News archive - ETH News for Industry

The automation company Festo and ETH Zurich are creating soft robotic actuators with muscle-like performance. Scalable, efficient, and flexible, this technology could unlock new possibilities for automation, from grippers to valves—bringing us closer to autonomous machines with muscle-like capabilities.

After knee replacement surgery, many patients remain dissatisfied due to unnatural joint sensation or limited range of motion. Together with the implant manufacturer Aesculap, ETH Zurich is developing new biomechanical models based on X-ray images of the moving knee joint in order to optimise implant placement and enable real-time predictions during surgery.

The MAS in Computational Structural Design is a new one-year further education programme for the construction industry. It combines design and engineering, enabling participants to bring cutting-edge solutions to real-world projects. Apply now and shape the future of construction.

Antibiotic resistance is becoming a global problem due to excessive prescriptions. To reduce the misuse of antibiotics and the spread of resistant bacteria, we need fast and reliable diagnostic methods. The ETH Zurich Pioneer Fellowship Project Checktor Biosciences is developing a test that can detect multiple infections and resistances within 10 minutes at the point of care.

As demand for sustainable brake systems grows, Oerlikon is working with ETH and inspire to develop laser coating technologies and new aluminium alloys for lightweight, wear-resistant brake discs. These innovations improve performance and reduce brake dust emissions.

ETH Zürich spin-off Anevo offers a solution to companies in various industries that need to analyse and understand their energy consumption in order to reduce it and cut carbon emissions. Watch the video to find out how they support companies.

ETH spin-off 4QT has launched the world’s first hybrid dumper, a cornerstone of construction fleets worldwide, showcasing the power of its electric drive technology. Discover how zero-emissions heavy-duty driving is possible.

What if we could produce cellulose without cutting down a single tree? Meet Treeless, an ETH spin-off harnessing bacteria and organic waste to create biodegradable and recyclable nanocellulose. Explore how this groundbreaking innovation is opening doors to greener solutions in cosmetics, packaging, and more.

What if your device could charge in a minute and last all day? Spin-off BTRY uses advanced semiconductor techniques to make energy storage faster, safer and more efficient – unlocking new possibilities for electronics.

What if the key to sustainable, nutritious, and affordable food lies in tiny organisms that thrive where traditional crops can’t? Discover how microalgae, with their exceptional protein content and rich nutritional profile, are poised to transform food production. Researchers from ETH Zurich and Bühler develop innovative processing technology to make this vision a reality.

Experience the excitement of this year’s ETH Industry Day @ Open-i. Watch our highlight video to feel the energy and see why the ETH Industry Day continues to be the must-attend event of the year.

What is the best ETH invention of 2024? Join us at the ETH Industry Day where we unveil the winner of the Spark Award. One of the finalists engineered a bacterial strain to produce faster and more sustainable cellulose.

What is the best ETH invention of 2024? Join us at the ETH Industry Day where we unveil the winner of the Spark Award. One of the finalists invented a stiff composite material which damps noise and vibrations.

What is the best ETH invention of 2024? Join us at the ETH Industry Day where we unveil the winner of the Spark Award. One of the finalists invented a bedside sensor system, which alerts doctors and patients of gastrointestinal leaks after surgery.

What is the best ETH invention of 2024? Join us at the ETH Industry Day where we unveil the winner of the Spark Award. One of the finalists recycles europium from old fluorescent lamps to contribute to the circular economy of this rare-earth element.

What is the most promising ETH invention of 2024? Join us at the ETH Industry Day where we unveil the winner of the Spark Award. One of the finalists revolutionises cancer diagnosis with quick and comprehensive 3D pictures of biopsy tissue samples.

Introducing the future of construction: In partnership with ETH Zurich, Russo AG is applying a cutting-edge autonomous robot for the arduous labour process of plastering. The company hopes that this technology will improve working conditions for the workers and thus reduce the labour shortage.

Biodiversity is rapidly declining especially in agricultural areas, but measuring the impact of different farming practices is challenging. In collaboration with AXA Climate, ETH researchers developed an innovative method to monitor biodiversity using drones to capture environmental DNA.

