2017THE ETH DOMAIN IN BRIEF

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Mission Statement

The ETH Domain strives to strengthen the competitive-ness of Switzerland in the long term and contribute to the development of society through excellence in research, teaching and the knowledge and technology transfer. It endeavours to serve as an exemplary beacon by assuming its share of responsibility for the manage-ment of urgent social challenges, the enhancement of the quality of life, and the long-term maintenance of our natural resources.

CONTENTS

Facts & Figures 4

The ETH Domain 5

The ETH Board 7

The institutions ETH Zurich EPFL PSI WSL Empa Eawag

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10 12 14 16 18

Strategic focus areas 20

Key figures 2016 22

ETH Domain in brief 3

Dear Readers

Innovation is vital for competitiveness and for the success of our economy and, as such, for employment and prosperity in our country. The ETH Domain drives innovation in Switzerland. Its two universities, ETH Zurich and EPFL, and the four research institutes, PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag, have forged a close working relationship with SMEs and industry. Thanks to this cooperation, the Swiss economy benefits from the exceptional expertise of the ETH Domain in research and innovation and is able to develop new products which give it an edge over its international rivals. Empa alone carries out 300 research and development projects a year with Swiss companies.

The ETH Domain is dependent upon outstanding framework conditions in order to maintain its success in delivering its work in knowledge and technology transfer, in training specialists and in research. This includes adequate and stable financing by the Federal Government, Switzerland’s international reputation and openness, as well as the autonomy of the institutions of the ETH Domain. These framework conditions must also be factored into future political deci-sion-making.

Zurich/Bern, March 2017

Dr Fritz SchiesserChairman of the ETH Board

Preface

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Facts & Figures*

* As of 31 December 2016 ** Employment contracts

30,351Students and doctoral students from over 125 countries

829Professors**

230Patent applications and 50 spin-offs

3,400Cooperations with industry and the public sector (rounded)

ETH Zurich1st in THE Europe Ranking (continental Europe) 9th in THE World Ranking 8th in QS World Ranking

EPFL1st in “THE 150 Under 50” Rankings 30th in THE World Ranking 6th in QS Europe Ranking

2,454mTotal federal contribution

21,054Employees** of which, 464 apprentices

ETH Domain in brief 5

The ETH Domain

Teaching and research as well asknowledge and technology transferat the very highest level worldwide: this is the mandate given by the Federal Council to the six institutions of the ETH Domain. These comprise

— The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich),

— The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL),

— The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), — The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL),

— The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (Empa),

— The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag).

In addition, the ETH Board (a stra-tegic management and supervisorybody) and the Internal AppealsCommission (an independentappeals body) also belong to theETH Domain.

Research institutes

Federal Institutes of Technology

ETH Board

ETH Zurich EPFL

over 19,000 students11,157 employees *

over 10,000 students5,870 employees *

PSI

2,049 employees *

WSL

495 employees *

Empa

936 employees *

Eawag

497 employees *

11 MembersStaff: 50 employees*

* Employments contracts including doctoral students as of 31 December 2016

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The two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes have the objectives

— to educate students and specialists in scientific and technical fields and ensure continuing education and training,

— to expand scientific knowledge through research, — to foster upcoming young scientists, — to render scientific and technical services, — to perform public relations activities and make practical use of their research findings.

This is all stated in the ETH Act. The Swiss Federal Council and Parliament issue the performance mandate, usually for a four-year period, which gives a clear expression to these goals. Within the framework of this performance mandate the ETH Board sets forth the strategy of the ETH Domain, presents it to the policy- makers and federal offices, and regularly reports on the progress made in achieving the objectives. The two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes are responsible for the operational leadership of the institu-tions of the ETH Domain.

Education and research bear some of the responsibility when it comes to mas-tering the great challenges of our time such as the environment, the use of resources, healthcare, economic prosperity and social welfare. The ETH Domain endeavours to honour this responsibility.

