Leading Houses for building bridges

The Swiss international science policy focuses on cooperation with countries that have a significant potential for scientific and technological development. Among other programs, the Swiss State Secretariate for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) commissions regional Leading Houses to set up cooperation instruments for seed funding and innovative pilot projects. After an initial pilot phase between 2017 and 2020 the Leading Houses have been institutionalized and supported more than 500 projects.

As of 2025 the new Leading Houses are active. Their goals are as follows:

1. Contribute to the development of scientific cooperation between Switzerland and countries with high potential in the designated region by developing cooperation instruments that meet the interests of the Swiss scientific community.
2. Promote knowledge among Swiss ERI actors about countries with high potential in the designated region by providing them with the necessary contacts and expertise on the ground.
3. Represent the interests of the Swiss scientific community towards potential foreign partners in the relevant region. (SERI)

Leading House Africa

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) – in collaboration with the University of Basel and the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE) at the University of Bern – has again been mandated for the Leading House Africa.

The main priorities of LH Africa are:

• To improve mutual knowledge and raise Switzerland's profile as a prime location for education, research and innovation (ERI), by facilitating the circulation of talent and fostering direct cooperation between institutions.
• To support efforts by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to strengthen its collaboration with similar partner agencies, particularly the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), the “Fonds pour la Science, la Technologie et l'Innovation” (FONSTI) in Côte d'Ivoire and the Technology and Innovation Agency (TIA) in South Africa among others, upon request.
• To increase collaboration in the field of innovation through new or existing instruments, as a way to develop the capacities of Swiss and African ERI stakeholders and support entrepreneurship and develop instruments aiming at innovation and explore options with industry partners. (LA Africa)

Funding is strongly focused on collaboration between Swiss and African research institutions, e.g., research and mobility grants for early, intermediate and advanced researchers; academia-industry training programmes or PhD graduate programmes.

Next open call

• Research Partnership Grants with a maximum duration of 12 months will open very soon. Find more information on the Leading House website in due time.

Leading House South Asia

The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) is managing the Leading House South Asia and supports international research projects in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Iran.

Next open calls

• Connect & Collaborate Grants will open again in early 2026 and supports partnerships between a Swiss-based researcher and a partner in one of the countries included in the Leading House.
• Research Partnership Grant will open in 2025
• Academia-Industry Training with India for Master, PhD students and Postdocs with a concrete startup idea or an early-stage startup to explore their innovation in the Indian and Swiss markets. Deadline: 20 July, 2025.

Leading House MENA

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO) manages the Leading House MENA, covering partnerships with Middle East and North Africa region, namely Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudia Arabia, Syria, occupied Palestinian territory, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Next open call

• Research Partnership Grants aim at developing new joint project proposals or connecting already existing funded projects in Switzerland and in MENA countries. Deadline: 22 August, 2025.

Leading House Latin America

The Institute of Management in Latin America at the University of St. Gallen – located in São Paulo - has been mandated for the Leading House Latin America.

In 2025, no more calls are to be expected. Check out the website for more information if you are interested to collaborate with partners in Latin American countries.

Leading House Asia Pacific

The Leading House Asia Pacific will be lead by the University of Zurich and provide support for Swiss-based researchers to engage with partners in Australia, Brunei, China (incl. Hong Kong, Macau), Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand and Vietnam.

The first calls will be announced in fall 2025.