Institute for Ecopreneurship

School of Life Sciences

We develop environmentally friendly production processes and methods for treating and recycling waste and wastewater.

At a glance

6 Research groups
60 Teaching, research and support professionals
30 Projects with industry and other partners
20 Publications per year

Research fields

Applied circular economy

Bio- and hydrometallurgical processes for the recovery of metals and transition metals from industrial waste

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Ecotoxicology

Measuring and studying the effects of pollutants on the environment

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Environmental and water technologies

Processes and concepts for water and wastewater treatment and the recovery of valuable substances

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Sustainable chemistry

Making chemical processes more environmentally friendly

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Sustainable resource management

Use and protection of water, energy and raw materials; treatment of wastewater and waste

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Water, sanitation, and hygiene

Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene in international development and humanitarian action

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Facilities and services

Environmental Technology Plant

Developing and optimsing wasterwater treatment processes and converting waste to energy

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

GC-MS

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for substance analysis

Institute: Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics and Institute for Ecopreneurship

LC-MS

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for substance analysis

Institute: Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics and Institute for Ecopreneurship

NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy service

Institute: Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics and Institute for Ecopreneurship

Events, news and stories

Go Circular in Life Science Annual Event 2026

Knowledge exchange, networking and cooperation formats to promote the circular economy in the life sciences.

Date: 22.6.2026, 13:00–19:00
Place: Aula, FHNW Campus Muttenz

Minimising combined sewer overflow

Michael Thomann’s team is using online sensors and modelling to exploit existing wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure.

Date: 30.4.2025
Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

How well do industrial companies know their wastewaters?

A tool developed by Miriam Langer’s team is helping industry better answer this question.

Date: 30.4.2025
Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

A systemic approach to safe water

Maryna Peter and her project team are preventing disease through handwashing technology, behavioural science, effective management and long-term relationships.

Date: 30.4.2025
Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Let the sun shine in

Markus Lenz's team is ensuring sustainability of new photovoltaic materials

Date: 30.4.2025
Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Projects

ABIScreen: Use of bioassays for the assessment of industrial wastewaters

Bioassays are an important complement to toxicity detection in industrial wastewater

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Ecotoxicology

Accompanying the monitoring of the ozone test procedure with bioassays

Investigation of methods suitable for upgrading wastewater treatment plants with a fourth treatment stage

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Ecotoxicology

ACTIWATE

Advanced concentrate treatment for integrated membrane based water reuse systems

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Environmental and water technologies

Agrocomposit

Biochar-compost composites to support site-specific soil functions and mitigate climate change

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Sustainable resource management

Aktifilt

Removal of micropollutants using adsorption and depth filtration

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Environmental and water technologies

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Publications

About the institute

The Institute for Ecopreneurship conducts research in applied environmental science, engineering, green chemistry and sustainable biotechnology. We analyse current ecological challenges and develop measures to preserve and improve the quality of the environment. We also contribute to the circular economy by improving existing processes and developing new ones that take the entire life cycle into account.

Our work is interdisciplinary, combining biology, chemistry and process engineering. We develop and test solutions to reduce emissions and recover valuable raw materials. We design concepts and optimize processes for resource-efficient production and evaluate the environmental compatibility of substances and processes using ecotoxicology and life cycle analyses.

We are a reliable, innovative R&D partner with highly specialised expertise, close contacts with industry and authorities, and wide-ranging international professional networks. Our teaching benefits directly from these strengths.

Institute flyer (PDF)