The ETH Board laid out the key points in its strategic planning for 2012–2016. Priority is given to high quality teaching that is closely affiliated with research. ETH Zurich and EPFL promote the advancement of the students and invest in an ideal supervision, in professorships, scientific personnel and modern infra-structure.

Tasks and principle goals

ETH Domain in brief 7

Management of the institutions The two Federal Institutes of Technology and the research institutes are managed by:

— Prof. Dr Lino Guzzella President of ETH Zurich

— Prof. Dr Martin Vetterli President of EPFL

— Prof. Dr Joël Mesot Director of the PSI

— Prof. Dr Konrad Steffen Director of WSL

— Prof. Dr Gian-Luca Bona Director of Empa

— Prof. Dr Janet Hering Director of Eawag

The ETH Board has comprised the following people from politics, business and society (since 1 January 2017):

— Dr Fritz Schiesser President of the ETH Board, former federal State Councillor

— Prof. Dr Paul L. Herrling Vice-President of the ETH Board, Chair Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases

— Prof. Dr Lino Guzzella President of ETH Zurich

— Prof. Dr Marin Vetterli President of EPFL

— Prof. Dr Joël Mesot Director of the PSI

— Kristin Becker van Slooten Delegate for the University Assemblies of ETH Zurich/EPFL, MER* at EPFL

— Marc Bürki CEO of Swissquote Holding AG and Swissquote Bank AG

— Beatrice Fasana Managing Director of Sandro Vanini SA

— Dr Dr h. c. Barbara Haering President of the Board of Directors of econcept AG

— Beth Krasna Independent Member of the Board of Directors

— Christiane Leister Owner and CEO of the Leister Group

* Maître d’enseignement et de recherche

The ETH Board

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ETH ZURICHwww.ethz.ch

ETH Zurich is one of the leading technical and scientific universities. It is well-known for its excellent teaching, pioneering fundamental research, and the direct transfer of new findings to real-world applications. The ETH Zurich provides an inspiring environment for researchers, and a comprehensive education for students.

Established in 1855, today the ETH Zurich has nearly 20,000 students and doctoral students from 120 countries. Around 500 professors are currently engaged in teaching and research in the fields of natural science, engineering, architecture, mathematics, system-oriented sciences, and in management studies and the social sciences.

In the international rankings ETH Zurich is regularly identified as one of the world’s top universities, and in 2016 it once again achieved a top-ten ranking, even claiming first spot in continental Europe (THE World and Europe Rankings). 21 Nobel laureates have studied, taught or done their research here. The innovations of the university flow into the most forward-looking sectors, from infor-matics to micro- and nanotechnology, or high-tech medical equip-ment. The 90 or so patent applications each year, the 355 spin-off companies that have been set up since 1996, and the 800-plus research contracts with businesses, all go to show how successful ETH Zurich is in imparting its knowledge to the economy and society.

ETH Zurich contributes to the sustainable solution of global chal-lenges. In addition to the emphasis it places on sustainability in which it explores questions around sustainability and global food supply, ETH Zurich also focuses on data science (for example, on ever more important cyber security) and health. ETH Zurich will be offering a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine.

Cybathlon 2016 Walking upright despite being paralysed: Philipp Wipfli achieved fifth place in the Step by Step exoskeleton race. The motorised

“VariLeg” support apparatus was developed by a team of students and doctoral students from ETH Zurich. (Photo: Nicola Pitaro/ETH Zurich)

You can find more information at: www.ethboard.ch/fascination

ETH Domain in brief 9

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Ageing and nutrition Nutrition researcher Johan Auwerx, professor at EPFL and Marcel Benoist Prize laureate in 2016 in recognition of his work on mitochondria, their role in the metabolic process and how metabolic processes affect health and ageing. You can find more information at: www.ethboard.ch/fascination

ETH Domain in brief 11

EPFLwww.epfl.ch

EPFL is the birthplace of the modern computer mouse, as well as ambitious scientific projects and sustainable innovations such as the transparent-dye solar cells, the solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse, the ultra-fast yacht Hydroptère, and the EU flagship programme the Human Brain Project (HBP).

