Pioneer Fellowship Applications

Guidelines for Pioneer Fellowship Applications »»

Detailed submission instructions »»

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List of Pioneer Fellows »»

The ETH Zurich, through its internal research-funding instruments, seeks to promote world-class research, resulting in fundamental new knowledge or technologies. Pioneer Fellowships are a newly established instrument and are awarded to an individual or groups of individuals intending to independently develop a highly innovative product or service to be exploited commercially and/or for the benefit of society. They are the result of a competitive process to ensure the innovation potential of the successful application. The fellowships are not awarded for basic research, but must be based on the applicants own, previous research.

Pioneer Fellowships are jointly funded by the ETH Zurich, the ETH Zurich Foundation and the Hasler Foundation ("Hasler Innovation" program).

Requirements

Detailed information on requirements for Pioneer Fellowship Applications is given in the guidelines. Applications not complying with the guidelines will be rejected on formal grounds.

Submission procedure

Applications should be submitted electronically to pioneerfellowships@sl.ethz.ch as a single file in PDF format (cover sheet of the application does not need to be signed, but a signed copy must be sent to the Office of Research, Room HG E32.1, 8092 Zurich).

Submission deadlines

There are two Pioneer Fellowship competitions per year. The corresponding submission deadlines are March 1 and September 1.

Evaluation

Applicants will receive an invitation for a mandatory interview 4 weeks before the interview dates specified below. The jury for the interviews is headed by the Vice President Research and Corporate Relations (VPFW) and consists of members of the Research Commission, the ETH Transfer and Industrial Partners of the ETH. Applicants cannot choose the interview date and have to be available on all days indicated, until they have been assigned an interview date.

During the 20-minute interview, the candidates can first briefly present their project idea and their personal motivation and background, then they will be asked questions about their proposed projects.

When to expect a decision

Notification of decisions made by the Vice President of Research and Corporate Relations will normally be sent to applicants within 3 months of the submission deadline.

Annual salary costs for Pioneer Fellowship Awardees (valid 2012)

Please use the following standard rates as a maximal base of the budget for the application:

After MSc (percentage of employment: 100)

After PhD (percentage of employment: 100)

The rates given above include approx. 14 % social security overhead to be paid by the employer (ETH) and must be used for budgeting.

Successful Pioneer Fellowships will be awarded a lump sum based on the salary costs valid at the time of approval. Any extra costs associated with salary scale increases coming into effect during the funding period must be born by the host professorship.

The total fellowship may not exceed kCHF 150 for the duration of 18 months and may not be subsidized by other, third-party funds.

Further information

For further information on the Pioneer Fellowship program, please contact pioneerfellowships@sl.ethz.ch.