Welcome to PSI, the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences in Switzerland.
Recent highlights from our research
A faster route to green hydrogen
The pH value determines how easily hydrogen can be produced from water when cobalt is used as a catalyst. PSI researchers have now found out why.
Net zero: Taking raw materials into account
A new calculation model from PSI illustrates the complex interdependencies between technology, demand for critical raw materials, and environmental impacts on the road to climate neutrality.
Creating circuit diagrams of the brain
Using brain circuit diagrams to understand Alzheimer's.
Topic cloud
Current upgrade projects and research initiatives
Together with industry to innovation
A superlative milestone
PSI spin-off Araris Biotech AG achieves valuation at unicorn-level!
ESA comes to Switzerland
The signing of a contract between the European Space Agency ESA and PSI marks the start of the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre ESDI.
How catalysts remove dangerous nitrogen oxides
In industrial catalysis, iron is not equal to iron.
The people at PSI
With pad, pencil, and algorithms
Physicist Dominik Sidler is developing fundamental theories for previously inexplicable phenomena.
Soldering on a big stage
Whoever makes it onto the podium here is one of the world's best professional talents: PSI electronics engineer Melvin Deubelbeiss won the silver medal at WorldSkills 2024.
Master of the flow
Even as a student, Athanasios Mokos was excited by the dynamics of fluids. Today at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, he models complex processes such as the formation of deposits on reactor fuel rods.
PSI on social media
#LehreAmPSI:
Werde Fachmann/-frau Betriebsunterhalt EFZ
Du erbringst eine professionelle Dienstleistung, damit der Betrieb des PSI optimal funktioniert.
Willst Du mehr über diesen Beruf und…
Could neutral atoms be a means to scalable quantum computing?
Physicist Wenchao Xu and her team at PSI and ETH Zurich are exploring exactly that—using ultra-cold atoms trapped by tightly focused…
#LehreAmPSI:
Werde Fachmann/-frau Betreuung EFZ, Fachrichtung Kinder
Bei uns in der Kita Nanolino betreuen wir ca. 80 Kinder bis zum Schuleintritt.
Willst Du mehr über diesen Beruf und alle…
Zeolite breakthrough! Scientists have unlocked one of the secrets of a multi-purpose material that is found in everything from detergents to cat litter. 🧼🐱 For the first time, they have pinpointed…
#LehreAmPSI:
Werde Elektroniker/in EFZ
Jede Experimentiereinrichtung am PSI trägt dazu bei, neues Wissen zu schaffen. Modernste Werkstätten und elektronische Labors am PSI sind die Voraussetzung…
🔬 Diagnostics of the future – using an image of the cell: Researchers at the PSI Paul Scherrer Institute have collaborated with the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center at the Broad Institute to develop an …
🎉 Congratulations to Nicolai Taufertshöfer, PhD student at the Laboratory for X-ray Nanoscience and Technologies (LXN) at PSI, for being awarded with distinction in the "Locations and Instruments"…
#LehreAmPSI:
Werde Elektroinstallateur/in EFZ
Ob modernste Werkstätten, weltweit einzigartige Hightech-Grossforschungsanlagen, medizinische Bestrahlungs- oder allgemeine Infrastruktur-Systeme,…
What do 🐌 snail shells and 🔩 hardened steel have in common? They are both made of millions and millions of tiny crystals! The strength of these materials depends on how these tiny crystals are…
🔬 Attosecond milestone at SwissFEL! But this time, it’s not about making the pulses — it’s about measuring them. Researchers at PSI have achieved a world record in X-ray pulse measurement —…
#LehreAmPSI:
Werde Automatiker/in EFZ
Jede Experimentiereinrichtung hilft mit, neue Erkenntnisse zu finden. Daher muss beim Bau immer wieder nach Lösungen gesucht werden. Modernste Werkstätten…
Excitement, curiosity, experiments – PSI was at tunBern.ch 2025!
From 30 April to 4 May, we had the opportunity to show children and young visitors how exciting science can be. With interactive…
Did you guess right? Emma is at the Alvra experimental station at the Swiss X-ray Free Electron Laser #SwissFEL! 💡
Here, she studies photobiology and photochemistry reactions that happen extremely…
#LehreAmPSI:
Werde Anlagen- und Apparatenbauer/in EFZ
Als Anlagen- und Apparatebauerin/Apparatebauer EFZ arbeitest du viel mit Hightech-Maschinen, dennoch ist oft auch dein handwerkliches…
Ferraris are outselling hydrogen cars – what that means for the energy transition
Despite decades of research and billions in investment, hydrogen cars remain a niche technology — in 2023, more…
Today is “Sexual Harassment Awareness Day" (SHAD) – a national action day for a harassment-free higher education and research environment.
Together with universities and other research institutes…
Guess where Emma Beale is! 🤔 She’s exploring one of our large research facilities… but can you figure out which one? Let us know your guesses in the comments and stay tuned for the reveal! 👀
Our …
#EnergyTransition - How do innovative ideas arise?
PSI researcher Michael Weinold has been investigating what led to the triumph of LED 💡 lamps.
His answer is “spillover effects”, innovative…
#5232, the magazine of the Paul Scherrer Institute, is out! ✨
In this issue, we present some of the most exciting developments in #advanced #manufacturing: from 3D printing and microchips with…
🔬 Important finding for hydrogen production! 💧⚡
Cobalt as a catalyst splits water better in alkaline conditions (pH > 7) than in acidic conditions. Why? PSI researchers discover: the catalyst…
Introducing the PSI Energy Compass: Navigating the Energy Transition
We’re excited to announce the launch of the PSI Energy Compass, a new publication dedicated to providing insights and…
Happy #WorldQuantumDay ✨🌍
This is the 5th webstory related to #Quantum #Materials that we publish in 2025 - the Year of Quantum Science!
✴ 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 …
🔭⚛️ To celebrate World Quantum Day on April 14th, we’re diving into the fascinating world of ion traps a key tool in quantum research.
In quantum science, scientists use so-called “ion traps” to…
🧑🔬Im Labor für Radiochemie stehen strahlende Teilchen im Mittelpunkt. Die Forschenden der ETH Zürich und des Paul Scherrer Instituts untersuchen verschiedenste Aspekte von Radioaktivität: Wie lässt…
🚨 First light for science at SLS 2.0!
On April 10th, two of the first beamlines — Debye and PXIII — opened their shutters and received their first X-ray light for science.
🔬 Debye will drive…
PSI in numbers
2300
Employees at PSI are working on the world of tomorrow.
5
PSI operates five particle accelerator-based large research facilities.
64
In a total of 64 centres, labs and groups, we conduct research into pressing societal issues.
3000
Every year, around 3000 researchers from all over the world carry out experiments at our facilities.