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Dear reader

As every June, the TTO team is fully engaged in welcoming the MINTT course cohort. Over two intensive weeks, PhD students and auditors participate in a rich program of presentations and workshops focused on innovation management and technology transfer.
A big thank you to all participants for the insightful exchanges and stimulating discussions!

 

The TTO Team

 
 
 

Rethinking Renewables: Enerdrape's Underground Energy Revolution

 

 
 
 
 

The journey of Enerdrape

 
 
 
 
 
 

Solar and wind may lead the renewable conversation, but Enerdrape is quietly transforming the game underground. We dive into this innovation with CEO Margaux Peltier and Professor Lyesse Laloui to explore how their geothermal tech is reshaping urban energy: no sunlight, no drilling, just smart science.

Read the article

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Featured news

 
 
 
 
  • First Swiss Deep Tech Report paints a bright picture overall
    The Swiss Deep Tech Report 2025, released today, highlights Switzerland’s position as a global leader in deep tech. The report reveals that Swiss deep tech companies have generated over $100 billion in enterprise value, with 60% of national VC funding since 2019 directed to the sector—more than any other country. It also shows strong international investor interest and a rapidly diversifying startup landscape beyond biotech, with significant growth in AI, Climate & Energy, Robotics, and TechBio. ETH Zurich and EPFL rank among Europe’s top universities for deep tech spinouts. Over 1,500 companies were analyzed to map this thriving ecosystem.
  • La Suisse, leader du dépôt de brevet européen par habitant
    In 2024, Switzerland filed 9,966 patents with the European Patent Office, a 3.2% increase, ranking #1 in Europe per capita. Medical tech led the way, with Hoffmann-La Roche as the top filer. EPFL and ETH Zurich are among the leading European universities. Innovation remains regionally concentrated, with six cantons accounting for 65% of all filings..

  • Top deep tech start-ups: report confirms Switzerland's strong performance
    Switzerland ranks 7th globally and 3rd per capita in the Deep Tech Index 2025, outperforming much larger countries. Strong education, legal protections, and tax competitiveness drive its success. It stands out in quantum, robotics, and computing, confirming its role as a rising deep tech hub.

  • The 2025 European Deep Tech Report: Opportunities and Challenges
    Europe’s deep tech sector is growing and resilient, but scaling remains a challenge due to limited local late-stage funding. Switzerland ranks high thanks to strong universities, but relies heavily on foreign capital. Key needs include better spin-off policies and more institutional investment.

  • Annaida obtains undisclosed pre-series A funding
    Annaida Technologies, an EPFL spinoff pioneering micro magnetic resonance spectroscopy (micro-MRS), has closed an oversubscribed Pre-Series A round led by HEMEX. The funding will support product launch in the fertility sector, further R&D, and regulatory validation. Their Embryospin platform enables non-invasive chemical analysis at the cellular level, with initial applications in embryo assessment to improve IVF outcomes. The round included support from investors like ZKB, Excellis, and Club degli Investitori, alongside public funding from EIC Transition and Innosuisse

  • DePoly secures $23 million to launch 500-tonne-per-year showcase plant

    DePoly, a Swiss startup specializing in sustainable PET recycling, will launch a 500-tonne showcase plant in Monthey this summer, ahead of a planned commercial facility in 2027. The company converts PET and polyester waste into virgin-quality raw materials without fossil fuels. Backed by major partnerships and a growing customer base, DePoly has raised $23 million in seed funding, including new investor MassMutual Ventures. With over $30 million secured to date, DePoly is scaling toward industrial impact and positioning itself as a leader in circular plastics.

  • NovaMea closes USD 9 million Series A round
    NovaMea, an EPFL spinoff developing electrochemical systems for green hydrogen production, has raised $9 million in Series A funding to scale up production ahead of its global market launch. The startup specializes in anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers using proprietary, precious metal-free components. Backed by international investors, NovaMea builds on over a decade of research from Prof. Xile Hu’s lab and aims to accelerate affordable, large-scale green hydrogen deployment.

  • Cellestia Biotech and TVM Capital Life Science Announce Creation of Anciata Therapeutics to Develop a First-in-Class Therapeutic Targeting Autoimmune Disorders
    TVM Capital Life Science and Cellestia Biotech are jointly investing up to $34 million in Anciata Therapeutics, a newly formed U.S.-based biotech company. Anciata will develop IPX-2017, an oral, first-in-class therapeutic targeting autoimmune disorders, with potential broader applications in allo-immunity and cancer. This marks TVM’s 11th project-focused investment, aligning with its strategy of backing early-stage, single-asset companies. Anciata will be led by Cynthia Cardinal (CEO) and Chantal Miklosi (CFO), with clinical development aimed at achieving proof of concept.

