The research programs and selected projects described in the Annual Report offer the reader a glimpse of our work.

We have strengthened our research activities with three essential steps.

• First, we have defined key area programs, based on the ETH council's innovation and cooperation projects. These key areas include nanotechnology, adaptive materials, sustainability in the information society, materials for the protection and comfort of the human body, and technosphere/atmosphere. By concentrating our strengths we are creating synergies.
• Second, we have allocated a substantial fraction of our resources to competitively selected in-house projects. The competitive nature of the selection process and the stringent evaluation by external experts have improved the quality of our research.
• Finally – last but not least! – we are increasing the recruitment of staff who are particularly suited for research activities.

The technical-scientific report «EMPA Activities 2001» (in English), previous Annual Reports and further documentation are available directly from: EMPA, Public Relations, Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Fax +41 1 823 40 31, E-mail: susan.alder@empa.ch