The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) is a technical and scientific university in Zurich. It was founded in 1855 as the Eidgenössisches Polytechnikum (popularly known as the Poly), modelled on the École polytechnique in Paris. Its buildings are located on two sites: one in the centre of Zurich at the foot of the Zürichberg, the other outside on the Hönggerberg. It is one of the most renowned universities in the world and regularly occupies top positions in university rankings.