FORS is the Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences. We implement large-scale national and international surveys, offer data and research information services to researchers and academic institutions, and conduct methodological and thematic research. FORS is financed by the Federal Government (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI), by contributions from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and by the University of Lausanne.

Our strategic priorities are the following:

• Data and consulting services for social science researchers and research institutions in Switzerland

This includes data collections as part of the national and international social science infrastructure and services on a mandate basis supporting the entire data life cycle of social science projects in Switzerland.

• Providing tools for the national and international information infrastructure

We acquire, document, preserve and disseminate high quality quantitative and qualitative data and research information in conformity with national and international standards.

• Doing research related to methodological and thematic research

Thanks to its own research activities, FORS is an integral part of the social science research community in Switzerland. To fulfil its key mission, FORS participates in academic research in two main fields: thematic and methodological research.