Next-generation robotics for sustainable outcomes
Please join us in our endeavor of making the world sustainable with robotics and robotic artificial intelligence innovation.
Prof. Dr. Mirko Kovač
Prof. Dr. Mirko Kovač leads the Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics, bringing extensive expertise in multi-modal robotic systems engineering. As director of the Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics (LSR) operating across the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) in Zürich and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), he drives research on advanced robotic and AI technologies that can sense, assess, and improve natural and built environments. His pioneering work underpins the centre’s mission to develop science-based robotic solutions for ecological monitoring, climate resilience, and sustainable infrastructure.
Our Mission
By integrating innovative engineering, artificial intelligence, and sustainable design principles, we aim to develop systems that enhance ecological preservation, reduce resource consumption, and mitigate climate impacts.
Our mission is to empower industries and communities with tools to transition toward a more sustainable and resilient future, fostering collaboration across disciplines to drive impactful, real-world change.
Who are we?
The Competence Centre for Sustainability Robotics represents a strategic collaboration between institutions committed to advancing sustainable innovation. This joint initiative brings together the Economic Department of Canton Schaffhausen, providing regional expertise and economic development leadership and the Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics at Empa, Switzerland's federal materials science and technology research institute renowned for its cutting-edge applied research. The Laboratory of Sustainability Robotics is also based on a joint professorship with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), a world-class academic research facility at the forefront of sustainable robotic technologies, in partnership with Imperial College London.
Through this collaborative framework, we leverage complementary strengths in policy development, applied research, and academic excellence to create a comprehensive ecosystem for sustainability robotics. Our approach ensures that breakthrough technologies are not only scientifically sound but also economically viable and aligned with regional development objectives, positioning Switzerland as a global hub for sustainability-focused robotic solutions.