The prestigious university provides teaching facilities for every study level, from Bachelor’s to Doctorate, and has grown at an impressive rate since it became a federal institution in 1969. Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, EPFL houses 14,000 people: over 10,500 students and some 5,800 staff members working in the fields of teaching, research, technology and administration, including more than 340 professors.

The campus with the Rolex Learning Center as its distinguishing feature, unique in the world, provides the most appealing living conditions and the most modern working facilities in the field of teaching and research. People from more than 125 nations meet here every day at what is one of the world’s most international universities. From Master’s degree level upwards, most courses are delivered in English.

A special concern of EPFL is the promotion of international partner-ships, sponsorships and joint projects between academia and industry. The campus also includes the “EPFL Innovation Park”, which is a dynamic environment for around 140 start-ups and research centres of respected companies. The university on average produces 15 start-ups each year and 2016 saw the creation of 20, for which more than CHF 110m was invested as venture capital.

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PSIwww.psi.ch

The PSI is the largest research centre for natural sciences and engineering in Switzerland. It carries out top-level research in the fields of matter and materials, energy and the environment, as well as humanity and health. By carrying out fundamental and applied research, the PSI has been working on sustainable solutions for central questions of society, the economy and science since 1988.

It operates large-scale research facilities that are unique in Switzerland – and in some cases in the world – such as the SINQ Neutron Source, the Swiss Light Source, and the Swiss Muon Source. Each year, over 2,500 researchers from Switzerland and all over the world come to perform experiments at the PSI.

In addition to its research, the PSI operates the only installation in Switzerland for the treatment of specific types of cancer using protons. Of the 2,000-plus staff members of the PSI, 700 are scientists. The education of young persons is a central concern of the PSI: about one quarter of the staff are postdocs, doctoral students or trainees. Schoolchildren, students and professionals are educated and given higher training in the iLab school laboratory or at the PSI training centre.

In 2016, the PSI started operating the next large-scale research installation, the X-ray free electron laser SwissFEL, which allows one to see very brief changes in atomic and molecular structures. This will enable researchers to gain insights that are not possible with the methods that are currently available. The first pilot experiments are planned for 2017.

ETH Domain in brief 13

Swiss Light Source Physicist Oliver Bunk in the SLS, which is over 130 metres in diameter: Many billions of electrons rotate

a million times a second in the particle accelerator there. When they are deflected by magnets, they radiate synchrotron light.

You can find more information at: www.ethboard.ch/fascination

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Research programme on Forest and Climate Change Peter Brang, head of the research programme, in typical deciduous woodland which is predominantly spruce and which will be barely imaginable in 100 years because spruce is greatly endangered by climate change.You can find more information at: www.ethboard.ch/fascination

ETH Domain in brief 15

WSLwww.wsl.ch | www.slf.ch

The WSL investigates changes to the terrestrial environment, and the use and protection of natural habitats and cultural landscapes. It monitors the condition and progress of forests, landscape, bio-diversity, natural hazards and snow and ice, and develops sustain-able solutions for socially relevant problems – in collaboration with its partners from academia and society.

Almost half of the 500 or so employees in Birmensdorf, Davos, Lausanne, Cadenazzo and Sion are scientists, and more than 60 are doctoral students. The work force also includes about 150 technical staff and 50 administrative staff, 15 trainees, and apprentices. About a quarter of the employees work at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos.

The findings of the research programme “Forest and Climate Change”, sponsored by the Federal Office of the Environment (FOEN), are yielding a fundamental understanding. This helps the forestry services, farm managers, forest owners and political decision-makers to correctly assess the risks related to climate change, and the capacity of the forests to adjust and adapt, and respond by taking effective measures. The programme is set to be completed in 2017.

