The magazine for EPFL graduates
December 2015 no. 3
Driverless vehicles, robotics, nutrigenomics... ten technologies that will change the world
The Microengineering section p. 21
Alumni at Google p. 12 Vos idées vous appartiennent Nous vous aidons à les protéger Brevets Marques Designs Veille technologique
P&TS SA / Av. Jean-Jacques Rousseau 4 / Case postale 2848 / 2001 Neuchâtel 2 Tél. + 41 - 032 - 7271427 / Fax + 41 - 032 - 7271424 / [email protected] / www.patentattorneys.ch Alumnist Intro
“EPFL follows its
your commitment and get involved in the school’s own path” development in the manner that best suits you. Support extends beyond personal Dear Alumni, and financial contributions. There are many other ways you can demonstrate EPFL’s international visibility continues your attachment to EPFL. You can to grow. Recently, this recognition was volunteer for one of the EPFL Alumni displayed again in the QS World University programmes, either by working with a Ranking. Our school ranked 14th in the local chapter or by mentoring a student world’s top universities and reaches in or a start-up founded at the school. the top 10 in science and technology. You can simply be an EPFL ambassador EPFL is rising, now closer than ever to every day, by proudly representing the most reputable U.S. universities. your school in your professional and personal lives. Attachment to one’s school and the notion of giving back are now common This attachment already shows for many in Europe. These values are firmly rooted alumni. We are truly grateful and hope in the culture of the leading universities, that it will be even stronger tomorrow, to with which EPFL now stands. This strengthen the ties that unite our school issue’s report on giving back will bring with its alumni. || you some insight into this tradition through the portrait of four of our donors. It is thanks to them and all of our donors that EPFL has undergone spectacular development.
EPFL does not set out to imitate any pre- defined model. We are carving our own path, with the genius that sets us apart. That means if you want to contribute, you can show Patrick Aebischer, President of EPFL
3 Alumnist Editorial Contents
Editorial Dear Alumni,
Two years have gone by since EPFL Alumni became a department on its own. During these two years, we have worked to bring you a broad range of services that meet your expectations. Thanks to you, 75% of these efforts were funded internally through your donations. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude.
As these two years come to a close, we are focusing more than ever on the future. Of course, we mean the future of EPFL Alumni, as we look for new ways to support the network of 30,000 graduates that you are a part of. That said, we also want to focus on the future of technology. In the context of a rapidly changing economy 10 where technological advances are revolutionising our daily life, this issue’s special report features / Keystone Bott Jean-Christophe ten developments that are starting to shape our world, our jobs, and our education, and will The Network of Olivier Français continue to do so in the future. Connected objects, The politician from the Canton of Vaud and EPFL graduate from renewable energy, robotics, the sharing economy the class of 1982 discusses the various people who make up his and nutrigenomics are just a few of the types of professional network. technology you will discover and learn more about in this overview. We hope that this report and the many other articles, photos and stories that you will find in this third issue of Alumnist will keep you informed about the liveliness of your alma mater and provide you with an enjoyable read. ||
24 DR
Electrical Engineering Class of 1992 – Where are they now? Annelies Garcia, Former students share their very different career paths. head of EPFL Alumni
4 Alumnist Contents
12 Walter Bieri / Keystone Walter
Google employs EPFL engineers Four alumni describe their job at the American tech giant. 21 Thierry Parel Thierry Parel
Focus on Microengineering From student memories to their current work, four alumni talk about their career so far.
Report: Ten technologies that will change the world 28 Alumnist presents an overview of today’s most promising Murielle Gerber 30 technical and scientific breakthroughs. Alumni Gold Garden Party 2015 Taking a look at the photographs from the first Garden Party, which brought together Patrick Aebischer and the Gold alumni contributors.
5 Chris Isherwood alumni from EPFLandETHZ. Carine McCandlessandgathered many featured distinguished guestspeaker and was another hit.Thisyear’s event ton Hotel, intheheartof Manhattan, took place onOctober 2ndattheRoyal - the «SwissAlumniEvent inNewYork» previous edition,the2015editionof Following thegreat successof the October 2 MANHATTA 0 1 5 Our networkiNewYor Alumnist 6 News Alumnist News
In a city near you…
SAN FRANCISCO August 18 20 1 5 The Inside Real Virtuality exhibit is a multi-user immersive platform combining a 3D environment seen through a virtual reality headset, with a real-life stage set. Users are tracked by a motion capture system, allowing them to physically move through a virtual environment. 30 alumni from EPFL and other Swiss universities joined at swissnex San Francisco to discover and enjoy this incredible technology.
TUNISIA August 6 20 1 5 A new chapter of the EPFL Alumni association was set up in Tunisia over the summer. The association teamed up with TUNES (the Tunisian university students’ association in Switzerland) to organise its first event, a reception for Her Excel- lency Rita Adam, Swiss Ambassador to Tunisia, 2015 FREITAG lab. ag lab. 2015 FREITAG at the Mövenpick Hotel in Gammarth. Rita Adam’s ZURICH speech was followed September 2 2 0 1 5 by a cocktail party. The The EPFL Alumni Associa- gathering offered alumni tion of Eastern Switzerland from EPFL and other invited its members to tour Swiss universities who the Freitag bag factory in are living in Tunisia the Zurich-Oerlikon on Septem- chance to get together ber 2nd. About 20 alumni for the first time. gathered to visit the Swiss company, which produces about 350,000 accessories per year by recycling old lorry tarpaulins, bicycle inner tubes and used seat belts. The event provided
2015 FREITAG lab. ag lab. 2015 FREITAG the perfect opportunity to learn more about those leg- endary bags hanging from everyone’s shoulder these days. The tour was followed by a cocktail buffet.
7 Alumnist Path Keeping it in the family
Being EPFL alumni from generation to generation means sharing a rich history and a myriad of memories. Three families talk about their experience Text: Arnaud Aubelle passing down the EPFL spirit.
ittorio Rossati is a third-year civil engineering student. Growing up V around his father Stefano and his brother Marco, both EPFL alumni, his history with the school goes back much further. Did family background play a role in choosing his path? “Undeniably,” replies the young man without a mo- ment’s hesitation. “When time came to choose between different universities, my father’s and brother’s experience convinced me to get my training at EPFL.” His father Stefano confirms: “The excel- lent education I got at EPFL more than 30 years ago remained embedded in my mind. I made that resonate with my sons.”
The situation is similar with the Meylans. Edouard grew up in the watchmaking world, a field in which his father Georges- Henri is one of the leading figures. “My father’s experience showed me that EPFL could help me live my passion with RINALDI FAMILY a 360-degree view, so I didn’t hesitate.” A 1971 graduate, James Rinaldi sent his James Rinaldi, now retired, daughter Tania and his son Nils to the graduated in 1971 with a school a few decades later. He says that degree in electrical engineer- he did not try to influence their choices, ing. He was formerly an IT but he admits to sharing with them his consultant at the company wonderful memories as a student. “I don’t TI Informatique. His daugh- know if my father’s and brother’s experi- ter Tania is a professor of ence was the deciding factor,” says Tania neurophysiology at the
Rinaldi, “but their enthusiasm for EPFL University of Basel, and his DR definitely had a positive impact.” son Nils is Project Manager at the Balelec festival, Vivapoly comedy club EPFL. Tania’s husband, Hadi Passing the Torch and the Challenge,” say Tania Rinaldi Barkat, got his post-graduate Getting the same education as other and her husband Hadi Barkat, who met degree in Management of members of one’s family often means as students at EPFL. The couple feels that Technology in 2002. He is now enjoying the same memories of campus the main events that take place over the founder and CEO of Helve- life. “When we reminisce about our time academic year at EPFL are the highlights tiq, which publishes games, there, we always remember the social that stay with people long afterwards. books and design gifts. aspect most. The Satellite student bar, Vittorio Rossati recalls “discovering
8 Alumnist Path new cultures, football matches at the on an entrepreneurial role on top of Satellite bar and the quality education.” research and teaching: “I hope that an Magistrale, or Graduation Day, is the even greater number of robust start-ups other main occasion when people come will develop in the years to come.” Nils together at EPFL; as his father Stefano Rinaldi, who now works at EPFL, notices remembers, “Our last memory that we that every day. “Since I graduated in share from EPFL is Marco’s graduation 2000, the number of students has dou- in 2011. The entire family was reunited, bled, and the campus is now thriving. with three generations of engineers.” Lots of prestigious international profes- sors have been hired.” Some things Passing the torch from one generation never change, however: “I had some of to the next is also a way of measuring the same professors my father did!” how far the school has come. Everyone points to the international development Future generations of EPFL over the past few decades. “We Having the same alma mater as one’s went from a cantonal school with a few parents or children strengthens their technical specialities to a global institu- attachment to EPFL. And that is reflected tion with international reach, mainly in different ways. Edouard Meylan is thanks to the efforts of Patrick Aebischer involved in the alumni organisation. and his team,” says Georges-Henri Meylan. “For example, we set up a tour of my James Rinaldi makes a similar point. company (H. Moser & Cie) for EPFL “The school has opened up to the world. alumni in 2014.” Stefano Rossati set up
My two children were able to do a year a unit for his company close to EPFL DR abroad programme, something I’d never in order to both recruit engineers from even dreamed of at the time.” His daugh- the school and develop new technologies ter Tania highlights the growing number with its laboratories. His son Vittorio of female students and the international shows his fondness for the school by recognition that EPFL now enjoys. “The returning to his French lycée every year people I met when I was living in Boston to present EPFL to future graduates. MEYLAN FAMILY knew about EPFL.” Her husband Hadi Barkat is delighted to see the school take Will future generations also study at Georges-Henri Meylan holds EPFL? The process is already under way a mechanical engineering for the Meylan family. One of Georges- degree earned in 1969. He Henri’s nephews enrolled in the physics was at the helm of Audemars section in September. Options are also Piguet for more than 20 years. open in the Rinaldi family, but Tania Today, he is Chairman of ROSSATI FAMILY and Hadi insist that their daughters will the Board of Directors at make their own choices about where MELB, the family-owned Stefano Rossati was a they want to study. The same applies for holding company which owns member of the mechanical Nils’ children, even though Theo (age the watch brands Hautlence engineering Class of 1985. 3 and a half) and Noah (age 1) already and H. Moser & Cie. His Today, he is Director of the spend three days a week on campus son Edouard completed his company Le Gaz Intégral. at the Polychinelle child care centre, Microengineering degree in Marco Rossati graduated in near the Rolex Learning Center. As their 2000. After developing retail 2011, also with a degree in grandfather James says: “If EPFL main- in Asia for the Desco group, mechanical engineering. He tains the same level of excellence as it he became CEO of H. Moser currently works as a Project has now, I’d be keen to see more EPFL & Cie in 2013. Manager and Energy and alumni in the Rinaldi family.” || Environment Consultant at the Geneva-based energy engineering and consulting firm, Amstein+Walthert. Vittorio Rossati is a third-year student working towards his undergraduate degree in civil engineering. DR
9 Alumnist Network
120 60 0 The network of Olivier Français Politician, EPFL engineer, seasoned athlete and President of the International Alpine Film Festival at Les Diablerets, Olivier Français has shaped his career in line with his many interests. He discusses the people in his network.
