The NCCR Microbiomes and The Society for Women in Natural Sciences at ETH (WiNS) are proud to announce the second edition of the Swiss Microbiomes Forum, on January 2024 at 15h00 in the Audimax at the ETH Zurich Main Building. A better understanding and management of microbiomes offers great opportunity to address challenges in explicit priority areas for Swiss policies. The Forum will illustrate these opportunities along three key axes:

Diagnostics – The ability to identify microorganisms and measure characteristics of microbiomes is revolutionizing health practices. These methods are already being applied in hospitals and animal husbandries, and are starting to find their way in agriculture.

Interventions – The ability to change the composition of an imbalanced microbiome to achieve a healthier state holds great promise for future applications in healthcare, agriculture and the environment.

Conservation – We are just beginning to learn about all the fundamental ways in which Earth’s ecosystems depend on microbiomes. We need to preserve microorganisms as natural resources, to ensure quality of life in the future.

During the event, a pitching competition will be hosted to give visibility to projects spinning-off as early-stage start-ups from Swiss universities.

The Forum will bring together at ETH Zurich key actors of the Swiss microbiome landscape for a unique moment of exchange. Varied booths will showcase industry and startups working on devices and products in the microbiome field. By uncovering the most advanced applied technologies and research efforts, the Forum will offer the opportunity of invaluable networking in a fast-accelerating topic.