SAMCE EXCHANGE
Awarded Grants - 2026Performance Evaluation of
PLS-Ir/IrOx Electrochemical pH Sensors Grant beneficiaries: Fabian Weyand Sending research group: Empa, Building Energy Materials and Components, Nanoparticles Group (Prof. Wang) Hosting research group: HES-SO Valais, Haute Ecole d'Ingénierie, Systèmes Industriels Group (Prof. Soutrenon) 
Initiating electrochemical experiments (top). Our team at HES-SO, from left to right: Dr. Wanderson O. da Silva, me, Prof. Mathieu Soutrenon (bottom).
EXCHANGE Report
Print-light-synthesis (PLS) represents a highly promising approach for the large-scale fabrication of Ir/IrOx-based electrochemical pH sensors. By combining on-demand inkjet printing of iridium salt precursors with flash lamp synthesis for the in-situ formation of Ir/IrOx nanostructures, this method enables roll-to-roll-compatible, cost-effective, and reproducible sensor production at an industrial scale. Through the SAMCE Exchange Grant 2026, I had the opportunity to visit the laboratory of Prof. Mathieu Soutrenon and Dr. Oliveira da Silva at HES-SO Valais-Wallis. During this stay, I greatly benefited from their expertise in inkjet printing, flash lamp synthesis, and electroanalytical sensing. Combined with the institute's strong industry-oriented research, this provides an excellent foundation for translating scientific results into scalable technologies. During my one-week visit, the excellent laboratory infrastructure, particularly the availability of multiple potentiates, enabled us to perform several long-term measurements of my PLS-Ir/IrOx-modified electrodes under extreme conditions in both alkaline and acidic environments. These experiments yielded important insights into the durability and stability of the sensors under harsh operating conditions. In addition, benchmarking our sensors against commercial electrodes demonstrated that our systems significantly outperform the current state-of-the-art. Furthermore, valuable insights into the stability of our solid-junction-modified reference electrodes in solutions of varying ionic strength were obtained. Complementing the experimental work, we engaged in detailed discussions on potential application areas of the sensor technology (e.g., in energy storage and structural engineering). The visit also enabled the establishment of additional contacts within the institute, further reinforcing the basis for future collaboration. I would like to sincerely thank the SAMCE organizing committee for this opportunity, as well as HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Prof. Soutrenon, and Dr. Oliveira da Silva for their support and the highly insightful discussions. I am confident that this exchange marks the beginning of a long-term and impactful collaboration. Awarded Grants - 2025
Focused on precision: Exchange in laser-based material processing
Grant beneficiaries: Markus Stenzel Sending research group: RhySearch, Ultra-Precision Manufacturing Lab Hosting research group: BFH, Applied Laser, Photonics and Surface Technologies (ALPS) 
Experimental setup in the Laserlab of BFH
EXCHANGE Report
During the five days of my visit at BFH, I got a completely different perspective to research activities in the field of ultrashort laser pulses. While RhySearch has an industrial ultrashortpulse laser with limited adjusting possibilities in the beam propagation, BFH has a customized setup that allows the adjustment of various components and settings. But having so many possibilities also brings some challenges. The exchange began with a detailed lab tour around the ALPS institute as well as other laboratories at BFH. Moreover, I got a short introduction to current projects and their technical challenges. During the week we conducted experiments on the optical glass "Borofloat 33". Especially optical glasses can have an interesting behaviour under ultrashortpulse irradiation. The aim was to investigate the material removal behavior after ultrashort pulse irradiation of several wavelengths (1030 nm, 515 nm & 343 nm). The results can be used to develop ablation processes in glass, e.g. for optical components. While performing the experiments we had to troubleshoot several issues. This included adjusting the positioning and the pointing of the UV-laser beam, problems with the Z-shifter in the green beam path, and unexpected behavior of the control unit. After fixing these issues and performing the experiments, we measured the depth and roughness of the substrates by confocal microscopy with a device from Olympus. In the end we got good results, which qualitatively showed a similar behavior between volume removal over time and the fluence in the laser spot at different wavelengths. Quantitatively there were differences. During the exchange we also had the opportunity to make a mutual introduction of our institutes and evaluated some possible fields for collaboration. Soon the group of BFH will visit RhySearch in Buchs. I'm already looking forward to it! Mitigating cracking in multi-materials using laser beam shaping
Grant beneficiaries: Andaç Özsoy Sending research group: PSI, Center for Photon Science, Laboratory of Condensed Matter Hosting research group: SIPBB, Swiss Advanced Manufacturing Center (SAMC) 
Andaç Özsoy in the laboratory with his host Hossein Ghasemi at the SIPBB.