Text: Séverine Géroudet
ausanne owes him its metro and the four- kilometre underground tunnel providing access to the Tridel waste treatment plant. Olivier Français has successfully combined his political involvement and civil engineer- ing expertise and used them to serve the 1955 Born in Metz, France community. After graduating from EPFL, he became 1982 Graduated with a degree in civil L geotechnical engineering from the assistant to Professor Edouard Recordon and was involved in fundamental research. Olivier then EPFL, where he became an assistant worked for two years at a geotechnical engineering 1986 Opened a subsidiary of firm before being hired by a construction company the Zschokke group – now in the Zschokke group. “Building on all that experi- Implenia – in Lausanne ence, I was able to buy and take over a geotechnical 1992 Took over as head of a geo- engineering firm.” His political career with the technical engineering firm in liberal radical party started taking off at about the Lausanne, Karakas & Français same time. In 1994, Olivier Français began serving 1994 Elected to the Communal as a communal councillor and was elected to the Council of Lausanne Grand Council of Vaud in 1998. He became a city 1994-1995 Oversaw the crisis units councillor for Lausanne in 2000, where he headed set up for the natural disasters the Works Department, and has been a member in Veytaux and Pissot of the National Council since 2007. 1995-1997 Chaired the Vaud chapter of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects The many facets of his career have led him to meet 1998 Elected to the Grand Council all sorts of people active in politics, culture, econom- of Vaud ics and sports. And he himself is a dedicated athlete. 2000 Elected to the Lausanne “The people in my network share at least one of city government two qualities, rigour and commitment. Founders 2007 Elected to the National Council of sports or cultural events, company directors and 2010 Became member of the Swiss specialists driving new technological advances, Academy of Engineering many of them have taken part in some slightly out- Sciences (SATW) landish projects, some slightly outlandish projects 2015 Candidate for the Council of nevertheless destined for success. || States Jean-Christophe Bott / Keystone Bott Jean-Christophe His cultural network
daniel rossellat, founder of Paléo jean-philippe rapp, journalist and former television Festival Nyon, mayor of Nyon, host. “Jean-Philippe Rapp is the director of the independent. “Daniel Rossellat International Alpine Film Festival at Les Dia- also coordinates the Lausanne blerets. When he asked me to be President in music festival, Label Suisse. October 2014, I didn’t give it a second thought. We worked together in 2008, I’m lucky to participate in this great cultural when the M2 metro line was adventure with such a talented person, who inaugurated in time for the festival. He knows how to gain people’s trust.” skilfully turned the two events into a single, huge celebration for the public. “We asked Olivier Français because he’s a strong Daniel is one of those people who athlete and a hard worker,” says Jean-Philippe Rapp. shares his passion and gives “He has that rigour and ability to adapt that only EPFL everyone the opportunity to enjoy graduates have. And those two qualities are useful for a fantastic cultural experience.” the president of a festival in the mountains. His com- mitment is limitless, and he’s generous in his efforts.”
120 60 0
10 Alumnist Network
60 120 180 Political contacts
didier burkhalter, Federal corina eichenberger, jacques bourgeois, National Council- Councillor, PLR. National Councillor, lor, PLR, Fribourg. “We have been “I met him when he was PLR, Aargau. “Corina sitting side by side in parliament an executive member is my reference in since 2007, and I consider him of the Neuchâtel city German-speaking to be my ideological twin brother. government, where Switzerland. She is an I admire him as a lobbyist. And he launched and com- excellent contact and in our private lives, we share a pleted a number of projects. has vast experience in legal passion for endurance sports.” I then had the pleasure of affairs, banking and construc- working with him when he was tion. Corina was the first woman State Councillor. There again, to chair the Grand Council I noticed how effective he was. of Aargau and has the calibre pascal broulis, Vaud State Council- His understanding of all the of a Federal Councillor.” lor in charge of the Finance projects and ability to handle Department, PLR. “We served any situation set examples for together on the Grand Council me in exercising my own duties. of Vaud. As head of finance of Together, we talk about our the Vaud government, he admi- current and future projects.” rably lifted the canton out of its financial deficit.” Entrepreneurs that inspire him
bertrand cardis, director of Décision, a company philippe hebeisen, CEO of Vaudoise Assurances. active in building innovative structures using “Despite his share of challenges, Philippe composite materials. “Bertrand Cardis played a Hebeisen has maintained the values of his role in the success of the solar aeroplane Solar company and made it prosper while keeping Impulse and Alinghi, whose boats he built. it a reasonable size. His intelligent strategy I compare him to Professor Calculus, because has paid off, as Vaudoise has successfully he dares to achieve the impossible.” moved into German-speaking Switzerland. Philippe is extremely friendly, someone I’m always Bertrand Cardis thinks that Olivier Français is a visionary. happy to spend time with.” “In the 1990s when I was working on a prototype for an automatic vehicle that was never completed, Olivier was cristina gaggini, director of Econo- one of the few people who believed in the project. We miesuisse for French-speaking have several points in common, as we are both quite Switzerland. “Cristina Gaggini athletic and EPFL engineers.” is generous and available, a pre- cious contact at Economiesuisse who’s in touch with others. His allies in sports She understands and oversees her projects with flair.”
jacky delapierre, founder of Athletissima, an athletics event in Lausanne that His close friends celebrated its 40th an- niversary in 2015. “Fifteen athletes 40 years ago, 300 today. Athletissima owes stefan nellen, chairman and jean-marc probst, chairman and CEO its current reputation to Jacky deputy director of the of Probst Maveg, one of the Swiss Delapierre. He has understood Tridel incineration plant champions of construction ma- how to gain athletes’ trust, genera- in Lausanne. “Stefan chinery. “Trained as a mechanical tion after generation. His commit- helped me throughout the engineer, Jean-Marc has built this ment and success amaze me.” project to build the Tridel small family-owned company plant. He’s very talented into a leader on its market. He was sacha weibel, chris wolf et patrick de preux, and reliable in performing his the one who convinced me to get involved the trio from the Lausanne Hockey duties, and always offers good in the Radical Democratic Party. That was Club. “They breathe life into LHC, and advice.” nearly 30 years ago.” by extension their city and their region, using their talent to serve the local georges zünd, director of the Vaud Jean-Marc Probst describes Olivier community. They are the soul of this Federation of Entrepreneurs. Français as someone who is faithful and club and have formed a lasting team.” “Georges is an exceptional always available. “We share the same person. He’s a great networker values – respect, hard work, generosity Chris Wolf, LHC’s sales and marketing and a man of high moral stand- and trust – and the same ambitions for director, says of Olivier Français, “We ards and good common sense. our country. Olivier is one of the most quickly hit it off with this ingenious He is very generous, in all intelligent individuals I know.” athlete. He is straight-forward and has areas, especially with his time.” always met our expectations while bringing his ideas and vision.”
