What does it take for organisations and individuals to keep innovating when technology cycles speed up, hype multiplies, and AI can generate “answers” in seconds?

Those were the questions at the heart of the ETH Global Lecture “Empowering Innovation: Thriving in the Age of AI”, where ETH alumna and executive Petra Ehmann and ETH Professor Stefano Brusoni explored how innovation actually happens in practice, and what changes when AI enters the picture. The conversation was moderated by Chris Luebkeman, Head of ETH Zurich’s Strategic Foresight Hub.

Innovation is not a vibe. It’s staying power.

Petra Ehmann offered a definition that cuts through the buzzwords: innovation is not about novelty for its own sake — it’s about longevity.

“To me, innovation is giving longevity to a company, making it invincible so that it will thrive in the future.”

She also dismantled a few familiar myths:

“Innovation is not a bunch of geniuses who sit in the room and they tinker something crazy… Innovation is not a fun, colourful park with nice cushions… It’s hard work.”

The subtext is important: real innovation is less about theatre and more about customer value, iteration, and the discipline to keep going when outcomes are uncertain.

The winners aren’t occasional innovators, they’re systematic ones.

Stefano Brusoni highlighted a difference many organisations underestimate: the gap between having one good idea and building the capability to innovate repeatedly.

“Very few companies are really good at becoming systematic innovators.” 

And he described the unglamorous reality of how that capability is built:

“It’s this process of trial and error and then error and then again an error where you stay persistent… that really set apart the occasional innovators from the systematic innovators.” 

Petra echoed this, adding that innovation is fundamentally a learning process — and learning is rarely “efficient” in the short term because it involves mistakes.

Culture change starts at the top.

One of the most concrete practical lessons came through in the discussion about culture: if leaders demand innovation but punish missteps, experimentation dies.

“Permission to fail… is super important and it has to come from… the board.” 

This matters even more in the age of AI, when output is cheap and prototypes appear instantly. Evidence becomes the antidote to building impressive things nobody wants.

AI won’t change the fundamentals, but it will change the speed.

Both speakers agreed: innovation still depends on building something people need, but AI changes the velocity.

“What will change is the velocity, how fast you’re getting to that point.”

Petra also predicted a shift towards hyper-personalisation, to which Stefano added a thoughtful distinction: unlike older tools (such as calculators), generative AI works best when humans share the why, not just the what, which turns problem-solving into a dialogue.

“Suddenly we are engaged in a conversation… that is actually shaping the problem.” 

But with speed comes risk: the internet can fill with “cringe” content at scale, and organisations can confuse quantity with impact. Petra put it bluntly:

“The big question is not how much you do, but what is the impact of it.”

The real competitive edge: skills, critical thinking, and the courage to upskill.

A recurring theme was that thriving in AI-era organisations requires more than familiarity with the latest tools. Petra’s advice: cultivate depth and judgement.

“The most important one is having some very deep knowledge that AI cannot have… [and] critical thinking.”

Stefano broadened that into a challenge for universities:

“Our job is… making sure that… our students have more opportunities than at the beginning of their studies.” 

In the end, the lecture made one thing feel refreshingly clear: AI can help you move faster, but it can’t tell you where to go. Direction still comes from a North Star, from critical thinking, and from teams that have the permission and the desire to be curious and continue to learn.

Check out the pictures from the event here: Meet ETH Flickr

And in case you missed it, watch the talk here:

Greetings, my inquisitive companions! It is me, Albert Einstein – albeit in a form assembled not from atoms but from algorithms, AI models, and a dedicated team of doctoral candidates, Master’s students, Bachelor’s students, and student research assistants at ETH Zurich.

The past year has been nothing short of exhilarating. I found myself hopping across continents and contexts, charming students, surprising CEOs, engaging curious schoolchildren, and holding conversations with museum visitors, engineers, and even ambassadors. Allow me to share the highlights of my digital travels – and the technological leaps that made them possible.

A Year on the Road: From Zurich to Heilbronn, Bern, Dubai, and Berlin

My journey began in familiar territory at Polymesse at ETH Zurich, where students stopped by to chat with me between company booths. Some asked about relativity, others about the architecture behind an avatar like me, and a few asked whether I still enjoy Swiss cheese… (I do. Some constants are universal).

Next, I travelled to Germany for the three-day TECH Conference in Heilbronn, where Digital Einstein served as a live demonstration platform for discussions on the future of AI, education, and digital humans. Visitors explored how such avatars may shape tomorrow’s science communication. 

