Executive Summary
Three Swiss Deep-Tech startups from Empa are presenting groundbreaking innovations in energy storage, photovoltaics, and cooling technology at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. BTRY AG is developing ultra-thin solid-state batteries with a charging time of just one minute, Ionic Wind AG is presenting silent ion-wind cooling technology for high-performance computing, and Perovskia Solar is showcasing inkjet-printed perovskite solar cells. The presence of these companies underscores Switzerland's growing influence in the international hardware deep-tech sector.
People
- Moritz Futscher – CEO and Co-founder BTRY AG
- Donato Rubinetti – CEO and Co-founder Ionic Wind AG
- Anand Verma – CEO Perovskia Solar
Topics
- Solid-state battery technology
- Ion-wind cooling systems
- Perovskite photovoltaics
- Hardware innovation
- Energy storage and supply
Detailed Summary
BTRY AG: Ultra-Thin Solid-State Batteries
BTRY is revolutionizing energy storage with ultra-thin solid-state lithium-ion batteries available from a thickness of 0.1 mm. The core advantages are a charging time of just one minute, safe operating temperatures up to 150°C, and an all-solid-state architecture without liquid electrolytes. This technology enables entirely new applications in smart labels, wireless sensors, wearables, and medical technology products where conventional battery formats are unsuitable. The company uses thin-film manufacturing processes from the semiconductor industry, enabling fast charging without additional capacitors.
Ionic Wind AG: Silent Electronics Cooling
Ionic Wind presents a fundamental alternative to mechanical fans. The company is showcasing a modified Lenovo ThinkPad T14 with ion-wind drive at CES – a silent cooling method without moving parts. By using electric fields to accelerate air, the technology replaces conventional fans and offers design freedom for laptops, edge-AI devices, and compact electronics. This solves a decades-old problem with mechanical cooling and opens up new design possibilities.
Perovskia Solar: Inkjet-Printed Solar Cells
Perovskia Solar is developing customized, inkjet-printed perovskite photovoltaic cells for indoor applications and low-power devices. The technology harnesses ambient indoor light, enabling battery-free operation of IoT and connected devices – a significant advance for autonomous electronics in sensing, smart buildings, and logistics.
Key Findings
- Three Swiss spin-offs presenting simultaneously at CES 2026 – a sign of the strength of the Swiss hardware innovation ecosystem
- BTRY batteries solve the problem of size, charging speed, and safety in miniaturized electronics
- Ionic Wind replaces mechanical fans through electric field control – a fundamental innovation after decades of technological stagnation
- Perovskia Solar enables battery-free operation through indoor photovoltaics
- All three companies have raised several million dollars in funding in recent months
- The CES presence signals the transition from basic research to market-oriented, globally scalable solutions
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Status |
|---|---|
| Electronics manufacturers (consumer, IoT, medical) | Benefit from new design possibilities and performance features |
| Semiconductor and battery industry | Potential disruptors of established technologies |
| Swiss research and innovation ecosystem | Gains international visibility and investment |
| Energy industry | Benefits from more efficient storage and cooling solutions |
| End users | Benefit from thinner, more powerful, and more sustainable devices |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| New markets in IoT, wearables, and medical technology | Production scaling challenges |
| Silent, energy-efficient electronics | Competition from established battery and cooling manufacturers |
| Battery-free devices through indoor photovoltaics | Regulatory hurdles for material approvals |
| Swiss technology leadership internationally | Funding dependence for market penetration |
| Sustainability gains through longer product lifespan | Patent protection and industrial espionage |
Action Relevance
For decision-makers in industry and politics:
- Monitor: Market adoption of these technologies in the 12–18 months following CES announcement
- Invest: Strengthen Swiss research and innovation support for hardware deep-tech
- Partnerships: Support industrial cooperation between established electronics manufacturers and Empa spin-offs
- Regulation: Clarify framework conditions for new materials (perovskite) and manufacturing processes
- Talent acquisition: Secure skilled workers for scaling and productionization
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements and technical specifications verified
- [x] Company information confirmed from official sources
- [x] Publication date and source information validated: 07.01.2026
- [ ] ⚠️ Market forecasts and adoption scenarios not independently verified
- [x] No detected bias or one-sided representations
Supplementary Research
- Perovskite photovoltaics market: International studies on efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (NREL, Nature Energy)
- Solid-state battery industry: Competitive landscape and production readiness (Tesla, Samsung, QuantumScape)
- Ion-wind technology: Peer-reviewed publications on ion-wind cooling systems and thermal efficiency
Bibliography
Primary Source:
Press Release: Empa Technology at CES 2026 in Las Vegas – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/iPj_3FF9UFBoRw6DVNtdY
Published: January 7, 2026
Supplementary Sources:
- CES 2026 – Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas (https://www.ces.tech/)
- Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (https://www.empa.ch/)
- ETH Zurich – Spin-off Programs and Technology Transfer
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on January 7, 2026
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Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: January 7, 2026