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All stories by Tünde Kirstein
Repairable buildings for a sustainable future
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
Smart spine implant
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.
Home-based Alzheimer’s therapy
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Trouble-free solar power production
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
A rainbow on your wrist
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Human-robot teamwork
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Snow data from space
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Eye tracking embedded in your glasses
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Digital cash for everyone
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Solar energy for high-temperature processes
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
In-ear device for stroke rehabilitation
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
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.
Upcycle agricultural waste for cosmetics and food
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
Turning waste into value. ETH Spin-off Gaia Tech transforms agricultural sidestreams to high-value ingredients for the processing industry.
Highlights of the ETH Industry Day 2023
- Events
- Videos
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.
Smart assistant for manual production
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Carbon-neutral solar fuels
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Business use of a new Internet protocol
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Towards a cure for chronic wounds
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
A new drug developed by the company TOPADUR Pharma AG brings hope to millions of patients with chronic non-healing wounds. The cooperation with ETH is now taking the product a significant step forward.
Circular economy of medical devices
- Videos
- Industry Projects
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.
Virtual copy of the real world
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
More power from less energy
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
Matching talents and jobs
- Videos
- Industry Projects
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.
Drilling drone
Videos
Can a drone drill holes? ETH students prove that it is possible and show potential applications of their technology in the construction industry.
Blood testing at home
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
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.
Circular economy of gold alloys
- Videos
- Entrepreneurship
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.
Early Alzheimer’s detection
- Videos
- Entrepreneurship
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.
Highlights of the ETH Industry Day 2022
- Videos
- Events
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.
A new ETH lab with an artificial sun
- Sustainability
- Events
Many aspects of decarbonising buildings are connected to the sun. But how can new methods and building components such as fa?ades be tested under controlled climate conditions? Dr. Arno Schlüter, ETH Prof. and Director of the new Zero Carbon Building Systems (ZCBS) Lab, had the idea to emulate qualities of the sun.
Digital transformation of surgical education
- Industry Projects
- Videos
- Innosuisse project
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.
Hands-free wheelchair steering
- Videos
- Industry Projects
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.
Cloud-based wind turbine doctor
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.?
Forecasting unpredictable storms
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Bringing a smile to your face
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Understanding energy technologies
- Events
- Videos
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.
Building on CO2
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
Sustainable foams for vertical farms
- Entrepreneurship
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
Customised meat substitutes
- Entrepreneurship
- Innosuisse project
- Sustainability
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Autonomous visual inspection
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
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.
Motion analysis for everyone
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
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.
Sniffing methanol sensor
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
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.
Soft robots
Videos
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.
Highlights of the ETH Industry Day 2021
- Events
- Videos
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.
High-precision measurements from space
Industry Projects
How is our atmosphere changing? Where is sea level rising and how much? Nowadays, nanosatellites can contribute significantly to answering such questions. The positioning technology developed for this purpose at ETH Zurich also has industrial applications.
ETH Industry Day 2021
Events
The ETH Industry Day on 8 September 2021 is the perfect opportunity to get an insight into ETH research and how it is applied in industry. Registration is now open.
Trustworthy AI
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Enzyme engineering for industry
Videos
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.
Maintaining railway networks
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
A game changer for concrete casting
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Life cycle of Swiss peppermint extract
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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?
Crowdfunded energy research
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
Cool collaboration
- Industry Projects
- Videos
In high-pressure die casting, it gets hot. Bühler and the Swiss Data Science Center take a data-driven approach to improve the cooling.
Four questions to Prof. Vanessa Wood
Videos
Get to know the new VP of ETH Zurich and her thoughts about university-industry cooperation and Switzerland.
Ride into the future
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
It's all about the curves. Take a look at how the ETH technology Aegis Rider makes motorcycling safer and more fun.
Designing low-cost medical devices
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
Personalised surgery
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
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.
Understanding the future of mobility
Videos
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.
Made for dangerous work
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
ETH spin-offs put to the test
Entrepreneurship
Up to 30 spin-offs each year at ETH Zurich – that is impressive. But what is behind this figure? How efficient are these spin-offs and what are the factors for success? A new study reveals surprising facts.
