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.

Microsystems & MEMS

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

Microsystems functional packaging

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

Printed electronics & sensors

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

Industrial automation

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

Scientific instrumentation

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

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.

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.

Biosurface engineering

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

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.

Advanced micro-manufacturing

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

Photovoltaic cells and modules

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

Nanosurface engineering

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

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.

Thin-film and emerging photovoltaics

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

Space & astrophysics

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

Healthcare, wellness & sport

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

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.

Aeronautics & transportation

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

Information & communication technologies

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

Biotechnology & life sciences

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

Home & industrial automation

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

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.

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.

Energy & building solutions

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

Watchmaking

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

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Urgo Medical

The MEDILIGHT partners have shown the potential of blue light in patient care – and the story is just beginning.

Julien Steinbrunn, Advanced Research Project Manager

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.

Saia-Burgess Controls

Saia-Burgess Controls has teamed with CSEM in several successful innovation projects. This collaboration has been very stimulating, engaging, and fruitful.

Saia-Burgess Controls has teamed with CSEM in several successful innovation projects, ranging from component-based architectures—with their high flexibility, robustness, and reliability—to the interconnection of sensor networks for building automation. We were thus able to address additional markets and redefine product architecture to introduce new features. The collaboration with CSEM has been very stimulating, engaging, and fruitful.

Konstantinos Kafandaris, Manager of the Controller & Interfaces business unit

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

Asyril

CSEM is always ahead of the technology curve and leads projects with great professionalism.

CSEM is always ahead of the technology curve and leads projects with great professionalism. Together with CSEM, we developed Asycube, a new device with high flexibility for feeding small parts. Thanks to this research project we were able to launch an innovative product onto the market—a product that has met with a great deal of success.

Alain Codourey, CEO

Phonak

By joining forces, CSEM and Phonak Communications were able to develop a new wireless protocol for portable audio applications. We thank CSEM for its excellent contribution and look forward to working together on the next project.

By joining forces, CSEM and Phonak Communications were able to develop a new wireless protocol for portable audio applications. The uniqueness of this protocol is the implementation of a so-called distributed master concept. This allows any participant to seamlessly join or quit a network. We will integrate this very innovative protocol into several of our product portfolios. We thank CSEM for its excellent contribution and look forward to working together on the next project.

Evert Dijkstra, Managing Director of Phonak Communications

Abilis Systems

The fruitful collaboration between CSEM and Abilis Systems has resulted in the world's first single-chip solution for a digital TV receiver.

The fruitful collaboration between CSEM and Abilis Systems, an ALI Group company, has resulted in the world's first single-chip solution for a digital TV receiver, thereby achieving significant improvements in miniaturization, energy efficiency, and evolution capability when compared with the other solutions currently on the market.

Yves Mathys, CEO

Renata

Mit dem CSEM zusammenzuarbeiten bedeutet auf breit abgestützte Kompetenzen und innovative Denkweise zurückzugreifen, um das Ziel der Technologieführerschaft in Reichweite zu bringen.

Daniel Hunziker, Head of Strategic Projects

Melexis

We leveraged the excellent collaboration with CSEM, including enabling the transfer of know-how that will allow us to use this project as a technology platform for future circuit developments.

Melexis worked with CSEM on the development of a unique product concept, MLX73290, combining an energy effective RF-CMOS transceiver with a highly sensitive LF transponder targeting active tag applications and passive, keyless, automotive entry systems. We leveraged the excellent collaboration with CSEM, including enabling the transfer of know-how that will allow us to use this project as a technology platform for future circuit developments.

Damien Macq, Business Unit Manager—Wireless

U-NICA Micronics AG

By measuring fluorescence lifetime, U-NICA is able to offer its customers an additional verification parameter, which is unique for each fluorescent dye. This leads to a much higher security and opens new possibilities for unique customer codes.

Jonas Reinhardt, Director of U-NICA Micronics AG