Sixth DSI Strategy Lab

The aim of the sixth Strategy Lab is to identify the conditions under which interdisciplinary research units such as the Digital Society Initiative (DSI) can be successful and achieve measurable impact. In particular, the impact on research, teaching, and university structures will be analyzed.

The sixth Strategy Lab of the DSI will define various possible measures of the impact of interdisciplinary research units and, taking into account the available resources, collect and visualize these using the DSI as an example. These results will be discussed at a retreat with representatives from universities and research funding and policy bodies and will be incorporated into a position paper that aims to identify the conditions for success of interdisciplinary units at universities.

The following activities are planned as part of the sixth Strategy Lab:

• The core group collects and analyzes data that provides insight into the impact of the DSI. This data will form one of the bases for discussion at the planned retreat. The results will also be incorporated into communications surrounding the 10th anniversary of the DSI.
• Students of the DSI Excellence Program will support the Strategy Lab in the module «Design and Implementation of Interdisciplinary Research», which will take place in the spring semester of 2026. In this module, participants will explore the principles, challenges, and opportunities of interdisciplinary collaboration and learn how to integrate different perspectives into coherent research plans. In interactive sessions led by professors from various disciplines, students will gain insights into interdisciplinary thinking, communication strategies, and methods for reconciling different expectations and approaches. Practical exercises and group reflections will help translate theory into actionable guidelines. Active participants will be invited to the retreat to incorporate the perspective of the «next generation» into the position paper.
• A retreat will be held on June 2 and 3, to which representatives from other universities, research funding organizations, academies, research policy, and the federal administration (SBFI) will be invited in addition to UZH researchers.
• In the second half of 2026, the results of the sixth Strategy Lab's activities will be recorded and published in a position paper. This will take place as part of the activities surrounding the 10th anniversary of the DSI.
   

• Position paper «Recommendations for increasing the impact of interdisciplinary research»
• Data and visualizations on the impact of the DSI to support the 10th anniversary of the DSI
• Closing event to present the position paper to the target group

The following persons are responsible for implementing the sixth Strategy Lab:

• Prof. Markus Christen, DSI Managing Director
• Prof. Jean-Michel Hatt, DSI Board of Directors
• Dr. Anna Schorn, Research Assistant, DSI