60 120 180
11 Alumnist Company Google Zurich attracts talent from EPFL
The Internet firm has been operating out of Switzerland’s largest city for more than ten years and employs numerous graduates from the Lausanne-based technical Text: William Türler school. Four of them share their experience.
oogle is looking for intel- biggest engineering center outside of the “We want to find people with not only ligent team-players who are US. During job interviews, Google looks one specific skill set, but lots of different “Gcapable of making progress”, for role-related knowledge, assesses a strengths and passions,” says Veronika says Veronika Striessnig, University candidate’s leadership skills, their over- Striessnig. “We also want to make sure Programs Specialist at the company’s all “Googleyness” and how candidates that the person has the experience Swiss office. Google Switzerland opened think. In in-house lingo, Googleyness and background that will help them be its office on the Limmat river bank more refers to the individual’s compatibility successful in every aspect of their job.” than ten years ago and today it is the with Google’s culture. Engineering candidates are being tested for coding abilities and other areas of technical expertise. A number of EPFL alumni who have applied at Google fit that bill and are now part of the team. ||
Burak Emir
38, Staff Software Engineer
Burak Emir did his undergraduate studies As a team lead, he must keep his team at RWTH Aachen University, during and code “up to date” with respect to which he did an exchange year at EPFL the technological advances and constant during the 1999-2000 academic year. changes in both offline and online After graduating from RWTH Aachen, he commerce. Burak is also responsible returned to EPFL in 2002 and completed for “improving the user experience” his PhD at the Programming Methods for merchants and advertisers while Laboratory (LAMP) in 2007. coordinating the development of new, experimental features with other teams. His duties also include helping new hires learn about the infrastructure.
“ It’s only by working together In addition to the technical skills that and building on different allow him to provide a personal contri- bution and understand new technologies viewpoints that we can faster, Burak Emir highlights two funda- achieve great things.” mental things he learned as a student. The first was that the pursuit of abstract, ambitious goals requires time, commit- ment, attention and communication.
12 Alumnist Company
He finds this thoughtful approach much laboratory or remotely with colleagues better than focusing on the short-term. based in other offices. There are limits to “I also learned the importance of social what one person can do and accomplish factors that underpin all scientific and alone. It’s only by working together and technical projects,” he says. “You have building on different viewpoints that we to learn how to work with a team in a can achieve great things.”
“ What we do affects products all over the world. It’s very exciting.”
Richard Ekwall
35, Software Engineer
Richard Ekwall graduated from EPFL in He also gained strong mathematical 2002 with a Master’s degree in Computer skills. “I can clearly see a difference to Science and completed a PhD in Com- people from other universities or people puter Science five years later. He cur- who did not study Computer Science, rently works as a Software Engineering but Mathematics or Physics, for example.” Manager for the Google Maps division. In addition, the network that EPFL “My job involves a combination of man- helped him build remains useful to him agement, designing new systems and today. “I know a lot of EPFL alumni who writing codes. We interact with several currently work at Google. That means teams from different offices at Google. I can stay abreast of various events and What we do affects products all over the promising opportunities.” world. It’s very exciting.”
His education gave him fundamental expertise in Software Engineering, especially in analysis and programming.
13 Alumnist Company
Mihajlo Velimirovic
28, Senior Software Engineer
Mihajlo Velimirovic graduated from makes sure that the ads displayed in EPFL in 2009 with a Master's degree in search results are as useful and relevant Computer Science, with a specialization in as possible. To accomplish this task, the foundations of software. He now works team uses different machine learning with the Search Ads Quality team, which techniques so that ads improve the user experience of Google searches.
“My education at EPFL helped quickly establish my credibility within the first “ I graduated with strong team I worked with at Google,” Mihajlo foundations in cryp- says. “I graduated with strong founda- tions in cryptography, networks and tography, networks and algorithms, skills that are essential for algorithms, skills that are working on large-scale systems. I’m essential for working on also glad I gained expertise beyond large-scale systems." my specific area of study while at EPFL. The ‘Intelligent Agents’ and ‘Game Theory’ classes were very useful.”
Google in Zurich The Zurich branch of the U.S. tech company is home to Google’s third largest engineering department in the world after Mountain View, California, and New York. In 2014, Google celebrated its tenth an- niversary in the Swiss city. Worldwide, the company employs more than 57,000 “Googlers” with nearly 1,500 of them – from over 70 countries – based in Zurich. Google’s engineers in Switzerland develop products and services for users across the globe. Large mapping and navigation service hubs were set up there, and the Zurich office is also where many ads and messaging components are coded.
14 eloquent way.” late answersfromstructureddatainan both tobuildasystemthatcanformu- and mining knowledge. We currently use mapping locations,detectingduplicates) tion ofsomesort(labelingbusinesses, projects atGoogleareaboutclassifica- Engineering andteammanager.“Many Today atGoogle,heworksasaSoftware the SignalProcessingLaboratory(LTS). 1994. HewentontoobtainhisPhDat Communication SystemsatEPFLin Pascal Fleurycompletedhisdegreein the unknown.” issues andhowto dealwith how to approach broader “ 45 ans,seniorsoftware engineer As astudent,Ialsolearned
Alessandro Della Bella / Keystone P
Walter Bieri / Keystone a
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F deal witheverydayatGoogle.” various technicalchallengesthatwe my teamandmepreparedtotacklethe unknown,” Pascalsays.“Allthiskeeps broader issuesandhowtodealwiththe student, Ialsolearnedhowtoapproach draw onthoseskillsatanytime.Asa learned whilestudyingatEPFL.“Ican numerical analysis,allofwhichhe Mathematics, ComputerScienceand Pascal hasstrongknowledgeof l e Alumnist u r y 15 Company Alumnist Investment Be involved in EPFL's development
EPFL has set up a number of chairs and projects made possible only through private donations. This culture of “giving back” – deeply-rooted in Anglo-Saxon university tradition – remains largely unknown in Switzerland. Four EPFL donors share their perspectives and give us an overview of the subject. Text: Arnaud Aubelle
he endowment from Swissquote birds with one stone,” says Antoine through his company and foundations. in 2008 led to the creation of the Firmenich. EPFL alumni see it as a sign of These contributions have established “Swissquote Chair in Quantitative recognition towards the institution that two chairs financed through the Defitech Finance”. Marc Bürki (EL’87), educated them and a way of taking action Foundation, in brain-machine interfaces Tco-founder and CEO of the bank, and his to see its tradition of excellence live on. and clinical neuroengineering, and a partner Paolo Buzzi (MT’88) funded the chair to promote women in engineer- donation. “It all started with a discus- Daniel Borel (PH’73), the co-founder of ing through the swissUp foundation. sion with Patrick Aebischer about our Logitech, has made several donations His donations have also contributed to difficulty in finding financial engineers,” says Marc Bürki. “The idea of a Master’s degree in financial engineering rapidly Donations to EPFL while the top ten U.S. universities and col- seemed to be the obvious solution.” leges raise between $400 million and $930 Today, EPFL conducts activities supported million per year. That’s how giants such as As with Swissquote, an endowment often by donations from private individuals, such Stanford University can work with budgets begins with a donor’s intention to provide as those alumni mentioned here, through of more than $5 billion, nearly six times EPFL with the resources to reach its goals companies or charitable foundations. This more than EPFL. and a specific project. Antoine Firmenich endowment system exists at all the world’s – a board member of the fragrance giant leading universities. Donations are used EPFL receives contributions ranging from Firmenich International – agrees: “Neuro- to finance research projects, support for 1,000 to 10,000 Swiss francs for student science is now an integral part of perfume- social programmes, or the construction prizes, 100,000 Swiss francs to renovate making, and EPFL is on the cutting edge in of buildings. an auditorium and up to a few million Swiss the field. It appeared only logical to set up francs to sponsor a research chair (con- our endowed chair.” Philippe Petitpierre Academic fundraising is becoming increas- tribution to fund a laboratory), build a new (GR’75) has also made donations through ingly professional to contribute to the building or support a high-profile school his various energy companies, justified growth of top universities. In Europe, nearly project. These donations are crucial to the by the guarantee of quality from EPFL in 85% of universities use fundraising, while school’s advancement, given Switzerland’s energy, and especially in gas. the practice is virtually automatic in the partial exclusion from European research Anglo-Saxon model, driven by attractive tax budgets (Horizon 2020) and stretched Difference in culture incentives and the more highly developed public funding. Should we go further and Although every donor hopes to have culture of giving back. American alumni launch a massive fundraising and endow- some indirect returns – through scientific commonly donate a share of their gains to ment campaign, as suggested by Antoine progress or well-educated engineers who their alma mater. Firmenich? And should Swiss tax legislation might be recruited in the future – they be loosened to support Switzerland’s uni- all reiterate that they also simply want In Switzerland, by making donations a versities and colleges? EPFL to develop as a centre for excellence. company or individual can reduce their “Our family strongly believes in both tax base by up to 20% of their net income, fundamental research and philanthropy. depending on the canton. Every year, EPFL For further information: contact This donation was a way of killing two signs contracts for 10 million to 100 million Jérôme Grosse, Head of Development from sponsors, foundations and companies, ([email protected])
16 Alumnist Investment
the construction of the Rolex Learning We want to pass on the fruit of our work. of entrance exams – all unique to this Center and the Montreux Jazz Digital That’s not so much the case in the United Anglo-Saxon culture – also contribute Project. To express his gratitude to EPFL States, where a smaller share of your her- to that feeling of pride and attachment for the education he received, Daniel itage is passed on to your children, and to their school, which are the main Borel wanted to invest in projects he is where outside donations are more com- motivation behind any donation. Daniel passionate about through the school. He mon,” he says. Marc Bürki adds: “Campus Borel and Marc Bürki also point to also stresses how important it is for EPFL spirit is still lacking a bit. College is a very the fact that Swiss universities receive to maintain total independence in its special time in the Anglo-Saxon culture, government funding, unlike the mostly decisions. Marc Bürki agrees: “The most a time when you leave home to experi- private system in the United States. important thing is not to want to influ- ence unforgettable and exciting things.” Sponsorship is not as positively per- ence the research with the endowment. ceived, even though it is essential (see We must ensure full academic freedom inset on Sponsorship at EPFL). Antoine and support programmes rather than en- Firmenich blames the legal differences courage them in a particular direction.” The donation is a sign of between Switzerland and the United recognition towards the States. “One of the main limitations is The concept of funding the present and institution that educated the lack of an endowment system in future development of one’s university Switzerland. With this system, dona- is firmly grounded in English-speaking them and a way of taking tions are reinvested to produce higher countries, especially the United States. action to see its tradition returns,” he says. “One of our endow- But the practice is not quite as developed of excellence live on ments at MIT in Cambridge has gener- in Europe, and Switzerland in particular. ated 14% annual returns for the past Where does the difference come from? 35 years, while the financial prudence Daniel Borel, who also studied at Stanford, of the Swiss system means you can’t suggests a cultural divergence. “Switzer- College sports, the importance of the achieve any more than 2% or 3%. We land has a stronger culture of heritage. graduation ceremony and the difficulty need a change in legislation.”
