📋 Tender Overview
EPFL’s and ETH’s community-centric technology programs encourage transdisciplinary North-South research including academics and practitioners to develop locally aware and innovative approaches that shall bring impactful solutions to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Transdisciplinary science and research are playing an essential role to implement the Agenda 2030. After successfully launching both initiatives in 2019, SDC continues to partner with both Swiss universities.
Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Other
Sector not specified
01.01.2024 - 31.12.2027
CHF 7’100’000
The project in brief
Background Despite unprecedented progress in poverty reduction, about one billion people still live on less than two dollars per day. At the same time, many countries struggling with extreme poverty have dynamic economies, creating new opportunities for innovative approaches to address social and environmental challenges. The 2030 Agenda encourages science to build bridges and forge partnerships with actors from policy and practice (including the private sector) to co-create solutions to the most pressing global challenges. Transdisciplinary research and technological innovations contribute to the quest of leaving no one behind if they are made available, accessible, affordable and attractive for users. Tech4Dev and ETH4D, both initiated in 2019, have made proof of concept supporting Swiss-led consortia developing technologies and business models which address concrete global challenges and development needs of people in the global South. These initiatives also contribute to educate future leaders engaged for sustainable development in Switzerland and in partner countries.
Objectives To advance research and provide technological and social innovation for improving the lives of people in LMICs by supporting transdisciplinary North-South research, technology development and science-based innovation that is scalable and responds to the sustainable development needs and challenges.
Target groups Beneficiaries (technology users) in partners countries in the global South Researchers from the global South as well as Swiss academics engaged in North-South collaboration at EPFL and ETH Research-, governmental-, non-governmental- and business- partners in the global South
Medium-term outcomes Outcome 1: impact-oriented and need-based solutions addressing global challenges and advancing poverty eradication are developed Outcome 2: an expanding network of committed stakeholders supporting sustainability and scaling of the proposed solutions beyond the program is created Outcome 3: knowledge and behavioral change of key stakeholders, incl. local governments, NGOs and researchers is increased
Results Expected results: Outcome 1: (i) a number of relevant research projects are launched and sustained; (ii) the development and transfer of research projects in the field is accelerated; (iii) transdisciplinary partnerships with universities in the g
