About CCMX

The Competence Centre for Materials Science and Technology (CCMX) is one of several centres of excellence initiated at the national level by the ETH Board in early 2006. It aims to serve the interests of Switzerland in the field of materials science in terms of research, education and technology transfer by reinforcing ties between academia, industry and the Swiss economy.

CCMX federates the strengths of four ETH Domain institutions (EPFL, ETH Zurich, EMPA, PSI) and of CSEM, and involves the active participation of partners from industry, from industrial associations and from Swiss universities. The Centre is headed by a Steering Committee comprising members from EPFL (chair), ETH Zurich, PSI, Empa, CSEM and industry.

At the core of the Centre’s activities are ERUs – Education and Research Units – and an Analytical Platform. The ERUs offer programmes of research and education, including technology transfer, in targeted fields of activity identified together with the Swiss industry :

• surface, coatings and particles engineering (SPERU)
• materials for the life sciences (MatLife)
• metallurgy (MERU)

Closely linked to these ERUs is an Analytical Platform developing and promoting activities in nano- and microscale materials characterisation for industry and academia (NMMC).

Until the end of 2009 an ERU on materials for micro- and nanosystems (MMNS) was also part of the Centre.

The Centre funds projects involving industrial partners and research institutions. CCMX concentrates on pre-competitive research and thus aims to strongly and positively influence this area in Switzerland.

Each CCMX funded project includes at least two institutions and very often one or more industrial partners. This multi-partner project approach brings together the best competencies from all over Switzerland in specific materials science related domains.

A wide range of continuing education is offered by CCMX. Courses, seminars and workshops are regularly organised by the ERUs and the platform. Topics are chosen based on the actual needs of the targeted audiences (PhD students, engineers, scientists from industry and/or academia). These continuing education initiatives attracted more than 230 participants from industry and academia in 2007 and will continue in the coming years.

The interactions that CCMX maintains with the industry are decisive in the process of technology and knowledge transfer. By involving several institutions and one or more industrial partner in each project, CCMX ensures access to fundamental and applied know-how.

The industrial liaison programme of CCMX is a means for both large and small companies to have access to the technology and the knowledge developed within the Centre. Companies have two options to be involved in CCMX. They can either purchase research tickets or become members of Club CCMX.

CCMX’s outreach activities and industrial liaison programme are perfect opportunities for the industry to communicate its needs in terms of research and education.

CCMX aims to strongly and positively influence materials science in Switzerland by building a Swiss reservoir of expertise in the field of materials science. It builds bridges between the scientific and industrial communities and addresses targeted specific needs with particular emphasis on developments of interest for the applications of tomorrow.