Meet the Talent 2025
Solar cars, vaccines, AI in agriculture – this year’s “Meet the Talent” offered around 400 guests the chance to explore a wide range of current and highly relevant research areas at ETH Zurich. 26 students from the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme, the Pioneer Fellowship Programme and the Student Project House took part with great enthusiasm, sharing their work and answering questions.
“I’m always impressed by the brilliant ideas of our students – and by the energy and passion they bring to tackling today’s challenges,” said ETH Rector Günther Dissertori. In a full Audimax, he presented his vision for teaching at ETH Zurich and explained the added value that philanthropic support can bring.
Moderated by Excellence Scholar Klemens Iten (robotics), the plenary session featured three supported talents presenting their current projects: Janna Pintó Mercadal, originally from Catalonia and an Excellence Scholar in biology, demonstrated how she investigates the molecular basis of diseases; entrepreneur and Pioneer Fellow Gregor Perich shared the story behind the founding of his spin-off Terensis; and Clara Nörenberg, Excellence Scholar in mechanical engineering, amazed the audience with the solar racing car alpha Centauri, which she co-developed.
Before and after the plenary session in the Audimax, guests had the opportunity to discover more projects in the interactive exhibition and to speak with other supported students in the “Meet & Greet”. This year, “Meet the Talent” was recognised as a “Sustainable Event SILVER” by ETH Zurich for the first time, thanks to its specific focus on sustainability.
The Rector warmly thanked all donors attending in person or joining virtually worldwide: “It is thanks to you that this kind of support for young talent is even possible.” He also encouraged guests to motivate others in their own networks to support ETH: “The more our circle of supporters grows, the more we can achieve together.”
