Highlights 2020
A step closer to personalised medical treatment, rapid action during the coronavirus pandemic and a boost for quantum research: thanks to your support, we have been able to tackle major challenges over the past year.
More energy-efficient building planning
Population growth, urbanisation and energy provision are among the most pressing issues of our time and all are highly relevant to our industry partner Siemens. Siemens has therefore extended its strategic partnership with ETH Zurich for a further five years and is supporting innovative research projects in the field of sustainable construction/digital fabrication.
Fast-tracking Covid-19 research
The Botnar Research Centre for Child Health (BRCCH) launched an emergency initiative to develop practicable approaches to the Covid-19 crisis. Fondation Botnar, which enabled the establishment of the centre with its generous donation, provided additional funding. These funds support projects currently underway at ETH and other participating institutions; for example, to develop more reliable rapid tests or track chains of infection more accurately.
Philanthropy to develop the full potential of exceptional talent
What does the support of donors mean to the recipients of the Excellence Scholarships and how did the students’ daily lives change when the crisis hit in early 2020? Four recipients provided an insight which, given the circumstances, was staged digitally by video rather than face-to-face at the traditional Meet the Talent event. They included Hanna Ragnarsdottir, who is passionate about improving cancer research. She is one of the 50 to 60 exceptionally talented and motivated students we are able to fund every year, thanks to you.
Pioneering personalised treatment
Understanding proteomics, i.e. the full spectrum of proteins and their interactions, is the key to understanding human health. System biologist Paola Picotti develops technology that expands our understanding of the processes of human health, in particular biochemical processes that lead to aberrations and diseases such as cancer or Alzheimer’s. In 2020, her pioneering research earned her the Rössler Prize. The prize is worth CHF 200,000 and has been awarded annually to promising young academics since 2009. The prize is made possible by a donation by ETH alumnus Dr Max Rössler.
Intelligent machines for the good of society
Robotics at ETH occupies an internationally leading position and last year received an additional boost: support from the Hilti Group and the Hilti Family Foundation Liechtenstein enabled the creation of two new professorships to reinforce Robotic Systems and the newly established RobotX Center for Intelligent Machines, which was launched in 2020 and brings together more than 20 robotics research groups at ETH. One of the robotics highlights at ETH to date has been the search and rescue robot ANYmal – we are all eager to see what comes next.
Stimulating the economy thanks to ETH spin-offs
New approaches to treating leukaemia, help for colicky babies and sustainable yoga mats: Pioneer Fellowship support, made possible by our donors and partners, enables young researchers to drive forward their ideas and found businesses. Since 2010, 101 Fellowships have been awarded. More than 30 new spin-offs are created every year at ETH. They not only introduce new products and services to society, but also play a powerful part in consolidating Switzerland’s role as a business and innovation hub.
Boost for future mobility
Introducing greener transport systems, making use of artificial intelligence and optimising overburdened infrastructure: tomorrow’s mobility brings new challenges to technology, business and society. To address these, ETH Zurich founded the ETH Mobility Centre in 2018. AMAG has now joined SBB, Siemens and ETH Professor Emeritus Alexander Wokaun as the centre’s first partner from the automotive industry, providing new impetus to the project. Further funding partners will be signed up over the coming years.
Honour for two deserving long-term philanthropists
Calvin Grieder and Adrian Weiss have been enthusiastic ambassadors and supporters of ETH Zurich for many years, and have provided important impetus for teaching and research. Calvin Grieder’s focus is on building bridges between business and science, while Adrian Weiss promotes next-generation academics and research in the fields of architecture, electrical engineering and computer science. Through their efforts, they have each encouraged important new developments. To thank them for their tremendous ongoing commitment, ETH has appointed both of them as honorary
councillors.
A boost for quantum research
Quantum research has developed at breakneck speed in recent years. It is anticipated that the use of quantum phenomena in the fields of computing, sensor technology and cryptography will soon make new applications technically feasible. In order to consolidate its strong position in the field of quantum research, ETH is planning to construct a highly specialised physics laboratory building on the Hönggerberg campus. A generous donation from ETH alumnus and honorary councillor Martin Haefner has moved the project the decisive step closer to realisation.
Digital technology for more productive, greener construction
Digital design, planning and construction are becoming increasingly important. The engineering, planning and consultancy firm Basler & Hofmann has entered into a strategic partnership with ETH’s Center for Augmented Computational Design in Architecture, Engineering and Construction, known as “Design++”, with a generous donation spread over six years. The funding will go primarily towards establishing a new professorship in Augmented Computational Design. The aim of the partners is to develop digital tools and processes that simultaneously improve design, boost productivity in the construction process, raise the quality of buildings and reduce their environmental impact. They also hope that the latest findings in the fields of artificial intelligence and augmented reality will feed directly into architecture and civil engineering practice.
