World-class research in the heart of the Alps

The dialogue between science and society has never been as important as it is today, at a time when uncertainty seems to have taken pride of place. At Sion, the research areas chosen - green chemistry, renewable energies, the environment and health - are complementary and are leading to major advances in these fields. The flexibility and innovation of the Valais region are strengths that our researchers are making full use of to achieve major breakthroughs.

When I arrived in 2015 with my laboratory, I went from the bubbling ecosystem of San-Francisco to a building under construction south of Sion station with a head full of questions. Almost 10 years later, the south of Sion and the campus have been completely transformed, thanks in particular to visionary and proactive policies. From a few dozen researchers, we have grown to several hundred. From a single institution on the campus, we have grown into a complete ecosystem with the HES-SO Valais-Wallis, which has established itself in our immediate vicinity, as well as the newly-created Energypolis SA, which is there to convert our research into functional societal and commercial applications.

The world is facing many societal challenges, and global warming is obviously one of them. Temperatures are rising and ecosystems are suffering as a result. Without claiming that technology is the solution to everything, it is clear that without major scientific advances, the consequences for humanity will be disastrous. At the EPFL Valais Wallis Campus, our research focuses largely on sustainability and resilience. For example, notable advances in carbon capture using different technologies, seasonal energy storage and innovative sensors for observing the environment have already been observed on campus. EPFL not only aims for scientific excellence, but also a constructive dialogue with the applied sciences, of which the neighbouring School of Engineering is a perfect example.

The year 2024 saw a number of awards go to our researchers in Sedun. In the field of health, for example, Prof. Fridhelm Hummel received the prestigious ” Fürst Donnersmarck research prize for Neurorehabilitation “. In the field of hydrogen, MER Jan Van Herle’s group received the ” Hydrogen TCP award of excellence “, a major step forward in the direction of seasonal storage of renewable energy.

With the third phase of EPFL Valais Wallis confirmed for June 2024, which will see the arrival of six new chairs specialising in the field of energy, the future of the campus is extremely promising, particularly as we are now passing the threshold of the critical size needed to operate effectively and, above all, to attract talent from the Valais and beyond. We can proudly say that almost 70% of our staff have chosen to live in the Valais and are thriving in our mountains.

May the adventure continue on such a wonderful path!

Wendy Queen

Chair of the Campus Committee

Perspective

20 years ago, what Valaisan would have bet that today, in Sion, we would have one of the most dynamic campuses in Switzerland, bringing together EPFL, HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Energypolis SA, UNIL and many private players? When the first agreement between the State of Valais and EPFL was signed in 2012, it provided for 11 professorships, around a hundred employees and EPFL investment of €100 million over 10 years. At the end of this period, EPFL has more than doubled the number of researchers initially agreed and has invested more than 200 million in research in Valais.

This development is already guaranteed to continue with the signing of the^3rd phase, which was confirmed in June 2024. Between now and 2032, six new professorships are expected on the Valais campus. A new building is to be constructed for this purpose.

Active collaboration with our neighbours, in particular the HES-SO Valais-Wallis and Energypolis SA, is on the increase, resulting in recognised demonstrators and the creation of start-ups with international potential. Active coordination with the State of Valais and the City of Sion is also enabling us not just to dream, but to realise the vision of a sustainable campus within a dynamic ecosystem, in the heart of the Alps and, of course, the revolutionary Ronquoz XXI district.

The numerous awards won by the professors working in Sion, as well as the critical mass already achieved by 2024, all point to a bright future for this dynamic campus. There are many challenges ahead, and governance will have to adapt on a day-to-day basis to the growing importance of the campus, but all the signs are green for the EPFL to consolidate its presence in Sion and thus add considerable value to the local ecosystem.

A centre of research and innovation in the heart of the Valais

Since its arrival in 2015, EPFL Valais Wallis has experienced continuous growth to the great satisfaction of all the partners involved. 2024 is no exception to the rule, with the launch of the3rd development phase of the Sedun campus, illustrating the exceptional dynamism of this ecosystem.

Because of its geographical location, the Valais is in the front line when it comes to coping with global warming. The frequency and intensity of extreme events in this continental and alpine environment are likely to continue to increase. To mitigate the environmental and social consequences, politics, industry and academia will need to develop new and innovative ways of working together, and that’s what EPFL Valais Wallis is all about.

Since 2012, when the first collaboration agreement between EPFL and the Canton of Valais was signed, the campus has evolved considerably. In 2024, the third amendment to the basic agreement was ratified, confirming that six new professorships (the equivalent of a research team specialising in a highly specialised field) would be coming to Valais. By 2032, the total number of professorships located in the Valais will have risen to at least 22, bringing some 450 researchers to the site. A new building is due to be constructed on the campus in the near future to accommodate this growth. If the current trend continues, three-quarters of this talent could settle close to the campus and become part of local life.

There are already many collaborations with industry and policy-makers, and these will continue to develop, particularly in the area of decarbonisation, a chemical process that is absolutely essential if we are to move towards the ‘net zero’ promised by the Swiss government for 2050. A detailed understanding of climatic phenomena and their impact, smart grids, innovative materials with low electricity consumption, high-efficiency solar panels, the batteries of the future, etc. are just a few of the concrete examples of new technologies that will be developed. These are just some of the concrete examples of products resulting from research carried out in Sion.

The development of EPFL Valais Wallis, made possible by the vision of a few bold pioneers, is strongly supported not only by the EPFL Management, but also by the Valais and Sédun authorities. These synergies, which also exist with other players on the site such as Energypolis SA and the HES-SO Valais-Wallis, point to a myriad of positive developments for the entire region, with innovations exported well beyond our cantonal borders. The adventure has only just begun.

Léonard Evéquoz

Chief Operating Officer