16.12.2025DSI 2025: Growth, innovation, and interdisciplinary impetus

Are you interested in what we have been working on over the past twelve months? Here you will find an overview of DSI's current activities and developments, organized by the areas of Research, Education, Strategy, and Outreach.

DSI Infrastructures & Labs: The project series funded by the DIZH was launched in the summer of 2021. In recent months, the first projects in the series have been consolidated, others have been completed, and four new projects  have been added in 2025. We wish them every success and look forward to exciting findings.

DSI Professors: In 2025, we welcomed new professors at the DSI. A warm hello to Anastasiia Koloskova, Esra Suel, Ivan de Oliveira, and Martina Pons. Once again, a diverse mix of expertise which perfectly complements our team of DSI Professors.

DSI Postdocs: After congratulating our DSI Postdoc Liudmila Zavolokina on her new position as professor at the University of Lausanne in 2024, two more researchers left the DSI in 2025: Mario Angst started as a lecturer at the Urban Landscape Institute at the ZHAW, and Felix Gille is contributing to the development of a trustworthy data space in Switzerland at the Federal Chancellery. We offer our heartfelt congratulations. We are also delighted to welcome a new face to our team in 2025: Oriane Pierrès. With her research, she supports the «AI Buddy» project team, which was created in connection with the third DSI Strategy Lab.

DSI Communities: In 2025, the DSI also saw growth in its communities: we welcomed the DSI Community AI, Culture & Society and its members. In order to further strengthen cooperation within the network, the first merger of two communities is planned in the coming weeks. The aim is to join forces and make even better use of synergies. Thus, in 2026, the new DSI Community Digital Publics will be created, combining the successful DSI Communities Communication and Democracy.

DSI Network Members: The DSI network also continues to grow – the DSI now has over 1400 members.

Studium Digitale: Since the spring semester of 2021, the University of Zurich has been offering Bachelor's students from all faculties the Studium Digitale course, which provides fundamental digital skills from an interdisciplinary perspective through an online program. To keep pace with the rapid developments in digitalization, new video lectures were developed in 2025 covering the topics data management, data and data protection law, open data and publications, and secure digital collaboration.

DSI / LAO Minor Digital Skills: Since the successful launch of the program in fall 2024, 30 students have enrolled in the full program, and the core modules have been booked nearly 400 times. In the program, students learn how to address the challenges of digital transformation and leverage its opportunities. In the fall semester of 2025, interdisciplinary student teams worked on five challenges, including the development of simulation training for difficult conversation situations for the Canton of Zurich.

Excellence Program: In June 2025, the 13 graduates of the Excellence Program (cohort 2023–2025) were honored for their achievements at the DSI Summer Party. Just three months later, in September 2025, the sixth cohort embarked on the program. Over the next two years, the 18 new PhD candidates from diverse disciplines will be equipped to excel in an environment where interdisciplinary collaboration on digitalization topics takes center stage.

5th DSI Strategy Lab: In 2025, the «International Year of Quantum Science and Technology», marks 100 years of quantum mechanics. The DSI’s fifth Strategy Lab explored the future of quantum technology, resulting in a position paper on technical developments and their social impact, which also inspired a DSI Insights column. Two DSI Spotlights videos were produced, and quantum mechanics was presented among others at the Swiss Parliament.

6th DSI Strategy Lab: The DSI Strategy Lab 2026 focuses on «The Impact of Interdisciplinary Research». Its goal is to identify the conditions under which interdisciplinary research units can be successful and have an impact, and to derive measures for interdisciplinary research in Switzerland from this. The activities of the DSI serve as a use case for generating data and visualizations that illustrate the impact of the DSI in research and institutions. Initial results are expected in the summer of 2026.

DSI Media Workshops: In 2025, the fifth and sixth media workshops took place on the topics of «AI in Healthcare» and «Cybersecurity». We are currently working on further developing the format, together with the Stiftung Mercator Schweiz.

Digital MasterClass: Three MasterClasses concluded in 2025: the two classes for the cantons of Zurich and Geneva, and the MasterClass for the National Parliament. The concept has proven to be a real success. We are therefore pleased to continue developing the format and are grateful for the financial support of the Stiftung Mercator Schweiz.

DSI Insights: In the column series «DSI Insights», the DSI showcases its expertise and interdisciplinary approach to digital transformation. In 2025, again six engaging columns were published, with a thematic focus on artificial intelligence.

DSI Spotlights: DSI Spotlights highlight specific aspects of digitalization in short videos. After the first ten videos attracted almost 95'000 views by the end of 2024, the second season was released in November 2025.

Positive Trend: Just two years ago, we reached 3000 followers on LinkedIn. Today, that number has grown to over 5500. A similar positive trend can be seen on our website, where visitor numbers continue to rise. The DSI is thus reaching an ever-growing audience, a development that is both encouraging and motivating.

🥳 10 years of DSI: In 2026, DSI will celebrate its 10th anniversary. We are already deep in the planning phase. As soon as the first details are finalized, you will be among the first to know.