Start-up
Combining forces for the energy transition
TechTransfer
PSI
The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and the start-up AlphaSYNT have a common mission. By signing a cooperation and licensing agreement, they aim to commercialise a novel approach to “power-to-gas” conversion, or to be more specific: “power-to-methane”. The innovative methanation process developed by PSI will allow energy to be stored as methane gas in future.
A self-learning algorithm that helps save heating energy
TechTransfer
Empa
With energy prices soaring, heating costs will also inevitably rise in the coming winter. In order to mitigate this, solutions for operating buildings more efficiently are needed. The Empa spin-off viboo has developed an algorithm that makes it possible to operate even older buildings with around 25 percent less energy – while user comfort remains the same or even improves.
With new solar modules, greenhouses run on their own energy
Research
EPFL
Plants use light waves from only a portion of the spectrum for photosynthesis – the remainder can be recovered and used to generate solar power. That’s the idea behind the solar modules developed by EPFL startup Voltiris. Following encouraging preliminary results, a new pilot installation was recently installed in Graubünden.
EPFL Innovation Park to expand with a focus on co-creation
TechTransfer
EPFL
EPFL Innovation Park is turning 30 this year and poised to expand with a new site, called Ecotope, where startups, researchers and outside companies will be able to pool their resources in order to explore groundbreaking ideas. The Canton of Vaud is its main partner.
EPFL students acquire a taste for entrepreneurship
Teaching
EPFL
In 2018, EPFL introduced a program whereby highly motivated Master’s students can create a startup for their Master’s projects. We spoke with two recent graduates who used the program to launch their own businesses.
Turning drug discovery into speed dating
TechTransfer
EPFL
EPFL spin-off ArcoScreen has developed a platform that turns the discovery of new drugs for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and cancer from a marathon into a sprint. The firm’s microfluidic readout system assesses the response of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to new substances, delivering significant time and financial gains for pharmaceutical companies.
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