Biohybrid Robotics Symposium
Hosted by SRL, ETH Zurich
When: 8 to 10 July 2025
Where: Zurich Development Center
Address: Keltenstrasse 48
8044 Zürich, Switzerland
Welcome to the Biohybrid Robotics Symposium (BRS) 2025
Biohybrid robotics merges living materials with artificial systems, opening new frontiers in robotic innovation. To establish this transformative field as a major discipline, we are thrilled to host the first symposium on biohybrid robotics. Join leading researchers to share achievements, exchange ideas, and shape the future of robotics by integrating living systems with synthetic technologies.
What are Biohybrid Robots?
The field of Biohybrid Robotics combines living biological components (such as cells, tissues, and organisms) with synthetic materials to create adaptive, lifelike machines. By integrating biological intelligence and natural processes with robotic systems, biohybrid robots aim to achieve unprecedented capabilities in sensing, movement, and environmental interaction, advancing fields from healthcare and soft robotics to environmental monitoring and beyond.
What will the event feature?
The Biohybrid Robotics Symposium will be an interactive, discussion-driven event at a retreat-like location. The symposium will feature invited talks from experts and discussion sessions aimed at fostering scientific exchange and collaboration. The symposium will focus on emerging challenges, new approaches, and future directions in biohybrid robotics, with participants contributing to a joint perspective paper and exploring opportunities for new interdisciplinary research projects. The event will bring together PhD students, senior researchers, and principal investigators in an intimate setting to spark insightful conversations and build lasting collaborations in this rapidly growing field.
How to participate?
1) Submit an abstract and/or a short video showcasing your work.
📅 Submission for talks is closed – Poster Abstract submission deadline extended! New deadline April 15
📅 Notification of Acceptance: 28 February 2025 20 April 2025
To be considered for a poster, please submit the abstract only. Lightning talks (2 min) may be awarded.
2) Interested in joining the discussion?
The registration platform is now live!
Spaces are limited to 100 participants, so be sure to register quickly!
Registration fees include lunch for 3 days, a welcome apéro, the conference banquet dinner, and all-day coffee and snacks.
Student (undergraduate or graduate): 390 CHF
Academic position (post-doctoral, professor): 600 CHF
Industry: 750 CHF
Accommodation is not included in the registration fee.
We have reserved a contingent of 80 rooms at the Zurich Development Center (cost: 286 CHF per night in a single room or 335.50 CHF per night in a double room)
Link to book the accomodation is provided in the registration form.
Confirmed Speakers
Kevin Kit Parker, Harvard
Ritu Raman, MIT
Mark Skylar-Scott, Stanford
Mattia Gazzola, UIUC
Simone Schürle, ETH Zurich
Leonardo Ricotti, SSSA
Metin Sitti, Koç
Victoria Webster-Wood, CMU
Rashid Bashir, UIUC
Shoji Takeuchi, UTokyo
Adam Feinberg, CMU
Robert Katzschmann, ETH Zurich
Taher Saif, UIUC
Josh Bongard, UVM
Samuel Sánchez, IBEC
Tentative Program
| Day 1: Tuesday, 8 July 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 9:00 | Registration, Opening Remarks |
| 9:00 - 12:50 | Session 1: Biohybrid Prosthetics |
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Lunch Break |
| 14:30 - 16:00 | Poster Session |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Session 2: Micro-scale Biohybrid Robots |
| 18:00 - 21:00 | Social Event / Dinner |
| Day 2: Wednesday, 9 July 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 - 9:00 | Coffee & Networking |
| 9:00 - 14:30 | Session 3: Fabrication of muscle-based actuators |
| 14:30 - 16:00 | Poster Session |
| 16:00 - 21:00 | Lab tours/ city tour, Banquet |
| Day 3: Thursday, 10 July 2025 | |
|---|---|
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Coffee & Networking |
| 9:00 - 14:00 | Session 5: Advanced functionalites of biohybrid robots |
| 14:00 - 16:00 | BHR Community Shaping |
| 16:00 - 17:30 | Afternoon tours |
Monday, 7 July 2025
Symposium Excursion: A Journey to the Rigi
Join us for a scenic day trip through Switzerland’s heartland! Experience breathtaking views, historic railways, and a relaxing boat ride—culminating in a panoramic hike across the Queen of the Mountains: Rigi.
Tentative Program – Rigi Panoramic Tour
Meeting Point: Zurich Development Center Hallway
Meeting Time: 10:00 AM
Itinerary:
SBB Train – Zurich to Arth-Goldau
Cogwheel Railway – Arth-Goldau to Kräbel
Aerial Cableway – Kräbel to Rigi Scheidegg
Panoramic Hike – Rigi Scheidegg to Rigi Kaltbad (~2 hours, easy trail)
Cogwheel Railway – Rigi Kaltbad to Vitznau
Boat Ride – Vitznau to Lucerne
SBB Train – Lucerne back to Zurich
A lunch pack will be provided.
