A word from the Dean
Adrian Ionescu
Dean of the School of Engineering
I am pleased to present our 2025 Annual Report as the new Dean of the School of Engineering. Since taking on this role earlier this year, I have been supported by three new Associate Deans, Jean-Philippe Thiran for Education, Aleksandra Radenovic for Research, and Jamie Paik for Innovation and Impact, as well as two Deputies, Audrey Barras and Alain Prenleloup. I am proud to reflect on what has once again been an outstanding year for our School.
Our School continues to build on its strong global reputation. This year, our faculty have received prestigious international distinctions, while the arrival of several exceptional new colleagues has brought fresh perspectives and further expanded our capacity to address today’s most pressing challenges.
Collaboration has remained at the heart of our success. In 2025, we began implementing my vision for STI, structured around five pillars: transparent and collaborative governance; research excellence with real-world relevance; transformative, future-ready education; strong partnerships with industry and society; and a culture of collegiality, trust, and well-being. Concrete steps have already been taken to strengthen governance practices, encourage interdisciplinary initiatives, and deepen our engagement with external partners, laying solid foundations for the years ahead.
Throughout the year, we have placed particular emphasis on investing in our most valuable asset: our people. Efforts have been made to empower students and faculty, streamline administrative processes, and support cross-disciplinary collaboration. These actions are helping to reinforce STI as a place where ideas grow into discoveries, and discoveries into innovations.
As Theodore von Kármán once wrote, “The scientist describes what is; the engineer creates what never was.” This spirit of creation defines our School. It has guided our efforts this year to transform curiosity into invention, to bridge fundamental research with impactful applications, and to engineer solutions that improve lives and address humanity’s most urgent challenges.
Together, we reaffirm our commitment to the values that define EPFL and Switzerland at the heart of Europe: excellence, integrity, and responsibility. The challenges before us are complex, but our collective imagination is boundless. Building on the progress achieved in 2025, we will continue to shape a sustainable and inspiring future through the creative spirit of engineering.
Key highlights 2025
Nominations & Retirements
Tenure‑track assistant professor are hired and faculty members are promoted. Additionally some senior staff members retired in 2025 …
Awards, Recognitions & Grants
EPFL researchers and students received major grants and prestigious awards across robotics, engineering, and biomedical fields…
Education
Articles
New sustainable materials course rewards best projects
On Monday, three teams of students from the first edition of MSE-433: Towards Sustainable Materials, received prizes for semester projects that proposed creative alternatives to existing products.
“My job is to facilitate the transition from theory to practice”
Pierre-Etienne Bourban, recently named the best teacher for 2024 in the materials science section, has 40 years of EPFL under his belt – including 30 as a teacher. He’s just as motivated about his job as ever, and about encouraging students to develop their critical thinking skills.
Microcity Building celebrates 50 years of microengineering
On September 4th, EPFL’s Neuchâtel campus celebrated the 50th anniversary of microengineering at the school with a milestone event uniting 450 alumni, engineers, and representatives from politics and industry.
Key Figures
Research
Articles
Selfies could one day be stored on DNA strands
When it comes to storing images, DNA strands could be a sustainable, stable alternative to hard drives. Researchers at EPFL are developing a new image compression standard designed specifically for this emerging technology.
Technology that makes us stronger
When we’re healthy, activities like walking, sitting down, speaking and remembering things can be done with ease. But if an accident or illness impairs our physical or cognitive capabilities, such everyday tasks can become difficult or even impossible. Researchers are working to develop systems that can help patients regain lost physical abilities.
“We’re about to see a paradigm shift in the manufacture of implants”
We spoke with Prof. Stéphanie P. Lacour, a global expert in soft implants, about her research. Lacour is EPFL’s Vice President for Support to Strategic Initiatives and head of the Laboratory for Soft Bioelectronic Interfaces.
Key Figures
Innovation
Articles
Microcatheter delivers therapies to the tiniest blood vessels
EPFL researchers have invented a remarkably small and ultraflexible neurovascular microcatheter. Powered by blood flow, it can safely navigate the most intricately branched arteries in a matter of seconds.
“Creativity connects me to my childhood”
Maximilian Büsser, a microengineering graduate from EPFL, is the founder of MB&F – one of the world’s most innovative watchmakers. Its 3D timepieces are inspired by popular culture, among other things, and have won nine Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards. We spoke with Büsser about his career, how he’s upended tradition in his industry, and the future of his company.
Robotics meets the culinary arts
A Swiss Italian team has created RoboCake, an edible robotic wedding cake that illustrates the advances in robotic food research.
Key Figures
Outreach Programs
Industry Day
The EPFL’s School of Engineering and Vice Presidency for Innovation held the 7th edition of the Engineering Industry Day on Thursday March 27th, 2025 at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne. This event offers a focused platform for PhD students, researchers, professors, and companies to engage in substantive discussions and explore synergies.
Due to the tremendous success of the event, originally launched by the School of Engineering, the 2026 edition is becoming an EPFL-wide event organized by the Vice Presidency for Innovation, with the support of all EPFL schools.
EPFL Excellence in Engineering Program
The E3 EPFL Excellence in Engineering Program has been initiated in 2019 by the School of Engineering and offers an intensive research training opportunity to students from foreign universities interested in research careers in any field of engineering, science and technology.
Mandatory industry Internships for master students
Internships in a company are an integral part of the Master curriculum in every master program at EPFL. This represents an excellent opportunity for students to get a crucial insight into the day‑to‑day work‑flow in industry and also provide the company a broad expertise and skills in engineering sciences.
Facts & Figures
Centers
Our school is an active member of a network of specialized research centers that strengthen and expand our academic work. These centers provide access to shared expertise, advanced resources, and collaborative opportunities, enabling our faculty and students to engage in innovative, interdisciplinary research. Through these partnerships, we enhance the quality, impact, and global relevance of our research activities while contributing to a broader scientific and academic community.
