We foster industrial materials research. Since our creation more than 70 years ago, the ESM foundation has granted over CHF 2 million to projects in fields where rare metals play a crucial technical role (such as physics, materials science, engineering), and fields where they are related to.
Most of these grants were given to beneficiaries within the ETH Domain. Additional funding was provided to recipients of other Swiss universities and to young scientists to support their work experience in other laboratories in Europe, Asia or the US. In recent years, CEO and Members of the Board of ESM Foundation engaged as co-authors in various multi-partner publications on critical raw materials and their role for Europe and globally.
Our support covers knowledge creation through the support of studies and reports, knowledge sponsorship through the support of dissertations (PhD theses and research support), knowledge carriers in the shape of ESM fellowships, knowledge cooperation through European and international Public Private partnership projects and knowledge dissemination through Seminars and Conferences.
Supported Studies and Reports
ESM Foundation has supported the following studies and reports with funding and/or co-authorship:
Supported work (PhD theses, dissertations, and research support)
| 2023 | Prof. Dr. Fabian von Rohr, Department of Quantum Matter Physics, University of Geneva | Supporting equipment for synthesis and observation of novel materials containing rare metals | ||
| 2017 | A. El Shimy | Dr. V. Moreau, Energy Center, EPFL | Competition for Energy Metals (Masters thesis) | |
| 2000-2003 | A. Spiegel | Prof. P. Schmuki, University of Erlangen, and Prof. Heinrich Hofmann, EPF Lausanne | Selektive Metallabscheidung auf ionenimplantierten Oberflächen | |
| 2001-2002 | A. Kündig | Prof. P. Uggowitzer, ETHZ, Prof. A. Dommann, NTB Buchs, Prof. Speidel, ETHZ | Bulk Metallic Glasses for Micromechanical Systems | |
| 1998-2001 | B. Peter | Dr. S. Mischler, EPFL | Biotribologie d’implants en titane: Simulation | |
| 1998-2001 | C. Curty | Prof. S. Virtanen, ETH Zürich | Lokale Korrosion von Ti, Zr und Ti-Legierungen | |
| 1998-2001 | Y. Müller | Prof. S. Virtanen, ETH Zürich | Passivschichten auf Titan | |
| 1986 | A. Tobler | Prof. H. Böhni, Dr. O. Dossenbach, ETH Zürich | Elektrolyse borathaltiger Schmelzen:Verwendung zur AluminiumherstellungErzeugung von Titandiboridschichten | |
| 1984-85 | R. Holliger | Prof. H. Böhni, ETH Zürich | Computergestützte Erfassung der Lochbildungskinetik von passiven Metallen | |
| 1984 | R. Alberto | ETH Zürich | New Synthesis of K2 (TcF6) | |
| 1984 | K. Cenzual | University of Geneva | Hexagonal Y13Pd40Sn31, a New Structure Type Containing Intergrown CaCU5– and MnCu2Al-Type Derived Structure Segments | |
| 1981 | E Hovestreydt | University of Geneva | Equiatomic Ternary Rare Earth-Transition Metal Silicides, Germanides and Gallides | |
| Fritz Hunkeler | Untersuchung über die Inhibierung der Lochfrasskorrosion bei Aluminium und Nickel | |||
| 1980 | Z.I. Harmati | Prof. H. Böhni, Prof. W. Epprecht, ETH Zürich | Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die Benetzung metallischer Werkstoffe gegenüber wässerigen Elektrolytlösungen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Korrosionsverhaltens | |
| 1978 | P.A.F. Bohac | Prof. E. Baumann, Prof. N. Ibl, ETH Zürich | Über halogenidfreie Schmelzelektrolyte zur Herstellung von Hexaboriden der Seltenen Erden | |
| 1974 | A.d. Casa | Dr. A Gäumann, ETH Zürich | Entwicklung angepasster Herstellungs- und Kontrollmetalle im Bereich fester Halbleiter, binäre 5/6 Verbindungen | |
| 1972 | M. Schweizer | Prof. W. Form, University of Neuchâtel | Rekristallisierungsmechanismus von Zweiphasenlegierungen | |
| 1971 | Martin Creydt | Prof. E. Amstutz, Dr. R. Fichter, ETH Zürich | Diffusion in galvanisch aufgebrachten Schichten und Weichloten bei Temperaturen zwischen 23 und 212°C | |
| 1971 | J. P. Oswald | Prof. W. Baumgartner, AFIF | Die Temperaturbestimmung und die dynamische Kalorimetrie von thermischen Effekten mit Hilfe der Differential-Thermoanalyse (DTA) unter spezieller Berücksichtigung der Konstruktion von Phasendiagrammen | |
| 1970 | S.C. Malik | Prof. G. Schwarzenbach, Prof. G. Anderegg, ETH Zürich | Chelates of Antinomy (III) and Palladium (II) | |
| 1968 | R. Halonbrenner | Prof. H. Günthard, P.-D. A. Bauder, ETH Zürich | Blitzlichtspektroskopie von Chromylchlorid | |
| 1967 | H. Böhni | Prof. W. Epprecht, Prof. A. Bukowiecki, ETH Zürich | Über das Korrosionsverhalten verschiedener seltener Metalle gegenüber wässerigen Säurelösungen, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Niob und Tantal | |
| 1962 | H.J. Plüss | Prof. H. Fischer, Universität Zürich | Veränderungen der Haematopoese unter Germaniumoxyd und organischen Germaniumverbindungen |
ESM Fellowships
| Years | Student | Supervisor | Project Title |
| 2010-2011 | M. Russo | Prof. P. Smith and Prof. W. Cesari, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich | Hybrid materials of titanium oxide hydrates and polymers with a view to optical applications |
| 2009-2011 | L. Duarte | Dr. Christian Leinenbach and Laboratory for Joining and Interface Technology, Empa Dübendorf | (Ni, Ti)-Al-Ge alloys for brazing of advanced alumina |
| 2008-2009 | N.C. Woo | Prof. R. Spolenak, Laboratory of Metallurgy, ETH Zürich | Superplasticity in Thin Films |