The House of Switzerland at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025
January 21st to January 23rd, 2025
In 2025, Switzerland will once again be officially represented by a House of Switzerland during the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. For three days, the House of Switzerland will host a lively and dynamic space for official meetings and informal exchanges of ideas for the members of the Federal Council, the Swiss delegation and their international guests and partners. It will be a venue for thematic events and meetings to promote Switzerland's foreign policy interests and present Switzerland as an innovative and reliable country that can make an important contribution to overcoming major global challenges by sharing its expertise in various fields.
At the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, representatives from politics, business, science and civil society from over 100 countries come together in the heart of the Swiss Alps to discuss current global issues. For the Federal Council and the Swiss delegation, the annual meeting is a unique opportunity to meet with public and private actors from around the world. The House of Switzerland serves as an official communication and networking platform for Switzerland.
From 21 to 23 January 2025, Presence Switzerland of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), in collaboration with various institutional partners, will be presenting a varied programme of events at the House of Switzerland in Davos related to foreign policy topics. The programme will be in keeping with the motto of the 55th Annual Meeting: ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’.
The programme will begin on Tuesday, 21 January 2025, with a panel discussion on the ICAIN initiative, which will be hosted by the FDFA's Digitalisation Division. ICAIN focuses on broadening access to AI resources for sustainable development research. An event on the digital transformation of healthcare systems will be held in parallel.
This will be followed by ‘Geneva Day’, organised by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva in collaboration with numerous partners. ‘Geneva Day’ will highlight the important role of International Geneva in a complex world. The panel discussions will address four key topics: the opportunities offered by an international (meta-)data platform to promote transparency and to combat misinformation; the use of gaming technologies for sustainable development; the roles and responsibilities of non-state actors in implementing agreed cyber norms to strengthen global cybersecurity; and the transformative potential of new technologies for a future-oriented fiscal policy.
On Wednesday 22 January 2025, two events will take place under the auspices of the FDFA's Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The event on the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty will be followed by an event on ‘Impact Financing’. Furthermore, a high-level panel on the global interoperability of digital wallets will take place, while the Solar Impulse Foundation and Holcim will rethink the future of the construction industry. The ETH Board will host an event on the interaction between research, technological innovation and humanitarian aid.
On Thursday 23 January 2025, the Federal Office for Agriculture will highlight the role of crop diversity in global food security, while EPFL will explore the interface between artificial intelligence and health. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the interrelationship between humans and nature, with a preview of COP30, organised by Swissnex Brazil. In the afternoon, the House of Switzerland, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, will welcome the Global Shapers community. These are young and committed leaders from around the world who are working for collective solutions, sustainable change and policy-making in their local hubs and beyond.
Further information about the themed events and how to register can be found in the programme.
The House of Switzerland at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos is made possible by the long-standing cooperation with the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FOBL), which contributes its experience in setting up the premises, logistics, event and access management, and provides personnel support. GAMMA CATERING is responsible for providing refreshments for the participants, preparing tasty dishes with products from the following suppliers, among others:
Dried meat: Fleischzentrum Davos Klosters AG; baked goods: Schneider's Davos AG; dairy products: Molkerei Davos Betriebs AG; potatoes: Freddy Christandl & Marcel Heinrich Tschalèr (Albulatal); salmon: Swiss Lachs - Swiss Alpine Fish AG (Lostallo, Graubünden); wines: Kaufmann Weinhandlung AG (Davos); drinks: Meisser Getränke Kultur AG (Davos); tea: Vreni's Teekanne Davos; coffee: Rösterei Keller (Zizers, Graubünden).
In addition to the many local and regional suppliers, the House of Switzerland has asked the company beelong.ch to certify all the food on offer according to its comprehensive environmental assessment system. It has awarded a ‘green ECO' score rating without exception. The House of Switzerland in Davos is thus making an important contribution to the sustainable organisation of events.
The House of Switzerland, located in the ice stadium in the heart of Davos, will offer a rich and varied programme. It is not only geographically, but also symbolically at the centre: as a place of exchange, as a meeting place for today's and tomorrow's decision-makers, and as a forge for ideas and innovations in an open and welcoming environment.
