The Vice President's Office for Research (VRF) is committed to providing all researchers at the University of Basel with a state-of-the-art research environment for world-class research. Its main goal to continuously improve the framework conditions for research, can only be achieved in close cooperation with the departments, faculties and the scientific communities. Contributing to its success, the University of Basel also maintains numerous collaborations and partnerships with other universities and research institutions. Essential for the striving for continuous improvement in research and for our understanding of quality assurance and development are the external Scientific Advisory Boards of every department and faculty, the regular Research Exchange Meetings, as well as the research information systems (Research Database, Grants Tool).

Vice President for Research Prof. Dr. Torsten Schwede is responsible for strategic research management, research funding and quality management in cooperation with the corresponding Senate Committees. These include the Research Committee, the Junior Researchers Committee, the PhD Committee and the Ethics Committee. The Vice President for Research represents the University in external research policy panels and executive boards. His responsibilities include internal research funding, research funding through third-party funds and technology transfer. He is also responsible for research information, research ethics and good scientific practice. 

The Vice President's Office for Research comprises the sections Research Office, Grants Office, Career Advancement Office, International Office, sciCORE and the Technology Transfer Office Unitectra as well as the Ethics Committee. The staff members of the VRF are central contact persons for research-related topics such as scientific integrity, technology transfer, research infrastructures, future technologies, open science or research data management. They also support and advise researchers at all career stages in the submission and implementation of projects, in planning their careers, and in the establishment of research networks.