Voices

Due to rapid technological progress, the framework conditions of AI technologies are often unclear for companies, research and administration. For this reason, the Canton of Zurich's Division of Business and Economic Development, together with partners from the administration, research and business sectors, launched the "Innovation Sandbox".

This is a test environment for the implementation of AI projects. By working closely with the administration and participating organizations on regulatory issues and enabling the use of novel data sources, responsible innovation will be encouraged. The video with Ronovatec and Lonomy, which are developing autonomous farming systems, shows exactly what this can look like.

Brigitte Rohner is innovation manager and project leader of "LINA" (= "Shared Large-scale Infrastructure for the Development and Safe Testing of Autonomous Systems") and tells us about the project in the video.

LINA provides the operational basis of a real and virtual infrastructure for research, development and safe testing of autonomous systems in the canton of Zurich in an internationally unique test setup. he LINA Hub is the place where international experts from science and industry gather to shape the future in an interdisciplinary way and to educate society about the civilian applications of autonomous systems.

The Centre for Research and Development of Autonomous Systems comprises three test arenas:

1. an outdoor digital cage ensuring that UAS can be tracked and safely operated under Light Unmanned Aircraft Operator Certificate (LUC) conditions in the low airspace of Dübendorf and within the confines of the digital cage,
2. an outdoor physical cage with a safety net,
3. an indoor tracking arena with a large-scale, high-precision position tracking system and a wind tunnel facility for autonomous systems research and prototype development.

All stakeholders around the airspace and airfield of Zurich-Dübendorf – in particular the Swiss Air Force, REGA and blue light organisations – as well as the Federal Office of Civil Aviation FOCA and other regulatory authorities are closely involved in the development of the booking and flight planning system.

The LINA project team, would like to learn more about the current and future need for such infrastructure for research, development and safe testing of your drones and other autonomous aerial and ground vehicles and systems. To determine the need, an online survey was created - join in! Click here to go to the survey.

Brigitte Rohner is project manager for the "LINA" project (= "Shared Large-scale Infrastructure for the Development and Safe Testing of Autonomous Systems") and we wanted to know from Brigitte what innovation means to her. Watch the video to listen to Brigitte's answer.

Erik Wilhelm is Head of Research at KYBURZ Switzerland and part of the company network Autonomous Systems with Ground Contact. This company network aims to bring innovative companies from the Canton of Zurich and surrounding cantons closer together and provide opportunities for cross-company learning.

Alex Pachikov is Co-Founder and CEO at Sunflower Labs. Sunflower Labs makes with the Beehive System a flexible drone-in-a-box solution that integrates with existing security cameras and sensors. It is remote autonomous outdoor security system for large commercial, industrial, and residential properties that senses and deters unwanted visitors. In the video, Alex tells how the idea came about and what challenges the young founders had to contend with.

Alex Pachikov, founder and CEO of Sunflower Labs, tells us in the video what innovation means to him and how innovation can come about.

Christina Kehl, co-founder and board member of SWISS FINTECH, tells us in the video what innovation means to her and how innovation can come about.

Christian Zeyer,Managing Director of swisscleantech, explains what innovation means to him and how innovation can come about.

Christina Kehl, co-founder and board member of SWISS FINTECH, explains what FinTech actually is, what role FinTech plays in the financial world and what makes the FinTech ecosystem in Zurich so unique.

Christian Zeyer is managing director of swisscleantech and explains in the video what cleantech actually is and which megatrends await us in the coming years.

Alfred Angerer is Professor of Healthcare Management at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and heads the Health Care Management Unit at the School of Management and Law. He explains in the video which skills will be important in the future and why Zurich is the ideal location for them.

Thomas Gemperle is Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer at Scewo. Scewo develops smart technologies with futuristic design and foolproof operation. What this adds up to? The Scewo Bro, an electric wheelchair that can climb stairs - up or down. In the video, Thomas tells how the idea came about and what challenges the young founders had to contend with.