Emissions from the construction industry can only be reduced if there is a shift in mindset from replacing to repairing. However, many buildings are not designed to be repaired. Together with industry partners such as Basler & Hofmann, ETH has developed a new further education programme that provides the tools for sustainable building construction.

Equipping implants with electronic functions enables the detection of post-operative complications. With this approach, ETH Zurich, Balgrist University Hospital and industry partner 41medical aim to increase the success rate of spinal surgery.

Electrical stimulation of specific brain regions is a promising treatment for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. Since everyone's brain is unique, stimulation caps need to be custom-made for each patient. Researchers at Bottneuro and ETH are addressing this challenge by developing automated design and manufacturing processes for the caps.

Many faults in photovoltaic systems occur slowly and are difficult to detect, such as soiling or shading due to vegetation growth. EKZ and the Swiss Data Science Center have developed algorithms to detect them early and prevent loss of energy production.

Many fascinating colour effects in nature or in soap bubbles are based solely on the microstructure of the surface. Oris and inspire have developed laser technologies that bring this concept to the watchmaking industry.

How can robots and humans work together? ETH Zurich and Microsoft researchers use mixed reality devices to make human-robot interaction simple and intuitive. This will allow robots to learn from interactions with humans and perform more complex tasks.

Measuring snow depth is difficult and can only be done in a few places. But how can accurate snow depth data be obtained for entire countries? ETH researchers and the company ExoLabs have developed a method that uses data from space.

Ultra-fast low-power eye tracking for augmented and virtual reality? The company iniVation combines its novel camera technology with ETH Zurich's energy-efficient processors and AI algorithms to achieve this goal.

Do you use electronic wallets such as Twint? Electronic payment systems are becoming increasingly popular, but what factors influence an individual's decision to adopt them? ETH Zurich has conducted a large study on this together with Twint.

Fresh sparkling water at the touch of a button, waste-free and always on hand. ETH spin-off bottleplus is making this possible. Co-founder Christian Käser talks about challenges and what comes next.

Key industrial prosses such as cement production require heat at temperatures above 1000°C and are responsible for 10-20% of global CO2 emissions. A novel solar receiver uses concentrated solar energy for these processes and enables the decarbonization of these industries.

ETH startup Skaaltec uses real-time motion tracking and non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance the recovery of stroke patients. The SmartVNS system enables rehabilitation at home and helps to activate the neural pathways involved in the exercise movements.

Turning waste into value. ETH Spin-off Gaia Tech transforms agricultural sidestreams to high-value ingredients for the processing industry.

Over 700 visitors showed great enthusiasm for this year's Industry Day program, which included inspiring lectures, an extensive exhibition, and immersive networking opportunities. The event effectively fostered interactions among companies, researchers, and young entrepreneurs. The video captures the essence of this special event.

Exhaustion makes us more prone to injury. A group of researchers led by Carlo Menon has developed an electronic yarn capable of measuring body movements. The textile sensor can be integrated into sports or work clothing. It predicts the wearer’s physical exhaustion level and recommends breaks when they are nearing their limit.

Heated up by sunshine, these specially coated glasses do not fog up in humid conditions. ETH Pioneer Fellows Iwan Hächler and Fabrice Bagnoud strive to get the coating process market-ready and make antifogging lenses accessible to a large consumer market.

Rapid tests are convenient, but the lines on the test strip aren’t always easy to interpret. Chih-​Jen Shih and Andrew deMello, together with researchers from their groups, have developed a rapid test system incorporating electrically conducting graphene paper. In addition to being inexpensive to fabricate, it is easy to use and as accurate as lab measurements. The test is also suitable for soil, air, or water samples.

Mechanical ventilation in intensive care causes degeneration of the breathing muscle. STIMIT AG and ETH Zurich pursue a pioneering approach with non-invasive stimulators.

How to ensure quality in manual assembly processes? Huber+Suhner and Bossard have teamed up with ETH Zurich and inspire to industrialise a camera-based solution.

Synthetic fuels made from solar energy and CO2 are a promising alternative to decarbonize transportation sectors that cannot be electrified yet. The largest Swiss automobile dealer AMAG joined the mobility initiative of ETH Zurich to advance this technology. In the video, AMAG and ETH spin-off Synhelion give insight into their collaboration.

