Switzerland, Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT)

The Swiss Academy of Sciences, founded in 1815, is one of the official national institutions designated to encourage research. Most of its funds are government grants. It represents the Swiss scientific community in the fields of the exact and natural sciences. With the support of its 30,000 members, grouped in scientific and regional societies and comissions and platforms, it performs important tasks regarding communication, exchange, coordination, foresight, collaboration and funding in scientific fields on a national as well as on an international level. It consists of 30 cantonal and regional societies as 44 national specialized societies and more than 20 commissions. Around eight professional platforms have been established in the areas of biodiversity, climate, north-south partnership, geosciences, alpine research and, most recently transdisciplinarity research.