Gaznat and EPFL Celebrate More Than a Decade of Scientific Collaboration.
On September 1, 2026, representatives from Gaznat and EPFL gathered on the Lausanne campus to celebrate the conclusion of the scientific program launched with the creation of two chairs in December 2014. This gathering provided an opportunity to look back on more than ten years of research, with nearly 5 million francs invested in addressing the challenges of the energy transition.
Professor Brice Lecampion presented the main findings of the Gaznat Chair in Geoenergy. The research conducted under this initiative has helped improve our understanding of the geomechanical phenomena associated with geoenergy and geological carbon storage, a strategic area for reducing emissions.
Professor Kumar Agrawal, for his part, discussed the research conducted at the Laboratory of Advanced Separations (LAS). His work has, in particular, found practical application at Gaznat’s Innovation Lab.
At the Aigle site, two projects resulting from this collaboration were tested under representative conditions.
The first consists of a catalytic methanation reactor capable of producing synthetic methane from captured CO₂ and hydrogen, which is compatible with injection into the natural gas grid.
The second, which is directly related to the LAS’s research, is based on a filter incorporating a graphene membrane designed to capture CO₂ directly at the combustion source. This technology, currently in the development phase, aims to improve the efficiency of CO₂ separation while reducing the energy requirements and costs associated with its capture.
Several patents have already been filed in connection with this research.
These developments were a key factor in winning the 2026 Watt d’Or in the “Energy Technologies” category, an award presented by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE).
A Long-Term Partnership with the Academic Community
While the event on September 1, 2026, marks the end of the Gaznat Chairs, the long-standing collaboration between EPFL and Gaznat continues.
Through several calls for proposals launched since 2016, numerous research teams have received financial support from Gaznat to develop new technological solutions that meet the Swiss Confederation’s Net Zero goals.
In line with this, in December 2024, Gaznat and EPFL signed a new framework agreement providing for an additional investment of five million francs over a period of seven years.
This new phase is currently underway with the second call for proposals launched in 2026; the first took place last year. The scientific committee is expected to select the projects by the end of the year. A third call for proposals is also planned for 2027.
Attended by, among others, René Bautz, president of Gaznat, and Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, president of EPFL, this event served to recognize the dedication of the researchers, partners, and staff who have contributed to the success of these many years of scientific cooperation.
Useful links:
News Article: Gaznat and EPFL Sign a New Framework Agreement
News Article: Gaznat Wins the 2026 Watt d’Or Award
Gaznat Film: The Network and the Innovation Lab
Link to the EPFL LinkedIn post
Link to Gaznat's LinkedIn post
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