Cancer patients might one day benefit from being administered immune cells from healthy donors. But as things stand, receiving donor cells can cause severe or even fatal immune reactions. Researchers from Sai Reddy's group have now developed a technology that avoids these.

More effective, reusable and self-​repairing: a new kind of corrosion protection developed by the ETH researchers Marco D'Elia, Walter Caseri and Markus Niederberger has been honoured with the Spark Award 2023. The collaboration project with the University of Milan has excellent market potential and could significantly slow down the deterioration of buildings and vehicles.

Today’s Internet has not been designed to meet the rigorous security and high-availability demands of the modern global digital economy. The new Internet protocol SCION, developed at ETH Zurich, solves this fundamental problem. The technology is currently being used by the Swiss National Bank and the financial industry to secure data communication.

Recycling disposable medical products is challenging, but pharmaceutical company Janssen found a good partner for this high-risk project in the ETH Feasibility Lab. Thanks to their agile approach, the researchers were able to demonstrate feasibility.

Scanning the environment with a camera and interactively creating a virtual 3D model? ETH researchers receive funding from the Sony Research Award Program to advance their pioneering computer vision methods.

The fast-growing electromobility sector needs efficient power solutions. In the European funded project Power2Power, ETH Zurich and Brusa HyPower use improved semiconductors to design onboard chargers for electric vehicles.

In a rapidly changing job market, it is becoming increasingly difficult to match talents with suitable jobs. Adecco is working with the Swiss Data Science Center to solve this challenge with machine learning.

Can a drone drill holes? ETH students prove that it is possible and show potential applications of their technology in the construction industry.

Many patients with chronic diseases benefit from regular blood tests, for example to adjust medication. ETH spin-off Hemetron has developed novel and affordable tests that are simple enough to use at home.

The lightweight and recyclable gold alloys of the ETH spin-off Goold enable a circular economy for gold. In this way, they contribute to mitigating the environmental impact and social problems associated with gold mining.

Alzheimer's disease damages the brain decades before the first symptoms are apparent. Prof. Rafael Polania and Caroline Lustenberger develop comfortable home monitoring solutions to detect Alzheimer's early and to enable timely intervention.

A record number of 600 visitors and intensive discussions between companies, ETH researchers and young entrepreneurs – what a fantastic ETH Industry Day 2022. We have captured some moments of this great event in a video.

Paying in cash has advantages: The transaction is private, and we know that our money has reached the recipient. Karl Wüst, Kari Kostiainen, and Srdjan Capkun have developed a digital equivalent managed by the central bank. The digital currency offers privacy and can be trusted.

Drug design is time-consuming and expensive. Identifying a promising starting molecule – a ligand – is key in the design process. A new characterisation method based on NMR spectroscopy probes the interaction of the ligand with its intended target quickly and reliably.

When it comes to a surgical operation, everyone wants optimally prepared surgeons. But training today mainly takes place by observing operations on real patients. Now, a large consortium of Swiss hospitals, universities and companies has joined forces to digitally transform surgical training.

How can the usability of a wheelchair be improved? ETH researcher Reto Togni has developed a wheelchair with a completely new steering mechanism. Thanks to the new design, driving takes less effort and is more fun.

For his doctorate, Johannes Weichart developed an artificial skin that will give robots a sense of touch similar to that of humans. This will make them much more adept at handling objects.

Delivering active substances to specific locations in the body: the biochemical method developed by Daniel Richter, Edgars Lakis and Prof. Jörn Piel will facilitate new approaches in diagnostics and therapy. Their innovation has just earned them the Spark Award 2022 from ETH Zurich.

How can new research approaches for real-time monitoring of wind turbines be applied on globally distributed wind farms? Cloud computing company Adranis and monitoring provider Osmos Group are helping ETH Zurich to put research findings into practice. 

The dangerous Laseyer windstorm often forces the railway company Appenzeller Bahnen to switch to bus services upon the slightest signs of a storm. In cooperation with ETH Zurich and MeteoSchweiz, a new warning algorithm has been developed which, thanks to machine learning, enables forecasts even for small, narrow valleys.

What do Hollywood movies and dental braces have in common? Both benefit from innovative computer graphics technology. ETH Zurich's Computer Graphics Lab is exploring the possibilities of this approach with the medical device company Align Technology.

