Impact Sabbatical Program Winter 2025: Health & Well-Being

Swiss researchers, professors, and lecturers can participate in a 2-8 week Impact Sabbatical in the winter, spring or summer of 2025.

Health

Academic Impact Sabbatical at Swissnex in San Francisco

Swiss researchers, professors, and lecturers have the opportunity to spend an Impact Sabbatical at Swissnex in San Francisco in 2025 (winter, spring and summer).

Participants of this sabbatical will be part of a Swiss academic cohort conducting research on a shared subject. The Winter 2025 cohort will focus on Health & Well-Being, the Spring 2025 cohort will focus on Climate & Sustainability, and the Summer 2025 cohort will focus on AI, Data & the Digital Space.

The sabbatical program provides participants with an immersion into the San Francisco Bay Area innovation ecosystem that helps them take their research project to the next level. Swissnex supports participants to enrich their research projects with insights and inspiration from the San Francisco Bay Area and helps them to collaborate with the local ecosystem by finding interesting partners, learning new skills and knowledge, and expanding their mindset in terms of impact, inclusivity, and more.

The program includes training sessions and workshops, introductions to relevant ecosystem players, regular check-ins, and access to Swissnex’s workspace at Pier 17.

Details

Participants

Applicants for this program must be researchers, professors, or lecturers of a Swiss academic institution and must organize funding to cover the expenses of this program with their institution.

Duration

Participants can choose between two different program lengths:

2-4 Week Sabbatical

Development of SMART goals in preparation for a sabbatical with support of a Swissnex staff member
Access to the Swissnex office at Pier 17
Coaching sessions: networking, storytelling, growth mindset, and impact mindset
Individual check-ins to help participants stay on track for their SMART goals
Option to participate in the events and programs hosted and organized by Swissnex

5-8 Week Sabbatical

Includes all points listed in the 2-4 week sabbatical
Continued coaching on milestones and challenges for weeks 5 through 8
Feedback and support on project ideas by Swissnex
Opportunity to give an in-depth presentation about the development of the project to the Pier 17 community at the beginning and the end of the sabbatical

Participants have the option to extend their sabbatical by adding designated desk space for an additional two weeks to their stay (right before or right after the sabbatical)

Topic of the Sabbatical

The Winter 2025 cohort focuses on Health & Well-Being (start date: January 20, 2025).

The Spring 2025 cohort focuses on Climate & Sustainability (start date: April 14, 2025).

The Summer 2025 cohort focuses on AI, Data & the Digital Space (start date: August 11, 2025).

Costs

For more details and information about pricing, please contact [email protected]

Timeline for the Winter 2025 Sabbatical*

  • Application deadline: November 10, 2024
  • Decision by Swissnex: November 26, 2025
  • Travel Commitment deadline: December 10, 2025
  • Kickoff (virtual): Monday, January 8, 2024
  • Prep week (virtual): 13 – 17, January, 2025
  • Sabbatical Star in SF: January 20, 2025

*subject to potential changes

By participating in our programs, you consent to being filmed and/or photographed, and you grant Swissnex permission to use your image on our website and for marketing purposes.