How to reach the House of Switzerland
The event takes place here
Davos Hockey Stadium
Activities – The House of Switzerland at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025
Healthcare technology outtakes: the untold stories of AI and data-driven innovation
Tuesday, January 21, 202509:30 - 13:00
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by Swissmedic of the Federal Department of Home Affairs and FOUR
Nearly 9 out of 10 medicines fail to make it to market. Yet, tens of thousands of people go to work every day with a singular goal: to beat these odds, together.
The resilience and persistence of these individuals - working across diverse roles and corners of our ecosystem - lie at the heart of the innovation engine that powers healthcare systems worldwide. Complementing these efforts are government authorities, regulatory bodies, and legislators, whose work in transforming and crafting policies, standards, and frameworks not only safeguards public health but also acts as a critical driver of private sector innovation.
Failure, too, is a dominant and integral feature of fearlessly standing at the forefront of the unknown. Sartre reportedly wrote: "If a victory is told in detail, one can no longer distinguish it from a defeat."
What are the untold details of the great scientific and technological victories of our time - stories we revisit less often, but ought to tell?
What is the role of AI in empowering humans to take bolder risks, leading to the breakthroughs required to transform our health systems in the face of immense challenges: rising demand for healthcare services, workforce shortages, and demographic shifts?
Welcome speech
- Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councillor, head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) of Switzerland
Podium speakers
- Noubar Afeyan, founder and chief executive officer, Flagship Pioneering; co-founder and chairman, Moderna
- John Halamka, president, Mayo Clinic Platform, Mayo Clinic
- Edith Heard, general director, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), incoming chief executive officer, The Francis Crick Institute
- Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) of Switzerland; closing remarks
- Eric Lohrer, partner, Wyss family office; board, Fondation Beyeler, Wyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering; Q&A moderator
- Stefan Oelrich, head of Pharmaceuticals Division and board of management, Bayer AG; incoming president, EFPIA; board, Charité
- and others
Moderation
- Mariana Atilano Meriñan, head of strategy & data analytics, Groupe Mutuel
Contact for information, event registration & media requests:
davos@four-corp.com
To apply to join the session, please visit the session’s webpage.
Rebalancing the Global AI Landscape - the International Computation and AI Network (ICAIN)
Tuesday, January 21, 202510:00-12:00
Location : Nordside
Organized by the Digitalisation Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs with partners of ICAIN (ETHZ, EPFL, Swiss Supercomputing Center, Finnish Supercomputer Center, Data Science Africa, ELLIS) / THE EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED
ICAIN is a global initiative focused on broadening access to AI resources for sustainable development research. The organization connects AI capabilities (computing power, data, and expertise) with research projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
With its current members (both Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, Swiss National Computing Center, European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems, Data Science Africa, Finnish IT Center for Science) and under the patronage of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, ICAIN not only draws on the expertise of experienced policy-makers and some of the best AI researchers in Europe and Africa, but also has two of the most advanced, powerful supercomputers in the world at its disposal.
The event will serve to present first results of Pilot use cases for instance of a humanitarian LLM (with ICRC) and to launch the operational phase of ICAIN.
Welcome speech
- Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
Podium speakers
- Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot; ETH President
- Gilles Carbonnier, ICRC Vice President
- Prof. Petri Myllymäki, University of Helsinki
- Kate Behncken, Corporate Vice President, Global Head of Microsoft Philanthropies, Microsoft
- Prof. Neil Lawrence, University of Cambridge
Poster presentations
- Prof. Dr. Thomas Schulthess, CSCS/ETH,
- Prof. Dr. Godliver Owomugisha, Busitema University
- Prof. Menna El Assady (ETH)
- PD Dr. Jérôme Duberry (IHEID)
- Prof. Dr. Annie Hartley, Yale/EPFL/CMU Africa
- Dr. Blaise Robert and Philippe Stoll (ICRC)
Moderation
- Katharina Frey, Swiss Diplomat, Deputy Head of the Division for Digital Foreign Policy, FDFA, Current head of ICAIN
Person for information, event registration & media requests:
Elisabeth Stingelin
Political Advisor, FDFA
elisabeth.stingelin@eda.admin.ch
+41 58 485 62 43
Data for all and everyone – is this the solution to combat misinformation?
