2016THE ETH DOMAIN IN BRIEF

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Mission Statement

The ETH Domain strives to strengthen the competitive-ness of Switzerland in the long term and contribute to the development of society through excellence in research, teaching and the knowledge and technology transfer. It endeavours to serve as an exemplary beacon by assuming its share of responsibility for the manage-ment of urgent social challenges, the enhancement of the quality of life, and the long-term maintenance of our natural resources.

CONTENTS

Facts and figures 2015 4

The ETH Domain 5

The ETH Board 7

The institutionsETH ZurichEPFLPSIWSLEmpaEawag

81012141618

Research areas 20

Key figures 2015 22

The ETH Domain in brief 3

Dear Readers,

The ETH Domain has top positions in the international rankings. ETH Zurich and EPFL are two of the world’s best universities. The PSI, WSL, Empa and Eawag also enjoy a very good reputation. Their research infrastructure attracts scientists from around the world. Each year the PSI alone has more than 2,500 visiting researchers who perform experiments there. The facilities are used not only for fundamental research, but also very actively by industry and help in solving urgent problems of the economy and society.

The ETH Domain is of great significance for our science, economy and society, and its role in the transfer of knowledge and technology is outstanding. This was confirmed in 2015 by an international committee of experts who reviewed the contribution made by the ETH Domain to the economy and to the innovative strength and the university system of Switzerland. In this situation it is crucial that policy-makers ensure that the optimum framework conditions are main-tained so that the ETH Domain can continue to provide university education, research and innovation at the highest international level in future.

Zurich / Bern, February 2016

Dr Fritz SchiesserPresident of the ETH Board

Preface

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as of 31 December 2015

20,899Employees*

ETH Zurich

9th placein both the THE and QS World Rankings

m CHF

2,417.9Total federal contribution

2015

3,200Cooperations with business and the public sector

as of 31 December 2015

29,357Students andDoctoral students

EPFL

1st placein the THE “100 Under 50” ranking

as of 31 December 2015

816Female professorsand male professors*

2015

530 and 48Patents / licensesand spin-offs

Facts and figures 2015

* Employment contracts

The ETH Domain in brief 5

Teaching and research as well asknowledge and technology transferat the very highest level worldwide: this is the mandate given by the Federal Council to the six institutions of the ETH Domain. These comprise

— The Swiss Federal Institute ofTechnology Zurich (ETH Zurich),

— The Swiss Federal Institute ofTechnology Lausanne (EPFL),

— The Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), — The Swiss Federal Institute forForest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL),

— The Swiss Federal Laboratoriesfor Materials Testing and Research(Empa),

— The Swiss Federal Institute ofAquatic Science and Technology(Eawag).

In addition, the ETH Board (a stra-tegic management and supervisorybody) and the Internal AppealsCommission (an independentappeals body) also belong to theETH Domain.

The ETH Domain

Research institutes

Federal Institutes of Technology

ETH Board

ETH Zurich EPFL

over 15,000 students11,116 employees *

over 8,000 students5,776 employees *

PSI

2,018 employees *

WSL

496 employees *

Empa

942 employees *

Eawag

501 employees *

11 MembersStaff: 50 employees*

* Employments contracts including doctoral students as of 31 December 2015

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The two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes have the objective

— to educate students and specialists in scientific and technical fields and ensure continuing education and training,

— to expand scientific knowledge through research,— to foster upcoming young scientists,— to render scientific and technical services,— to perform public relations activities and make practical use of their

research findings.

This is all stated in the ETH Act. The Swiss Federal Council and Parliament issue the performance mandate, usually for a four-year period, which gives a clear expression to these goals. Within the framework of this performance mandate the ETH Board sets forth the strategy of the ETH Domain, presents it to the policy-makers and federal offices, and regularly reports on the progress made in achieving the objectives. The two Federal Institutes of Technology and the four research institutes are responsible for the opera-tional leadership of the institutions of the ETH Domain.

Education and research bear some of the responsibility when it comes to mastering the great challenges of our time such as the environment, the use of resources, healthcare, economic prosperity and social welfare. The ETH Domain endeavours to honour this responsibility.

