Strategy

Computer chip in the shape of Switzerland. The text on the image reads: ETH Zurich is making Switzerland and the world more resilient. Link to an article about the collaboration between ETH Zurich and EPFL in the field of artificial intelligence. — ETH Zurich and EPFL are combining their AI expertise. Together, they have founded the Swiss National AI Institute, which aims to advance artificial intelligence in Switzerland. Click on the image to read more about this. (Image: ETH Zurich / AI-generated)

Moving forward with focus

What will a leading Swiss university with a global reach look like ten or twenty years from now? ETH Zurich grappled with this question together with the ETH community, and after a process lasting several years set the institution��s priorities for the next twelve years (2025�C2036). They reflect on how ETH Zurich wishes to evolve over the long term as a university fit for the future whose primary mission is to serve society. In addition, the Development Plan was adopted for the 2025�C2028 planning period, setting out the key objectives and measures for the next four years. ETH Zurich operates in an extremely demanding environment where there are major challenges, but also opportunities on which it needs to focus. For ETH safeguards prosperity and strengthens Switzerland��s resilience in a volatile and uncertain world. Reliable education-system funding is an investment in the future.

Enlarged view: Graphic of the ETH Zurich strategic framework. The word our fundamentals is in the middle. These fundamentals consist of the four core activities world-class teaching, pioneering research, effective knowledge and technology transfer and proactive dialogue. The four success factors are culture, ETH community, framework and network. The word fundamentals is surrounded by a circle containing the three thematic areas health and wellbeing, environment and resources and responsible digital transformation. The outermost circle is labelled impact on society. — The ETH Zurich Strategic Framework consists of the core activities and success factors that form the basis of the institution and three thematic areas: Environment & Resources, Health & Wellbeing and Responsible Digital Transformations.

ETH site in Heilbronn. The word Bildungscampus (German for research campus) is written in large blue letters on a green lawn in front of modern buildings. This centre belongs to the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. Link to the article about the ETH site in Heilbronn. — Thanks to a generous donation, ETH is establishing a teaching and research centre in Heilbronn, Germany, with a view to becoming a responsible player in shaping the digital transformation. A small team has been working on this project since mid-2024. Click on the image to read more about this. (Image: Lattner)

Cooperation in research and education

ETH Zurich is laying the groundwork to enable it to anticipate future technological developments and social challenges at an early stage and develop solutions for them. To this end, it is stepping up national and international cooperation in research and education.

Computer chip with the Swiss flag embedded in the centre. — The SwissChips initiative aims to defend Switzerland��s position as a global leader in this important technology. (Image, montage: Adobe Stock / ETH Zurich)

ETH leads Swiss chip initiative

SDG icons: SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Semiconductor technologies, microelectronics and integrated circuit design are essential to Swiss science and industry. But major international players such as the USA, China, India and the EU are giving increasing priority to their digital sovereignty. In order to bolster Switzerland��s position, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation, the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology, EPFL and ETH Zurich have launched the SwissChips initiative, which is intended to drive forward the Swiss chip network. This transitional measure will initially apply for three years. ETH Zurich is responsible for implementation.

Read more about the SwissChips initiative

How ETH Zurich creates value

Two hands are holding an iPad with the ETH Value Creation Model open on the screen. Link to the Value Creation Model — ETH Zurich��s Value Creation Model (Image, montage: ETH Zurich / Adobe Stock)

The interactive ETH Zurich Value Creation Model helps to explain what the university stands for and the contribution it makes to society.

To ETH Zurich��s Value Creation Model

Sustainability: ETH Net Zero

��Through the ETH Net Zero programme, we are pursuing a goal-driven and innovative path to a climate-friendly university.��

Ulrich Weidmann, Vice President for Infrastructure and Sustainability, chairman of the programme management committee

Enlarged view: Pie chart showing the main sources of ETH’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. The emissions are broken down as follows: Direct emissions 2657 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Indirect emissions from business travel (Scope 3) amount to 12084 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. All other indirect emissions (Scope 3) can be broken down into emissions from building operations and maintenance (15500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent), ICT hardware and software (15500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent), emissions from scientific apparatus, machines and tools at 28000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, emissions from lab supplies at 26000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, emissions from real estate and infrastructure at 41500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and other Scope 3 categories such as catering and commuting at 33000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. — Greenhouse gas inventory for 2024 (as at March 2025). Indirect Scope 3 emissions (except business trips) were calculated using a hybrid (cost-based, activity-based) approach based on the data available from 2024 and then rounded. The data are of only limited comparability with previous years due to adjusted methodology and expanded system boundaries. (Image: null-oder-eins / ETH Zurich)

The ETH Net Zero 2024�C2030 programme decided upon by the Executive Board coordinates all measures to reduce emissions and sets out the most important milestones on the reduction pathway. The decision is generating fresh momentum. It integrates all university groups and Executive Board domains into the programme structure, into nine transformative projects, into campaigns and into ETH Net Zero Day, which takes place annually in May. The path to net zero is challenging: ETH is making it an innovative and collaborative one. These efforts are leading the way.

SDG icons: SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13: Climate Action

ETH Zurich and the Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations 2030 Agenda is regarded as a milestone in international collaboration towards sustainable global development. It is centred around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The content of this annual report is labelled with the respective SDG icons and signals ETH Zurich��s contribution on the path to a better understanding and to the achievement of the SDGs.

To SDG-related content in the annual report

Diversity: percentage of women among new appointees

��It will take perseverance to achieve a balanced gender distribution among the professors. I am delighted that we have clearly exceeded our goal of appointing 40 percent women as professors for the fifth time in succession.��

Jo?l Mesot, President of ETH Zurich

Enlarged view: Line chart showing the representation of women among professorships and new appointments from 2015 to 2024. The first line shows the representation of women among professorships (excluding promotions). Compared to 2023, the representation of women fell in 2024 to 44%. The second line represents the representation of women among professorships (headcount). This line is rising steadily and constantly and is currently at 25%. — The graphic shows the change in the representation of women among professorships and new appointments at ETH Zurich between 2015 and 2024. Since 2020 the represenation of women among new appointments has been consistently above 40 percent, resulting in an increase in the percentage of women professors. (Image: null-oder-eins / ETH Zurich)

Addressing diversity is a central task of university development. ETH Zurich is working on a diversity strategy that underscores its commitment to diversity and inclusion and aims to create an open culture together with all university members. Once a year, ETH provides information on the current status of diversity and equality as part of its Equality Monitoring and through interactive graphics, the aim being to make progress on diversity and equality measurable and move it forward in a focused manner.

SDG icons: SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Diversity at ETH in Equality Monitoring

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_{The Annual Report is produced in German and translated into English. Only the German version is binding.
? ETH Zurich, April 2025}