"We expect more companies from the media sector to get involved"
ETH launches a competence center for media technology and creates a chair for this area (Werbewoche.ch reported). The "ETH Media Tech Initiative" is intended to promote the exchange between teaching and practice, facilitate research on the topic and train specialists. The three major media companies Tamedia, Ringier and NZZ are on board as funding partners, with further partners to follow. Werbewoche spoke to Donald Tillman, Managing Director of the ETH Foundation, about the project.
Werbewoche: Donald Tillman, how easy or difficult will it be to find a suitable person for the new Chair of Media Technology?
Donald Tillman: The thematic area that this professorship will cover is still very broad, simply because it is very diverse. We will advertise the position worldwide. It is quite possible that we will find someone suitable in Silicon Valley who can fill this position... or anywhere else in the world. We already have other professorships in the field of data science - and from next year, Master's courses - which will be a useful addition to the new one. It's really specific with a focus on media technology. The aim is, among other things, to train experts who can apply their knowledge in the field of media technology here or abroad and contribute to high quality standards.
For whom exactly should this course be accessible?
You should already have an affinity for technology and IT and a solid basic knowledge of the field. Perhaps, and this would be an ideal case, journalists who have a background in technology or IT or at least know their way around. Overall, however, this is still quite open. The start date depends on how quickly we can find someone suitable for the professorship.
The three big players Tamedia, Ringier and NZZ have been involved in the Media Tech Initiative from the outset as funding partners. Are other funding partners to be added?
That is our wish, yes. The field is wide and I see numerous candidates who could participate. There are some good talks going on at the moment and I am confident that other funding partners will get involved in the Media Tech Initiative. The center is intended to promote exchange. Between the media companies, but also with ETH. We expect and hope that even more companies from the media sector and related industries will get involved and contribute to this platform.
What should this platform look like, are the plans already concrete?
With the Zurich Information Security and Privacy Center (ZISC), we have had a successful model for ten years, which we now want to adapt for the Media Tech Initiative. The ZISC works in a related field, information security. Very successful: ZISC is now regarded as a competence center in the field of information security - also internationally. The ZISC has its own premises, funding partners, researchers and is an open platform for exchange, which is how the Media Tech Initiative should look.
Should ZICS also serve as a role model for the Media Tech Initiative in terms of reputation?
Absolutely. That sounds a bit visionary, but the goal is that in a few years we will be an internationally recognized platform that can provide relevant input into media developments. Ideally, we would no longer all have to visit Silicon Valley to understand what's going on right now and in the future. The discussion and research should take place here on site. But first we have to be modest and just get started.
Interview: Nora Dämpfle