The ETH Board laid out the key points in its strategic planning for 2012–2016. Priority is given to high quality teaching that is closely affiliated with research. ETH Zurich and EPFL promote the advancement of the students and invest in an ideal supervision, in professorships, scientific personnel and modern infrastructure.

Tasks and principle goals

The ETH Domain in brief 7

Management of the institutions

The two Federal Institutes of Technology and the research institutes are managed by:

— Prof. Dr Lino GuzzellaPresident of ETH Zurich

— Prof. Dr Patrick AebischerPresident of EPFL

— Prof. Dr Joël MesotDirector of PSI

— Prof. Dr Konrad Steffen Director of WSL

— Prof. Dr Gian-Luca BonaDirector of Empa

— Prof. Dr Janet HeringDirector of Eawag

The ETH Board is made up of the following personalities from politics, business and society (as of 31.12.2015):

— Dr Fritz SchiesserPresident of the ETH Board, former federal State Councillor

— Prof. Dr Paul L. HerrlingVice-President of the ETH Board, Chair Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases

— Prof. Dr Lino GuzzellaPresident of ETH Zurich

— Prof. Dr Patrick AebischerPresident of EPFL

— Prof. Dr Joël MesotDirector of PSI

— Beatrice FasanaManaging Director of Sandro Vanini SA

— Dr Dr h. c. Barbara HaeringPresident of the Board of Directors of econcept AG

— Beth KrasnaIndependent Member of the Board of Directors

— Jasmin StaiblinCEO of Alpiq Holding AG

— Dr Markus StauffacherDelegate of the University Assemblies of ETH Zurich/EPFL, Senior Scientist ETH Zurich

— Olivier Steimer Chairman of the Board of Banque Cantonale Vaudoise

The ETH Board

Learning in a team with an innova-tive and interdisciplinary approach: the new instruction format “ETH Week” forms a part of the “Critical Thinking” initiative of the Execu-tive Board, which aims to promote critical discernment, creativity, entrepreneurship and a team spirit. Christine Bratrich, organiser of ETH Week, in discussion with Professor Sarah Springmann, Rector of ETH Zurich (right). (Image: Alessandro Della Bella / ETH Zurich)

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The ETH Domain in brief 9

ETH ZURICHwww.ethz.ch

ETH Zurich is one of the leading technical and scientific uni-versities. It is well-known for its excellent teaching, pioneering fundamental research, and the direct transfer of new findings to real-world applications. The ETH Zurich provides an inspiring environment for researchers, and a comprehensive education for students.

Established in 1855, today the ETH Zurich has nearly 20,000 stu-dents and doctoral students from 110 countries. More than 500 professors are currently engaged in teaching and research in the fields of natural science, engineering, architecture, mathematics, system-oriented sciences, and in management studies and the social sciences.

In the international rankings ETH Zurich is regularly identified as one of the world’s best universities, and in 2015 it achieved a top-ten ranking for the first time. 21 Nobel laureates have studied, taught or done their research here. The innovations of the university flow into the most forward-looking sectors, from informatics to micro- and nanotechnology, or high-tech medical equipment. The 90 or so patent applications each year, the 330 spin-off companies that have been set up since 1996, and the more than 800 research contracts with businesses, all go to show how successful ETH Zurich is in transferring its knowledge to the economy and society.

ETH Zurich contributes to the sustainable solution of global challenges. Its specific fields of research focus on energy supply, managing risks, development of cities of the future, world nutrition and the health of human beings.

EPFL Professor Michael Grätzel invented the coloured solar cells which provided the electricity for the 2015 world exhibition in Milan, and also supplied power for the new EPFL conference centre, the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne – while at the same time protecting the entrance hall from the rays of the sun.

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The ETH Domain in brief 11

EPFLwww.epfl .ch

EPFL is the birthplace of the modern computer mouse, as well as ambitious scientific projects and sustainable innovations such as the transparent-dye solar cells, the solar-powered aircraft Solar Impulse, the ultra-fast yacht Hydroptère, and the EU flagship programme the Human Brain Project (HBP).

