From the North-South Centre to ETH Global

Nord-Süd-Zentrum. Forschung für Entwicklung
Mit Wirkung vom 1. August 2012 werden die beiden Einheiten Internationale Institutionelle Angelegenheiten (IIA) und das Nord-Süd-Zentrum zu einer neuen Einheit „ETH Global“ zusammen geführt. ETH Global ist dem „Delegierten ETH Global“ Prof. Gerhard Schmitt unterstellt. Die Fusion ermöglicht es, neue strategische Schwerpunkte auszumachen, die einen Mehrwert für die ETH Zürich generieren können, und erlaubt eine einheitliche Kommunikation zu internationalen Angelegenheiten. Aktivitäten mit Bezug zu Entwicklungsländern erhalten durch die organisatorische Nähe zur Schulleitung erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit und strategische Relevanz.

As of August 1, 2012, the two units International Institutional Affairs (IIA) and the North-South Centre merge into a new unit „ETH Global“.
ETH Global is led by Professor Gerhard Schmitt, the “Senior Vice-President ETH Global”. The merger permits the identification of new strategic priorities with added-value for the ETH Zurich, and allows consistent communication on international affairs. The new unit will be part of the President’s office. Consequently, the activities related to developing countries will receive increased strategic relevance and visibility.

Until then, the North-South Centre will remain the focal point of the ETH Zurich in all affairs that involve developing countries and emerging economies. The centre promotes research collaboration and capacity development in international development and cooperation covering the technical, natural, human and social sciences. Most activities will continue within the new structure.

The North-South Centre focuses on the following thematic research areas: “Food security”, “Natural resource management”, “Urban and rural transformation”, and “Technology and infrastructure”. 

Have a look at our mission statement, identity and strategy.

Annual Conference – Gender perspectives in research for development (R4D)

12 June 2012 – In the development discourse gender issues have always played an important role. This conference will highlight fields of research in science and engineering where, in recent years, the gender issue has been rediscovered to provide sound scientific results. »»

Upcoming events

Social business conference Lugano and Zurich_18 and 19 May 2012 – This first edition is a series of events, whose primary objective is to raise awareness on the concept of social business in Switzerland. Keynote speaker will be Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. »»

Technologies for sustainable development: A way to reduce poverty?
Lausanne_29–31 May 2012 – As a UNESCO Chair in Technologies for Development, the Cooperation and Development Center (CODEV) at the EPFL will organise a conference that will look at how science and technologies can support both sustainable development in developing and emerging countries and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as defined by the United Nations in 2000. »»

3rd International Conference on Research for Development (ICRD 2012).
Research for global transformation
Bern_20–22 August 2012 – The aim of the conference is to share and discuss the most recent insights on development-oriented research conducted in North-South partnerships and to develop an agenda for research partnerships with developing and transition countries. The conference will thus contribute to the international agendas currently being redrawn in view of Rio+20. »»

Life science symposium 2012: Global health meets infection biology
Lausanne_29–31 August 2012 – The symposium will be organised by the Global Health Institute (GHI) at EPFL. »»

Deadline for registration is 15 July 2012.

Other events related to research for development »»

News

North-South Forum – Urban transformation: debating formal and informal development
24 April 2012 – The forum addressed the interface between formality and informality in urban transformation in order to show the peculiarities and vitality of these hybrid development processes. »»

JTI Foundation Resilience Award
19 April 2012 – The JTI Foundation is offering an award of CHF 175’000 for the best project proposal that helps increase resilience at the city or community level and that bridges the gap between science and practice. »»

Deadline for submission is 15 June 2012.

SFIAR Award 2012 - Call for Proposals
19 April 2012 – The Swiss Forum for International Agricultural Research (SFIAR) offers an annual Award for scientists working for a Swiss institution in agricultural research for development. »»

Deadline for submission is 10 July 2012.

Drohnen im Einsatz für den Regenwald
27 February 2012 – ETH Life article about a low-cost drone for forest monitoring developed by Lian Pin Koh et al. “My dream is that in the future, every field ecologist will have a drone as part of their toolkit, since it doesn’t cost more than a good pair of binoculars!“ (in German) »»

News archive »»