Science and technology in Switzerland

{{Main|List of universities in Switzerland}}

The first university, the University of Basel, was founded in 1460 and today the country has twelve universities.

• University of Basel, Basel
• University of Bern, Bern
• University of Fribourg, Fribourg
• University of Geneva, Geneva
• University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel
• University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne
• University of Lucerne, Lucerne
• University of Lugano, Lugano
• University of St. Gallen (HSG), St. Gallen
• University of Zurich, Zürich
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Zürich
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne

• Agroscope Changins-Wädenswil (ACW)
• Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux (ALP)
• Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART)
• European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
• Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), Manno
• Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM)
• Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
• Swiss Light Source
• Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)
• Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG)
• Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)
• [http://www.ehb-schweiz.ch Swiss Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (SFIVET)]
• Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP)
• Idiap Research Institute
• Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research (IDSIA)
• Nano-Tera
• Swiss Institute of Comparative Law
• [http://www.iukb.ch Kurt Bösch University Institute (IUKB)]
• [http://www.metas.ch Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS)]
• Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology (MeteoSwiss)
• Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB)
• Swiss Finance Institute
• International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
• Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)
• Sempach Bird Observatory
• Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research
• [http://www.nanoscience.ch Swiss Nanoscience Institute]
• Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research
• Campus Biotech
• Research Institute of Organic Agriculture

• The Swiss Science Center Technorama is a unique Science museum in the municipality of Winterthur in the canton of Zürich.{{cite web|url=http://landbote.ch/detail/article/technorama-vermehrt-auf-sponsoring-angewiesen/gnews/99291577/|title=Technorama vermehrt auf Sponsoring angewiesen|publisher=Der Landbote|author=Jigme Garne, Elisabetta Antonelli |language=de|date=2014-11-20|access-date=2014-12-17}}

File:Swiss scientists.jpg scientists: Leonhard Euler, Louis Agassiz, Albert Einstein and Auguste Piccard]]

With 57% of its researchers coming from other countries, Switzerland is the country with the world highest proportion of foreign researchers.{{in lang|fr}} Olivier Dessibourg, "La Suisse, carrefour de la circulation des cerveaux", Le Temps, Thursday 15 November 2012, p. 14.See also academic mobility.

{{Main|Swiss Space Office}}

File:Ariane5 Bourget P6230202.JPG launcher.]]

Switzerland Space Agency, the Swiss Space Office, has been involved in various space technologies and programs. In addition it was one of the 10 founders of the European Space Agency in 1975 and is the seventh largest contributor to the ESA budget. In the private sector, several companies are implicated in the space industry such as RUAG Space (payload fairings) or Maxon Motors (mars rovers).

Claude Nicollier is a Swiss Astronaut and flew several missions with the United States space program.

In the field of astronomy, Michel Mayor discovered in 1995, 51 Pegasi b, the first extrasolar planet orbiting a sun-like star.{{cite journal|author=Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz|year=1995|title=A Jupiter-mass companion to a solar-type star|journal=Nature|volume=378|pages=355–359|doi=10.1038/378355a0|issue=6555|bibcode=1995Natur.378..355M|s2cid=4339201}}

{{See also|Swiss Mathematical Society}}

Leonhard Euler is considered to be the preeminent mathematician of the 18th century and one of the greatest of all time. A statement attributed to Pierre-Simon Laplace expresses Euler's influence on mathematics: "Read Euler, read Euler, he is the master of us all."Dunham, William (1999). Euler: The Master of Us All. The Mathematical Association of America. xiii. "Lisez Euler, lisez Euler, c'est notre maître à tous."

Euler made important discoveries in fields as diverse as calculus and graph theory. He also introduced much of the modern mathematical terminology and notation, particularly for mathematical analysis, such as the notion of a mathematical function.

The Bernoulli family produced many notable scientists (Bernoulli number, Bernoulli's principle, Bernoulli's rule...).

Albert Einstein (naturalized in 1901) {{cite web | title= Einstein's nationalities at einstein-website.de | url=http://www.einstein-website.de/z_information/variousthings.html#national | access-date=30 March 2009 }} was one of the greatest physicists of all time. He is known for his theory of relativity and specifically mass–energy equivalence, expressed by the equation E = mc² and also contributed in many other areas (cosmology, solid state physics). Einstein was named "Person of the Century" by Time.

More recently, in 1987, Karl Alexander Müller received the Nobel prize for his work on High-temperature superconductivity.

Furthermore, the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) is located in Switzerland near Geneva.

{{See also|Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain}}

EPFL professor Aude Billard stated that nearly a quarter of the top 20 robotics labs in the world are located in Switzerland, despite the country having only eight million inhabitants, in a 2022 interview with Swissinfo.{{cite web |date=29 March 2022 |title=Swiss robotics moves from research to delivering products |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-robotics-moves-from-research-to-delivering-products/47441196 |access-date=2 April 2025 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}

According to Switzerland's State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), artificial intelligence (AI) is considered an enabling technology and a focus area for education, research, and innovation. ETH Zurich and EPFL coordinate AI-related activities through dedicated research centers, with over 150 professorships at the two institutions linked to the field. In 2017, the two universities jointly established the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) to support AI and data science in academia and industry, joined by the Paul Scherrer Institute in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Artificial intelligence |url=https://www.sbfi.admin.ch/sbfi/en/home/eri-policy/2025-2028/transversale_themen/digitalisation/artificial_intelligence.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=Switzerland State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)}}

The Swiss National Science Foundation supports AI research through national research programs. Institutions such as the Idiap Research Institute and the Artificial Intelligence Platform of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences contribute to technical development and public dialogue on AI. In 2020, the federal government adopted guidelines for the use of AI within the Federal Administration, developed by an interdepartmental working group led by SERI.

