Projects
The Swiss Science Council SSC is the advisory body of the Federal Council for issues related to science, higher education, research and innovation policy. It formulates a working programme for each legislative period, in coordination with the agenda of the political authorities. In addition to setting its own priorities, the Council retains the flexibility to respond to demands from the Federal Council.
- Research Libraries as Data Hubs
- Towards sustainable academic research in Switzerland
- Artificial intelligence (AI) Computing Infrastructure in the ERI Domain
- Artificial intelligence in higher education
- Strategic considerations for the ERI dispatch 2029–2032
Working group
Council: Susanna Burghartz (Chair), Dominique Foray, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey
Sectretariat: Joël Graf (Project lead), Sibylle Niklaus (Deputy Project lead)
Mandat
Mandat to: Prof. Dr. J. Philipp Trein (Université de Lausanne), Dr. Ana Petrus (scivia GmbH)
Duration of the project
01.06.2024 - 08.12.2025
Research libraries (RL) are an essential infrastructure for science. They play a crucial role in knowledge production and their university's competitiveness. Over the last thirty years, RL have had to cope with two disruptive developments of the digital transformation: the transition from analogue to digital holdings and Open Access as the new standard for publicly funded scholarly publications. Today, generative AI presents a new challenge.
Against this background, the SSC is addressing the question of how the services provided by research libraries and the framework conditions can be secured and improved for the future. The analysis is based on expert interviews, a stakeholder workshop and two external mandates with a focus on multilevel governance and international good practices. On this basis, the SSC formulates guiding principles and specific recommendations.
In this project, the term “research library” refers mainly to academic libraries at Higher Education Institutions. This includes cantonal universities, Universities of Applied Sciences, Universities of Teacher Educations as well as the ETH domain.
Working group
Council: Jean-Marc Triscone (Chair), Adrienne Grêt-Regamey (Vice-Chair), Gabriel Aeppli, Dominique Foray, Markus Kern, Sophie Martin, Christiane Pauli-Magnus
Secretariat: Sophie Girardin (Project lead), Adèle Gaveau (Deputy Project lead)
Mandat
Mandat to Centre de compétences en durabilité CCD (Université de Lausanne)
Duration of the project
01.04.2025 - 31.03.2027
The scientific community regularly warns about the risks associated with climate change and the need to act quickly to implement mitigation and adaptation measures. However, even among scientists, few measures promoting environmental sustainability are actually implemented. The SSC is therefore conducting a project to understand why the introduction of such measures often meets with resistance among researchers, focusing on the case of academic research in Switzerland.
The SSC has commissioned a report to identify, on the one hand, the areas in which Swiss academic research actors are taking measures to promote environmental sustainability and, on the other hand, which of these measures are generating tensions within the research community. Based on this assessment, the SSC wishes to generate discussions among the actors concerned and propose possible solutions to alleviate these tensions.
Working group
Council: Sabine Süsstrunk (Chair), Gabriel Aeppli, Susanna Burghartz, Bryn Roberts, Jane Royston, Sabine Seufert
Secretariat: Verena Pfeiffer (Project lead)
Duration of the project
19.04.2024 - 12.05.2026
Synergize. Strategize. Realize.
The SSC notes that research on and with AI is growing rapidly and that existing academic computing resources will not be sufficient in the future. Higher Education Institutions have limited and rapidly ageing resources, face high costs and data protection and data security requirements, and are experiencing an exodus of qualified AI specialists to industry. The ERI system is therefore only partially prepared for future requirements.
The SSC recommends a long-term AI infrastructure strategy, the establishment of a national multi-level computing infrastructure, a strategic governing body and secure, long-term funding. As an immediate measure, the development of powerful computing capacities should be defined as a national task so that the relevant ERI actors can develop and implement new financing and governance models and ensure equal access for all ERI actors.
Working group
Council: Sabine Seufert (Chair), Sabine Süsstrunk
Secretariat: Verena Pfeiffer (Project lead)
Duration of the project
13.10.2025 - Q3/2026
Generative AI is rapidly spreading into key academic areas such as teaching, assessment, student support and research. Its use is data-intensive and relies on profiling, learning analytics and automated decision support, which has a direct impact on educational processes.
The Educa report ‘Data Use Policy in the Swiss Education Sector’ (in German) provides a coherent framework for the responsible use of data and AI in the Swiss education system. Although primarily developed for compulsory schooling and upper secondary education, it contains transferable elements that can be extended to higher education. It therefore serves as a basis for the SSC's considerations on AI in higher education.
The SSC expert analysis examines current AI practices in higher education and identifies areas that require further clarification or differentiation. Based on this, the SSC will formulate recommendations to support the coherent, responsible and innovation-oriented use of AI in higher education.
Working group
Council: Sabine Süsstrunk (Chair), Susanna Burghartz, Dominique Foray, Markus Kern, Christiane Pauli-Magnus
Secretariat: Verena Pfeiffer (Project lead), Joel Graf (Deputy Project lead), Sophie Girardin (Project collaborator)
Duration of the project
01.11.2026 - 30.06.2026
The SSC was invited by SERI to develop strategic considerations for the ERI Dispatch 2029–2032. Free from financial or political interests, the SSC is the only body that can provide an independent and long-term overview of the Swiss education, research and innovation system for the ERI Dispatch.