🌍 ETH for Development (ETH4D) is an initiative of 50 research groups and centers at ETH Zurich. ETH4D brings together researchers with decision-makers from policy, industry and civil society to advance research, education and exchange for a more inclusive and sustainable world.
👉🏼 If you are interested in our activities, please feel free to contact us via [email protected]!
The transition to electric mobility in sub-Saharan Africa is well underway — but challenges remain.
Join us at ETH Zürich on 1 June 2026 for a seminar exploring the financing barriers and local manufacturing opportunities shaping Africa’s EV future.
Recent research by Dr Bessie Noll and Dr Churchill Agutu shows:
EVs are becoming cost-competitive and climate-friendly — yet financing remains the biggest hurdle.
What to expect:
🔹 Insights from cutting-edge research
🔹 Real-world experience from George Kwadwo Appiah, CEO & co-founder of SolarTaxi
🔹 Discussion on scaling clean, affordable mobility across Africa
Plus: networking reception after the session.
📅 1 June 2026 | 17:00–19:00
📍 ETH Zurich, food & lab, CAB H41
🎟️ Free (register by 22 May)
👉 Link in bio
Our Engineering for Humanitarian (EHA) partnership brings together humanitarian practitioners from organisations like the @icrc alongside researchers from @epflcampus and @ethzurich to develop research-based innovations that enhance the impact of humanitarian action.
What do these collaborations mean to the academics and practitioners?
🌐 Denver Graham, Technical Coordinator for the ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme, shares about his experience collaborating with researchers to field test a prosthetic foot (Agilis) with advanced biomechanics for high mobility users:
“We are close to taking our new prosthetic foot design to scale, with the potential of dramatically improving the function of the devices we provide. This would never have been possible without the funding and support of the HAC.”
👟 Find out more about the Agilis project, done in collaboration with Prof. Kamiar Aminian and Prof. Jean-Philippe Thiran (EPFL): https://eha.swiss/case-study/field-evaluation-of-the-agilis-foot/
🔎 You can read more about the partnership and the ongoing research collaborations here: https://eha.swiss/research/
Thank you to the EHA sponsors @snforg , @rolex , and the Foundation for the ICRC
@epfl_essentialtech
ETH4D was honoured to host Her Excellency Prof. Esi Awuah, Ghana’s Ambassador to Switzerland, last week.
Ambassador Awuah was accompanied by Ms. Francisca Patoah Gyarko, Minister/Deputy Head of Mission, and Ms. Louisa Hanson, Minister/Head of Chancery.
As part of her visit, Ambassador Awuah toured the ETH Student Project House with Director Dr. Lucie Rejman. We were also delighted to introduce her to faculty members and graduate students from Ghana at ETH.
Ambassador Awuah met with Professors Isabel Guenther, Edoardo Mazza and Melanie Zeilinger, members of the Educational Directorate of ETH4D, to discuss the successes of the joint Ashesi–ETH Master’s in Mechatronics Engineering and the importance of strengthening collaboration between ETH and universities in Ghana and across Africa.
Discussions on future collaboration between ETH Zurich and universities in Ghana continued in meetings with Prof. Günther Dissertori, Rector of ETH Zurich, and Dr. Anouk De Bast, Head of International Affairs.
Also participating in the discussions during the visit were Dr. Lukas Sigrist of the School for Continuing Education, and Dr. Wendy Altherr of the Rector’s Office.
Special thanks to Dr. Adina Rom, Executive Director of ETH4D, Dr. Andrea Carron and Dr. Sewoenam Chachu, Programme Managers at ETH4D, and Amenra Blamo for their administrative support.
Stories can move us, inspire us to action, and bridge perspectives to create a shared understanding of reality around which we can unite.
We’ve witnessed this power of stories firsthand through our event series, part of @nhwzurich “Storytelling to Inspire a Sustainable Future,” and we’re excited to invite you to the sixth edition!
At this event, you will hear the personal stories behind the speakers’ commitments to global sustainable development. The evening is accompanied by live music and followed by an Apéro.
This year’s storytellers are master’s and PhD students from across ETH departments, all working personally and professionally on topics related to environmental and social sustainability.
Storytelling to Inspire a Sustainable Future:
⏰ 16 April 2026, 17:00-19:00
📍 @studentprojecthouse
✉️ Register: https://eth4d.ethz.ch/outreach0/registration—storytelling-2026.html
We hope to see you there!
Our Engineering for Humanitarian (EHA) partnership brings together humanitarian practitioners from organisations like the @icrc alongside researchers from @epflcampus and @ethzurich to develop research-based innovations that enhance the impact of humanitarian action.
What do these collaborations mean to the academics and practitioners?
