Heritage-Based Sustainable Urban Development
On September 9-10, 2010, the Swiss Embassy and UNESCO-IHCN have organized an international conference in New Delhi on "Heritage-Based Sustainable Urban Development". A book with the speakers' contributions was published in December 2010. Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Swiss Embassy in New Delhi.

 Book softcopy (pdf, 5681 Kb)

   
Indo-Swiss Symposium on Parasitic Diseases / Infectious Diseases
The Swiss Embassy and the School of Life Sciences of Jawaharlal Nehru University organize an Indo-Swiss Symposium on Parasitic Diseases / Infectious Diseases on November 03-04, 2011. Scientists from all over India and from several Swiss universities will attend the event.

 Announcement (pdf, 220 Kb)

   
Indo-Swiss Workshop on Ecology and Conservation of Chilika Lake 
The Swiss Embassy, in collaboration with KIIT University and the Chilika Lake Development Authority (CDA), organize a two days workshop gathering Indian and Swiss scientists on November 25-26, 2011. The event will address the ecology and conservation of Chilika Lake, a 1000km2 brackish water lagoon located in Orissa State.

 Call for participation (pdf, 229 Kb)

 
At present two bilateral agreements between the Swiss and Indian governments formally regulate cooperation in Science and Technology (S&T). The first one is the Indo Swiss Collaboration in Biotechnology (ISCB), initiated in 1974 and financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Indian Department of Biotechnology (DBT). Total budget of the ISCB for 2004 2007 was CHF 6.8 Mio, 4.5 Mio from SDC and 2.3 Mio from DBT.

The more recently established bilateral cooperation between Switzerland and India is framed within the agreement between the Swiss Federal Council and the Indian Government for the promotion of bilateral cooperation in Science and Technology, signed on the 10th November 2003. Responsibility for carrying out the terms of the agreement is vested within the Swiss Secretariat for Education and Research (SER) in Switzerland, and the Indian Department for of Science and Technology (DST).

As a follow up of the 2003 agreement, the Indo Swiss Joint Research Programme (ISJRP) was initiated in 2004. Some of its main features are as follows:

• Started with a two years pilot phase (July 2004 to June 2006), with a further extension of 1 year 
• Funds are provided by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the DST to equal amounts 
• During the pilot phase, the contribution of the Swiss National Science Foundation to the ISJRP was to the tune of CHF 1.5 Mio 
•  Focus on two areas of research: Information and Communication Technologies and Life Sciences

Additional information: 
 Swiss Secretariat for Education and Research 
 Indian Department for Science and Technology (DST)

 
Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme
On 16th November 2006, the Indo-Swiss Executive Programme of Cooperation (POC) for the period 2006-2010 was signed by the Swiss government (represented by the SER) and the Indian government (represented by the Ministry of Science and Technology). The terms of Swiss cooperation with India is further specified within the provisions of the Message of the Swiss Federal Council on Education, Research and Technology 2008 - 2011, and particularly in regard to the following:

• A “leading house” and an “associated leading house” have to be selected for each international cooperation established under the Message of the Swiss Federal Council. For cooperation with India, the leading house is the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL); whereas the University of Lausanne is the associated leading house
• Through the Message of the Federal Council, the Swiss government has allocated a total amount of CHF 53 Million for international cooperation with emerging countries for the four years period 2008 to 2011. Switzerland has committed CHF 8 Million to bilateral scientific cooperation with India through the ISJRP.

For information on ISJRP funding schemes please refer to the following webpage: 
 Indo-Swiss Joint Research Programme

 
Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7)
Are you doing research outside Switzerland/Europe and planning to do research in Switzerland?
FP7 can help you, notably through the following funding schemes: 

• Marie Curie Actions: individual fellowships aiming to increase trans-national mobility of experienced researchers
• European Research Council (ERC): two kinds of grants for excellent individual researchers in basic research: "Starting Independent Researcher Grant“ and "Advanced Investigator Grant“ 

For more information, see:
 Euresearch.ch 
 Marie Curie Actions 
 ERC: European Research Council

University of Bern Master Grants
Bern University offers six Master Grants for the academic year 2012/13 for excellent international students. The grant consists of 1'600 CHF per month for the duration of the Master's programme (standard period of study). Application files will be examined by a selection committee. Criteria for selection are academic excellence and the candidate's potential and motivation. For further information about the Master's programmes offered, please contact the concerned Department directly. The Master Grant is offered for all Master’s programmes of Bern University except for “Biomedical Sciences”. Deadline: applications must be received on or before December 1st, 2011.
 Link to webpage