MARC BÜRKI Marc Bürki, born in 1961, has served as the CEO of Swiss quote Group Holding SA and Swissquote Bank SA since 2002.
He graduated from EPFL in 1987 with a degree in electrical engineering. After working as a telecommunications specialist until 1990 at the European Space Agency (ESA) then Nord wijk (Netherlands), he co- founded and co-managed Marvel Communications Ltd. Marc Bürki, a founding member of Swissquote, has various responsibilities on the Board of Directors and as part of the general management team.
Swissquote’s endowment in 2008 served to create the Swissquote Chair in Quantita- tive Finance led by Professor Damir Filipovic since 2010. DR
17 Alumnist Investment Marcin Wichary Marcin
The challenge of sponsorship DANIEL BOREL The road ahead may still seem long, but the hope of seeing the culture of “giving Born in 1950, Daniel Borel holds degrees from EPFL and back” develop in Switzerland is very Stanford University. He is a co-founder of Logitech and real. “I’m deeply convinced of it,” says served as the company’s chairman from 1982 to 2008. Philippe Petitpierre. “A donation is a way Daniel Borel created the Defitech Foundation, which sup- of identifying yourself with your alma ports research and development in technology used to mater, expressing your pride in having help people with a disability, and the swissUp Foundation such a high quality polytechnic school.” to promote excellence in education in Switzerland. Daniel Borel feels that the changes at EPFL in recent years are steps in the Logitech contributed funding for the Rolex Learning Center right direction. “The campus expan- through a donation in 2006. Logitech was also a sponsor sion, the higher proportion of foreign of the Montreux Jazz Digital Project through the Under One students, new student housing – all that Roof project, presenting a donation in 2014. contributes to developing the sense of belonging. As does EPFL’s rise in the SwissUp made a donation in 2007 aimed at promoting global rankings of top universities,” he female engineers. Professor Carlotta Guiducci currently says. Antoine Firmenich argues, “A grow- holds the swissUp Foundation Chair. Between 2008 and ing number of students are going to the 2014, the endowments from the Defitech Foundation were United States, where they discover the used to establish the Defitech Foundation Chair in Brain- culture of giving back to their school. It Machine Interface led by Professor José del R. Millàn will happen slowly, but we have reasons and the Defitech Foundation Clinical Neuroengineering to hope that mindsets will develop.” and Human-Machine Interactions, which is currently recruiting a professor. EPFL has its own role to play in bringing about this change. Philippe Petitpierre points out that Swiss companies are
18 Alumnist Investment
unfamiliar with the notion of sponsorship. From there, EPFL Alumni should add that “A more widespread communication there are plenty of projects in current campaign highlighting flexible pro- and future industries that might interest grammes that are not limited to paying donors, including new campus buildings, a set amount would be a good way of energy, environmental protection, medi- promoting our school and developing cal and pharmaceutical techniques and its sponsorship performance.” information technology (see "Every dona- tion has its motivation inset"). Daniel Borel also mentions the differ- ence in image between donors in the The feeling of pride and United States, where they are highly regarded, and in Switzerland, where suc- attachment to their school cessful people are basically “expected” is the main motivation to donate. Marc Bürki adds: “We need behind any donation programmes that acknowledge the value of donors. The donation may be entirely Is the culture of giving back to EPFL altruistic, but donors want to be recog- about to take off? Marc Bürki believes nised by their peers for the gift they give that all the conditions are favourable: the school.” Donors often express their “Entrepreneurs, the economic fabric, feelings of pride and sense of belonging. success stories, the entrepreneurial spirit “That’s where the EPFL Alumni asso- passed on by Patrick Aebischer to several ciation has a fundamental role to play. generations of students.” Integrating Former graduates can not only identify what we’ve learnt from Anglo-Saxon themselves with the school but also universities while finding our own path take pride in being part of EPFL and its is the sponsorship challenge for the EPFL development,” says Philippe Petitpierre. of tomorrow. ||
PHILIPPE PETITPIERRE Philippe Petitpierre graduated from EPFL with a degree in rural engineering. Today, he is the chairman of the board of directors of Holdigaz SA group companies. He also serves as chairman of Gaznat SA, Petrosvibri SA, Unigaz SA and Fingaz SA.
The endowment from Petros- vibri in 2010 went to found the Natural Gas Chair held by Professor Lyesse Laloui since 2012. Donations from Gaznat SA were used to establish two new research chairs. The Gaznat Chair to reduce CO2 emissions will be led by Pro- fessor Kumar Agrawal starting in the summer of 2016, and the Gaznat Chair in geo- energy has been held by Brice Lecampion since June 2015. DR
19 Alumnist Investment
ANTOINE FIRMENICH Antoine Firmenich was born in Geneva and lived in the United States for 17 years. He gradu- ated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1988), Stanford Medical School (PhD in biochemistry, 1994) and Stanford Graduate School of Business (1996).
After his studies, he joined the family business, a leader in the fragrance and flavour industry. In 2006, Antoine Firmenich co-founded Alatus Capital SA, an asset manager of collective investment schemes focused on proprietary trading mainly in European equities (www.alatus.ch).
The Firmenich Group made a donation to set up the Next Generation Firmenich Chair in Neuroscience, which is cur- rently recruiting for the profes- sorship, and a joint research programme between EPFL and Stanford University. DR
every donation cross-disciplinary practical lab sessions > supporting young people: EPFL currently HAS Its motivation in line with industry needs. EPFL is cur- offers several programmes to invest rently seeking funding and equipment in future talent. The science outreach Endowments, especially donations from donations to complete four of the six programme plays a key role in promoting alumni, are used to finance EPFL’s growth and cross-disciplinary spaces, including two science and technology among young development in Switzerland and abroad. If facilities devoted to prototyping. Find out people. The Euler Foundation supports you’re interested in becoming a donor, here more: http://discoverylearningprogram. children with high mathematics potential are some projects you can get involved in. epfl.ch/ in their personal development. The WISH Foundation encourages the involvement > major research projects: You can either > businesses in developing countries: In of women on campus and in research contribute to the school’s large-scale 2014, two-thirds of the world’s population at EPFL by offering grants to top female scientific projects (e.g. the Venice Time did not have access to basic medical students who want to do an exchange Machine programme to digitise the technology. This observation prompted programme with a foreign university. archives of Venice and create a “Google several programmes developed at EPFL. Find out more about programmes that Map of the past”) or sponsor a research Our scientists are currently working on promote careers in engineering: laboratory (architecture, robotics, projects including access to low-cost http://sps.epfl.ch/ cancer, computer science, fundamental X-ray equipment in Africa (GlobalDiag- http://euler.epfl.ch/ research, etc.), called “research chairs”. nostiX project), incubator prototypes that http://epfl-wishfoundation.epfl.ch/ maintain temperatures during power cuts > Infrastructure: Funding campus (GlobalNeonat project) or the develop- infrastructure means supporting the ment of new protective equipment for school’s long-term development. One people working with Ebola patients (Ebola Are you interested or would you simply of the major projects under way is the – Smart PPE project). To help EPFL support like more information? Don’t hesitate Discovery Learning Lab. This programme disadvantaged countries through innova- to contact Annelies Garcia, director of aims to break down barriers between tive technology, you can learn more at: EPFL Alumni: [email protected] fields of study by offering students open, http://cooperation.epfl.ch/essential-en or +41 21 693 20 70.
20 Alumnist Section Microengineering
These four alumni from the Microengineering section have something in common: a passion for innovation. With degrees earned between 1985 and 2012, they Text: Leïla Hussein discuss where their careers have taken them.
