Research and Technology for sustainable development in the global South (SDC contribution to ETH4D of ETH Zurich and Tech4Dev of EPFL)
Many countries struggling with extreme poverty have expending economies, creating new opportunities for innovative approaches to address societal and environmental challenges. SDC supports the new initiatives of the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH4D, ETH Zurich and Tech4Impact, EPFL), which encourage Swiss researchers to work together with research and implementing partners from the global South in developing research-based solutions to global challenges.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Global |
Other
Sector not specified
|
15.11.2019
- 30.09.2024 |
CHF 6’080’000
|
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
- ETHZ Zurich
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Unallocated / Unspecified
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Sectors not specified
Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity.
Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F10359
| Background | Despite unprecedented progress in poverty reduction, about one billion people still live on less than two dollars per day. At the same time, many countries struggling with extreme poverty have dynamic economies, creating new opportunities for innovative approaches to address social and environmental challenges. The 2030 Agenda and the Global Sustainable Development Report 2019 encourages science to build bridges and forge partnerships with actors from policy and practice (including the private sector) to co-create solutions to the most pressing global challenges. Technological innovations can contribute to the quest of leaving no one behind if they are made available, accessible, affordable and attractive for users. The ETH Zurich and the EPFL have each launched recently their initiatives to support Swiss-led consortia developing technologies and business models which address concrete global challenges and development needs of people in the global South. These initiatives also contribute to educate future leaders engaging for sustainable development in Switzerland and in partner countries. |
| Objectives | To improve the lives of women and men in the global South by supporting research, technology development and science-based innovation that respond to sustainable development challenges and needs. |
| Target groups |
Swiss researchers at ETH Zurich/EPFL working with partners from developing countries Research, governmental, non-governmental and business partners in the global South Beneficiaries (technology users) in partners countries |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: Technological impact-oriented and need-based solutions addressing global challenges and advancing poverty eradication are available. Outcome 2: Technological solutions are adapted, implemented and scaled-up through innovative models. Outcome 3: Sustainable global development is integrated in a global, multi- and interdisciplinary way in the curricula of Swiss and partner countries’ technical universities |
| Results |
Results from previous phases: SDC’s institutional support to ETH Zurich and EPFL from 1998-2012 and from 2012 until today through the r4d programme and through targeted contributions from SDC’s global programmes has facilited the development of promising solutions to global challenges, e.g: - Low carbon-emitting Cement (LCC) - Ethnic Power Relations global database (EPR Dataset) - Sustainable Yam Cropping (YAMSYS) - Digital resource impact dashboard to increase transparency in resource extraction - Improved treatment of hospital wastewaters |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Development cooperation |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Academic and Research Institution |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 6’080’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 5’987’175 |
| Project phases |
Phase 1 15.11.2019 - 30.09.2024 (Completed) |
