Annual Report 2020 Pushing boundaries together. Through research. For society. 1 Editorial 2 Highlights 2020 9 Thank you Overview of donors and partners 21 Your support Legacy gifts International Funding areas 36 Facts & figures Board of Trustees Balance sheet and income statement EDITORIAL 1 Dear donors, Dear friends of ETH, The past year has underlined the importance of mutual help and support, and your contributions have exemplified this. Thanks to donors and partners, ETH Zurich was able to accelerate vital research, extend scholarships for talented young academics during the crisis and press ahead with strategic projects in what proved to be an exceptional year. 2020 impressed on us the need to prepare for the future. It is vital that budding entrepreneurs such as Jonathan Kiefer, who is developing a new treatment for leukaemia, are able to introduce their innovations to society sooner rather than later. Promising talents such as student Janine Wetter, who wants to gain a better understanding of climate change, need optimal support today. And in the field of basic research too, it is crucial to act now to create the right conditions for the future: by constructing a new, highly specialised physics laboratory building, ETH aims to further expand its leading position in quantum research. Your support gives ETH Zurich flexibility and freedom. Every single contribution is important. Together, they have a huge impact – for the benefit and wellbeing of future generations. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks that we are able to count on your support and hope that this publication interests and inspires you. Professor Pius Baschera Professor Joël Mesot Dr Donald Tillman Chair of the Board of President of ETH Zurich, Managing Director Trustees Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees 2 OVERVIEW 2020 A step closer to personalised medical treatment, rapid action during the coronavirus pandemic and a boost for quantum research: thanks to your support, we have been able to tackle major challenges over the past year. Highlights 2020 HIGHLIGHTS 2020 3 Findings from research projects at ETH feed directly into product development in building and energy technology. More energy-efficient energy-efficient Fast-tracking building planning Covid-19 research Population growth, urbanisation The Botnar Research Centre for and energy provision are among Child Health (BRCCH) launched an the most pressing issues of our emergency initiative to develop time and all are highly relevant to practicable approaches to the Covid-19 our industry partner Siemens. crisis. Fondation Botnar, which enabled Siemens has therefore extended the establishment of the centre with its strategic partnership with its generous donation, provided additional ETH Zurich for a further five years funding. These funds support projects and is supporting innovative currently underway at ETH and other research projects in the field of participating institutions; for example, to sustainable construction/digital develop more reliable rapid tests or fabrication. track chains of infection more accurately. 4 HIGHLIGHTS 2020 Vincent Fortuin, Hanna Ragnarsdottir, Janine Wetter and Dominic Egger give an insight into their research projects: take a look now. Meet the Talent @ HOME Flexible and effective action thanks to the Corona Impulse Fund Philanthropy to develop the full From direct support for students with potential of exceptional talent additional scholarships to the de- velopment of equipment for the health What does the support of donors mean sector to fundamental research: to the recipients of the Excellence the ETH Foundation and ETH set up Scholarships and how did the students’ the Corona Impulse Fund to assist daily lives change when the crisis hit with a range of scenarios. The funds in early 2020? Four recipients provided an are allocated quickly and without insight which, given the circumstances, undue red tape, focusing on where they was staged digitally by video rather are needed most and will have the than face-to-face at the traditional Meet greatest impact, such as a serological the Talent event. They included Hanna study on the extent of immune pro- Ragnarsdottir, who is passionate about tection. The funding comes from hund- improving cancer research. She is one reds of donors, including numerous of the 50 to 60 exceptionally talented and alumni, and the SIX Group – a joint effort motivated students we are able to fund in the spirit of solidarity. every year, thanks to you. HIGHLIGHTS 2020 5 @ HOME Rössler Prize winner Paola Picotti used the prize money to fund her research, and she also made a donation to the Corona Impulse Fund. Pioneering personalised treatment Intelligent machines for Understanding proteomics, i.e. the the good of society