{"id":61591,"date":"2026-09-24T16:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ethrat.ch\/?p=61591"},"modified":"2026-09-24T16:05:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:05:02","slug":"fit-for-the-future-shared-roof-for-the-research-institutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ethrat.ch\/en\/fit-for-the-future-shared-roof-for-the-research-institutes\/","title":{"rendered":"FIT for the Future: Shared roof for the research institutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

New challenges and changing conditions require the ETH\u00a0Domain, with its two Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH\u00a0Zurich and EPFL) and the four research institutes (PSI, Empa, Eawag and WSL), to pool its resources more effectively and use the available resources even more efficiently. Against this backdrop, the ETH\u00a0Board and the six ETH\u00a0Domain institutions defined overarching aims for the organisational development project \u201cFIT for the Future\u201d at the start of 2024. A new organisational structure is intended to strengthen cooperation, exploit synergies and remove administrative obstacles. The four research institutes will contribute their complementary competencies as they work together to develop solutions to key societal challenges. In this way, the ETH\u00a0Domain will continue to make a major contribution to Switzerland\u2019s innovative capacity.<\/p>\n

Under one roof, the research institutes will form a strong third pillar of the ETH\u00a0Domain alongside ETH\u00a0Zurich and EPFL. This should raise the profile of the ETH\u00a0Domain and its achievements in politics, business and society.<\/p>\n

Further development of the research institutes into the third strong pillar of the ETH\u00a0Domain<\/h3>\n

The ETH\u00a0Board and the institutions developed two options for the future organisation of the ETH\u00a0Domain. These differ mainly in the degree to which the four research institutes are integrated. A consultation was held within the ETH\u00a0Domain on the two options between March and July. Based on the feedback from the consultation, the ETH\u00a0Board decided in favour of the option with the working title \u201cSwiss National Labs\u201d (SNLs). Most of the institutions supported this option. The ETH\u00a0Board believes that this will enable a large proportion of the jointly defined objectives to be achieved. As part of the four research institutes\u2019 grouping, \u201cSNLs\u201d should lead to greater coordination and collaboration between the institutions as they participate in overarching strategic research programmes. In addition, the gradual merger of the support services is intended to capitalise on synergies and position these services for the future.<\/p>\n

This increased strategic coordination will allow complex, overarching themes such as AI, health, energy and the environment to be tackled even more effectively as a joint effort. Together, the four research institutes can develop and implement measures for climate protection and climate change adaptation, for example. They will also be able to build a shared digital infrastructure. The well-established focus areas and strengths of the research institutes will be retained. They will each keep their legal personality, name and locations, and will preserve their autonomy in terms of how they organise their research.<\/p>\n

The full report on the results of the consultation is available on the ETH\u00a0Board website<\/a> (in German).<\/p>\n

Next steps<\/h3>\n

The option chosen by the ETH\u00a0Board necessitates an amendment to the Ordinance of the ETH\u00a0Board on the research institutes of the ETH\u00a0Domain<\/a>. It will not be necessary to amend the ETH\u00a0Act. The name of the shared roof for the research institutes (working title \u201cSwiss National Labs\u201d) has yet to be decided. The ETH\u00a0Board 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\u00a0Domain.<\/p>\n

ETH Board appoints Professor Nicolas Grandjean as the new member of the Direction of EPFL<\/h3>\n

Upon application of the President of EPFL, the ETH\u00a0Board has appointed Professor Nicolas Grandjean as the new member of the Direction of EPFL, where he assumes the role of Vice President for Education. Nicolas Grandjean has been a full professor at EPFL since 2010 and Associate Vice President for Education since 2025. He obtained his doctorate in Physics at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis and joined EPFL in 2004 as an assistant professor with tenure track. He is an internationally acclaimed scientist in the field of semiconductors and photonics and has been head of a leading research laboratory for many years. His commitment to teaching has been recognised through many awards for excellence. In addition to his scientific activities, Nicolas Grandjean has held numerous senior positions at EPFL, particularly as head of the Physics Department and Director of the Institute of Condensed Matter Physics.<\/p>\n

ETH\u00a0Board appoints Professor Damien Bouffard as the new member of the Eawag Directorate<\/h3>\n

Upon application of the Director of Eawag, the ETH\u00a0Board has appointed Professor Damien Bouffard to be a new member of the Eawag Directorate as of 1\u00a0January 2027. It also confirmed the current members of the Directorate in their posts. Damien Bouffard replaces Professor Carsten Schubert, who has been a member of the Directorate since 2021. The ETH\u00a0Board would like to thank Carsten Schubert most sincerely for the years of valuable work he has performed in the Directorate. Damien Bouffard has established himself as a leading scientist in the field of waterbody and lake research. At Eawag he leads research projects at the interface between physics, environmental sciences and climate research. He is Deputy Head of the Department of Surface Waters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The four research institutes of the ETH Domain are to collaborate even more closely under a shared roof. 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