Organisation

SATW is a non-commercial, politically independent umbrella organisation bringing together people, institutions and specialist companies in Switzerland that are active in the application and promotion of the engineering sciences. The Academy has the legal form of an association.

SATW and its three sister academies SAHS, SAMS and SCNAT are recognized as scientific institutions under Federal research law. Around 80% of SATW’s funding (approximately CHF 1.5 million a year) comes from the Federal Government. The academy’s services are defined in a contract with the Federal Government.

SATW has around 230 individual members and 60 member organisations. Individual members are eminent figures from the fields of education, research, commerce and industry and politics. They are appointed for life. Specialist Swiss organisations serving the engineering sciences can apply to become member organisations of SATW. Member organisations pay an annual subscription and can apply to the Academy for grants for specific engineering projects and events.

The highest body in SATW is the assembly of members. Individual members and representatives of the member organisations have the right to vote and stand for election.

The Academy’s Executive Committee under the current President René Dändliker plans and manages the Academy’s activities and maintains a permanent secretariat. A Scientific Advisory Board (WBR) advises the Executive Committee in matters of science policy and the planning of Academy activities. The members of the Executive Committee and WBR are elected by the assembly of members.

The academy appoints committees and study groups in individual specialist fields. These manage specialist events and draw up studies and recommendations. They have their own funds for this. The assembly of members makes decisions about the academy’s budget. Basically members of the SATW bodies work on a voluntary basis.