For each National Research Programme (NRP) the National Research Council sets up a Steering Committee whose members are appointed based on their scientific competency and their experience with application-oriented research. The Steering Committee defines the profile of the NRP and ensures continuity and coherence in the decision-making. It organises and supervises the scientific coordination of the programme and evaluates the progress of both research projects and implementation activities. The Steering Committee is also in charge of the final programme synthesis.
Division "Targeted Research" of the National Research Council delegates one of its members to the Steering Committee. This delegate acts as main liaison between the Steering Committee and the SNSF ensuring that recommendations from the Steering Committee are submitted to the National Research Council of Division "Targeted Research" for approval or rejection.
The Programme Coordinator is responsible for the operational management of the NRP. The Programme Coordinator defines the schedule and the milestones of the programme and coordinates the activities of all actors within the NRP. He is the entry point for information on the programme.
The Implementation Officer plans and defines the implementation measures of the NRP. He acts as link between science and practical applications, advises the Steering Committee and the research groups in matters of communication and implementation and the research groups in their contacts with interested parties and the media. The Implementation Officer also provides support in the implementation of specific measures for knowledge transfer.
The Representative of the Federal Administration ensures that the interests of the federal offices are represented within the Steering Commitee and facilitates cooperation between the researchers and the administrative offices.