Congratulations to Dr. David Shaw and Dr. Michael Rost from IBMB for receiving the SNF Spark grant for "unconventional ideas"
This new SNF grant funds original ideas and is intended for projects that show unconventional thinking and introduce a unique approach.
Over 700 ideas were submitted, 38% were supportet with a total of 27 million CHF. Two researchers from IBMB have received a grant for the following projects:
· Dr. David Shaw: “ARC: Autonomous Responsible Cars”, (funded by 70’125.00 CHF)
· Dr. Michael Rost: “Statistical Categories and Normativity: (Against) the Essentialization of Morality as Quantified Normality” (funded by 52'600.00 CHF)
SNF Spark: Rapid funding of unconventional ideas
The aim of Spark is to fund the rapid testing or development of new scientific approaches, methods, theories, standards, ideas for applications, etc. It is intended for projects that show unconventional thinking and introduce a unique approach. The focus is on promising ideas of high originality, relying on no or very little preliminary data. Taking risks is very welcome, but not a requirement in itself. The focus is on projects or ideas that are unlikely to be funded by other available funding schemes.
It is open to any applicant with a doctorate or equivalent qualifications. Spark is a pilot funding scheme for 2019-2020.
The proposals are evaluated in a double-blind reviewing process (i.e. the identity of the applicant will not be disclosed to the evaluators). In this way, the SNSF aims to ensure that the evaluation will focus on the idea for the project. Spark funding decisions will be communicated in November 2019.
Applicants can request between CHF 50,000 and CHF 100,000 for a project duration of six to twelve months. The project must start within three months after the decision.