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Parquery, an ETH spin-off, is a Zurich-based software company specializing in computer vision, a field within artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to extract meaningful information from digital images and videos. Thanks to the Innovation-Sandbox and the cooperation with the city of Frauenfeld, they are now making a significant contribution to using parking spaces on site more efficiently while effectively taking data protection aspects into account. Additionally, the Innovation-Sandbox ensures that other municipalities can benefit from their pioneering project as well.
The Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence is a test environment for the implementation of AI projects. The Sandbox is designed to promote responsible innovation by allowing the administration and participating organizations to work closely on regulatory issues and to enable the use of novel data sources.
Parquery, an ETH spin-off, is a Zurich-based software company specializing in computer vision, a field within artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to extract meaningful information from digital images and videos. Thanks to the Innovation-Sandbox and the cooperation with the city of Frauenfeld, they are now making a significant contribution to using parking spaces on site more efficiently while effectively taking data protection aspects into account. Additionally, the Innovation-Sandbox ensures that other municipalities can benefit from their pioneering project as well.
The Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence is a test environment for the implementation of AI projects. The Sandbox is designed to promote responsible innovation by allowing the administration and participating organizations to work closely on regulatory issues and to enable the use of novel data sources.
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Experts from seven European countries gathered at the “AI Sandbox Summit” on the initiative of the Zurich Location Promotion to discuss their experiences with regulatory testing environments for Artificial Intelligence (AI). The findings from this first event will be incorporated into further project planning.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise and has enormous potential. However, there are still many unanswered questions - also with regard to regulation. The canton of Zurich has been promoting the practical application of AI for a long time. The "Innovation Sandbox" was introduced in spring 2022. It serves as a learning environment - almost like a laboratory - in which companies, organizations and administrations implement AI projects and develop expertise in the field of AI use. This has already resulted in several guidelines on legal aspects and recommendations for the technical implementation of AI applications.
Similar sandbox projects are also running in other countries, sometimes with different approaches. For this reason, the Canton of Zurich's Economic Development Agency, together with the European AI network CLAIRE, organized the "AI Sandbox Summit" for the first time and invited experts from six European countries: Germany, Belgium, Norway, the UK, France and Spain. The aim was to network, exchange ideas and learn from the experiences of others.
What topics do the projects focus on? What are the conditions of participation for the organizations? In what form are the results presented? First, the sandbox experts shared success factors and cross-national insights. In the second part of the event, the participants developed approaches on how to increase the added value for administration, research and business.
For Raphael von Thiessen from the Location Promotion Canton of Zurich and project leader of the "Innovation-Sandbox," the event at the FFHS Campus Zurich was a resounding success. He stated, "The participants greatly benefited from the exchange and experiences in other countries, identifying areas for improvement in their own projects." Additionally, the possibility of cross-border collaboration was discussed, such as creating a central project database with insights from all European sandbox case studies. The findings from the workshop will soon be published on the cantonal location promotion website and on the website of the European AI network CLAIRE. In the canton of Zurich, the impressions gathered are to be incorporated into the second phase of the "Innovation Sandbox".
Author: Office for Economy - Canton of Zurich
Fifteen participants engaged in discussions at the AI Sandbox Summit. Source: CLAIRE / Hannah Lea Dykast.
The participants discussed what insights they could gather for their own projects during various workshops. Source: CLAIRE / Hannah Lea Dykast.
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AI-supported tools can be used in a variety of areas. While they offer potential for individualised learning in education, they enable the detection of the smallest cracks in asphalt in infrastructure maintenance.
But what potential does AI have for translations in administration?
Paula Reichenberg, CEO & Founder at NEUR.ON, and Simona Todesco, COO at Textshuttle, together with Raphael von Thiessen, explain the challenges of legal translations with specialised artificial intelligence and show how secure and adaptable machine translations are produced.
The Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence is an initiative in which administration, business and research work together on regulatory issues and enable the use of new types of data sources. It is a test environment for the implementation of AI projects designed to promote responsible innovation.
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Rüschlikon ZH – Susan Shaw and Tanja Ineichen are the heads of two new programs at the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute: Innovation Consulting and Leadership Development. With this, the think tank aims to bridge the gap from its traditional trend research to practical application.
The Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) aims to bring research and practice closer together. To achieve this, as mentioned in a press release, the renowned think tank with a 60-year corporate history is expanding its portfolio. In addition to its traditional trend research, it is now also focusing on the fields of innovation consulting and leadership development. These two areas are headed by women who have joined the GDI management team.
Since December 1, 2023, Susan Shaw has been responsible for innovation consulting as the Head of Strategic Services. The social scientist has a background in market research and was most recently Managing Director of GIM Suisse. She is quoted as saying, "with Strategic Services, we explore what the insights from the think tank mean for individual industries, companies, and their target audiences".