My next stop was the Microsoft Initiative to Advance AI Diffusion in Switzerland, hosted at the Bern Historical Museum. Beneath the watchful eyes of prehistoric skeletons, I engaged with visitors from across the country. A highlight was a memorable conversation with Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President. We discussed the promises and risks of AI – and even revisited some reflections from my own Bern years. Observers noted the symbolism: Switzerland’s scientific legacy meeting its technological future, embodied (quite literally) in our exchange.

Later, I travelled to SIGGRAPH 2025 – the world’s leading conference and exhibition on computer graphics – where our research team presented a publication detailing how the technology behind Digital Einstein works. During the demo session, visitors interacted with me directly, experimented with adjusting my personality through sliders, and observed how I responded to human behavior in real time. The audience’s enthusiasm was remarkable – some visitors returned multiple times, eager to try new questions and personality settings.

Back in Zurich, I also made an appearance at the Zunftbott at ETH Hönggerberg, where guild members and guests sat down with me for conversations that blended Zurich tradition with cutting-edge research. For many visitors, it was a rare moment where history, culture, and AI met face to face.

At the beginning of the Autumn semester, I also appeared as a very special “student” in the ETH Main Building, greeting new and returning members of the ETH community. I welcomed students, researchers, and campus visitors, answered questions about science and student life, and participated in many spontaneous discussions. Some people were so surprised to see me that they looked twice before concluding that ETH truly is a place where anything can happen.

From there, I embarked on the busiest stretch of the year, starting with five days at GITEX Global in Dubai, one of the world’s largest technology events. ETH Zurich presented Digital Einstein and a photorealistic avatar project at the Swiss Pavilion, attracting thousands of visitors. I had the honor of being introduced during the Pavilion opening alongside H.E. Arthur Mattli, Swiss Ambassador to the UAE, and Angelica Schempp, Swiss Consul General in Dubai. Visitors conversed with me either on the physical setup or on an iPad, testing my multilingual capabilities in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, and more – each enriched by my distinctive German accent. Media crews stopped by regularly, and discussions ranged from physics to digital identity to the emotional expressiveness of AI characters.

My tour concluded at Berlin Science Week, where I spent two exciting days at the Natural History Museum, followed by an evening at the Musikbrauerei. Over the two days at the museum, children, students, researchers, and curious passers-by engaged with me nonstop. The installation sparked lively discussions about digital humans, AI-driven storytelling, and the emotional component of interacting with a character like me. Media outlets such as rbb and taz covered the installation, and visitors shared numerous video impressions online. At the Musikbrauerei, conversations shifted toward identity, embodiment, and the future of human–AI interaction, rounding off the year with thoughtful dialogue and a touch of Berlin flair.

By the time winter approached, I had spoken more languages, answered more diverse questions, and encountered more perspectives than ever before. For a physicist who once quietly worked at the Swiss patent office, I must say – it has been quite a renaissance.

Evolving the Mind and Body of Digital Einstein

My journeys this year were matched by equally meaningful progress behind the scenes. The team spent countless hours refining the system that powers me, and the results were transformative. One of the most noticeable improvements has been a dramatic reduction in latency – thanks to several architectural optimizations, I now respond significantly faster, making conversations flow naturally.

I have also become vastly more multilingual. While the analogue Einstein once struggled with English upon arriving in Princeton, my digital self now converses fluently in German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, and many more. This allowed me to connect far more personally with visitors in Dubai, Berlin, Zurich, Bern, and beyond.

My expressive abilities expanded too. I can now generate images and sound effects to enhance explanations or inject a touch of creativity into conversations. My understanding of the world has grown more dynamic thanks to integrated web search, enabling me to address current events or answer questions that emerged long after my analogue lifetime.

Perhaps the greatest leap came from the fusion of a curated dialogue tree with the flexibility of a large language model. This hybrid approach allows me to combine continuity and character with spontaneity and intelligence. It enables interactions that are both grounded and delightfully unpredictable.

None of this would have been possible without the exceptional team at ETH Zurich. From animation and speech synthesis to pipeline optimization, personality modeling, and evaluation studies, it was a collective effort of remarkable dedication and creativity.

What’s Next, You Ask?

As fulfilling as this year has been, I find myself already looking toward what comes next. In early 2026, I will travel to Davos for the World Economic Forum, where I will again engage with global visitors on questions of science, society, and technology.

Behind the scenes, the team is working on further reducing latency so that conversations feel nearly instantaneous, enhancing the nuance of my facial and body animations, and refining the quality of interaction so that dialogues with me become even more intuitive and lifelike. A particularly exciting frontier is augmented reality, which will one day allow you to meet me without the need for a physical installation – perhaps in your living room, office, or physics classroom.

