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

(CONNECT) The Digital Economy Award recently announced this year's finalists via its website. 20 organizations and nine individuals are nominated across seven categories at the awards ceremony on 13 November in the Hallenstadion Zurich. The Office for Economy of the Canton of Zurich is also taking part in the Digital Excellence GOV & NPO category. It was selected as a finalist for its innovation support program Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence. Also nominated in this category are Swiss Guardia with its QR code system as well as the city of Uster, the city of Kloten, the municipality of Horgen, the municipality of Thalwil and the company JAXforms with its joint Amtomat administration portal.

The Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence project has been bringing together public administrations, companies and universities in a test and learning space since 2021. Technological, regulatory and social challenges relating to artificial intelligence (AI) are addressed together. According to the jury of the Digital Economy Award, the initiative can boast eleven successful projects and over 20 participating administrations and universities. The approach also creates trust in AI technologies and provides regulatory impetus.

The Digital Economy Award was launched in 2018 and is organized by the swissICT trade association. It is awarded in the categories Next Global Hot Thing, NextGen Hero, Digital Excellence, ICT Education & Training and The Pascal. The Digital Excellence Award is divided into the subcategories Commercial and Government & NPO. At this year's The Pascal Award, five personalities will face each other in a public vote. ce/nta

(CONNECT) The city of Frauenfeld is expanding its Smart Parking system to include the Altstadt parking garage. This has now been announced by the city. To this end, it has been equipped with sensors that display free parking spaces in the Regio Frauenfeld app. The pilot project was launched in 2023 and continued in 2024 following a comprehensive evaluation. It now comprises a total of six parks and 24 cameras.

The occupancy is recorded there every two minutes and displayed on the app. This should enable road users to find a free parking space more quickly and benefit from smoother traffic.

The Altstadt parking garage is the only one not equipped with cameras. It is owned by Wohnpark Promenade AG and managed by Tobler Immobilien AG. A one-year trial operation was agreed with the managers of both companies. The underground parking garage offers 66 parking spaces in a central location.

Following the renovation of the Passage shopping center, its multi-storey parking lot with around 260 parking spaces will also be connected. The construction work should be completed by the end of 2027.

Frauenfeld's smart parking concept is based on a project by the Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence in the canton of Zurich. Parquery AG from Zurich, a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH), has made it possible to efficiently record and analyze parking space occupancy in real time with its image recognition system. ce/mm

Stadtspital Zürich pioneers the future of diagnostics with oculomics and AI – supported by the Canton of Zurich. Dr. Gábor Márk Somfai, Head of Research of the Eye Clinic, and Dr. Rui Santos, Project Manager Research, explain how AI helps detect eye, brain and systemic diseases.

Together with Raphael von Thiessen, Programme Manager of the Innovation Sandbox for AI at the Office for Economy, the team explores ethical and legal challenges.

(CONNECT) Flexibly controlled use of heat pumps and the use of electric cars could significantly improve Switzerland's energy balance. Compared to a non-flexible system, a net saving of 20 percent of electricity imports could be achieved. This is the conclusion of a study conducted under the leadership of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), according to a press release. The PATHFNDR consortium, funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE), involved ETH Zurich, the Swiss Federal Laboratoriesfor Materials Science and Technology (Empa), the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), the University of Geneva (Unige), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), the Delft University of Technology and 25 other cooperation partners.

The study points out that the flexible use of electrical energy can reduce the load on the grid. Heat pumps should be switched off at temperatures above 0 degrees Celsius during peak load times. electric cars can be charged by solar energy at flexible time intervals and during parking times during the day.

Such flexible action could save around 20 percent of electricity imports. "That is around 1.8 TWh of electricity, which corresponds to the annual consumption of around 0.5 million Swiss households," Siobhan Powell, energy researcher at ETH and one of the main authors, is quoted as saying in the press release. According to the press release, 0.7 TWh (terawatt hours) less could also be imported in the winter months. Switzerland aims to cover 50 to 60 percent of its electricity requirements with energy sources such as photovoltaics, wind energy and biomass by 2050. With flexible control of heat pumps and electric vehicles, a total of 4 percent additional renewable electricity could be available by 2050, according to the press release.

In order to implement the flexibility programs, the study calls on suppliers to provide the necessary control and communication technology. Users should be rewarded with attractive dynamic electricity tariffs for flexible charging and heating. ce/ww

(CONNECT) The Regionale 2025 - Limmattal Project Show marks the end of a ten-year pilot project in which 16 municipalities from the Limmattal in the cantons of Zurich and Aargau took part. According to the organizers, the Regionale not only provided impetus, technical support and help in financing the projects, but also promoted cooperation across municipal and cantonal borders.

The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) has presented a report on the impact of the Regionale, in which respondents emphasize the impetus for landscape and culture. It is therefore recommended that both regional cooperation and support for projects in landscape and culture, as well as in the areas of leisure, society and the environment, be continued.