Tuesday, January 21, 202513:30-15:30
Location : Nordside
Organized by the Swiss Federal Statistical Office with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva
Today, data is a dime a dozen. However, the quality of the data often leaves a lot to be desired. Access to data is also not guaranteed and is currently uncoordinated. It is known that harmonized and standardized data would help to combat misinformation and provide science with a tool for research. Finding the correct information is not always easy. Switzerland, in cooperation with various international actors, including with the government of Rwanda, is examining the development of a global metadata platform or Trusted Data Observatory, based in Geneva. Thus, “trusted data” would be findable and accessible to users including for AI tools (such as ChatGPT) in a harmonized and standardized way. Is this the solution to combat misinformation?
This event will take place as part of the Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative. It builds on the discussions at the House of Switzerland over the past two years, but also on the discussions at the 5th UN World Data Forum, which took place in Colombia in November 2024.
Welcome speech
- Jonas Pasquier, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and to the other international organizations in Geneva
- Nathalie Fontanet, President of the Cantonal Council of Geneva
- Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councillor, head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA)
Setting the scene
Vincent F Hendricks, Professor, Director at the Center for Information and Bubble Studies, University of Copenhagen
Podium speakers
- Pádraig Dalton, former Chief Statistician of Ireland
- Samira Asma, Assistant Director-General for Data, Analytics and Delivery, World Health Organization
- Georges-Simon Ulrich, Director General of the Swiss Federal Statistical Office and Chair of the UN Statistical Commission
Moderation
Benjamin Rothen, Ambassador, Head International and National affairs, Swiss Federal Statistical Office
Contact for information & event registration
Unlocking the Power of Data Initiative:
upd-initiative@bfs.admin.ch
Person for media requests
Pascal Blickle
International Affairs Officer
pascal.blickle@bfs.admin.ch
+41 79 543 75 69
Games for Good: Leveraging Gaming Technology for Sustainable Development
Tuesday, January 21, 202514:30-16:30
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva with the Digitalization Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
While gaming is often associated with social ills, video games and gaming technologies have demonstrated remarkable potential for driving positive change. Beyond raising awareness of social or environmental issues, games have supported scientific research by engaging communities in data collection and problem-solving. Serious games designed for educational or training purposes have been applied in areas such as healthcare, environmental sustainability, and international humanitarian law. Gaming technologies can also be used in therapeutic and rehabilitation contexts. Bringing together experts from the gaming industry, international organisations, and academia, this event will discuss this potential and showcase innovative applications of gaming, including its potential to advance scientific discovery and foster collaborations within International Geneva’s global governance ecosystem.
Welcome speech
- Ambassador Benedikt Wechsler, Head of the Digitalization Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Podium speakers
- Attila Szantner, founder & CEO of the Swiss citizen science / video game innovator start-up Massively Multiplayer Online Science, computer science professor at McGill University
- Philippe Stoll: Senior Techplomacy Delegate, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
- Teresa Hutson, Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Technology for Fundamental Rights (TBC)
- Cécile Vulliemin, Head of Design, Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
- Douglas Edric Stanley, Senior Lecturer at the Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD), Artist, Designer, and Curator
- Shaban Shaame, Founder and CEO of the Geneva-based EverdreamSoft tech company
Moderation
- Ambassador Benedikt Wechsler, Head of the Digitalization Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Person for information & event registration
Geneva Day Team, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva: genevaday@eda.admin.ch
Person for media requests
Frédéric Ballenegger
frederic.ballenegger@eda.admin.ch
079 726 66 30
Critical infrastructure protection: Who is responsible?
Tuesday, January 21, 202516:00-18:00
Location : Nordside
Organized by the Digitalisation Division of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs with Geneva Dialogue – Diplo Foundation and the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva
We live in an interconnected world where cyber operations, whether criminal or state-sponsored, can have drastic effects for critical infrastructure (CI) in the physical world. States have committed to the UN framework for responsible behaviour in cyberspace, but what does this mean for non-state stakeholders such as CI operators, ICT developers, and cybersecurity researchers?
The Geneva Dialogue on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace will address these issues with a multistakeholder approach. Established by Switzerland in 2018, the Dialogue maps roles and responsibilities for implementing cyber norms, contributing to cyber-stability and security. Participants will engage with cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy experts, explore best practices, and contribute to shaping the future of global cybersecurity governance.
