In the presence of «Bundesrätin» Ruth Dreifuss the Collegium Helveticum was inaugurated on 18 April 1997. Being a forum of dialogue between the sciences, it was founded by the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich with the objective of promoting mutual understanding of natural and technical sciences as well as of humanities and social sciences. Prof. Dr. Adolf Muschg was the first Chairman of the Collegium. In 1998 Prof. Dr. Helga Nowotny took the Chair which she held until she became a professor emeritus in 2002. Until the end of September 2004 Prof. Dr. Peter Rieder chaired the Collegium interim before Prof. Dr. Gerd Folkers was elected new Chairman as of the first of October 2004.
A «Graduiertenkolleg» composed of relatively few people, young scientists of the University of Zurich and of the ETH Zurich, represented the core of the Collegium until 2004. The associated members chosen thanks to their interdisciplinary interest and the scientific quality of their research project spent two semesters at the Collegium and were still being supervised by the referees of their dissertation during that time. The interdisciplinary environment was reinforced by the invitation of internationally renowned visitors of the domains of science, literature and art who all spent one semester at the observatory.
Besides its own courses the interdisciplinary lectures are and were an integral element of the Collegium. They address expert colleagues as well as the broader public.
As of the first of October some fundamental structural changes have taken place. Since that date the Collegium Helveticum has been jointly sponsored by the ETH and the University of Zurich. Prof. Dr. Gerd Folkers who used to be President of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Collegium Helveticum has acted as new Chairman. The Scientific Advisory Board was suspended and at the same time a curatorship was established consisting of the Rectors of the University of Zurich and of the ETH Zurich as well as of one additional person appointed by the Rectors. This curatorship acts as a supervisory body.