EXCHANGE Report
Cracking is a prominent problem in fusion-processing of steels and copper alloys. Our exchange aimed at utilizing laser beam shaping against mitigating cracking during laser powder-bed fusion (L-PBF) of a such multi-material combination. During the exchange, we carried out more than 100 trials on the L-PBF system at SIPBB to explore the use of beam shaping for processing copper–steel multi-material parts. Different beam shapes and process parameters were tested to investigate whether copper powder could be gradually melted on top of stainless steel components without causing extensive cracking or excessive mixing with the steel below. The main research question was whether beam shaping can help avoid both phase-separation-driven solidification cracking and liquid metal embrittlement from copper penetration into steel grain boundaries. The experiments revealed that there is a very narrow processing window where copper can be melted effectively. Within this window, we partially succeeded in suppressing extensive cracking, though complete avoidance was not yet achieved. Gradual melting using tailored beam profiles showed promise for achieving a more uniform energy distribution and reducing defect formation at the copper–steel interface. Further research will focus on fine adjustment of the process parameters and complementary strategies to address the remaining challenges. Additional experiments and analyses are planned to investigate alternative remedies for mitigating interfacial cracking and improving the integrity of copper-steel multi-material parts. Manufacturing and Computational Optimization of Tendon-Driven Swimmer
Grant beneficiaries: Mike Yan Michelis Sending research group: ETH Zurich, AI Center, Soft Robotics Lab Hosting research group: EPFL, Institute of Mechanical Engineering, CREATE Lab 
The tendon driven fish that was used during experiments and simulation, held by Obayashi and Mike Michelis.
EXCHANGE Report
During this short exchange at the CREATE Lab at EPFL, I learned the fabrication of their tendon-driven underwater swimmer, performed data collection in their pool setup, did data processing, and finally wrote a matching simulation environment for the robot. Some preliminary results were shown in optimization, specifically on the interesting ways to route tendons where crossing the tendons in certain locations seems to introduce additional degrees of freedom that can then compliantly adapt to the fluid flow, and see the impact of this robot morphology on the robot swimming performance. We characterized the tail actuation in and out of water using image processing, where we track the markers on the spine segments on the tail. We observed interesting behavior in the envelope of the tail actuation under different stiffnesses of the spine, and also while varying the tendon routing. This motivated experimenting with these parameters in simulation and trying to optimize the robot hardware. A matching simulation was created in Mujoco, a rigid body simulation framework, by tuning tendon attachment locations and hydrodynamic coefficients to fit the real data. In this simulation we can now test different changes to the morphology, and hopefully observe an improvement in the forward swimming speed and efficiency. We are currently continuing this collaboration where various optimized designs will be tested on the hardware. Thanks to Nana Obayashi and Josie Hughes (CREATE Lab) for being extremely supportive during this visit, and teaching me about the hardware, data collection, and coming up with interesting design problems that we can solve with a computational approach! AI-Driven Mobile Diagnostics for Neglected Tropical Diseases
Grant beneficiaries: Alexei Amato & Michel Rosselli Sending research group: SUPSI, Institute of Systems and Technologies for Sustainable Production Hosting research group: HSLU, iHomeLab, Group for Sensor & Health Technologies 
Alexei Amato and Michel Rosselli at the iHomeLab.
