Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich

What Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich does

The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich is a non-profit academic research center within the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS) of ETH Zurich (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), focused on the scientific study of security policy, international relations, and security studies. It was founded in 1986 and operates from the IFW building on the ETH Zurich campus at Haldeneggsteig 4, Zurich, with a staff of 71 led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Wenger (Ordinary Professor and Head). The center does not sell commercial products or services; its revenue model is institutional, funded by ETH Zurich and research grants under Swiss federal law.

CSS's core technology stack consists of standard academic research infrastructure — an Adobe Experience Manager-based content management system running the css.ethz.ch website and the International Relations and Security Network (ISN) digital platform — used to publish research outputs, the annual "Jahresbericht," policy analyses, and educational content. The center functions as a hybrid of research institute, academic teaching unit (linked to CIS — the Center for Comparative and International Studies), and policy advisory body.

Its primary customer segment is the academic and research community (ETH Zurich students, doctoral researchers, and faculty), with secondary stakeholders including Swiss federal government policy makers and the general public/media. Distribution is non-commercial: research is published openly online and disseminated via Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, BlueSky, and the ISN platform. The center holds no disclosed patents, certifications, partnerships, or external funding rounds, consistent with its public institutional status.

Name

Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich

Legal name

Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich

Website

https://css.ethz.ch

Company type

Public

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich is a non-profit academic research center within ETH Zurich that conducts security policy research, publishes the annual Jahresbericht, and operates the ISN knowledge platform for academic, governmental, and public audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich is an academic research center that provides security policy research, education, and policy analysis services. It conducts interdisciplinary research on national and international security challenges, offers academic programs and courses, and provides expert advisory services to government agencies and international organizations. The center produces research publications, policy briefs, and analytical reports for institutional clients.

Product overview

The Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich is an academic research center within the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (D-GESS). It does not offer commercial products or services; rather, it functions as a security policy research institute providing academic research, analysis, policy advice, and education in the field of international relations and security studies. The center's offerings include research publications, policy analysis, educational programs, and public outreach through its website, with no discrete commercial product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Security Policy Research Interdisciplinary research on national and international security challenges, including policy analysis, risk assessment, and strategic studies for government agencies and international organizations.
• Academic Education Programs Academic courses, teaching programs, and educational activities in security policy, international relations, and security studies for students and professionals.
• Policy Analysis and Advisory Services Expert advisory services, policy briefs, and analytical reports for government agencies, international organizations, and policy-making bodies on security-related issues.
• Research Publications Academic publications, policy briefs, research reports, and analytical documents on security policy topics, published for academic and policy audiences.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI): An Italian leading foreign policy think tank focused on European and international security. Comparable to CSS in academic-policy research on security, though operating primarily within the Italian and EU policy context.
• S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS): A leading Asian security and international relations research school based in Singapore. Comparable to CSS as an academic security policy research center, but operating primarily in the Asia-Pacific region rather than Europe.

Direct peers

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A major US-based global think tank producing research on international peace, security, and governance. Directly comparable to CSS in its academic-policy research model serving both scholarly and policy-maker audiences.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS): A UK-based world-leading authority on political-military and security research, producing strategic analysis, journals, and conferences. Directly comparable to CSS in its focus on international security policy research and policy advisory.
• RAND Corporation: A leading global policy research institution with deep security and defense analysis capabilities. Directly comparable to CSS as an academic-policy hybrid producing rigorous security policy research for government and institutional stakeholders.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): An independent Swedish research institute on security, armaments, and conflict. Directly comparable to CSS in its academic-policy research model focused on international security issues with policy advisory outputs.
• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): Germany's leading academic institute for foreign and security policy research, advising the German federal government. Closely comparable to CSS as a European academic-policy research center focused on international security policy.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): A leading UK-based international affairs think tank producing research on global security, governance, and international relations. Directly comparable to CSS in combining rigorous academic research with policy engagement and public outreach.
• European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS): The EU's autonomous security research agency providing analysis to EU policymakers. Directly comparable to CSS as a publicly funded security policy research institute embedded in European institutional structures.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution: A major US-based public policy research organization covering security alongside economic, foreign, and domestic policy. Comparable to CSS as a large-scale academic-policy hybrid with security as one of several research domains.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CenterforSecurityStudies
• Facebookfacebook.com/CSS.ETHZurich
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-relations-and-security-network-isn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich