Funding programmes

ZHAW digital aims to promote and connect research projects and researchers from all academic disciplines that are working on pressing issues and questions related to digital transformation. By doing so, it seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of the ZHAW and the canton of Zurich as a hub for research and development at both a national and international level. The goal is to support the economy and society in leveraging the opportunities offered by digital transformation.

DIZH Fellowship

The DIZH Fellowship is an internal ZHAW funding programme that aims to support outstanding researchers in their academic careers and professional development. The programme is aimed at all professors, senior researchers, research associates and PhD students who are intensively engaged in research on pressing topics and questions related to digital transformation. ZHAW digital is now supporting its 6th generation of fellows. 

Click here for the current call: FS-Call 2026 (PDF 233 kB) 

Find out more about the DIZH fellows and their projects

Digital Futures Fund

The Digital Futures Fund for Research and Development is a low-threshold funding programme aimed at all ZHAW employees who would like to implement or test a project idea related to digital transformation in the field of research and development. The maximum funding amount is CHF 20,000 and the maximum project duration is one year. All project managers are automatically admitted to the Digital Futures Lab, providing them with access to a digital community that offers a platform for more intense networking and discussions with colleagues in connection with specific topics.

You can find the current call here: Call 2025 (PDF 383 kB) 

Overview of all funded or submitted DFF projects to date

DIZH innovation programme

As part of the DIZH innovation programme, a variety of innovation projects from Zurich’s universities – the ZHAW, the University of Zurich (UZH), the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH) and the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdk) – are supported. The aim is to bring research findings closer to practical application and make them available in collaboration with partners from the private and public sectors in the field of digital transformation. At the same time, the needs and experiences of industry partners should be incorporated into scientific research. ZHAW digital supports ZHAW projects as part of the innovation programme with matching funds. 

Submission deadlines for all DIZH innovation programme calls are published on the DIZH website as soon as they are available.

Digital Futures map

ZHAW digital has been supporting promising projects in the field of digital transformation since 2019. Our interactive map provides an overview of the topics explored by these projects and the areas of research pursued by our fellows.