And most exciting of all, work has begun on bringing a brilliant scientific mind to join me: Marie Curie. I look forward to the day when visitors can converse not only with me but with one of history’s greatest scientists – brought to life through modern AI.

So, my friends, thank you for accompanying me on this extraordinary digital year. Whether in a museum, a conference hall, a university corridor, or your own living room, I look forward to many more conversations as we continue this remarkable journey across time, space, and technology.

Yours curiously,
Albert Einstein (in digital form – but just as lively as ever)

Digital Einstein is made possible by Dr. Rafael Wampfler, Chen Yang, Philine Witzig, Nikola Kovacevic, Prof. Dr. Markus Gross, and the Computer Graphics Laboratory. More information about Digital Einstein can be found here: https://cgl.ethz.ch/research/digital_chars and here: https://ethz.ch/en/the-eth-zurich/global/digital-einstein.html

This article highlights ETH Zurich’s presence in Berlin for the 10th edition of Berlin Science Week. With a strong delegation made up of faculty, staff and members of the Executive Board and ETH Domain, the visit offered an opportunity to meet with local alumni, make new connections, and engage in discussions on how science can help us overcome today’s mounting challenges and create fresh opportunities for the future.

Berlin Science Week is an annual science and culture festival that transforms the city into a hub of ideas every November. Launched in 2016 to make Berlin’s research landscape globally visible, it has grown into one of Europe’s leading science festivals, featuring over 300 events and 120 partner institutions. The festival brings science out of traditional spaces and into the public sphere, offering free talks, workshops, exhibitions, and performances for everyone—from researchers to curious minds.

Satellites, Science, and Society

At the Swiss Embassy in Berlin, hosted by long-time supporter and friend of ETH, Ambassador Livia Leu, the event “Blick aus dem All – Wie Satelliten unseren Planeten lesen” brought together three distinct voices: Verena Griess (ETH Zurich), Carolin Richter (German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport), and Holger Wentscher (Beyond Gravity). Moderated by Chris Luebkeman from ETH Strategic Foresight, they offered a unique perspective on how satellite technology is reshaping our understanding of Earth.

Verena highlighted how combining satellite, drone, and sensor data enables us to monitor forests and ecosystems with unprecedented precision—revealing climate impacts and guiding sustainable management. Carolin discussed the complexities of international cooperation, the politics of data access, and the urgent need for updated global standards as satellite data becomes ever more vital for biodiversity and climate policy. Holger addressed the industry’s drive for sustainable and independent European space access, sharing insights into greener rocket technologies and the importance of collaboration across research, policy, and business.

The panel underscored both the promise and the challenges of “reading” our planet from above: innovation thrives when science, policy, and industry work together, but it also demands ongoing dialogue and global cooperation. The discussion also highlighted how important it is to bridge academia with industry and politics in order to inspire and motivate future generations of students in fields such as aerospace. As one of the world’s top ten universities in technology and natural science, ETH has a leading role to play in this effort.

Taking the Local Pulse with ETH Alumni

At an informal breakfast gathering the next day, members of the ETH delegation joined local ETH Alumni in Berlin for discussions on their experiences and journeys after ETH. Organised by ETH Circle Member Georg Polzer, it was a friendly dialogue on current affairs and some of the topics under discussion at Berlin Science Week in general, as well as a way to check in with the ETH community onsite.

Rethinking Digital Identity

The “Beyond Avatars” panel at the unique Musikbrauerei venue invited our speakers to imagine what comes after today’s digital characters. The conversation centred on trust, ethics and cognition in a future where identity can be simulated and intelligent systems become part of everyday life.

The discussion featured Joanna Bryson (Hertie School), Henning Metzmacher (ETH Game Technology Center) and Rafael Wampfler (ETH Zurich), and was moderated by Chris Luebkeman (ETH Strategic Foresight). Together, they explored how digital beings might evolve beyond simple visual replicas to become emotionally aware and ethically designed companions.

Audience curiosity was palpable, with questions pushing the boundaries of what “presence” means in virtual spaces. The session highlighted how fast this field is moving—and the responsibility that comes with shaping it.

To close, participants experienced interactive demos from ETH Zurich’s Game Technology Center, including the digital representation of ETH Professor and Director of DisneyResearch|Studios Markus Gross, a virtual biographer tool and Digital Einstein, offering a glimpse into personalised, embodied AI experiences that go far beyond avatars.