ETH Zurich’s CAS programme Applied Technology in Energy (CAS ATE) offers managers in-depth training in the rapidly evolving world of energy and electrification. We talked to one of the participants, Daniela Runchi, Innovation Project Manager at Corporate Hangar.

The detection of certain biomarkers in blood samples helps indicate the status of diseases in patients. These biomarkers generally come in small numbers and are mixed with many other components in the blood. Paolo Arosio and his research team have found a way to remove and enrich relevant biomarkers to facilitate detection.

Renato Paro and his research team have identified an important RNA molecule in flies, which can be used in cancer therapy. This RNA is essentially a messenger substance in the metamorphosis from larva to fly, and also sends human tumor cells into cell death within a very short time.

Combining the recycling of precious raw materials from demolition concrete with the storage of CO2? This promising technology has been developed at ETH Zurich and is now being commercialized by Neustark and tested at JURA CEMENT.

Artificial pumps run at constant speed – no matter if the patient sleeps or exercises. In the long run, a mismatch between the patient’s perfusion needs and the pump supply leads to life-threatening complications. The Zurich Heart Group has developed integrated sensors and algorithms that control the pump speed according to the patient’s needs.

ETH start-up Groam intends to replace conventional plastic foams with sustainable, biodegradable variants. Groam’s foam technologies are based on biomass from agricultural waste streams and are currently being tested in vertical farming.

ETH startup Procavea won the Swiss Technology Award 2021 in the category  'Invention'. Their cube-like protein cage acts as a delivery system to carry drug molecules directly into the cells where they have their effect. It has the potential to make existing drugs more effective and to reduce their side effects.

Variety is what makes food enjoyable. ETH Spin-off Planted joined forces with the ETH Product Development Group to customise the extrusion process of plant-based meat by using additive manufacturing.

Modulators are the backbone of telecommunication. They convert electric signals into light pulses. The research team led by Rachel Grange has developed a manufacturing process based on lithium niobate. The modulators are fast, energy-efficient and so small that they even fit on a chip.

ETH spin-off VU Engineering has developed a visual machine learning solution that learns from manufacturing operators how to detect defects. Consequently, manufacturers don't need to hire expensive machine learning experts.

How about having your personal coach and physical therapist with you at all times? ETH Spin-off VAY trains computers to measure and analyze human motion by using a regular camera and artificial intelligence.

Artificial pumps run at constant speed – no matter if the patient sleeps or exercises. This mismatch can lead to a life threatening failure of the pump system. The Zürich Heart Group has developed integrated sensors and algorithms that control the pump speed according to the patient’s need.

Load-bearing, lightweight and now also recyclable: researchers led by Professor Paolo Ermanni were presented with the Spark Award in recognition of an innovative process for production of sustainable composite materials. ETH Zurich awarded the prize to their promising invention, with this year marking the tenth time the award has been given.

Sniffing your alcoholic beverage and immediately detecting whether it contains toxic methanol? A portable device from ETH spin-off Alivion could prevent many cases of illness and death.

Do robots have to be rigid and clumsy? Prof. Katzschmann and his team from the Soft Robotics Lab have taken inspiration from animals such as fish or snakes and their elegant movements.

Soft robots, cancer cells rendered harmless, computer memories that forget nothing - the range of inventions presented at the ETH Industry Day was wide. The video shows the highlights of the event.

In safety-critical applications like railway inspection, the use of deep neural networks is limited today. SBB, Siemens Mobility, ETH AI Center and ETH spin-off LatticeFlow joined forces to make artificial intelligence trustworthy.

Removing stains from your clothes, adding flavor to dairy products, making compounds for pharmaceutical industry: all this requires engineered enzymes. ETH professor Andrew deMello and his team invented a microfluidic technology to speed up the enzyme screening process and to make it applicable for industry.

The grinding of railway tracks extends their lifetime and reduces driving noises. Scheuchzer started a collaboration with inspire and ETH Zurich in order to investigate and optimize the grinding process.

SACAC, a manufacturer of concrete pillars, aims to apply digital fabrication methods to reduce production times and increase flexibility. Their collaboration with ETH Zurich delivered remarkable results.

