The North-South Centre at a glance

Nord-Süd-Zentrum. Forschung für Entwicklung
In der Nord-Süd-Forschung und -Lehre ist die ETH Zürich eine der führenden Universitäten. Das Nord-Süd-Zentrum ist ihr Kompetenzzentrum, das die entsprechenden Aktivitäten innerhalb der Hochschule bündelt und gegen aussen vertritt. Ausserdem ist das Nord-Süd-Zentrum für die Durchführung von entwicklungsrelevanten Forschungs- und Ausbildungsprogrammen zuständig. Diese Programme fördern langfristige Forschungspartnerschaften mit Institutionen aus Entwicklungsländern und unterstützen Forschende sowohl aus dem Süden als auch aus dem Norden.

The North-South Centre, a competence centre of the ETH Zurich, was founded in 2007. Its vision is to enhance the long-term commitment of the ETH Zurich to make scientific knowledge globally accessible for sustainable development. The North-South Centre promotes research and education in the field of international development and cooperation. It facilitates collaboration with institutions from the South in the technical, natural, human and social sciences.

Developing countries and emerging economies are facing ecological, economic and social challenges. The North-South Centre fosters sustainable development by pooling a broad range of research expertise for interdisciplinary projects dealing with these challenges. Thus, the research activities of all members represent the core of the North-South Centre. Resulting partnerships with research institutions, governmental organisations, development agencies, and others in the North and in the South are another important pillar of the North-South Centre.

The activities of the North-South Centre cover three main areas: “Research collaboration”, “Capacity development”, and “Networking and communication”. Thereby, the North-South Centre promotes the ETH Zurich as a leading institution on North-South matters in its field – research and education.

Goals of the programme areas

Research collaboration
The North-South Centre promotes long-term research collaboration with partners in developing countries and emerging economies placing emphasis on both interdisciplinary research projects and the link to capacity development.

Capacity development
The North-South Centre supports students from developing countries and emerging economies at the Master of Science, doctoral and post-doc levels as well as ETH students interested in topics relevant to development.

Networking and communication
The North-South Centre establishes and maintains contacts among its members, within the ETH Zurich and in national and international networks and fora. In Switzerland and beyond, the North-South Centre aims to be recognised as the focal point of the ETH Zurich in all affairs that involve developing countries and emerging economies.