The Swiss AI Initiative was launched in December 2023 with support from ETH Zurich and EPFL. It is coordinated by the Swiss National AI Institute (SNAI). The initiative is backed by computing resources, funding from the ETH Domain, and involvement from multiple academic institutions in Switzerland. Its activities include research on large-scale AI models and domain-specific applications, with an emphasis on open science.{{Cite web |title=Leveraging the world's most AI-capable supercomputer |url=https://www.swiss-ai.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=Swiss AI Initiative}}

In October 2024, ETH Zurich and EPFL announced the creation of the Swiss National AI Institute (SNAI) to strengthen national collaboration in artificial intelligence research, education, and innovation. The initiative aims to advance transparency, trust, and open-source development in AI, and will involve over 70 professors from across Switzerland. Researchers plan to develop Switzerland’s first large national AI model and expand training opportunities for AI specialists. According to Swissinfo, SNAI will be supported by the ETH Zurich Board, ETH Zurich, EPFL, and third-party funding sources.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2024 |title=Swiss universities set up new AI institute |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/science/swiss-universities-set-up-new-ai-institute/87668773 |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}

In 2025, Switzerland announced plans to introduce new artificial intelligence regulations aimed at enhancing transparency, protecting user rights, and mitigating risks, according to an article by Swissinfo. The government also proposed a law targeting disinformation and harmful content on digital platforms. In parallel, Swiss federal institutions announced plans to develop domain-specific large language models for areas such as healthcare, education, and science. Beginning March 1, 2025, limited deployment of autonomous vehicles was approved on designated road segments in certain cantons.{{Cite web |date=27 January 2025 |title=Artificial intelligence in Switzerland: what’s new for 2025 |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/science/artificial-intelligence-in-switzerland-whats-new-for-2025/88774507 |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=SWI swissinfo}}

In February 2025, the Swiss Federal Council announced plans to ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on Artificial Intelligence and to implement it through sector-specific regulation. The goal is to support innovation, protect fundamental rights, and promote public trust in AI. The framework will combine binding legal measures with non-binding instruments such as industry standards. A draft bill and implementation plan are expected by the end of 2026.{{Cite web |date=12 February 2025 |title=AI regulation: Federal Council to ratify Council of Europe Convention |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-104110.html |access-date=30 March 2025 |website=Swiss Federal Council (portal of the Swiss government)}}

On 13 December 2024, the Federal Council adopted the updated Digital Switzerland Strategy for 2025, setting national priorities for digital transformation. The 2025 focus areas include artificial intelligence, particularly its legal context and use in the Federal Administration, as well as cybersecurity and the promotion of open-source software in public administration. For each focus area, the Confederation convenes advisory board meetings with representatives from business, science, politics, public authorities and civil society.{{Cite web |date=13 December 2024 |title=Federal Council adopts Digital Switzerland Strategy 2025 |url=https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases/media-releases-federal-council.msg-id-103560.html |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=The Swiss Federal Council}}

Launched in Davos in 2022, Lab42 is a research laboratory focused on advancing human-level AI. Described as a politically neutral initiative, it brings together international scientists and uses challenges like the ARCathon to study abstraction and reasoning in AI. The lab was founded by neuroscientist Pascal Kaufmann and is supported by public institutions, private donors, and the municipality of Davos.{{Cite web |date=2 February 2023 |title=A ‘neutral’ hub for artificial intelligence in the Swiss Alps |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/a-neutral-hub-for-artificial-intelligence-in-the-swiss-alps/48246640 |access-date=1 April 2025 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch}}

In the field of chemistry Germain Henri Hess is known for his discovery of the Hess's law. Albert Hofmann discovered the Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Paul Hermann Müller received the Nobel prize for his discovery of the insecticidal qualities of DDT.

Friedrich Miescher was a Swiss physician who was the first researcher to isolate and characterize Nucleic acid (DNA). Today, a research institute in Basel (the Friedrich Miescher Institute, FMI) is named after him.{{cite web |url=http://www.fmi.ch/ |title=Home |website=fmi.ch}} Emil Theodor Kocher (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1909) was known for his work in the physiology, pathology and surgery of the thyroid. The neurologist Walter Rudolf Hess (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1949) mapped the areas of the brain that were responsible for the control of several vital bodily functions. The biochemist Werner Arber (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1978) is known for his discovery of restriction endonucleases which are essential for all modern biotechnology. The Swiss born Edmond H. Fischer (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1992) discovered how reversible phosphorylation works as a switch to activate proteins. Rolf M. Zinkernagel (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1996) is famous for his work on the immune system.

Carl Jung (1875–1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration.

• Swiss National Science Foundation
• Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology Domain
• Swiss Innovation Park
• Education in Switzerland
• List of universities in Switzerland
• Swissnex
• Health Valley

• [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Swiss_technology_powers_Mars_mission.html?siteSect=105&sid=1035831&cKey=1014230400000&ty=st Swiss technology powers Mars mission, Swissinfo.ch]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080918211855/http://www.oerlikon.com/space/ Oerlikon Space]

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.swissuniversity.ch Official portal of Swiss universities]
• [http://uni-programme.ch All Swiss university programmes]
• [http://www.myscience.ch myScience.ch Swiss portal for research and innovation]
• [http://www.sbf.admin.ch The State Secretariat for Education and Research]
• [http://www.universityrankings.ch The Ranking Forum of Swiss Universities]

{{Universities in Switzerland}}

{{Switzerland topics}}

{{Europe topic|Science and technology in}}

{{Portal bar|Science|Switzerland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Science And Technology In Switzerland}}