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EAER Press releases
Investment Screening Ordinance: Federal Council opens consultation
On 12 June, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the Investment Screening Ordinance, which sets out the implementing provisions for the Investment Screening Act passed by Parliament on 19 December 2025.
On the trail of the missing hydrogen atoms
To simulate the properties of materials, researchers use crystal structures of materials stored in databases. Often, however, these lack the positions of the hydrogen atoms. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have now trained an artificial intelligence system to reconstruct these positions very quickly and efficiently. Their new method, called XtalPaint, will make it possible to simulate materials more accurately for a variety of applications: from efficient hydrogen storage to new batteries.
G7 summit in Évian: Switzerland commits to ensuring security
With just a few days to go before the G7 summit starts in Évian, representatives from the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), the Swiss Armed Forces and the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) joined cantonal authorities in Geneva to present the measures being taken to ensure the event's security and support the cantons involved: Geneva, Vaud and Valais. Organised by France, the summit will take place from 15 to 17 June 2026. On this occasion, President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin will welcome the heads of state and government of the participating countries to Geneva.
Thin layers, high performance: Empa spin-off Swiss Cluster wins the Swiss Economic Award
The Empa spin-off Swiss Cluster has received the Swiss Economic Award 2026 in the “Industry/Production” category. The young company develops equipment for vacuum-based thin-film processes. This technology can be used to protect complex components or create functional thin films with unparalleled mechanical and thermal resistance. The young company supplies research institutions around the world, but its customers also include the watch industry, electronics manufacturers, and the optics sector.
Nathalie Casas comments on the Axpo report: “You can't say no to everything”
Switzerland is faced with an urgent question: where will the electricity come from in winter if nuclear power plants are taken off the grid and consumption increases due to heat pumps and electromobility? A recent report by Axpo paints a serious picture and outlines two possible scenarios. Wind and gas or new nuclear power plants. In an interview with SATW, Nathalie Casas, Head of the Department of Energy, Mobility and Environment at Empa and new member of SATW, analyses the findings. She concludes: "All technologies have their challenges. If you decide against one technology, you have to decide in favour of another.
Marked variation in upper-secondary qualification rates in different neighbourhoods
91.7% of young people who turned 15 between 2010 and 2014 had obtained an upper-secondary level qualification 10 years later. This proportion varies considerably between regions and from canton to canton. It is lower in large urban communes such as Zurich (88%), Basel (86%) and Geneva (82%), but also varies markedly between neighbourhoods. In the Langstrasse district of Zurich, the upper-secondary qualification rate was 80% and in the Fluntern district 96%. These are the main findings of a new publication by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), which provides a detailed picture of the geographical distribution of the upper-secondary and Swiss baccalaureate qualification rate.
Sanctions: Ordinance on measures against Sudan
On 4 June 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) has amended annex 2 of the ordinance on measures against Sudan. Seven individuals have been added to the annex. The measures come into force on 5 June 2026 at 11 p.m.
Federal government to step up support for sustainable infrastructure in developing countries
Switzerland is to provide USD 70 million in support of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG). The Federal Council took this decision at its meeting on 5 June. PIDG mobilises private sector capital to develop sustainable basic infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia.
US additional tariffs: Switzerland continuing negotiations
On 5 June, the Federal Council discussed the next steps regarding the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 investigations. The Federal Council strongly rejects the allegations raised in the investigation into imports of goods produced with forced labour and will set out its arguments in writing once again. At the same time, trade negotiations are continuing.
The Swiss Science Council SSC publishes its evaluation of Innosuisse
Today, the Swiss Science Council SSC published its evaluation report on Innosuisse’s funding portfolio. The evaluation concludes that Innosuisse fulfils its statutory mandate and has a coherent funding portfolio. At the same time, the SSC identifies potential for targeted further development – amongst others in the involvement of implementation partners and in access to risk and equity capital.
Safe and Sustainable by Design: graphene as a showcase
Safe and sustainable from the outset – how exactly would you ensure that? Empa researchers are applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to the 2D material graphene. This is not just a matter of understanding the risks that graphene poses to humans and the environment. The focus is also on the SSbD framework itself and its applicability in practice.
OECD Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Policy
The President of the Swiss Confederation, Guy Parmelin, will lead the Swiss delegation at the next Meeting of the Council at Ministerial Level of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), to be held in Paris on 3 and 4 June 2026. This meeting, themed “Getting industrial policies right for open markets, growth and prosperity”, will offer ministers the opportunity, at a time of geopolitical tensions, to discuss industrial policy, its implications and risks, as well as the OECD’s strategic directions.
SECO: Ordinance on measures against Myanmar
On 1 June 2026, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research EAER has amended annex 1 of the ordinance on measures against Myanmar. One individual has been removed from the annex and 42 entries have been amended. The measures come into force on 2 June 2026 at 11 p.m.
Gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2026: Growth picks up at the start of the year
In the first quarter of 2026, Switzerland’s gross domestic product (GDP) adjusted for sporting events grew by 0.4%, following growth of 0.2% in the previous quarter.(1) (2) The industrial sector was a key driver of growth. Growth in the services sector was subdued, with varied results across segments. Domestic final demand was weak.
Jubiläum 500 Jahre Badener Disputation
Rede von Bundespräsident Guy Parmelin Vorsteher des Eidgenössischen Departements für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung (WBF) Sonntag, 31.05.2026 | Katholische Stadtkirche Baden
Fewer animal experiments thanks to virtual mouse: AI-supported in silico mouse model for biomedical research
Artificial intelligence (AI) can save lives. At least mouse lives. Empa researchers have developed an AI-supported computer model of a mouse body that uses machine learning to predict how different nanomaterials are distributed in the mouse organism. In line with the ‘Safe and Sustainable by Design’ principle, the model will not only serve as a decision-making aid in drug development, but also reduce animal testing.
Switzerland launches call for investment projects involving the Swiss private sector to support reconstruction in Ukraine
The third call for proposals aimed at supporting reconstruction in Ukraine involving the Swiss private sector was launched today. The focus is on investment projects aimed at constructing facilities for long-term production and/or operations in Ukraine. The federal government is providing up to CHF 50 million to co-finance the projects.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki pays state visit to Switzerland
Polish President Karol Nawrocki, accompanied by his wife Marta Nawrocka, began a two-day state visit to Switzerland on Wednesday, 27 May. He was received by the Federal Council with military honours in Parliament Square to mark the start of his visit. The delegations then discussed how to further strengthen the already excellent bilateral relations. They also addressed issues relating to economic development and security in Europe.
Federal Council reappoints Martin Ackermann as Eawag director
On 27 May, the Federal Council appointed Professor Martin Ackermann to a second term as director of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag). The four-year term will run from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030.
Official speech by President Guy Parmelin on the occasion of the state visit by President Karol Nawrocki of the Republic of Poland
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