Hasler Mercator Digitalization & Democracy Program
Go to questions concerning…
Project Eligibility
Are there requirements on the duration of these projects?
A maximum of 4 years as been defined . No minimum duration requirements, but of course the nature of the programme and the requirement to include a strong element of research, implies a certain minimum duration – depending on the complexity of the research question to be addressed.
How strictly do you define the term «Computer Science»?
Would for example data science, human-computer interaction, ML/AI engineering, or even digital ethics, and AI governance research also be considered eligible?
Computer sciences can be interpreted widely to the extent that is must include a clear technical part such as in data science, ML/AI or human-computer interaction research. Also fields like XR, cyber security, blockchain technology, quantum computing, … would all be included.
Projects focusing purely on ethical / governance aspects without a technical core, would likely not be accepted.
Can you be more specific about the type of projects you plan to support? Can I get your feedback on my project idea before submitting the short proposal?
We do not have capacity to pre-assess ideas – the idea of the 2-staged program is to get project ideas in the first round, which will then be assessed by our jury.
The focus of the program is on the intersection between digitalization & democracy – in the context of democracy as a political system. A project solely dealing with «making XYZ more democratic» would not fit without a convincing embedding into the focus of the program.
To what extent must the proposed ideas already be ready for market realisation / is the discovery phase also supported for market implementation?
With research being a mandatory part of each submitted project, the discovery phase is of course included. For projects aiming to develop a product, a convincing idea of the long term financing prospect will be positively valued as part of the impact evaluation.
Eligibility of Partnerships
Can we include companies as partners with in-kind contributions? Can I involve partners running a start-up?
Partnerships with commercial companies or start-ups are possible, however the funding would be limited to the contributions made by the non-commercial partners only. Engaging a company/start-up as a supplier to deliver a very specific piece required to complete the project (e.g. infrastructure services) would be considered project expenses.
Is it possible to have an international partner on board?
The project’s impact has to focus on Switzerland and the Swiss democratic system. International collaborations are ok, however the funding may be limited to the Switzlerland-based partners only.
Is there a minimum and maximum number of partners per project?
There is no maximum limit. A minimum of 2 partners is however in the nature of the call due to the intersectoral collaboration requirement. With the additional requirement of interdisciplinarity, we anticipate most projects to consist of at minimum 3 partners.
Do you expect the interdisciplinary partners to team up under the same proposal?
Yes, we expect one proposal per project, jointly submitted by the involved partners with one partner acting as the project leader.
What would be the ideal partner criteria?
There are no specific criteria besides those mentioned in the call.
Does the project have to be carried out with a professor of computer science?
Computer Science has to be at the core of each project. Inclusion of a professor in computer science is not required, but it must be guaranteed, that the team has the necessary expertise.
Are there things that would rule an applicant (or partner) as non-eligible, such as connections specific institution, involvement in certain activities, age, or others?
None of these examples would be considered a non-eligibility criteria. Please see limitations with regards to working with commercial partners.
Are early-career researchers (PhD student, postdocs) encouraged to apply as well?
Yes, also early-career researches can participate and submit project ideas. However, having a professor as a backer on the research side is recommended.
In general, the funding will go to the institution, not the individual person.
Please clarify the expected roles of the research partner and the NGO partner? How much is this research focussed vs. outreach focussed?
There is no exact formula. There should be a good balance, however, between the two over the whole span of the project. This means that the focus (research or societal impact/outreach) can vary with the respective phase of the project.
We are looking for a partner for our project idea. Do you have someone in mind?
During the first stage we are ready to receive open ideas, where not all partners have been defined yet. For example, if you have a specific idea of the research question that you would like to address in your project, we recommend that you already identify possible academic partners. If due to the short timeline until submission of the short proposals, not all partner agreements have to be finalized. In such case, you can submit your proposal outlining the role and idea, and list of possible partners. However, projects with finalized partner agreements are preferred.
To facilitate networking amongst interested parties, we have created a Slack Workspace. Please note, this is a free version, and the channel is not moderated by us. It only serves as a platform to connect people interested in the call, who are looking for partners for their project.
Can public administrations be considered as practice-oriented partners?
Yes, as per the programme description, the program is open to interested public entities. Therefore, a public entity teaming up with a research partner is a feasible project setting.
Are there any conditions with regard to geographical limitation within Switzerland, for example the limitation to a language area?
We are ready to support projects in all areas of Switzerland, there is no regional limitation within Switzerland.
Are Universities of teacher education (Pädagogische Hochschulen) eligible (in cooperation with relevant partners)?
Yes, all Swiss-based universities and non-commercial research and education institutions are eligible to participate.
Do the scientific partners necessarily have to come from different institutions? Or is it sufficient for scientists from different disciplines to conduct research on the project, even if they belong to the same organisation?
Interdisciplinary research teams with all team members belonging to the same institution would also be eligible, as long as the computer science discipline is included.
Process
How many projects can we submit?
We recommend that you submit one project per applicant.
As for the first proposal, how long or how short you are expecting the proposal?
Please refer to the template provided for the short proposal, where this information is described in detail.
How will the split of the funding between the partnering organizations work? Will you pay each of them separately?
Each project will have to have one project leader defined. The approved grant will be paid out to this project leader, who is expected to distribute the funds amongst the partners.
How do I submit my proposal?
Please submit your short proposal via grants.haslerstiftung.ch.
If you do not have an account yet, create one via the sign-up button 
. Once your user is created and e-mail address verified, you can create and submit your proposal. Please merge all documents (form, project description, CVs) into 1 (one) PDF file. Proposals submitted via e-mail will not be processed.
How many projects will approx. be selected for the 2nd phase?
There is no fixed number or limit. To respect your time and resources, we will ensure to only include projects that do have a realistic chance based on what we can see in the short proposal.
Will all project partners receive funding, or only the research partner?
All involved partners that fullfill the criteria (Swiss based, non-commercial) are eligible to receive funding.
For interdisciplinary projects there can be co-project leaders / more than 1 CV?
Yes, please submit the CV for all leaders, so that we can judge the expertise & credibility in the particular domains.
The call mentions October 2025 as earliest possible funding date. Is there also a latest possible start date for project funding?
Not strictly, however we would expect projects to start within approx 6 months, unless there is a very strong rationale.
Financials
Is there an expected percentage of own/other contributions, e.g. 50%?
There is no expected percentage. Contributions can be in any nature, incl. work time or in-kind contributions.
As per the project call, overhead expenses are not covered for the research part of the projects. Can you clarify?
It is correct that for the research part, overhead cost are not covered, but salaries are funded (including the one of the applicant). For all salaries, the SNF rates apply. This means, that also a professor / lecturer salary would be funded, if he/she actively contributes to the project.
Is there a minimum / maximum / typical funding amount per project?
No. The decision will be made based on the quality and impact of the submitted project in relation to the proposed budget. We are open to fund smaller projects but are also ready to support larger, highly impactful ones. However, a certain minimum size is already given by the nature of the programme (interdisciplinary and up to 4 years).
Can you clarify the statement: «The foundations expect that additional project financing will be provided from the participating institutions’ resources or other sources.»
This refers to the fact, that any financing, which exceed the costs specific to the proposed project (i.e. overhead costs) must be covered by the applying organizations. Also, projects involving large organizations such as Universities are expected to include a certain reasonable contribution from the organization itself.
Where can I find the applicable SNF rates?
On the SNF website:
https://www.snf.ch/en/Z2GsZbMCeccg4x9U/page/funding/documents-downloads
> Regulations > Annex 12