The ETH Policy Fellowship

Where policy meets science

ETH Policy Fellow alumna, Dr. Regina Witter of the Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE in a one-to-one meeting with ETH professor Francesco Corman
ETH Policy Fellow alumna, Dr. Regina Witter of the Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE in a one-to-one meeting with ETH professor Francesco Corman ETHZ/Michel Büchel

In a nutshell

  • What: bespoke programme for executives of the public sector
  • Goal: strengthening the dialogue and the networks between policymakers and the scientific community
  • Activities: One-on-one meetings with researchers, workshops, networking events, and more
  • When: 7 working days, spread over 5 to 6 months, from September to February
  • Where: ETH 365体育直播_365体育投注-竞猜网投 in Zurich, Switzerland
  • Costs: CHF 2'500 per person (plus VAT, if applicable)
  • Application window 2025: will be communicated in due course

The ETH Policy Fellowship is a tailored programme of ETH Zurich for executives from the public sector with the goal of strengthening the dialogue-based exchange and networking between policymakers and ETH researchers.

In the spirit of knowledge transfer in the service of society, ETH Zurich aims to bridge the gap between researchers and policymakers through this offer, thereby helping them to address societal challenges through sustainable, effective, and evidence-informed solutions.

The ETH Policy Fellowship is offered and organized by the Science-Policy Interface of ETH Zurich. The external page Swiss Federal Office of Personnel (FOPER) supports this offer as a partner.

By tailoring the programme to the individual needs and interests of the participants, the ETH Policy Fellowship contributes to capacity-building, networking, and mutual understanding between policymakers and ETH researchers.

Engaging in a range of dialogue-driven activities allows participants to broaden their professional networks, stay abreast of cutting-edge research findings, and collaboratively identify solutions to specific policy challenges with subject matter experts.

Concurrently, it provides an avenue for participants to raise awareness of their specific concerns with ETH researchers.

The programme consists of 7 working days spread over a period of 6 to 7 months between September and February.

Activities that can be offered as part of the ETH Policy Fellowship:

  • One-to-one meetings with researchers from ETH Zurich
  • Exchanges with research groups and students
  • Participation in relevant workshops and events
  • ?Food for Thought? events that are organized for the fellowship cohort to intensify the exchange among participants and provide interdisciplinary impulses.
  • Policymakers in a broader sense, e.g., employees from the Federal Administration, cantons, public institutions, international organizations, and NPOs/NGOs
  • Management position with either personnel and/or a specialist responsibility, thereby in charge of different policy areas
  • Many years of experience in managing policy affairs
  • Ideally "mid-career"
  • Interest in interdisciplinary, science-based dialogue on policy issues with researchers

The participation fee is CHF 2'500 per person (plus VAT for persons outside of the Swiss Federal Administration). This fee covers all activities offered as part of the programme.

Any other associated costs such as travel, accommodation, and meals are not covered by the programme and must be borne by the participants or their employers.

There is no employment relationship between the participants of the ETH Policy Fellowship and ETH Zurich.

Application process for employees of the Swiss Federal Administration

Employees of the federal administration can apply directly via an online form during the application window (this will be made accessible in due course).

Ms. Simona Casola, Specialist in personnel policy projects and affairs at Swiss Federal Office of Personnel FOPER (), is the contact person for questions and information for employees of the Federal Administration.

Application window for all other persons

All other persons that do not work for the Swiss Federal Administration can apply directly to the ETH Science-Policy Interface once the application window has open (which will be communicated in due course).

The following documents are required for the application:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Brief letter of motivation with specific questions on policy issues that the participant would like to address during the programme

Please send your application documents to Mr. Cédric Bolli, Programme Manager Science & Policy ().

Kindly note that the number of participants is limited. An application does not guarantee acceptance into the programme. There is no entitlement to admission.

Media

Report?Bridging the Gap with Policy Fellow Regina Witter? of the ETH ?Globe? magazine about the experiences of a Policy Fellow (12.03.2024)

Photo of the first cohort of the ETH Policy Fellowship 2023
Photo of the first cohort of the ETH Policy Fellowship 2023 ETHZ/Benedikt Knüsel

In partnership with:

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Contact person of ETH Zurich for the ETH Policy Fellowship

Cédric Bolli

ISTP
Universit?tstrasse 41
8092 Zürich
Switzerland

Cédric Bolli
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