EXCHANGE Report
Our journey with the SAMCE Exchange Grant 2025 allowed us to broaden our expertise in computer vision. Drawing on our background in intelligent automation and production, the grant enabled us to apply our data analysis skillsets to a completely different topic, thereby facilitating the development of our professional competencies. During our visit we worked on the SkincAIr project, a European initiative that aims to tackle skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Sub-Saharan Africa through a cutting-edge AI-powered mobile app. During our time at the iHomeLab at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), we focused on two critical aspects: preparing data for the AI system and evaluating hardware requirements for field data collection. When we first arrived, we immersed ourselves in the project by studying the detailed proposal and relevant research. We then explored various datasets before selecting one that contained images of chronic wounds in leprosy patients. This dataset became the foundation for our work as we built a comprehensive preprocessing pipeline, complete with structured data organization and essential processing scripts. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods, we trained several semantic segmentation models that could successfully identify affected skin areas. The hardware evaluation phase was equally important. Based on our literature review and preprocessing experience, we carefully analyzed the technical specifications that mobile phone cameras need to capture high-quality images suitable for AI diagnosis. We defined both minimum requirements and optimal specifications, considering the diverse and often challenging conditions that frontline health workers face in Sub-Saharan Africa. The SAMCE Exchange significantly enhanced our technical skills in data preprocessing, pipeline development, and hardware assessment for AI applications. Working on the SkincAIr project exposed us to valuable interdisciplinary approaches and reinforced the importance of creating digital solutions with strong ethical foundations for, e.g., medical AI technologies, but also human-centered smart production systems. We are incredibly thankful to both the SAMCE Exchange Grant and the iHomeLab at HSLU for this enriching opportunity, which will certainly shape our future academic and professional work in developing technology-driven solutions for various societal challenges. Awarded Grants - 2024
Impact-Resistant Wood Fibre Composites
Grant beneficiary: Zarah Walsh-Korb Sending research group: Uni Basel, Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Synthetic Systems Hosting research group: ETH Zurich, Institute of Building Materials, Wood Materials Science Group 
Samples of delignified wood fibres before and after functionalisation
EXCHANGE Report
During my exchange, I worked together with Dr. Panzarasa at ETH Zurich (Wood Materials Science Group). We had a very productive time, jumping straight into the lab as soon as I arrived. We began by characterising delignified wood fibres that had been previously prepared under a variety of different conditions, to determine which were most suitable for our desired application, namely, impact resistant wood fibres. Characterisation techniques included SEM, FTIR and TGA. Compared to what we had initially planned, we refrained from functionalising the fibres with amino and thiol groups due to concerns about how unreacted reagents might impact successive protein functionalisation. We instead chose to use branched poly(ethyleneimine) (bPEI), a common amine-rich polyelectrolyte. This change of protocol led to an even more productive solution: simply incubating the fibres with bPEI solution significantly increased the functionalisation density of the fibres compared to what would have been achieved with our original method. The functionalised fibres were then further modified with each element of our protein complex, the resulting two components mixed and the responsive behaviour of the composite tested using rheology. We obtained very interesting results. Although the composites with larger fibres were more mechanically robust, possibly due to entanglement, they do not exhibit dynamic behaviour. However, smaller fibres, which initially produced weaker gels, actually showed indications of the dynamic response we were looking for! Unfortunately the resulting materials were too thick and could not be printed during my stay but we organised a follow-up visit to determine how to address this challenge (primarily by varying the initial reaction time) and move the project forward. During my visit I learned a lot about functionalisation and characterisation of wood fibres and, aside from lab work, I had the opportunity to discuss in detail with Dr. Panzarasa how bioengineering approaches can be combined with cellulosic materials to advance the design of adaptive biocompatible materials. The ground-work for further collaborative projects has already been laid. Furthermore, I was able to attend the Sustainable Materials Seminar Series on two occasions and meet with the speakers. All of these interactions will prove to be hugely beneficial for my future research endeavours. Tungsten-Steel Multimaterial Laser 3D-Printing
Grant beneficiary: Natan Garrivier Sending research group: PSI, Laboratory for Nuclear Materials Hosting research group: inspire AG St. Gallen 
Batches of multi-material steel-tungsten samples
EXCHANGE Report
