ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
The canton of Aargau is Switzerland’s leading work and research center in the fields of energy and electrotechnology. The focus areas in energy research at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI are the development and testing of technologies and processes for utilizing renewable energy sources, the low-emission conversion of energy, and the safe and reliable provision of electric power. This includes:
- Fuel cells and electrolysis
- Biomass and catalytic processes
- Energy storage and flexible energy supply
- Energy scenarios
One of the flagship projects of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) is the energy system integration (ESI) platform. The platform's modular design enables for specialists to test different alternative energy systems, alone or in combination, in close proximity. It focuses on energy storage and flexible energy supply, including power-to-gas technologies. The ESI platform, which is being set up in several steps and is one of the central technology platforms at PARK INNOVAARE, allows all the parties involved in the energy value chain to participate, submit their research questions, and launch joint development projects.
Humans & Health
In the field of human health, research is conducted on basic questions of structural biology, cancer therapy, and integrated optical measurement systems for medical X-ray diagnostics and pharmaceutical analytics, which have applications in various sectors:
- Radiotracers and radiopharmaceuticals
- Tumor research and proton therapy
- Radio diagnostics
- Early-stage drug discovery
- Optical measuring systems for medical diagnostics and pharmaceutical analysis
The technologies developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI also play a leading role in diagnosis and therapy. The focus here is on proton beam cancer therapy and developing modern radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors.
The Center for Proton Therapy (CPT) set up at the PSI in collaboration with industry is the only one of its kind in the world. More than 300 patients are treated with special therapies here each year. The phase-contrast technique is promising for computer-imaging diagnostics and will also facilitate a technological breakthrough in the field of mammography.
ADVANCED MATERIALS AND PROCESSES
The basis and common denominator for many technologies and their industrial applications is material science, which explores how the interior structure and observable properties of different materials are connected. It provides important foundations for the development of new materials and applications. The know-how available to you at the site includes:
- Advanced analytics
- Biomaterials
- Polymer technologies
- X-ray and extreme UV optical technologies
- Microfabrication and nanofabrication technologies
- Nanolithographic processes and more
The large research facilities at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI make it possible to determine the micro- and nanostructure down to the molecular and atomic scale and their functionalities, namely their dynamics and physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes. These insights are the foundation for industrial innovations in the fields of energy, environment, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, food, metallurgy, and microelectronics.
Accelerator technologies
Accelerator and related technologies underpin innovations in multiple areas: high-precision manufacturing, mechatronics and robotics, micro- and nanomanufacturing, magnet technologies, rapid electronics, detectors, the radiation resistance of electronics, ultra-high vacuum technology, medtech and radiation therapies, information technologies, and many more.
The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI possesses outstanding scientific and engineering expertise in the development, construction, and operation of accelerators that can greatly benefit industry. This includes the development of:
- Compact accelerator systems
- Detectors and sensors
- Technologies for proton therapy
- Laser technologies
- Optoelectronics
- Control systems
- Lithography
- Non-distructive testing
- Big data application and more
In addition, the large research facilities at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI are also open for industrial users. The special combination of facilities at one site with the abundance of experts who can help external users set up an experiment makes it a unique location for the realization of industrial R&D projects.