SEP Research Proposals

SEP Research Proposals: Preparation and Submission

Most SEP activities are project-based. All SEP projects are subject to review by the ETH Research Commission (Forschungskommission) and to approval by the SEP Program Management. Very large projects also need the approval of the Schulleitung. SEP projects, like all other research projects, are required to meet ETH standards.

SEP projects must fall within (at least) one of the four strategic areas, should show strong interdisciplinary nature, and should foresee collaboration with other Swiss Universities or 'Fachhochschulen'. Collaboration with industry is encouraged, but is not mandatory.

Project proposals are submitted to the Director for Strategic Excellence Projects, and should have the general form of a 'PolyProjekt' or a TH-Gesuch (for smaller proposals). Before preparing a proposal, one should contact the program director(s) of the respective SEP (see People). Proposals that do comply with the standards outlined above, but that do not fall in one of the four SEP areas, are still welcome. These proposals should be submitted to the Delegate of the President for SEP.

On December 31, 2003, the SEP Program will come to completion, this will mean that all SEP Projects are launched at this point in time and no more funding or resources will be available.

The ETH Executive Board established the Innovation Initiatives (INIT) on May 27, 2003; it is a program to promote new scientific endeavors leading to innovation. Unlike SEP, INIT is open to all areas of research and education, and, in many ways, can be considered a continuation of the SEP Program. Please see the INIT Publication for more detail.