Opening remarks and reception
- Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
A ‘Socratic dialogue’ among the keynote speakers: Cybersecurity, peace, and the stability of critical infrastructure
- Maya Bundt, Chair, the Cyber Resilience Chapter at the Swiss Risk Association
- Serge Droz, Senior Technical Advisor, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)
Addressing the challenges through a public-private partnership: Geneva Dialogue and the Geneva Manual on Responsible Behaviour in Cyberspace
- Sofia Martinez Gomez, Cybersecurity Consultant at Alix Partners
Geneva Manual scenario-based discussion
- Anastasiya Kazakova, Coordinator of the Geneva Dialogue, DiploFoundation
- Vladimir Radunovic, Director for Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy, DiploFoundation
Panel speakers:
- Alina Matyukhina, CSO/Global Head of Cybersecurity for Business Unit, Siemens AG
- David Harland, Executive Director, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD)
- Olivier Crochat, Executive Director, C4DT-EPFL
- Yoann Klein, Senior Cyber Security Advisor, Huawei
Concluding remarks
- Florian Schütz, Director NCSC.ch
Person for information & event registration
Anastasiya Kazakova
anastasiyak@diplomacy.edu
Person for media requests
Serge Droz
Senior Advisor, Division Digitalisation at FDFA
serge.droz@eda.admin.ch
Doing More with Less: how to address growing needs in times of economic uncertainty?
Tuesday, January 21, 202517:00-18:30
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by the Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND) of the State Secretariat for International Finance with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva
In an era of mounting geopolitical uncertainty, financial constraints, and global challenges, how can innovation and technology act as catalysts for governments to navigate the pressing issues of tomorrow?
The 60 minutes-panel discussion will bring together global leaders from government, international organizations and industry to explore the transformative potential of emerging technologies – such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) – alongside policies that reinforce economic stability and innovative fiscal strategies designed to enhance public finance management, boost labor productivity, and achieve more with fewer resources. We will also delve into the necessary mindset shifts required to fully harness these advancements and discuss the critical safeguards that must be established to responsibly integrate these new technologies.
Welcome speech
- Eva Selamlar, Head of Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND)
Panel speakers
- Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary, State Secretariat for International Finance
- Kelly Clements, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees
- Morten Bech, Centre Head Switzerland, Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub
- Elpida Vamvaka, President Homo Digitalis, Legal Counsel for Team Blue Greece
Moderation
- Eva Selamlar, Head of Swiss Financial Innovation Desk (FIND)
Person for information, event registration & media requests
Vénusia Bertin
FIND Community and Events Lead
venusia.bertin@find.swiss
+41 78 929 69 45
Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty
Wednesday, January 22, 202508:00-10:00
Location : Nordside
Organized by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations organisations in Rome
This presentation and exchange will introduce the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty established as a proposal from the Brazilian presidency of the G20 to support and accelerate efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty (Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2), while reducing inequalities (SDG 10). Acting as a neutral facilitator, the GAHP builds partnerships and mobilizes financial and knowledge resources to implement policy instruments from a rigorously evaluated menu of policies, ensuring that donor investments are directed toward cost effective, high-impact initiatives. Switzerland will formally announce its commitments. Examples of such policies will be shared with a focus on school meals programs and initiatives building resilience of small-holder farmers, in particular in the African context with a view on the South African G20 presidency.
This event is a unique opportunity to learn about the Global Alliance’s work and network with some of its members and Champions. Perspectives will be shared from governments, the United Nations, the private sector, academia and civil society.
Coffee and breakfast will be served as of 08.00 to start networking. The event starts at 08.30.
