Advances in computing, data access, and artificial intelligence are fundamentally reshaping society, science, and higher education. As data-driven approaches begin to challenge traditional theory-based methods—exemplified by the revolution in image recognition and protein structure prediction—researchers worldwide are rethinking their practices.
However, this digital transformation is uneven. Scientific progress is often hindered by significant challenges, including limited data quality, small sample sizes, noise, bias, and a lack of explainability in automated models. At the University of Bern, our network of scholars in statistics, computer science, biomedical engineering, psychology, and philosophy seeks to address these gaps. We argue that reconciling disciplinary domain knowledge with data-driven algorithms is the essential key to advancing science in the digital age.
Strategic Objectives
The STRADA network provides a unique platform to promote digital discovery across disciplinary boundaries. We aim to nurture optimal conditions at UniBE through the following long-term objectives:
- Academic Excellence: Developing and sharing synergies between theoretical and data-driven approaches in both research and teaching.
- Multidisciplinary Environment: Assisting scholars and decision-makers in navigating the complex digital transformation of knowledge.
- Global Exchange: Hosting visiting programs, specialized workshops, and lecture series featuring leading international experts.
- Strengthening Networks: Linking research across existing excellence centers, from the Oeschger Centre to the Department of Digital Medicine and beyond.
- Strategic Positioning: Leveraging Bern’s strengths as a comprehensive university to complement national AI initiatives and engage with international research efforts.
By integrating domain expertise with advanced data acquisition, curation, and processing, we ensure that academia remains competitive and sovereign in an era where data is a primary resource.
Coming Soon: We are currently working on a comprehensive mission paper that outlines our strategic framework and methodology in detail. It will be provided on this page shortly.