Data science and the common good: Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology with the FSO
Here’s how the Federal Statistical Office will collaborate with the Swiss Data Science Center, a joint facility of the highly regarded national universities of Zurich and Lausanne
The Federal Statistical Office is collaborating with the Swiss Data Science Center, a joint facility of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology aimed at fostering the use of data science and artificial intelligence within the administration.
Switzerland-Liechtenstein pact on scientific innovation
Bern, Zurich and Aargau focus on fiscal innovation
This partnership takes shape within the FSO’s Center of Competence for Data Science.
The digitization of society calls for ever-increasing data science expertise within institutions, particularly to enable the integration of artificial intelligence tools safely and for the benefit of society as a whole.
With this in mind, taking a pioneering role within the Federal Administration, the FSO is collaborating with the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC), a joint facility of the two ETHs.
Switzerland will have an ad hoc ambassador for… science
Federal Council approves Swiss Green Fintech network
“I am very excited about this strategic partnership for a joint flagship project between our two schools and the Federal Statistical Office,” says Martin Vetterli, president of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), who adds:
“It makes me think of the partnership between the London-based Alan Turing Institute and the British Office for National Statistics, committed to a common vision of data science research and innovation.”
A collaboration structured in three parts
The first part of the collaboration strengthens the Competence Center for Data Science (DSCC) of the FSO, in which the SDSC becomes a strategic partner.
EPFL and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) support the FSO in identifying the necessary requirements and in recruiting the specialists who will make up the Center.
Swiss export industry relies on innovation
More flexibility in promoting Swiss innovation
The two ETHs will also undertake to welcome these employees for residential training in the laboratories of the SDSC in order to develop their skills and enable them to network among the players in this sector in Switzerland.
The partners will identify together the priority projects of the SDCC and will work hand in hand on their implementation.
The second part of the collaboration concerns the infrastructure. The DSCC will use the open source technology platform RENKU, developed by the SDSC.
On the SWITCH academic network, RENKU enables the collaborative and reproducible practice of data science and artificial intelligence, key criteria for the FSO.
2.6 billion in value from the Zurich Innovation Park
The two Federal Institutes of Technology in Lausanne and Zurich are on a roll.
A specific platform has been created for the FSO so that the statutory data protection principles can be applied systematically. The data will never leave Swiss territory.
The third part aims to promote understanding, sharing of knowledge, knowledge and practice in data science and artificial intelligence within the Federal Administration.
Digitization and public administrations
“With this partnership, the FSO is equipping itself with the tools necessary to fulfill the mission assigned to it by the Federal Council in May 2020, which is of crucial importance for public administrations. Thanks to the establishment of the DSCC on January 1, 2021, the Federal Statistical Office will be able to respond to the challenges induced by the profound changes in the data ecosystem and the increasing use of algorithms in the public sector,” says Georges-Simon Ulrich, Director of the FSO, with satisfaction.
Concretely, the DSCC will serve as a data science service provider for the entire Federal Administration. It will seek and encourage collaboration with other levels of the state (cantons and municipalities).
Digital geodata from swisstopo available for use free of charge
More UniNE-UST collaboration on analysis, megadata and AI
The mission of the DSCC, which works at the crossroads of data science and artificial intelligence, is to develop the skills to use methods, techniques and practices made possible by data science and artificial intelligence to generate a new way of thinking in areas related to public policy and thus facilitate decision-making for the good of the community, while respecting ethical principles.
Switzerland will aim to switch from Diesel to electric buses
Bern-Berlin alliance on coronavirus apps
Joël Mesot, president of ETH, emphasizes how relevant this partnership is: “Putting data science and artificial intelligence at the service of the common good is one of today’s great challenges. The ETHs are proud to be able to provide their expertise in this area and to support the federal government in this transition so that it happens for the benefit of all actors in society.”
A Swiss Data Science Center with an “open” nature
In 2017, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Council launched a national data science initiative, which gave birth to a single entity shared by EPFL and ETH.
This is the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC), aimed at fostering innovation in data science, multidisciplinary research, and open science.
The goal of the SDSC is to accelerate the use of data science and machine learning techniques in academic disciplines and industry.
