UN-ETH Partnership gaining momentum

The first UN-ETH Forum held last October in Zurich impressively showcased the momentum behind the as yet young partnership between ETH Zurich and the United Nations (UN). Over the course of a day and a half, experts from science, politics and international organisations met to discuss digital transformation, global security and Sustainable Development Goals.

Tackling specific problems with data models and prototypes

However, it wasn¡¯t just about exchanging thoughts and ideas: students, researchers and UN staff cast a light on the specific problems they are working on together. Participants also initiated new collaboration activities ¨C such as between the Medical Data Science Group at ETH Zurich and the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF. The project aims to explore how to automatically generate easy-to-read documents for children with cognitive impairments.

But how do the UN and ETH teams actually collaborate? The process is simple: while UN teams identify specific challenges, ETH finds the right experts, and together they develop solutions such as prototypes and data models. This approach has proven successful. The initial projects show that even small teams can make a significant impact when both sides work closely together and learn from each other.

This mechanism is central to the partnership that the UN and ETH formalised in October 2023 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ¨C a collaboration of great significance for both parties.

Why the partnership is important for both the UN and ETH Zurich

Collaboration with universities is becoming increasingly important for the UN, especially as the organisation faces financial, organisational and geopolitical pressures. ETH Zurich is a particularly sought-after partner, combining academic excellence with technical expertise, while its values ¨C such as openness, respect and responsibility ¨C align closely with those of the UN.

¡°The participation of Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy at the UN, was undoubtedly a key moment of the forum,¡± notes J¨¹rg Brunnschweiler, Chief of Staff to the ETH President. ¡°His brief visit to Zurich demonstrated the significance of the partnership for the UN.¡± Ryder's arrival, despite his busy schedule, sent a clear signal of support and gave the forum a strong boost.

For ETH Zurich, collaborating with the UN is an opportunity to apply its expertise where it can have an impact ¨C at the intersection of science and global politics. However, this expertise must first be consolidated within ETH Zurich itself.

How the collaboration works

For this purpose, an incubator has been established at ETH Zurich to generate new project ideas and support teams throughout their development. In the initial round alone, 53 applications resulted in six joint projects. They presented their progress at the forum. This marked a crucial moment, as many participants met face-to-face for the first time, allowing them to resolve open questions and strengthen their collaboration. 

Leo Eigner, a research assistant at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, was responsible for setting up the incubator and overseeing the projects. ¡°We are still in the start-up phase, but there is tremendous interest, especially from students who want to apply their knowledge in a political context,¡± explains Eigner.

Alongside ongoing and new projects, ETH members are collaborating directly with various UN organisations. These include the Humanitarian Planning Hub, which conducts research into housing and settlements for displaced persons and seeks innovative solutions. Another example is the partnership between humans and AI to forecast conflict events, thereby strengthening UN peacekeeping efforts. The collaboration enhances the visibility of these projects and promotes mutual exchange.

¡°Students need to learn how to understand the other side¡±

Students and young researchers are a driving force, bringing technical skills, fresh perspectives and motivation to the table. At the same time, the partnership provides them with an insight into the world of international politics and the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real-world context. Consequently, internships and joint project work have explicitly been expanded.

Eigner highlights the importance of this work for both sides: ¡°It¡¯s also very much about developing soft skills. Students and researchers in general need to learn to listen, be patient and understand the other side¡¯s point of view. This is challenging, but that is exactly where the bridge between science and politics is being built.¡±

These skills are also promoted by the new Albert Einstein School of Public Policy, which was officially launched alongside the forum and will play an important role in structurally anchoring the partnership in the future.

Outlook: What is important now

According to Brunnschweiler, for the partnership to reach its full potential, two additional points are necessary beyond the structural anchoring at ETH Zurich to streamline processes and secure the project's organisational aspect: First, after initial start-up funding, further financial resources will be needed to carry out additional projects. Second, ongoing knowledge transfer and a local presence are both crucial. In this regard, for example, the UN headquarters in Geneva could be more closely involved, as Brunnschweiler suggests.

Two years after the MoU was signed, one thing is clear: the partnership is effective and generating interest. High-level meetings have already taken place in 2024 and 2025, and the forum in Zurich demonstrated the strong shared commitment to future cooperation.