Raw Materials for a Sustainable Future
The ESM Foundation, founded in 1951, is a Swiss non-profit organization dedicated to supporting research and development activities in the field of Rare and Critical Elements, with a focus on their industrial applications.
The ESM Foundation (Entwicklungsfonds Seltene Metalle) is a Swiss non-profit organization founded in 1951. We are dedicated to supporting research and development activities in the field of rare and critical raw materials, with a focus on their industrial applications.
- Conference: “Sustainable supply of critical raw materials and components for the future of Switzerland as a technology hub”
Date: May 13, 2026 Location: Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne, Aarbergerstrasse 46, 2503 Biel/BienneOrganised by: ESM Foundation, Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW, Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB), Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) Supported by: Bern Economic Development Agency Securing a safe and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and components is… Read More - Our Website is Now Available in French
We’re thrilled to announce that the ESM website is now fully available in French! The Rare Metals Foundation is a Swiss Foundation and Switzerland is a small country of many languages – with French being the second most spoken language after Swiss German. By making our content available in French we hope to make our… Read More - Upcoming Presentation by the ESM: “Critical Raw Materials as Geopolitical Leverage”
Join the presentation “Critical Raw Materials as Geopolitical Leverage? Security of Supply Between Dependency and Geopolitics” with Alessandra Hool, Managing Director of the ESM Foundation, on May 20, 2026, hosted by the Kaderschule Zürich. The presentation will be held in German. Critical raw materials such as rare earths, lithium, and cobalt are essential for the… Read More
Conference: “Sustainable supply of critical raw materials and components for the future of Switzerland as a technology hub”
On 13 May, we will be discussing the strategic importance of critical raw materials in Switzerland with representatives from the political sphere – Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, Member of the National Council and President of the Basel Chamber of Commerce; Simon Michel, Member of the National Council and CEO of Ypsomed AG; and Gerhard Andrey, Member of the National Council and co-founder of Liip.
Our Vision
The ESM Foundation is the leading Swiss network for questions about the responsible industrial use of metals with limited availability that are essential for the transformation to a sustainable society.
Our Mission
The foundation initiates, supports and coordinates research and educational projects, organizes events and promotes professional and social discourse on critical metals. The ESM stands for a high standard of scientific quality as well as political and financial independence, made possible by foundation capital that has been managed sustainably since 1951. The foundation works closely with science and industry at home and abroad and is involved in publicly funded projects.
Our Story
ESM founded by Gaston F. Dubois
to support and conduct research on rare metals for industrial use with first president Dr. O.H.C. Messner.
Opening of the Zurich office
with Managing Director Eduard Fleissig
Reorientation towards research funding including the promotion of doctorates
Closure of the Zurich office
Reopening of the ESM office in Pully
with Managing Director Dr. Margarethe Hofmann and a new focus on recycling
Inauguration of Chairman Prof. Hans Böhni
Inauguration of Chairman Dr. Bruno Walser
Establishment of the Council of Less Common Elements
Opening of the Board of Trustees to non-Swiss nationals
Inauguration of Chairman Dr. Ernst Lutz
Relocation of the ESM office to Bern with Managing Director Alessandra Hool
Reorientation towards development
Management and participation in collaborative projects in Switzerland and abroad
Coordination of the training project “Sustainable Management of Critical Raw Materials”
supported by EIT Raw Materials
Coordination of the expert network “International Round Table on Raw Materials Criticality”
supported by EIT Raw Materials
Cooperation with Swiss federal offices
After the Second World War, Gaston F. Dubois (Swiss chemist and former Monsanto manager in the USA) was concerned with Switzerland’s supply of materials from abroad. On December 15, 1951, he established the “Entwicklungsfonds Seltene Metalle, ESM” in Zurich with himself, Prof. E. Baumann (ETH Zurich), and Dr. O. Zipfel (Federal Council Delegate for Job Creation), as first Board members, and Dr. O.H. Messner (industry consultant) as first President of the Board of Trustees. Based on its bylaws written more than 60 years ago, the foundation aims to support and conduct research and investigations in the field of rare metals with respect to their industrial use. Since then, the ESM foundation has supported more than 30 research projects in fields where less common elements played a crucial role.
When establishing the ESM Foundation, the founding fathers had the ambition to create new industries in the field of “rare metals” and through this new work places. By financing research and development it was envisaged to support the exploitation and valorization of such results, creating innovations and marketable products.
Today, we continues the work of our founders, bringing together novel ideas related to rare and critical elements elements and their strategic implication in science and engineering.