We are a multidisciplinary team combining competences from different disciplines, including the following:

• Biotechnology
• Fungal taxonomy
• Mycology
• Wood anatomy

Cellulose production and functionalization:

• Nano and microfibrillated cellulose production up to pilot scale
• Cellulose surface modification

Data science:

• Data analysis for the extraction of knowledge, patterns and conclusions from both structured and unstructured data.
• Programming of optimization machine learning algorithms

Biochemistry:

• Biochemical wood functionalization

Surface & interface science:

• Surface characterization (wetting behaviour, colour, gloss, hardness)
• Coatings (film structure, film thickness, adhesion)
• Adhesive bonding (bond line strength, delamination)

Soft materials science:

• Biopolymers, proteins and biocolloids
• Interactions and phase behaviour

Electrochemistry and electrical characterization:

• Capacitor and battery performance
• Conductivity measurements
• Device design and evaluation

We offer services within the following areas:

• Qualitative and quantitative analysis of wood preservatives in treated wood
• Wood durability tests
• Mechanical and moisture-related wood material tests
• Natural and artificial weathering tests (EN 927)
• Isolation and identification of wood decay fungi on wood in service
• Supporting the life sciences community with fungal cultures
• DNA-fingerprinting
• BLAST search

Our labs are equipped with the following instruments/equipment:

• Culture collection
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
• Microscopy of materials (light microscopy, SEM, TEM, UV microscopy with elemental analysis)
• Electrochemical workstation
• 3D printing technologies
• Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)
• Dynamic vapor sorption (DVS)
• UV-vis spectrophotometer
• Zwick universal testing machine
• Masuko supermass colloider
• High-pressure homogenizer
• Rapid Köthen sheet former
• Freeze dryers
• Super critical CO2 dryer

Spin-off-companies in collaboration with our laboratory:

MycoSolutions AG

Using high-quality breeding types within agriculture, intense fertilization, a high stand density and biocides the ability of soil ecosystems to regulate themselves is always more reduced. 

Indicators for urban grounds are top soil consolidations, humus poverty and a mixture of rich coarse skeleton, gravel, loam and sand, in which urban areas predominate calcareous substrates. The result is a strong reduction of the microbial activity in the soil of city trees.
This leads to undesirable side effects towards non-target organisms among them we find several antagonists as the balance between harmful organisms and antagonists is disturbed. 

http://www.mycosolutions.swiss/de/

Swiss Wood Solutions AG (SWS)

Swiss Wood Solutions develops and offers sustainable wood-based materials that serve as substitutes for non-sustainable materials in various application fields, including musical instruments, lifestyle and high precision applications.

By modifying bulk wood or decorative veneers from sustainable sources, the mechanical, acoustical and aesthetic properties of the wood are improved. Swiss Wood Solutions currently offers the products "Sonowood": a sustainable wood for musical instruments matching the properties of endangered tropical woods, and "Bijouwood", a technically enhanced and aesthetically appealing wood for various applications. The product "Budowood" for sports equipment is coming soon. 

https://swisswoodsolutions.ch/en/

https://swisswoodsolutions.ch/de/