Scientists of Empa and EPFL have developed a fully transparent surgical mask that will soon be produced on an industrial scale. The new startup HMCARE, based at Campus Biotech Innovation Park, will market the masks and has already raised CHF 1 million to develop the manufacturing process.
You’ve probably noticed over the past two months how hard it is to speak with people when half their face is hidden because they are wearing a face mask. You can’t hear them very well or make out their facial expressions. And for some segments of the population – like children, the elderly and the hearing impaired – the masks are a major obstacle to communication. That’s why a team of researchers from Empa and EPFL’s EssentialTech Center has been working for the past two years on a completely transparent surgical mask. They have now finalized a biomass-based material to fabricate the masks and have created a startup called HMCARE to market them. After completing a CHF 1 million fundraising round, the company is now ready to develop the industrial process. Discussions are under way for a planned market launch in early 2021.
For further information: https://www.empa.ch/web/s604/hello-mask-hmcare
Source: Empa
Photo: EPFL
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