Note: We’ll confirm the final departure time and meeting location based on participants’ arrival times.
Day 1, Tuesday, 8 July 2025
7:30 – 8:40
Registration
8:40 – 9:00
Opening Remarks by Organizers
Session I: Biohybrid Robots in Motion
Moderator: Shoji Takeuchi
9:00 – 9:25
Talk 1
Rashid Bashir
9:25 – 9:40
Discussion
9:40 – 10:05
Talk 2
Robert Katzschmann
10:05 – 10:20
Discussion
10:20 – 10:50
Coffee break
10:50 – 11:15
Talk 3
Kit Parker
11:55 – 12:10
Discussion
11:30 – 11:55
Talk 4
Taher Saif
11:55 – 12:10
Discussion
12:10 – 12:35
Talk 5
TBD
12:35 – 12:50
Discussion
Lunch Break
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
Posters
14:30 – 15:00
Poster Lightning Talks
15:00 – 16:00
Poster Session
Session II: Micro-scale Biohybrid Robots
Moderator: TBD
16:00 – 16:25
Talk 6
Simone Schürle
16:25 – 16:40
Discussion
16:40 – 17:05
Talk 7
Josh Bongard
17:05 – 17:20
Discussion
17:20 – 17:45
Talk 8
Metin Sitti
17:45 – 18:00
Discussion
Welcome Reception
18:00 – 19:00
Welcome Apéro
19:00 – 21:00
Self-organized Dinner
Day 2, Wednesday, 9 July 2025
7:30 – 9:00
Coffee & Network at ZDC
Session III: Fabrication of muscle-based actuators
Moderator: Robert Katzschmann
9:00 – 9:25
Talk 9
Shoji Takeuchi
9:25 – 9:40
Discussion
9:40 – 10:05
Talk 10
Ritu Raman
10:05 – 10:20
Discussion
10:20 – 10:50
Coffee break
10:50 – 11:15
Talk 11
Adam Feinberg
11:15 – 11:30
Discussion
11:30 – 11:55
Talk 12
Mark Skylar-Scott
11:55 – 12:10
Discussion
12:10 – 12:35
Talk 13
TBD
12:35 – 12:50
Discussion
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
Posters
14:30 – 15:00
Poster Lightning Talks
15:00 – 16:00
Poster Session
Afternoon tours
16:00 – 18:00
Lab tours / city tour
18:00 – 21:00
Banquet
Day 3, Thursday, 10 July 2025
8:00 – 9:00
Coffee & Network at ZDC
Session IV: Advanced functionalites of biohybrid robots
Moderator: Ritu Raman
9:00 – 9:25
Talk 14
Victoria Webster-Wood
9:25 – 9:40
Discussion
9:40 – 10:05
Talk 15
Taher Saif
10:05 – 10:20
Discussion
10:20 – 10:50
Coffee break
10:50 – 11:15
Talk 16
Leonardo Ricotti
11:15 – 11:30
Discussion
11:30 – 11:55
Talk 17
Mattia Gazzola
11:55 – 12:10
Discussion
12:10 – 12:35
Talk 18
TBD
12:35 – 12:50
Discussion
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch
BHR Community Shaping: general assembly
14:00 – 16:00
Discuss future of BHR community
Afternoon tours
16:00 – 17:30
Lab tours @ ETH Zurich
Call for Sponsors
We invite organizations and companies to showcase their innovative projects, research prototypes, cutting-edge technologies, or brand at Biohybrid Robotics Symposium. As a sponsor or exhibitor, you will have the opportunity to connect with a global audience of leading experts, academics, and industry professionals in the fields of biomimetics, biohybrid systems, and robotics. Highlight your contributions to this exciting domain and gain valuable visibility at the forefront of groundbreaking research and technological advancements.
Sponsorship Levels:
• Acknowledgment on the symposium website and program.
• Recognition during a sponsored session or lunch.
• Showcase your organization’s support and contributions at the start of a session or lunch.
• Space for a small exhibit/poster at the venue.
• Recognition as a key sponsor for two sessions or a dinner.
• Opportunity to introduce a session or give a short talk at the dinner.
• Priority exhibit space for poster/demos throughout the event.
• Premium recognition as a lead sponsor on all event materials and during a lake cruise.
• Naming rights for a specific keynote or plenary session.
• Dedicated, large, and prominent demo/exhibit space throughout the event.
• Opportunity to distribute promotional materials.
• Mention in post-event report/publication.
Contact us to learn more about how you can sponsor this transformative event.
Biohybrid Robotics Symposium Sponsors 2025
Organizers