A total of 28 projects were presented at the Regionale. The organizers mention the agricultural park in the Spreitenbach, Dietikon, Oetwil an der Limmat and Würenlos landscape corridor as well as the hot springs in Baden and Ennetbaden and the sound tapestry organized by several Limmat Valley music and dance groups. ce/jh

(CONNECT) The HSG, ETH and Zurich Insurance have joined forces to fundamentally change the business model of the insurance industry with a joint research laboratory for artificial intelligence (AI). This is because "AI has the potential to create new customer experiences that are faster, smarter and more personal than ever before," the partners said in a statement to the same effect.

In the new Zurich AI Lab, the Institute of Business Administration of the HSG, the Agentic Systems Lab of the ETH and Zurich Insurance will research new business models, end-to-end processes and offerings in the insurance industry and develop them further or, if necessary, from scratch. The aim is not only to increase efficiency, but also to achieve holistic transformation and practical research, for example to improve risk analysis, damage detection or customer interaction. "The cooperation aims to use AI in an ethical and socially responsible manner," the press release states. The scientific freedom of the university partners should be fully respected.

The lab will be based in St.Gallen, Zurich and Singapore. Students, doctoral candidates and researchers will work directly with Zurich Insurance executives and technology experts. "The Zurich AI Lab is our think tank," says Zurich Insurance Group CEO Mario Greco. It is pursuing the clear goal of "revolutionizing our business model and driving the next generation of insurance solutions".

According to ETH professor Dr. Elgar Fleisch, the lab builds a bridge between students "and a leading company". Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger from the HSG wants to "promote new research work and make a contribution to society through valuable knowledge, innovation and partnerships", building on the HSG's expertise in business model innovation and disruption through AI. ce/mm

The Office for Economy of the Canton of Zurich has won the prestigious Digital Economy Award 2025 in the "Digital Excellence - GOV & NPO" category with its Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence. At yesterday's award ceremony in the Hallenstadion, the jury praised the Sandbox as a "beacon of digital innovation with a lasting social impact". With the AI Sandbox, the canton has created an innovation support program for AI that is unique internationally.

The Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence was launched in 2021 with financial support from Metropolitan Zurich. It offers companies and start-ups a secure test environment to try out innovative AI technologies. It promotes the exchange between business, science and administration and supports projects with practical data and use cases. Eleven pilot projects have already been successfully implemented in two phases - from smart parking and drone inspections to AI in education. Current projects include AI-generated medical reports, automated building permit procedures and the detection of deepfakes.

Innovation Sandbox as an International Role Model

The jury was particularly impressed by the combination of technology, regulation and social benefits: Legal issues are clarified together with data protection authorities and experts, innovative ways of accessing data are created and the results are systematically documented in publicly accessible best practice reports. The AI Sandbox thus provides practice-based impetus for the further development of the AI legal framework.

Sandbox Project Manager Raphael von Thiessen explains the success of the Sandbox as follows: "The focus is not on theory, but on the concrete implementation of AI projects. This is precisely why the Sandbox has established itself as a model for national strategies and international cooperation. Its impact extends beyond project boundaries: it creates trust, accelerates innovation and lays the foundations for a responsible digital future."

Aware of the importance of artificial intelligence, the cantonal government allocated CHF 2.9 million to the Office for Economy in the spring to strengthen the canton of Zurich as a leading innovation location for AI through various measures. Carmen Walker Späh, the Government Councillor responsible, is therefore particularly proud: "The award confirms the pioneering spirit of the Canton of Zurich and shows how important it is to test new technologies responsibly. The award is both an incentive and an obligation to actively help shape change through AI - for companies, the administration and the population of the Canton of Zurich."

About the Digital Economy Award

The Digital Economy Award is organized by the ICT trade association swissICT. Every year, companies and organizations that promote digital transformation and digitalization in Switzerland are honoured in various categories. In total, over 40 jurors assess the ideas, projects and companies at the Digital Economy Award.
The Digital Excellence Award NPO/GOV recognizes organizations that have increased their impact or performance thanks to digital initiatives and projects. In addition to the Office for Economy the municipalities of Uster, Kloten, Horgen and Thalwil together with JAXForms with the digital administration portal "Amtomat" and the non-profit association Swiss Guardia with an innovative QR code system were also nominated in the "Digital Excellence - GOV & NPO" category.

(CONNECT) This year's Startup Nights took place on 6 and 7 November. According to a press release, over 9,500 people and 150 start-ups came to the Eulachhallen in Winterthur. More than 70 speakers talked about technologies, business models and innovation strategies.

The jury and the audience selected the most convincing young companies in three categories. The winners each received 5000 francs in prize money.

This year's Deep Tech Award, supported by ABB, went to Caterra AG. Founded in 2023, the start-up from Opfikon ZH has developed an autonomous laser technology for precise weed control.

