Solar Islands

CSEM (Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology Inc. - Research and Development) is an applied research and development company involved in the design and development of micro- and miniaturized systems for industry and the creation of business based upon cutting edge technological innovation. CSEM was founded in 1984 after the merge of: 1. Centre Electronique Horloger S.A. (CEH), Neuchâtel 2. Fondation Suisse pour la Recherche en Microtechnique (FSRM), Neuchâtel 3. Laboratoire Suisse de Recherches Horlogères (LSRH), Neuchâtel. CSEM, which is partly supported for specific activities by the Swiss government on a regular as well as project basis, is a shareholder company with retained profits. Operating profits are reinvested in advanced applied research activities. The annual turnover for 2007 was 58 Mio SFr (or 37 MEuro). CSEM's staff comprises some 320 people, working in five main divisions, operated as business units with matrix organisation for the projects performed jointly. The Systems Engineering Division of CSEM has a proven experience in the design and realization of innovative products, implementing micro-sensors and micro-systems. Micro-sensor systems have been applied with success for the set-up of intelligent embedded and automatic sensing systems and for the development of biomedical devices. The design from scratch of new concepts covers the realization of demonstrators and industrial prototypes in order to provide complete solutions to customers. CSEM has as the mission of creating added value through technological innovation. Over time it has developed two main mechanisms of creating value for the economy and the society as a whole: by direct technology transfer to industry and by creating spin-off companies. Direct transfer has resulted in a number of new products, for the medical industry, in particular for hearing aids, wearable and implantable devices, automotive industry, aeronautics, security and space industries, among others. In spinning off companies, CSEM is also been very successful, since it has created 24 companies over the last 7 years, with a total turnover in excess of 49 MEuro, and having created more than 500 jobs, thanks to additional venture capital investment of more than 120 MEuro.