The SDSC transitions to a National Research Infrastructure
As of January 1st, 2025, the Swiss Data Science Center embraces its new role as a National Research Infrastructure, expanding its mandate to advance the use of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) for the benefit of Switzerland’s academic institutions, industries, public sector, and society at large.
Lausanne, Zurich, Villigen, 10 January 2025 - The Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) has officially transitioned to a National Research Infrastructure, solidifying its position as a leading trailblazer in data science and AI innovation in Switzerland.
This milestone expands the SDSC’s ability to to support academic labs, hospitals, industry and public sector stakeholders in their data science journey. With competencies ranging from data collection, management and governance to applying machine learning and AI techniques to enhance research, operations and industrialization, the SDSC is uniquely positioned to help accelerate the digital transformation of Swiss organizations, aligning with national and societal priorities.
“Since its inception in 2017, the SDSC primarily focused on accelerating the adoption of data science and AI through collaborative projects with EPFL, ETH Zurich, and associated research institutes[1],” said Prof. Dr. Olivier Verscheure, Director of the SDSC. “Over time, we’ve expanded our expertise and scope through independently funded collaborations with industry partners, NGOs, cantonal and federal administrations, hospitals, and municipalities. Recent collaborations with MeteoSwiss and the Canton of Vaud exemplify the trust we’ve earned in applying our capabilities.”
“As a National Research Infrastructure, we aim to prioritize and create impact in transformative domains such as health and biomedical sciences, energy and sustainability, climate and the environment, large-scale scientific infrastructures, and digital administration,” added Prof. Dr. Guillaume Obozinski, Deputy Director and Chief Data Scientist at the SDSC. “These domains face pressing societal challenges, such as adapting to climate change and advancing cancer research. The SDSC is well-positioned to address these challenges with its expertise and resources.”
Recognizing the SDSC’s achievements, the ETH Board approved its expansion into a National Research Infrastructure in 2024, allocating CHF 60 million for the 2025–2028 period[2].
For updates on our initiatives, visit our website at www.datascience.ch or subscribe to our newsletter. Be sure to join our current Call for Vaud projects and our National Call for Collaborative Projects, launching in May 2025.
[1] notably: Eawag, Empa, PSI and WSL/SLF.
[2] Translating to CHF 15 million per year. This transformation had been confirmed earlier in the STRATEGIC PLAN 2025–2028 of the ETH Board for the ETH Domain (publicized in 2023), notably the chapter “Large-scale research infrastructures of strategic relevance submitted to the Swiss Roadmap.”
About the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC)
The Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) is a national research infrastructure in data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Its mission—to enable data-driven science and innovation for societal impact—drives its initiatives in research projects, knowledge and technology transfer, and education. With a large multidisciplinary team of professionals in Lausanne, Zurich and Villigen, the SDSC provides expertise and services to various domains, such as health and biomedical sciences, energy and sustainability, climate and environment, and large-scale scientific infrastructures. The SDSC also offers initial and executive education programs through EPFL and ETH Zurich. More: www.datascience.ch
For more information, please contact:
Uta Ünal, Head of Communications & Events
uta.uenal@sdsc.ethz.ch
Catherine Hugon, Head of Executive Affairs
catherine.hugon@epfl.ch
