Material research with market potential
© Microcaps
Material research with market potential
ETH Professor André R. Studart’s dedication extends well beyond his academic research. Many an entrepreneurial career has started in his lab.
ETH spin-offs Microcaps, sallea and FenX all have something in common: their founders originate from the Complex Materials group led by Professor André R. Studart. In its research, the group is exploring ways of developing innovative materials that merge materials science, engineering and biology to create new application possibilities and improve existing technologies.
Countless fields could benefit from their findings, with products ranging from new structures that make solar reactors more efficient to ultra-precise 3D-printed parts that could even be used for space travel.
From idea to product
For proof that the ideas developed in his lab are well received on the market, take Microcaps, where Alessandro Ofner and Michael Hagander are developing microcapsules that allow active ingredients to be dosed with precision and control. Applications include medicines that need to be accurately dosed and their effect released at the intended place; or cosmetics and fragrances – their Perfume Pearls enable the creation of alcohol-free perfumes that surpass conventional products in longevity and scent intensity. The current Series A financing round of CHF 9.3 million allows the founders to expand their production facilities and further develop their technology to become the new gold standard in microencapsulation.
© Rafael Libanori
“I am proud of the entrepreneurial spirit in my team and it gives me great pleasure to help PhD students successfully develop their research into a market-ready product.”
The above-average output of start-ups from André R. Studart’s group is no coincidence. “My aim is to build a bridge to industry and help ensure that our findings make their way into society,” the professor says, explaining his eagerness to encourage young entrepreneurs. Plus: with the excellence of its young researchers and its wide range of funding programmes, ETH provides the ideal conditions for transferring research outcomes to the market. Consequentially, in 2021 André R. Studart was presented with the Dandelion Award for Entrepreneurship, an ETH prize that honours outstanding efforts for the promotion of entrepreneurship at the university and beyond.
Hands-on activities and sustainable solutions
Work conducted in André R. Studart’s group also contributes to the high practical value of the Materials Science degree programme. Case studies from the fields of energy, health and computer science as well as experiments in the lab give students early insights into the possibilities that materials processing provides: in the Powder Processing Lab, for example, where ceramic manufacturing processes are taught and applied. The lab was made possible by a donation from the Alexander Tutsek-Stiftung.
A current thread in André R. Studart’s research focuses on microorganisms – such as bacteria and fungi – that can use nutrients from the environment to produce sustainable materials like cellulose and minerals. He’s planning a lab where he would work with students and doctoral candidates to explore the potential of these organisms in the production and decomposition of materials – and, in an ideal case, develop new and environmentally friendly technologies for industry.
“Whether it’s energy efficiency or resource management, ETH’s strong innovation capabilities are of critical importance for industry.”
Michael Rechsteiner
Member of the ETH Foundation Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Swisscom
