WELCOME AT THE ADOLPHE MERKLE INSTITUTE
The Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI) is an independent center of competence at the University of Fribourg, which focuses on research in the area of soft nano- and materials science. Founded in 2008, it is located in the heart of Western Switzerland, in the bilingual canton of Fribourg. In the landscape of Switzerland’s research institutions, AMI is in many aspects unique. Its focus on soft nanomaterials is unmatched in Switzerland and beyond. AMI prides itself with an unusual blend of fundamental and application-oriented research within a multidisciplinary setting. Through collaborations with industrial partners, AMI aims to stimulate innovation, foster industrial competitiveness and more generally, improve the quality of life and is backed by its own technology transfer office. Part of the Faculty of Science of the University of Fribourg, AMI, once fully developed, will be comprised of four research sections with complementary expertise and interest in strategic areas of soft nanoscience: polymer chemistry and materials and biomaterials, which are already in place, soft matter physics, and surface science, which are expected to be established successively.
Interdisciplinary collaboration between the sections and a spirit of exchange are the basis for the successful and efficient execution of complex research projects in an important “new” field of science. This environment, together with world-class research facilities, also makes AMI a desirable destination for Master’s and PhD Students, Postdocs and other researchers. Currently, over 50 researchers call AMI their home. The creation of the institute has been made possible through the generous donation of Dr. Adolphe Merkle, a successful Fribourgeois entrepreneur, who established the Adolphe Merkle Foundation. This entity is devoted to strengthening research and teaching at the University of Fribourg, and especially the Faculty of Natural Sciences. Dr. Merkle’s endowment of CHF 100 Mio constitutes one of the most important private donations supporting academic research in Switzerland. AMI aims to operate in a sustainable manner, and a significant level of competitive external funding is therefore a must. The Adolphe Merkle Institute strives to establish itself as a leader in pure and applied nanoscience through cutting-edge research that aims to solve our society’s most interesting scientific and technological problems. For further information please read our Annual Report or directly contact us. We thank you for your interest in our activities and hope you find our website useful. And maybe we will meet one day, if you also are amongst the people who are fascinated by the nanoworld and its applications.
Prof. Christoph Weder, Director of the AMI