Podium speakers
- Dr. Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- HE Ms. Ambassador Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Chairperson of the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome of the Republic of South Africa
- HE Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
- HE Mr. Ambassador Guilherme Patriota, Brazil's Permanent Representative to the WTO
- Mr. Paul Polman, The Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees
- Ms. Sonia Medina, Chief Ecosystem Development officer, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)
- Mr. Nyang’ori Ohenjo, Team Lead, Center for Minority Rights Development (CEMIRIDE), Kenya
- Ms. Esther Baur, Director, Public Sector Solutions, Swiss Re
Moderation
Ms. Florence Lasbennes, Managing Director, 4SD Foundation
Person for information & event registration
Alessandra Roversi
Programme manager, SDC
alessandra.roversi@eda.admin.ch
Person for media requests
Charlotte Fahrni
Communication Officer, SDC
charlotte.fahrni@eda.admin.ch
OpenWallet Forum High-Level Panel
Wednesday, January 22, 202510:30-13:00
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by the Swiss Federal Office of Justice with the International Telecommunication Union (OpenWallet Forum) and the OpenWallet Foundation
The OpenWallet Forum High-Level Panel Event, hosted by the ITU and Linux Foundation, focuses on advancing global interoperability of digital wallets as critical components of digital public infrastructure. It brings together stakeholders to discuss public policy, technical specifications, security, privacy, and inclusion, aiming to enable wallets to securely store and manage digital credentials like IDs, payment methods, and certificates. The event will present a Call for Action to guide collaboration on creating open, interoperable solutions for digital wallets, driving digital transformation and global cooperation.
Welcome speech
- Beat Jans, Federal Councillor, head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police
- Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General, ITU
Podium speakers of Panel 1
- H.E. Solly Malatsi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, South Africa
- Edouard Bugnion, Vice-President for Innovation and Impact, EPFL
- Bill Ren, Chief Open Source Liaison Officer, Huawei
- Christina Hirsch, Head Digital Trust, Swisscom
- Wonseok Baek, Head of Samsung Wallet Global BD/Product, Samsung Electronics
- Alain Labrique, Director, Department of Digital Health and Innovation (DHI) Science Division (SCI), World Health Organization
Podium speakers of Panel 2
- Sergio Mujica, Secretary General, ISO
- Viky Manaila, President, CSC Cloud Signature Consortium
- Arman Aygen, Director of Technology, EMVCo
- Andrew Shikiar, Executive Director and CEO, FIDO
- Philippe Metzger, Secretary-General & CEO, IEC
- Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director, Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
- Gail Hodges, Executive Director, OpenID Foundation
- Seth Dobbs, CEO, W3C
- Mike Milinkovich, Executive Director, Eclipse Foundation
Moderation
Daniel Goldscheider, CEO, OpenWallet Foundation
Person for information & event registration
Vijay Mauree, Programme Coordinator
Vijay.mauree@itu.int
Person for media requests
- Rolf Rauschenbach, Communications Officer E-ID, Federal Office of Justice
rolf.rauschenbach@bj.admin.ch
+41 79 133 11 06
- Matthew Dalais
Communications Officer, TSB, ITU
matthew.dalais@itu.int
+41 22 730 5974
Innovative Impact Financing Matters: Become a strong and credible leader in future market development
Wednesday, January 22, 202510:30-13:30
Location : Nordside
Organized by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the State Secretariat for International Finance / THE EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED
A well-functioning and inclusive financial sector is vital for a country's economic development. It offers the opportunity to mobilise savings to make productive investments. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis, innovative and impact financing have become even more important. Impact investing, in particular, is growing worldwide, including in Switzerland as a global financial hub, and in developing countries. Mainstream investors are increasingly moving towards sustainable and impact finance going beyond mitigating economic and other risks to include environmental, social, and governance aspects (ESG). Many are now ready to take the next step by investing directly in achieving the SDGs through innovative and impact financing.
How is innovative and impact finance reshaping the financial sector and broader economic development? Join us for this interactive event with high-ranking personalities.
Welcome Speech
- HE Ms. Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs of the Swiss Confederation
Podium speakers
- HE Mr. Christoph König, Deputy State Secretary, State Secretariat for International Finance SIF
- Ms. Anja Hochberg, Head Multi-Asset Solutions, Zürcher Kantonalbank
- Mr. Tom Hall, Global Head of Social Impact & Philanthropy CEO, UBS Optimus Foundation Network
- Ms. Nasri Adam, Regional Director for East Africa, Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVAP)
- Ms. Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer, Board Member of 2X Global
Moderation
- HE Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General SDC
Person for information & event registration
Susanna Graf, Senior Project & Communication Management SDC
susanna.graf@eda.admin.ch
079 203 74 30
Person for media requests
Charlotte Fahrni
Communication Officer, SDC
charlotte.fahrni@eda.admin.ch
Reimagining Switzerland's built environment through breakthrough technologies and efficient solutions
Wednesday, January 22, 202514:00-16:00
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by the Solar Impulse Foundation with Holcim / THE EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED
The future depends on how efficiently we use resources to construct, operate, and sustain our environment. At the heart of this transformation lies a rethinking of materials and processes that prioritize circularity and minimize carbon footprints. Entrepreneurs and innovators are not only pioneering technologies but are also setting a new standard for resource efficiency, inspiring a paradigm shift in the construction sector and beyond.
