How to support

The University of Bern invests in interdisciplinary, problem-based research and offers room for innovation to those who are pioneers in their fields of research. It offers its students a high standard of tertiary education, invests in the next generation and in talented young people, and opens its doors at special events and promotions, thus fulfilling its social obligation.

Donations help support the following:

• Research projects
• Endowed professorships
• Infrastructure: devices, equipment, laboratories, libraries, seminar rooms, buildings, clinics
• Positions: members of scientific staff, post-doc positions, other jobs
• Support for early-career researchers: grants, graduate schools

• Teaching: study programs, teaching contracts, lecture courses, modern forms of knowledge transfer

Endowed professorships have been set up at the University of Bern for many years. These endowed teaching posts are privately financed, building on the publicly-financed basic structure and enabling more in-depth research into a special field of knowledge within the University's strategy. The freedom of research and teaching is fully guaranteed and contractually fixed. There are currently around a dozen endowed professorships.

Endowed professorships are professorships which are supported in large part by funds from private individuals, foundations, or companies.
Endowed professors are usually appointed for a minimum of ten years, while assistant professorships of six (four plus two) years can be agreed.
Endowed professorships can be named after the donor if the latter provides the majority of the funding.

The contractually agreed name is used for the duration of the funding.
If an endowed professorship is occupied, the partner is entitled to be represented on the faculty structural and electoral commission without voting rights.

A bequest or legacy is the last will of a testator in favor of one or more beneficiaries set out in a testament. The University of Bern welcomes bequests. You require a written testament for the realization of personal wishes exceeding the scope of hereditary succession. If you wish to include the University in your testament, we recommend a broad earmarking so that your last will can actually be implemented. For example, it is better to specify a broad promotion of young talent rather than restricting funding to a given course of study. We would be happy to advise you in confidentiality and put you in touch with the right contact.

Sponsoring refers to monetary payments or contributions in kind from companies requiring a service in return. Sponsoring serves to achieve marketing objectives and is usually subject to sales tax.

Sponsoring help support the following:

• Publications: printing subsidies for academic publications, other publications
• Prizes: research prizes, teaching prizes, subject prizes, competitions
• Outreach: symposia and specialist conferences, anniversary celebrations, public lectures, distinguished lectures, exhibitions, science communication

In the case of sponsoring, the university agrees services provided and received in return with the relevant partners. The following can be agreed in writing:

• Acknowledgment and expressions of thanks, in person and via the university’s communications channels
• Inviting the sponsor to special events
• Placing the sponsor’s name and/or logo on websites with or without a link
• Catering partnerships
• Book tables at meetings and conferences
• Advertisements in conference publications
• Industry exhibitions
• Talks by the partner
• Granting the sponsor the right to mention the support they provide in their own communications.

The Executive Board of the University of Bern decides whether or not the sponsor can use the university logo.

Guidelines set out how the University of Bern conducts sponsoring and fundraising.

The university ensures that neither its reputation nor its credibility are compromised by donations or sponsorship. It guarantees freedom of research and teaching without reservation.

Fundraising guidelines 05.07.2023 (PDF, 1.9 MB)

The University of Bern gladly accepts donations on the UniBE Foundation account.

UniBE Foundation
Hochschulstrasse 6
3012 Bern
IBAN: CH63 0079 0016 6029 4328 6
If requested, please indicate the intended use.

Donations to the UniBE Foundation are tax-deductible.

PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH

The UniBern research foundation was founded in 1928 and promotes scientific research. The foundation is affiliated to the University of Bern. The Vice-Rector for Research is a member of the board of trustees, and professors are engaged as experts. The Foundation accepts donations: IBAN CH81 0079 0042 3304 3532 2 BIC/SWIFT KBBECH22XXX [Clearing 790]

Partnership for research

The UniBern research foundation was founded in 1928 and promotes scientific research. The foundation is affiliated to the University of Bern. The Vice-Rector for Research is a member of the board of trustees, and professors are engaged as experts. The Foundation accepts donations: IBAN CH81 0079 0042 3304 3532 2 BIC/SWIFT KBBECH22XXX [Clearing 790]