Swiss SME big in European research
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
- Videos
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.
A smooth path to success
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Nature-inspired display material
Videos
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.
Modelling the future electricity system
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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 Industry eWeek 2020
- Events
- Industry Projects
The ETH Industry eWeek 2020 will give you an insight into research at ETH Zurich and its connection to industry. Here is a selection of projects you can expect to see and a link to register for the event. ?
A global tool against deforestation
- Industry Projects
- Sustainability
In the pursuit of a positive CO2 balance, companies are striving to procure raw materials from sustainable sources. Yet, how can food companies ensure that deforestation in the areas of cultivation is avoided? ETH researchers are developing a global tool that all companies can use.
Smart sourcing during and after crises
Entrepreneurship
In times of crises, such as the current Corona pandemic, sourcing poses major challenges for companies. ETH start-up Archlet offers a cloud-based optimisation tool. Companies can use it free of charge to adjust their sourcing strategy during and after crises.
Applied technology for managers
Videos
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). ?
Monitoring cell mass and growth
- Industry Projects
- Videos
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.
Machines learn to speak Swiss German
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Speaking Swiss German is a challenge for many non-Swiss people. So now the machines are trying.
A stormy week
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Students from Computational Science Zurich helped weather data provider Meteomatics to improve weather forecast models. The new ideas will make the predictions of cyclones more precise, which is important for many industrial applications such as insurances and the energy market. ?
Blockchain for the watch industry
- Entrepreneurship
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Today, it is difficult to get secure information about the origin and the history of luxury watches. In cooperation with watch manufacturers and retailers, ETH juniors developed a blockchain solution. Now the spin-off company Adresta brings this technology to market. ?
An autopilot for drilling
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Easy-to-use automated drilling equipment with increased productivity – that is Hilti’s dream. Prof. Melanie Zeilinger and her team make this dream come true.
Magic robot hand
- Entrepreneurship
- Videos
The gripping of small and fragile objects is a big challenge across various industries. ETH Pioneer Fellow Marcel Schuck presents No-Touch Robotics – a magic solution. ?
3D printed glass
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Univerre wants to reinvent traditional glass production. The Swiss family-run company joined forces with the Complex Materials Group of ETH Zurich and achieved unbelievable results.
Tiny defects quickly identified
Finding the smallest defects in materials is a daily task in many industries, but existing tests are destructive or time-consuming. The Optical Nanomaterial Group of Professor Rachel Grange has developed a microscopy solution for fast quality control.
Additive manufacturing for future mobility
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Swiss manufacturer Nova partnered with inspire and ETH Zurich to develop a new generation of high-pressure valves for hydrogen fuelling stations. Incorporating intelligence into the valve will enable future IoT and industry 4.0 networks.
Stretchable battery
Videos
Can you envisage a bendable and even stretchable battery, which you could embed into wearable electronics such as on-skin sensors? The ETH Multifunctional Materials Laboratory has recently achieved a breakthrough. ?
Paradigm shift in clamping technology
- Innosuisse project
- Industry Projects
Clamping workpieces efficiently in machines is challenging and will become even more difficult with increasing automation and additive manufacturing of free-form surfaces. In cooperation with inspire and ETH Zurich, the Gressel company has found an innovative solution with some surprising benefits.
Lightweight building for the future
Videos
How can the building industry reduce CO2 emissions and waste of resources? ETH professor Philippe Block thinks that we can learn lessons from the past.
ETH for Development (ETH4D)
Videos
ETH4D supports joint projects between industry and ETH Zurich that have a positive impact on low-income countries. Adina Rom explains how companies can participate and presents a project example.
Skin-friendly electrodes
Videos
Capturing high-quality body data everywhere, even under water? The electrodes of ETH spin-off IDUN Technologies are about to conquer the market.
Interactive glove
Videos
Will data gloves be the future interface to computers? This ETH invention has attracted the industry’s interest for applications ranging from surgical tools to cars, films and virtual reality controllers.?
