ENAC news about innovation

Articles about innovation

© 2022 EPFL

“Google Earth on steroids” gives a boost to urban development

— Uzufly’s technology uses aerial imaging to generate 3D models of cities and regions with advanced precision, enabling urban planners to incorporate full-scale designs of all types of architectural and urban structures.

Comparaison visuelle de Zanzibar City, en Tanzanie. carte de la densité de population en haute résolution (à gauche)  et avec POMELO (à droite)

AI enables more effective humanitarian action

— Researchers from ENAC and ETH Zurich, working together with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Bin Khalifa Unversity (Qatar), have developed a program that can generate population density estimates with unparalleled precision, and only needs a rough estimate at the regional level to learn.

Margaux Peltier is an EPFL civil engineer. © Martin Ruetsche

Tapping into the energy stored beneath our cities

— In this article appearing in Switzerland’s French-speaking press, Margaux Peltier, the CEO of Enerdrape and a research assistant at EPFL’s Laboratory of Soil Mechanics, explains how recent technology developed at EPFL can help bring geothermal energy into existing buildings.

© iGEM EPFL 2022

EPFL places in the top ten at the 2022 iGEM competition

— With their biodegradable aerogel that can provide an alternative to conventional insulation materials, the EPFL team took home the gold along with four category nominations at this year’s iGEM synthetic biology competition, held in late October.

FUSTIC organized an on-site visit of the brand-new recycling platform "La Plaine" in Vufflens-la-Ville on 14th September 2022. © Maxence Grangeot

“Collective intelligence is the key to successful innovation”

— FUSTIC – or Future Sustainable Territories, Infrastructure and Cities – is an association created jointly by EPFL and ENAC in 2021. It held its first annual general meeting the day of ENAC’s 20th anniversary celebration. We used this opportunity to sit down with FUSTIC cofounder Frédéric Dreyer to discuss the association and its plans for the future.

Amir Rezaie, CEO of SwissInspect. © Alain Herzog / EPFL

Using images and artificial intelligence to inspect bridges

— EPFL startup SwissInspect has developed a novel bridge-inspection system that combines structural engineering with drone technology, artificial intelligence and computer vision. SwissInspect is the result of research at Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics Laboratory (EESD) in collaboration with Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) on the image-based inspection and monitoring of structural elements.The company plans to test its system, which offers major advantages over visual inspection methods, on around 50 bridges in Switzerland.

© 2022 Alain Herzog

Making installed train windows permeable to mobile-phone signals

— EPFL spin-off nu glass has successfully tested a portable system that makes the window panes on railcars permeable to mobile communications. This can bring significant environmental and cost benefits to railway companies and mobile-phone operators, since they’ll no longer have to install signal boosters to provide wireless connectivity for passengers.

Margaux Peltier, CEO Enerdrape © 2021 Alain Herzog

Using heat from underground parking lots to warm apartments

— EPFL spin-off Enerdrape has developed technology that can recover heat from underground parking lots and use it to warm the apartments above. Its geothermal wall panels are currently undergoing pilot tests at a building in Lausanne’s Sébeillon district.

Satoshi Takahama and Nikunj Dudani and their prototype. © Alain Herzog / EPFL

Towards a more affordable analysis of air pollution

— EPFL scientists have developed a new method for chemical analysis of fine particles that they plan to extend on a large scale – including in developing countries – through an Innosuisse innovation grant award and a new startup.

© iStock

EPFL researchers put technology to work for the global South

— Tech4Dev, an EPFL program to develop technology that addresses the specific needs and living conditions of communities in the developing world, has announced four new winning projects for its research grants.

The addition of driftwood helps to understand the real flow of water. © Alain Herzog / EPFL 2021

New hydropower dam design tested at EPFL

— A team of EPFL engineers has completed proof-of-concept tests for the new Massongex-Bex-Rhône hydropower dam. The tests, involving both a physical scale model and computer simulations, enabled the engineers to fine-tune their design.

© 2020 Tommi

Energy transition: EPFL spin-off Vizcab raises 1.75 million francs

— The French startup will use the injection of capital to ramp up marketing of a building life cycle assessment (LCA) method developed at EPFL Fribourg.

[Simulation] In 2022, the pews will replace the chairs dating from 1912. © Canton de Vaud

An EPFL lab designs new wooden pews for the Lausanne Cathedral

— The Canton of Vaud has selected a technology developed by EPFL's IBOIS Laboratory for the construction of new pews for Lausanne’s Cathedral of Notre Dame. The pews, built with locally-sourced wood, have an innovative design that does not require either glue or screws.

