Overview of the ETH Domain

The ETH Domain comprises the two Federal Institutes of Technology ETH Zurich and EPFL, the four research institutes PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag, as well as the ETH Board (a strategic management body) and the Internal Appeals Commission of the ETH (an independent appeals body).

The ETH Domain comprises the two Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and Lausanne (EPFL), as well as the four research institutes: the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). With its numerous locations, the ETH Domain is firmly rooted in the Swiss regions.

In addition, the ETH Board (a strategic management body) and the Internal Appeals Commission of the ETH (an independent appeals body) also belong to the ETH Domain.

In the ETH Act, the federal government defines the purpose of the two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes as follows:

  • To educate students and qualified staff in scientific and technical fields and to provide permanent continuing education.
  • To expand scientific findings through research.
  • To foster upcoming young scientists.
  • To render scientific and technical services.
  • To perform public relations activities and to exploit research findings.

In its Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research and Innovation (ERI Dispatch) for 2021–2024, the Federal Council and parliament forth their strategic objectives for the ETH Domain in concrete terms. The ETH Board defines the strategy for the ETH Domain within the scope of these objectives and represents the ETH Domain to the government and authorities at the federal level. The Board regularly reports on the degree of target achievement. Operational management within the ETH Domain is the responsibility of the two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes.