Zurich researchers bring innovation to companies

The Greater Zurich Area benefits from top researchers who introduce innovation to companies. At the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, several hundred projects are carried out with companies each year. A model of success.

It can be difficult for companies to make it to the forefront of current R&D on their own, but with a strong partner, world records can be easily set. For instance, Silidur AG from Andelfingen near Zurich produced the lightest concrete bridge in the world - together with researchers from the ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences who specialize in fibre-reinforced plastics. The project on high-tech concrete slabs was awarded the German Industry Innovation Prize at the end of 2017. "This is how technology transfer is supposed to work," said Martin Jaekel, who is responsible for R&D at the ZHAW.

Knowledge and skills for companies

Several hundred such projects with a volume of 125 million Swiss francs were carried out at the ZHAW in 2017. All eight departments - from architecture to life sciences - cooperated intensively with companies and institutions, because they are committed to practical application. 

"As such, not only is research implemented, but knowledge literally increases," said Jaekel. "Know-how from practical application flows into teaching and research, while scientific findings enrich the companies."

Current employees also gain new skills, and several companies have even met their future skilled workers while collaborating on a project.

Due to its size alone, the School of Engineering makes an important contribution to such collaborations. And yet according to Jaekel, scope and interdisciplinarity are decisive factors for companies. For instance, the ZHAW has enjoyed a long-term cooperation with the telecommunications giant Swisscom, and since 2010, Swisscom has been financing the highly acclaimed JAMES Study on adolescents' media use in Switzerland.

Cooperation for each and every purpose

The projects vary widely in size - ranging from some one thousand francs to one million francs - and are tailored to the needs of the partners. The form of cooperation with the highest speed is contract research, where results are produced fast. R&D cooperation is broader in scope, but usually offers partial financing with public funds. Patent rights are generally held by the industry partner.

Problems as challenges

Jaekel's phone rings more often these days, and at the other end of the line is a company with a tricky problem that is difficult to solve. The collaboration results in an innovation, such as the one giving winter sport enthusiasts a head start: Just in time for the 2018 Winter Olympics, ZHAW researchers teamed up with Toko, a traditional Swiss company, to develop a ski wax that promises a performance improvement of up to 1.5 per cent thanks to a designer molecule. The project was funded by the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse. Its requirements are considerable market potential and that the industry partner provide at least as much funding for the project financing as Innosuisse.

In contrast are large and long-term projects with many partners such as EU research projects including Robo Mote, which was even coordinated by the ZHAW. It resulted in an exoskeleton, which turns skilled workers in Industry 4.0 into partners with robots while still protecting their health. A total of twelve partners from seven European countries participated in the project.

At the ZHAW, some 60 projects are underway as part of the EU research programmes FP7 and H2020. And yes, some competitors even work together here. "Our experience shows that whether it is an exclusive collaboration or a cooperation network, all partners generally benefit in the end," said Jaekel.