NEWS
Interview with Andrea Dunbar, new CTO of Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM
“Printed electronics is a dynamic field with vast potential”
Andrea Dunbar, the new CTO of CSEM. Image: CSEM
How important have collaborations been for your work and CSEM?
Andrea Dunbar: Innovation often happens at the boundaries, whether it be the boundary of different technologies, different markets or different types of institutions. Creating successful collaboration across these boundaries is at the heart of CSEM and its mission to make impactful innovation. During my career at CSEM, collaboration between industry leaders and research institutions has been pivotal to drive technology development. These partnerships allow us to seize the latest research breakthroughs to create solutions tailored to real-world challenges. Having trusted partnership, in a world where technologies are advancing at an accelerating rate and on several frontiers, allows our partners to develop the right technology for them, at the right time and fast.
What are the most important developments that promise the greatest potential for usage and in commercialisation?
Printed electronics is a dynamic field with vast potential across many sectors. At CSEM, we see particular promise in the development of flexible and lightweight photovoltaic (PV) solutions, which can be integrated into a wide range of applications – from consumer electronics to sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, advances in sensor technology, enabled by printed electronics, hold potential for industries such as healthcare, as printed sensors can enable efficient, cost-effective health monitoring solutions. The scalability and cost-efficiency of printed electronics make it a strong candidate for mass commercialisation, especially in applications that require lightweight, flexible and cost-effective solutions.
SRI appoints new Senior VP of Commercialisation
Peter Marcotullio is strengthening the company’s leadership team to deliver advanced research into commercial products and services, driving growth across various industries. He plans to lead Stanford Research Institute’s efforts to deliver innovative solutions that address critical global challenges through a variety of commercial pathways. With 25 years of experience, Marcotullio has a proven track record of success in commercialisation, licensing and patent development. He succeeds Suresh Sunderrajan, who has led the commercialisation group since September 2022 and will now become the R&D institute’s new chief financial officer. The company intends to continue its growth strategy and build on a collaboration with the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
You’ve spoken about the world’s pressing challenges. Which are those and how would you handle them?
At CSEM, we focus on three key global challenges: climate change, the ageing population and digitalisation. Climate change requires immediate action and PVs are an essential in our response to it. In Switzerland about 10% of our energy need is covered by PV and it covers about three quarters of the renewable energy capacity worldwide. CSEM’s innovations in high efficiency photovoltaics, energy storage and lightweight energy solutions are crucial in increasing the impact of PVs in addressing the energy transition. The ageing population is placing unprecedented strain on healthcare systems, increasing the need for cost-effective, efficient At CSEM, we are addressing this by developing medical-grade wearable sensors that allow continuous monitoring and promote patient autonomy. These devices are designed to detect early signs of deterioration in chronic conditions, enabling preventative care and reducing hospital admissions. By independence for the elderly and enabling better at-home care, these innovations are not only improving quality of life but also significantly contributing to healthcare cost savings. Digitalisation, and the AI its empowering, is transforming industries and society globally, and we are working to ensure that our partners can benefit from these technologies create smarter, more connected systems. There are, however, challenges around these technologies and we at CSEM are working to make these systems energy efficient, private and secure. So yes, there are pressing challenges, but at CSEM we have a great team committed to ensuring that we deliver solutions to rise to these challenges. (nk)
New CEOs and CMSO at Brewer Science
Brewer Science, a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative materials used to advance next-generation computing technologies, is elevating two senior leaders to co-chief executives. Dan Brewer, current Executive VP Corporate Resources, and Dr Srikanth Kommu, current Executive VP Corporate Operations, will assume joint responsibility as co CEOs for Brewer Science. Dr Terry Brewer, Founder and Chairman, will continue to be involved with the company and provide guidance to both. The new management will share their position as equal partners. As their Chief Market Strategy Officer, Brewer Science welcomes Ashwin Rao. Prior to joining he was responsible for driving Henkel’s go-to-market strategy development in North America.