Day of Life Sciences

Shaping the Future Bioeconomy: Innovations from Biomass
Section of Environmental Biotechnology and Bioenergy

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee
09:00 – 09:30 | Opening Session & Keynote
                       - Welcome by the Director of the Department
                       - Keynote: Prof. Jerry Murphy: “Expanding biogas processes into     
                         broader biorefinery and bioeconomy systems”
09:30 – 10:30 | 1: The Hidden Session - Microbiology as an Instrument
10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee Break with Networking & Exhibition
11:00 – 12:00 | 2: The Carbon Session - Biomass C-Molecule Power
12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch Break
13:00 – 13:30 | Coffee & Exhibition
13:30 – 14:30 | 3: The Value Session - High-Value Biomass Pathways
14:30 – 15:00 | Coffee, Dessert & Exhibition
15:00 – 16:00 | 4: The Future Session - Turning Biomass into Business
16:30 – 16:45 | Closing & Outlook
                       - Summary of the Results
From 16:45 | Apéro, Networking & Exhibition

The 16th Day of Life Sciences at the Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology was all about chemistry. That's because we celebrated a special anniversary in 2025: 150 years of chemistry at the ZHAW.

What began in 1875 at the former Technikum Winterthur as a ‘school for chemists’ has continued to evolve over the past century and a half and is now a modern training and research centre. We train chemists with a practical approach and develop innovative and sustainable solutions with our project partners through applied research and development.

Whether in health, the environment or technology, chemistry enables fundamental understanding and provides new insights and processes that shape all our lives. While coal-based dyes and textile chemistry played a central role in the technical college years, today  we are increasingly focusing on renewable raw materials and biological or green chemistry at the ZHAW.

At the Day of Life Sciences, we took participants on a journey through 150 years of chemistry and presented the breadth of our activities based on our main areas of research.

Flyer: 150 years of chemistry eduction at ZHAW (PDF 822 kB)

With the second edition of our symposium "Competencies in Drug Discovery" we would like to further strengthen the refreshing exchange between the disciplines involved in drug discovery. The discovery and development of new drugs of medical importance requires the interaction of biological, chemical, and medical expertise.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 363 kB)

The 4th CCBIO Symposium on Industrial Biocatalysis will explore recent advances in the field, including topics such as sourcing, tailoring and application of wildtype and designer enzymes, repurposing of metalloenzymes, application of artificial cofactors, establishment of enzymatic cascades and the industrial use of biocatalysts.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 1.48 MB)

The symposium «Competencies in Drug Discovery» aims to discuss projects from different therapeutic indications in an interdisciplinary way and to promote the interaction of biological, chemical and medical competencies.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 434 kB)

In a transdisciplinary environment, the 3rd CCBIO Symposium on Industrial Biocatalysis will provide a platform for scientific knowledge transfer and dialog for participants from industry and academia and bring together renowned researchers to discuss recent advances and future directions of the field.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 1.33 MB)

The Hydroxyanthracene Derivatives Symposium featured cutting-edge contributions about analysis, quality, safety and efficacy of this interesting phytochemical substance class. It also provided a platform for dialogue and scientific knowledge transfer for participants from industry, regulatory bodies, academia or education.

Flyer «Analysis, Safety, Quality and Efficacy in Herbal Medicinal Products - April 11th»

• Phytopharmacy and Natural Products Research Group

The Second Symposium of Industrial Biocatalysis hosted speakers from Switzerland and abroad who talked about current challenges in the field.

• Flyer «First Network Meeting Innovation in Biocatalysis - June 6th» (PDF 302 kB)
• Flyer «Second Symposium of Industrial Biocatalysis - June 7th» (PDF 442 kB)

What will the future bring? Our students will design them. That's why, together with our partners from industry and research, we are already developing the latest technologies that map the production processes of tomorrow. Amongst others, we present techniques such as flow chemistry, microreactor technology and 3D printing for personalized implants and entire fabrics.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 205 kB)

Biocatalysis enables the sustainable production of chiral and highly functionalized compounds for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The Competence Centre of Biocatalysis at the ZHAW promotes biocatalysis as a complementary method to classic organic synthesis. It aims to help bridge the gap between academic laboratories and the production plant.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 464 kB)
• Competence Center for Biocatalysis (CCBIO)

A Precision Medicine initiative in the USA, announced by President Obama in January 2015, is designed to promote wider use of patient-specific medical care. The aim is to deliver new and more effective treatments for diseases. But what is going on in this ambitious, challenging field in Switzerland and in Europe? 