The WSL is a founding member of the Swiss Polar Institute (SPI). The SPI has coordinated and promoted Swiss research in the Arctic and Antarctic since 2016. And as high mountain ranges constitute the “third pole”, WSL can provide the benefit of its wealth of expertise and experience, such as in the area of snow, permafrost, glaciology or the ecology of tundra-like habitats in climate change.

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EMPAwww.empa.ch

Empa is the interdisciplinary research institute for materials science and technology. It finds solutions for industry and society in the fields of nanostructured materials and surfaces, environmental technologies, energy and sustainable technologies, as well as bio- and medical technologies. Working with industry partners and via spin-offs, it converts its research results in the Empa technology centres to marketable innovations, helping to make the Swiss economy more competitive. Moreover, it creates a scientific basis for the sustainable development of society.

Since 1880, Empa has provided public offices with data resources for their political decisions, and it also carries out studies on behalf of federal government offices. There are currently about 1,000 staff including 30 professors, as well as some 200 doctoral students and 40 trainees working at Empa. In addition, there are also about 200 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and trainees here. Added to this, numerous projects with researchers from industry are always under way, as well as some 300 projects financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Technology and Innovation Commission (CTI) and the EU framework programmes.

ETH Domain in brief 17

Battery research Maksym Kovalenko, Professor of Functional Inorganic Materials (l.) and Dr Corsin Battaglia, Head of the “Materials for

Energy Conversion” Department in the laboratory at the Empa. New battery systems are developed here, and their functional suitability is tested.

You can find more information at: www.ethboard.ch/fascination

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The NORMAN Network promotes scientific exchange about unknown substances. Eawag is also involved. Prof. Juliane Hollender (middle), Dr Emma Schymanski and Birgit Beck specialise in locating unknown harmful substances. You can find more information at: www.ethboard.ch/fascination

ETH Domain in brief 19

EAWAGwww.eawag.ch

Eawag is one of the world’s leading water research institutes. Its strength and success are based on the combination of research, teaching and higher education that it has provided for 80 years, along with consultancy and the transfer of knowledge. The com-bination of natural sciences, engineering and social sciences ena-bles a comprehensive research into water in relatively untouched natural bodies of water, right through to fully automated waste water management systems.

Here the research activity focuses on how to secure a balance between humanity’s use of water and the preservation and strengthening of the aquatic ecosystem. 24 professors, some 200 scientists and more than 140 doctoral students meet at Eawag in a unique research environment to investigate questions that lead to new scientific findings and that serve the basic requirements of society.

Its interdisciplinary nature and the way it includes stakeholders from business and society play an important role in this. The 5000-plus teaching hours at Swiss universities and the super-vision of 140 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree theses every year are making an important contribution to the education of young professionals in the Swiss water sector.

In order to transfer and apply findings from fundamental research to natural bodies of water, Eawag has built an installation with 36 test pools on its grounds in Dübendorf, the only one of its kind in Europe. The installation is to start operating in 2016. It allows researchers to investigate questions about the way ecosystems work and how biodiversity is changing, under controlled environ-mental conditions.

ETH Domain in brief20

Digitisation opens up new possibilities for research – including for the strategic focus areas of the ETH Domain. These areas of focus are com-mitted, among other things, to new scientific, technological or social approaches for energy management, for the quality of life of the indi-vidual, as well as for the research into and development of materials with new properties. The basis for this is the computer-aided analysis of large data records, as well as high-resolution digital images and measurement series from complex processes as well as their simulation.

Personalized Health and Related Technologies

“Personalized medicine” is designed to enable the huge volume of health and disease-related data to be used to improve patient treatment. “Personalized health” seeks to enable the population as a whole to benefit from the findings, such as in the area of prevention. In addition to the necessary infrastructure and the networking of the existing data, this also requires specific research into interdependencies of medical relevance, for instance between genotypic variants and the characteristics of a disease in a particular person. One of the key aspects is to create platforms which enable different molecular data from clinical sam-ples to be linked and to be made available systematically for research purposes.

