#SummerSeries: 5 questions for Martin Vetterli—educator, researcher, and innovator

05.08.2020 08:30, Isabelle Mitchell

During the summer months, we ask people who inspire the Swiss startup ecosystem to provide the Venturelab community with food for thought, inspiration, and recommendations for summer 2020—and beyond. Up next, sharing his thoughts on entrepreneurship is Dr. Martin Vetterli—president of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.

Martin Vetterli helps to engineer world-class education and innovation. As the president of Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), and a professor at EPFL’s School of Computer and Communication Sciences, he oversees more than 15,000 students from over 120 countries. Throughout his career, the president of one of the world’s best universities has published more than 180 journal articles, is the co-author of three reference books, and the author of 50 patents or patent applications that led to technology transfer to high-tech companies and the creation of several startups. Martin Vetterli is a pillar of the Swiss innovation ecosystem. 



Martin, how will you spend your summer this year?
On Zoom, for the few elements that require my attention despite the holidays—and in the Swiss Alps, like every year. In particular, I will go walking, a rhythm that I particularly appreciate. When you have a full agenda like that of an ETH president, it is essential to recharge your batteries. In fact, this is essential for every employee, especially in this year of COVID-19, which is putting us to the test.

Reflecting on the year so far, what do you see as the most critical challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs?
During epidemics, there is a complete interaction in society, not only between medicine and biology but also with everything else. It shows the uniqueness of the global human society. Everything is turned upside down, and societies are transformed. Naturally, there are negative effects. However, it is also during these challenging times that humans excel. Some of the best startups are created in these times of crisis. See, for example, HMCARE and their transparent surgical mask. Issued from EPFL’s EssentialTech Center, working with Empa, they developed a fully transparent surgical mask that will soon be produced on an industrial scale. This protection could be worn by anyone, although they are designed primarily to make the contact between caregivers and patients less impersonal.

What is the essential principle for mastering challenges as an entrepreneur?
Just like with all team efforts, it is the team and its vision that make the difference. And that, while the values remain, the vision can and should evolve as needed.

What book would you recommend founders and entrepreneurs to read this summer – and why?
The Invincible Company: How to Constantly Reinvent Your Organization with Inspiration From the World's Best Business Models by Yves Pigneur and Alexander Osterwalder, for the inspiring models it gives you. Yves and Alex are rock stars, and they have great ways to explain either how to create or reinvent a company.

What can startup founders learn from you when they follow you on social media?
That not everything is dead serious … and that even the serious stuff, like wearing a mask right now, can be done with humor. [Follow Martin Vetterli on Twitter or LinkedIn.]

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#SummerSeries