ETH Zurich Institute of Science, Technology and Policy
About
Freedom and individual responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and open-mindedness: ETH Zurich stands on a bedrock of true Swiss values.
Introduction
The ETH Zurich
Freedom and individual responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and open-mindedness: ETH Zurich stands on a bedrock of true Swiss values.
Our university for science and technology dates back to the year 1855 when the founders of modern-day Switzerland created it as a centre of innovation and knowledge.
At ETH Zurich, students discover an ideal environment for independent thinking, researchers a climate which inspires top performance. Situated in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, ETH Zurich is pioneering effective solutions to the global challenges of today and tomorrow.
Portrait
Freedom and individual responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and open-mindedness: ETH Zurich stands on a bedrock of true Swiss values. Our university for science and technology dates back to the year 1855 when the founders of modern-day Switzerland created it as a centre of innovation and knowledge. At ETH Zurich, students discover an ideal environment for independent thinking, researchers a climate which inspires top performance. Situated in the heart of Europe, yet forging connections all over the world, ETH Zurich is pioneering effective solutions to the global challenges of today and tomorrow.
Facts & Figures
- 19,800 students, including 4,000 doctoral students, from over 120 countries
- 500 professors
- 355 spin-offs since 1996
- 21 Nobel Prize winners, including Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Pauli (1 Fields Medal winner, 2 Pritzker Prize winners)
- 90 patent applications and 200 invention reports every year
- CHF 1,8 billion, comprising CHF 1,3 billion core funding from the Federal Government
- 9th in THE ranking (2016)
- 8th in QS ranking (2016)
- 19th in ARWU ranking (2016)
Main focus areas
In order to cope with humanity’s major challenges, a combination of disciplinary approaches in multidisciplinary teams, or a multidisciplinary approach, is often necessary. This is why ETH Zurich concentrates on several main focus areas in addition to departmental activities. The research focuses on the needs of society – be that at a local, national or global level – and so makes a valuable contribution to politics, the economy and society.
ETH Zurich’s main focus areas are as follows:
Medicine
As a technical and scientific university, ETH Zurich has been making significant contributions to the advancement of medicine for decades through fundamental research, the development of technologies for prognostics, diagnostics and therapy, the foundation of spin-off companies, training and education programmes, and infrastructure.
Data
Researchers at ETH Zurich are developing new approaches to data science and machine learning in order to secure and evaluate enormous amounts of data.
Sustainability
Food security, energy supply and climate change, the sustainable design of our habitats and the careful handling of natural resources are among the greatest global challenges. ETH Zurich has studied these topics intensively for decades and is today a leader in energy, nutrition and environmental research.
Manufacturing technologies
A company’s economic success depends on its ability to develop innovative products and ensure cost-effective production. ETH Zurich’s research contributes to the development of future-oriented production processes and manufacturing technologies.
Critical Thinking Initiative
ETH Zurich launched the Critical Thinking Initiative (CTETH) in 2012 with the goal of training ETH students to think critically and independently. This initiative allows the university to provide critical thinking and communication and leadership skills in addition to specialist expertise.