Lukas Finschi Leading Researcher, Schindler Aufzüge AG, Ebikon

Efficient transportation in buildings

"I decided to study mathematics at the ETH simply because I loved to, without knowing what I would do later. And I loved the course, both the pure theoretical and Applied Mathematics. I got the opportunity early to collaborate in research projects at the Institute for Operations Research (IFOR), and it was not a difficult decision to extend my studies with a Ph.D. at IFOR. Although my thesis focused more on theoretical aspects of Operations Research (i.e., discrete and computational geometry), I continued to do applied work, which included industry partners such as Schindler Aufzüge AG. These partners were looking at opportunities to use available resources (e.g. production machines or elevators) more efficiently or to change systems to make better solutions possible. Today we are seeing the success of this work, and how it has started to change the world, making transportation in buildings much more efficient than it ever was. It is my mission, together with a research team which includes other ETH researchers, to lead the way here. One day you might join us!"