The prestigious university provides teaching facilities for every study level, from Bachelor’s to Doctorate, and has grown at an impressive rate since it became a federal institution in 1969.Situated on the shores of Lake Geneva, EPFL houses some 16,000 people: over 10,000 students and some 5,800 staff members working in the fields of teaching, research, technology and administration, including more than 320 professors.

The campus with the Rolex Learning Center as its distinguishing feature, unique in the world, provides the most appealing living conditions and the most modern working facilities in the field of teaching and research. People from more than 125 nations meet here every day at what is one of the world’s most international universities. From Master’s degree level upward the language of instruction is mostly in English.

A special concern of EPFL is the promotion of international part-nerships, sponsorships and joint projects between academia and industry. The campus also includes the “EPFL Innovation Park”, where around 170 start-ups and research centres of respected companies find a dynamic environment. The institution produces some 15 start-ups each year, in fact 2015 saw the creation of 18, for which more than 110m CHF was invested as venture capital.

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PSIwww.psi.ch

The PSI is the largest research centre for natural sciences and engineering in Switzerland.

It carries out top-level research in the fields matter and materi-als, energy and the environment, and humanity and health. By carrying out fundamental and applied research, the PSI has been working on sustainable solutions for central questions of society, the economy and science since 1988.

It operates large-scale research facilities that are unique in Switzerland – and in some cases in the world – such as the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source, the Swiss Light Source, and the Swiss Muon Source. Each year over 2,500 researchers from Switzerland and all over the world come to perform experiments at the PSI. In addition to its research, the PSI operates the only installation in Switzerland for the treatment of specific types of cancer using protons.

Of the approximately 1,900 staff members of the PSI, 700 are scientists. The education of young persons is a central concern of the PSI: about one quarter of the staff are postdocs, doctoral stu-dents or trainees. Schoolchildren, students and professionals are educated and given higher training in the iLab school laboratory or at the PSI training centre.

In 2016 the PSI is to start operating the next large-scale research installation, the X-ray free electron laser SwissFEL, which allows one to see very short-duration changes in atomic and molecular structures. This will enable researchers to gain insights that are not possible with the currently available methods. The first pilot experiments are planned for 2017.

In the large experimentation hall of the PSI, Professor Elvezio Morenzoni and researchers from all over the world investigate the microscopic properties of materials using muons. Nowhere else are so many of these exotic elementary particles produced as here at the PSI.

The ETH Domain in brief 13

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Professor Michael Lehning and Rebecca Mott of the SLF are investigating the way interactions with the atmosphere influence the deposition and melting of snow, in the Dischma valley near Davos. Using a laser scanner the researchers can measure the transportation of snow with an accuracy of one centimetre. This research allows more reliable statements to be made about the alpine water resources.

The ETH Domain in brief 15

WSLwww.wsl.ch | www.slf.ch

The WSL investigates changes to the terrestrial environment, and the use and protection of natural habitats and cultural land-scapes. It monitors the condition and progress of landscape, forests, biodiversity, natural hazards and snow and ice, and develops sustainable solutions for socially relevant problems – in collaboration with its partners from academia and society.

Of the 500 or more employees in Birmensdorf, Davos, Lausanne, Bellinzona and Sitten, almost half are scientists and more than 60 are doctoral students. The work force also includes about 150 technical staff and 50 administrative staff, 15 trainees, and apprentices. About a quarter of the employees are working at the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos.

Natural hazards can cause great damage. Research at WSL is of great benefit in helping to protect the populace from such events in nature. It operates test installations for the investigation of avalanches, rockfalls and debris flows, which are unique in the world. The goal is to better understand these events in order to enable a more effective protection and early warning of such perilous events in nature.

The research programme “Forest and Climate Change”, co-sponsored by the Federal Office of the Environment (FOEN), is gaining fundamental knowledge in its findings. This helps the forestry services, farm managers, forest owners and political decision-makers to correctly assess the risks related to climate change, and the capacity of the forests to adjust and adapt, and respond by taking effective measures. The programme is set to be completed in 2017.