Dimitrios Terzis has successfully tested its ground-stabilization process © 2019 Alain Herzog

Stabilizing a cliff using biomineral binders

— EPFL spin-off Medusoil has successfully tested its ground-stabilization process on cliffs subject to surface erosion. The company’s biomineral-based solution can be used to stabilize sandy and gravelly subsoils to safeguard surrounding infrastructure. It is a long-lasting and easy-to-use alternative to industrial fluids – the production and use of which can be harmful to the environment. The startup is now ready to scale up production.

EPFL’s specialist knowledge makes it a particularly attractive partner for a company like SBB. ©istock

EPFL hosts a new SBB innovation unit

— Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) opened a new innovation unit today at EPFL’s Innovation Park, further deepening its ties with the School.

Margaux Peltier presents the geothermal system at the ClimateLaunchPad  at the international finals© 2019 Alain Herzog

EPFL-developed geothermal panels reach international finals

— EPFL researchers have developed a geothermal system for recovering the heat captured in basements, subway tunnels and underground parking garages. Their technology will compete today in the finals of ClimateLaunchPad – the world’s largest competition for green business ideas.

Professor Lyesse Laloui heads at  l'EPFL the Soil Mechanics Laboratory at EPFL. ©Alain Herzog/EPFL

EPFL champions energy geostructures

— Energy geostructures provide a constant source of renewable heating and cooling in buildings and infrastructures and perform very well. Professor Lyesse Laloui, the director of EPFL’s Laboratory of Soil Mechanics (LMS), has co-authored a new book that takes stock of the latest developments in a field where Lausanne leads the way globally.

Le modèle physique développé par l'EPFL. © LCH / EPFL

EPFL is studying the behaviour of the future Rhône in Martigny

— The security work planned in Martigny as part of the 3rd correction of the Rhône (R3) is the subject of a 3D physical modelling carried out by the Platform of Hydraulic Constructions at EPFL.

Shin Koseki and Margaux Peltier. © Alain Herzog / 2019 EPFL

Pitch Your Impact: energy and collaborative research come out on top

— Civil engineer Margaux Peltier and architect Shin Koseki won the audience award and jury award, respectively, at this year’s Pitch Your Impact contest held by ENAC.

A. Schüler, L. Burnier and O. Bouvard from LESO-PB with their award-winning glazing. © V. Moreillon

LESO-PB technology helps win the 2019 Watt d'Or

— Railway company BLS SA has won this year’s Watt d’Or award for its highly energy-efficient NINA trains. Among the technology featured in the trains is a special kind of window glass developed at EPFL’s Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory (LESO-PB). The award was given out by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy at a ceremony on 10 January.

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Infos internes

Pascale Van Landuyt, Cara Tobin, Marilyne Andersen et Lan Zuo Gillet © Alain Herzog / EPFL

Les expertes de l'innovation

— Innosuisse, l’Agence suisse pour l’encouragement de l’innovation, s’appuie sur des spécialistes pour avaliser les demandes de soutien. Les quatre experts émanant de l’EPFL sont… des expertes.

© 2022 EPFL

ENAC Innovation Seed Grants – appel à projets 2023

— The 3rd call for Innovation Seed Grant proposals is now open! You can apply for funding to explore an innovative idea, to refine a proof-of-concept, or validate your project idea.

© 2022 EPFL

SwissInspect a reçu un soutien FIT Tech Seed de CHF 100'000.-

— SwissInspect, spin-off du laboratoire EESD, a reçu un soutien de CHF 100’000 de la Fondation pour l’Innovation technologique (FIT) afin de développer des jumeaux numériques structurels d'infrastructures et de bâtiments.

© 2022 EPFL

Cinq projets sélectionnés pour un ENAC Innovation Seed Grant

— Les premières échéances de l'appel à projets Innovation Seed Grant de l'ENAC 2022 ont généré 5 nouveaux projets à travers les instituts de l'ENAC. Chaque projet est doté d'un soutien au démarrage de 20kCHF pour explorer une idée qui contribuera au développement d'une solution durable innovante. Félicitations aux cinq bénéficiaires !

© iStock

Des idées collaboratives pour mettre la technologie au service du Sud

— Quatre nouveaux projets ont été sélectionnés dans le cadre de Tech4dev, un programme de l’EPFL visant à soutenir des solutions technologiques spécifiquement adaptées aux conditions de vie et nécessités des populations de pays en développement.

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