A lack of muscle around the shoulder blade can render arm movements very painful as the shoulder blade is in the wrong position. Yves Zimmermann and Anna-Maria Georgarakis invented an orthosis that supports the shoulder blade during rehabilitation therapy and helps with activities of daily living.

With a view to optimising the ecological footprint of herbal extracts used in the production of sweets, Ricola decided to send its employee Andrea Mannhart on a sabbatical to ETH Zurich. What insights did she gain from this further education programme for the industry?

Can a group of electricity companies join forces to reduce the environmental impact of our electricity grid? Christian Lindner from Axpo and Prof. Christian Franck give insight into this pioneering project.

In high-pressure die casting, it gets hot. Bühler and the Swiss Data Science Center take a data-driven approach to improve the cooling.

Get to know the new VP of ETH Zurich and her thoughts about university-industry cooperation and Switzerland.

A universal bio-ink with superior printing characteristics facilitates the printing of many different types of tissue to replicate injured tissue. In the video, Mark Tibbitt and Elia Guzzi introduce  the patent-pending technology, which paves the way for personalised implants.  

It's all about the curves. Take a look at how the ETH technology Aegis Rider makes motorcycling safer and more fun.

In many countries, there is a lack of affordable medical devices. ETH researchers apply new design methods to tackle this challenge and invented a low-cost ventilator for COVID patients.

Surgeries of complex bone fractures are challenging and often fail. ETH Pioneer Fellow Thomas Zumbrunn uses sophisticated 3D simulations and augmented reality to assist the doctors.

Is electric mobility the future? Will our vehicles soon drive autonomously? Numerous disruptive scenarios are conceivable, which means that companies operating in the mobility sector are facing major challenges. The ETH MAS (Master of Advanced Studies) "Mobility of the Future" provides answers to these questions.

When travelling in the Alps, you might come across an unmanned excavator clearing rockfalls, as if by magic. The video reveals more about this project, a collaboration between the ETH Robotic Systems Lab, SBB and Armasuisse.

Microfluidic devices offer a new way to speed up drug screening and toxicity tests, but some of the basic processes such as purification and separation are difficult to implement in these tiny devices. Petra Dittrich and Mario Saucedo-Espinosa took up the challenge and invented in-droplet electrophoresis.

Atomic force microscopes scan the surfaces of samples in the nanoworld. The fine probe tips of the microscope are expensive consumables. Amit Kumar Sachan and Renato Zenobi have adapted a microelectronic process, which is fast and cheap in producing probe tips from metal wire.

Detecting nanoparticles in the environment is a challenging task. The Swiss company Tofwerk and ETH Zurich participate in the large EU funded project ACEnano. Dr. Martin Tanner (Tofwerk) and Dr. Bodo Hattendorf (Prof. Detlef Günther's Group) talk about their experiences and achievements.

The grinding process of high-precision cutting tools typically requires supervision and manual intervention. ETH Zurich, inspire and manufacturer Agathon have now achieved a breakthrough in autonomous grinding.

Have you ever wished your mobile phone display was unbreakable? Researchers from ETH Zurich imitate materials from nature to create transparent materials with high fracture resistance.

Trading in digital currencies such as Bitcoin or Ether has become an established practice but using them as a payment means is still a slow process. ETH Professor Srdjan Capkun and his team have now developed a system that makes cryptocurrency payments secure, fast and practical.

Breeding animals often suffer from diarrhoea caused by Salmonella, but since the bacterium is constantly changing, previous vaccines quickly become ineffective. Wolf-​Dietrich Hardt, Emma Wetter Slack and Médéric Diard have developed a vaccine that exploits this genetic modification. Their vaccine triggers an immune response that directs the evolution of Salmonella in such a way that the only survivors are harmless pathogens that are also difficult to transmit to other animals.

What will our electricity supply look like in the future? In co-operation with partners from industry, researchers at ETH Zurich are developing models to predict the technical and economic impact of all conceivable scenarios.  

ETH Zurich has launched a new Further Education programme for industry. Check out the video interview with one of the participants (Stefano Moratto, Credit Suisse) and the programme director (Prof. Ulrike Grossner).  

What happens when flu viruses or other pathogens infect a cell? Thanks to a tiny cell balance, researchers from ETH Zurich and their project partner Nanosurf can now monitor this in real time.