Tanja Ineichen heads the new Leadership & Transformation division. She reportedly has extensive retail experience. At the Migros Group, she has built up and managed leadership development initiatives for over 15 years. "Future shapers in top management are the driving forces of innovation in the company," says Ineichen. They are accompanied in their personal development and assisted in shaping their teams and organizations.
"Especially in times of increasing dynamics of change, like today, both the exploration of a possible future and the implementation of concrete innovations are all the more crucial for society and for companies," says CEO Johannes Bauer. "We research the future and shape it together with companies." ce/mm
The GDI is repositioning itself and consolidating its traditional trend research with the complementary areas of innovation consulting and leadership development under its roof. Image: GDI
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Zurich/London – The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) has emerged as the second-best university in the world in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025. Last year, she was ranked 18th.
ETH is the second best university in the world and the best in Europe in terms of sustainability. Compared to the previous year, it has improved by 16 places. The University of Toronto once again took the top spot. Sweden's Lund University and the University of California at Berkeley are tied for third place. This is according to the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2025.
This year's ranking by Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) includes a good 1740 universities at 107 locations. The University of Basel is ranked 74th, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne 74th and the University of Lausanne 315th. The universities of Zurich, Bern, Fribourg and Geneva are ranked between 320th and 372nd. The University of St.Gallen is ranked 527th, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences 616th and the University of Italian-speaking Switzerland 786th.
The QS World University Rankings: Sustainability assesses the social and environmental impact of universities as centers of education and research and as major employers, which, like any large organization, face challenges in this area. For example, the contributions of alumni in science and technology to solving climate problems are just as important as the impact of research carried out as part of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
As QS explains in a press release on this ranking, the USA is the most strongly represented country with 239 facilities, but the country's average score is behind that of Europe and the region around Australia and New Zealand. The eight New Zealand universities, all in the top 500, have the highest average score of all countries. Despite the second-highest number of applications, no Chinese university from China is represented in the top 100. ce/mm
Die ETH ist hinsichtlich ihrer Nachhaltigkeit die zweitbeste Universität der Welt und die beste in Europa. Bild: ETH Zürich/Alessandro Della Bella
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Schlieren ZH – The Venturelab Biotech 2024 initiative is enabling ten biotech start-ups to spend time in Boston. The aim is to establish contacts with potential partners and investors. The roadshow in the USA will take place from May 13 to 17.
Venturelab is organizing a trip for young entrepreneurs from the biotech sector to Boston from 13 to 17 May. The ten start-ups, which were selected by a jury from over 70 applications, will take part in the roadshow in Boston, one of the most important life science centers in the world, as so-called Venture Leaders Biotech, according to a press release from the start-up promoter. They will present themselves and their start-ups at a kick-off event on April 22 at the Swiss Biotech Day 2024 in Basel.
"The preparation for this roadshow, which is now in its 18th year, is a tribute to the quality of the innovations and start-ups that have already been part of this journey," Venturelab co-founder and CEO Jordi Montserrat is quoted as saying. "I can't wait to be part of this new edition and to support this new team in its international expansion."
These ten biotech start-ups are taking part this year: Adoram Therapeutics from Geneva, which develops small molecule therapies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and other diseases. The Basel-based biopharma start-up Allegria Therapeutics is building up a differentiated portfolio of therapeutic approaches based on biological target molecules. Eviive from Zurich is working on novel biomarkers. inSEIT from Bern is dedicated to improving enzymes. Kylys Aesthetics from Geneva is focusing on a biocompatible dermal filler.
OBaris, based in Zurich, enables the painless administration of injectable drugs via a small, needle-free patch in the mouth. Shape Biopharmaceuticals, also based in Zurich, combines medical-chemical expertise with computer-aided protein design. TissueLabs in Manno TI specializes in advanced biofabrication. Well Science from Zurich wants to revolutionize the treatment of respiratory allergies. And Ymmunobio in Basel focuses on gastrointestinal cancers. ce/gba
Venturelab Biotech 2024 ermöglicht zehn Biotech-Startups einen Aufenthalt in Boston. Bild: Harald Johnsen, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Greater Zurich Area: Driving the AI revolution
Switzerland is emerging as a powerful AI hub, based on its excellence in precision mechanics and advanced industries. With world-class universities and the leading position in global innovation rankings, Switzerland, and especially the Greater Zurich Area, is a champion in artificial intelligence.
Excellence in Innovation & Research
Switzerland has been the global innovation leader for over a decade. Home to top universities and AI research institutes, the Greater Zurich Area in particular is a leading hub for AI research and development across a variety of fields and use cases.
Thriving AI Ecosystem
The Greater Zurich Area boasts a vibrant tech landscape with top-notch infrastructure and exceptional talent, which has attracted tech giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, IBM, NVIDIA, and Apple to establish AI labs in the region.
