FIT for the Future: the organisational development of the ETH Domain

The FIT for the Future project is now in its second phase – the design phase – that mainly involves fleshing out the specifics of the project. The ETH Board is seeking to achieve closer cooperation and enhanced coordination in the ETH Domain. In future, the ETH Domain is expected to consist of three strong strategic pillars: ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the four research institutes under one roof. Whereas the establishment of this third pillar enjoys widespread support in terms of its content, the research institutes have expressed certain reservations about the intention of setting up a joint legal entity as an umbrella organisation.

The ETH Board takes this feedback very seriously and takes account of it in its strategic deliberations and conceptual work. In order to respond to the reservations expressed by the research institutes, the ETH Board is currently having an alternative drawn up. This is intended to show how the jointly decided objective can be achieved and the collaboration between the research institutes enhanced without necessarily merging them into a single legal entity.

At its meeting of 17/18 September 2025, the ETH Board has discussed a first alternative proposal by the directors of the four research institutes. It has requested them to develop this further and flesh out the specifics. The ETH Board is expected to decide at the end of the year which option or options it wishes to include in the consultation within the ETH Domain. It also confirmed the intention of strengthening the presence in the French-speaking part of Switzerland with a digital unit while retaining the locations and brands of the research institutes, which are of considerable value and very well known amongst the body of stakeholders.

At its meeting of 4/5 December 2024, the ETH Board had reached a decision in principle and issued mandates for further implementation in 2025. The ETH Board is continuing to hold talks with various stakeholders. In addition to political bodies, these include partner organisations of the research institutes and both ETH, industry federations, the cantons in which the sites are located, and public authorities. Before the ETH Board reaches a decision on which solution it wishes to propose to the Federal Council for implementation, it will conduct a consultation within the ETH Domain as well as with the federal offices. If, in addition to new ways of cooperating, a decision in favour of structural adaptation is also reached, the ETH Board will propose that the Federal Council launches a legislative process to this effect, with the Swiss Parliament having the final word.