In the 2025 edition of the PhD Student Symposium, our goal is to spotlight the process of transforming innovations into commercially viable technologies. Inspired by Louis Pasteur’s words, “Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world”, we invite presenters to address the challenges that must be tackled to make this vision a reality. The symposium will showcase prominent research themes currently being pursued at Empa, encouraging critical discussion and fostering collaboration among participants from diverse research fields. A key focus will also be on ideas developed at Empa that have successfully entered the industry, demonstrating the tangible impact of scientific advancement in the real world.

Join us in this illuminating journey to drive industry innovation through impactful research!

The symposium will embrace a diverse range of topics aligning with Empa’s research focal points. We aim to create a collaborative environment where interdisciplinary discussions can flourish, focusing on:

• Advanced and Functional Materials
• Materials for Health and Performance
• Research on Energy and Environment
• Analytical Science and Technology

Participants who would like to contribute with a presentation or poster are requested to submit an abstract according to the guidelines. The guidelines and template are available on the website, www.empa.ch/phd-symposium. Do not forget to indicate your preference for a poster/presentation.

Every abstract will be considered, and based on equal distribution of themes, the selection will be made. If the abstract is selected, the author will be notified.

Oral presentations are restricted to 13 min, followed by 7 min of discussion. Make sure you provide a clear introduction to the topic to guide the audience.

Posters are expected to have an A0 size format (841 mm × 1189 mm) in portrait.

08:00–08:30         Registration and Coffee
08:30–10:10         Morning Session
10:10 –11:15        Poster Session and Coffee
11:15 –12:25        Morning Session continued
12:25 –13:30        Lunch Break
13:30 –15:30        Afternoon Session
15:30 –16:30        Poster Session and Coffee
16:30 –17:50        Afternoon Session continued
17:50 –19:00        Closing Ceremony and Apero

The preliminary program can be found here.