ETH cooperates with private media houses

The goal of the center is to bring practice and research closer together and to make technological progress useful for the Swiss media center.

Driven by digitization, the media industry is undergoing fundamental change: Media content is increasingly being consumed digitally, on the move, and time-shifted. The boundaries between media producers and consumers are dissolving, and the personalization of content is becoming increasingly important. Data science is taking on a central role in this process. Modern methods of analysis, for example, allow consumers' preferences to be better assessed. Data journalism helps media professionals to verify messages and thus to increase the quality of published information as well as to generate new content and formats. ETH Zurich, which already unites a great deal of expertise in the field of data science under one roof, wants to research and teach the digital transformation of the media in a separate area.

Exchange and talent search

As part of its media technology initiative, ETH Zurich is creating a new professorship and a "Media Tech Center". The professorship anchors the topic of media technology at ETH Zurich and trains specialized young talent for the changing market. The professorship is affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and ensures the connection with other experts in the field of data science - be it ETH-internal or external.

In the new Center for Media Technology to be established, specific issues and projects will be tackled and developed together with partners from industry and other educational institutions. The goal is also for the center to network and exchange ideas internationally with leading researchers in the field. "The initiative is intended to become a beacon for media technologies that radiates far beyond its borders and attracts the most talented minds," says Lino Guzzella, President of ETH Zurich. "We want to use it to harness data-driven progress for the Swiss media center."

Initiative supported by media industry

With Tamedia, Ringier and the NZZ Media Group, the three largest private Swiss media houses are involved in the ETH Zurich initiative. Tamedia and Ringier, as the main funding partners, are each supporting the initiative with 3 million Swiss francs, while the NZZ Media Group, as a funding partner, is contributing 1.5 million Swiss francs, which will go to the ETH Zurich Foundation. Intensive collaboration with partners from the field is underway to identify, among other things, the most pressing research and application issues. The Media Technology Initiative is open to further funding and educational partners.

Data science - a strategic focus

Data Science is one of the strategic focal points of ETH. Considerable resources are being invested in the development of new research and teaching in the subject area. Among other things, ETH Zurich will offer a new Master's program in Data Science starting in fall 2017. The Media Technology Initiative is part of this ETH-wide strengthening of the Data Science field.

Photo: Ethz.ch