Bringing together leading research institutions, startups, corporates, and innovation enablers from Switzerland and Hong Kong, the program highlights complementary ecosystem strengths: Swiss deep-tech excellence and Hong Kong’s translational infrastructure, venture connectivity, and access to the Greater Bay Area. Through ecosystem overview, research showcase, and strategic panel, the session moves from technology development to deployment pathways.
About the Sino-Swiss Innovation Days
Sino-Swiss Innovation Days 2026 will take place from 15 to 24 April 2026 in the Greater Bay Area, marking the launch of a new flagship platform for innovation exchange between Switzerland and China.
As a newly established initiative organized by Swissnex in China, Sino-Swiss Innovation Days aims to promote ecosystem-to-ecosystem dialogue and advance cooperation in strategic areas with strong potential for Sino-Swiss collaboration. The platform connects innovation stakeholders including startups, researchers and industry representatives from both sides, providing a structured framework for engagement spanning research, industry, investment, and policy dialogue.
With a thematic focus on robotics, automation, and advanced engineering, the 2026 edition will convene leading Swiss and Chinese actors across Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and other key cities in the Greater Bay Area, to foster meaningful dialogue, strategic connections and project-oriented collaboration.
Program
14:30-14:35 Welcome Remarks
- Daniel Freihofer, Consul General, Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong
14:35-14:40 Opening Remarks
- Hon Sunny TAN, Chairman, Hong Kong Productivity Council
Keynote speeches
14:40-14:50 Hong Kong’s Innovation Ecosystem (robotics, automation, and smart manufacturing focused) and Regional Integration
- Dr. Lawrence Cheung, CTO, Hong Kong Productivity Council
14:50-15:00 The Swiss Robotics Ecosystem: A Global Leader in Deep-Tech Innovation
- Dr. Rolf Pfister, Director of Research, Lab42, Co-founder at Davos Tech Summit
15:00-15:10 From Academia to Industry – A Hong Kong Innovation Journey
- Prof. Dr. Li Zhang, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Programme Leader, InnoHK – Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC), HKSTP
15:10-15:20 Industrial AI in Practice – Advancing Intelligent Automation in the Swiss Innovation Ecosystem
- Prof. Dr. Alisa Rupenyan, Rieter Endowed chair for Industrial AI, ZHAW Zurich University for Applied Sciences, School of Engineering
15:20-15:30 Innovation Without Borders – Scaling Automation for a Global Market
- Ken Xie, Global Market Director, Orcauboat & Orca-APAS
15:30-15:40 From Research to Scale-Up – A Swiss Robotics Startup Journey
- Stephan-Daniel Gravert, Co-Founder & CPO, Mimic Robotics
Panel Discussion
15:40-16:20 Switzerland–Hong Kong Robotics Corridor: Two-Way Innovation and Market Synergies
- Moderator: Gabriella Montandon, Director/ Board Member, Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Panel Speakers:
- Simon Enderli, Director, Bern Economic Development Agency
- Prof. Dr. Li Zhang, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Programme Leader, InnoHK – Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center (MRC), HKSTP
- Shaohu Zhou, Investment and Research Manager, Gobi Partners
16:20-16:25 Closing Remarks
- Dr. Raphaela Oliver, Consul & CEO, Swissnex in China
16:25-17:30 Networking Session
