Nicolas Henchoz

Nicolas Henchoz is the Founding Director of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, a design research center at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), located within the ECAL (University of Art and Design Lausanne) building. He holds the position of Lecturer in the School of Digital Humanities (CDH-SODH). His work bridges technology, culture, and human perception, addressing fields like health, media, museums, and immersive environments through interdisciplinary collaborations involving designers, engineers, and psychologists. Current projects include leading the €10M Horizon Europe SWITCH project on sustainable diets, the €20M Mount Resilience initiative on climate adaptation in mountain regions, and neurofeedback research for tinnitus treatment (Swiss National Science Foundation). He also leads the Open Books digital exhibition and the Evoka heritage revival project.

• Education Background:

His career includes roles as Visiting Professor at Politecnico di Milano (2016, 2019), Adjunct to the EPFL President (2000–2008), and prior experience in journalism (1991–2000) with the Journal de Genève and Swiss Radio and Television (RTS).

Research Interests: Focuses on innovative intersections of design and technology, emphasizing sustainability, health, and cultural heritage. His lab’s approach combines creative design with scientific methodologies to produce impactful, disruptive solutions.

Grants & Collaborations: Manages multi-million-euro projects with industry, public institutions, and universities. Current leadership roles include Innovation Manager for SWITCH and Swiss leader for Mount Resilience’s water management demonstrator in the Alps.

Labs & Teams: Directs the EPFL+ECAL Lab, part of the Global Alliance for Media Innovation (GAMI), co-founded in 2016.