“I support companies “I got involved in their digital transition” in management”
Frédéric Nödl, 1996 Céline Ramoni, 2007 Partner Manager Production Manager at Microsoft, Geneva, at Amazon, Seattle, Switzerland United States DR DR
igour, logic and the the computer industry. completed many in management to oversee ability to see the big It’s an exciting field in our projects and group as- the development of a prod- “R picture are what I times of digital revolution. “I signments during my uct from A to Z. I obtained an learnt and retained from the And I enjoy playing a role Master’s in microengineer- MBA in innovation manage- five years I spent at the EPFL. in this change. In 2005 ing. That’s probably, where I ment and product develop- I didn’t just acquire knowl- I joined Microsoft, where I learnt the most about being ment before joining Amazon. edge. My studies shaped the held several sales positions responsible for a product, For the past year, I’ve been way I think. I remember it before going on to manage working with different kinds responsible for the online being a very intellectually strategic partners. I support of people and handling un- promotions and events stimulating period. Life was companies in their digital expected challenges. These platform. I created it with my hectic, between my classes transformation. Microsoft skills are essential in my day- team of designers and de- and sharing my living space has recently begun hiring to-day work. Of course, when velopers. Learning about the with seven other people. new talent at the Forum we weren’t studying, we entire product design cycle Fresh out of school in 1996, EPFL career fair. That gives would spend time relaxing at the EPFL has been incred- I was fortunate enough to me a chance to come back with friends at the Satellite ibly useful in implementing work with Toshiba in Japan to where it all began for me.” bar on campus. a long-term strategy.” for one year. It was an unfor- gettable experience. After graduating in 2007, I worked at Nissan in Japan In the early 2000s, I redi- for four years. When I was rected my career towards [email protected] 28, I wanted to get involved [email protected]
21 Alumnist Section
“I’ve become an expert in fields “I work ranging from robotics with academia” to production techniques”
Philippe Fischer, 1985 Stella Tsakam, 2012 Director of the Swiss Foundation Continuous Improvement Project for Research in Microtechnology, Manager at Richemont, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Switzerland Switzerland DR Thierry Parel
completed my degree a quick response capacity. y six years at EPFL I work with all the depart- at EPFL 30 years ago. I was used to spending hours really opened my ments towards improving “I I remember the cam- searching, testing and start- “M eyes to the world. company performance. pus back in the day: it was ing over until I found a solu- After specialising in Asian Thanks to the multidiscipli- still very small. When I see tion. Today, I run the Swiss industry, I went to India and nary aspect of my studies, what it has become today, Foundation for Research in China for one month to study I’ve become an expert in it almost makes me want to Microtechnology. I no longer the industrial approach and a variety of areas, ranging go back! In the 1980s when do any research, but I attend work methods in these two from robotics to produc- I started my university educa- many conferences and keep countries. That experience tion techniques. This broad tion, no one really knew what up to date with the latest taught me many valuable les- knowledge of the different microengineering was. Even technological advances. I sons. Now I work with people departments that make I began the course thinking also maintain close relations from all over the world every up the company helps me I’d be studying high-preci- with the academic world, day. What I learnt on that better understand what my sion mechanics. especially with former trip remains tremendously colleagues need and swiftly professors.” useful. respond to those needs.” After graduating in 1985, I was hired as an electronics After a position with Aude- engineer at Mettler-Toledo. mars Piguet, I joined the I had to be operational very Richemont group in 2014 as soon afterwards. Fortunately, the project manager for my studies provided me with [email protected] continuous improvement. [email protected]
22 Alumnist Proust
Proust Questionnaire André Borschberg
“I am superstitious”
Solar Impulse is the culmination of Bertrand Piccard’s vision and André Borschberg’s passion for aviation and innovation. This duo forms the perfect team to get the project off the ground and develop it successfully. Combining the strengths of his engineering degree from EPFL and his Master in Management, André Borschberg set up the company, oversaw the construction of the solar aeroplane prototype and planned the flight missions.
My defining characteristic Determination The quality I like most in a man Listening skills The quality I like most in a woman Spontaneity What I look for in my friends To be oneself My biggest character flaw Impatient My favourite pastime Trying something new My dream come true What I live now My worst nightmare I can’t write it down, as superstitious What I would like to be Happy as I am 1952 Born in Zurich The country I would like to live in Besides Switzerland, California on 13 December 1967 My favourite bird Migrating Bird Took his first solo flight at age 15 My favourite writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 1973 Got his military My favourite poets I do not read poetry anymore pilot’s licence My fictional heroes Tintin 1977 Graduated with a degree My favourite composers Léonard Cohen in mechanical engineer- ing and thermodynamics My favourite painters Félix Vallotton, Balthus, Paul Klee from EPFL 1978 My real-life heroes Mikhaïl Gorbachev, Mustafa Kemal Got married. He had three children My real-life heroines Amelia Earhart with his wife 1983 What I hate the most Bragging Graduated with a Master of Science in Manage- Historical figures I hate Dictators, Joseph Staline, Adolf Hitler ment Studies degree from MIT in Boston The military event I admire the most Remembrance Day 1996 The reform I admire the most Discovered yoga and Female voting rights meditation in India The gift of nature I would like the most Music 2003 Launch of the Solar How I would like to die Doing what I love Impulse project after meeting Professor My current state of mind A bit too much in the future Michel Declerq and Bertrand Piccard Mistakes I forgive the easiest To make mistakes 2010 First 26-hour flight with My motto Trying, daring, making attempt Solar Impulse 1 2015 Trip around the world with stop-overs with Solar Impulse 2
23 Alumnist Class of Electrical Engineering Class of 1992 Where are they now?
n 1992, the economic crisis was beginning They remember a rapidly growing school, to unfold. The electrical engineering stu- though different from the current one, if I dents of the time nevertheless recalled a only in the number of students and com- wonderful atmosphere around graduation puter resources available. These graduates time, including camping out in the labs, get- went on to pursue careers in a wide range ting assignments in on time, and going on of fields, from digitalization to social Text: recreational outings in the entrepreneurship, IT, energy services and Laura Hunter mountains. acoustics. ||
amine tazi-riffi 45 geneva, switzerland “After my degree, I left to study at MIT in Cambridge, near Bos- ton. The school is nicknamed ‘EPFL’s big sister’. I completed a Master’s in electri- cal engineering and computer science in 1994. I excelled, which made me appreciate the quality of the education provided at EPFL. In 1995, I got an MBA at INSEAD in Paris.
I began working for the consult- ing firm McKinsey in 1996, first in Zurich and then in Geneva. Four years later, I was named partner, the youngest in the company’s history! Since then, I’ve set up a McKinsey office in North Africa and continue to oversee the firm’s expansion in Africa.”
lucie baillon 49 geneva, switzerland “Out of 80 students, two of us Materials and spent one year in were women. It wasn’t easy. the United States working on it. I felt lonely and had When I returned to Switzerland, I a hard time fitting worked with acoustic engineering in. Despite all that, consultants and in the environ- I stayed at EPFL as mental sector. an assistant after getting my degree. Since 2008, I’ve been working as head of the Public Buildings, Even then, I knew Events and Non-ionising Radia- that I’d be working in tion sector at the Department of acoustics. I started the Environment, Transportation a dissertation with and Agriculture of the Canton of the Laboratory of Construction Geneva.”
24 Alumnist Class of
nicolas thévoz 48 payerne, switzerland “After graduation, I started out Bern, before joining as a research assistant at EPFL, Swisscom as team and then left on a trip around the manager for 17 years. world. At times I was tempted I also did Process En- to switch careers and become a gineering and service mountain guide, but after return- development. ing to Switzerland I resumed academic research. On May 1, 2015, I became CEO of CC After that, I worked in software Energie, the first development for three years Swiss energy services at the Swiss telecommunica- platform.” tions company Ascom, based in
damien corti 47 geneva, switzerland “After graduation, I studied English in the United States and German in German- speaking Switzerland. I worked for three years as an engineer developing circuits and then on the planning of the Natel D mobile networks for two years. After that, I joined Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), where I still work today. I’ve held posi- tions there as project manager and head of engineering and am currently Chief Technical Officer.
Most of my work focuses on digitalizing RTS alongside my German- and Italian-speaking maxime marini Swiss counterparts. As life has its 47 little quirks, RTS will be moving hsinchu, taïwan onto the EPFL site in 2020… Nearly “As a student at EPFL, I went on In 1996, I joined the group Logitech 30 years later, I’ll be returning to a trainee programme in India, and have remained there ever the place where this picture was which made me want since. I worked in Asia as head of taken!” to work abroad. After OEM products (keyboards, mice, graduation, I remained etc.) for ten years before return- at the school for a few ing to Switzerland in 2008. Since months as an assis- June, I’ve mainly been living in DR tant, and then worked Taiwan, where I am Vice President at Swatch Group in of Engineering and Site Director. Test Engineering. That I believe it’s extremely important is where I got used to to look beyond our borders.” working in high-volume This photo was taken on January 22, production. 1992, a the Collège Propédeutique at the University of Lausanne.
25 Alumnist News
A look at living cells down to the molecule Lab stories EPFL EPFL scientists have produced footage of living scientific cells by integrating the technology Text: NEWS Emmanuel Barraud of two microscopes.