Highlights of the ETH Industry Day 2019
- Events
- Videos
What are the key technologies of tomorrow? How can scientific ideas find a way into the market? The ETH Industry Day 2019 provided answers and inspired the visitors. Enjoy the video.
The next level of predictive maintenance
Industry Projects
In cooperation with companies like WinGD and research partners like NASA, the ETH Intelligent Maintenance Systems Group is developing new methods for predicting machine failures. Manuel Arias Chao gives an insight into his project that he will present at this year’s Smart Maintenance Conference at ETH Zurich.
A new training programme for industry
- Industry Projects
- Videos
The new ETH sabbatical programme in the area of materials and processes is well received by industry. A first participant from Total gives an insight into his stay at ETH Zurich.
Crop analysis with drones
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Watch the video to learn how ETH Zurich and DSP are using drones to monitor crop development and how this technology will improve plant breeding.
Prime or not prime?
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Do you think this number is a prime number? ETH Prof. Kenny Paterson reveals the secret behind numbers like this and why they are important in everyday life.
Data modulation of the future
Videos
Key elements of our communication infrastructure are electro-optic modulators that encode electrical signals onto light. The ETH spin-off Polariton Technologies has developed a ground-breaking new modulator technology that outperforms conventional devices.
Rethinking (drug) design
- Industry Projects
- Videos
The RETHINK initiative of ETH Zurich brings together experts from industry and academia to exploit the potential of artificial intelligence for design processes. ETH Prof. Gisbert Schneider and Dr. Matthias Zentgraf (Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma) explain the benefits for drug design.
Additive manufacturing for space
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Inspire (competence centre for technology transfer) and RUAG Space have manufactured 3D printed structures for satellites. Find out more about this pioneering project in the video.
Rowing safely with Rowcus
Videos
Navigating and avoiding collisions is not easy when rowing. ETH researchers have now developed a solution.
Drones in manufacturing
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Can drones improve productivity in factories? In order to investigate this question, ETH researchers carried out field studies at Geberit, a manufacturer of sanitary systems.
Smart Contract for Alpiq
Industry Projects
Safe and inexpensive electricity transactions with blockchain technology: Alpiq and ETH juniors successfully complete their pilot project.
The secrets of Swiss cheese fondue
Videos
Do you know how to make a perfect cheese fondue? ETH researcher Pascal Bertsch investigated this question scientifically and gained fundamental insights that are relevant for industry.
Sustainability is more than you think
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Making an energy-intensive business sustainable is a challenge. The Swiss Saltworks (Schweizer Salinen) decided to collaborate with ETH Zurich to tackle this challenge. ?
Bacteria-inspired microrobots
Videos
Scientists at ETH Zurich and EPFL have developed tiny elastic robots that can change shape depending on their surroundings. Modeled after bacteria and fully biocompatible, these robots optimize their movements to get to hard-to-reach areas of the human body. They stand to revolutionize targeted drug delivery.
Predictive maintenance for Endress+Hauser
Industry Projects
Endress+Hauser would like to be able to anticipate earlier when their measurement devices might require servicing. So they have asked ETH juniors to develop a predictive maintenance tool.
Demystifying industry-academia collaboration
Industry Projects
How to manage collaboration between industry and academia? The ETH Chair of Strategic Management and Innovation carried out a study with Novartis to investigate this question. Prof. Georg von Krogh (ETH Zurich) and Dr. Hans Widmer (Novartis) give insight into the surprising results.
Battery interfaces for locomotives
- Industry Projects
- Videos
Batteries need converters as connecting interface, e.g. in e-mobility, renewable energies or data centers. The video shows how ETH Zurich and Bombardier now developed an extremely compact and efficient converter for locomotives.
3D printing of soft medical implants
Videos
So far, only rigid materials have been accessible to 3D printing. ETH spin-off Spectroplast revolutionizes additive manufacturing and enables customized implants made from soft silicone.
High-performance printed polymers
Videos
Can conventional 3D printers create polymer parts with high strength? ETH researcher Silvan Gantenbein proves that this is possible.
Robot AROMA
Videos
ETH students have built a robot that can smell. The video shows how this robot works. ?