Dieter Schwarz Foundation promotes artificial intelligence at ETH

The foundation of German entrepreneur Dieter Schwarz is now enabling ETH to work even more intensively on solutions for major challenges in the future. According to a press release from the ETH Zurich Foundation, the “generous support” from the foundation will enable two new professorships to be created at the interface between education, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the grant will provide the funds for “significant further support” for outstanding talented researchers in the ETH AI Center’s fellowship program. The exact amount of the donation has not been disclosed.

The two new professorships in educational technology and computer visualization are said to enable ETH to “continue generating cutting-edge knowledge”. ETH President Joël Mesot commented: “Digitalization and artificial intelligence have far-reaching consequences for our society. Thanks to the support of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, we can better understand these developments and play an active part in shaping them.” Professor Reinhold Geilsdörfer, Managing Director of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, believes that these professorships will allow research into the myriad challenges and help develop applications in related areas.

Dieter Schwarz is the 83-year-old founder and owner of the Schwarz Group, which comprises the grocery stores Kaufland and Lidl. The Schwarz Group was the largest retail group in Europe by annual sales in 2020 and employs 429,000 staff. Schwarz directed his company from 1977 to 2004. His foundation currently supports more than 70 institutes and initiatives with a focus on education.