Although we regularly (and happily) report on all the exciting innovations from our laboratories – for instance, in our research magazine Empa Quarterly – the people behind our research often remain merely "instruments in the service of progress", to put it somewhat academically. Yet it is precisely these people, our researchers and engineers, whose clever ideas pave the path to a sustainable future in the first place.

How much more exciting would it be to be able to watch the innovation makers at work, to experience research live in practice – instead of only reading in the newspaper or watching in the news about a new battery technology or CO₂-neutral concrete being developed?

This is exactly what we want to offer all interested, curious visitors with an Open Lab Day. And we have the perfect reason to do so: This summer, we completed and opened our new research campus, co-operate. This is now literally "The Place where Innovation Starts". And an impressive one at that: Ultra-modern and equipped with all kinds of technological innovations, co-operate symbolizes our goal of operating our entire campus in a CO₂-neutral way in the mid-term, for example by means of a large field of geothermal probes with which we want to store heat from the summer for the winter season.

On 14 September 2024, we will be showcasing around 70 of our research projects around NEST and, of course, in the new co-operate buildings, as well as all kinds of exciting things to try out and participate in. Thematically, everything will revolve around our research focus areas and the major challenges we are currently facing as a society: How can we achieve the energy transition – as quickly as possible? The net zero target is a must for all of us – but is that enough? And what about so-called negative emission technologies? What does a genuine circular economy look like? And how do new materials and technologies enable personalized treatment of various diseases?

Questions to which we urgently need answers. This is what our researchers are working on day in, day out. On 14 September, you can peek over their shoulders and experience research up close and personal. I look forward to welcoming you on our campus!