Projects We Support
Exploring the Frontiers of Knowledge
CHiwi Foundation partners with researchers committed to advancing fundamental science with profound future implications. Explore the projects supported through our grant programs and collaborations.
EPFL Rocket Team
The EPFL Rocket Team is a student-led association dedicated to forming the next generation of aerospace engineers. With the ultimate goal of reaching space, the team designs, builds, and launches complex rockets. The association is currently developing its own bi-liquid engines and regularly participates in the European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC), pushing the boundaries of student-led technical innovation.
ETH Zürich LunarLeaper project
LunarLeaper is an innovative robotic mobility concept designed to explore the Moon’s most challenging terrains, with a particular focus on lava tubes and subsurface cave systems. These environments are of high scientific interest, as they preserve records of lunar volcanism, thermal evolution, and potentially volatile deposits that are inaccessible from the surface.
The mission aims to provide new insights into the Moon’s geological history, internal structure, and resource potential, while also informing the search for stable environments that could support future human exploration. LunarLeaper is based on the SpaceHopper design, the result of 4 years of iteration at ETH's Robotic Systems Lab.
The mission aims to provide new insights into the Moon’s geological history, internal structure, and resource potential, while also informing the search for stable environments that could support future human exploration. LunarLeaper is based on the SpaceHopper design, the result of 4 years of iteration at ETH's Robotic Systems Lab.
EPFL Spacecraft Team
The EPFL Spacecraft Team is a student association at EPFL developing the CHESS mission, which aims to deploy two 3U CubeSats to study the composition of the exosphere, the outermost layer of the atmosphere.
The team has already completed two in-orbit demonstrations of its on-board computer in 2023 and 2025. Its next milestone is the launch of its first operational satellite, CHESS Pathfinder 0, planned for 2027. The satellite will carry two payloads, including a multi-GNSS receiver developed by ETH Zurich and a SPAD-based flight camera by NovoViz.
The team brings together more than 80 members, organized into specialized groups covering all aspects of the mission, from satellite subsystems to system engineering and ground operations.
The team has already completed two in-orbit demonstrations of its on-board computer in 2023 and 2025. Its next milestone is the launch of its first operational satellite, CHESS Pathfinder 0, planned for 2027. The satellite will carry two payloads, including a multi-GNSS receiver developed by ETH Zurich and a SPAD-based flight camera by NovoViz.
The team brings together more than 80 members, organized into specialized groups covering all aspects of the mission, from satellite subsystems to system engineering and ground operations.
Ffame: Origins of Life on Earth and Mars
Led by Steven Benner at the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution (FfAME), this project explores one of the most fundamental scientific questions: how life emerges on rocky planets such as Earth and Mars.
Building on experimental work in molecular evolution, the research investigates how RNA — a key molecule for life — can form through chemical processes that may be universal across planets. A particular focus is placed on understanding its structure and properties, including chirality, which is essential for supporting the emergence of early life and Darwinian evolution.
The project also revisits historical data from the Viking missions to Mars, combining new laboratory findings with past observations to reassess the possibility of existing microbial life on Mars. Through this work, the project contributes to a broader scientific perspective: that life may be more widespread in the universe than previously assumed.
Building on experimental work in molecular evolution, the research investigates how RNA — a key molecule for life — can form through chemical processes that may be universal across planets. A particular focus is placed on understanding its structure and properties, including chirality, which is essential for supporting the emergence of early life and Darwinian evolution.
The project also revisits historical data from the Viking missions to Mars, combining new laboratory findings with past observations to reassess the possibility of existing microbial life on Mars. Through this work, the project contributes to a broader scientific perspective: that life may be more widespread in the universe than previously assumed.
ANYmal: Advanced Legged Robotics at ETH Zürich
Led by ETH Zürich roboticists Dr. Robert Baines and Dylan Vogel, this project advances the capabilities of quadrupedal robots operating in complex and industrial environments.
The research focuses on developing agile robotic systems capable of navigating terrains and infrastructure beyond the limits of traditional wheeled machines. This includes advanced mobility skills such as robust ladder climbing, enabled through a combination of mechanical design and reinforcement learning-based control.
By combining robotics, control systems, and real-world testing, the project contributes to the development of versatile autonomous platforms for inspection, maintenance, and industrial applications.
The research focuses on developing agile robotic systems capable of navigating terrains and infrastructure beyond the limits of traditional wheeled machines. This includes advanced mobility skills such as robust ladder climbing, enabled through a combination of mechanical design and reinforcement learning-based control.
By combining robotics, control systems, and real-world testing, the project contributes to the development of versatile autonomous platforms for inspection, maintenance, and industrial applications.
On LinkedIn, we post our Call For Proposal announcements
and information about the projects we support.
and information about the projects we support.
Contact us
Email: info@chiwi.ch
ChiWi is a foundation for public utility
dedicated to advancing scientific research.
We are based in Switzerland, next to the beautiful lake of Zug.
dedicated to advancing scientific research.
We are based in Switzerland, next to the beautiful lake of Zug.
