# Martin Vetterli

> Swiss engineering academic, president of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

**Wikidata**: [Q6776811](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6776811)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Vetterli)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/martin-vetterli

## Summary
Martin Vetterli is a Swiss engineering academic and computer scientist, currently serving as the president of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He is recognized for his contributions to multimedia compression and communication, and for his leadership in academia.

## Biography
- Born: October 4, 1957, Solothurn
- Nationality: Switzerland
- Education: ETH Zurich, Stanford University, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (doctorate, 1983-1986)
- Known for: Contributions to multimedia compression and communication, and his presidency of EPFL.
- Employer(s): Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, University of California, Berkeley
- Field(s): Engineering, Computer Science

## Contributions
Martin Vetterli has made significant contributions to the fields of engineering and computer science, particularly in multimedia compression and communication. His notable work includes "Low-complexity video coding for receiver-driven layered multicast." He has held prominent leadership positions, serving as the president of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) from January 1, 2017, with his term ending on January 1, 2025. Prior to this, he was affiliated with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

Academically, Vetterli has advised numerous doctoral students, including Jelena Kovacevic, Vivek Goyal, Michael Gastpar, and Antonio Ortega, influencing the next generation of computer scientists and engineers. His professional engagements include being a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and being recognized as an ACM Fellow in 2009 for his contributions to multimedia compression and communication. He also became a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2015. His participation in multiple World Economic Forum Annual Meetings (2016-2022) highlights his engagement in global discussions as a leader in education and research.

## FAQs
### Q: Who is Martin Vetterli?
A: Martin Vetterli is a Swiss engineering academic and computer scientist. He is primarily known for his role as the president of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and for his academic contributions to multimedia compression and communication.

### Q: What is Martin Vetterli's primary role?
A: Martin Vetterli's primary role is the president of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), a position he has held since January 1, 2017, with his term scheduled to conclude on January 1, 2025.

### Q: What academic institutions did Martin Vetterli attend?
A: Martin Vetterli was educated at ETH Zurich, Stanford University, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, where he completed his doctorate between 1983 and 1986.

### Q: What awards and honors has Martin Vetterli received?
A: Martin Vetterli has received several honors, including being named an ACM Fellow in 2009 for his contributions to multimedia compression and communication, an IEEE Fellow, and a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2015. He also received an honorary doctor of the University of Bordeaux in 2021.

### Q: What is Martin Vetterli's notable work?
A: One of Martin Vetterli's notable works is "Low-complexity video coding for receiver-driven layered multicast," which reflects his expertise in multimedia compression and communication.

## Why They Matter
Martin Vetterli matters significantly due to his influential leadership in a prominent European technical university and his foundational academic contributions. As the president of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) since 2017, he has guided a leading institution in engineering and science, shaping its strategic direction and impact on research and education. His work in multimedia compression and communication, exemplified by his publication on "Low-complexity video coding," has advanced the practical application of digital media technologies.

His recognition as an ACM Fellow and IEEE Fellow, along with his membership in the National Academy of Engineering, underscores the lasting impact and high regard for his research within the global engineering and computer science communities. Furthermore, his role as a doctoral advisor to numerous students, including notable figures like Vivek Goyal and Michael Gastpar, demonstrates his influence on the development of future generations of researchers and innovators. Vetterli's involvement in the World Economic Forum also highlights his engagement in broader societal and technological discussions, extending his influence beyond academia.

## Notable For
*   President of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) from 2017 to 2025.
*   ACM Fellow (2009) for contributions to multimedia compression and communication.
*   Member of the National Academy of Engineering (2015).
*   IEEE Fellow.
*   Author of the notable work "Low-complexity video coding for receiver-driven layered multicast."

## Body

### Personal Life and Education
Martin Vetterli was born on October 4, 1957, in Solothurn, Switzerland, and holds Swiss citizenship. His academic journey includes studies at ETH Zurich and Stanford University. He pursued his doctorate at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) from 1983 to 1986, under the advisement of Henri Nussbaumer.

### Academic and Professional Career
Vetterli's career has spanned both academic research and leadership roles. He has been an employer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne and the University of California, Berkeley. His occupations include engineer, computer scientist, professor (specifically at EPFL), and researcher.

He has held the position of president of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) starting January 1, 2017, with his term scheduled to conclude on January 1, 2025. During his presidency, Patrick Aebischer was his predecessor, and Anna Fontcuberta i Morral is noted as his successor. He was also affiliated with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

### Research and Publications
A key area of Vetterli's research is multimedia compression and communication. His notable work includes "Low-complexity video coding for receiver-driven layered multicast." He has mentored several doctoral students who have gone on to make their own contributions, including Jelena Kovacevic, Vivek Goyal, Hyung Ju Park, Sai-Hsueh Grace Chang, Steven Ray McCanne, Pier Luigi Dragotti, Antonio Ortega, Kannan Ramchandran, Michael Gastpar, and Cormac Herley.

### Awards and Recognition
Martin Vetterli has received significant recognition for his work:
*   **ACM Fellow**: Awarded in 2009 for his contributions to multimedia compression and communication.
*   **IEEE Fellow**: Recognized for his professional achievements.
*   **National Academy of Engineering**: Became a member in 2015.
*   **Honorary Doctor**: Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Bordeaux in 2021.

### Public Engagement
Vetterli has been a participant in multiple World Economic Forum Annual Meetings, including those in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022. During these events, he was identified by his roles at the Swiss National Science Foundation and as President/President-elect of EPFL. He is active on Twitter under the handle @MartinVetterli, with his follower count reaching 15,109 by February 4, 2023. He is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

### Languages
He is known to speak English and French.

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## References

1. BnF authorities
2. [Source](https://actu.epfl.ch/news/martin-vetterli-sera-le-nouveau-president-de-l-epf/)
3. [Source](https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases/media-releases-federal-council.msg-id-100549.html)
4. [Source](https://www.acm.org/media-center/2009/december/acm-names-47-fellows-for-innovations-in-computing-information-technology)
5. [Source](https://www.u-bordeaux.fr/universite/honoris-causa/martin-vetterli-federal-institute-technology-lausanne)
6. Mathematics Genealogy Project
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. [Professor Martin Vetterli](https://www.nae.edu/130213.aspx)
10. [ORCID Public Data File 2020](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0_rc1/0000-0002-6122-1216/researcher-urls/638585)
11. Davos 2016 Participant List
12. Davos 2017 Participant List
13. Davos 2018 Participant List
14. Davos 2019 Participant List
15. Davos 2022 Participant List
16. Davos 2020 Participant List
17. IdRef
18. [Source](https://www.rts.ch/play/tv/linvite-e-de-la-matinale-en-video/video/linvite-de-la-matinale-martin-vetterli-president-de-lepfl?urn=urn:rts:video:12032280)
19. X