The technology developed by EPFL researchers provides a precise, 3D visualisation of the observed sample. Alain Herzog
y combining two cutting- scope, a technique that earned inside the cell. By uniting the best edge microscopy techniques its inventors the Nobel Prize last of these two worlds, the scientists B into one instrument, year. Special software developed can put super-resolution im- researchers at EPFL’s Institute by researchers assembles the im- ages of specific proteins into the of Bioengineering have cap- ages from the two instruments structural context of the cells. tured images of living cells with to give a precise, 3D visualisation After taking successive images of unprecedented resolution. The of the observed sample. the same living cell, the scientists scientists have even been able were able to, for the first time to observe the evolution of the “The AFM can be used to see ever, follow the behaviour of cells’ structure and molecular the 3D structure of the cell in protein clusters in relation to the characteristics. nanoscale resolution,” says 3D structure of the cell. Pascal Odermatt, a PhD student The secret is in combining the at EPFL’s Laboratory of Bio- The EPFL-built system is still a images produced by two very and Nano-instrumentation, prototype but has already attract- advanced technologies. The directed by Georg Fantner. “But ed the interest of the scientific new device is composed of a it cannot see the nature of the community as well as a leading high-speed atomic force micro- molecules inside the cell.” The microscope manufacturer. || scope (AFM) — an instrument second technology, known as that “feels” the surface being PALM (photo-activated light mi- observed using a tiny force croscopy), uses contrast to make sensitive needle — and a single selected molecules blink on and molecule localization micro- off and then follows their path
26 Alumnist News
A giant Pac-Man to gobble up EPFL scientific space debris NEWS
The CleanSpace One project has reached a milestone. The space clean-up satellite will deploy a conical net to capture the small SwissCube satellite Text: Sarah Perrin before destroying it in the atmosphere.
he SwissCube satellite has tools floating around. Orbiting bounce off CleanSpace One been in Earth’s orbit for more around our planet at a speed of 7 and rocket out into space.” To T than five years. But there was km/second, this space junk can avoid these kinds of disasters, Lab stories no reason why it should become turn into powerful projectiles the visual approach algorithms just another piece of space junk. and constitutes a serious threat to on the clean-up satellite’s cameras Engineers from eSpace, EPFL’s the devices and people working are currently going through tests. Center for Space Engineering in space. Many players in related and Signal Processing 5 Laborato- scientific fields are currently To design the most efficient ry (LTS 5), and partners from the working on long-term solutions capture system, the engineers University of Applied Sciences to collect and eliminate all that worked hand in hand with micro- Western Switzerland are confi- waste. And it’s a tougher job than engineering students from Hepia dent they can meet this challenge one might think... Geneva, who came up with vari- with CleanSpace One (CSO). ous solutions, from articulated For the past three years, they “SwissCube is not only a 10 cm arms with claws to a system of have been working on a space by 10 cm object that’s tricky to tentacles. They finally opted for clean-up satellite that will be sent grasp, but it also has darker and the so-called “Pac-Man” solu- into orbit to catch SwissCube in lighter parts that reflect sunlight tion. The prototype resembles its net. The two will then combust differently,” explains Christophe a cone-shaped net that unfolds together in outer space. To reach Paccolat, a PhD student working and then clasps back down once this development milestone, at LTS5. “These variations can it has imprisoned the satellite. the engineers have had to make distort the estimates of its direc- The next stage will combine the critical decisions on the design tion and rotation speed.” Muriel development of the first version of CSO’s approach and capture Richard-Noca, head of the of the engineering models and systems. project, emphasizes the extreme more extensive tests. || delicacy of the mission: “It only Space debris runs the gamut from takes one error in calculating broken down satellites to random the approach for SwissCube to
The engineers of eSpace have been working for three years on a clean-up satellite that will be sent to capture Swisscube, then destroy it in space. Alain Herzog
27 Alumnist Garden Party Alumni Gold Garden Party 2015
EPFL president Patrick Aebischer and the vice presidents of the Text: school met the alumni Gold contributors as part Pierre Dorsaz of the first Garden Party organized on September 8, Photos: Murielle Gerber 2015 at the Bois Chamblard residence.
he Garden Party is a unique opportunity for Alumni to get an update on the T latest developments and the main strategic projects of the School by EPFL leadership team. Besides EPFL President and vice-presidents, the event is attented by Upper left, alumni and the EPFL team gathered representatives of EPFL’s major initiatives. at Bois Chamblard. Above: Ludovia Visciola (SV 12) This year, the event addressed the topic and Claude Fiorin (EL 82.) of digital transition with the presence of Left: Francois Gabela (GM 82), LEM CEO, in front with Professor Pierre Dillenbourg, who leads the Eric Merk, head of fund- Center for Digital Education in charge of raising at EPFL and Odile creating EPFL MOOCS. Other external experts Batty, former president of of the digital industry joined the discussion, EPFL Alumni, her back to including Dominique Mégret, head of Swiss- the camera. com Ventures and Philippe Cina, delegate of the CEO of the Swiss Post for the Mobility Lab Sion-Valais.
The Garden Party also serves as a networking platform between EPFL and its alumni active in various industries. The 2015 Alumni Gold contributors hold executive positions in the constuction, life sciences, energy, finance or healthcare sectors, among others. They can therefore share the current opportuni- ties and challenges of their industry with EPFL’s leadership while finding out about the School’s initiatives in their field. ||
28 Alumnist Garden Party
Patrick Aebischer, EPFL president, talked about the school with the alumni Gold contributors.
Professor Pierre Dillenbourg, a MOOC expert (left), Michael Thémans, deputy vice-president of EPFL and Dominique Mégret, Swisscom Ventures director (above), highlighted the potential of digital, especially in education and trans- portation.
For more information about the Garden Party and the Gold contribution, visit our website, www.epflalumni.ch/fr/avantages
29 Alumnist Cover
technologies that will change the world
What are today’s most exciting technical and scientific breakthroughs? And how will they impact our lives? Alumnist asks the most eminent scientists at EPFL.
Text: Séverine Géroudet, Gabrielle Cottier, Leila Hussein and Thomas Pfefferlé Photos: Vincent Calmel
eading organisations, such as The impact of this technological progress the World Economic Forum, and on all aspects of our lives is already auditing and consulting firms like impressive, but it is likely to be even more Deloitte, Gartner and Pricewater- spectacular in the years to come. What’s LhouseCoopers regularly publish their most striking is how fast these changes rankings of our most promising technical are hitting us. Driverless vehicles, which and scientific advances. In this report seemed unfathomable just ten years ago, for Alumnist magazine, we reviewed are already cruising around the EPFL these different rankings and selected ten campus. And the collaborative economy, technologies that apply to a broad range which represented $15 billion in 2014, of areas, such as manufacturing, trans- is expected to exceed $335 billion in portation, economy, health, food, etc. We ten years. submitted our selection to the discrimi- nating eye of experts, most of whom are From connected objects to nanoparticles professors or researchers at EPFL. to genetic engineering and nutrigenomics, we explain here why these ten technolo- gies are going to change the world. ||
30 Alumnist Cover
Materials The potential of nanoparticless
artificial blood vessels, dental implants and prostheses for hips and joints, nanoparticles still carry vast potential. “Research is placing great hope in nano- medicine,” says Sandrine Gerber, who is currently working on nanoscopic and microscopic biomaterials. “For example, nanoparticles can be used to limit the side effects of a drug. They coat the active ingredient to deliver it as close as pos- sible to its target. This process is effective for anti-cancer drugs, which are often toxic for the rest of the organism,” she ex- plains. “In cell transplantation, polymer microcapsules are used to isolate cells of the immune system and protect them.” This therapeutic targeting is in line with the shift towards personalised medicine and is expected to lead to the develop- xtremely customisable, more materials at EPFL. “These new materials ment of new treatments. lightweight, elastic, biocompatible have led to major advances in a variety E and environmentally-friendly, of areas. In construction, nanoparticles nanoparticles have been used to create have been used to improve building Further reading a new generation of materials, such as resistance, insulation, water resistance, bioplastics and smart concrete. “It’s a energy savings, etc.” Buddy D. Ratner et al., “Biomaterials Science, Third Edition: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine", very advanced area of research,” says Academic Press, 2013. Sandrine Gerber, a professor at the Laboratory In health and medicine, biomaterials Dieter Vollath, “Nanomaterials: An Introduction of synthesis and natural products and have spurred spectacular progress. to Synthesis, Properties and Applications", head of the Group for functionalized bio- Already commonly used to develop 2nd edition, Wiley-VCH, 2013.
he “Internet of Things” is made their own “connected” models. For up of objects embedded with now, connected objects send the data T chips or sensors that offer network to different types of terminals. But the Internet of Things connectivity either to the Internet or specialist expects that “over the next other objects. These “things” are now five years, information will converge to moving towards 80 billion everywhere, exploding in number from smartphones and tablets.” The Internet less than 1 million just ten short years of Things is touted by marketers as ma- connected objects ago to more than 15 billion worldwide. king life easier – for example a refrigerator And they’re not stopping there. Forecasts that generates a shopping list when it’s from Gartner and Idate, two research empty – but it brings new risks. “Users’ and consulting firms specialised in the personal information is collected and technology market, estimate between stored online, meaning it can be misused. 30 billion and 80 billion of them by 2020. The threat of Big Brother-type drifts is real.” “This phenomenon affects all areas of in- dustry, forcing companies to adapt,” says Philippe Fischer, director of the Swiss Foun- Further reading dation for Research in Microtechnology. Thierry Piette-Coudol, “Les objets connectés. “Watchmaking is the perfect example.” Sécurité juridique et technique", LexisNexis, 2015. The launch of the Apple Watch pushed Institut G9+, “Les nouveaux eldorados de watch brands – typically ultra-traditional l’économie connectée", white paper available – like Montblanc and Breitling to develop for download.