full spectrum of proteins and their interactions, is the key to understanding Robotics at ETH occupies an internation- human health. System biologist ally leading position and last year received Paola Picotti develops technology that an additional boost: support from the expands our understanding of the Hilti Group and the Hilti Family Foundation processes of human health, in particular Liechtenstein enabled the creation of biochemical processes that lead to two new professorships to reinforce Robotic aberrations and diseases such as cancer Systems and the newly established RobotX or Alzheimer’s. In 2020, her pioneering Center for Intelligent Machines, which research earned her the Rössler Prize. was launched in 2020 and brings together The prize is worth CHF 200,000 and has more than 20 robotics research groups been awarded annually to promising at ETH. One of the robotics highlights at ETH young academics since 2009. The prize to date has been the search and rescue is made possible by a donation by robot ANYmal – we are all eager to see what ETH alumnus Dr Max Rössler. comes next. 6 HIGHLIGHTS 2020 The donor-financed funding programme for young entrepreneurs ensures that ETH technology quickly finds its way into practice. Vanesa Rocha Martin’s research on treating colic in babies is a perfect example. Stimulating the economy thanks to ETH spin-offs Boost for future mobility New approaches to treating leukaemia, help for colicky babies and sus- Introducing greener transport systems, tainable yoga mats: Pioneer Fellow- making use of artificial intelligence ship support, made possible by and optimising overburdened infrastruc- our donors and partners, enables ture: tomorrow’s mobility brings new young researchers to drive forward challenges to technology, business and their ideas and found businesses. society. To address these, ETH Zurich Since 2010, 101 Fellowships have been founded the ETH Mobility Centre in 2018. awarded. More than 30 new spin-offs AMAG has now joined SBB, Siemens are created every year at ETH. They and ETH Professor Emeritus Alexander not only introduce new products Wokaun as the centre’s first partner and services to society, but also play from the automotive industry, providing a powerful part in consolidating new impetus to the project. Further Switzerland’s role as a business and funding partners will be signed up over innovation hub. the coming years. HIGHLIGHTS 2020 7 ETH honorary councillors Adrian Weiss (left) and Calvin Grieder (right) Honour for two deserving Inclusivity through cutting- long-term philanthropists edge assistance technology Calvin Grieder and Adrian Weiss have The Cybathlon Global Edition took been enthusiastic ambassadors and place in November: 51 teams from 20 supporters of ETH Zurich for many years, countries completed everyday tasks and have provided important impetus with the aid of cutting-edge assistance for teaching and research. Calvin Grieder’s technology. Due to the pandemic, the focus is on building bridges between teams competed at different times and business and science, while Adrian Weiss in separate locations. The Cybathlon promotes next-generation academics brings together people with disabilities, and research in the fields of architecture, technology developers and the general electrical engineering and computer public to promote inclusivity and science. Through their efforts, they have progress. It helps to drive developments each encouraged important new in assistance technology, such as developments. To thank them for their Scewo, the wheelchair that can climb tremendous ongoing commitment, stairs, developed six years ago at ETH has appointed both of them as hon- ETH and now ready for series production. orary councillors. 8 HIGHLIGHTS 2020 Left to right: Pius Baschera, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the ETH Foundation; donor Martin Haefner, ETH alumnus and honorary councillor; and Joël Mesot, ETH President Digital technology for more productive, greener construction Digital design, planning and construction are becoming increasingly important. The engineering, planning and consultancy A boost for quantum firm Basler & Hofmann has entered into research a strategic partnership with ETH’s Center for Augmented Computational Design in Quantum research has developed at Architecture, Engineering and Construction, breakneck speed in recent years. It is known as “Design++”, with a generous anticipated that the use of quantum donation spread over six years. The funding phenomena in the fields of computing, will go primarily towards establishing a sensor technology and cryptography new professorship in Augmented Computa- will soon make new applications techni- tional Design. The aim of the partners cally feasible. In order to consolidate is to develop digital