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Latest licensing opportunities

 
 
 
 
  • New anti-adhesion drug against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    This technology offers a novel anti-adhesive compound that blocks surface adaptation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, preventing bacterial colonization and infection. By targeting bacterial adhesion rather than viability, it reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance and can be used alone or in combination with antibiotics to treat wound and lung infections, including in burn patients and individuals with cystic fibrosis or COPD. The therapy also shows potential against Acinetobacter baumannii infections and as a prophylactic treatment for high-risk patients.
     
  • New anti-adhesion method for preventing bacterial colonization on dental implants
    A targeted anti-adhesive solution that prevents bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on dental implants, reducing the risk of peri-implant infections. Applicable as a surface treatment or adjunct to antibiotics, it supports long-term implant success while lowering resistance risks.
     
  • Stalactite nanopore
    Innovative asymmetric conical nanopores with enhanced stability, selectivity, and scalability for advanced applications. These "stalactite pores" enable superior DNA capture, biosensing, and osmotic energy harvesting, with tunable design ideal for nanofluidics, biosequencing, and iontronics.
     
  • Tracking Interacting Objects
    A robust, AI-powered tracking system for real-time monitoring of multiple interacting objects in complex environments. Ideal for smart cities, surveillance, sports analytics, and logistics, it handles occlusions and detection failures using advanced probabilistic modeling and graph-based optimization.
     
  • Advanced Functionalized Hydrogel for Biomedical Applications
    This advanced hydrogel platform combines natural polysaccharides with synthetic biocompatible polymers via carbamate bonds, enabling precise control over mechanical strength, degradation rate, and biofunctionality. With preserved ionic gelation, dual crosslinking (ionic + covalent), and compatibility with drug, gene, and cell delivery, the technology is ideal for regenerative medicine, chronic therapies, and minimally invasive treatments. Scalable and injectable, it supports clinical translation across multiple biomedical applications.
     
  • Differentiable Inverse Rendering Based on radiative Backpropagation
    A memory-efficient inverse rendering technology for creating precise 3D models from 2D images. It eliminates the need for heavy data processing, enabling faster, scalable simulations. Ideal for media, medical imaging, and VR/gaming, where speed, accuracy, and low computational cost are critical.
     
  • Deep Active Surface Models
    This technology combines Graph Convolutional Neural Networks (GCNN) with a Deep Active Surface Model (DASM) to generate smooth, accurate 3D surface meshes from 2D images or 3D stacks. It outperforms existing methods like Mesh R-CNN and Voxel2Mesh by reducing artifacts, improving efficiency, and handling irregular mesh structures—ideal for medical imaging, computer graphics, and digital modeling.
  • Automatic Identification of Causal Influences over Social Networks
    This technology enables precise identification of key influencers in dynamic social networks using advanced causal inference models. Scalable and adaptable, it provides actionable insights for social media analysis, targeted marketing, and organizational decision-making, with proven effectiveness on real-world data like Twitter.
     
  • Synthesis-constrained target-specific generative design of small molecules in 3D
    This technology enables target-specific small molecule design through a novel training algorithm and programmable sampling strategy. Using fragment-based learning, a single model can perform docking, de novo design, and fragment-based optimization while ensuring synthetic feasibility. Ideal for drug and material discovery, the system allows multi-task molecular design with controlled fragment-level criteria. Technology readiness level: experimental proof of concept.
     
  • Beam-Column Joint Structure
    This innovative Highly Dissipative WUF-W connection improves seismic performance, reduces fracture risk, and lowers construction costs. Featuring custom bevelled backing bars and high-toughness materials, it enables superior hysteretic behavior and resists ductile crack propagation, ideal for earthquake-prone regions, critical infrastructure, and retrofit projects.

 

Discover all EPFL licensing opportunities

 
 
 

 Innovation Events

 
 
   
 

Showcase 2030

10.09.2025 SwissTech Convention Center

 
 

New in the Park

19.08.2025 Puur Restaurant, build. J

 
 

Annual BBQ @EPFL Innovation Park

28.08.2025 Puur Restaurant, build. J

 
 
 
 

Find more EPFL Innovation Park events

 
 
 

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