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3D printing A third industrial revolution
riginally dating back to the 1980s, additive manufacturing, or 3D O printing, is exploding today thanks to digital technology and the Internet. Experts predict that this technology is the next industrial revolution. “Unlike the traditional production method of machining – a so-called ‘subtractive’ pro- cess, meaning that material is removed to create a part – additive manufactur- ing generates little or no waste,” says Professor Andreas Mortensen, director of the Laboratory of Mechanical Metallurgy at EPFL. “We go directly from a digital file to a finished product, with the advantages of saving time and sometimes money.” Companies have understood that addi- tive manufacturing speeds up prototyp- ing and slashes the time it takes to get a 3D printing is spreading throughout ganised into layers. “But more types of new product to market. The technology is the population, primarily through “Fab materials will soon be used.” This tech- already widespread in industries such as labs”. These fabrication laboratories nology has led to exciting new projects, aviation. In medicine it is used to create bring production methods within any- especially in medicine. “Bioprinting” personalised implants using scanners. one’s reach. “Individuals will soon be is being used to try to reproduce blood able to manufacture solid objects easily. vessels, cartilage, skin and even entire Crafts and other goods will become organs. increasingly personalised.” The materi- als currently used are mainly plastic and metal in powder, such as gold, titanium Further reading and aluminium. They are sintered with Chris Anderson, Makers: The New Industrial a laser or an electron beam and reor- Revolution, Crown Business, 2012.
ith the development of renewable advance when electricity is most energy such as solar and wind expensive and can adjust their energy W power, electrical grids are forced consumption. “Systems have already Smart Grids to adapt. This new green energy – highly been tested in numerous countries, variable and random due to its depend- including Switzerland, to adapt demand Supplying power ency on weather conditions – is not easy to supply and therefore reduce electric- to integrate into existing grids, which ity companies’ costs of using additional efficiently were built to absorb a virtually constant generators.” energy supply. Transforming electrical grids represents more than a technical The EPFL Smart Grid is testing another challenge. It is also an economic one. approach. This system uses only renew- able energy and is automatically bal- anced by decentralising production from “To smooth out fluctuations in solar the solar and wind power units operated and wind energy supply, electricity by companies and individuals. companies have to rely on additional generators, and many of those run on oil or gas,” says Professor Jean-Yves Le Boudec, co-director of the EPFL Smart Grid pro- ject. “However, these generators compro- mise profitability, as they are only used intermittently.” Further reading Andrey Bernstein, Jean-Yves Le Boudec et al., One of the measures in the Smart Grid “Real-Time Control of Microgrids with Explicit system is to provide homes with smart Power Setpoints: Unintentional Islanding”, meters. That way, consumers know in article on line, 2015.
32 Alumnist Cover
their level of autonomy,” says Aude Billard, rational decision made by a computer? a professor at EPFL’s Learning Algorithms And the most sensitive area is ethics. and Systems Laboratory. “It can adapt While we are delighted with the progress Robotics its decisions to the circumstances of an that makes our day-to-day lives easier, unpredictable environment.” Research is we also live with a palpable fear that of robots and men advancing quickly, and the robots of the robots could one day replace humans future will integrate a growing number of and radically change how certain jobs parameters. “In manufacturing, they will are performed. soon work directly with human beings, helping them to transport and design ob- jects. The potential of this human-robot interaction is huge, but carries its own set of problems.”
prosthesis that senses the movement Technical challenges remain, as disrup- Further reading that its wearer would like to make. tions are still common. Then, the question Pawel Lichocki, Peter Kahn et Aude Billard, A car that drives itself. A complex of legal liability becomes more complex “A Survey of the Current Ethical Landscape A in Robotics” in IEEE Robotics and Automation step in an industrial production process. in the case of an accident involving a hu- Magazine, vol. 18:1 (2011), p. 39 - 50. Robots are everywhere and are getting man and a robot. Focus moves to issues Jean-Christophe Baillie, “Robotique et intelligence better at what they do. “The difference that arise when, for example, a driverless artificielle - Des robots capables d'apprendre?”, between robots and other machines is vehicle causes a fatal accident due to a De Vive Voix, 2013.
Genetic engineering Cutting and pasting DNA
n just 20 years, the ability to modify DNA has gone from a rare and labori- I ous event to a frequent and efficient occurrence. In 2012, a technique called Crispr-Cas9 was developed and has since spread to virtually all biology labo- ratories. This process is used to isolate a specific segment of the DNA sequence for editing. In cases of genetic disease or gene deregulation in cancer, DNA can be repaired by replacing the organism’s defective gene. Healing then takes place on its own.
“Many research laboratories now prac- tise targeted genome modification,” says Denis Duboule, professor of genetics and genomics at EPFL. “Crispr-Cas9 offers enormous potential for medicine and could eventually be applied to prevent- ing, diagnosing and treating disease. We With its potential ranging from healing steer through this transition from an will soon be able to harvest a cell, for cancer to identifying genetic diseases in ethical point of view.” example from bone marrow in a leukae- an embryo, the development of Crispr- mia patient, repair it and reinsert it, like Cas9 and its future application raise is- Further reading in a transplant,” he explains. “For now sues that overstep the bounds of academ- Florence Rosier, “Les vertiges de la ‘chirurgie we’re still looking at possible side effects, ics. The debate is at the level of all society. du génome", in Le Monde science et techno, but we can expect this technology to The scientist believes that this is a pivotal 23.03.2015. spread to new treatments over the next time, when science fiction is on the verge Stéphane Foucart, “Editer la nature", few years.” of becoming reality. “Society will have to in Le Monde, 31.08.2015.
33 Alumnist Cover
Energies and Atomic Energy Commis- famous Human Brain Project. The HBP’s sion. “Programming is inevitably restric- overarching aim is to develop new com- ted to certain areas and specific tasks. puting technologies based on a detailed Computers Machines with neuromorphic systems understanding of how the human brain become more autonomous by reacting functions. The SyNAPSE project in the Processors that function and adapting to their environment.” United States, led by IBM and funded by Darpa, was launched to develop neuro- like the brain To develop computers that can learn morphic chips to be used in smartphones. and mimic human behaviour, scientists are attempting to simulate the interaction of biological neurons. The technology used to build neuromorphic systems has countless applications in visual and sound recognition and in robotics, including he computers that we use facial recognition, instant translation, today are completely pre- autonomous robots and space exploration. “Tprogrammed, limiting what Further reading they can do,” says Christophe Gamrat, a Today, research projects are under way Shih-Chii Liu, “Event-Based Neuromorphic researcher from the French Alternative all over the world. EPFL is home to the Systems", Wiley, 2015.
n Switzerland on the EPFL campus, the autonomous and driverless vehicle I CityMobil2 successfully completed Driverless vehicles its test phase at the end of August 2015. Equipped with sensors and programmed Smart road traffic ahead to stop at different areas on the campus, the smart minibus demonstrates how far this technology has come. In early 2016, this new type of transporta- Meanwhile, Swisscom is testing an “This type of vehicle is likely to develop tion will be tested in a public area for the autonomous vehicle in Zurich. A special significantly over the next few years,” says first time by PostBus in the city centre of authorisation allows the operator to run Philippe Cina, co-ordinator of the Mobility Sion.The pilot project involves operating trials until the end of the year on certain Lab Sion-Valais, a project aimed at testing two driverless minibuses over short dis- sections of city streets. innovative mobility solutions jointly led tances to provide the Valais capital with by Swiss Post, the Canton of Valais, the a new means of public transport. Similar city of Sion, EPFL and the University of projects are also set for launch in France, Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Germany and the United Kingdom in (HES-SO) Valais. “People are investing 2016. “At the same time, progress with more in city centres but don’t want them individual vehicles is also expected to Further reading cluttered with cars. And driverless public optimise and improve the flow of road “Autonomous driving”, a study by the transport vehicles are an ideal solution traffic on expressways while boosting Paris-based consulting firm Roland for that trend in urban development.” safety over the next 10 to 15 years.” Berger, 2014, available online.
34 Alumnist Cover
Sharing economy A democratic model
he sharing economy is a sociolo- gical phenomenon, the result of “Tour changing consumption and production habits,” says Marc Gruber, head of the Chair of Entrepreneurship and Technology Commercialization at EPFL. Building on new possibilities offered by the Internet, social media and smart- phones, this shift encourages citizens and consumers to work together by pooling resources. In the sharing economy ownership is no longer important, but access to products and services is. “The democratic approach to production in collaborative consumption emancipates potential consumers and entrepreneurs. Anyone can become a producer and bring something to the rest of the community.” will continue to gain ground. “In the future, other sectors will open up to Airbnb alone embodies the success collaborative consumption, extending Further reading of this new trend. In 2014, the accom- to services such as meals, home repairs Jeremy Rifkin “The Zero Marginal Cost Society", Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. modation rental platform recorded and education.” The parallel economy 10 million reservations between hosts will force traditional companies to re- Michel Bauwens “Sauver le monde, vers une société post-capitaliste avec le peer-to-peer", and guests. The sharing economy has examine and reinvent themselves. “The LLL, 2015. already spread to transport, with ride sharing economy is a disruptive model Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers “What’s Mine Is sharing and Uber’s taxi service, and that will cause the previous model to Yours: How Collaborative Consumption Is Changing financing, with crowdfunding. And it disappear.” the Way We Live", HarperCollins, 2011.
specialised in the genetic control of ener- an optimist, and research moves forward. gy metabolism. The human genome has We’ll get there in a few years.” With the actually changed very little since humans development of mainstream sequencing, Nutrigenomics have become sedentary and large-scale everyone will soon know what genes they food production has developed. This has have. Using that information, nutrigeno- Personalising caused metabolic diseases to emerge mics can be used to adapt nutrition to such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovas- each individual or even offer in-store food your diet cular diseases. “Nutrigenomics focuses selections designed for a given genome. on building our knowledge of the interac- “Nutrigenomics is both a preventive tion between nutrients and our genes to and curative approach, aiming to help solve these problems of metabolism.” people to live longer, healthier lives. And the social and sensory pleasure of eating The development of this science could won’t disappear.” eventually lead to personalised diets, also dubbed “precision nutrition”. “Nutrige- e live in a society of abun- nomics can help population groups dance, where a large amount that lack abundant food by determining “Wof food is available that gene- which nutrients are essential to their rates a lot of calories for little physical metabolism.” That task is not so easy. effort. This excess food does not match “We have nearly 20,000 different genes, Further reading up with our original hunter-gatherer but only some of them are linked to Walter Wahli and Nathalie Constantin, genome,” says Walter Wahli, professor nutrition. We have to target those genes “La nutrigénomique dans votre assiette", emeritus at the University of Lausanne, and understand how they function. I’m De Boek Supérieur, 2011.
