Gaznat – EPFL Research Programme
Innovation Lab of Gaznat SA in Aigle © Alessandro Della Bella – Gaznenergie – 2023
Gaznat and EPFL have strengthened their collaborative efforts to advance carbon-neutral energy solutions by launching a new Call for Proposals under the Gaznat–EPFL Research Programme. This initiative invites EPFL researchers to contribute to the development of innovative technologies aimed at decarbonizing Switzerland's energy sector.
Gaznat supplies natural and renewable gas across western Switzerland, and it partnered with EPFL since 2010 to fund research on carbon capture, storage, and usage for synthesis gas production. A new agreement signed in December 2024 will provide additional funding over seven years for further research. Gaznat aims to achieve carbon-neutral energy supply by 2050 by transitioning to renewable sources and capturing and storing residual carbon emissions. Research projects funded under the Gaznat-EPFL Research programme must be aligned with this aim and have strong practical applications.
Research Focus Areas
The first call under the Gaznat-EPFL Research Programme is now open and will support projects in the following thematic areas:
- Advanced separation technologies (for example CO2 from air or flue gases, H2 from CH4, etc.);
- Production of synthetic and renewable gases and liquids;
- Energy efficiency;
- Energy storage (for example in rockcaves or chemical energy storage/P2X);
- CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS);
- Impact of various molecules on confinement materials (for example H2 in steel pipelines);
- AI in energy;
- Other topics deemed relevant by the Scientific Committee.
Project Categories and Funding
The programme offers two categories of projects:
- Explore projects: Targeting technologies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) ≥ 4, these projects aim to develop lab-scale prototypes with the potential to progress towards TRL 6–9.
- Duration: Up to 4 years
- Funding: CHF 300-500k per project
- Expected Outcomes: Prototypes of novel technologies, processes, or solutions, preferably deployed at the Gaznat GreenGas Innovation Lab.
- Seed projects: Focusing on early-stage research with TRL < 4, these projects explore promising pathways with the potential to advance to higher TRLs.
- Duration: 6 to 12 months
- Funding: CHF 50-100k per project
- Expected Outcomes: Detailed characterization of innovative concepts or technologies that could be further developed.
Eligibility and Application Process
The call is open to the EPFL community with the following eligibility criteria:
- Explore projects: Open to Professors or Maîtres d’Enseignement et de Recherche (MER).
- Seed projects: Open to all EPFL members, including faculty, senior scientists, postdocs, and PhD students. Projects must be hosted by an EPFL laboratory and supervised by at least one EPFL faculty member.
- EPFL Heads of relevant units or Centers are also eligible to apply.
Submission Deadline
The application deadline for this Call for Proposals is Thursday, 21 August 2025, at 17:00 CEST. Researchers are encouraged to submit their proposals and to contribute to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions in Switzerland.
For more details, please visit the Gaznat–EPFL Research Programme.
For additional questions, please contact the Research Office via research@epfl.ch.