Science Booster

In recent years, researchers have increasingly tapped non-traditional funding sources. One of the most innovative of these is the “Science Booster” channel on wemakeit.com — a crowdfunding programme dedicated to science projects. Unlike typical academic grants, Science Booster invites researchers (including early-career or independent ones) to engage directly with the public and raise funds for short-term or unconventional research ideas.

What is wemakeit?

wemakeit Ltd is a Switzerland-based crowdfunding platform covering creative, entrepreneurial and social projects across German-, French- and Italian-speaking Europe. Through its website, creators can launch campaigns, define funding goals and rewards, engage backers and receive funds if their campaign succeeds. The platform reports a success rate around 63% and has supported thousands of campaigns. 

The Science Booster Channel – Key Features

The Science Booster channel is a specialised pathway on wemakeit tailored for scientific research projects. Its major features include:

• Matching funds: For every Swiss franc raised via crowdfunding, up to CHF 5,000 is matched by partner organisations (such as the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) or the Gebert Rüf Stiftung) under certain conditions. 
• Open eligibility: Projects in any scientific discipline (natural sciences, social sciences, humanities) can apply — institutional affiliation is not strictly required. 
• Coaching & support: Successful applicants receive advice from the Science Booster team (experts with research backgrounds and science-communication experience) on how to build their campaign, engage backers and frame their research for a broader audience. 
• Science outreach built-in: Because the projects must appeal to a “crowd”, researchers are prompted to think about communication, broader impact and public engagement — not just the raw science. For example, one report noted that crowdfunding “helps scientists build up a sort of fan base … a community of people willing to support scientific endeavour.” 

Why it matters

• Alternative funding for early-stage ideas: Conventional research grants often focus on large projects, long time-horizons and established investigators. The Science Booster fills a gap for smaller, briefer, higher-risk/higher-reward ideas or proof-of-concepts. 
• Public engagement & transparency: By asking researchers to communicate their ideas clearly to the public and involve backers, the programme encourages more direct link-between science and wider society.
• Crowd as community: Beyond money, backing campaigns creates supporters, visibility and potential collaborators or advocates for the research. 

How it works – Step-by-step

1. Project design: The researcher defines a science project (could be thesis-level, fieldwork, innovation in methodology, citizen-science, etc.). They decide on a crowdfunding target (in Swiss Francs) on wemakeit and indicate they wish to participate in Science Booster. 
2. Campaign preparation & coaching: The Science Booster team reviews the submission, provides feedback (on storytelling, rewards, target audience) and once accepted, the project goes live.
3. Crowdfunding phase: The campaign runs for a set period, backers contribute money in exchange for rewards (updates, lab visits, acknowledgments, etc.).
4. Matching fund activation: For every CHF 1 pledged by backers (up to the cap), matching funds from the sponsor (e.g., Gebert Rüf or SNSF) double the money raised (up to the specified limit, e.g., CHF 5,000). 
5. Project execution & reporting: The researcher executes the project and typically reports back to the backers on outcomes, progress and how funds were used. This transparency is part of the model’s strength.

Eligibility & Conditions at a glance

• Projects must fall under the “science” category on wemakeit, Science Booster channel 
• Participation is open to residents of Switzerland, Germany and Austria (in certain cases) and campaigns must be conducted in CHF for matching funds eligibility. 
• Matching funds apply up to a certain ceiling (e.g., CHF 5,000) for the sponsor’s contribution. 
• Researchers are encouraged to design clear communication materials (video, narrative) and rewards that appeal to non-expert backers. 

Data & Impact

As of a review report by the Gebert Rüf Stiftung, since the launch of Science Booster in 2017 there have been around 60 successful crowdfunding campaigns through this channel, engaging nearly 7,000 backers and raising over CHF 1 million in total. The matching fund mechanism contributed an additional CHF 350,000 to these projects. Gebert Rüf Stiftung

Tips for Researchers Considering Science Booster

• Develop a clear, simple “why this matters” narrative that resonates beyond your academic peers.
• Create compelling visuals and reward tiers to engage non-scientific backers (lab tours, data summaries, public talks).
• Use the coaching offered — the Science Booster team can help frame your story in lay terms and optimise your campaign.
• Promote your project widely on social media, networks and local community groups — the crowd component matters.
• Plan for reporting and keep backers updated — transparency builds trust and future support.

Potential Limitations

• Crowdfunding via this route is more suited for small-to-moderate size funding needs — larger research programmes still require traditional grants.
• Success depends partly on your ability to communicate and market the project — researchers unused to public outreach may need to invest time and effort.
• Matching funds have caps — you cannot rely indefinitely on doubling by the sponsor beyond the set limit.

  Unlike experiment.com, the wemakeit website also focuses on art, film and other non-science areas, which makes raising funds for research very difficult