Working groups

3Rs Competence Centre (3RCC)

The national 3Rs Competence Centre (3RCC) was founded on 27 March 2018 to promote the 3Rs principles in Switzerland. In addition to 11 universities, participants in the 3RCC include Interpharma, Swiss Animal Protection and the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO).

The Centre’s objectives are to fund high-quality 3Rs research projects, develop a strategy for 3Rs-based training and continuing education, and establish a professional communications strategy. The 3RCC gives all participants access to the latest information on the 3Rs and alternatives to animal experiments. The centre offers its services to authorities, teaching and educational institutions and other interested groups. It also monitors the progress achieved in these areas in Switzerland. Before the national centre was established, 3Rs research projects were supported and funded by the 3Rs Research Foundation Switzerland for over 30 years. From the outset, the Foundation was financed equally by the federal government and Interpharma. In 2021, the Swiss government launched the National Research Programme “Advancing 3Rs – Animals, Research and Society” (NRP 79), providing funding of CHF 20 million in the period up to 2028 for the purpose of accelerating the development of 3Rs applications.

Project name: 3RCC
Charter articles: 1, 3, 9