The white lettering on a blue background was a guiding light for trade fair visitors while still far away: “Imaging Technologies from Switzerland”. The ETH Domain’s institutions are doing pioneering work in this field. The exhibits that ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne and the research institutes Eawag, Empa, PSI and WSL presented turned out to be correspondingly innovative and fascinating. High resolutions down to the nanometre range as well as three-dimensional, non-contact and undistorted image processing formed the centrepiece. The institutions presented both traditional research work and highly application-oriented projects.

Virtual tumor removal

Matthias Harders from the ETH Zurich Computer Vision Laboratory showed an operation simulator on which trainee surgeons can practice virtual medical interventions. What this actually involves is the simulation of a uterus from which a tumour is to be removed. The simulator consists of a metallic device into which the doctor can introduce his instrument, which is called a hysteroscope. On the display screen he can see into the inside of the uterus. Thanks to the interaction between ingenious technologies, a highly realistic simulation is achieved: for example the surgeon encounters resistance during the virtual operation, and even causes “bleeding” during the removal of the tumour.

It has taken four years to develop the operation simulator, which is the result of interdisciplinary research work. Scientists from the fields of Mechanical Systems, Virtual Reality and Image Processing worked together on this prototype project. “Because of the expensive mechanics, no hospital has so far used the simulators to train surgeons,” explained Matthias Harders. However, he added that discussions with various hospitals in Switzerland were already underway.

Small area, big opportunity

ETH President Ernst Hafen voiced his support for interdisciplinary science and collaboration between individual research institutes. He visited the Hannover Messe on Monday and emphasized that complex problems cannot be solved by an individual discipline. “Switzerland’s small size is a decisive advantage that has been insufficiently utilized up to now," said Hafen. He added that for this reason the exchange between the institutes in Switzerland was easier than in other countries, and represented a big opportunity.

The ETH President cited the Swiss System X initiative as a concrete and particularly successful example in the area of systems biology. In this case ETH Zurich and the Universities of Basel and Zurich are working in co-operation with an industrial partner in an attempt to understand biological systems such as metabolic pathways, cells, organs and organisms as entire entities. “Systems biology is a new science and therefore it needs new structures," Hafen explained.

ETH Domain’s trade fair stand on the subject of “Imaging Technologies from Switzerland". large

A magnetic refrigerator

These structures should also find their way into teaching. For example it should be possible for a doctoral student to be supervised jointly by a physicist and a biologist. In the first place multilateral and interdisciplinary teaching can give students better preparation for their work in industry at a later date, and in the second place it can also lead directly to innovations that invigorate commercial competition and thus the market.

A tour round the neighbouring trade fair stand shows how diverse such innovations can be. This is where the winners of the “Swiss Technology Award 2006” are exhibiting their projects. The Vaud School of Business and Engineering is exhibiting an innovation in the area of cryogenic engineering. The technology relies on magnetic cooling using air or water, and can thus dispense with environmentally harmful refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons, ammonia or carbon dioxide. The Vaud School won first prize in this year’s awards with this “magnetic refrigerator”. The technology prize is backed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco), the Innovation Promotion Agency (KTI, Commission for Technology Transfer and Innovations) and research organisations such as the ETH Board.

Prominent political figures were also present

The fact that research always takes place in a political context as well was shown by the prominent trade fair visitors to this year’s Hannover Trade Fair. In addition to Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss, visitors to ETH Domain’s exhibits also included the presidents of the Commission for Science, Education and Culture (WBK) of the Council of States and the National Council. CVP (Christian Democratic People’s Party) National Council Member Kathy Riklin and SP (Social Democrat Party of Switzerland) Council of States Member Anita Fetz showed great interest in the scientific exhibits and asked mainly about the commercial benefits of the technologies.

ETH President Ernst Hafen in conversation with Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss. large