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 optimising wasterwater treatment processes and converting waste to energy

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship

Thermal Separation Process Plant and Biorefinery

Solvent extraction and recovery, and purification of biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship and Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics

Events, news and stories

Go Circular in Life Science Annual Event 2026

Knowledge exchange, networking and collaborative formats to advance circular economy in life sciences – together

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

Center of Excellence for Circular Economy in Life Science

The Centre of Excellence for Circular Economy in Life Science develops and implements circular solutions across the entire value chain, from concept to implementation.

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Sustainable chemistry

COP4WASH in Central Asia

Community of research and practice in water, sanitation and hygene in Central Asia

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Water, sanitation, and hygiene

SCALE

Production of scandium compounds and scandium-aluminium alloys from European metallurgical by-products

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Applied circular economy

NEXUS

Novel tandem, high efficiency photovoltaic technologies targeting low cost production with earth abundant materials

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Applied circular economy

Membrane filtration for critical raw material recovery

Advanced membrane filtration processes for the recovery of critical raw materials from waste

Institute: Institute for Ecopreneurship
Research field: Applied circular economy

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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)