Michael Hengartner

Founded in 1952, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) is Switzerland’s primary organization dedicated to funding and promoting scientific research across all disciplines at universities and research institutions. The non-profit company is based in Bern, Switzerland. Operating as a private law foundation with a public mandate, SNSF invests substantial federal funds in basic and use-inspired research, supporting new projects and fellowships annually. Its governance includes a foundation council, delegates assembly, research council, and administrative offices, which oversee strategic direction, policy setting, and fair evaluation of funding applications. The research council manages the assessment of thousands of proposals each year, emphasizing transparency, equality, diversity, and international collaboration. SNSF offers diverse funding schemes, supports researchers throughout project lifecycles, and mandates open access publication of all funded research outputs. It promotes responsible research practices, supports early-career researchers, and fosters public engagement through various initiatives and communication channels.

ETH-Rat, also known as the ETH Board, is the strategic leadership and supervisory body of the ETH Domain, appointed by the Swiss Federal Council. The ETH Domain includes two federal institutes of technology (ETH Zurich and EPFL), four federal research institutions (PSI, WSL, Empa, and Eawag), and independent complaint bodies. The private company is based in Zurich, Switzerland. ETH-Rat is responsible for governance functions such as strategic leadership, financial and investment planning, real estate and infrastructure management, professorship planning and appointments, personnel matters, legislation, internal audit, risk management, and representation of interests within the ETH Domain. It oversees a real estate portfolio valued at approximately 4.3 billion CHF, ensuring infrastructure supports education, research, and technology transfer missions. ETH-Rat employs systematic controlling and delegates operational implementation to individual institutions, integrating real estate strategy with financial and investment planning on a rolling 12-year horizon. The organization has defined five priority areas for 2025–2028: human and health; energy, climate, and ecological sustainability; responsible digital transformation; advanced materials and key technologies; and engagement and dialogue with society. ETH-Rat manages delegated public-interest tasks, including oversight of specialized centers and services such as the Swiss National Atlas, Center for Security Studies, Swiss National Supercomputing Centre, Swiss Seismological Service, and National Air Pollution Monitoring Network. The ETH Domain promotes open science through its Open Research Data (ORD) program, investing in infrastructure, training, legal frameworks, and career development to enhance accessibility and sharing of scientific outputs.

Operates cross-industry association that connects established business

Provides consulting and research services

Operates as management schools

Provides community services