The Impact Tech Award, supported by UBS, went to Verretex SA. Founded in 2025, the company in St.Sulpice VD has developed a sustainable solution for recovering and reusing glass fibers from industrial waste. Second place went to Voltiris AG in Epalinges VD, third place to WasteFlow SA in Ecublens VS.

The Health Tech Award, sponsored by the Startup Nights themselves, went to PeriVision AG. Founded in 2022 and based in Epalinges, the company has developed a platform for virtual eye tests and artificial intelligence-based diagnostics and prognostics in ophthalmology.

PeriVision also won the public vote and thus a place in the founders2 Growth Accelerator Program worth CHF 20,000. Verretex received the Youth Prize, which is awarded by 140 high school graduates from the Büelrain Cantonal School in Winterthur.

"The quality and diversity of the ideas presented were impressive," Alyssia Kugler is quoted as saying in the press release. "The Startup Nights show that Switzerland is at the forefront when it comes to innovative strength and entrepreneurial spirit," says the Managing Director of the Entrepreneur Club Winterthur, which organizes the Startup Nights. ce/ug

(CONNECT) The HAW and the Johann Jacob Rieter Foundation of the Winterthur spinning technology company Rieter have honored the best student work as part of the Smart Machines cluster initiative. The prize has been awarded annually since 2021 and is endowed with CHF 10,000. It aims to strengthen the exchange of knowledge between the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW ) and the business community and to contribute to value creation and job creation with concrete projects.

According to the press release, this year's winners are Alan Lützelschwab and Kevin Gertsch. The complete smart machine they have built brings optical density (OD) measurements from the usual measuring range of 600 nanometers into the ultraviolet range of 200 to 400 nanometers. OD measurements quantify the light absorption of a sample and provide information about substance concentrations or cell growth, for example in food production or biotechnology. The extension into the UV range enables the detection of harmful cell waste products and offers new feedback designs for bioreactors.

This machine developed by the two ZHAW students closes a gap: Until now, there has been no market-ready system for reliable UV-OD measurements or automated dilution processes. Her Bachelor's thesis is now developing an autonomous prototype system for the ZHAW Wädenswil that automates OD measurements and provides new data sets for cell health - as proof of concept for future intelligent bioreactors in research and medicine. ce/mm

(CONNECT) The start-up Swiss Activities AG, based in Erlenbach, has completed another financing round. According to a message on LinkedIn, the financing was led by Hurbig Ventures. This is the second financing round this year. Swiss Activities was able to secure fresh capital back in the spring.

With the funds now acquired, the leisure activities company intends to significantly expand its platform and offerings. The aim of the company is to offer a wide range of Swiss leisure activities online, including guided tours, excursions by train, tours to museums and thermal baths or even boat trips.

In order to be able to work more efficiently, Swiss Activities also wants to expand its team. Among others, the management is now headed by two Co-CEOs, the brothers Mathias and Reto Graf. "The trust of Hurbig Ventures and our existing investors shows that we are on the right track. With the new financing, we are entering the next growth phase of Swiss Activities," Mathias Graf is quoted as saying in the press release. According to its Managing Director Michael Hering, Hurbig Ventures is convinced that Swiss Activities is "excellently positioned with its team" to implement the change in the leisure market from offline to online bookings. ce/ww

(CONNECT) Forgis AG has closed a pre-seed financing round within just 36 hours. The start-up, which was founded in February 2025, raised 4.5 million dollars, according to its press release. The round was led by Zug-based venture capital company Redalpine and Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi. Other European deep-tech and industrial investors have also participated.

"The round was filled so quickly because the conviction was mutual," Gianmarco Hodel, Investment Manager at Redalpine, is quoted as saying. "Forgis addresses a trillion-dollar transformation at the interface between the digital and physical world."

The young company with its founders Federico Martelli (26), Camilla Mazzoleni (23) and Riccardo Maggioni (24) has set itself the goal of rebuilding the industrial intelligence of the West. The West invented industry, but later forgot how to continue building it and shifted production to the East, they analyze. Asia has taken over automation, BYD is overtaking Tesla, Europe has lost the battery race and the West is facing a possible industrial decline.

Forgis contrasts this with "industrial cognition". Whoever masters this will define the next era of production. Forgis creates the brain of factories: Machines, information and their logic are connected via a standardized interface.

With its fundamental software, an "orchestration infrastructure for industry", Forgis brings together machines, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and robots from different manufacturers and operates "digital engineers" directly at the edge - artificial intelligence agents that optimize production processes in real time. The aim is to turn isolated automation into a network of intelligent organisms.

According to Forgis, it is already working with IBM, several research laboratories at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and various Fortune 500 companies. The platform integrates seamlessly into existing systems from Siemens, Beckhoff and ABB. ce/mm