Industries traditionally perceived as hard-to-decarbonize are now driving systemic change, leveraging clean technologies to revolutionize material usage, recycling, and energy performance. Switzerland exemplifies this shift by fostering innovation and deploying solutions that significantly reduce emissions and waste, setting a global benchmark for sustainable development.
The session aims to spotlight pioneering solutions that redefine construction practices, with a focus on tangible progress and impactful technologies.
Welcome Speech
- Bertrand Piccard, Founder, Solar Impulse Foundation
- Miljan Gutovic, CEO, Holcim
Podium Speakers
- Valentin Gutknecht, Founder, Neustark
- Dr. Catharina Bening, Group for Sustainability and Technology, ETH Zurich
- Leah Ellis, CEO, Sublime Systems
- Margaux Pelletier, CEO, Enerdrape
Closing remarks
- Katrin Schneeberger, Director of the Federal Office for the Environment
Person for information & event registration
Mona Delluc, Global Public Positioning Manager
mona.delluc@holcim.com
+32475805724
Person for media requests
Daniela Diego, Global Senior Press Officer
daniela.diego@solarimpulse.com
+41786480245
Bridging Science, Society and Humanitarian Innovation: Transdisciplinary Solutions for a Changing World
Wednesday, January 22, 202514:30-16:30
Location : Nordside
Organized by the ETH-Domain with ETHZ, EPFL, PSI, WSL/SLF, Empa and Eawag / THE EVENT IS FULLY BOOKED
In an era of escalating global challenges, the need to connect scientific research, technological innovation and humanitarian action has never been more urgent. This panel discussion brings together experts and thought leaders to explore how transdisciplinary co-creation can bridge the gaps between cutting-edge science and real-world humanitarian needs. The aim is to demonstrate how cross-sector collaboration can create lasting, scalable impact. Attendees will gain insights into the importance of co-creating solutions with affected populations and the role of academic institutions in driving technological breakthroughs that align with humanitarian values.
Welcome speech
- Guy Parmelin, Federal Councillor, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
Podium speakers
- Mr Klaus Schönenberger, Director EssentialTech Centre, EPFL
- Ms Menna El-Assady, Professor and Head of the Interactive Visualization and Intelligence Augmentation Lab at the Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich
- Felix Seidel Caprez, Principal Investigator and Program Manager at NASA/Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Moderation
- Chris Luebkeman, Head Strategic Foresight, ETH Zurich
Person for information & event registration
Alexandra Cron
Communications Manager ETH Zurich
alexandra.cron@sl.ethz.ch
+41 79 717 96 42
Person for media requests
Gian-Andri Casutt, Head Communications ETH Board
gian.casutt@ethrat.ch
+41 79 636 94 64
Shaping High-Quality Places: Securing Investment and Impact - Davos Baukultur Alliance Breakfast
Thursday, January 23, 202508:00-09:30
Location : Nordside
Organized by the World Economic Forum and the Swiss Federal Office of Culture with the Davos Baukultur Alliance.
In an era where concerns around affordability, sustainability, and social prosperity are paramount to communities globally, the true costs and benefits of shaping high-quality places are under intense scrutiny.
The Baukultur Breakfast will provide valuable insights into the real costs and benefits of high-quality Baukultur, encouraging an open dialogue around its value proposition in today's world.
This session will cover the multifaceted dimensions contributing to a high-quality Baukultur (building-culture), addressing critical themes such as circularity, resilience, climate adaptation, affordability, and social value. The session will explore the balancing of cost considerations with economic, ecological, and societal benefits, challenge perceptions such as high-quality Baukultur as an optional luxury and highlight its essential role in sustainable development and stewardship of places.
