Alstom Switzerland supports ETH Zurich energy and sustainability projects

5-6-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Alstom (Switzerland) AG has agreed a collaboration with ETH Zurich and the ETH Zurich Foundation to support fundamental research projects in the field of energy and sustainability. Alstom has pledged a donation of 2.5 million Swiss francs for this purpose.

ETH Zurich and Alstom have been in a partnership for many years. Alstom Switzerland has already donated 5 million francs to ETH Zurich over the last 5 years, boosting their research efforts in the energy sector. The additional subsidy offers ETH Zurich scope to initiate innovative fundamental research projects.

These projects should provide impetus for technological developments in the use of alternative energy sources or in more efficient energy conversion. The funds provided are available to all professors at ETH Zurich, and any project ideas submitted will be examined by a scientific commission.

‘Sustainable energy supply for the world’s growing population is one of our society’s greatest challenges. As an international company in the field of power generation and transmission we are pleased to be supporting a prestigious and leading research partner in ETH Zurich, and thus to be helping to promote clean energy’, according to Joseph Deiss, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alstom (Switzerland) AG.

‘ETH Zurich has long been conducting a wide range of research in the energy sector. This includes renewable energy technologies, energy conversion system regulation, networks and their stability, and power electronics, to name but a few areas. Alstom’s support will help us to initiate further research projects more quickly’, explains Prof. Dr. Ralph Eichler, President of ETH Zurich.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including gas, coal, hydro, wind and solar, and supplies components for the conventional sections of nuclear power stations. It offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Alstom group employs 92,900 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of €20.3 billion and booked more than €23 billion in orders in 2012/13.

Alstom Switzerland employs a staff of around 6,400 across four locations in Switzerland and is the largest private employer in the canton of Aargau, with all three business segments of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure locally represented.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the leading international universities for technology and the natural sciences. It is well-known for its excellent education, ground-breaking fundamental research and for putting its new findings directly into practice. Founded in 1855, ETH Zurich today has some 18,000 students from over 100 different countries, 3,800 of whom are doctoral students. It offers researchers an inspiring working environment and its students a comprehensive education. 21 Nobel Laureates have studied, taught or conducted research at ETH Zurich, underlining the excellent reputation of the institute. www.ethz.ch

About the ETH Zurich Foundation

The ETH Zurich Foundation builds bridges between companies, individuals, foundations and ETH Zurich. As Switzerland’s leading technology foundation it helps the university to achieve its key strategic goals in teaching and research. Partners benefit from privileged access to courageous and exciting collaborations with top European universities. Pushing boundaries and creating practical added value together – that’s what makes these partnerships so worthwhile. www.ethz-foundation.ch