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

Financial figures

The figures below show the main financial indicators for the campus, expressed in millions of Swiss francs (MCHF). They reflect the annual budgets, cumulative contributions and structural investments made by EPFL and the Canton of Valais to support the scientific, technological and infrastructural development of the site.

43.4

MCHF de budget de fonctionnement en 2024

MCHF de fonds tiers EPFL obtenus en 2024

450

MCHF d’investissements totaux cumulés

244

MCHF d’apport cumulé de l’EPFL

110

MCHF de financement cumulé du Canton du Valais

MCHF de bâtiments mis à disposition par l’État du Valais

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.