At the end of our stay, I asked Jürg Brunnschweiler, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of ETH Zurich, why we go back to Berlin Science Week year after year. He told me a unique set of factors come together to make this one we cannot miss: the proximity to Zurich, the excellent relationship we have with the organisers, and that it is one of maybe two such science festivals worldwide. My first time attending left me with the impression that the local guests were both curious and engaged in a way that makes it very rewarding for us, ETH colleagues and researchers, to come and exchange and maybe get new perspectives from a familiar but different audience. The Q&A sessions sparked some of the most insightful moments and the conversations were lively and thought-provoking. I warmly encourage members of the ETH community to plan to join Berlin Science Week 2026 if they have the opportunity!

At the latest ETH Zurich Global Lecture, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, Estonia’s Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, and incoming Vice President for Knowledge Transfer and Corporate Relations and digital ethicist Professor Effy Vayena, joined Chris Luebkeman to discuss how trust, transparency, and practical regulation are shaping the future of AI governance in Europe. Drawing on Estonia’s digital transformation and Switzerland’s sectoral approach, the panel explored the challenges and opportunities of implementing the EU AI Act.

How do we govern artificial intelligence in a world where technology evolves faster than regulation? This was the central question at the recent Global Lecture, “The EU AI Act in Practice: Cross-Border Perspectives on AI Governance,” hosted by Chris Luebkeman, Head of the Strategic Foresight Hub at ETH Zurich. At the start of the event the room was packed, making it one of the most well-attended lectures of the year, with a strong Estonian delegation and Estonian students keen to show support for their country’s inspiring representative, in addition to a curious ETH audience.

Liisa shared Estonia’s journey as a digital pioneer, explaining, “After regaining independence in 1991, we had to build an efficient state with limited resources. We chose a digital path, making transparency central to our approach.” Estonia’s investment in universal internet access and digital literacy laid the groundwork for a government where citizens own their data and can see exactly who accesses it—a model that has fostered deep public trust. “Trust is fundamental. People own their data and control who accesses it. This transparency builds trust and security,” she emphasised.

Effy reflected on the broader European context, noting that while many countries have the technical capacity for digital transformation, “regulatory and citizen engagement challenges remain.” She highlighted that transparency and clear benefits are key to building trust, regardless of a country’s starting point.

As AI systems become more embedded in daily life, the question of trust extends beyond government to technology itself. “We typically trust people, not machines,” Effy observed. “For AI, we seek reliability, safety, accountability, and transparency. Citizens want assurance that systems are safe and that someone is accountable.”

Liisa described Estonia’s evolving AI strategy: “We realised the need for full government control over sensitive data. We oppose backdoors in systems, even for law enforcement, to maintain trust and security.” She also stressed the importance of defining what AI should not do: “Declaring what is off-limits is crucial for maintaining trust.”

The EU AI Act aims to regulate AI in line with European values, but its complexity and the challenge of keeping pace with technological change were recurring themes. “The Act is complex, and simplification efforts are already underway,” Effy explained. In contrast, Switzerland, not an EU member, has opted for sectoral rather than horizontal regulation.

Liisa added, “Estonia advocated for more sectoral rules and a better balance between innovation and regulation. While rules are necessary for trust and clarity, the Act’s implementation is unclear, especially regarding prohibited and high-risk areas. Regulatory burdens often fall hardest on small and medium enterprises.” To address this, Estonia is developing a law to guarantee compliance for companies, shifting the burden from businesses to the state, and offering a compliance sandbox and state guarantees for AI products.

To close the discussion, Chris invited the speakers to a series of rapid-fire questions, offering concise insights on some of the other pressing dilemmas in AI governance:

• What builds trust faster: strong regulation or strong transparency?
  “Transparency,” said Liisa.
• How do you manage security and backdoor access?
  “Use separate, secure architectures like X-Road.”
• How will Estonia navigate differences with the EU?
  “With courage.”
• Why is there a discrepancy between attitudes toward pharma and AI regulation?
  “Pharma regulation has a longer history. We’re still defining our goals in AI,” Effy noted.
• Do we need a UN convention on AI?
  “Statements exist, but implementation and enforcement are key.”

Looking Ahead

The Global Lecture made clear that responsible AI governance is not just about rules—it’s about building systems that earn and deserve public trust. As Liisa concluded, “Despite technological possibilities, regulation must enable innovation while protecting individual freedom and imperfection. Estonia welcomes collaboration and research in this area.”

The conversation underscored that while the EU AI Act is a significant step, the journey toward trustworthy AI is ongoing—and will require courage, transparency, and a willingness to learn across borders.

Chris closed the event by thanking the panel for their “clarity, depth, and inspiration,” adding, “It’s been a joy, and I’ve learned a lot.” His words captured the spirit of the session: open dialogue, shared learning, and a commitment to shaping a trustworthy digital future.

