Innovation Zurich is the platform that makes collaborations in the field of innovation in the Canton of Zurich visible and possible.

From 2024 to 2026, five AI projects were successfully implemented in the second implementation phase of the Innovation Sandbox for AI: AI in medical documentation, autonomous inspection robots, digital eye clinic, sensor-based bridge monitoring and AI for building permits. As artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important for companies and society, the Innovation Sandbox will begin its third implementation phase this year. Together with partners, further AI projects are tested under real conditions and open regulatory issues are clarified.

The Division of Business and Economic Development of the Canton of Zurich  and the Swiss Data Science Center (SDSC) are continuing the AI Innovation Program to foster collaboration and innovation in the fields of data science and AI among SMEs in the Canton of Zurich. By providing targeted support to small and medium-sized enterprises as they adopt AI, they are making an important contribution to the digital transformation of the Swiss economy.

The next edition of the one-year program will begin in September with the goal of facilitating the adoption of AI technologies by SMEs, promoting knowledge sharing, and building a community.
Applications can be submitted starting now using the registration form.

More information: https://www.datascience.ch/de/innovation/kanton-zurich-kmu-programm

At the information session, interested participants will gain insights into the AI learning and innovation program and have the opportunity to ask questions.

(CONNECT) The Innovation Sandbox for AI of the Department for Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich has tested five AI use cases under real conditions, namely in the context of building permit procedures and medical documentation as well as inspection robots, sensor-based monitoring of bridges and the evaluation of retinal images. According to a statement, a total of 24 organizations applied to take part.

In the AI for building permits project, the Innovation Sandbox, together with project partners Gossweiler Ingenieure, Byte Studio and Nokema and in close coordination with the building department, has developed a prototype for an AI-supported preliminary check in the notification process, for example for solar systems, heat pumps or charging stations. This helps applicants to recognize at an early stage whether the documents are complete and where formal details are missing or need to be improved. "The project on building permits is an example of how the responsible use of AI can contribute to better submissions and greater efficiency - without weakening the decision-making authority and responsibility of the authorities," said Carmen Walker Späh, Government Councillor and Head of the Department for Economic Affairs.

An example from the company MPAssist was used to investigate how AI can relieve the burden on doctors when transcribing and structuring medical reports. Together with the Eye Clinic of Zurich Triemli City Hospital and the Werner H. Spross Foundation, it has been investigated how AI can support the evaluation of retinal images in clinical practice. The results of the project with irmos technologies and Schweizerische Südostbahn clearly show that sensor data is a useful addition to traditional on-site inspections of railroad bridges. Together with ANYbotics, the manufacturer of four-legged inspection robots, the regulatory conditions under which robotic systems can be used for inspections in critical infrastructure such as energy plants were analyzed.

"The second phase of the Innovation Sandbox for AI shows that artificial intelligence creates added value above all where it supports specific, practical tasks," says Raphael von Thiessen, Program Lead AI Hub at the Office for Economy. "Widespread use therefore requires not only powerful models, but also test environments that combine the technology with clean data, clear processes, human control and a reliable legal framework." ce/mm

(CONNECT) Thomas Schoch has assumed the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of Technopark Winterthur AG effective September 1, the company announced in a press release. He has been a member of the committee for four years and works as an entrepreneur and startup investor. He “brings the experience and network needed for the strategic development of the company.”

His predecessor, Daniel Anderes, stepped down from the Board of Directors at the end of August after serving as president for six years. During his tenure, the ground floor of the Technopark was renovated, and Thomas Schumann handed over the management of the company to Stève Mérillat, among other developments. In addition, other challenges arose for the Technopark during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The position of vice president has also been filled: Franziska Zuber, a member of the Board of Directors since 2021, will assume this role. Back in May, Michael Ott succeeded Ronald Kundert as the representative of Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB). At the same time, Moritz Heim of Dahinden Heim Partner Architekten AG in Winterthur was newly elected to the Board of Directors. Stefan Fritschi has also been a member of the committee since July; he took over for Mike Künzle following the change in the Winterthur mayor's office. The Board of Directors is now once again at its intended size. ce/as

(CONNECT) Construction of the new training facilities at the Andelfingen Training Center (AZA) has reached another milestone with the topping-out ceremony, according to a press release from the Zurich Cantonal Building Insurance Corporation (GVZ). The project, which cost approximately 40 million Swiss francs, includes a high-rise building simulation facility and a hall with a fire basement. The GVZ is financing the project with fire safety fees and bears overall responsibility.