Data Science

Data science is concerned with the scientific use and secure handling of huge volumes of data. Intensified research and teaching in this area help to deal with the global challenges facing society, such as health, energy and food supply, as well as use of resources. With this in mind, EPFL and ETH Zurich are working together on establishing the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC), which will be at the disposal of researchers from all over Switzerland. The center will facilitate innovative research by bringing together data scientists and experts from the application areas. It will offer the services, such as software, methodology or memory and computer capacities, which researchers of different disciplines require in order to discover ways of using their scientific data efficiently.

Strategic focus areas

ETH Domain in brief 21

Advanced Manufacturing

Progress in digitisation is also opening the door to completely new opportunities in production processes and manufacturing technologies because computers, data and products can be connected in a new way. This facilitates extremely innovative developments in the manufacture of goods. Through their strategic focus on Advanced Manufacturing, the institutions of the ETH Domain are seeking to make a shared contribution towards ensuring that Switzerland remains a world leader in this area and, thanks to the implementation of industry 4.0, can coun-teract any further de-industrialisation of the country.

There are three key points to this: The promotion of research projects which explore and further develop the need for equipment and processes in order to progress the free-form production of small parts with high precision. Research is to be supported in the field of printable electronics (such as in the retail sector or in healthcare). Thirdly, projects will be promoted which reinforce the sustain-ability or sustainable use of digital production processes.

Energy Research

The activities of the ETH Domain in this strategic focus area have been continued. One third of the funds went into developing competencies (new chairs, as well as developing and expanding research groups). Two thirds went into research infrastructure in the field of energy. Moreover, key areas of focus were devel-oped, such as energy efficiency, smart networks and harvesting renewable energy (ETH Zurich), chemicals and hydropower (EPFL), as well as catalysis and catalytic biomass conversion (PSI). In close collaboration with the Empa and its research and innovation building NEST, as well as its move platform, PSI set up the “Energy System Integration Platform” (ESI) at its site. WSL and Eawag ulti-mately launched a joint research programme on the subject of “Energy Change Impact”.

ETH Domain in brief22

Students and doctoral students 2015 2016

Total number of students and doctoral students 29,357 30,351

Students at ETH Zurich 15,207 15,805

Students at EPFL 8,047 8,412

Total number of students 23,254 24,217

Percentage women 29.3% 29.7%

Total number of doctoral students 6,103 6,134

Percentage women 30.6% 31.0%

Employees (employment contracts) 2015 2016

Total personnel 20,899 21,054

ETH Zurich* 11,116 11,157

EPFL* 5,776 5,870

PSI 2,018 2,049

WSL 496 495

Empa 942 936

Eawag 501 497

Professors 816 829

Percentage women 13.7% 13.9%

Scientific staff 12,731 12,765

Technical/administrative staff 6,899 6,996

Apprentices 453 464

Knowledge and technology transfer 2015 2016

Patents 219 230

Licences 311 353

Spin-offs 48 50

Key figures for the ETH Domain in 2016

* incl. doctoral students

ETH Domain in brief 23

Financial key figures (in CHF m) 2015 2016 Change in %

Operating revenue 3,322 3,598 + 3.4%

Proportion of primary funds (total federal contribution) 72.1% 71.3% – 0.8pp

Proportion of research contributions, mandates and scientific services 20.7% 21.5% + 0.8pp

Proportion of other revenue 7.2% 7.2% –

Operating expenses 3,252 3,314 + 1.9%

Proportion of personnel expenses 63.0% 63.4% + 0.4pp

Real estate portfolio of the ETH Domain 2015 2016

Value (acquisition value in CHF m) 7,500 7,600

Number of buildings 390 395

Number of infrastructures 70 70

Number of plots of land 148 125

The ETH BoardHäldeliweg 158092 ZurichSwitzerlandTel. +41 (0)44 632 23 67Fax +41 (0)44 632 11 90www.ethboard.ch

Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology

© ETH Board, April 2017. Photography: Kellenberger Kaminski Photographie or as per picture credit