In short
The SNSF allows researchers to use AI to prepare grant applications and has no disclosure rule for applicants in these pages. Applicants are the sole authors and bear full responsibility for the content (SNSF news item of 2024-02-28; topic page on responsible use of AI). Reviewers and referees may use AI only in a supportive role and must disclose its use (Guidelines for reviewers and referees).
Permits AI. Applicants may use AI and stay responsible for what they submit.
For applicants
- Researchers may use AI to prepare their grant applications. The pages set no limit on how much AI may write. [1]
- Applicants are the sole authors of a proposal and bear full responsibility for its content. They remain responsible for all content produced with AI support. [1][2]
- Applicants must follow the principles of scientific integrity and protect confidential data. They should take care with intellectual property, sensitive data and the correct referencing of sources. [1][2]
- The pages contain no rule that applicants must disclose AI use in an application. [1][2]
For reviewers
- Reviewers and referees must form their own opinion first. AI may then be used only in a supportive role, such as literature research, turning bullet points into a draft or improving language. [2][3][4]
- AI must not be used in a substantial manner, for example to generate all or part of a review, the criteria-based evaluation, or a list of strengths and weaknesses. [2][3]
- Reviewers and referees must disclose their use of AI tools when they submit their reviews. [2][3][4]
- Uploading proposal content to AI tools can breach confidentiality. A tool may be used only if it ensures full confidentiality, no storage by the provider, no use for training and no third-party access. [2][3][4]
- Reviewers may not use AI to gather information about the applicants. [2]
Sources
Researchers may also use them to prepare their grant applications.
For research proposals, the basic principle is that the applicants are the sole authors and as such bear full responsibility for the content.
Producing summaries or translations of whole application dossiers or of novel ideas using generative AI tools may violate this confidentiality.
Towards responsible use of AI in research (opens in a new tab)
Anyone who uses AI in research remains responsible for the results and must adhere to the principles of scientific integrity and the protection of confidential data.
The same principle also applies to funding proposals and their evaluation: Researchers, reviewers and referees remain responsible for all content, assessments and decisions that they produce with the support of AI.
When reviewers submit their assessments, they must disclose to the SNSF whether and how they have used AI.
No, this is not allowed. The assessment must be based on the information provided by the applicants and the SNSF-supplied documents.
Guidelines for reviewers and referees (opens in a new tab)
AI tools must not be used in a substantial manner in the review process, e.g. to generate all or part of the review, including the criteria-based evaluation, or to generate a list of strengths and weaknesses.
When submitting their reviews to the SNSF, reviewers and referees must disclose their use of AI tools in preparing the assessment.
After reviewers and referees have formed their own opinion, artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to refine their assessment, in a supportive capacity, e.g. assisting in literature research, transforming bullet points into a draft or improving language.
New guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in peer reviews (opens in a new tab)
They must also disclose their use of AI to the SNSF when submitting their written recommendations.
See Swiss National Science Foundation's 1 open program
This page summarizes what the funder has published and is not legal advice. Policies change, and one solicitation can add its own rules. Confirm against the funding announcement before you apply.