The NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials supported startup FenX is the winner of this year’s Swiss Technology Award in the “Inventors” category, presented at the Swiss Innovation Forum in Basel on November 21.

FenX has developed a sustainable product for the construction industry in the form of an innovative, non-combustible insulation foam. The uniqueness of the technology and the foam’s market potential were highlighted by the jury, which also the recyclable product can serve as an example for the environmental services branch.  The startup was launched from the laboratory of NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials Principal Investigator Prof. André Studart at Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ). Another NCCR Bio-Inspired Materials supported startup from the same laboratory, Microcaps, was also in the running for the award.

According to its promoters, the Swiss Technology Award is the most important prize in the field of innovation and technology transfer in Switzerland, and has been presented at the Swiss Innovation Forum since 2007. Besides the “Inventor” category, a project that stands out due to its market potential and outstanding innovation is also selected in each of the “Start-up” and “Innovation Leader” categories.