The Digitalization Initiative of the Zurich Higher Education Institutions (DIZH) intensifies the exchange with practice and the public. To this end, DIZH is funding four innovation structures with a total of 16 million Swiss francs for the areas of Autonomous Systems, Clinical Innovation, Cybersecurity and Digital Health.
DIZH is creating innovation structures for sustainable cooperation between the universities of the Canton of Zurich and companies and partners from practice. The new organisational forms enable exchange, reaction to current needs and are intended to provide impetus for innovation. In the first so-called structure call, the canton and the DIZH are funding four structures with 8 million Swiss francs. The amount will be doubled by the participating universities and practice partners to at least 16 million Swiss francs over five years.
Developing and testing autonomous systems
At the Dübendorf Innovation Park, a place is being created where experts from science and industry will in future shape the future of autonomous systems, such as independently navigating drones, in an interdisciplinary manner and educate society about civilian applications in this field. “Shared Large-scale Infrastructure for the Development and Safe Testing of Autonomous Systems” (LINA) forms the operational basis of a real and virtual infrastructure for research, development and safe testing of autonomous systems in an internationally unique test setup in the canton of Zurich. All stakeholders around the airspace and airfield of Zurich-Dübendorf are closely involved in the development of the test arenas.
Practice lab for patient-centred clinical innovation
The “Zurich Applied Digital Health Center” researches digital health solutions in the hospital context and implements them efficiently and with practical relevance. For example, the so-called “Patient Reported Outcome Measures” (PROM), which provide information on the state of health of patients and the effects of treatments from their perspective, are being investigated. So far, there is no platform in Switzerland that enables the transfer of PROM research into clinical practice. The centre brings together experts from clinics, research, development and industry and integrates the currently still individually operating institutions into a common structure. This will establish a digital ecosystem in the healthcare sector and position Zurich as a “Smart Health City”.
Cyber Resilience Network for the Canton of Zurich
The new “Cyber Resilience Network” of the Canton of Zurich is intended to counter the increasing threats from the Internet. The vulnerability of computer systems is increasing due to progressive networking, which is a challenge especially for critical infrastructures. The “Cyber Resilience Network” aims to help mitigate such threats through research and teaching as well as the establishment of a “cyber militia” – analogous to the fire brigade. The project focuses in particular on non-technical aspects of cyber security. For example, the legal basis and feasibility of setting up a cyber militia of volunteers will be researched. The cooperation between the participating universities and the various actors in the Canton of Zurich will be intensified in order to create new training and further education opportunities in the area of cyber security. The involvement of civil society will also play an important role in this project. The goal is to increase the resilience of Zurich as a business location and its population against cyber risks – both through preventive measures and through damage management in the event of major incidents.
Hub for participatory design in digital health care
The Digital Health Design Living Lab (DHD Living Lab) provides an interdisciplinary structure for research and development projects and the formation of excellence profiles in the context of digitalisation, health, ethics and design. It serves to collaborate and redesign in the interest of high-quality, human-centred and value-based healthcare. The public is actively involved in exploring needs and preferences and in designing innovative solutions. Through this participation, the population’s trust, awareness and knowledge of health literacy as well as digitalisation can grow. This in turn contributes to prevention and sustainable health promotion.