FIT for the Future: the organisational development of the ETH Domain
At its meeting on 23 and 24 September 2026, the ETH Board opted for the ‘Swiss National Labs’ (SNL) option, which is supported by a large majority of the institutions within the ETH Domain. This option facilitates greater collaboration, the exploitation of synergies and the removal of administrative barriers. It is intended to pool the complementary expertise of the four research institutes, thereby facilitating joint solutions to major societal challenges.
Last updated on 5 October 2026
The four research institutes of the ETH Domain are to collaborate even more closely under a shared roof. They will strengthen the way they coordinate and collaborate on overarching strategic research programmes and will gradually merge their support services. Their own well-established areas of focus and their names will be retained. The ETH Board decided to go ahead with this further development and strengthening of the ETH Domain at its meeting on 23/24 September.
Under one roof, the research institutes will form a strong third pillar of the ETH Domain alongside ETH Zurich and EPFL. This should raise the profile of the ETH Domain and its achievements in politics, business and society.
Why pursue organisational development?
Switzerland faces major challenges. The ETH Domain therefore needs to be organised in a way that makes it as agile and flexible as possible, in order to swiftly address major new issues such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, health, energy and the environment. Adapting the organisation and structure of the ETH Domain in a future-oriented way is intended to strengthen cooperation between the institutions, exploit synergies and avoid administrative obstacles. It will also enable partners from the areas of business, science and administration to access the institutions of the ETH Domain more easily, and will strengthen collaboration with them.
Progress of the work and stages completed
The option chosen by the ETH Board necessitates an amendment to the Ordinance of the ETH Board on the research institutes of the ETH Domain. It will not be necessary to amend the ETH Act. The name of the shared roof for the research institutes (working title “Swiss National Labs”) has yet to be decided.
The ETH Board will make a decision on this matter at its December meeting. After that, the amended ordinance will be subject to a consultation with federal offices as well as a consultation within the ETH Domain.
At the beginning of 2024, the ETH Board and the institutions of the ETH Domain jointly agreed on objectives for a future-proof organisation and structure in the ETH Domain. On this basis, they developed two model versions for the implementation of these objectives. The two versions differ mainly in the degree to which the four research institutes are integrated.
In the proposal with the working title “Swiss National Labs”, the research institutes retain their legal personalities. By contrast, in the version with the working title “Swiss National Lab”, the four research institutes are merged into a single legal entity. In both versions, the research institutes acquire a new collective image under one roof, retaining their names, logos/brands and locations.
The ETH Board discussed the two versions at its meeting of 4/5 March 2026 and decided to put both forward for internal consultation within the ETH Domain. This began after the ETH Board meeting and continued until early June. The ETH Board then analysed the feedback and, on that basis, decided in September 2026 to endorse the “Swiss National Labs” option.
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.
Timetable and milestones
2027
- Implementation of the decision
2026/2027
- Option SNLs: Consultation within the ETH Domain and consultation with federal offices
2026
- September: Decision by the ETH Board
- Consultation in the ETH Domain (the full report on the results of the consultation is available here, only in German).
2025
- Design of the structure
2024
- August to October: preliminary consultation within the ETH Domain (see summary of results in the report by Interface)
- December: ETH Board’s decision in principle
Autumn 2023
- Development and further definition of the options for cooperation
- Discussions with stakeholders from politics, industry and society