University of Zurich Research Infrastructures Soar High
Every four years, the Swiss federal government publishes its Roadmap for Research Infrastructures. The infrastructures assessed in the report include large-scale research facilities such as particle accelerators as well as databases and specialized, state-of-the-art measuring instruments.
All of these projects require substantial funding, are best carried out in cooperation with others, and are available to all researchers in Switzerland. Along with other Swiss universities, UZH entered several of its projects in the 2023 roadmap – and has now received excellent scores for them.
The latest report published by the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) shows that five of the projects submitted by UZH as sponsoring institution (leading house) were awarded the highest level of excellence (A) (see box at the end of the article). The roadmap recommends that these projects be implemented with the highest priority.
Only 14 of all the projects submitted by Swiss universities achieved the highest score, with UZH ranking at the top of this (unofficial) list. “We’re delighted with these excellent results and consider them proof of the innovative potential of our research,” says Elisabeth Stark, Vice President Research at UZH.
We are expecting a substantial financial contribution so that these groundbreaking research infrastructures can be established successfully.
Elisabeth Stark
Vice President Research
Federal funding yet to be determined
The Roadmap for Research Infrastructures 2023 was compiled in view of the Swiss federal government’s upcoming research budget (2025 –2028 ERI Dispatch). The projects’ excellent evaluations increase the likelihood of federal government making substantial contributions to the costs of the infrastructures. However, no decisions on federal funding have yet been made.
The total costs of UZH’s five infrastructure projects are estimated at CHF 203 million over a period of four years. Generally, no more than half of the costs are borne by the federal government. “We are expecting a substantial financial contribution so that these groundbreaking research infrastructures can be established successfully,” says Elisabeth Stark. Together with three previous successful projects included in the roadmap, these new infrastructures have the potential to further strengthen UZH’s standing in the Swiss research landscape.
The OR-X infrastructure will allow young surgeons to practice their craft with the latest technologies in a real surgical environment. (Illustration: OR-X)
From operating room to particle accelerator: Five projects
OR-X: A Translational Hub for Surgical Research and Innovation
The Operating Room X (OR-X) is a state-of-the-art environment for surgical research and teaching. Led by UZH and Balgrist University Hospital, the OR-X simplifies surgical training, without putting an additional strain on patients. It enables researchers to develop and validate new technologies and innovations more efficiently. A test phase is currently underway to set up medical technology, IT systems and research equipment, with more cutting-edge tech added on an ongoing basis. The hub is expected to be fully operational by 2027. Parts of this infrastructure are being initially funded through UZH’s TRANSFORM program. Website: OR-X
Swiss Digital Pathology Initiative (SDPI)
Digital pathology (DP) captures essential diagnostic, prognostic and predictive information on human diseases, and is emerging globally as a new technology standard. Led by UZH, the Swiss Digital Pathology Initiative (SDPI) is a joint research infrastructure of the Universities of Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lausanne and Geneva that aims to establish a shared database for digitizing pathology slides and their computer-aided analysis. The SDPI will generate a digital repository starting with 1 million slides collected from 2025 to 2028 and will continue to grow at a rate of 100,000 samples per year.
Isotope and Muon Production using Advanced Cyclotron and Target Technologies (IMPACT)
The IMPACT project aims to produce novel and interesting isotopes and muons using the High Intensity Proton Accelerator (HIPA) at the Paul Scherrer Institute. For example, radioactive isotopes of the chemical element terbium have properties that can be exploited in medical applications, including visualizing and treating tumors. The project will provide such novel radionuclides for applications in medicine, chemistry and pharmacology. But it also involves producing unprecedented quantities of muons. These extremely short-lived elementary particles are used in particle physics experiments and materials science research. IMPACT
Airborne Research for the Earth System (ARES)
UZH’s ARES project expands an already highly developed research infrastructure to measure terrestrial processes using remote sensing. The project, which is committed to an open access data policy, involves developing and testing high-precision Earth observation instruments such as an imaging spectrometer, multispectral laser scanner and other sensors, which are combined with the relevant computer infrastructure. The aim is to provide indicators that describe key chemical, biological, structural, geometric and physical properties of the rapidly changing environment on Earth. Website: Spacehub
Swiss Institute for Drug and Device Development (SI3D)
The Swiss Institute for Drug and Device Development (SI3D) aims to become the Swiss academic center for translational research in veterinary and human medicine. Its mission is to drive biomedical discovery and innovation by providing a state-of-the-art, quality-controlled, best-practice research and development environment. More specifically, it will unify R&D compliance monitoring programs (GLP, GMP, GCP) in a centralized platform and provide skilled personnel. The SI3D infrastructure is aimed at basic and clinical researchers, and its integrated approach and concentrated expertise are expected to drive biomedical innovation. In addition to UZH (leading house) and the UniversityHospital Zurich, the Universities of Bern and Fribourg are also involved in the infrastructure.
UZH also plays a significant part in the following projects, which were included in the roadmap: EM Frontiers, SwissBioData Ecosystem and Imaging and Omics Platform for Swiss Cititzen Health.