Call for proposal

The Brocher Foundation offers visiting Researchers the opportunity to come to the Brocher Centre in a peaceful park on the shores of Lake Geneva, to write books, journal articles, essays or Ph.D. theses. The visiting researcher positions are an opportunity to meet other researchers from various disciplines and countries as well as experts from numerous International Organizations & Non Governmental Organizations based in Geneva, such as the WHO, WTO, WIPO, UNHCR, ILO, WMA, ICRC, and more.

They afford all Researchers (from Ph.D. students to Professors) the opportunity to work at the Brocher Centre on projects about the ethical, legal and social implications of recent medical research and new technologies.  Researchers can also apply with one or two other Researchers to work on a collaborative project.

“Junior” visiting Researchers can apply for an additional scholarship in order to cover their travel and local expenses in Geneva. To be eligible for the Additional scholarship for Junior Researchers, the applicant must either be a current Ph.D. student or have obtained their PhD within a maximum of five years at the time of application. The applicant should not receive any other income during their time at the Foundation.

Applications from low and middle-income countries are highly encouraged.

Ethical, Legal & Social Implications of recent medical research and new medical technologies:

Bioethics, Medical Anthropology, Health Economics, Health Policy, Health Law, Philosophy of Medicine and Health, Medical Humanities, Social Science Perspectives on Health, Medical Ethics, History of medicine. Equitable access to medical care, Biobanks, Biosecurity and Dual-Use Dilemmas, Clinical Trials and Research on Human Subjects, Genetic testing and screening, Health Care Reform, Nanotechnology, Neglected diseases, Pandemic planning, Reproductive technology, Stem Cells and Cell Therapy, Organ transplantation, Telemedicine, Neurosciences, Synthetic Biology.

Applications must be submitted by March 11 2026 at 1PM GENEVA TIME (not GMT).

No technical assistance will be provided after 1PM GENEVA TIME (not GMT) and applications submitted after this time will NOT be considered.

In order not to overload our computer system and generate last-minute problems, we recommend that you plan your application ahead of time and not wait until the last day to submit it.

The final results of this call for proposals will be communicated by the end of April 2026 at the latest. 

Article 1 – Travel Expenses

The Brocher Foundation offers a grant of up to CHF 6,000 to cover the travel expenses of 12 participants (6 of whom must come from Europe).

• The grant covers only participants’ travel costs and cannot be allocated to other expenses.
• CHF 3,000 will be paid when the Brocher Foundation Scientific Committee selects the proposal for implementation and the Terms and Conditions have been signed and returned.
• Within 60 days after the workshop, the organizer must submit:
  1. A financial report (form provided),
  2. A spreadsheet detailing travel expenses for each speaker,
  3. An invoice in CHF.

Refunds and remaining balances will only be processed once these documents are received.

If the total grant is not fully spent, any unused balance remains with the Foundation.

 

The grant covers round-trip economy class plane or train tickets to Geneva only.

 

The CHF 3,000 advance must be refunded to the Foundation if the workshop is cancelled.

Article 2 – Accommodation

The Brocher Foundation offers accommodation during the workshop for up to 21 persons for 2 or 3 nights (depending on the approved length of the workshop).

Check-in is between 14:00 and 20:00. Participants who arrive outside these hours must be checked in directly by the organizer, as Foundation staff are not available after 20:00.

 

The Foundation will provide the organizer with a detailed list of rooms, including layouts and bathroom arrangements (ensuite, private in the hallway, or shared in the hallway). The organizer is responsible for assigning rooms to participants and informing them of their allocation before arrival. Room assignments are final, and no changes can be made upon arrival. If a participant is dissatisfied with their assignment, this must be addressed with the organizer, not with the Foundation.

 

Checkout is at 09:00 on the last day of the workshop. Keys must be returned to Foundation staff at checkout time, even if the workshop program is still ongoing in the auditorium.

 

Participants cannot extend their stay by arriving earlier or departing later than the official workshop dates. Back-to-back events require rooms to be prepared by housekeeping for the next group.

 

Rooms are cleaned before arrival and after departure. No mid-stay housekeeping is provided.

Accommodation is provided only for participants designated by the Foundation. Pets, children, babies, and family members cannot be accommodated.

