CHF 75 Million for Science
Why do people, foundations and businesses give money to research and teaching? “Because they want to make a difference for society, and because they want to help shape the future,” says Annelise Alig Anderhalden, CEO of the UZH Foundation. “Research at UZH makes a lasting contribution to finding solutions to current and future challenges.” To support UZH in this endeavor, the UZH Foundation brings together people who do not usually interact directly with each other: donors and researchers.
Alig and her team connect committed donors with members of the scientific community, facilitating exchanges on scientific questions and funding needs. These exchanges reveal where third-party funding can help create additional opportunities for scientists. The UZH Foundation’s in-depth knowledge of the foundations and businesses that fund research across a wide range of disciplines makes it possible to build and maintain tailored partnerships.
This work is making a lasting impact. In 2025, the UZH Foundation raised CHF 75 million in newly pledged donations from the private sector, which represents the highest amount in the history of the foundation.
Commitment taking shape
A substantial share of these donations went to medical research in 2025, with the funds enabling researchers to focus more closely on the individual needs of patients. A donation of CHF 8 million from the Werner Siemens Foundation, for example, made it possible to launch the SonoGuard project at the Ingenuity Lab. The project uses high-resolution ultrasound technology to help physicians precisely monitor the healing of deep tissue wounds, detect infections at an earlier stage and tailor treatments to individual patients.
Another major contribution to medical research came from the Citrin Foundation, which donated CHF 5 million to establish the Urea Cycle Disorders Translational Center at the University Children’s Hospital Zurich. The center links lab research with clinical practice to improve our understanding of rare metabolic disorders and develop new therapies that benefit affected children.
Substantial support also went to researchers working in sustainable agriculture, including Marcel van der Heijden, whose team is exploring how to protect plants using fungi rather than harmful pesticides.
Mobility and excellence
One of the largest contributions in 2025, a CHF 12.7 million donation, went to the UZH Center for the Future of Personal Mobility. Thanks to the financial backing from the Emil Frey Group, researchers at this new center are developing concepts to make mobility safer, more sustainable and more efficient, taking into account economic, technological and societal perspectives – from smart traffic management and new vehicle concepts to connected mobility solutions.
In addition to supporting specific projects, third-party funds at UZH also help highlight excellence in research. One example of this is the Gretener-Thürlemann Prize, which recognizes outstanding scientific achievements and makes them visible to a wider audience. This new research award was created thanks to a CHF 3 million donation from the Gretener-Thürlemann Foundation.
CHF 440 million since founding
The record-breaking year was made possible by a team that continues to develop the UZH Foundation with great commitment, creativity and strategic vision. In 2025, three sub-foundations were integrated into the UZH Foundation, and Claudia Coninx-Kaczynski and Denise Tonella joined its Board of Trustees, adding valuable expertise from the media and cultural sectors.
In addition, the new Giving Back initiative enables the UZH Foundation to raise unrestricted funds for the University of Zurich. Every contribution matters, regardless of the amount. “Alumni, friends of UZH and other supporters can give something back by making an annual donation that supports urgent research projects and the work of the UZH Foundation,” says Alig.
Looking back on more than a decade of activity, the impact is clear. Since the foundation was established in 2012, some 2,700 private donors, companies and foundations have committed to backing research at UZH. Through the UZH Foundation, they have contributed more than CHF 440 million to support research and university teaching.