ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences // City of Winterthur

ZHAW is a leading university of applied sciences in Switzerland. It offers practice-oriented and science-based teaching, research, continuing education and services.

Research & development at the ZHAW focuses on key societal challenges, with a particular emphasis on energy and societal integration. With its expertise in sustainable development and digital transformation, the ZHAW imparts forward-looking knowledge and takes an active part in shaping the digital and ecological transformation.

ZHAW offers an attractive range of interdisciplinary degree programs and conducts joint research with external partners from Administration, Business and Industry. ZHAW research centers and institutes perform transdisciplinary projects with different stakeholders. Building on its extensive knowledge, experiences and expertise and primarily adopting a socio-economic perspective, the ZHAW Institute of Sustainable Development provides application-oriented research, services and education in the field of sustainable energy and transportation systems, focussing on demand side management (from behaviour change to contextual factors), energy efficiency (within buildings, SMEs and cities), technology assessment and acceptance, renewable energies (solar and wind), novel business models (e.g. for PEDs in living labs), modelling transition towards smart energy regions and cities, and sustainable mobility and transportation, incl. V2X.

The City of Winterthur, being the 6th largest city in Switzerland with more than 122'000 inhabitants, has adopted the Smart City Winterthur strategy in 2018 with an Innovation Team comprising at least one representative from all city departments as well as from the local science partner ZHAW and an annual Innovation Credit to support smart city pilot projects. In 2019, Winterthur received again the European Energy Award® Gold for its ambitious masterplan and promising implementation measures moving towards a 2000W society. Winterthur has the target to reduce the CO2 emissions to 1t per person till 2033 and to reach net zero emissions till 2040 with its Energy and Climate Concept.