Report 2023

National promotion of the 3Rs by the 3RCC

The 3Rs Competence Centre (3RCC) was founded in 2018 with the aim of promoting the implementation of the 3Rs principles in science. Its partners include 11 Swiss universities (represented by swissuniversities), the association of Switzerland’s research-based pharmaceutical companies (Interpharma), the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) and Swiss Animal Protection (SAP).

The 3RCC is financed by the Swiss government and Interpharma and receives benefits in kind from member institutions that must be equal to the value of the resources provided by the government. The 3Rs Research Foundation, the predecessor of the 3RCC, provided funding of around CHF 20 million to research projects between 1987 and 2018.

In 2021, the Swiss government launched the National Research Programme “Advancing 3Rs – Animals, Research and Society” (NRP 79), providing funds of CHF 20 million in the period up to 2028 for the purpose of further accelerating the development of 3Rs projects. The second targeted call was published in 2022, with the aim of implementing 3Rs methods effectively in practice.

It will provide total funding of CHF 920,000 to projects over a maximum of four years.

Project name: 3RCC
Charter article: 2