Zurich – The Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) plans to secure its leading position in the long term with new professorships in future-oriented scientific fields. Among them are cyber security, medtech and robotics.

It is a year since the ETH launched the ETH+ initiative to secure its competitive position by creating new professorships. Of the 68 idea sketches submitted by students and professors since then, nine  have now been selected to receive funding.   

Three new professorships will be created in the disciplines of information security and data protection, while two will be dedicated to the impact of the digital transformation on society. Another will concentrate on technological innovation in cardiovascular diseases, while one more will focus on closing the gap between robotics and materials science and create smart materials.   

A further goal is to position the ETH as a globally leading robotics hub, with a professorship also planned in this field. With another initiative, the ETH is seeking to strengthen its position in materials synthesis, and two new professorships will be dedicated to the future of learning and fighting poverty.  

To finance the project, the ETH is using reserves it has accrued and is looking for contributions from third-party resources. According to a statement, a second call for idea sketches will begin in October.  

“If we want to continue to be a driving force for Switzerland and its innovative capacity, and to keep pace with the world’s best, we must invest in more top talent,” commented ETH President Lino Guzzella.

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