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 428 kB)

Download speeches

• Current and future trends in personalized medicine, Dr. Bruce Jordan, Roche Diagnostics (PDF 3.43 MB)
• International Ltd Challenges of personalized health for clinical medicine, Prof. Dr. Peter Meier-Abt, Swiss Academy of Medical Scienes, Basel (PDF 2.45 MB)
• Implementing research in personalized medicine, Prof. Dr. Niko Beerenwinkel, ETH Zürich, Competence Center Personalized Medicine (PDF 1.81 MB)
• Osteosarcoma: Current perspectives and future development, Prof. Dr. Bruno Fuchs, Sarcoma Center UZH, University Hospital Balgrist (PDF 7.15 MB)
• Gene therapy in ophthalmology – the TargetAMD project, Dr. Martina Kropp, University Hospital Geneva (PDF 2.08 MB)
• TEDD information, Prof. Dr. Ursula Graf-Hausner, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (PDF 1.68 MB)
• Sciences Exhibition slam (PDF 3.14 MB)

In der Verwendung von Holz als Baustein für chemische Produkte und zur Herstellung neuartiger Verbundstoffe liegt ein grosses Potenzial für die Ablösung der global noch stark erdölbasierten Materialwirtschaft. Der 6. Chemietag der ZHAW widmet sich den vielfältigen wissenschaftlichen und unternehmerischen Herausforderungen, die sich in der Forschung und Entwicklung innovativer holzbasierter Materialien aktuell stellen.

• Flyer: Informationen und Programm (PDF 463 kB)

Download Referate

• Aktivitäten am Institut für Chemie und Biologische Chemie, Prof. Dr. Christian Hinderling, Institutsleiter ICBT, ZHAW, Wädenswil (PDF 2.11 MB)
• Innovations-Suchfelder für holzbasierte Materialien, Dr. Willi Schwotzer, Psetta GmbH, Neuenkirch (PDF 2.11 MB)
• Polymere Nanoverbundswerkstoffe mit Zellulose Nanofasern, Prof. Dr. Christoph Weder, Adolphe Merkle Institut, Marly (PDF 5.91 MB)
• Holz als Chemierohstoff: Extraktion von Tanninen aus Rinden heimischer Nadelhölzer, Dr. Fédéric Pichelin, Berner Fachhochschule, Biel (PDF 1.39 MB)
• Wasserfeste, dimensionsstabile LVL aus Buchenholz, Prof. Dr. Holger Militz, Georg-Augst-Universität, Göttingen (PDF 2.10 MB)
• Bio-inspirierte Materialien aus Holz, Prof. Dr. Ingo Bugert, ETH Zürich (PDF 1.75 MB)

Im Fokus dieser Veranstaltung stehen aktuelle didaktische Herausforderungen im Unterricht an Berufs- und Fachhochschulen. Diese tragen zum Erfolg des dualen Bildungssystems in der Schweiz bei. Zudem hat die Bologna-Reform zu einer Internationalisierung beigetragen, die ein länderübergreifendes Qualitätsmanagement nötig erscheinen lässt (Eurobachelor).

• Flyer: Informationen und Programm (PDF 196 kB)
• Medienmitteilung (PDF 52 kB)
• SwitchCast Videos der Vorträge

Sunlight is the most abundant and reliable source of energy available to humanity. In order to provide a truly widespread primary energy source, solar energy must be harvested, converted, and stored in a cost-effective manner. These three key steps require scientific and technological breakthroughs. Chemistry contributes to this development by creating new materials for capturing sunlight, converting light to electricity, enabling light-driven reactions, or increasing the long-term stability of solar cells.

• Flyer: detailed information and agenda (PDF 525 kB)

Download speeches (slides)

• Photovoltaics in Switzerland - the cycle of research, technology, industry and markets, Dr. Stefan Nowak, Programme Manager, Swiss Photovoltaic Research Programme, Swiss Federal Office of Energy (PDF 3.33 MB)
• Modeling and simulation of photoelectrochemical cells, Dr. Matthias Schmid, ZHAW (PDF 2.40 MB)
• New trends in organic materials based solar cells, Prof. Dr. Frank Nüesch, EMPA (PDF 3.77 MB)
• Running chemical reactions at ultra-high temperatures for solar energy storage - potential and challenges, Dr. Ivo Alxneit, Solar Technology Laboratory, PSI (PDF 9.98 MB)

The pharmaceutical industry is of global economic importance. As a central component, drug development is a complex process that requires interdisciplinary research and development. Only the effective collaboration of different scientific disciplines enables the development of new medicines for the benefit of patients.

• Flyer: information and programme (PDF 2.11 MB)

Download speeches (slides)

• Drug discovery in the academic setting, Rainer Riedl, ZHAW (PDF 5.83 MB)
• VIBRANT a European Project for Betacell Imaging and Quantification Theo Schotten, CAN GmbH (PDF 5.27 MB)
• Blocking AMRE - Chemistry and Biochemistry at a Nasty Enzyme, Andreas Natsch, Fridtof Schröder, Givaudan Schweiz AG (PDF 1.25 MB)
• VirtualToxLab TM - In silico prediction of the toxic potential of drugs and chemicals, Angelo Vedani, Departement of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel (PDF 2.92 MB)
• Discovery of the Novel, Orally Active S1P Receptor Agonist ACT-128800 (Ponesimod), Martin Bolli, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd (PDF 3.60 MB)