What is SystemsX.ch? 

SystemsX.ch is not a company, not a research institute and not a project either; SystemsX.ch is the Swiss research initiative for systems biology. The initiative currently comprises fourteen equal partners, namely, ETH Zurich (leader), EPF Lausanne, the cantonal universities of Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Neuchâtel and Zurich, the Università della Svizzera italiana, the Friedrich Miescher Institute, the Paul Scherrer Institute, the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics and the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory.

Almost 400 research groups from different disciplines work at SystemsX.ch's partner institutions on SystemsX.ch projects, forming a network throughout Switzerland. The management office is located at the ETH Zurich.

What is systems biology?

For biology the second half of the 20th century was the era of molecular biology. By integrating chemistry and physics, biologists could begin tracking down the very atoms of life. The most striking finding was the structure and the role of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). With the decoding of human DNA (Human Genome Project), the progress of nano-science and the new dimensions of information technology, the start of a new millennium heralded a paradigm shift and provided the foundations for a holistic approach in systems biology.

Biological processes are described and measured, in systems biology, theories are developed and their accuracy verified with models. This requires the combined knowledge of biologists, mathematicians, computer scientists and engineers. The holistic approach of systems biology often focuses on medical issues, which is why medical scientists are increasingly included in the research consortia.

Who can apply for and receive SystemsX.ch funding?

All researchers who work in a discipline that is important for systems biology are entitled to apply for and receive SystemsX.ch funding: biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, engineering, medicine. The researchers must be employed in a SystemsX.ch partner institution.

Research groups working abroad or for private companies may also participate in SystemsX.ch project consortia, but, by law, SystemsX.ch funding can only be paid to public research groups at Swiss institutions.

Until when can I use my allocated SystemsX.ch project funds?

Allocated project funds can be used for the official duration of your project, up until the end of December 2018 at the latest. If your project runs until 2018 you will have to submit a final financial report by February 2019.

What do I need to do to conclude my project?

After finishing your project, you will have to submit a final scientific progress report by the following July, as well as your financial report by February of the following year. If your project runs until 2018 you will have to submit your final annual scientific progress report by late 2018, as well as your final financial report by February 2019.

What happens with the unspent project funds?

Any remaining funds that have not been spent by the end of December 2018 must be returned to SystemsX.ch. You will receive an invoice from us, and the funds will be paid back to the federal government in due course.

Can I extend my project if I need more time?

There is an official duration for each project type. If you need more time beyond the official funded period, and you have left-over funds to use up, you can ask the management office for an extension to your project (not possible for IPhDs and TPdFs). Please note that any such extension will not entail any additional financial support from SystemsX.ch.