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EMPAwww.empa.ch

Empa is an interdisciplinary research institute for materials science and technology. It finds solutions for industry and society in the fields of nanostructured materials and surfaces, environmental technologies, energy and sustainable technolo-gies, as well as bio- and medical technologies. Working with industry partners and via spin-offs, it converts its research results in the Empa technology centres to marketable innova-tions, and contributes to the strengthening of the competitive-ness of the Swiss economy. Moreover, it creates a scientific basis for the sustainable development of society.

Since 1880 the Empa has provided public offices with data resources for their political decisions, and it also carries out studies on behalf of federal government offices. About 1000 staff incl. 29 professors as well as some 200 doctoral students and 40 trainees are working at Empa. There are also about 200 Bach-elor’s and Master’s degree students and trainees here. Added to this, numerous projects with researchers from industry are always underway, as well as some 300 projects financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Technology and Innovation Commission (CTI) and the EU framework programmes.

In May 2016 the modular research and innovation building NEST, of Empa and Eawag, is to be opened in Dübendorf. In the NEST building new technologies, materials and systems will be tested and developed under realistic conditions. It is intended that the close cooperation with partners from research, business and the public sector will speed up the process of innovation in buildings.

To filter out carbon dioxide from the air or suck up oil spills – for this purpose trees provide a nature-friendly material: nano-cellulose. Tanja Zimmermann, head of the laboratory for Applied Wood Materials at Empa, and her colleague Sebastien Josset, are experimenting with this substance. In the laboratory test the nano-cellulose sponge absorbs fifty times its weight in oil in a matter of seconds.

The ETH Domain in brief 17

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Eawag and the Canton Basel-Land-schaft, as part of the project “Regional water supply Basel-Landschaft 21”, are investigating the problems and chal-lenges of water supply, and working out plans and concrete solutions to ensure the quality of drinking water in the years to come. Eawag postdoc Tony Merle, Dr Adrian Auckenthaler of the Canton Basel-Landschaft and Professor Urs von Gunten (from left to right) examine the process control system of a pilot plant that adds an additional stage of purification to potable water. The technique which converts and removes harmful trace substances was developed at Eawag.

The ETH Domain in brief 19

Eawag is one of the world’s leading water research institutes. Its strength and success are based on the combination of research, teaching and higher education that it has provided for 80 years, along with consultancy and the transfer of knowledge. The com-bination of natural sciences, engineering and social sciences en-ables a comprehensive research into water in relatively untouched natural bodies of water, right through to fully automated waste water management systems.

Here the research activity focuses on how to secure a balance between humanity’s use of water and the preservation and strengthening of the aquatic ecosystem. 26 professors, some 200 scientists and more than 140 doctoral students meet at Eawag in a unique research environment to investigate questions that lead to new scientific findings and that serve the basic requirements of society.

Its interdisciplinary nature and the way it includes stakeholders from business and society play an important role in this. The 4,400-plus teaching hours at Swiss universities and the super-vision of 140 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree theses (every year) are making an important contribution to the education of young professionals in the Swiss water sector.

In order to transfer and apply findings from fundamental research to natural bodies of water, Eawag has built an installa-tion with 36 test pools on its grounds in Dübendorf, unique in Europe. The installation is to start operating in 2016. It allows researchers to investigate questions about the way ecosystems work and how biodiversity is changing, under controlled environ-mental conditions.

EAWAGwww.eawag.ch

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One important focus area, besides teaching, applied research and the transfer of knowledge and technology to society, is independent fundamental research. Five fields of research are given priority in the ETH Domain: manufacturing processes, life sciences, environment and the methodology of science, energy, and sustainable develop-ment. Also of importance for successful research are the investments in infrastructure and large-scale projects such as the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) of ETH Zurich, the X-ray Free Electron Laser (SwissFEL) at PSI, and the Blue Brain Project under the leader-ship of EPFL.

Energy research in the ETH DomainAs part of the government’s action plan “Coordinated energy research Switzer-land”, the institutions of the ETH Domain are building up academic skills and forming research teams such as those at ETH Zurich for “Efficiency” (buildings, industrial efficiency and energy technology), “Networks” (complex energy systems, reliability and risk engineering), and at EPFL for “Production of electricity” (hydroelectricity, fuels from renewable energy, carbon separation and storage).