Person for information & event registration:
davosalliance@weforum.org
Person for media requests:
Thomas Selby, Lead Davos Baukultur Alliance
Thomas.Selby@weforum.org
+4179 372 4518
Health & AI
Thursday, January 23, 202510:00-13:00
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by EPFL
AI is revolutionizing healthcare by introducing innovative solutions and cutting-edge applications. The growing availability of multimodal healthcare data is reshaping medical practices, enhancing clinical decision-making, refining research protocols, supporting precision medicine, and fostering the development of innovative therapies. Moreover, AI enables a shift towards personalized and holistic care, moving beyond traditional methods to deliver tailored solutions and a comprehensive perspective on patient well-being.
However, these opportunities come with notable challenges. Issues such as data quality and bias, effective implementation in drug development, diagnostics, and clinical decision support, as well as ethical and privacy considerations, must be addressed.
This session will bring together AI experts, healthcare professionals, researchers, and decision-makers to discuss these critical issues. The goal is to explore how we can unlock AI’s potential in healthcare while overcoming the challenges to create responsive AI systems that prioritize the well-being of all.
Welcome Speech
- Anna Fontcuberta i Morral, President, EPFL
Session 1 - AI for Health: Assistance and Discovery
- Guillermo Sapiro, Augustine Family Professor, Princeton University; Distinguished Engineer, Health AI Lead, Apple
- Emmanuel Abbé, Full Professor, Chair of Mathematical Data Science, EPFL
Session 2 - LLM for Medicine
- Mary-Anne Hartley, Professor, Yale School of Medicine & EPFL
Session 3 - Revolution of AI in Drug Development
- Nikita Popov, Head of Artificial Intelligence Strategy Office, Novartis
Session 4 - Neurotechnology & AI
- Stéphanie P. Lacour, Full Professor, Bertarelli Foundation Chair in Neuroprosthetic Technology; Vice President for Support to Strategic Initiatives, EPFL
- Tom Oxley, Founding CEO, Synchron
Moderation
- Antoine Bosselut, Professor, EPFL
Person for information & event registration
Margot Zbinden, Event Project Manager
margot.zbinden@epfl.ch
075 434 27 97
Person for media requests
Gaël Hurlimann, Head of Communication
gael.hurlimann@epfl.ch
076 570 14 76
Food Forever: Safeguarding Crop Diversity and Shaping the Future of Food
Thursday, January 23, 202511:00-13:45
Location : Nordside
Organized by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture and the Global Crop Diversity Trust
This event features a high-level panel discussion followed by a unique 'Food Forever' culinary experience. Distinguished experts will explore the critical role of crop diversity in ensuring global food security and sustainability in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss. They will discuss the need for collective action to address significant underfunding of this global resource. Making use of the potential of crop diversity will require us to catalyze international cooperation and mobilize public and private sector financial resources to safeguard all options for current and future breeding efforts.
Following the panel, an innovative chef will demonstrate the nutritional and culinary potential of underutilized crops. Guests will savor exquisite dishes crafted from lesser-known crops, highlighted during the panel discussion.
This immersive event showcases how safeguarding and utilizing agrobiodiversity can lead to a more diverse, nutritious, and sustainable future. By bridging theory and practice, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of conserving and using crop diversity in addressing current and emerging global challenges.
Welcome speech
Christian Hofer, Director General of the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture
Keynote address
- H.E. Guy Parmelin, Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research
- H.E. Angel Manuel Manero Campos, Minister for Agrarian Development and Irrigation of the Republic of Peru
- Dr Geoffrey Hawtin OBE, World Food Prize 2024 Laureat
Podium speakers
- Dr Bernhard Lorentz, a Managing Partner and the Global Consulting Sustainability Leader of Deloitte and Founding Chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress (DCSP).