The high-rise simulation facility reaches a height of 24 meters and consists of six full stories, two basement levels, and a penthouse level. On a 1,832-square-meter site, emergency responders will be able to train, among other things, in how to respond to high-rise fires. To this end, the building will be equipped with a fire department elevator, a smoke control system, and sprinkler and fire alarm systems. The 17-meter-high training hall also has two basement levels. Their fire simulation facility allows for training sessions regardless of weather conditions and the simulation of fires underground.

Construction workers, fire safety officers, and GVZ appraisers are also expected to use the facilities. “The new training facilities are an investment in civil protection,” said Mario Fehr, Zurich’s Director of Security and Chairman of the GVZ Board of Directors.

The construction project will use, among other things, 2,900 cubic meters of concrete, more than two-thirds of which is made from recycled concrete rubble. The 350 metric tons of reinforcing steel consist entirely of recycled steel. A flue gas scrubbing system is designed to clean the combustion gases produced during live-fire exercises. Following completion, which is scheduled for mid-2027, the new facilities are expected to begin operations in phases starting in early 2028. They will subsequently become the property of the Canton of Zurich, and the AZA is responsible for their operation. ce/as

(CONNECT) Zurich is the only innovation cluster in Switzerland to make it into the world's top 100. The 2026 Global Innovation Index, published by the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ranks the Greater Zurich Area 40th. The index measures innovative activities in cities and regions around the world. These include the absolute numbers of international patent applications, scientific publications, and venture capital transactions that were identified.

In this assessment, Zurich’s performance over the past five years is based on 4,031 patent applications, 23,704 scientific publications, and 1,491 venture capital deals. Most patents were filed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH, 180), followed by SIKA (139) and IBM (134). Most of the publications came from ETH Zurich (5,881), the University of Zurich (4,107), and the ETH Domain (1,104).

59 percent of all patents are filed in collaboration with innovators outside the Zurich cluster. These are primarily from Basel, San Jose-San Francisco, and Bern. 84 percent of the articles published by the Greater Zurich Innovation Cluster were produced in collaboration with organisations outside the cluster. They are based primarily in Bern, London, and Paris.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou region ranks first in the list of innovation clusters sorted by size. It has a population of over 30 million. It is followed by Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Seoul, and Beijing. London, ranked 8th, and Paris, ranked 10th, are the highest-ranked European innovation clusters.

Another WIPO ranking lists the innovation clusters with the highest level of activity. In this list, the number of inventions and scientific publications is compared to the population of the city or region being evaluated. The Greater Zurich Area, with its 2.03 million residents (as of 2025), ranks 13th. This places it behind Helsinki (8th), Eindhoven (9th), Stockholm (11th), and Copenhagen (12th), but ahead of Munich, London, and Paris. As in the previous year, San Jose-San Francisco and Cambridge took the top two spots. Next on the list are Ningde (China), Boston-Cambridge (U.S.), and Oxford (United Kingdom). ce/mm

(CONNECT) The Youngpreneurs association and the HWZ are joining forces to support young entrepreneurs. Following a successful launch in Bern, Thun, and Central Switzerland, the first support programme is set to be implemented in the canton of Zurich this fall, according to a press release from the HWZ. As a partner at Youngpreneurs, she will contribute her entrepreneurial expertise and her network of contacts in business and the professional world.

“With HWZ, we are gaining a partner that embodies and promotes entrepreneurship as a university,” Emanuel Roth, co-founder and managing partner of the Youngpreneurs Association, is quoted as saying in the press release. “Together, we create an inspiring environment for young people where they can develop their ideas, build valuable connections, and gain their first entrepreneurial experiences.”

