The world’s first experience center for electron diffractometry has started operation in Allschwil. The Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area is the world’s first site of this new measurement instrument. It was developed by Eldico Scientific, a company founded in 2019 that is located at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen, with which it collaborates closely.

According to a press release from Eldico, the Basel Area is “the right location” for the installation of the world’s first electron diffractometer due to the particularly high density of potential users. Its nanotechnology is implemented in the early phases of new drug development. It enables the spatial representation of molecules, showing the atomic structure of substances that are being investigated with regard to their suitability for medical development. However, the electron diffractometer is also useful for electromobility, specialty chemicals, and new materials.

Important clients with long-term contracts

To date, these visual representations have only been possible with x-ray technology or with an electron microscope. Both options are complex, slow, and expensive. Unlike an electron microscope, which is large and costs 4 million Swiss francs, the Eldico machine is priced at 1.8 million Swiss francs, is significantly smaller, and works much more quickly.

Among the clients with a long-term contract with the experience center in Allschwil is an academic-industrial consortium, consisting of Roche, Idorsia, Boerhinger-Ingelheim from Germany, and the Swiss Nanoscience Institute of the University of Basel.

Dr. Christof Klöpper, CEO of the location promotion association Basel Area Business & Innovation, states: “This platform has huge potential to further enhance the life science innovation ecosystem in the region. This is why we are delighted that Eldico Scientific came to us with the idea and that we were able to support this initiative from the very start.” Basel Area Business & Innovation operates the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area.