CSEM SA

Innovation and sustainable progress

CSEM is a private, non-profit Swiss research and technology organization focused on generating value for a sustainable world.

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Expertise & Industries

Here are just a few of our areas of expertise and the industries in which we operate. To see a full list of expertise or industries, click the explore buttons below.

Printed electronics & sensors

Range of competences in materials and devices, using printing and solution process technologies for patterned photodiodes, organic transistors, and sensors.

Advanced micro-manufacturing

Development of digital microfabrication technology—mainly based on 3D printing and additive manufacturing—specifically for microsystems applications.

Medical technologies

Developments range from innovative sensing technology for monitoring human vital signs to bio-signal processing and active medical device technologies. All ISO 13485 certified.

Thin-film and emerging photovoltaics

Developing next-generation solar cells with outstanding performance in terms of conversion efficiency, durability, integration capacity, and cost reduction.

Industrial automation

Technologies for enhanced manufacturing and process flexibility, making high-quality, small-to-medium-volume products a reality.

Vision systems

Vision solutions, including high-performance line and image sensors, classification and recognition algorithms, optical encoders, and stand-alone smart vision systems.

Energy systems

Developing innovative building technologies and working to integrate renewable energy sources, especially photovoltaic (PV) systems, into existing distribution infrastructures.

Scientific instrumentation

Developing complex, multi-technology systems involving significant physical layers. Topics include macro-MEMS, opto-mechatronics, and time and frequency technologies.

Microsystems functional packaging

Developing new integration platforms and corresponding technologies for advanced packaging solutions and general MEMS assembly across a vast array of applications.

Biosurface engineering

Development of cell-handling, sensors, and sample-handling platforms based on proprietary technologies, particularly using manufacturing processes suitable for upscaling.

Photovoltaic cells and modules

Developing advanced packaging solutions and novel testing methodologies to better simulate field conditions and get quicker feedback on quality.

Wireless & short-range communications

Cutting-edge know-how in low-power radio and standards-based or dedicated proprietary protocols for the next generation of ULP, adaptable, and robust wireless systems.

Microsystems & MEMS

Developing reliable MEMS products, from prototypes to small volume production. Focusing on macro-MEMS, soft-MEMS, harsh environment sensing, and MOEMS.

Nanosurface engineering

Developing solutions focused on material and surface sciences, structuring processes, and engineering, and on understanding physical, chemical, and biological surfaces.

System-on-chip design & technology

Ultra-low-power, highly miniaturized solutions with wireless connectivity and computing with in-house processor cores including DSP and sensor interfaces, and power management.

Home & industrial automation

Smart, efficient, and reliable technologies and sensors for process and equipment optimization.

Energy & building solutions

Extensive experience in combining PV and energy management to offer energy-efficient concepts and develop effective solutions for the building sector.

Semiconductor industry

World-class microelectronic design services to fully integrated ASIC, system-on-chip, or semiconductor optoelectronic components.

Environment

Developing innovative sensors, integrated systems, and cutting-edge technologies to support the cleantech industry's drive to monitor and improve the quality of our air, water, and soil.

Information & communication technologies

Hardware, software, and systems integration expertise for the next generation of connected applications—from wearables to aerospace.

Food & agriculture

Smart technological tools and solutions to ensure the optimal use of resources and support sustainable farming across all the processes of the food supply chain.

Biotechnology & life sciences

Miniaturization, integration, and microengineering expertise to develop new devices, tools, and systems for toxicology, pharmacology, and diagnostics and assays.

Watchmaking

From groundbreaking silicon technology for new components to innovative, low-power, flexible, and wearable technologies for smartwatches.

Security & surveillance

Technologies and solutions to combat counterfeiting, ensure the safety of food and drugs, and protect both the natural environment and humans from injury, harm, and disaster.

Space & astrophysics

Developing highly precise, compliant mechanisms or scientific instrumentation for use in space exploration, satellites, and telescopes.

Aeronautics & transportation

Technologies that improve the safety, usability, and sustainability of transportation solutions.

Healthcare, wellness & sport

Custom-made, innovative, non-invasive, and mobile healthcare solutions for sensors, implants, hearing aids, diagnostic tools, and laboratory instruments.

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Adolphe Merkle Institute

In CSEM, we found a professional partner that engineered an ultra-thin insert for cell culture. This fruitful collaboration has led to the development of a new quadruple in vitro model of the human air–blood tissue barrier.

