It is not easy to derive market-ready products from scientific research. That’s because the real purpose of pure research is to understand fundamental processes. The new business start-ups emerging from an institution of higher education are the main way of showing how close research can be to actual practice. This year ETH Zurich has already recorded more than 20 spin-off company start-ups. For Peter Chen, Vice-President for Research at ETH Zurich, the reasons for this success are obvious: “We are now reaping the harvest of our efforts over many years. At ETH Zurich we have not only continuously improved the framework conditions for company foundations but are also seeing an increasing level of entrepreneurial thinking. With the foundation of the 20^th and 21^st spin-off companies, ETH Zurich is now playing in the same league as Stanford University or the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the USA.”

The ETH Zurich transfer area has contributed much to this success. According to its slogan “Linking Science and Business”, the technology transfer agency supports all members of ETH Zurich in collaborating with industry. The aim is to put ETH Zurich’s knowledge into practice. In particular the legal bureaucracy with inventions, patent applications and licenses is often a novelty for young scientists. Silvio Bonaccio, Manager of ETH Zurich transfer, says “Supporting spin-off companies plays a very important role in our work. This year we are pleased that since we came into existence we have been able to support the founding of the 20^th and 21^st spin-off companies.”

Training for Surgeons

The latest ETH Zurich spin-offs are called VirtaMed and Procedural. VirtaMed is concerned with the simulation of endoscopic operations. In the past surgeons were compelled to acquire their knowledge through numerous operations directly on patients. For Stefan Tuchschmid, CEO of VirtaMed und an ETH Zurich engineering graduate, the benefits of the system are clear: “Like the pilot in a flight simulator, doctors can train with us without any risk, before putting their knowledge to practical use.” The plan is to sell the first system for gynaecological operations next year.

Lighting-fast plasticity

The Procedural company develops software for the 3-D animation of buildings and towns. “Special processes make our presentation five to ten times faster than previous systems. These are enormous differences for games and films,” says Pascal Müller, CEO and Master of Science in Computer Science. The plan is to put the first software on the market in 2008 under the name CityEngine.

Peter Chen personally congratulated the two founders: “We are glad to be able to welcome the 20^th and 21^st spin-off at ETH Zurich. I wish you both every success.” Silvio Bonaccio seconded it, saying: “We wish both companies great success in turning their ideas into marketable products.”