Heilbronn aktuell 4/25 – "Our commitment is set for three decades."
In an interview, Boris Zürcher discusses the status of the "365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Heilbronn" project, the opportunities it offers and the decisions that need to be made.
Boris Zürcher, you took up the position of delegate of the Executive Board for the ETH Zurich 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Heilbronn at the beginning of the year. What attracted you to this role?
Being able to work at one of the world's most prestigious universities is, of course, a privilege. But it was the project itself that really appealed to me. Working with a team of motivated colleagues to design and build a new campus from scratch is not something that comes along every day.
What is your personal connection to Heilbronn and Baden-Württemberg?
I had no previous connection to Heilbronn. But I have now been visiting the city and the education campus regularly. And I must say, it is fascinating to see the speed at which the education campus is being developed. There is a positive, forward-looking energy that is contagious. I was particularly impressed by the warmth of the people. We were welcomed with open arms by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation (DSS), the institutions already on the campus and the authorities in Heilbronn. At the same time, expectations there – as here at ETH Zurich – are very high.
Boris Zürcher (61) has been responsible for the planning, management and further development of this forward-looking project as delegate for the ETH Zurich 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Heilbronn since the beginning of 2025. Together with the Dieter Schwarz Foundation and the management of ETH Zurich 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Heilbronn gGmbH, he defines the strategic direction and ensures that the ETH Zurich 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Heilbronn is promoted. Previously, Boris Zürcher held positions including Director of Labour at the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Chief Economist at BAKeconomics, Chief Economist at Avenir Suisse and economic policy advisor to three Federal Councillors.
You have now been in office for six months. Can you say anything more specific about the goals ETH Zurich hopes to achieve with the Heilbronn 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】?
As you know, degree programmes in computer science and artificial intelligence in general are in high demand, while capacity in Zurich is limited. Thanks to the exceptionally generous donation from DSS, ETH Zurich will be able to continue developing and expanding in this promising field in times of public spending constraints. Fifteen professorships are to be created in Heilbronn over the next few years. At the same time, we will receive a modern teaching and research infrastructure on campus. Zurich will also benefit: six endowed professorships are to be created here, which will work closely with colleagues in Heilbronn. In addition, part of the donation is earmarked for infrastructure and project contributions in Zurich.
Can we simply think of Heilbronn as another computer science department at ETH Zurich?
No, that would not do justice to our ambitions. We are privileged to participate in an extraordinary, forward-looking project in the field of AI. The Fraunhofer Society, the Steinbeis Institute and the Technical University of Munich are already present on the Heilbronn campus. The Max Planck Society also plans to establish two research departments there from 2026. We also recently received news that imec, a leading institute in microchip research, is planning a research site in Heilbronn. Overall, an ecosystem is emerging there that will enable new approaches and collaborations in research, teaching and knowledge transfer. As one of the first universities in the area, we want to make a long-term contribution to the design and orientation of the campus and thus help to further establish the ETH as a leading university in Europe. Our commitment in Heilbronn is set to last a good three decades.
What is the environment like in terms of industrial cooperation?
Baden-Württemberg is an important economic region in Europe. Like Switzerland, the federal state is characterised by SMEs, albeit less so in the service sector. Industries such as vehicle manufacturing, mechanical and plant engineering, and electrical engineering dominate. With companies such as Porsche, Daimler, Bosch, and of course the Lidl Group, there are also large, internationally oriented companies in the region. As you can see, the environment is exciting and offers great opportunities for collaboration with internationally successful companies. This is further supported by the establishment of the IPAI, an innovation platform for applied AI. In addition to research and teaching, knowledge transfer will also be one of the core tasks of the ETH in Heilbronn.
“The same criteria apply to appointments in Heilbronn as in Zurich. ”Boris Zürcher
The first professorships are to be advertised in autumn. Can you already say more about who is being sought?
The profiles for the professorships are currently being developed. It is clear that top international talents are being sought. The same criteria apply to appointments in Heilbronn as in Zurich. Researchers in Heilbronn will also be expected to contribute to ensuring that ETH Zurich remains one of the world's leading universities.
What are the most important tasks at hand besides the appointments?
After spending the past few months dealing with legal issues, governance questions and the financing of the project, the signing of the framework agreement with DSS is now at the top of our list of priorities. It is also important to continue to strengthen our presence on site with a viable organisation. Finally, the appointment of a scientific director is high on Heilbronn's list of priorities. This person will act as the guiding spirit, playing a key role in shaping the development and direction of the campus in scientific and thematic terms. In the summer of 2026, we hope to celebrate the official opening of the ETH Zurich 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 Heilbronn. It would be great if we could already have the first professors on board by then.
And the first degree programme is planned for 2027?
Once the call for applications for the first professorships has been issued, the thematic focus in Heilbronn will become clearer. Teaching will focus on a master's programme, supplemented by continuing education courses. At the same time, we are working on offerings that will enrich the campus. Last June, for example, the managing director of the ETH Zurich 365体育官网_365体育备用【手机在线】 in Heilbronn organised an international summer school with ETH researchers, which was a great success.
Which three words best describe the emerging ETH campus?
Definitely internationality, innovation and excellence. Internationality because that is one of the outstanding characteristics of our university, which we want to bring to Heilbronn. The focus is not only on international networking with Germany, but with Europe in general. With the new campus, ETH Zurich will also have a location in the European Union, which can be a political advantage. Innovation, because the environment on the educational campus and the large-scale digital infrastructure will promote and enable new approaches in teaching and research. And, as is well known, ETH strives for excellence in everything it does.
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