Eligibility: Young researchers (Bsc, Msc, PhD before 4 years)

Deadline: 07.09.2026

Agency:

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe.

Category: Mobility Grant

Focus: Supports researchers aiming to enhance their potential through advanced training and international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral mobility.

Amount: Depending on country

Eligibility: Researcher holding a PhD (max 8 year of post PhD experience)

Deadline: 09.09.2026

Agency:

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Category: Project funding

Focus: Supports non-clinical studies and early-phase clinical trials that test promising pharmacological interventions and devices for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. 

Amount: Up to 5'000'000$

Eligibility: Universities, start ups, companies, nonprofit organisation

Deadline: 14.09.2026

Agency:

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Category: Project funding

Focus: Support for advancing and validating established biomarkers to address clear clinical needs in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

Amount: Up to 600'000$

Eligibility: Universities, start ups, companies, nonprofit organisation

Deadline: 14.09.2026

Agency:

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Category: Project funding

Focus: Supports studies on cognitive symptoms linked to health conditions, comparative effectiveness research, and epidemiological investigations examining how drug use or choice influences the risk of dementia or cognitive decline.

Amount: Up to 5'000'000$

Eligibility: Universities, start ups, companies, nonprofit organisation

Deadline: 14.09.2026

Agency:

European Research Council

Category: Project funding

Focus: Supports the validation and development of innovative ideas stemming from ERC-funded projects, extending their impact beyond the original research scope

Amount: € 150,000 for 18 months

Eligibility: All Principal Investigators holding an ERC Frontier Research Grant (Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, or Synergy)

Deadline: 17.09.2026

Agency:

Swiss National Science Foundation

Category: Project Funding

Focus: Supports independent research projects in Switzerland, offering substantial funding for one to four years. It enables researchers to explore both disciplinary and interdisciplinary topics, whether individually or through collaborative efforts.

Amount: Up to CHF 250,000 per year per applicant. Maximum CHF 1 million annually for the entire project.

Eligibility: Researchers (4 years after PhD) working at Swiss universities or other eligible institutions.

Deadline: 01.10.2026

Age Stiftung supports projects focused on practical solutions for improving housing, care and quality of life for elderly.

Dementia Research Switzerland - Synapsis Foundation supports research on neurodegenerative diseases and related fields, including basic, translational and clinical research.

Innosuisse supports the development and commercialization of innovative ideas by providing funding, coaching and networking opportunities.

Smarter medicine supports research that identifies and reduces the overuse of medical interventions in Switzerland.

Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences supports various research initiatives in the medical field.

Vontobel Stiftung supports researchers by funding social, scientific and dialogue-enhancing projects that focus on social welfare, nature and science, medical research and cultural initiatives. The foundation aims to support early-career researchers working at established research institutions. Funding covers salaries for PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, as well as justified material and laboratory costs. Projects initiated by other foundations are not supported.

Alzheimer Association supports research worldwide on Alzheimer's disease and other dementia.

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation supports global research on novel drugs for Alzheimer's prevention, treatment and cure.

Chan Zuckerberger Initiative funds projects focused on neurodegeneration mechanisms, cellular neuroscience, sleep biology and circuit mechanisms underlying learning, memory and cognition.

Cure Alzheimer's Fund support research with the potential to accelerate a cure or disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

European Research Council funds researchers to run projects based across Europe.

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies offers grants and stipends in a wide range of activities: to attend scientific meetings, for higher education or for outreach activities.

Michael J. Fox Foundation funds promising research with a goal to significantly improve the lives of people with Parkinson's.

National Institute on Aging supports basic, clinical, social and behavioral research on aging and the special problems and needs of older adults.