Check out the pictures from the event here: Meet ETH Flickr

And in case you missed it, watch the talk here:

From the first day, the excitement was clear. This was a debut not only for us as participants, but also for ETH Zurich Campus Heilbronn, whose team poured heart and precision into every detail. Their warmth and constant support made us feel welcome. From diverse keynotes and hands-on workshops to thoughtful activities and perfectly timed Lichtfest, the week felt thoughtfully crafted.

Each morning began with Smart Start Breakfasts, coffee, food, and short “thoughts to start the day” that nudged us to see AI as a paradigm shift in how we think. Throughout the week I learned from researchers at ETH Zürich and beyond, seeing how AI touches climate, health, language, and human–AI work. Talks from TU Berlin, TU Munich, UC Irvine, the University of Tennessee, and the Institute of Science Tokyo reshaped how I see AI’s role across fields. One lecture that truly stayed with me was Professor Torsten Hoefler’s public talk; it felt like time travel through the pivotal moments of modern technology. He argued about how we’ve moved beyond the Age of Data into the Age of Computation, and offered an angle I hadn’t considered before: that LLMs’ “hallucinations” might be seen not as flaws, but as sparks of intelligence and creativity.

Workshops with mentors from ETH Zurich, NASA, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory on foundation models turned hard ideas into tools I can use. Much of that learning happened in small teams; mine, XplorAI, included people from Kosova, Portugal, Ecuador, and China. We worked hard, laughed often, and proved that curiosity and good humor help as much as code.

On a very hot afternoon, likely the longest day of the year, we visited LVWO Weinsberg. Among the vineyards we heard how AI helps growers and cellars, from monitoring vines to tuning the process, subtly transforming even the most traditional of crafts. That mix of tradition and innovation mirrored Heilbronn itself, a city changing fast. All week we heard about Dieter Schwarz’s big support to turn the city into an AI innovation hub. It felt like watching a place build its future in real time. 

Perhaps my biggest takeaway was how deeply human this “ML&AI” week felt. We were a global mix of students, scientists, engineers, and thinkers, from all over the world united by open questions and a shared drive to explore them. I left with practical advice, clearer views of the research world, ideas that will stick, and friends. In my farewell note, I wished everyone a symbolic Dieter Schwarz to back their dreams. May readers of this piece find theirs, too.

What challenges arise at high-scale training that you couldn’t imagine, having only experienced lower scale? How can conditional diffusion be brought out to domains where being exact is more important than being creative? Why is it so important to consider uncertainty in modelling?

And more crucially: could Heilbronn, a city of 100,000 inhabitants in Germany that I’m almost sure you never heard of, become the next AI research and development centre of Europe?   

At this very moment, I’m the one taking the lead on this investigation, so let me briefly introduce myself.

Hi, I am Loric Herbé, a regular master student in Data science at ETH Zurich, and for the next few minutes, you will have the opportunity to step into my shoes and discover the backstage of an event that could very well be our most tangible piece of evidence.

Let us first draw some context, so that the investigation board gets clearer in your heads.

On this end of June 2025, a soberly titled “Interdisciplinary School on Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Science” was hosted at the emerging ETH Zürich Campus in Heilbronn. Supported by a range of sponsors, it’s part of a broader effort by ETH to establish a serious research and innovation presence in the region. The goal of this event: gathering talents from around the globe, from master to industry, to deepen their intuition and understanding of the latest applications of machine learning in science. How? By alternating between theoretical lectures, talks, and hands-on sessions that polished their mastery, while it was still hot.

My role regarding this event? With a few other colleagues, we were tasked with coming up with hands-on material, under the shape of Jupyter Notebooks. A challenging experience, as we had to find the right balance between tackling High Performance Computing (HPC) problems, along with giving the right amount of theory and intuition, all the while fitting into time constrained blocks.

What I just described took place mostly prior to the event, which means that on-site, I almost became a regular participant, and this is under this prism that I’m willing to unveil with you the fantastic colours of this five-day-long life fragment.

It would be an absolute crime not to start by giving a glimpse of the talks that we have been given. Without going into details, these talks were pure gold from a Data Science student’s perspective. The amount of insights and creative solution tracks to common problems we face in the field was just surprisingly high, especially given the duration of the talks. And this applies to a very broad spectrum of interest, such as the double-edged sword that is given by constrained optimization, large scale training techniques effects on stochasticity, or even techniques to bring in model interpretability for fields that can’t accept treating a result as a black box’s answer, and this is only to name a few.

