CSEM Looks Back on a Highly Successful Year

At its Annual General Meeting (AGM), CSEM announced a 10% increase in revenue from industry and a rise of 5 million CHF in its total turnover of 74 million CHF. The Swiss research and technology organization concludes the 2013 financial year with a healthy balance sheet and a positive result.

The year 2013 was a highly successful one with CSEM earning recognition in all its fields of activity. From the 2013 European Association of Research and Technology Organizations’ Innovation Prize to the BioAlps Award to a large new contract for satellite instrumentation, public bodies, academia, and private industry alike commended CSEM’s contributions to industries such as watchmaking, biotechnology and space.

Firmly supported by industry projects and public sector investment in research, the two pillars of its business model, CSEM posted solid growth.

“CSEM is the key partner for innovation and technology transfer for Swiss companies. We provide our customers with valuable technical solutions that enhance their competitive edge and create jobs and sustainable businesses,” said Mario El-Khoury, CSEM’s CEO. “Industry’s interest in working with us is illustrated by the 10% increase in revenues coming directly from that sector, which tops the already positive development of 2012.”

In 2013, 164 companies entrusted projects to CSEM. More than 100 of those companies were Swiss and 69 were SMEs. Located in five centers in Alpnach, Landquart, Muttenz, Neuchâtel and Zurich, CSEM works in partnership with, and in close proximity to, local businesses and universities. These synergies leverage innovation efforts and contribute to regional and national economic development.

Thanks to the firm commitment and support of the federal authorities, CSEM was able to start PV-center activity by building a cutting-edge team of photovoltaic specialists and acquiring state-of-the-art equipment.

The second part of the AGM was dedicated to microtechnology in the field of sports with a presentation of CSEM’s longstanding cutting-edge expertise in vital signs monitoring, begun initially in collaboration with ESA and expanding today into sport and wellness domains. As guest speaker, Dr. Aki Hintsa, former chief medical officer of the McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team and world-renowned expert in high technology for top-level athletes, shared with attendees some of the highlights of his exceptional career, which took him from Africa to Formula 1.

Dr. Stefan Launer, vice president of advanced concepts and technologies at Phonak, manufacturers of hearing devices for children and adults, was unanimously elected as a new member of the Board of Directors. With this appointment, CSEM and Phonak stress the importance of their strategic partnership in the fields of wireless systems and digital technology. The AGM also renewed the mandates of the other board members.