Swiss Deep-Tech Startups from Empa Bring Breakthrough Energy and Cooling Technologies to CES

Swiss Deep-Tech Startups from Empa Bring Breakthrough Energy and Cooling Technologies to CES

(IN BRIEF) Three Swiss deep-tech startups spun out of Empa are showcasing cutting-edge hardware innovations at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. BTRY AG is presenting ultra-thin solid-state batteries with one-minute charging, Ionic Wind AG is demonstrating fanless ionic-wind cooling for computing devices, and Perovskia Solar is highlighting printed perovskite solar cells for battery-free electronics. Together, the companies illustrate how Swiss materials science is moving beyond the lab to deliver globally relevant solutions in energy, electronics, and sustainability.

(PRESS RELEASE) DÜBENDORF, 7-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ —Three Swiss deep-tech startups originating from Empa are presenting breakthrough hardware innovations at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, highlighting how advanced materials research is being translated into scalable, real-world technologies for global markets.

The laptop was provided directly by Lenovo – a sign of growing industry interest in alternative cooling concepts as conventional fan-based solutions approach their physical limits. Image: Ionic Wind

The spin-offs — BTRY AG, Ionic Wind AG, and Perovskia Solar — are showcasing innovations across energy storage, electronics cooling, and photovoltaics. Together, they demonstrate Switzerland’s growing influence in hardware deep tech at a time when many electronics sectors are reaching the limits of incremental improvement.

All three companies are leveraging Empa’s expertise in materials science and engineering to address long-standing challenges in miniaturisation, efficiency, and sustainability. Their presence at CES underscores a shift from laboratory research toward industrial relevance, customer validation, and global commercialisation.

Ultra-thin batteries for next-generation electronics

At CES 2026, BTRY AG is unveiling its ultra-thin solid-state lithium-ion battery technology, designed for applications where size, safety, and charging speed are critical. With thicknesses starting at just 0.1 millimetres, the batteries can be charged in around one minute and operate reliably at temperatures up to 150°C.

BTRY’s thin-film design enables flexible applications in consumer electronics, IoT and medtech. Image: BTRY

Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, BTRY’s all-solid-state architecture eliminates liquid electrolytes, improving intrinsic safety and enabling direct power delivery for connected devices. The technology opens up new possibilities for smart labels, wireless sensors, wearables, medical devices, and other electronics that cannot accommodate traditional battery formats.

Printed solar cells from Perovskia Solar, one of Empa’s spin-offs, at CES 2026 in Las Vegas: The spin-off’s custom-made solar cells can be integrated into almost all electronic devices and sensors. Image: Perovskia Solar

Dr. Moritz Futscher, CEO and Co-Founder of BTRY AG, said the company’s approach removes fundamental constraints around battery size, charging behaviour, and safety, enabling entirely new device concepts.

Fanless cooling for power-dense computing

Ionic Wind AG is presenting a fanless, silent cooling solution based on solid-state ionic wind technology. At CES, the company is demonstrating a Lenovo ThinkPad T14 cooled without mechanical fans, using electric fields to move air instead.

By replacing moving parts with electrically controlled airflow, Ionic Wind’s approach increases reliability, reduces noise, and enables thinner device designs. The technology is aimed at laptops, edge-AI systems, and compact electronics where conventional cooling methods are reaching physical and acoustic limits.

Dr. Donato Rubinetti, CEO and Co-Founder of Ionic Wind, said ionic wind transforms air into a controllable design parameter, unlocking new form factors and thermal performance possibilities for modern computing devices.

Printed solar cells for autonomous electronics

Perovskia Solar is also attending CES 2026, continuing its regular presence at the event with inkjet-printed photovoltaic cells based on perovskite materials. The company’s custom-made solar cells are designed for indoor and low-power applications and can be integrated directly into electronic devices and sensors.

By harvesting ambient indoor light, Perovskia Solar’s technology enables battery-free operation of IoT devices, reducing maintenance requirements and improving sustainability across smart buildings, logistics, and consumer electronics.

Swiss research on the global stage

The combined presence of multiple Empa-originated startups at CES reflects Switzerland’s increasing impact in hardware-focused deep tech. As BTRY, Ionic Wind, and Perovskia Solar demonstrate in Las Vegas, scientific excellence in materials research is translating into market-ready technologies addressing real industrial and consumer needs.

BTRY

BTRY AG is a deep-tech spin-off from Empa and ETH Zurich developing ultra-thin solid-state lithium-ion batteries for next-generation connected devices. BTRY’s batteries combine one-minute charging, high-temperature stability, and intrinsic safety in an exceptionally thin form factor. The company’s mission is to electrify applications previously limited by the battery, including active logistics tags, industrial sensors, MedTech devices, and light consumer electronics.

Ionic Wind

Ionic Wind is a Swiss deep-tech spin-off from Empa developing solid-state airflow engines that replace mechanical fans in electronics. Founded in 2025, the company brings together a team with scientific expertise, industry experience, and a strong entrepreneurial drive. Ionic Wind’s mission is to remove thermal constraints in computing by enabling silent, ultra-thin, and sustainable solid-state cooling solutions.

Perovskia Solar

Perovskia Solar is a Swiss deep-tech spin-off from Empa developing customized inkjet-printed perovskite photovoltaic cells optimized for indoor and low-power applications. The company enables battery-free operation of IoT and connected devices by harvesting ambient indoor light, addressing key cost, maintenance, and sustainability limitations of batteries. Perovskia Solar’s mission is to make autonomous electronics scalable and practical across sensing, smart buildings, logistics, and consumer devices.

Media Contacts:

Anand Verma
CEO Perovskia Solar
anand.verma@perovskia.solar

Donato Rubinetti
Ionic Wind Technologies
Phone +41 58 765 79 32
info@ionicwind.ch

Moritz Futscher
CEO and Co-Founder
BTRY AG
moritz@btry.ch

Dr. Michael Hagmann
Communications
Phone +41 58 765 4592
redaktion@empa.ch

SOURCE: EMPA