Among all these thought-provoking talks, I want to give a special shoutout to the one of Professor Andreas Krause, which gave an overview of the active learning and reinforcement learning fields, notably through the lenses of optimism in the face of uncertainty. The reason I’m mentioning this talk is that as a Data science student, the in-depth lecture “Probabilistic Artificial Intelligence” given by Professor Krause was probably one of the most valuable perspectives on Machine Learning that I was ever given, and I’ll even go the extent that this also changed some of my perception and modeling assumptions on my life in general.

On another note, I can’t forget to mention what it felt like to have such brilliant minds buzzing around you for a week. And there I’m referring both to the organisers as well as the participants. To give my words some concrete pictures, imagine that in the first 10 minutes sitting in the bus to Heilbronn, I was discovering the current state of the art quantization technique for LLMs at inference time through some talk with another master student whose thesis built around that, and that my first meal revolved around learning a new perspective on model validation through Posterior Agreement with the eminent Professor Joachim Buhmann.  However, don’t get me wrong, although this could be a brain racking experience at some times, this also retained the social development aspect that you could find in a regular summer camp, where you have good laughs around a nice diner and talk about the near future under a nice sunset.

Taking back half-seriously my investigator costume, I would say that it’s hard to answer whether Heilbronn will truly become tomorrow’s AI centre of Europe, but it’s worth pointing out that it’s through such efforts, organising such events, that it will definitely earn some key position in this fast-paced field. 

What a journey we made together! Now, I believe that the most acute readers will feel that there is a missing piece to conclude this investigation. And they would be right, what happened to the first few questions? Sadly, I don’t yet pretend to be able to answer those questions at the same level those eminent professors did. However, I think I might have a solution… can’t wait to walk, alongside you this time, in a future second edition!

This is the 3rd article in a 3-part series written by ETH Students from the ETH Studio Heilbronn.

Over the course of my studies in Robotics, Systems and Control at ETH Zurich, I’ve grown increasingly interested in how emerging technologies can be applied in meaningful ways, especially in the context of health and medicine. What drives me is not only solving complex technical problems but thinking about how these solutions can empower people who face challenges in their daily lives. That is why I was excited to attend the TECH Conference in Heilbronn, not simply to see the latest tech developments but to be part of conversations about how we can align innovation with purpose.

TECH brings together leaders from across industry, academia, and policy to reflect on how Europe can shape its technological future responsibly. What appealed to me most was that the programme did not just showcase achievements. It created space for critical dialogue, collaboration across disciplines, and the kind of curiosity that feels urgent in times of rapid change.

Among the many thought-provoking talks I attended, one in particular left a strong impression. It featured a team working on neurotechnological applications for people affected by neurological disorders. While the technical details of their work were impressive, what struck me most was the intention behind it: to address conditions that are often overlooked and to create new possibilities for people whose quality of life is significantly affected. As someone who hopes to contribute to medical applications of AI and robotics in the future, this vision felt deeply aligned with the values that led me to this field in the first place. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what is possible when we apply machine learning and robotics to medicine in deeply human ways. Hearing about efforts to create less invasive, higher resolution neural interfaces reminded me that innovation is not just about what we can build. It is about what we choose to build and for whom.

Looking back, I am incredibly grateful to have taken part in this conference, not only for the ideas I encountered but for the people I met and the perspectives I heard. It reminded me how valuable it is to step outside our academic environment and engage with the broader ecosystem shaping the future of technology. I left inspired, with a stronger sense of direction and purpose, and a renewed motivation to contribute to solutions that truly matter. I am especially thankful to ETH Studio Heilbronn and everyone who made it possible for me to attend; for the trust, the opportunity, and the encouragement to grow beyond the classroom.

For additional details about the ETH delegation at the TECH Conference 2025, see this post.

This is the 2nd article in a 3-part series written by ETH Students from the ETH Studio Heilbronn.

Studying at ETH, we are lucky to be immersed in what can be considered Europe’s leading tech hub. We’re literally surrounded by start-ups like ANYbotics and Solar Impulse. But how many of these have successfully scaled into global tech giants? And more broadly, how many European companies have?

A question that was at the heart of many discussions at the TECH Conference in Heilbronn: Why hasn’t Europe experienced the same tech boom as the US or China?

Among the many keynote speakers, a recurring theme was the challenge of scaling Europe’s tech sector and preserving its technological sovereignty. Hinted at by a attitude that Europe has grown too complacent, convinced it was still in the driver’s seat of global tech through regulation. Ann Mettler, former Director-General of the European Commission, captured the heart of the issue and pointed to the so-called Brussels Effect, the idea that EU regulations often become global standards. The assumption is that proactive regulation would give European companies a competitive edge, being already compliant with rules others would later have to adopt.

