Based at EPFL, the Competence Center for Materials Science and Technology (CCMX) aims to stimulate academic and technological exchange in the field of materials science and technology. It strengthens the collaboration between academia and Swiss industry and makes it easier for the latter to gain access to both fundamental and practical knowledge. Over 180 researchers from the ETH Domain and CSEM (Center Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique SA) work on the Center’s diverse range of projects.
In 2010, CCMX supported 15 multi-partner projects in the Materials for the Life Sciences and Metallurgy education and research units as well as the analytical platform for nano- and microscale materials characterisation, NMMC. Nine further public-private partnership projects will begin in 2011.
The CCMX also operates a free instrument database (MaCH2) that is accessible to researchers from industry and academia. MaCH2 is a successful example of a collaborative project aimed at making expensive equipment and know-how available for professional, effective use to an extended user group from Swiss universities and businesses.