The ETH Domain also invests in the development of infrastructure. In 2015 this included the investments in hydropower, solar technologies, and in the Smart Campus at EPFL; in the sustainable campus at ETH Zurich; and at the PSI and Empa the investments in research platforms for “Conversion of bio-mass into methane”, and for “Harvesting, storage and valorisation of inter-mittent renewable energies”. Eawag and WSL are taking part in the action plan by addressing the questions concerning the conflicts of use and the social implications of the energy turnaround.

In addition to supporting energy research in the ETH Domain, the federal government promotes a total of eight Swiss Competence Centres for Energy Research (SCCERs). These SCCERs are searching for solutions to the technical, social and political challenges associated with the energy turnaround. They

Main research areas

The ETH Domain in brief 21

research into and develop solutions that are marketable and that can be seamlessly adopted by industry. There are a total of eight Competence Centers, seven of these are managed by institutions of the ETH Domain.

Energy Efficiency1. SCCER Future Energy Efficient Buildings & Districts (SCCER FEEB&D);

Leading House: Empa2. SCCER Efficiency of Industrial Processes (SCCER EIP);

Leading House: ETH Zurich

Networks, their components and energy systems3. SCCER Future Swiss Electrical Infrastructure (SCCER-FURIES);

Leading House: EPFL

Energy storage4. SCCER Heat and Electricity Storage (SCCER HaE); Leading House: PSI

Electricity supply5. SCCER Supply of Electricity (SCCER-SoE); Leading House: ETH Zurich

Economy and environment, law and behaviour6. SCCER Energy, Society and Transition (SCCER CREST);

Leading House: University of Basel

Efficient concepts, processes and components in mobility7. SCCER Efficient Technologies and Systems for Mobility (SCCER Mobility);

Leading House: ETH Zurich

Biomass8. SCCER Biomass for Swiss Energy Future (SCCER BIOSWEET);

Leading House: PSI

For more information concerning energy in the ETH Domain: www.ethrat.ch/energie.

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Students and doctoral students 2014 2015

Total students and doctoral students 28,537 29,357

Students at ETH Zurich 18,616 19,233

Students at EPFL 9,921 10,124

Total students 22,530 23,254

Percentage women 29.2 % 29.3 %

Total doctoral students 6,007 6,103

Percentage women 30.6 % 30.6 %

Employees (employment contracts) 2014 2015

Total staff 20,430 20,899

ETH Zurich * 10,865 11,116

EPFL* 5,619 5,776

PSI 1,935 2,018

WSL 530 496

Empa 950 942

Eawag 479 501

Professors 809 816

Percentage women 13.1 % 13.7 %

Scientifi c staff 12,534 12,731

Technical and administrative staff 6,631 6,899

Trainees 456 453

Knowledge and technology transfer 2014 2015

Patents 211 219

Licences 270 311

Spin-off s 49 48

* incl. doctoral students

Key figures of the ETH Domain 2015

The ETH Domain in brief 23

Financial key figures (in m CHF) 2014 2015 Δ in %

Operating revenue 3,450 3,475 + 0.7 %Proportion of primary funds (total federal contribution)

71.7 % 72.1 % + 0.4 pp

Proportion of research contributions, mandates and scientifi c services

21.2 % 20.7 % – 0.5 pp

Proportion of other revenue 7.1 % 7.2 % + 0.1 pp

Operating expenses 3,183 3,252 + 2.2 %

Proportion of personnel expenses 62.7 % 63.0 % + 0.3 pp

Real estate portfolio of the ETH Domain (in m CHF) 2014 2015

Value (acquisition value) 7,400 7,500Proportion of total portfolio of federal government approx.

33 %approx.

33 %

Number of buildings / facilities 485 460

Number of plots of land 162 148

The ETH BoardHäldeliweg 158092 ZurichSwitzerlandTel. +41 (0)44 632 23 67Fax +41 (0)44 632 11 90www.ethboard.ch

Board of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology

© ETH Board, April 2016. Photography: Christian Grund, 13photo.ch, Zurich or as per picture credit