Research in the arts, which is fairly recent and struggling for acceptance, must constantly reinvent itself. It will need perseverance to consolidate itself in the Swiss research funding landscape. Not only excellent ideas are needed, but also the courage to present project proposals in an innovative manner. The Research Dossier Committee (RDC) continued to address this issue in 2021 and is endeavouring, in association with the Research Affairs Office, to remain in dialogue with other universities and funding institutions in order to develop new perspectives for the funding of artistic and design research.
Another focal topic in 2021 was affiliation with research as one of ZHdK’s key performance indicators. This refers to the continuity and visibility of researchers who take up temporary appointments in research projects alongside their teaching commitment. Preliminary and follow-up work is essential to ensure quality and sustainability. Here, the RDC is committed to redefining research activities, and which will contribute to implementing corresponding employment models at ZHdK.
In 2021, the RDC also followed the ongoing conceptualisation of a future research organisation at ZHdK (ZFO). Besides considering fundamental questions about institute structures and funding, the ZFO project also took into account new developments such as the introduction of professorships and PhD cooperation programmes, as well as important tasks such as the promotion of mid-tier faculty.
The new, smaller RDC with an annually rotating chair thus completed its first period in 2021. At the last meeting of the year, Anton Rey took over as chair for 2022. Mirjam Bastian returned to the Actuarial Office after Nina Debrunner had stood in for her. The new head of the research dossier, Marijke Hoogenboom, was a regular guest at committee meetings from May onwards as Christoph Weckerle’s successor. The Department of Design is now represented by Anna Lisa Martin-Niederecken, who follows Martin Zimper. Christoph Schenker, a long-standing member and chair in its various phases, left the committee at the end of the year. He is succeeded by Marcel Bleuler as DFA representative. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warm thanks to Christoph for his unswerving commitment over all these years.
Prof. Germán Toro Pérez, Chair of the Research Dossier Committee, February 2022