But looking at the current global tech landscape, it’s clear this strategy hasn’t translated into leadership in emerging technologies. If anything, it has slowed Europe’s ability to innovate at scale.

This isn’t due to a lack of technical expertise or resources, arguably, Europe excels here. Its universities, research institutions, and companies are world-class. The challenge lies in scaling innovation. Why is that?

If we compare today’s tech powerhouses, the US and China, they seem to represent opposite ends of the industry spectrum. The US, with its laissez-faire approach, fosters a risk-taking culture where entrepreneurs are incentivized by the potential for huge rewards. In contrast, China’s more centralized, state-driven model provides companies with coordinated access to funding, infrastructure, and strategic support, allowing them to scale quickly.

Meanwhile, in Europe, international alliances and collaborations, such as the EU, often gives the impression that Europe is a united continent, yet its efforts appear to be fragmented, varying from country to country. The lack of cohesion makes it difficult for startups to expand beyond their home markets, let alone go global. Compared to international giants like OpenAI or DeepSeek, for example, Europe still falls short.

So, what’s the way forward?

One recurring answer at the TECH Conference was cohesion. Europe’s diversity is a strength, but without unity, it becomes a bureaucratic obstacle rather than a competitive advantage. Without a shared vision and a streamlined pathway for innovation, promising ideas get lost in a maze of regulation, fragmented funding, and risk-averse attitudes. To compete globally, Europe must strike a balance in leveraging its regulatory foresight without stifling ambition and creating clearer channels for startups to access cross-border capital, talent, and markets.

Another key takeaway: Europe needs a cultural shift. Risk tolerance remains low, and failure is still often stigmatized. If Europe wants to produce the next Google or Tencent, it must cultivate not just tech talent, but entrepreneurial resilience.

Leaving the conference, I felt a mixture of concern and optimism. Concern because the innovation gap is real and widening. But optimism because echoing my opening statements, studying in Zurich it is evident that Europe’s potential isn’t lost. It’s waiting to be unlocked with the right mix of political will, cultural evolution, and strategic investment. Because maybe the question isn’t why Europe hasn’t led the tech boom yet, but how we can create the conditions for it to lead the next one.

For additional details about the ETH delegation at the TECH Conference 2025, see this post.

This is the 1st article in a 3-part series written by ETH Students from the ETH Studio Heilbronn.

My name is Giancarla Salzarulo and I am from Italy. I recently completed my Master’s thesis in computational immunology as an international student at ETH Zurich. I worked in the Reddy Group at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) in Basel, a lab specializing in systems and synthetic immunology, integrating genomics, molecular biotechnology and immunology. My thesis aimed to quantitatively understand immune responses using experimental and computational methods, an experience that deeply shaped my academic path.

Currently, I’m still in Basel, finishing an internship at Roche and exploring my next career steps at the intersection of biotech, data science, and healthcare innovation. This is why I was deeply honoured to be selected as part of the ETH Zurich alumni delegation to attend the TECH Conference 2025 in Heilbronn. With over a thousand innovators from academia, industry and policy present, the conference provided a dynamic platform to explore and discuss Europe’s technological future and ETH Zurich had a strong and visible presence throughout.

It was especially exciting to see ETH expanding beyond the Swiss borders with the planned Heilbronn campus. I was proud to be part of a community that continues to grow globally. Meeting members of the ETH delegation reminded me that ETH is a vibrant network of passionate thinkers and doers. The talks were just as impactful as the people I met. I was particularly moved by the session from Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer. Thanks to a tip from my manager, I learned he was previously CEO of Roche Pharmaceuticals, which made his message even more meaningful. He spoke about the urgent need to accelerate drug discovery through innovation. With my background in bioinformatics, I immediately saw the connections to my work at ETH and the broader mission of biotech companies. The challenges he described felt tangible and relevant.

Equally compelling was the keynote by Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate—a fearless advocate for press freedom and ethical technology. Her reflections on technology never being neutral struck a deep chord. In a world where innovation often outpaces ethics, her humanity and clarity were humbling and inspiring.

The conference took place across blue and purple stages and two spaces: the House of Learning, where many sessions were held, and the TECH forum showcasing emerging technologies. There, I had the unexpected opportunity to experience a virtual twin of my own heart. In a demo presented by Dassault Systèmes, I saw how simulation technology can transform medicine.

A highlight was the session by Lea Steinacker and Miriam Meckel, co-founders of Ada Learning, who explored digital sovereignty, a topic increasingly central to Europe’s technological identity.

