Funding
Donations to the ETH Foundation play a major role in increasing the capacity of ETH Zurich for innovation and in enabling ground-breaking solutions to be developed for global challenges.
Complex puzzles and creative and logical thinking have been a source of excitement for Georgette Weingärtner since she was a child. The computer science student is passionate about cryptography. Thanks to the Excellence Scholarship that she has been awarded, she is able to take part in a research project during her Master's and explore where her strengths lie. Georgette Weingärtner is not only committed to a more secure cyberspace, but also to supporting young talent. By giving presentations in schools, she aims to inspire the next generation and, in particular, girls to study in her field.
Learn more"It‘s wonderful to have a top-tier university on your doorstep and to be able to create opportunities for its young talent to develop."
Marina and Steffen Meister
ETH brought Marina and Steffen Meister together – and has not let go of them. They have passed on their enthusiasm for their alma mater to their sons, who also study at the university, and as members of the Escher Circle, Marina and Steffen Meister also support outstanding research and talented people at ETH.
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A well-functioning transport system is an essential pillar of a liveable city. Grace Kagho has developed UrbanEcho with the aim of achieving this for rapidly growing cities in low- and middleincome countries. With the support of a Social Impact Pioneer Fellowship, she is developing digital twin models. They make it possible to take a snapshot of the mobility behaviour, the living situation or the energy consumption of the inhabitants and allow for the sustainable planning of cities where future generations will actually want to live.
Learn more"ETH has given me so much. For me it‘s a no-brainer to give something back."
Joel Roos
Not long ago, Joel Roos was investing every spare minute in his own ETH spin-off. Despite the total commitment of its three founders over a period of two years, the fitness app VAY was on the brink of collapse. But a strategic refocus ultimately led to the turnaround that they had hoped for and VAY was bought by the US firm Nautilus. Now Joel Roos is supporting young entrepreneurs as both a philanthropist and an investor so that they can turn their visions of successful start-ups into reality.
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The Pioneer Fellows Stefan Villiger and Reto Togni plan to revolutionise manual wheelchairs with their new steering system. Intuitive steering through the body reduces the strain on the shoulders, saves energy and leaves one hand free. The young entrepreneurs and their start-up Versive are being supported and advised by the former Excellence Scholar and movement scientist David Mzee, who as an early tester is convinced of its potential.
Learn more"I want to support the next generation, and to do so where it truly makes a difference."
Walter Fust
Before Walter Fust set up his successful company Dipl. Ing. Fust AG, he studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich. When he completed his studies in 1964, he was one of the youngest ever graduates. He remained close to the university and, throughhis commitment to the Pioneer Fellowship programme, he supported the entrepreneurial spirit and activities of ambitious young entrepreneurs for several years. In 2024, Walter Fust was appointed Honorary Councillor by ETH. The far-sighted entrepreneur passed away on 4 February 2025.
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The technology developed by Chiral, an ETH spin-off which is based on a research project supported by Empa, ETH and EPFL, is opening up new opportunities for the use of nanomaterials in the semiconductor industry. With the help of a Pioneer Fellowship, Natanael Lanz and his co-founders have their sights set on the key players in the computer chip industry. They want to ensure that chips based on nanomaterials, which are both more efficient and more economical, can be produced in the future for commercial use.
Learn more"It is important to me to keep excellent education accessible, by having low fees and scholarships."
Dominique Gisin
The Olympic medallist and ski racer Dominique Gisin applied to study at ETH Zurich on the day of her official retirement. Dominique Gisin’s stamina, determination and passion ensured her success during both her elite sporting career and her degree in physics. With her philanthropic support, she aims to open up opportunities for other talented people and to give a boost to top-class research.
Learn moreThe ETH Foundation supports top-class research and excellent teaching at ETH, thus contributing to the development of solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time and strengthening Switzerland’s position as a hub for knowledge and business.
Making a general, non-earmarked donation allows the university the greatest possible flexibility. ETH can, for example, create new professorships or support exceptional research projects.
An earmarked donation allows you to support specific strategic projects at ETH. Are you passionate about supporting excellent students or researchers with entrepreneurial ambitions at ETH Zurich?
Do you want to enable innovation in a particular research field such as climate change, sustainable food systems, healthy ageing or quantum research? The ETH Foundation will be happy to help find the engagement that suits you best.
You can provide long-term support for a cause close to your heart or ETH in general through a named fund. We will set up a fund in your name, for your chosen purpose, e.g. the “Joanna Smith Fund for the Promotion of Excellent Female Students” or the “John Smith Fund for the Promotion of Climate Research”.
We will provide regular updates on the supported projects and the fund’s finances. We will also give your named fund the level of publicity you wish.
By leaving a legacy or bequest to the ETH Foundation, you can make a lasting commitment to those topics and values that are particularly important to you – from a commitment to excellent talent to the promotion of a specific field of research.
This way, you create a memento of your life and make an effective contribution to a brighter future.
Your emotional attachment to your home tends to grow over the course of a lifetime as it becomes a place of life-defining experiences and milestones. This makes it all the more understandable that you want to know that your property will be in good hands when you are no longer around. As a reliable partner, the ETH Foundation ensures that donations, legacies or bequests of property are handled professionally.
Together with Immobilien ETHZF AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the ETH Foundation, set up specifically to manage real estate on behalf of ETH Zurich, we will ensure that your interests and wishes are respected.
If you prefer not to mark a loved one’s passing with flowers or wreaths, you can make a memorial donation to the ETH Foundation instead.
An acknowledgment letter will be sent to all donors.
As a charitable organisation, the ETH Foundation is exempt from inheritance and gift tax and donations are tax-deductible under the provisions of the law.
In addition, its operating expenses are funded using the capital income from all its managed assets. This way every donation benefits ETH Zurich in full.