At AMI, our expertise is in the development of realistic cell co-culture models of the lung for the risk assessment of newly engineered nanomaterials. Until recently, the bottleneck had been the use of conventional insert membranes, which are ten times thicker than the air–blood barrier itself. In CSEM, we found a professional partner that engineered an ultra-thin insert for cell culture. This fruitful collaboration, funded by Lunge Zürich, has led to the development of a new quadruple in vitro model of the human air–blood tissue barrier.

Patek Philippe

For several years, Patek Philippe and CSEM have been collaborating on the development of micromechanical parts for watch mechanisms. CSEM is an important driving force for innovation within our company.

For several years, Patek Philippe and CSEM have been collaborating on the development of micromechanical parts for watch mechanisms. This collaboration provides us with access to state-of-the-art technology and know-how, and enables us to position our company at the technological forefront of watchmaking innovation. Additionally, in the medium term, CSEM ensures series production, enabling the rapid integration of technological developments into our watches. CSEM is an important driving force for innovation within our company.

Jean-Pierre Musy, Technical Director

EM Microelectronics

Our EM9301, a Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth Low Energy) controller, is yet another example of the fertile collaboration we have enjoyed with CSEM for decades.

Our EM9301, a Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth Low Energy) controller, is the result of a combination of CSEM's low-power radio chip technology and EM Microelectronic's innovative low-voltage design. It is yet another example of the fertile collaboration we have enjoyed with CSEM for decades already and which demonstrates that Swiss microelectronics is attractive and remains competitive, even in Asia.

Michel Willemin, CEO

Digital Switzerland

It would have been highly unrealistic for us to achieve our 'bet' without CSEM's core technology.

Tobias Pforr, founder, RedRock and DigitalSwitzerland coach

European Space Agency (ESA)

The spirit of collaboration that CSEM has shown has been excellent and I would specifically like to commend the center.

I would like to thank CSEM for the support it provided for the Rio Tinto campaign. The spirit of collaboration that CSEM has shown has been excellent and I would specifically like to commend the center for the preparation of the pre-testing as well as for the actual testing in Rio Tinto [...] not to mention the very good data we have recorded using LTMS. All in all a very good analogue simulation, which should be the basis of future activities.

Scott Hovland, ISS Programme & Exploration Department, ESTEC, Directorate of Human Spaceflight and Operations

Stat Peel

This was a great collaboration with CSEM, enabling us to commercialize a product that some agencies are recommending is adopted as a standard measuring technique.

Rudolf Bieri, founder

ONERA—The French aerospace lab

CSEM has the advantage of being used to working with industry and brought us their expertise in the domain of nanosurface engineering.

ONERA, the French aerospace lab, is developing—together with CSEM—new pressure-sensitive coatings as unique tools for providing pressure measurements over the entire surface of a model subjected to aerodynamic testing in wind tunnels. In this project, the main objective is to design a specific pressure-sensitive coating able to measure the fast pressure variations (>1 kHz) observed in an unsteady aerodynamic flow. CSEM's technological contribution complements the technical wind tunnel expertise and experience of ONERA.

Marie-Claire Mérienne, Research Engineer, Fundamental and Experimental Aerodynamics Department

Swatch Group

The new Bluetooth chip we have developed with our long-standing partner CSEM has exceptional features specially designed for small connected objects and above all, of course, watches.

Nick Hayek, CEO

Sercalo Microtechnology

CSEM offers us a professional service for both manufacturing and development, which keeps us at the top of this high-tech field. We are very happy with this partnership.

At Sercalo Microtechnology we rely on CSEM as a single-source provider for the manufacturing of our optical MEMS designs. CSEM offers us a professional service for both manufacturing and development, which keeps us at the top of this high-tech field. We are very happy with this partnership.

Cornel Marxer, CEO

BASF

CSEM's R&D activities in the area of surface engineering are currently expanding and complement nicely BASF's existing competences in this field.

The collaboration between CSEM and the former Ciba legacy (now a part of BASF) in the area of nano- and microtechnology and printed organic electronics was important to building up new competences within the company. Such technology platforms are also of great importance to BASF. CSEM's R&D activities in the area of surface engineering are currently expanding and complement nicely BASF's existing competences in this field.

Andreas Hafner, Senior Innovation Manager