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Ionic Wind – solid-state airflow cooling for efficient electronics

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Project data

  • Project no: GRS-064/24 
  • Amount of funding: CHF 150'000 
  • Approved: 01.11.2024 
  • Duration: 01.2025 - 02.2026 
  • Area of activity:  InnoBooster, seit 2018

Project management

Project description

Ionic Wind is an Empa Spin-Off transforming cooling technology with our innovative, solid-state solution that uses electrostatic principles to move air - eliminating the need for traditional fans. The rapid increase in computing power within compact laptops has made efficient and quiet cooling a critical challenge. Traditional mechanical laptop fans have not kept pace with advancements in processor technology. These fans are noisy, inefficient, and bulky, leading to user frustration and drain the battery fast. Our groundbreaking technology provides a quieter, more energy-efficient alternative with a significantly smaller footprint, making it an ideal choice for modern laptops and other compact electronics.
Ionic Wind achieves at least 48% greater air propulsion efficiency than conventional fans, all without the drawbacks of moving parts, noise, or energy loss. Ionic Wind dramatically enhances cooling performance by precisely controlling airflow through applied voltage, enabling intelligent heat dissipation controls for a superior end-user experience. Our technology's potential impact has already caught industry leaders' attention, positioning us to replace the last mechanical component in modern computing. This shift will elevate performance and has the potential to set a new standard for user satisfaction across the industry.
The immediate goal is to advance our game-changing cooling technology to a market-ready stage. We are committed to proving its effectiveness in real-world applications and paving the way for widespread adoption in consumer electronics and adjacent critical areas like data center servers. With the InnoBooster support, Ionic Wind can lead the next wave of innovation in the electronics cooling market, driving both efficiency and excellence.

Status/Results

At the start of the project, we focus on refining our POC device with integrated on-board electronics for engineering and design validation tests, ensuring the Ionic Wind technology is fully prepared for demonstration in customer-relevant environments and realistic deployment scenarios. This approach enables us to confidently meet the rigorous demands of the electronics market and increase traction with our launch customers.

Links

Persons involved in the project

Donato Rubinetti, project leader, CEO-founder, email Empa, email Ionic Wind
Tim Chang, project employee, electronics engineer, email Empaemail Ionic Wind||tim.notexisting@nodomain.comchang@ionicwind.notexisting@nodomain.comch€€

Last update to this project presentation  17.12.2024