---
title: "EPFL launches Strategic Initiative Solutions for a Sustainable Planet funding call in Lausanne; CHF 500-1000k per project"
sdDatePublished: "2026-09-04T15:46:00Z"
source: "https://www.epfl.ch/research/funding/sustainable-planet/"
topics:
  - name: "sustainability"
    identifier: "medtop:20001374"
  - name: "scientific research"
    identifier: "medtop:20000735"
  - name: "environmental policy"
    identifier: "medtop:20000423"
  - name: "renewable energy"
    identifier: "medtop:20000257"
  - name: "artificial intelligence"
    identifier: "medtop:20001298"
  - name: "biotechnology"
    identifier: "medtop:20000711"
locations:
  - "Lausanne"
---


EPFL launches Strategic Initiative Solutions for a Sustainable Planet funding call in Lausanne; CHF 500-1000k per project

Solutions for a Sustainable Planet ‒ FUNDING ‐ EPFL

Solutions for a Sustainable Planet

The call welcomes interdisciplinary projects developing practical solutions to major sustainability challenges . Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, pathways to net zero; pollution prevention and remediation; sustainable materials, data, AI and built environments; and the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems . Innovative approaches addressing other emerging sustainability priorities, with the potential for scalable environmental, societal or economic impact, are equally encouraged .

address a strategic challenge or pursue a strategic opportunity with the potential for significant institutional impact;

bring together expertise from multiple Schools, Institutes, Centers and

or Vice Presidencies, with interdisciplinarity at the heart of the initiative;

establish capabilities, platforms, or collaborations that will endure beyond the initial 12 to 24-month funding period;

The Strategic Initiative Solutions for a Sustainable Planet will support two categories of projects:

Research projects: Launching a new strategic project or scaling up, expanding or maturing an already running project

Duration: 12 to 24 months

Expected funding: CHF 500 -1000k per project.

Proposal Development projects: Project planning, grant writing, and consortium building for applying to large-scale EU funding and

Maximum project duration: 12 months.

Expected funding: CHF 200-400k per project.

The call for proposals is open to the EPFL community as follows: Projects must be hosted by an EPFL laboratory. Each proposal must designate a main applicant responsible for the scientific and financial management of the project . The main applicant as well as co-applicants must be EPFL faculty members (Prof. tit., MER, PATT, PA or PO). EPFL Heads of relevant units or Centers are also eligible to apply. The main applicant and co-applicants, forming a consortium, must be employed by EPFL for the entire duration of the project.

Projects must be hosted by an EPFL laboratory.

Each proposal must designate a main applicant responsible for the scientific and financial management of the project .

The main applicant as well as co-applicants must be EPFL faculty members (Prof. tit., MER, PATT, PA or PO).

EPFL Heads of relevant units or Centers are also eligible to apply.

The main applicant and co-applicants, forming a consortium, must be employed by EPFL for the entire duration of the project.

The number of proposals submitted as main applicant

co-applicants is restricted to 1 Research project maximum and 1 Proposal Development project maximum.

Proposals should be submitted by consortia of multiple labs (min. 4), involving at least two Schools

Projects are encouraged to involve third parties but only EPFL will be funded.

Eligible direct costs include and are limited to the following:

Personnel costs: Salaries and social charges for staff directly involved in the project, including doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and other employees (e.g. technical assistants).

Project specific equipment and materials required for the project.

Research expenses (including VAT): This includes consumables, direct costs of infrastructure use, open research data costs, open access publication fees, subcontracting expenses as well as travel, conference, and workshop costs directly related to the project.

Please explore the Application toolkit and read carefully the application guidelines.

All required documents must be submitted on the online submission platform .

All documents must be submitted in English.

The submission deadline for the proposal is on 9 October 2026 (17:00 CEST) .

Applications that meet the formal requirements and that are within the scope of the call will be reviewed by external experts for excellence , implementation and impact , and then evaluated for strategic value and potential for fundraising by an internal evaluation panel.

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