Launchpad for Success
The collaborative environment in Greater Zurich enables dynamic partnerships and high levels of innovative output. The robust network of peer companies and AI-friendly regulation provide the perfect conditions for advancing AI initiatives.
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Zurich – Embotech has received 23.5 million Swiss francs in a Series B financing round. This will enable the provider of autonomous driving solutions to further scale up its technologies for automated vehicle maneuvering in car factories and for autonomous tractor units in port terminals and logistics centers.
Embotech has raised fresh capital of 23.5 million Swiss francs in a Series B financing round. According to a press release, the investment round was led by Zurich-based Emerald Technology Ventures and Yttrium from Munich. BMW iVentures, Nabtesco Technology Ventures, RKK VC and the Sustainable Forward Capital Fund as well as existing investors have also participated.
"This investment brings an incredible group of new investors on board," says CEO Andreas Kyrtatos. "It will allow us to expand our global footprint and deliver cutting-edge technology that will enable industrial logistics to manage the transition to a safer, more efficient and sustainable future."
The funds received will be used to expand autonomous driving solutions for global logistics. Embotech has already concluded multi-year rollout contracts for its AVM (Automated Vehicle Marshalling) solution in finished vehicle logistics and its ATT (Autonomous Terminal Tractor) solution for port and shipyard logistics applications. Founded in 2013 as a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, the company claims to be the only provider with a certified AVM solution and experience in a production environment.
Following a successful test phase for its AVM business, Embotech recently signed a multi-year contract with car manufacturer BMW to install its AVM solution in six plants by the end of 2025. It is already in use in three of them.
For its ATT business, Embotech is preparing for a launch in the port of Rotterdam, the largest in Europe. Over the next two years, 30 autonomous tractor units are to be deployed there for the horizontal transportation of containers. ce/mm
BMW has also used Embotech's driving planning software in a pilot project for automated driving on the factory premises. Image: BMW
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Zurich – ANYbotics is increasing its debt capital by 60 million to over 130 million dollars. The financing is intended to accelerate the global scaling of the Zurich-based manufacturer of autonomous inspection robots and its recent expansion in the USA.
According to its announcement, ANYbotics has received a new investment of 60 million dollars. This has increased the total funding of the spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, which was founded in 2016, to over 130 million dollars. The manufacturer of four-legged inspection robots controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) is now looking to add momentum to its global scaling and expansion in the USA as well as the growth of its global team.
This new financing is led by the venture capital companies Qualcomm Ventures, headquartered in San Diego, California, and Supernovainvest from Paris. Existing investors from Silicon Valley and Europe have also participated, including Walden Catalyst, NGP Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Swisscanto and Swisscom Ventures. "We are delighted to have the support of world-class investors to help us accelerate our mission to transform industrial inspections through autonomous robotics," ANYbotics co-founder and CEO Dr. Péter Fankhauser is quoted as saying.
Thanks to major orders and partners such as BP, Equinor, Petrobras, Novelis and Outokumpu, ANYbotics is already experiencing "unprecedented growth" and is expanding worldwide. The company describes the opening of an office in Silicon Valley as its latest milestone.
Its scaling efforts are also supported by cooperation with companies such as AWS, NVIDIA, SAP, SLB, Equans and Siemens Energy. "ANYbotics is changing industrial processes with innovative AI-supported robotics," says Michel Glezer, Director of investor Qualcomm Ventures Europe. This positions the company "as the market leader in the robotics market". ce/mm
Fredrik Isler (CFO) and Dr. Péter Fankhauser, (co-founder and CEO) with ANYmal at the headquarters of ANYbotics in Zurich. Image: ANYbotics
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The “Coffeecherry Elixir” is produced in Switzerland with just four natural ingredients and sets new standards in taste and appearance.
The holistic use of the coffee plant and the qualitative enhancement of so-called "sidestreams" are at the forefront of this product. The pulp and pods of the coffee cherry (known as "cascara") are generally very suitable as a natural, healthy and fruity ingredient in various applications. In the harvest and post-harvest process of many farmers, however, the focus remains on the coffee beans (i.e. the seeds of the coffee plant), partly because the available equipment is geared towards this and the necessary know-how is often lacking. This was addressed in Brazil in collaboration with farmers and the renowned university in Lavras, enabling the production of high-quality, dried coffee cherries.
In collaboration with the Creative Food and Beverage Company in Bern, a recipe with an appropriate brewing process was then developed, resulting in a flavor-balanced, storable and promising drink. The Coffeecherry Elixir is available in the Foodflows online store and will also be launched in selected stores, cafés and bars in the course of spring. Discussions are underway and interested partners in the greater Zurich area are invited to get in touch with Foodflows.