The Swiss Science Council SSC is the advisory body to the Federal Council for all issues related to science, higher education, research and innovation policy. It was founded by the Federal Council in 1965 as a permanent extra-parliamentary commission and provides specific expertise, which the federal authorities and other stakeholders can call upon. As a ‘policy for science’ mechanism, the aim of the SSC is to continuously improve the framework conditions governing the ERI system. 

Mandate

As an independent extra-parliamentary commission, the SSC initiates its own working programme at the beginning of each term and submits its recommendations and considerations to its stakeholders. Those stakeholders include the Federal Council, the Parliament, the Federal Administration, the cantonal authorities, and the ERI partners, such as the academies, swissuniversities, the ETH Board, Innosuisse, and the Swiss National Science Foundation.
In addition to implementing its working programme, the SCC periodically assesses research and innovation policies on behalf of the Confederation. It reviews multi-year plans, drafts impact analyses, and conducts evaluations. The SSC also comments on individual projects or broader problems within the ERI system on its own initiative or on behalf of the Federal Council or the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research EAER. These tasks are described in the Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation.

Organigramme

SSC organisation chart (PDF, 119 KB)

Legal foundations

Federal Act of 14 December 2012 on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (RIPA)


Ordinance of 29 November 2013 of the Federal Act of 14 December 2012 on the Promotion of Research and Innovation (O-RIPA)


Swiss Science Council Ordinance of 1 June 2014 (Status as of 6 October 2022)
German version

Rules of 5 August 2014 (Status as of 6 October 2022) of Procedure of the Swiss Science Council (SSC)
German version

Appointment order of the Swiss Science Council, 22 August 2018
German version

Meeting schedule

The Council holds plenary meetings at various times of the year. Agenda items to be discussed at these meetings are determined by the President in consultation with Council members. The most important considerations in determining agenda items include the SSC's work programme, direct requests made by the Federal Council and Federal Offices as well as the need to take a stance on current items on the political agenda. The Secretariat prepares these meetings in consultation with the President.

Outside of regular plenary meetings, Council members may also hold working group meetings as needed.

Schedule of SSC plenary meetings in 2023

Monday, 26 and Tuesday, 27 February
Monday, 6 and Tuesday, 7 May
Monday, 1 and Tuesday, 2 July
Monday, 23 and Tuesday, 24 September 
Monday, 25 and Tuesday, 26 November