Second SOUR Call

The second SOUR call will be published on 1 September 2026 during the SWEET Conference. The call will focus on the guiding theme of “Supply Security in a Net-Zero Energy System”. Compared to the first SOUR call, this new call introduces a significantly evolved approach inspired by the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program.

The call targets high-risk, high-impact projects with the potential to deliver transformative solutions. Proposals must address technological white spaces, include pathways to commercialization from the outset, and pursue measurable contributions to the targets of the Energy Strategy 2050.

This SOUR call will be led by Prof. em. Marco Mazzotti (ETH Zurich) as Call Director, supported by SFOE experts. Researchers from academic institutions, non-commercial research organisations and the private sector will be eligible to apply for funding.

A total call budget of approximately CHF 4 million is available, with funding expected for around three projects, each running for up to three years. Projects will be actively monitored against milestone-based progress, with the possibility to discontinue underperforming projects and reallocate resources.

The call guideline and proposal template will be published here on this page on 1 September 2026.