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Ionic Wind – solid-state airflow cooling for efficient electronics

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The project management is responsible for the content of the information provided.

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 and ETH Startup 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 electronics has made efficient and quiet cooling a critical challenge. Traditional mechanical cooling fans have not kept pace with advancements in processor technology, widening the gap between cooling and processing power. 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’s patented electrode geometry achieves 10x better electricity to airflow conversion compared to previous attempts, 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.
During the InnoBooster project, we advanced our cooling technology in accordance with industry standards, achieving pilot revenue via engineering samples distribution. We are further committed to proving its effectiveness in real-world applications and paving the way for widespread adoption in single board computers, laptops, and adjacent critical areas like data center servers.

Status/Results

The initial POC device has moved to industry-relevant engineering validation testing (EVT) stage 1. The product has been demonstrated at CES 2026 gathering vivid interest. As of March 2026, Ionic Wind has secured pre-seed funding to further develop the product to a market-ready version.

Links

Persons involved in the project

Donato Rubinetti, project leader, CEO-founder
Yin-Ting (Tim) Chang, project employee, electronics engineer
Manon Oulevey, engineering intern

Last update to this project presentation  10.03.2026