Jul 2, 2025 | Rare flying squirrel species inspires robotics
African scaly-tailed squirrels use their scaled tails to safely move across the smooth bark of trees in their native rainforest habitats. Researchers from Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and...
Jun 30, 2025 | Award-winning concrete to save the climate
Empa is one of the winners of the Building Award 2025. A team from Empa's Concrete and Asphalt lab was recognized for its CO₂-storing concrete – a promising approach to significantly curbing emissions in the construction...
Jun 27, 2025 | "Zukunfts(K)reise" published as a book
What could a sustainable life for everyone look like? Together with schoolchildren and the St. Gallen University of Teacher Education, Empa researchers have published a children's book on circular economy that aims to...
Jun 26, 2025 | Solar energy as a basic service for the public
How can we accelerate the energy transition in a socially responsible way? Empa researchers propose a publicly funded basic service in solar energy that would increase energy autonomy, create social justice and promote...
Jun 24, 2025 | Difference in noise levels between e-cars and combustion vehicles
Empa and the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) have, for the first time, conducted a joint research project. The study set out to investigate how the noise levels of electric cars and cars with combustion engines differ....
Jun 18, 2025 | Perovskite image sensors
Taking better photos with less light: That is the promise of perovskite-based image sensors. The innovative semiconductor material enables better color reproduction and fewer image artefacts. Moreover, perovskite sensors...
Jun 16, 2025 | New sorption-enhanced methanation plant at Empa
On June 16, Empa inaugurated its novel methanation plant. The move-MEGA research project is the first to demonstrate so-called sorption-enhanced methanation at pilot scale – a technology developed at Empa that makes the...
Jun 12, 2025 | Decline in methane emissions in southern Romania
Romania is one of the EU's largest methane emitters from oil and gas production facilities, but emissions have fallen sharply thanks to targeted information on leaks. An international research team led by Empa has shown...
Jun 9, 2025 | Recognition for Empa director
Empa Director Tanja Zimmermann is a new member of the scientific society Academia Europaea. The prestigious association unites outstanding researchers from all over Europe and promotes scientific excellence in all...
Jun 4, 2025 | Novel manufacturing technique for piezoelectric thin films
When fractions of a second make all the difference: Empa researchers developed a process for manufacturing advanced thin films in which sophisticated timing enables high-quality functional layers at low process...
Jun 3, 2025 | International cooperation in energy research
On May 27, 2025, Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) and Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, signed a cooperation agreement to establish a new AIMR...
May 28, 2025 | Empa becomes new CSA partner
Empa joins the Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein as a partner. The Center bundles space and aviation expertise in Switzerland and Liechtenstein and offers opportunities for research...
May 27, 2025 | A laser that can “see” and “think”
Laser-based metal processing enables the automated and precise production of complex components, whether for the automotive industry or for medicine. However, conventional methods require time- and resource-consuming...
May 26, 2025 | MenstruAI: non-invasive blood test
Researchers at ETH Zurich, Empa, University Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital have developed a technology that is able to recognise biomarkers in menstrual blood – directly in sanitary towels. MenstruAI promises a...
May 22, 2025 | Portrait Matthias Sulzer
The ETH Board has appointed Matthias Sulzer as a member of Empa's Directorate. Since January 2025, Sulzer is the Head of Empa's Engineering Sciences Department, where he deals with the full range of materials and...
May 20, 2025 | Nanomedicine for treatment of inflammation in pregnancy
Special care must be taken with illnesses during pregnancy, as not all drugs are compatible for mother and child. This is why an international research team involving Empa is now developing nanomedicines that will enable...
May 13, 2025 | Nature's fiber composite
Fungi are considered a promising source of biodegradable materials. Empa researchers have developed a new material based on a fungal mycelium and its own extracellular matrix. This gives the biomaterial particularly...
May 8, 2025 | Empa research shows individual CO2 footprint
Net zero: the goal that moves our society at all levels. But what can we as individuals contribute to achieve it? Answers are given by the Emission Explorer, the new exhibit developed by Empa as part of Energy Science...
May 7, 2025 | New mandate for Empa Director
Empa Director Tanja Zimmermann has been elected as the new President of the Board of Trustees of the Technopark Zurich Foundation – and brings her broad experience in research, innovation and technology transfer.
May 6, 2025 | Empa’s Annual Report 2024
We hope to lead you on a gripping journey through the world of research and innovation; you may be surprised at how broad the term "applied research" is defined at Empa.