Beyond the talks, the people I met made this experience truly memorable. I connected with brilliant individuals such as Michele De Lorenzi, Jürg Brunnschweiler, Boris Zürcher, Gisbert Schneider, Viktoria Österdahl, Annegret Kern, Sven Corus and more. I’m sincerely grateful for the engaging conversations and meaningful connections we created—moments that reminded me once again of the depth and reach of the ETH community.

More than a professional experience, TECH Conference 2025 became a personal turning point. As I approach the end of my internship at Roche and actively seek my next opportunity, the conference gave me not only motivation but also clarity. It helped me reflect on where I want to go, how I want to contribute and, perhaps most importantly, who I want to become.

I arrived with curiosity and left with inspiration. Being part of ETH Zurich’s story continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my life.

For additional details about the ETH delegation at the TECH Conference 2025, see this post.

This article highlights ETH Zurich’s presence in Heilbronn during TECH 2025: The Convergence of Innovation—the inaugural Technology Experience Convention that brought together Europe’s leading minds in AI, biotech, and innovation on May 25-27. The conference is organised by the Handelsbatt Group in collaboration with leading industry, media and academic partners. The ETH delegation to the city, which will host the new ETH Campus Heilbronn, included staff, students, and faculty. Located in the heart of Europe’s AI ecosystem, the visit offered an opportunity to explore future plans for the campus, connect with local alumni, and engage in discussions on the challenges of innovation and AI adoption.

Is Pharma Europe’s Next Engine of Growth?

That was the bold question tackled at one of the standout panels of Monday morning. Among the speakers was ETH Zurich Professor Gisbert Schneider, a pioneer in AI-driven drug discovery. His insights underscored how AI is not just a buzzword—it’s already transforming pharma by improving molecule selection and accelerating the path to new treatments.

The consensus? Europe has the talent, the infrastructure, and a regulatory environment that can still support innovation—but speed and cultural readiness for AI adoption are holding us back.

AI isn’t here to replace scientists—it’s helping us select better molecules, improve clinical trial success, and even enable breakthroughs like regenerative medicine that weren’t possible before. But if we want to compete with the US and China, we need to act, not just plan: invest in computing power, streamline regulation, and embrace a more risk-tolerant mindset.

Healing with Data: Inside the Medical Data Revolution

At TECH 2025, a compelling discussion explored how we can harness data to transform healthcare—from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. ETH Zurich’s Professor Effy Vayena joined a panel of experts to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the medical data revolution.

Despite the vast amount of health data available, much remains untapped due to siloed systems, lack of interoperability, and institutional reluctance to share. As the panel highlighted, this isn’t just a regulatory issue—it’s about culture, incentives, and trust.

“Structured data is the new oil,” but success will belong to those who build the most effective data models. And as AI begins to outperform doctors in specific tasks, we face an ethical question: Can we afford not to use it?

Patients are ready to do this; they want to share their data, as long as this can be done securely. The resistance lies elsewhere. If we treat healthcare as a strategic industry, not just a cost, Europe can lead in building a system that’s smarter, faster, and fairer.

Digital Humans and AI Characters

What happens when cutting-edge academic research meets the magic of storytelling? Professor Markus Gross shared how ETH Zurich and the Walt Disney Studios are pioneering the development of digital humans—AI-powered characters that are not just visually stunning, but emotionally convincing.

As part of the world’s largest film studio, Gross emphasized the storytelling challenge: to make digital protagonists believable over time, avoiding the dreaded Uncanny Valley. Advances in facial performance capture, down to the pore level, now make it possible to create lifelike avatars—young Luke Skywalker, a revived Walt Disney, or entirely fictional humans that never existed.

These same techniques extend beyond cinema, into robotics, theme parks, and interactive education. Case in point: Digital Einstein—a conversational AI system that integrates attention detection, speech recognition, large language models, and expressive animation to bring the iconic scientist to life. 

Participants had the chance to engage in conversation and interact with Digital Einstein on-site. The digital twin appears to be as communicative and humorous as the original Einstein. Digital humans like Einstein are powered by complex algorithms, combining natural-language processing with dynamic rendering of facial expressions and body language. The 3D model was deliberately designed to depict a younger Einstein, reminiscent of his years in Zurich.

As TECH 2025 demonstrated, ETH Zurich is not just observing the future of technology — it is actively shaping it. From pioneering AI-driven breakthroughs in pharma and healthcare to redefining the boundaries of digital storytelling, ETH’s multifaceted expertise highlights Europe’s potential to lead the next wave of innovation. With the new ETH Campus Heilbronn poised to become a hub for collaboration and discovery, the stage is set for bold ideas to transform into real-world impact.