Empa technology at CES 2026 in Las Vegas: Empa Spin-Offs showcase cutting-edge innovation at CES 2026

Among them are BTRY AG and Ionic Wind AG, two Empa spin-offs that have each raised multi-million-dollar funding rounds in recent months and are now demonstrating technologies that address long-standing bottlenecks in electronics and energy storage. The third spin-off, Perovskia Solar, is developing inkjet-printed solar cells based on perovskite materials.

CES is the world's premier event for the latest technology innovations and the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies. The Empa startups are eager to join the global stage to present their innovations to the consumer electronics markets.

BTRY: ultra-thin solid-state batteries with one-minute charging

At CES 2026, BTRY AG will showcase its ultra-thin solid-state lithium-ion battery technology, introducing a new class of energy storage devices designed for applications where size, safety, and charging speed are critical.

Starting at just 0.1 mm thickness, BTRY’s batteries can charge in just one minute, operate safely at temperatures of up to 150°C, and are intrinsically safe due to their all-solid-state architecture. The technology enables connected devices such as smart labels, wireless sensors, wearables, and medtech products that are not compatible with conventional lithium-ion battery formats.

“Electronics keeps getting smaller and smarter, but batteries haven’t kept up,” said Dr. Moritz Futscher, CEO and Co-Founder of BTRY AG. “Our solid-state technology removes key constraints around size, charging behavior, and safety, allowing new device concepts to become feasible.”

BTRY applies solid-state thin-film processes from semiconductor manufacturing to battery production, enabling fast charging without liquid electrolytes and direct power delivery for wireless transmission without additional capacitors.

Ionic Wind: solid-state airflow cooling for power dense computing

Ionic Wind will present the world’s first ionic-wind-powered Lenovo ThinkPad T14, cooled using solid-state ionic wind technology – a fanless, silent cooling approach with no moving parts.

“For decades, electronics cooling has relied on the same mechanical principles,” says Dr. Donato Rubinetti, CEO & Co-founder at Ionic Wind. “With ionic wind, air becomes an electrically controllable and scalable parameter rather than a mechanical one and gives design freedom for laptops, edge-AI devices, and compact electronics.”

By replacing traditional fans with electric fields that accelerate air, Ionic Wind enables silent operation, increased reliability and new form factors previously constrained by mechanical airflow.

A strong Empa presence at CES

A third Empa spin-off, Perovskia Solar, is also attending CES, continuing its regular presence at the show and representing Swiss developments in novel photovoltaic materials.

The presence of multiple Empa-originated startups at CES highlights Switzerland’s growing impact in hardware deep-tech, particularly in areas where incremental innovation has slowed and fundamentally new approaches are required. Together, the companies underline how Swiss research is increasingly translating into internationally visible, market-oriented technologies.

From research to global markets

Empa spin-offs have long been associated with scientific excellence. Their growing presence at international platforms like CES signals a broader shift toward industrial relevance, customer validation, and global ambition. As BTRY, Ionic Wind and Perovskia Solar demonstrate in Las Vegas, Swiss hardware innovation is moving decisively beyond the lab – and onto the world stage.

BTRY

BTRY AG is a deep-tech spin-off from Empa and ETH Zurich developing ultra-thin solid-state lithium-ion batteries for next-generation connected devices. BTRY’s batteries combine one-minute charging, high-temperature stability, and intrinsic safety in an exceptionally thin form factor. The company’s mission is to electrify applications previously limited by the battery, including active logistics tags, industrial sensors, MedTech devices, and light consumer electronics.

Ionic Wind

Ionic Wind is a Swiss deep-tech spin-off from Empa developing solid-state airflow engines that replace mechanical fans in electronics. Founded in 2025, the company brings together a team with scientific expertise, industry experience, and a strong entrepreneurial drive. Ionic Wind’s mission is to remove thermal constraints in computing by enabling silent, ultra-thin, and sustainable solid-state cooling solutions.

Perovskia Solar

Perovskia Solar is a Swiss deep-tech spin-off from Empa developing customized inkjet-printed perovskite photovoltaic cells optimized for indoor and low-power applications. The company enables battery-free operation of IoT and connected devices by harvesting ambient indoor light, addressing key cost, maintenance, and sustainability limitations of batteries. Perovskia Solar’s mission is to make autonomous electronics scalable and practical across sensing, smart buildings, logistics, and consumer devices.

Further Information

Anand Verma
CEO Perovskia Solar
anand.verma@perovskia.solar

Donato Rubinetti
Ionic Wind Technologies
Phone +41 58 765 79 32
info@ionicwind.ch

Moritz Futscher
CEO und Co-Founder
BTRY AG
moritz@btry.ch