STI Foundation

SwiSS-9 GmbH is in business of development, production and market introduction of innovative surface functionalization products. Through a project with Empa’s Abt. 204 the company developed two surface functionalizing products that once applied atop surfaces form a transparent film and change native surfaces’s intrinsic hydrophilic response omniphobic (oil and water repellent). The omniphobic response gives the surface a self-cleaning and easy-to-to-clean ability, the treated surface instead of collecting environmental particles either repels them or makes it easy to clean them by minimizing adhesion. The oil and water droplets roll-off the surface, and by not sticking to the surface lessen the likelihood of particle deposition. In addition, they pick up any pre-existing particulate deposits while rolling across a surface. The films are intrinsically anti-reflective, i.e. bigger portion of the incident light is transmitted relative to the uncoated surface.

SwiSS-9 GmbH is going to use the STI loan (approved 2014) to conclude setting-up of the production plant at the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG (SIP BB) in Biel, to cover the running costs of the company and to invest into the marketing of our products.