Patrick Aebischer, you are visiting the new President of ETH Zurich only a few days after he assumed his office. What is the significance of this meeting?

Patrick Aebischer: This visit is a signal of friendship, and concerns our future cooperation. I am looking forwad to strengthen the cooperation between our two institutions.

Ernst Hafen: I met Patrick during the ETH presidency election process, and we found that in several important areas such as education and technology transfer we are very much in line.

In what areas would ETH and EPFL like to increase their collaboration?

E.H.: Education at the graduate level, for example, is certainly one area where we will work together, in the new national competence centers launched by the ETH Board. (These are the Centers for Environment and Sustainability, and Materials Science.) In the framework of SystemsX we will also cooperate more closely in Systems Biology.

P.A.: Both universities are strong in materials science, but both are somewhat lacking in critical mass. This is an area where we can better our position, at least in Europe, if we work together. Certainly this can take place in the context of SystemsX. Arc Lémanique wants to participate in this network.

The two institutions also compete for money, top scientists and students. How will you achieve a balance?

P. A.: Competition is nothing new for us: it belongs to the business of science. We don’t want to elbow each other out, though: we want better results. Of course, finance is always a sensitive issue. But together we can convince the politicians that research and education need more money. We must also regard the finance that the ETH domain receives as an entirety. In its allocation the research establishments are also our competitors. In the ETH Board we should examine more closely how these means are distributed within the ETH domain.

E.H.: I feel that we will achieve more in the face of competition if we combine our strengths and present ourselves, e.g. in the political sphere, as a common front. In this way we will be stronger and may also receive more financing than if each stands alone. Besides: our main competitors are not in Lausanne, but abroad.

Cooperation between Zurich and Lausanne over the last few years has often been problematic. What can be improved?

P.A.: It really wasn’t all that bad. Little sister EPF Lausanne has grown very rapidly in the last few years, and it was somewhat difficult for big sister ETH Zurich to accept that her little sister doesn’t like being told what to do and not do.

Patrick Aebischer (left) and Ernst Hafen (right) want to improve cooperation, in the past often problematic, between the sister universities ETHZ and EPFL.

In the meantime, though, we have regarded each other with mutual respect. This is the prerequisite for good cooperation. Our common competitors, as Ernst has already said, are in Boston, China or Japan. It is better to concentrate our efforts on them, instead of competing against each other in Switzerland. At least this is how I see the future relationship of our two institutions.

Will ETHZ and EPFL fuse into one university in the next 20 years?

E.H.: No they will always remain two independent institutions with different profiles and campuses. This is similar to the University of California: UC Berkeley remains UC Berkeley, with its autonomous campus. ETH Zurich and ‘Science City’ will be in Zurich, and EPFL in Lausanne. Each school will have its own strengths and weaknesses. But to Switzerland and the world they will present a common front and people will know what they stand for.

Ernst Hafen, what impresses you about EPF Lausanne?

E.H.: Well, in the last few years Lausanne, under Patrick Aebischer, has managed to develop a corporate identity and strengthen the inclusion of its students. Students are cared for; they are celebrated when they graduate. I don’t mean to say that ETHZ has no corporate identity, but we can certainly make some improvements. This is one of the points I would like to focus on.

Patrick Aebischer, what do you wish Ernst Hafen on taking up his office?

P.A.: Firstly I wish him enjoyment in his new job. For we are both very privileged to lead such eminent universities, with their motivated students, instructors, employees and excellent infrastructures. I also hope that he will be able to realize his visions. During the selection process I was struck by his openness, and I am certain that in Ernst Hafen ETHZ will have an outstanding president.