The EXCHANGE with inspire AG in St. Gallen was all-in-all very productive; the goal of the week was to come up with an experimental plan and conduct laser additive manufacturing (AM) of pure tungsten and tungsten-on-steel samples. These samples are supposed to represent the core components of future magnetic confinement nuclear fusion reactors. At inspire AG, the samples were printed using an Aconity Midi+ industrial Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) system. A parameter study of pure tungsten LPBF was first conducted, and the resulting parts densities were analyzed and compared. The processing parameters leading to the highest density were then used to produce actual multi-material assemblies. Martensitic stainless steel (1.4313, AISI 415) substrates cubes (1 cm^3) were printed using different scanning strategies; then, a thick layer of pure tungsten was deposited on top of them using different processing approaches: most importantly multiple layer-remelting, energy grading, and "high local energy density derivative" scanning. The main scientific interest lies at the interface: How does tungsten binds to a steel substrate, and what are the main action levers to optimize this process? What is the influence of tungsten deposition on the microstructure of the underlying martensitic steel substrate? In total, about 30 exploitable samples were obtained. These samples are now awaiting multimodal ex-situ characterization. In the next months, they will be analyzed and compared using SEM imaging, EBSD, synchrotron transmission X-Ray Diffraction and Fluorescence, neutron transmission imaging and Bragg-Edge imaging for the mapping of residual strain fields at the interface. Mechanical testing - i.e., microhardness and crack propagation testing - is also envisioned. Cross-referencing the results from a wide array of advanced characterization techniques enables a very deep understanding of the metallic laser AM process, and has the potential to have important repercussions on the fundamental understanding of this metallic manufacturing process. Awarded Grants - 2023
3D printing of microbial bio-cement
Grant beneficiary: Karen Andrea Antorveza Paez Sending research group: ETH Zurich, Department of Architecture, Digital Building Technologies (DBT) Hosting research group: EPFL, Geosystems and Natural Resources, Laboratory of Soil Mechanics EXCHANGE Report
The EXCHANGE program provided an opportunity to familiarize oneself with the Laboratory of Soil Mechanics at EPFL, including introductions to the team members and an overview of the lab's research interests. A presentation on bio-cementation further contextualized the focus on microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) and the large-scale methods the research group has developed. Following the introduction to the lab and its tools, the investigation focused on exploring the conditions for MICP-based 3D printing paste based on an experimental approach. Dr. Dimitrios Terzis supervised the practical activities, which involved testing different concentrations of key components, such as bacteria solution, granulates, polymer, and calcium chloride. Extrusion with a syringe and mold preparation techniques were employed to assess the paste's suitability for 3D printing. Further development of the initial experiments, such as testing different ratios compositions and mechanical characterization, must be done. The conducted experiments established an initial solid collaboration with the host institution. In the future, we plan to combine their bio-cementation methods with computational design and digital fabrication techniques used for architectural applications. A robotic cell for flexible pick-and-place tasks
Grant beneficiary: Mitra Gholami Sending research group: BFH, Institute for Human-Centered Engineering, cpvrLab Hosting research group: SUPSI, Dalle Molle Institute for AI (IDSIA), Mobile Robotics EXCHANGE Report
The SAMCE Exchange Grant 2023 allowed me to implement a robotic cell for flexible pick-and-place tasks with the support of Alessandro Giusti’s team from SUPSI. Over a productive five days, we conducted successful experiments, revealing the potential of robotic automation in handling delicate glass micro-devices. This endeavor was a collaborative venture, with multiple parties contributing their expertise to achieve the project's goals. FEMTOPrint S.A provided the testing workspace, enabling us to work with actual pieces, and gave access to their specialized camera for precise image acquisition. The task of image processing and data extraction from acquired images was managed by Jamal Saaedi from the IDSIA USI-SUPSI Institute. Additionally, No-Touch Robotics provided the robot gripper. The project was supported by a grant from the Innovation Booster Robotics. A complete demonstrator for a pick-and-place robotic task to delicately manage small glass components was developed in Lugano. The collaboration with Jamal Saaedi and Alessandro Giusti from SUPSI allowed us to rapidly integrate and combine the robotic and the vision systems, but also to learn from each other’s expertise. We effectively utilized the specialized camera to capture precise images of transparent pieces. By applying image processing and programming techniques, we conducted tests to establish efficient and safe task procedures. To enhance the process, we introduced a teaching strategy involving a 6D tracking device. This allowed intuitive trajectory learning based on piece features and workspace requirements. This phase involved multiple tests, adjusting parameters, and addressing challenges. The lessons drawn from this exchange will have a profound impact on my academic and professional journey. The knowledge gained in calibrating and programming robotic systems, as well as invaluable insights into robotics, micro-device handling, and programming, enhances my capacity to design similar automated solutions. Additionally, the exposure to collaborative settings will influence my approach to project management and teamwork strategies. In conclusion, my participation in the SAMCE Exchange Grant 2023 and the work with SUPSI scientists was truly enlightening. The successful implementation of the robotic cell underscores the transformative potential of robotics in manufacturing. I'm grateful for the opportunity to learn from experts and to apply this newfound insight to my academic pursuits. |
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A joint initiative of SATW, ETH Zürich, EPFL, Empa, PSI and the Strategic Focus Area Advanced Manufacturing
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