EPFL and ETH Zürich open Swiss Data Science Center

Switzerland is creating a center for data and computer science in order to foster innovation and remain globally competitive in the field.

At the intersection of data management, statistics, machine learning and algorithms, data science is key to better understanding and analyzing complex, real-world systems. Given the importance it has gained in recent years, the Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne are jointly launching a Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC). With offices in Lausanne and Zurich, the new center will host a multi-disciplinary team of approximately 40 scientists and experts. They will focus on fields such as personalized health, environmental issues and manufacturing challenges.

SDSC researchers will also develop an innovative cloud-hosted platform called the “Insights Factory”. It will be a true one-stop-shop for field experts, who will be able to explore and analyze curated, calibrated and anonymized data.

“This new platform is a fundamental step in the development of open science. Scientific knowledge sharing on a broad scale requires solid, trustworthy and regulated infrastructures. With this center, Switzerland is providing itself with the resources that matches its ambitions,” said Martin Vetterli, EPFL President, in a statement.