The Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) is a National Research Infrastructure supporting data science (DS), machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) in Switzerland. SDSC launches its third National Call for collaborative projects and expertise requests, starting in 2027.

In these projects, the SDSC contributes in-kind expertise in statistical modelling, machine learning and AI to projects from different application domains requiring research-informed methodology.

Through this type of projects, the SDSC supports community-driven, FAIR-aligned initiatives to design, prototype or develop sustainable and reusable data science infrastructure with potential for lasting impact across scientific domains and institutions.

In these projects, the SDSC aims to ensure that novelty developed in an academic or research context achieves its full potential in end-user contexts, serving a community or society at large (e.g. public institutions, industrial and/or economic stakeholders).

Through this collaboration format, the SDSC offers independent advice, training and validation by senior SDSC members for organisations seeking guidance without entering a full project partnership.

Eligibility: main applicant at a Swiss HEI/research institution, administration or NGO; co-applicants non-profit.
Funding: in-kind only (~0.5–1 FTE/year + compute), no cash.
Duration: up to 2 years (Research/Infrastructure), 3–6 months for prototyping, 1 year for End-User Innovation.

Collaboration and Expertise Request submission: 19 September 2026
Full proposal submission deadline: 6 November 2026
Final decision on supported projects: 22 February 2027
Start of collaborative projects: early 2027

The SDSC holds its opening webinar on Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 13:30-15:00, on Zoom.
Registration is required.