20.04.2026
valbag, the valais-based expert in plastic injection molding
valbag’s history began in 1987, when niklaus von däniken decided to start his own plastics processing company in gampel. the company rapidly developed its expertise in the injection molding of technical parts for various industrial sectors. in 2016, niklaus von däniken handed over operational management to his children, patricia bregy-von däniken and andreas von däniken, while remaining active in strategic decision-making. this long-term vision, spanning several generations, continues to shape the corporate culture of this family-owned business today.
13.03.2026
Training Digital Life Sciences engineers for Industry 4.0
In the Digital Life Sciences (DLS) track of the Life Sciences Engineering Bachelor program, the training goes beyond artificial intelligence and data analysis. It also relies on a third essential pillar: automation.
16.02.2026
AI Meets Genomics: Understanding DNA Beyond the Sequence
Until now, reading DNA mainly meant identifying genes and locating specific sequences. Today, artificial intelligence is changing this perspective. Rather than being limited to reading the genetic code, AI makes it possible to interpret what DNA does and how it controls the functioning of living systems. AlphaGenome, a new AI system developed by DeepMind, perfectly illustrates this evolution.
03.02.2026
valsynthèse, fine chemicals specialist since 1983
the history of valsynthèse is closely linked to that of nitroglycerine. initially used to dynamite the simplon tunnel, this substance has found a second life in cardiovascular treatments. this transition from explosive to drug illustrates the company’s ability to adapt its know-how to the demands of fine chemistry. today, valsynthèse produces around 1,000 tonnes of chemical substances a year, thanks to its 27 reactors, for some fifty customers around the world.
30.01.2026
A new national research programme recognizes EPFL’s expertise
Separation technologies are the workhorses of modern society. Essential for isolating specific components from gas, liquid, or solid mixtures, they provide the purified water, food, and pharmaceuticals we consume, and the materials that go into our homes, cars, and electronic devices. Improving the performance of separation technologies is essential for addressing many global challenges, such as capturing CO₂ directly from the air, making ammonia production more energy-efficient, and recovering critical metals from waste streams.
29.01.2026
In Two Weeks, Digital Life Sciences Students Prototype an AI Application
As part of the Starting with AI course in the Digital Life Sciences (DLS) major at the School of Engineering, Bachelor’s students in Life Sciences Engineering took on an ambitious challenge: designing a functional artificial intelligence application in just two weeks to address a real-world problem in the life sciences.
