Plenary Session

The EPFL Investor Day 2026 Plenary brings together leading entrepreneurs, investors, and key players from the innovation ecosystem for an afternoon of fresh perspectives, bold ideas, and strategic discussions.

The session will open with welcome remarks from Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, President of EPFL, and Yves Felder, Regional Director UBS Romandie, followed by an inspiring keynote from a visionary international leader known for pushing boundaries and tackling global challenges through innovation.

Panel 1 : The AI race is on: What strategic positions should Swiss startups take?

How can Swiss startups compete, differentiate themselves, and seize opportunities in the rapidly evolving AI landscape?

Speakers:

• Alexandre Sallinen, Co-founder, Andromede AI

• Pierre Baqué, CEO & Co-founder, Neural Concept

• Dr. Harald Nieder, General Partner, Redalpine

Panel 2 : Scaling globally, deciding locally: Can Swiss deep tech startups attract global capital, access global markets and retain local governance and decision-making?

How can Swiss deep tech companies scale internationally while preserving their strategic independence and roots in Switzerland?

Speakers:

• Florian Schweitzer, Founding Partner, b2venture

• Lajla Aganovic, Head of Venture Engagement (CTO Office), Logitech

• Emile de Rijk, Co-founder & CEO, SWISSto12

Both panels will be moderated by Jordi Montserrat, Co-founder and Managing Partner of Venturelab.

The programme will also feature a keynote by James Mazeau, Economist at UBS Chief Investment Office (CIO), bringing an economic and investment research perspective to the discussions.

The plenary will conclude with closing remarks by Edouard Bugnion, EPFL's Vice President for Innovation and Impact.

Join us for an afternoon of inspiring ideas, meaningful discussions, and valuable connections across the Swiss and international innovation ecosystem.