The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) is an interdisciplinary research institute for materials science and technology development. It is one of six institutions of the ETH Domain and as such an important element in science, technology and innovation in Switzerland. Empa is pursuing an “integrated” knowledge and technology transfer strategy, that is, it is employing numerous routes to actively transfer its know-how and research results to the market.
An important one are the business incubators on / close to Empa’s premises where Empa spin-offs and high-tech start-ups find ideal conditions through, among other things, intense collaboration with Empa scientists, coaching in all things related to entrepreneurship and administration, access to Empa’s high-tech infrastructure and professional networks and, last but not least, support in funding through (pre-)seed money. By promoting startup companies – and entrepreneurial spirit in general – Empa contributes to creating value for the Swiss economy and society alike.

glatec generates winners

Empa’s business incubator glatec is located on its main campus in Dübendorf. Based in the Zurich metropolitan area – the hotbed of science and technology in Switzerland – glatec is collaborating closely with start-up supporting organizations to help scientists-turned-entrepreneurs in “getting started”. Besides spin-offs from Empa and Eawag, the aquatic research institute of the ETH Domain, glatec is targeted towards external start-ups that are expected to show a significant synergy with Empa’s R&D activities. Over the past years more than 20 start-up projects were successfully launched employing a total of more than 200 staff. A majority of them have already brought their first products to the market and won prestigious prizes (e.g. SEF Award, Swiss Technology Award, CTI Medtech Award, ZKB Pionierpreis, Venture, VentureKick, deVigier, Heuberger Prize).

Startfeld Innovation Center next to Empa in St. Gallen

Startfeld runs its fast growing innovation center right on Empa’s doorstep in St. Gallen. Technologically, the center focuses on combining the topics “Material meets Life” and “Precision meets ICT”, which generates major synergies with the high-tech competence clusters in the Lake Constance region. The new innovation center benefits from its proximity to Empa, the University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen University of Applied Sciences, and the cantonal hospital in St. Gallen. The corporate development of innovation projects is also supported, regardless of whether it be for start-ups or established companies. This is because innovation always means economic sustainability for the center, too.

Innovative processes are driven by curiosity and the center provides the necessary leeway for explorative thinking and experimental action. Examining different perspectives inspires and challenges, which is why the center encourages and urges networking among people and organizations, for instance by organizing regular events. It is primarily start-ups and exploration groups from established companies that are eligible as tenants – in other words, groups that are to be separated from daily business for a limited period to concentrate on finding new development possibilities for a technology or business field.

Contact

Mario Jenni
CEO glatec
Phone +41 58 765 40 25
mario.jenni@empa.ch
www.glatec.ch
www.empa.ch

Contact

Peter Frischknecht
CEO STARTFELD
Phone +41 58 765 71 85
peter.frischknecht@empa.ch
www.startfeld.ch
www.empa.ch