Thinking is good. Doing is better! Innovation at the SPH
The Student Project House (SPH) is the place at ETH where students can give free rein to their creativity and let their own ideas run wild. With no pressure to achieve good grades or rigid curricula, this creative think- and makerspace offers the freedom to simply try something new, regardless of one’s degree program.
Whether in the city centre or on Hönggerberg: the SPH is the creative heart of campus life. The rooms are packed with everything needed for tinkering. Alongside whiteboards and Post-its for initial brainstorming sessions, students have access to modern makerspaces. Equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, a wood and metal workshop, and its own life science lab, the SPH offers all the tools needed to explore and turn ideas directly into tangible prototypes.
Here, students learn how to launch a project and develop it iteratively. They can test their hypotheses directly, build prototypes, make mistakes, learn from them, and find out whether their idea offers real benefits beyond their own bubble. Support is available at all times from coaches, an open network of sparring partners, and fellow students.
What began ten years ago as a small experiment on the Hönggerberg is now an integral part of both major ETH campuses. In 2025 alone, over 3,300 students were actively involved and more than 600 projects were supported.