35 Alumnist Employers
Who employs EPFL Basel alumni in Switzerland?
Basel
Neuchâtel >100 alumni Lausanne >100>50 alumnialumni
Lausanne >50 alumni
Lausanne >200 alumni Bienne
Mex >50 alumni
Romanel- sur Morges >50 alumni
Tolochenaz >50 alumni
Le Brassus >50 alumni
oday, 75% of EPFL gra- duates work in Switzerland. This infographic presents T an overview of the main employers of the school’s alumni in 2015 and the main geographical hubs where they work. Geneva, Lausanne and the north shore of Lake Geneva continue to attract most of EPFL’s engineers. Zurich, Bern Bern and Basel also have high concentrations of EPFL alumni. The three major Swiss and international Gland groups – Nestlé, Elca Informatique >50 alumni Bern and Philip Morris – are currently Vevey the main private employers of EPFL >200 alumni alumni. A number of public bodies (Swiss federal government, govern- ment of the Canton of Vaud) and Meyrin especially universities (UNIL, ETHZ) >100 alumni also currently employ more than Yverdon-les-Bains 100 former EPFL students. || Geneva Geneva >100 alumni >50 alumni
Bellevue Villars-sur-Glâne >50 alumni Bulle
36 Alumnist Employers
Baar >50 alumni Basel >50 alumni
Zug Basel >50 alumni >100 alumni
Baden >100 alumni
>50 alumni
Jona >50 alumni
Zurich >200 alumni
Zurich >100 alumni
Zurich >50 alumni
>50 alumni
>100 alumni
>100 alumni All Swiss employers were included except for EPFL itself. This infographic was designed based on data available on LinkedIn and in the alumni database as of October 15th, 2015. Please keep your information in our database up to date for our >50 alumni future statistics. You can now try our new, easy-to-use function available >50 alumni on our website that automatically synchronises your information on LinkedIn with your profile on the EPFL Alumni website. Check it out!
37 Alumnist Calendar
Calendar2016
january Tour oF Tour of the Sonova Federal Palace Curling event february 10 march 9 in Wallisellen This event organised by the Eastern About thirty alumni will enjoy the january 22 Switzerland chapter offers the privilege of visiting the Federal chance to visit Sonova, a leading Palace in Bern. They will attend The Eastern Switzerland chapter hearing implant manufacturer a parliamentary session and of EPFL Alumni invites its members to with headquarters based in afterwards have the opportunity a fun-filled event to learn how to play the Canton of Zurich. to chat with a member of curling. All the details are available parliament. on our website.
february march may
dinner on Peter Maurer from Balelec crowdfunding the ICRC at EPFL may 13 february 9 march 8 The event you don’t want to miss! Organised by the Vaud-Valais Peter Maurer, president of the Like every year, the 2016 edition chapter in partnership with EHL International Committee of the Red of EPFL’s music festival will host and HEC Lausanne, this conference Cross (ICRC) since 2012, will come about 20 concerts on its five dinner provides the opportunity to the EPFL campus to give a talk different stages. to discuss this method of financing, at the Rolex Forum. which is revolutionising the way we fund projects. All practical information will soon be available on our website.
This non-exhaustive list of events will be updated regularly. Visit our website www.epflalumni.ch and the EPFL Alumni group on Linkedin to make sure you don't miss anything, and make sure we have your correct email address.
Alumnist Impressum
It is distributed along with Technologist, editor Writers the European science magazine published by EPFL Alumni Arnaud Aubelle EuroTech Universitites, which includes EPFL. Rolex Learning Center Emmanuel Barraud Station 20 Gabrielle Cottier 1015 Lausanne Pierre Dorsaz Switzerland Séverine Géroudet T. 021 693 24 91 Laura Hunter www.epflalumni.ch Leïla Hussein Sarah Perrin editorial and graphic Thomas Pfefferlé production William Türler LargeNetwork 6, rue Abraham-Gevray Design director 1201 Geneva Romain Guerini Switzerland T. 022 919 19 19 layout [email protected] Sébastien Fontana www.largenetwork.com Nicola Todeschini
head of publication cover Gabriel Sigrist Benoît Ecoiffier and Pierre Grosjean Translation project management Technicis, Paris Arnaud Aubelle for l’EPFL Alumni printer Séverine Géroudet Pajo, Estonie for LargeNetwork Distribution 22’000 copies
38 ADVERTISement
Faculty Position in Faculty Position in Mechanical Engineering Solid Mechanics
The Institute of Mechanical Engineering is soliciting applications for The Institute of Mechanical Engineering is soliciting applications for a faculty position at the level of tenure-track assistant professor a faculty position at the level of tenure-track assistant professor or (tenured) associate professor in any discipline in the field of or (tenured) associate professor for researchers with interests in mechanical engineering. Solid Mechanics.
Of particular interest for this search are applicants who perform Researchers working in any areas of solid mechanics – including experimental research. Areas of specific technical interest include but not limited to nano-mechanics, mechanics of energy storage but not limited to new energy conversion and storage technologies, materials, metamaterials, soft materials, and biomaterials – are thermodynamics, advanced manufacturing, applied solid mechanics, encouraged to apply. The Institute has a particular interest in expe- metamaterials, and heat/mass transfer. Applicants should have a rimental research. Applicants should have a demonstrated record of demonstrated record of excellence in their chosen technical area. achievement in the field.
As a faculty member of the School of Engineering, the successful As a faculty member of the School of Engineering, the successful candidate will be expected to initiate an independent and creative candidate will be expected to initiate an independent and creative research program and participate in undergraduate and graduate research program and participate in undergraduate and graduate teaching. Internationally competitive salaries, start-up resources and teaching. Internationally competitive salaries, start-up resources and benefits are offered. benefits are offered.
EPFL, with its main campus located in Lausanne, Switzerland, is a EPFL, with its main campus located in Lausanne, Switzerland, is a dynamically growing and well-funded institution fostering excellence dynamically growing and well-funded institution fostering excellence and diversity. As a technical university covering essentially the entire and diversity. As a technical university covering essentially the entire palette of engineering and science, EPFL offers a fertile environ- palette of engineering and science, EPFL offers a fertile environ- ment for research cooperation between different disciplines. EPFL ment for research cooperation between different disciplines. EPFL has a highly international environment that is multi-lingual and multi- has a highly international environment that is multi-lingual and multi- cultural, with English often serving as a common interface. cultural, with English often serving as a common interface.
Applications should include a cover letter with a statement of Applications should include a cover letter with a statement of motivation, curriculum vitae, list of publications and patents, concise motivation, curriculum vitae, list of publications and patents, and a statement of research and teaching interests. Applicants for assis- concise statement of research and teaching interests. Applicants for tant professor should request five letters of recommendation to be assistant professor should request five letters of recommendation to uploaded to the recruitment web site, while applicants for associate be uploaded to the recruitment web site, while applicants for asso- professor should provide the names and addresses of at least five ciate professor should provide the names and addresses of at least potential recommenders. Applications must be uploaded in PDF five potential recommenders. Applications must be uploaded in PDF format to the recruitment web site: http://go.epfl.ch/igm-search format to the recruitment web site: http://go.epfl.ch/igm-solid
Formal evaluation of candidates will begin on 4 January 2016. Formal evaluation of candidates will begin on 15 December 2015.
Enquiries may be addressed to: Enquiries may be addressed to: Contact: Prof. John Botsis Prof. William Curtin Search Committee Chair Search Committee Chair [email protected] [email protected]
For additional information on EPFL, For additional information on EPFL, please consult the web sites: please consult the web sites: www.epfl.ch, sti.epfl.ch and igm.epfl.ch www.epfl.ch, sti.epfl.ch and igm.epfl.ch
EPFL is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, EPFL is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty, and strongly encourages women to apply. and strongly encourages women to apply.
To apply, please follow the application procedure at Faculty Position in https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/6192 Data Science and Machine Learning The following documents are requested in PDF format: cover letter, curriculum vitae including publication list, brief statements of research and teaching The School of Computer and Communication Sciences at EPFL invites interests, names and addresses (including e-mail) of 3 references for junior applications for faculty positions in computer and communication sciences. positions and 6 for senior positions. Screening will start on December 1, 2015. We are seeking candidates for tenure-track assistant professor as well as for senior positions. Further questions can be addressed to: Prof. James Larus Successful candidates will develop an independent and creative research pro- Dean of the School of Computer and Communication Sciences EPFL CH-1015 Lausanne gram, participate in both undergraduate and graduate teaching, and supervise [email protected] PhD students. For additional information on EPFL, The school is seeking candidates in the fields of data science and machine please consult the web sites: learning, including application of these techniques in natural language proces- www.epfl.ch, sti.epfl.ch and igm.epfl.ch sing, speech recognition, information retrieval, and similar fields.
EPFL offers internationally competitive salaries, significant start-up resources, and outstanding research infrastructure. EPFL is an equal opportunity employer.
39 moserdesign.ch
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