🌐 Gino Lancho, Research Assistant and PhD student at the Chair of Logistics Management at ETH Zurich, shares about his experience conducting interdisciplinary, impact-focused research.
⏳ Do you have additional ideas for how scientific research can support humanitarian action? The Humanitarian Action Challenge call #6 is still open until 5 March 2026: https://eha.swiss/apply/hac/
🔎 You can read more about the partnership and the ongoing research collaborations here: https://eha.swiss/research/
Thank you to the EHA sponsors @snforg@rolex and the Foundation for the ICRC
Hope Chilunga’s new doctoral project “Breathe Easy: Smart Monitoring of Large-Scale Agricultural Burning to Curb Air Pollution,” proposes a drone-based air pollution monitoring system to address large-scale agricultural burning in Malawi.
We chatted with him about what motivates his research and why he thinks smart technologies could be the solution to curb the effects of waste burning. Check out our conversation and find out more about the project on our website: https://eth4d.ethz.ch/news-and-events.html
Applications for the Social Impact Pioneer Fellowship are open!
The fellowship supports ETH Zürich Master’s and Doctoral students in transforming their research into products and services that benefit communities in low- and middle-income countries.
The Fellowship offers:
🔹 Funding of CHF 150,000 for 18 months to launch a scalable ETH Spin-off company with a social impact
🔹Coaching, entrepreneurial training, and access to ETH infrastructure and resources.
Apply by March 2, 2026 (link in bio)
Dreaming of a career in #Development at @ethzurich in Switzerland?
Join the ETH MAS in Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development (MAS GCSD), offered by NADEL - Center for Cooperation and Global Development!
🌍 Why ETH Zurich: Ranked no.7 in the world & no.1 in Continental Europe
🎓 Why MAS GCSD: World-class academic training + a paid 8-month placement in international organizations worldwide + fully funded scholarships for applicants from low and lower-middle income countries
🌐 Who is MAS GCSD for: Master’s degree holders (or equivalent) or Bachelor’s degree holders with 2 years’ experience “sur dossier”.
Learn more at the next virtual Information Session: 14 Jan 2026 | 11:00 AM CET
Register now via the link in our stories to secure your slot!
#DevelopmentStudies #GlobalDevelopment #InternationalCareers #careerswithimpact
Our Engineering for Humanitarian (EHA) partnership brings together humanitarian practitioners from organisations like the International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC alongside researchers from @epflcampus and @ethzurich to develop research-based innovations that enhance the impact of humanitarian action.
What do these collaborations mean to the academics and practitioners?
Ashima Rajput, founder of Drive Impact & Scientific Assistant at the Laboratory of Environmental and Urban Economics, EPFL, shares her view on what it means to conduct research in the humanitarian context.
You can read more about the partnership and the ongoing research collaborations at our website, eha.swiss
And do not forget, HAC #6 call is now open until 5th March 2026! Learn more here and register to our dedicated information sessions: 👇
· For Humanitarian organizations on 13 January at 11 am: https://lnkd.in/dYDxnciN
· For researchers from ETH Zurich and EPFL on 20 January at 11 am: https://lnkd.in/dtHMk9JY
Thank you to the EHA sponsors Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), ROLEX and the Foundation for the ICRC.
We’re thrilled to announce Mayur Sapkal as our new Social Impact Pioneer Fellow! 🎉
Founder of RepliClouds, Mayur is accelerating climate resilience through his work on next-generation instruments that replicate real cloud formation conditions, advancing weather modeling for communities worldwide.
Huge congratulations as well to all Pioneer Fellows working towards bringing technology closer to impact!
@eth_entrepreneurship
👋 Congratulations and a warm welcome to our six new @ethzurich Pioneer Fellows!
These projects are pushing boundaries and bringing groundbreaking technology one step closer to industry impact. We are excited to support you on this journey.
Meet the new Pioneer Fellows:
🌞 Luca Thommen – SolarHeat:
Next generation solar thermal collectors for industrial process heat.
🌍 Ronja Rappold – Teno Bioworks:
Chemicals that just work – for industry and the planet.
😴 Manuel Carro Dominguez – Biomasker: A smart sleep mask for managing brain health.
👁️ Shuo Li – Augel: A next-generation biosynthetic hydrogel corneal implant for advanced keratoconus treatment.
💧 Kanika D. – Uropatch: A wearable for continuous measurement of urine and bladder dynamics.
☁️ Mayur Sapkal – RepliClouds (Social Impact Pioneer Fellow): Replicating natural cloud conditions to advance climate resilience and cloud seeding with next-generation instruments.
@eth4development@ethz_foundation
#eth #deeptech #ethstartups #startups #entrepreneurship
