Announcement of the Federal Council

Reappointment of the Empa Director

Feb 13, 2013 | CORNELIA ZOGG

On application of the ETH Board, the Federal Council has reappointed the Director of Empa, Gian-Luca Bona, for another four years. The second term of office will start on 1 September 2013.

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Under Gian-Luca Bona’s leadership, Empa has developed into an internationally leading research institute for materials research and innovative technologies. This has been confirmed by, among other things, an analysis conducted by Leiden University (Netherlands), which places Empa among the world’s 25 best universities in its specialist fields. On this basis, Empa prepares innovations for the market with industrial partners. The transfer of knowledge and technology in trade and industry and in society is driven forward by numerous initiatives; by now, Empa’s network extends to more than 500 partner firms in Switzerland alone. In cooperation with ETH Zurich and EPFL, with the Swiss universities, and in direct contact cooperation ventures with Swiss industry, Empa develops so-called demonstrators, which serve to translate innovative technologies and concepts into practice. Current examples include the modular building laboratory for sustainable construction, NEST, as well as Future Mobility, a demonstration platform for tomorrow’s energy-efficient and resource-conserving mobility.

Gian-Luca Bona studied physics at ETH Zurich, where he obtained his doctor’s degree in 1987. After joining the IT and consultancy firm, IBM, he worked in various fields in research and development, both in Switzerland and in the US. In 2009, he took up the post of Director of Empa, and in this capacity was also appointed Professor of Photonics at ETH Zurich and at EPFL. Gian-Luca Bona is a member of various bodies involved in knowledge and technology transfer, such as the Commission for Technology and Innovation, in Technopark Zurich and in the support centre for start-ups and innovation processes, glatec.

 
 


 

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