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 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

Josh Bongard, UVM

Screenshot 2025-04-04 at 10.11.28

Samuel Sánchez, IBEC

MariaGuix

Maria Guix Noguera, UB

nicolewxu

Nicole Xu, University of Colorado Boulder

mariana-medina-sanchez

Marian Medina Sanchez, CIC nanoGUNE

Leonardo-Morsut-web

Leonardo Morsut, USC

tomohiro morita

Tomohiro Morita, UTokyo

tan yu jun

Yu Jun Tan, NUS

selman sakar

Selman Sakar, EPFL

25br_morishima

Keisuke Morishima, UOsaka

isabella

Isabella Fiorello, Uni Freiburg

nicola

Nicola Pellicciotta, UniRoma

miriam filippi

Miriam Filippi, ETH Zurich

Tentative Program

Day 1: Tuesday, 8 July 2025
7:30 - 9:00Registration, Opening Remarks
9:00 - 12:50Session 1: Biohybrid Prosthetics
13:00 - 14:30Lunch Break
14:30 - 16:00Poster Session
16:00 - 18:00Session 2: Micro-scale Biohybrid Robots
18:00 - 21:00Social Event / Dinner
Day 2: Wednesday, 9 July 2025
7:30 - 9:00Coffee & Networking
9:00 - 14:30Session 3: Fabrication of muscle-based actuators
14:30 - 16:00Poster Session
16:00 - 21:00Lab tours/ city tour, Banquet
Day 3: Thursday, 10 July 2025
8:00 - 9:00Coffee & Networking
9:00 - 14:00Session 5: Advanced functionalites of biohybrid robots
14:00 - 16:00BHR Community Shaping
16:00 - 17:30Afternoon 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 – 9:22
Talk 1
Kit Parker
9:22 – 9:30
Discussion
9:30 – 9:52
Talk 2
Robert Katzschmann
9:52 – 10:00
Discussion
10:00 – 10:22
Talk 3
Taher Saif
10:22 – 10:30
Discussion
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 11:22
Talk 4
Josh Bongard
11:22 – 11:30
Discussion
11:30 – 11:40
Talk 5
Maria Guix
11:40 – 11:50
Discussion
11:50 – 12:00
Talk 6
Nicole Xu
12:00 – 12:10
Discussion
12:10 – 12:45
Poster Lightning (10)
12:45 – 14:15
Lunch+Photo
14:15 – 15:15
Poster Session
Session II: Microscale Biohybrid Robots
15:30 – 15:52
Talk 7
Simone Schürle
15:52 – 16:00
Discussion
16:00 – 16:22
Talk 8
Metin Sitti
16:22 – 16:30
Discussion
16:30 – 17:00
Break
17:00 – 17:22
Talk 9
Mariana Medina Sanchez
17:22 – 17:30
Discussion
17:30 – 17:52
Talk 10
Samuel Sanchez
17:52 – 18:00
Discussion
17:30 – 18:30
Apero (riche)
18:30 – 20:30
Own time for self-organized Dinner

Day 2, Wednesday, 9 July 2025

8:00 – 9:00
Breakfast/Coffee at ZDC
Session III: Fabrication of Bioactuators
9:00 – 9:22
Talk 11
Shoji Tacheuchi
9:22 – 9:30
Discussion
9:30 – 9:52
Talk 12
Ritu Raman
9:52 – 10:00
Discussion
10:00 – 10:22
Talk 13
Adam Feinberg
10:22 – 10:30
Discussion
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 11:22
Talk 14
Mark Skylar-Scott
11:22 – 11:30
Discussion
11:30 – 11:52
Talk 15
Leonardo Morsut
11:52 – 12:00
Discussion
12:00 – 12:10
Talk 16
Tomohiro Morita
12:10 – 12:20
Discussion
12:20 – 12:30
Talk 17
Yu Jun Tan
12:30 – 12:40
Discussion
12:40 – 12:50
Talk 18
Selman Sakar
12:50 – 13:00
Discussion
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
14:15 – 14:45
Poster Lightning (10)
14:45 – 15:45
Poster Session
16:00 – 18:00
Lab Tours / ETH Tours
18:00 – 21:00
Banquet

Day 3, Thursday, 10 July 2025

8:00 – 9:00
Breakfast/Coffee at ZDC
Session IV: Advanced Functionalities of Biohybrids
9:00 – 9:22
Talk 19
Victoria Webster-Wood
9:22 – 9:30
Discussion
9:30 – 9:52
Talk 20
Leonardo Ricotti
9:52 – 10:00
Discussion
10:00 – 10:22
Talk 21
Mattia Gazzola
10:22 – 10:30
Discussion
10:30 – 11:00
Break
11:00 – 11:22
Talk 22
Rashid Bashir
11:22 – 11:30
Discussion
11:30 – 11:52
Talk 23
Keisuke Morishima
11:52 – 12:00
Discussion
12:00 – 12:10
Talk 24
Isabella Fiorello
12:10 – 12:20
Discussion
12:20 – 12:30
Talk 25
Nicola Pellicciotta
12:30 – 12:40
Discussion
12:40 – 12:50
Talk 26
Miriam Filippi
12:50 – 13:00
Discussion
13:00 – 14:30
Lunch
14:30 – 16:30
BHR Community Shaping

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:

Research Supporter (1k CHF):
Acknowledgment on the symposium website and program.
 
Session Sponsor (3k CHF):
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.
 
Key Session Sponsor (6k CHF):
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.
 
Innovation Partner (8k CHF):
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

 

 

Science Advances AAAS

Organizers

Robert Katzschmann

Assistant Professor, ETH Zurich

rkk@ethz.ch

Ritu Raman

Assistant Professor, MIT

ritur@mit.edu

Anhui Wu

Soft Robotics Lab Manager, ETH Zurich

anhui.wu@srl.ethz.ch

Federica Poltonieri

Soft Robotics Lab Admin, ETH Zurich

fpoltronieri@ethz.ch