The DSI consists of challenge areas, cross-cutting issues, research groups, professorships, fellowships and scientific services:

• Challenge Areas are research topics in various areas of the societal challenges posed by digitization.
• Cross-cutting topics concern both methodological issues and issues relevant to all problem areas. 
• Research groups are usually assigned to individual problem areas and/or cross-sectional topics. 
• The DSI would like to support the faculties in defining current professorships that are oriented towards the general goals of the DSI.
• DSI Fellows are either scientists of the UZH or invited external fellows who are temporarily associated with specific DSI research areas.
• Scientific services are provided by the DSI office to all scientists who are members of the DSI.