The two partners plan to begin implementing the first program this fall. Participants develop their business ideas and, over the course of eight months and through 16 practical modules, turn them into market-ready startups. Finally, the teams will present their projects to a jury at the Award Night in April 2027. The HWZ is hosting the finals and will be represented on the jury.

“Entrepreneurship begins when people have the courage to try out ideas and take on responsibility,” explains Linard Barth, head of the Department of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Academy at HWZ. The HWZ aims to promote this attitude. "We are very pleased to have the opportunity to support the young talents of Youngpreneurs on their journey and to celebrate the first Award Night of the Zurich program at HWZ." ce/hs

(CONNECT) The ZHAW’s Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management is now located in the Shedhallen in Wädenswil. Following the completion of the renovation of the historic halls, representatives from the Canton of Zurich, ZHAW, Tuwas Immobilien AG, and Hotz Partner AG inaugurated the new location on September 4, according to a press release from the Canton of Zurich’s Department of Construction. The facades and the distinctive shed-roof structure of the historic halls were preserved during the renovation.

Inside, however, the former Wädenwil AG cloth factory—which once housed looms—now houses modern biotechnology laboratories and workspaces for the ZHAW Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology. An open-concept library, as well as classrooms and study spaces for students, were set up on the upper floor. In addition, there are so-called "room-in-room" cubes that can be used flexibly for learning and meetings.

“Through this comprehensive renovation, we have succeeded in preserving an important piece of industrial history and adapting it to the needs of a modern teaching and research institution,” writes the Department of Public Works. "This made it possible to avoid demolishing the buildings, which conserves resources and significantly reduces the amount of gray energy used." The canton has entered into a long-term lease with Tuwag Immobilien AG for the facilities in order to provide the ZHAW with additional space for teaching and research. The renovation was carried out in consultation with the local historic preservation office. ce/hs

(CONNECT) Zurich is the only innovation cluster in Switzerland to make it into the world's top 100. The 2026 Global Innovation Index, published by the Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ranks the Greater Zurich Area 40th. The index measures innovative activities in cities and regions around the world. These include the absolute numbers of international patent applications, scientific publications, and venture capital transactions that were identified.

In this assessment, Zurich’s performance over the past five years is based on 4,031 patent applications, 23,704 scientific publications, and 1,491 venture capital deals. Most patents were filed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH, 180), followed by SIKA (139) and IBM (134). Most of the publications came from ETH Zurich (5,881), the University of Zurich (4,107), and the ETH Domain (1,104).

59 percent of all patents are filed in collaboration with innovators outside the Zurich cluster. These are primarily from Basel, San Jose-San Francisco, and Bern. 84 percent of the articles published by the Greater Zurich Innovation Cluster were produced in collaboration with organisations outside the cluster. They are based primarily in Bern, London, and Paris.

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou region ranks first in the list of innovation clusters sorted by size. It has a population of over 30 million. It is followed by Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Seoul, and Beijing. London, ranked 8th, and Paris, ranked 10th, are the highest-ranked European innovation clusters.

Another WIPO ranking lists the innovation clusters with the highest level of activity. In this list, the number of inventions and scientific publications is compared to the population of the city or region being evaluated. The Greater Zurich Area, with its 2.03 million residents (as of 2025), ranks 13th. This places it behind Helsinki (8th), Eindhoven (9th), Stockholm (11th), and Copenhagen (12th), but ahead of Munich, London, and Paris. As in the previous year, San Jose-San Francisco and Cambridge took the top two spots. Next on the list are Ningde (China), Boston-Cambridge (U.S.), and Oxford (United Kingdom). ce/mm

A conversation with three entrepreneurs about getting started, financing, growth, and the realities of entrepreneurship—supplemented by insights from Ahead and the ZKB Startup Desk.

How does an idea turn into a successful business?

What challenges need to be overcome? And what kinds of support are available to business owners? Look forward to thought-provoking insights, practical case studies, and an inspiring panel discussion with entrepreneurs and experts in the fields of startup, financing, and innovation. Afterward, we cordially invite you to a networking reception.

Participation is free. The number of participants is limited.