armasuisse – Research Program Security

Within the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T) is the technological center responsible for providing the necessary technological expertise for the armed forces. It explores and develops future-oriented security-relevant solutions by assessing and testing current and future systems and technologies, creating innovative solutions, researching cutting-edge technologies and finally consulting the armed forces on the military potential of the solutions.

In 2022, the DDPS and ETH Zurich established a Technology and Innovation Advisory Board to strengthen their strategic partnership in order to strengthen Switzerland’s security. At the end of 2024, the board was expanded to include EPFL and shall incorporate all institutions within the ETH Domain in the future. This initiative aims to unite the efforts of the federal administration and federal research institutions in addressing national security challenges.

As part of this effort, the “Research Program Security” has been launched in 2025 through a series of calls for proposals open to all institutions within the ETH Domain. Key thematic areas include fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum technologies, autonomous systems and robotics, cybersecurity, communication and secure networks, materials science as well as energy.

Call for proposals

The thematic challenges for this first call for proposals are:

1. Next generation positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT)
2. Countering mini-drones with innovative technologies

The Research Program Security will support projects for a period of 12 to 18 months, with a maximum funding amount of CHF 250k (including overheads).

Eligibility and Application Process

The call for proposals is open to the ETH Domain community as follows:

• Open to faculty members, senior scientists, postdocs.
• Projects must be hosted by an ETH Domain laboratory or research group and supported by at least one faculty member (Prof. tit., MER, PATT, PA or PO).
• There are no restrictions on the number of applicants involved; proposals may be submitted by individual applicants or consortia (collaboration between ETH Domain institutions is possible)
• Projects should not involve third parties (as main/co-applicant or project partner).

Submission Deadline

The application deadline for this call for proposals is Monday 1 December 2025 (17:00 CET).

Applicant workshop

An online applicant workshop will take place on Tuesday 28 October 2025 from 13:00 to 14:00 CET. The registration form is available here.

For further information, please have a look at the Research Program Security website.

For additional questions, please contact the Research Office via research@epfl.ch.