Research and innovation partnerships
Within the area of International Cooperation, SDC is responsible for Federal departmental research. SDC strategically uses research and innovation to generate evidence that effectively informs decision‑making in international cooperation and supports the development of innovative solutions to complex global challenges. The overarching objective is to reduce poverty, minimise global risks and promote sustainable development.
TRANSFORM
To achieve these objectives, SDC launched the TRANSFORM Research and Innovation Programme (2020–2030). Through TRANSFORM, SDC supports applied research that generates targeted evidence and feeds it directly into international cooperation. Based on this evidence, innovative solutions are developed with the potential to be scaled and to effectively drive societal change.
The programme pursues three main objectives:
- Develop evidence‑based knowledge and technologies that enable concrete change and contribute to long‑term sustainable development.
- Effectively translate research findings as robust evidence into policy and practice by closely connecting researchers with implementation partners.
- Strengthen shared academic capacities and apply them in projects that bring together different disciplines and perspectives.
TRANSFORM strategically leverages the academic excellence of Swiss research institutions while consistently aligning with the needs and priorities of local populations and engaging implementation partners from the outset. This approach results in solutions that are practice‑oriented, locally anchored and effective over the long term, with scaling considered and actively promoted from the beginning.
Within TRANSFORM, SDC maintains strategic innovation and research partnerships.
SDC – SNSF cooperation: Solution Oriented Research for Development (SOR4D)
SOR4D is an internationally unique and highly competitive programme that promotes partnerships between Swiss research institutions, academic institutions in SDC partner countries, and non‑academic development actors. It builds on the experience and results of the successful r4d programme, which supported research partnerships in more than 50 countries between 2012 and 2023. Together, the funded projects develop, test and disseminate new knowledge and concrete solutions, particularly for the benefit of marginalized population groups. The projects help advance promising approaches and innovations in sustainable development. An overview of the currently supported research projects is available here.
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
Solution Oriented Research for Development (SOR4D)
SDC – ETH Zurich cooperation: ETH4D
The programme promotes technological innovations to address global challenges and trains future leaders in sustainable development. It supports research and learning formats that connect knowledge and skills across disciplines and fields, ranging from engineering to social and natural sciences, and from research to practical application.
SDC – EPFL cooperation: Tech4Dev
Tech4Dev is an International Cooperation Acceleration Programme for research and innovation aimed at contributing to sustainable development in low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs). The programme responds to local development challenges and makes new knowledge from EPFL laboratories available for practical use. Local actors are actively involved and supported by local authorities and international organisations. The goal is to work as closely as possible to the needs of the population and thus ensure long‑term impact.
Fund for Innovation in Development (FID)
Through its partnership with FID, SDC supports the identification, evidence‑based testing and scaling of innovative solutions to reduce poverty and inequality in low‑ and middle‑income countries. FID funds initiatives that generate robust evidence of impact, supports successful innovations during scaling, and contributes to evidence‑based policymaking. At the same time, the partnership strengthens local research and innovation ecosystems to achieve sustainable impact.
Fund for Innovation in Development (FID)
Flagship Projects
In addition to its core research portfolio, SDC currently supports four research projects selected through a competitive and transparent process. The focus is on the development and scaling of innovative solutions. The following projects are designated as flagships:
Further projects supported in the past can be found in the following databases:
Research and Innovation
Research and innovation help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, increase the competitiveness of businesses and create jobs.
Development cooperation and research: a promising model
The r4d Programme, run by the SDC and the SNSF, ended this month. Odile Robert from the SDC offers insights in this interview.
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