• Participants are responsible for taking care of their rooms, the common areas, the auditorium, and all spaces used during the workshop. Any damage to or loss of Foundation property caused by a participant will be their responsibility. The Foundation reserves the right to deduct repair or replacement costs directly from the workshop funding.

Article 3 – Catering

The Foundation provides:

A European Continental breakfast, on the mornings of the workshop, served from 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM

Coffee breaks each morning and afternoon

2 or 3 buffet lunches at the Centre Brocher (30 persons)

2 or 3 dinners at the Villa Brocher for accommodated participants (21 persons)

• A complimentary glass of wine at the arrival dinner. Participants may purchase additional bottles onsite (CHF 15 for white, CHF 20 for red).

A vegetarian option is available for all meals. For lunch, vegan and pescatarian options can also be provided. For dinner, only a vegetarian option is available, as evening meals are catered separately. We appreciate your understanding that our countryside location limits catering flexibility. Participants with stricter dietary requirements may wish to plan accordingly.

Organizers must provide the list of participants together with their room assignments and any dietary requirements at least 4 weeks before the start of the workshop. No changes to dietary requirements can be made within 7 days of the workshop.

Article 4 – Participant Changes

The organizer must inform the Foundation of any changes to attendees, including last-minute changes or cancellations, as these directly affect housekeeping and catering.

Article 5 – Workshop Needs

The Brocher Foundation provides a fully equipped conference room, including facilities for PowerPoint presentations and a MacBook Pro. Presentations should be sent in advance or brought on a USB key. The conference room is available for the workshop from 09:00 to 17:00.

Workshops can be organized in hybrid format. The Foundation provides a camera and microphones for online participation. A staff member will be present each morning to set up the equipment and will remain available on request for any technical support.

On the first morning of the workshop, a Brocher Foundation staff member will deliver a short introduction (approximately 5 minutes) to present the Foundation and its activities to participants.

Organizers are responsible for providing the Foundation with a program, a participant list, nametags (if required), and any other useful information if they would like these materials printed or prepared by the Foundation. All direct communication with participants, including emails before, during, or after the workshop, is the sole responsibility of the organizers.

Article 6 - Smoking

Smoking is strictly prohibited inside all areas of the Foundation; it is only permitted outdoors. The use of fireplaces is also not allowed. Multiple smoke detectors are installed throughout the buildings and will trigger the fire alarm at the slightest indication of smoke.

Article 7 – Publication

The Foundation may contribute up to CHF 2,000 to support a publication resulting from the workshop, under the following conditions:

The proposal is of excellent quality.

The publication is completed within 2 years of the workshop.

The Foundation’s support is acknowledged and its logo included.

Two copies of the publication are provided to the Foundation.

The following text must appear: “The Brocher Foundation’s mission is to encourage research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of new medical technologies. Its main activities are to host visiting researchers and to organize workshops and summer academies. More information is available at www.brocher.ch.”

Requests for publication support must be submitted within 3 months of the event to scientificprog@brocher.ch with the required details.

Article 8 – Health and Insurance

It is participants’ responsibility to obtain travel insurance that covers illness, accidents, hospitalization, or repatriation during their time in Switzerland. Participants must also ensure they have their own public liability insurance.

Participants are responsible for their own health and wellbeing. In the event of a pandemic, epidemic, or other public health concern, the participants must take any necessary precautions as recommended by the relevant authorities or the Brocher Foundation to help ensure the safety of all.

Participants acknowledge that the Foundation bears no liability should they fall ill during their stay in Geneva, including while at the Brocher Foundation. If they contract an illness requiring isolation or quarantine, accommodations at the Foundation will not be available beyond the end of the workshop. Any arrangements beyond this date will be the sole responsibility of the participant, and at their own expense. 

Article 9 – Conduct

 

Participants are expected to behave respectfully, follow the Brocher Foundation’s Code of Conduct, and contribute positively to the workshop environment. Disruptive or disrespectful behavior may result in exclusion from the event. 

Quiet hours must be respected between 22:00 and 07:00.

Article 10 – Personal Belongings

 

The Foundation assumes no responsibility for the loss or theft of participants’ personal belongings. Safes are provided in rooms where accommodation is included.

Article 11 – Photography and Recording

Workshops may be photographed for archival or promotional purposes. Participants who do not wish to appear in photographs or recordings must inform the organizer in advance.