Sun, Feb 11th 2024
ETH president Joël Mesot disputes Federal Council’s savings strategy, stressing that ETH Zurich’s reserves are crucial for future infrastructure and research amidst inflation and rising student numbers.
ETH President Joël Mesot challenges the Federal Council’s proposal to cut CHF 50 million from ETH Zurich’s budget, arguing that the university’s CHF 1.4 billion reserves are earmarked for vital infrastructure projects and cannot cushion the proposed cuts. In a “SonntagsBlick” interview, Mesot highlights the overlooked factors of inflation and increasing student populations, projecting a shortfall of around ten percent.
Amidst the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence (AI), Mesot asserts that now is not the time for financial retrenchment but for significant investment. “We require a Cern for AI to stay abreast of one of this century’s pivotal advancements,” he argues. According to Mesot, investment in ETH yields substantial returns, with every franc resulting in five for Switzerland, thanks to numerous patents and spin-offs originating from the institution.
The ETH president warns of long-term consequences if cuts are made to education and research, citing a unique supercomputer in Lugano as an example of potential losses in fundamental research capabilities. Mesot firmly opposes raising tuition fees to avoid burdening students with debt, advocating for accessible quality education.
Furthermore, Mesot mentions developing strategies to protect domestic expertise from international espionage, including restrictions on students from military-associated Chinese universities engaging in certain research areas, underscoring the need for cautious international collaboration in sensitive fields.
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