- Dr Michael Keller, ISF Secretary general
- Dr Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
- H.E. Nosipho Nausca-Jean Jezile, Ambassador of South Africa and Chair of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
- Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR
Moderation
- Dr Stefan Schmitz, Crop Trust Executive Director
- Ms Joanna Purcell, Crop Trust Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Lead
Person for information & event registration
Alicia Stavun, Events Officer
alicia.stavun@croptrust.org
+33 6 68 24 43 58
Person for media requests
Cody Gildart, Chief Communications Officer
cody.gildart@croptrust.org
+49 172 489 5910
Florie Marion, Chief Communications FOAG
florie.marion@blw.admin.ch
+41 58 46 11441
COP 30 in the Amazon: Shaping Our Planetary Future
Thursday, January 23, 202514:00-16:00
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by Swissnex in Brazil with Frontiers Media (Switzerland) and AYA Earth Partners (Brazil)
In 2025, the annual UN climate summit will be held in the Amazon city of Belém, Brazil. This 30th edition of COP offers a unique opportunity to set our relationship with nature and the environment on a new path. Presented by Swissnex in partnership with Swiss open-access publisher Frontiers and AYA Earth Partners, this session at the House of Switzerland in Davos will explore how to leverage science, knowledge, and technology to achieve a new balance between humans and the Earth system. Leading voices from academia, business, governance, and civil society will come together to share their aspirations for COP 30 and discuss how these diverse fields can collaborate to address the planetary crisis. The session will open with a keynote address on COP 30, setting the stage for a forward-thinking dialogue on our shared planetary future.
Welcome remarks
Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation
Podium speakers of Panel 1
- Johan Rockström, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact ResearchPlanetary Health Check and Technologies for Planetary Health
- Kamila Markram, CEO of Frontiers Media
- Carlos Nobre, University of São Paulo
Podium speakers of Panel 2- Marie-Laure Salles, Graduate Institute
- Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Club of Rome, Earth4All
Moderation
- Event Host: Benjamin Bollmann, CEO of Swissnex in Brazil
- Moderation Panel 1: Vanessa Boanada, Leading House for the Latin American Region
- Moderation Panel 2: Patricia Ellen da Silva, Aya Earth Partners, Systemiq
Video message
Carlos Peres, Frontiers Planet Prize
Person for information & event registration
Pedro Capra, Program Manager
pedro.capra@swissnex.org
+55 21987473043
Person for media requests
Carolina Oettinger, Junior Project Manager
communications.brazil@swissnex.org
+41 76 518 35 18
Polish Presidency of the EU Council and Swiss-Polish Relations
Thursday, January 23, 202516:00-18:30
Location : Nordside
In January 2025, Poland has taken over the Presidency of the EU Council in a crucial semester of Europe’s security and geopolitical situation, as well as for Swiss-Polish and Swiss-EU relations. In this event, Swiss and Polish officials and business experts from the highest levels meet in direct conversations, providing insight into the political, economic, and security outlook on Swiss-Polish relations and Europe.
The event is organised by the Embassy of Switzerland in Poland (FDFA), in partnership with Ringier Axel Springer Polska, the Centre of International Relations Foundation, and THINKTANK Leaders Hub.
Opening Speech
Delivered by Secretary of State Jacek Siewiera (tbc).
1. Session: Polish Presidency of the EU Council
Conversation with Undersecretary of State Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, moderated by Aleksandra Karasińska.
2. Session: Science and Education: Making Europe More Innovative and Competitive
Conversation between State Secretary Martina Hirayama, Secretary of State Dariusz Standerski and Undersecretary of State Andrzej Szeptycki, moderated by Prof. Małgorzata Bonikowska.
3. Session: Global Economy and Geopolitical Outlook 2025
Conversation between State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda and a Polish government representative, moderated by Mikołaj Kunica.
Panel Discussion: Bilateral Business, Tech, and Innovation Exchange
Panel discussion with Swiss and Polish business representatives including Simone Wyss Fedele (S-GE), Philipp Brunner (Stadler), Lutz Hegemann (Novartis), Adam Niewiński (OTB Ventures) and Aleksander Kutela (RASP), moderated by Katarzyna Dębek.
Person for information, event registration and media requests
warsaw.events@eda.admin.ch
How to balance environmental, social, and economic goals for long-term sustainability?
Thursday, January 23, 202517:00-20:00
Location : Crystal Lounge
Organized by the World Economic Forum and the Global Shapers Davos Hub
How can we balance environmental, social, and economic goals for long-term sustainability? Through workshops on mobility, energy, circular economy, and construction, participants will explore global innovations and co-create actionable solutions.
Welcome Speech
Alexandre Edelmann, Head of Presence Switzerland
Podium Speakers
- Joshua Verhoeven, Curator Global Shapers Hub Davos
- Lukas Kistler, Vice-Curator Global Shapers Hub Davos
Person for information, event registration & media requests
Joshua Verhoeven, Curator Davos Hub
gscdavos@gmail.com
+41 78 905 95 31
