Researchers from the ZHAW have been working on projects in the DIZH innovation programme with partner universities and partner companies since 2021. The first projects were successfully completed in 2023.

The innovation programme of the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH) aims to strengthen the competitiveness of Zurich as a business location. The initiative also supports cooperation between Zurich’s universities and the private sector. Such partnerships close the gap between research and practice, making it easier to apply findings in the industry. Since 2021, the DIZH has published nine project calls as part of the innovation programme and is funding 65 projects. The ZHAW is the project leader in 24 of these projects and a partner in another 17. It is collaborating with the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK), the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) and the University of Zurich (UZH), as well as various partner companies. “We are delighted that the ZHAW is so strongly represented in the DIZH innovation programme. Our application-orientated teaching and research is a great asset in this initiative,” says Rebecca Brauchli, Head of ZHAW digital.

Three successful projects from the DIZH are presented below.

Apprentices in the electrical industry who used virtual reality software to prepare for their final exams improved by one grade point.

Many companies in Switzerland offering apprenticeships struggle to provide apprentices with enough opportunities to learn and practice the tasks they need to master. Integrating virtual reality (VR) may be a promising solution to enhance vocational training but is rarely applied in apprenticeship training. A joint project of the ZHAW and Zurich University of Teacher Training (PHZH) has now developed a VR learning environment for apprentice electricians. The ZHAW developed a VR learning environment prototype that enables the apprentices to practice testing an electrical installation in a virtual garage. PHZH’s role in the project was to contribute the didactic concept, including a help and question system as well as game elements. A field study of 68 apprentice electricians showed that those who had used VR to prepare for their final exam were able to significantly improve their performance. VR allows learners to practice various challenging or even potentially dangerous hands-on activities anytime and anywhere. The researchers emphasised that VR should be seen as a valuable addition to the apprentices’ basic training that can be used to build up their vocational skills. The prototype is currently being developed further by Bandara for the benefit of the more than 300 apprentices of the Bauman-Kölliker Group.

Video: Apprentices improve their grades by using virtual reality.

A new test infrastructure for drones and other autonomous aircraft and ground vehicles is being built at Dübendorf airport. The ZHAW School of Engineering, the University of Zurich as well as Zurich University of the Arts are involved in the project.

Drones are becoming more and more important in aviation. Before they can be used for industry, services or research, they must be tested and certified. The LINA project is therefore developing a state-of-the-art test site at Dübendorf airport over the next five years. The test site includes an indoor arena and two outdoor areas, which are marked off by physical and digital barriers. The indoor arena is already in use, while the outdoor areas are expected to take up operations in 2024/2025. In the future, the test arena will also be open to the public to make research and development tangible. The Centre for Aviation (ZAV) and the Centre for Artificial Intelligence (CAI) at the ZHAW School of Engineering are particularly involved in this project. Michel Guillaume, Head of the ZAV, is supervising the safety aspects of the project. The ZAV coordinates flight operations at Dübendorf airport to ensure the safety of all users, which includes obtaining permits and operating licenses from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). The CAI, led by Thilo Stadelmann, will use artificial intelligence to set up the ground infrastructure and the digital cage in the outdoor area.

Researchers at the ZHAW and ZHdK have developed the ExerUp game in collaboration with a practice partner to help people undergoing physiotherapy.

Cruciate ligament injuries are among the most common sports injuries, and they require around nine to twelve months of rehabilitation. A new movement-based game is intended to support athletes after an injury as part of physiotherapy and rehab. Together with a research team from the ZHdK and the partner company Sphery, researchers from the ZHAW School of Health Professions developed a so-called exergame, a computer game that promotes physical activity.