Comet, YORD and Liip win the IFF Award 2026–2027

Comet, YORD and Liip have won the 18th Innovation Fribourg Freiburg (IFF) Award, announced on 11 November 2026. Comet was recognized for semiconductor manufacturing technology, YORD for AI-driven building heating optimization and Liip for a web sustainability tool.

Comet, YORD and Liip were selected from 40 applications and nine finalists for the IFF Award 2026–2027, organized by the Fribourg Development Agency (FDA) and Fribourg Cantonal Bank (BCF). Comet received the IFF Enterprise Award, YORD the IFF Start-up Award and Liip the IFF Sustainability Award, while YORD also received the first Carbon Fri Special Recognition. In the press release, Olivier Curty, State Councillor in charge of economic affairs and chairman of the jury, stated that “innovation is not judged on originality alone. We also assessed whether these innovations could demonstrate their value, gain a foothold in the market and deliver tangible results.”

Comet: Synertia® for chipmaking

With Synertia®, Comet has developed a platform that controls the energy used in plasma processes within a few microseconds. This precision enables material layers to be deposited or etched at the atomic scale, an essential step in manufacturing next-generation microchips. Combining radio-frequency generators, impedance matching networks and intelligent software, Synertia® improves process stability, efficiency and resource utilization, and has already been adopted by its first customers. The IFF Enterprise Award comes with CHF 10,000.

In the press release, Sergio Marchese, Vice President Global R&D at Comet PCT, stated that the company aims to become a leading platform provider for radio-frequency technology in semiconductor manufacturing, evolving from a product manufacturer into a supplier of complete subsystems. Comet previously won the Innovation Award in 2022 for MesoFocus, an X-ray technology used to inspect electric vehicle batteries. This second award recognizes an innovation developed by a different business unit within the group.

Listen to our Getting Serious conversation with Comet Group CEO Stephan Haferl: The Swiss Company That Makes Semiconductors Possible.

YORD: AI-optimized heating

YORD reduces energy consumption in buildings without renovation work. Its system uses artificial intelligence to create a digital twin of a building, anticipate its heating needs and automatically adjust the heating system while maintaining occupant comfort. During the 2025–2026 heating season, it saved 4.19 GWh of energy, a 22.8% reduction in consumption, with savings reaching 45% in some buildings. The CHF 30,000 IFF Start-up Award was decided through a combined vote, with equal weight given to the jury, online voters and the audience during the ceremony.

YORD also received the first CHF 10,000 Carbon Fri Special Recognition, which honors a project that contributes to decarbonization. According to the company’s figures, its technology prevented the emission of 1,046 metric tons of CO₂ during the 2025–2026 heating season.

Liip: a sustainability tool for websites

With Lowwwimpact, Liip is developing a tool that assesses the sustainability of websites and web applications. Drawing on recommendations from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), it evaluates their environmental footprint as well as their accessibility, data protection and governance, then provides recommendations to improve digital services. Liip aims to offer the equivalent of an energy performance certificate for websites. The IFF Sustainability Award comes with CHF 10,000.

In the press release, Jerry Krattiger, Managing Director of the FDA and vice-chairman of the jury, stated that “what convinced us was the potential of this tool to reduce the energy consumption of websites, as well as its ability to accurately quantify the savings achieved.”