The Velux Stiftung Healthy Ageing Research Funding Programme supports innovative research exploring how social and environmental contexts shape health and quality of life in older age. From 2026 onwards, the programme emphasizes environmental factors that sustain or enhance functional ability. Grants range from CHF 50,000–100,000 per year for projects lasting 1–4 years, with a focus on real-world impact and knowledge transfer.
Velux Stiftung Healthy Ageing Research Funding Programme
The Velux Stiftung Healthy Ageing Research Funding Programme funds research examining how environments, social contexts, and real-life activities influence health, autonomy, and wellbeing in later life.
Healthy life expectancy is shaped not only by individual choices but also by broader social structures, communities, and systems that enable or restrict participation in society.
Programme Focus and Research Priorities
The programme prioritizes:
-
Environmental factors that sustain or enhance functional ability in later life
-
Interdisciplinary and innovative projects introducing new perspectives or overlooked topics
-
Impact-oriented research with concrete knowledge transfer plans
-
Projects that go beyond incremental improvements to promote meaningful societal change
Examples of Supported Research Topics
-
Quality of life and cardiovascular health in older adults
-
Retirement, second language learning, and cognitive function
-
Empowering individual capabilities for independence and autonomy
-
Real-life activities to reduce cognitive ageing
-
Social support and cognitive function promotion
-
Assessing mobility in daily life
-
Monitoring touchscreen behavior for early intervention signals
Exclusions
-
Biomedical research aimed at slowing, pausing, or reversing biological ageing
-
Research focused on diagnosis, therapy, or aetiology of age-related diseases
Funding Details
-
Grant Amount: CHF 50,000–100,000 per year
-
Duration: 1–4 years
-
Requests over CHF 100,000/year require prior consultation
-
Not Covered: Overhead, indirect, or organisational costs
-
Funding decisions prioritize impact, scientific quality, and appropriate use of resources
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants must:
-
Be a principal investigator with permanent employment at a legally accountable academic research institution
-
Act on behalf of their organisational unit, responsible for grant management, compliance, and reporting
-
Include up to three co-principal investigators; collaborators can contribute without limitation
-
Demonstrate a strategic fit with the Healthy Ageing funding area
-
Ensure the project is impact-oriented and includes knowledge transfer plans
Ineligible Applications
-
Projects outside strategic funding areas
-
Applications proposing only incremental progress
-
Lack of knowledge transfer activities
-
Previously rejected applications
-
Projects that could be funded by national agencies without justification
-
Applications from non-eligible countries as per Swiss and international compliance rules
Why This Funding Matters
The Velux Stiftung Healthy Ageing programme contributes to:
-
Advancing understanding of how environments and social structures shape older adults’ health
-
Promoting functional ability and autonomy in later life
-
Supporting research that has tangible, real-world impact
-
Bridging interdisciplinary knowledge gaps in ageing research
By focusing on impact-oriented and innovative research, the programme ensures outcomes benefit both scientific communities and society at large.
How to Apply
Step 1: Define Your Project
-
Ensure the project aligns with the programme’s Healthy Ageing funding area
-
Emphasize environmental and social factors affecting functional ability
-
Include knowledge transfer plans for relevant target groups
Step 2: Budget Planning
-
Prepare requests within CHF 50,000–100,000 per year
-
Consult the foundation for requests exceeding CHF 100,000/year
-
Exclude overhead, indirect, or organisational costs
Step 3: Prepare the Research Team
-
Principal investigator must be a permanent employee of a qualified institution
-
Identify co-principal investigators (up to three) and collaborators
-
Ensure the organisational unit can manage compliance, reporting, and grant administration
Step 4: Justify Strategic Fit
-
Demonstrate why the project cannot be funded by national agencies
-
Provide clear evidence of impact and innovative approach
Step 5: Submit Application
-
Include complete project proposal, team details, and budget
-
Ensure alignment with Velux Stiftung strategic priorities
Common Mistakes to Avoid
-
Proposing incremental research without clear innovation
-
Ignoring the knowledge transfer component
-
Applying from a non-eligible country
-
Submitting applications without institutional support
-
Failing to justify why alternative national funding is insufficient
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What types of projects are funded?
Impact-oriented, interdisciplinary research exploring environmental and social factors that affect healthy ageing and functional ability.
2. What is the typical funding range?
CHF 50,000–100,000 per year for projects lasting 1–4 years. Requests above CHF 100,000/year require consultation.
3. Can biomedical research be funded?
No. Projects aiming to slow, pause, or reverse biological ageing or targeting disease diagnosis/therapy are not eligible.
4. Who can apply?
Principal investigators must be permanent employees of eligible academic institutions. Co-principal investigators can be included (up to three), and collaborators are unlimited.
5. Are knowledge transfer activities required?
Yes. All applications must include plans to transfer research outcomes to relevant target groups.
6. Can projects already funded by national agencies apply?
Yes, but applicants must clearly justify why alternative national funding is inadequate.
7. Are there country restrictions?
Yes. Applications from non-eligible countries as defined by Swiss regulatory and international compliance rules are excluded.
Conclusion
The Velux Stiftung Healthy Ageing Research Funding Programme supports innovative, interdisciplinary, and impact-focused research that improves the quality of life and functional ability of older adults.
By prioritizing environmental and social determinants of healthy ageing, the programme enables research that goes beyond incremental advances to generate tangible societal benefits.
Applicants with strategically aligned, well-justified, and impactful projects have the strongest potential for funding.
For more information, visit Velux Stiftung.
