Establishment of the Swiss Young Academy

The Swiss Young Academy consists of a general assembly with twenty-five members, an executive board, an advisory council, and an administrative office. Members may apply for up to CHF 30,000 in funding for joint projects as well as funding for personal projects. The individual academies and centres of excellence within the association of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences have pledged to actively collaborate with the Swiss Young Academy. This support provides young academics in Switzerland with the opportunity to call attention to their particular concerns. The call for members begins today and lasts until the end of January 2020.

The main objectives of the Swiss Young Academy are to enhance its members’ skills and expand their academic networks. The organisation also provides members with the opportunity to advance their academic careers with a mentoring programme. In addition, the opportunity to carry out creative and innovative projects in an institutional setting improves the dialogue between science and society. In becoming members of the Swiss Young Academy, young researchers join a nationally and internationally active network and they form a community promoting collaboration beyond the borders of individual institutions, disciplines, and countries. And as a result, Switzerland will improve its positioning and expand its networks within Europe and beyond.

Over forty national young academies and more than ten similar institutions already exist worldwide, with the trend towards additional young academies gaining momentum. Since 2012, the topic of young academies has been the subject of a proactive, targeted exploration by the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, and they are now excited to announce the establishment of the first young academy in Switzerland.