EPFL Research Day in Fribourg

13 September 2019
EPFL Fribourg, Smart Living Lab

Dedicated to scientific research, the event focused on the future of the built environment, showcasing work being carried out at the EPFL campus in Fribourg in collaboration with our academic partners of the Smart Living Lab.

Bringing together EPFL researchers and the key actors of the society they serve, it was an opportunity to discover the future building of the Smart Living Lab, the construction of which should begin in 2020.

09:30-10:00 – Arrival and registration

Event Moderator: Andreas Mortensen, Vice-President for Research


10:00-10:15 – Welcome

Jean-Pierre Siggen, President of the Council of State, Canton Fribourg
Martin Vetterli, President of EPFL


10:15-10:30 – The Fribourg ecosystem and EPFL

Olivier Curty, State Councillor and Head of the Economic and Employment Directorate, Canton of Fribourg


10:30-10:40 – Fribourg ecosystem: HEIA-FR

Jean-Nicolas Aebischer, Director of the University of Engineering and Architecture of Fribourg

“EPFL – HEIA-FR, complementarity and synergy. Think globally, act locally”


10:40-10:50 – Fribourg ecosystem: UNIFR

Bernard Ries, Vice-rector, International Relations, Digitalisation and Interdisciplinarity, University of Fribourg


10:50-11:00 – Fribourg ecosystem: blueFACTORY

Philippe Jemmely, Director of Bluefactory Fribourg-Freiburg SA


11:00-11:15 – Coffee break


11:15-12:00 – Research and innovation at EPFL Fribourg: Overview and future building

Introduction and moderation by Marilyne Andersen, Professor and Academic Director of the Smart Living Lab

“Research and innovation at EPFL Fribourg: Overview and future building of the Smart Living Lab”

Professor at EPFL Fribourg, introduced by Marilyne Andersen:

  • Paolo Tombesi, Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Construction and Architecture (FAR)
  • Corentin Fivet, Professor and Head of the Structural Exploration Laboratory (SXL)
  • Dolaana Khovalyg, Professor and Head of the Laboratory of Thermal Engineering for the Built Environment (TEBEL)
  • Dusan Licina, Professor and Head of the Human Oriented Built Environment Laboratory (HOBEL)

12:00-12:05 – Conclusion

Andreas Mortensen, Vice-President for Research


12:05-13:00 – Festive aperitif and visits

  • Visit of the Smart Living Lab’s EPFL research group exhibition
  • Visit of the exhibition dedicated to the parallel study mandate (MEP) for the future Smart Living Lab building
  • Guided tours of research infrastructures by Professors Tombesi, Fivet, Khovalyg and Licina
  • NeighborHub Visit