Hanspeter Fässler and Heinz M. Buhofer appointed Honorary Councillors of ETH Zurich
At the ETH Day on 22 November 2025, ETH Zurich appointed Hanspeter Fässler and Heinz M. Buhofer as Honorary Councillors. The title of Honorary Councillor is awarded to individuals who either promote significant scientific work or fields of research at ETH or who support the university as a whole.
© ETH Zürich / Oliver Bartenschlager
© ETH Zürich / Oliver Bartenschlager
Dr Hanspeter Fässler
Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dätwyler Holding, co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of ANYbotics AG
for his extraordinary commitment to ETH Zurich and the ETH Foundation, as well as his long-standing membership of the Industrial Advisory Board of the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, his support for numerous ETH spin-offs and his mentoring of young talent.
Hanspeter Fässler studied mechanical engineering at ETH Zurich and Stanford University. As the first doctoral student in robotics under Professor Gerhard Schweitzer, he laid the foundations for the globally successful robotics research at ETH Zurich today. After completing his academic career, he joined ABB in 1989. He was Country Manager for ABB Switzerland and ABB France and, until 2010, Head of the Mediterranean Region and CEO of ABB Italy. He then became CEO of Implenia AG. He returned to ABB in 2012 and headed the global Grid Systems division until the end of 2014. Since then, Hanspeter Fässler has been shaping companies and ETH spin-offs (including ANYbotics, Drone Harmony and Gravis Robotics) as a member of the Board of Directors. He is also involved in various advisory boards and committees at ETH and the ETH Foundation and supports the university philanthropically.
Heinz M. Buhofer
Long-standing CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the Metall Zug Group, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tech Cluster Zug
for his successful entrepreneurial work, his extraordinary commitment to research, innovation ecosystems, the future of energy and young entrepreneurship.
Heinz M. Buhofer studied economics at the University of St.Gallen. He shaped the development of the Metall Zug Group for almost four decades. He made a significant contribution to the company’s success in various key positions. In 1984, he joined the family-owned company Metall Zug, where he served as CEO from 2002 to 2008 and as a member of the Board of Directors from 1997 to 2022. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Zug Estates Holding from 2012 to 2018, serving as Chairman until 2014, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Metall Zug Group from 2013 to 2019. Today, Heinz M. Buhofer is involved in the boards of trustees of various organisations in the fields of sustainability, energy and urban development, as well as negative CO₂ emissions, reforestation and CO₂ mineralisation. As a supporter of start-ups, of ETH initiatives such as the Coalition for Green Energy and Storage, and as a donor to the ETH Foundation, he makes a significant contribution to advancing new ideas from research into practical application.
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