We create encouraging frame conditions for the digital transformation of research. ZHAW digital is part of the Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH). Our common mission is to strengthen the competitiveness of the Canton of Zurich as a national and international hub for research and development. Also, we want to support society and economy in seizing the opportunities provided by digital transformation.

DIZH supports highly qualified ZHAW researchers in collaboration with experts from other Zurich higher education institutes. Working in teams, professors, senior researchers, post-doctoral researchers and doctoral students conduct interdisciplinary research on digital transformation. In spring 2020, the first 13 fellows started their projects. By now, ZHAW digital already supports the fifth generation of fellows.

Call 2025(PDF 297,4 KB)

Get to know our fellows

The Zurich higher education institutes (ZHAW, UZH, PHZH and ZHdK) initiate various types of innovative digitalization projects with the private and public sector. In these partnerships, researchers can consider the needs and experiences of their partners in industry and government and vice versa. Hence, research findings can align more with practical real-world applications.

The Rapid-Action-Call is a small call, in terms of funding amount and duration. Applications can be submitted by anyone who urgently needs money to finish an ongoing project or to implement an aspect of it. Therefore, it is very important to delineate this urgency plausibly in the application.

The Structure-Call is the largest call of the DIZH. The focus is not on a single project, but on building a new structure that will outlast DIZH (beyond 2029). To do so, a partnership of at least two universities and a close collaboration with practitioners is required.

For both calls, the next submission deadlines will be published here as soon as determined. 

The "Digital Futures Fund for Research" welcomes all ZHAW employees who would like to develop or test an innovative idea for digital transformation. Your input can contribute to the area of research. All project leaders are automatically accepted into the digital community "Digital Futures Lab" through their funded project. This enables them to network and exchange ideas on specific topics with the community members.

All about the Digital Futures Fund

More about the Digital Futures Lab community

CLAIRE aims to actively strengthen European excellence in AI research and innovation. The network forms a pan-European confederation of artificial intelligence research laboratories in Europe. Its member groups and organizations are committed to working together to achieve CLAIRE's vision: European excellence across all of AI, for all of Europe, with a human-centered focus.

ZHAW is an active member of CLAIRE and supports on the one hand the establishment of the CLAIRE Office Zurich with local academic and industrial organizations that are active in the field of AI. On the other hand, ZHAW supports the national and international networking of the Office.

CLAIRE website