The Empa archives are now held at the ETH Zurich University Archives

Empa was founded in 1880 as the ‘Swiss Federal Institute for the Testing of Construction Materials’ as an affiliated institute of the Swiss Federal Polytechnic (today's ETH Zurich). Systematic materials testing was established as an experimental discipline in the wake of the rapid development of transport systems in the 19th century. The institution at that time saw itself as a combination of a state testing centre and a scientific research institute. Today, Empa is a Swiss research institute that focuses on materials science and technology development and promotes sustainable innovations in areas such as energy, the environment and health at the interface between research and industry.

The Empa archives comprise approximately 150 linear metres of documents dating back to the founding of Empa. In addition to administrative records, they mainly contain reports on specific events, buildings and objects. These include, for example, reports on the bridge disaster in Münchenstein (1891) and the aircraft crash in Würenlingen (1972).

Empa documents can be researched in the virtual reading room of the University Archives and ordered for inspection in the Collections and Archives Reading Room in the main building of ETH Zurich (opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

In the coming months, the Empa archive will also be taking over genuine digital archive material. After the expiry of the protection period or with the appropriate authorisation, these can be viewed directly online in the virtual reading room.