The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF, German: Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, SNF; French: Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientifique, FNS; Italian: Fondo nazionale svizzero per la ricerca scientifica) is a science research support organisation mandated by the Swiss Federal Government.
The Swiss National Science Foundation was established under private law by physicist and medical doctor Alexander von Muralt in 1952.
Mandated by the Federal Council, NRPs generate scientific knowledge aimed at solving pressing problems.
They generally run for up to five years and have an overall budget of eight to twelve million Swiss francs.
Each NCCR is based at an institution of higher education and consists of a centre of competence as well as a national and international network.