MPS in Biel will open its doors on 5 May 2026 for a half-day expert and networking event, bringing together key industrial players, technology providers and innovation stakeholders.
Taking place from 13:00 to 18:00, this afternoon will focus on industrial innovation in the miniaturization of biosensors and PIC sensors, with concrete insights from MPS, Uni OST, FHNW, Ligentec, Abionic, and Impli, through expert talks, a roundtable discussion, a guided visit of MPS’ facilities, and a networking aperitif.
This event is co-organized by MPS, Sensors Innovation Hub, sensors.ch and CoBooster.
Program
12h45 Welcome coffee
13h00 Opening by Grégoire Bagnoud, Sales & Marketing Director at MPS, Hans Ebinger, CEO of SIP OST, Gerd Simons, President of sensors.ch and Joëlle Tosetti, Managing Director of the CoBooster
13h20 Introduction from Kamran Houshang Pour, patent expert and senior IP trainer at in Bern
The IPI is the Swiss Confederation’s centre of competence for patent, design and trade mark protection, indications of source and copyright. We help innovators and creators to create value out of their ideas, thus promoting innovation, competitiveness, cultural diversity and social progress.
13h30 Presentation from Martin Krejci , Professor of Physic at FHNW : „ Miniature Photonic Sensing Processing Unit for Biomedical Applications„
FHNW School of Engineering and Environment offers a broad, practice-oriented range of education and continuing education programmes in engineering and optometry. In applied research, we support companies and institutions in their innovation projects.
13h50 Presentation from Iwan Maerki, CTO and Co-Founder at Abionic : „From Nanofluidics to the Bedside: Early Sepsis Diagnostics“
Abionic is a Swiss in vitro diagnostics company that develops rapid point-of-care tests through its abioSCOPE platform, based on a proprietary nanofluidics technology. It notably markets PSP (Pancreatic Stone Protein), an innovative biomarker that enables earlier identification of sepsis and improves clinical decision-making. Its mission is to accelerate access to high-impact diagnostics for more responsive and efficient healthcare.
14h10 Presentation from Anton Stroganov, Head of Product Management at Ligentec : „Integrated photonics for biosensing and beyond“
Ligentec is a B2B company that manufactures Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for customers in high-tech fields such as AI, quantum technologies, LiDAR, and biosensors. The company commercializes its all-nitride-core technology, enabling customers to develop products for Industry 4.0. Its clients benefit from a clear path to volume production while also being able to access small wafer quantities with the performance, short turnaround times, and high yield required at the proof-of-concept stage.
14h30 Presentation from Tobias Lamprecht, Professor for Microtechnology at the OST University of Applied Sciences : „Miniaturized Sensor Systems“
The Institute for Microtechnology and Photonics at the OST – University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland – pursues research and innovation in precision technologies such as microtechnology (MEMS), photonics, materials engineering and production metrology. It is the main user of the microfabrication line of the Sensor Innovation Hub.
14h50 Coffee break
15h10 Presentation from Heath Hartle, COO at Impli: „What if we could understand our biosphere with miniaturized biosensors?“
Impli is pioneering the future of personalized health through cutting-edge medical devices designed to measure hormone levels with precision and ease. By putting real-time hormonal insights in the hands of patients and clinicians, Impli empowers smarter, data-driven healthcare decisions.
15h30 Presentation from Patrick Ruffieux, Product Manager – Optics at MPS: „xxx“
MPS Micro Precision Systems AG is a Swiss company founded in 1936, specializing in highly precise, compact, and reliable custom solutions based on expertise in miniature linear bearings, ball screws, development, machining, and assembly.
With more than 550 employees across 6 sites, MPS serves demanding sectors such as medical, watchmaking, automation, aerospace, science, and optics through its four business entities.
15h50 Roundtable
16h15 Visit of MPS
17h00 Apero
Presentation of the speakers
Kamran Houshang Pour is a patent expert and senior IP trainer at in Bern. After completing a PhD in physics at EPFL, he gained experience in industry as a product manager at Nortel Networks in Zurich. He also co-founded a consulting company supporting young start-ups and later returned to academia and research after a Master’s in statistics. Since 2008, he has specialized in patent searches, patent examination, and IP training for universities and companies.
Martin Krejci studied physics at ETH Zurich and earned his Ph.D. in the field of CIGS thin-film solar cells. After completing his dissertation, he worked for 15 years at Coherent Laser Enterprise as project manager and team leader in the development of laser diodes for the telecommunications and industrial markets. Since 2014, Martin has been employed as physics professor at the FHNW, where he is head of the physics group at the Institute of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
Iwan Maerki is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Abionic SA, a Swiss company and spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL). Iwan is an expert in optical technologies. After receiving a master’s degree in microengineering from EPFL and a PhD on nano-optical devices from IMT, Neuchâtel, he has directed the research on single molecule spectroscopy and imaging at the Laboratory of Biomedical Optics, EPFL. In 2010, along with Nicolas Durand, he founded Abionic, dedicated to utilizing advanced nano-technology for point-of-care in-vitro diagnostic tools. Under Iwan’s leadership, Abionic has developed the abioSCOPE, one of the world’s fastest diagnostic platform, offering rapid quantitative diagnosis for a range of applications, including sepsis, COVID-19, allergies, and iron deficiency. His journey with Abionic has seen the company progress from early development to full industrialization and commercialization.
Tobias Lamprecht is Head of the Institute for Microtechnology and Photonics at OST – University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland and leads the Sensor Innovation Hub. His research activities include microtechnology in general, miniaturization of systems, micro-integration and photonic packaging. The mission is to enable innovation together with the regional industry. Previously, he was CTO at vario-optics AG, Heiden, for ten years. Establishing optical interconnect technologies for sensor and communication applications. He earned his Ph.D in 2011 from University of Twente, The Netherlands, for his work performed at IBM Research in Zurich on optical interconnects. He is an NTB (now OST) Alumni.
Heath Hartle is the COO at Impli, responsible for manufacturing, regulatory affairs and IP. He is a mechanical engineer, and has extensive experience in bringing innovations to market across multiple industries, including automotive, FMCG and medical devices.
Patrick Ruffieux is Product Manager in optics at MPS Microsystems. He got his diploma as an engineer in micro-engineering from the Swiss Federal institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL) in 1998. After a first experience as a development engineer in the watch industry, he joined the Applied Optics Group at the Institute of Micro technology of the University of Neuchâtel in 2002 working in the conception of birefringent optics in polymer liquid crystals. He received a PhD from the University of Neuchâtel in 2008 in the field of passive micro optical elements. After experiences in the development of vision systems for packaging machines of semiconductors and several years of development in the field of photoelectric sensors, he joined MPS in 2019.
Logistical informations
Date
Tuesday
5th May 2026
12h45
Location
MPS Micro Precision Systems AG
Ch. du Long-Champ 95
2504 Biel/Bienne
Suisse
+41 32 344 43 00
Parking
Some parkplaces are available on site.
Conditions of entry
This event is limited to 50 people.
The event will be in English, with the visit in English and/or German and French, depending on the attendees.
Registration
„*“ zeigt erforderliche Felder an
