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Join us for REFRESH 2026!
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Who we Are
Swissnex in San Francisco is part of the global Swissnex Network for international collaboration. We connect people and ideas from Switzerland and the San Francisco Bay Area to foster exchange in research, education, innovation, and the arts.
Our mission is to support the outreach and active engagement of our partners in the international exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent. We thereby contribute to strengthening Switzerland's profile as a world-leading innovation hotspot.
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Academia
We connect Swiss and US universities, students, researchers and academics, fostering the international exchange of ideas through academic residencies, study trips, alumni gatherings, and individualized programs.
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Startups
Our startup programs and camps are designed to fit the needs of Swiss entrepreneurs exploring or entering the US market.
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Innovation
Encompassing foresight, technology and trend scouting, we provide insights derived from our ecosystem of activities across education, research, innovation, and creativity.
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Arts
We support Switzerland’s creative industries and transdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of art, science, and technology.
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Events & Programs
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REFRESH 2026 in San Francisco
March 4, 2026 — March 7, 2026A festival exploring the intersection of Arts, Design & Technology, happening at Swissnex in San Francisco in March 2026.
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REFRESH Exhibition
March 5, 2026 — April 10, 2026Discover games, video works, and interactive installations by international artists exploring the intersection of arts, design, and technology.
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Startup Camp (Sustainable AI)
April 13, 2026 — April 23, 2026Join the next Startup Camp in San Francisco, powered by Innosuisse and managed by Swissnex.
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Future Museum Lab
October 5, 2026 — October 10, 2026A fellowship program connecting Swiss museum professionals with Bay Area innovation to strengthen visitor engagement and turn ideas into institutional practice.
News
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![Billy Wilder Theater - Hammer Museum LA]()
What ‘The Twilight Zone’ Can Teach Us About The Future of Cinema
January 28, 2026A 1964 episode of 'The Twilight Zone' eerily anticipates today’s debates about AI intimacy, authorship, and control. Revisiting these visions reminds us that AI’s impact on cinema is not a rupture from history, but a continuation of long-standing entanglements between technology, labor, and imagination.
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Reclaiming the Human in Tech
December 9, 2025Beneath the headlines about AI breakthroughs, a paradox is emerging. Technology races ahead while the human foundations it depends on quietly erode. But growing movements are building something different. Their approaches challenge Silicon Valley's obsession with scale, and revealing what innovation looks like when humans come first.
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Insights from the Embodied Intelligence Week in Silicon Valley
November 20, 2025Silicon Valley is buzzing with a new robotics renaissance, humanoids companies raising capital like never before, robots learning from experience boosted by new algorithms, and researchers and startups treating the city like a living lab. Into this momentum, Swissnex hosted the Embodied Intelligence program, with a cohort 9 researchers and founders ready to explore how AI and Robotics are rapidly evolving.
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Connecting Minds at SF Tech Week
November 7, 2025During SF Tech Week, Swissnex in San Francisco brought together nearly 900 founders, researchers, artists, and investors, connecting Swiss innovation with the world.
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How Science Speaks to the World Today
October 23, 2025Simone Pengue, science journalist, examines the current state of science communication and the forces reshaping it. From prison seminars to AI-assisted reporting, he explores how science journalism is evolving and what it truly takes to make science accessible to all.
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Embodied Intelligence
September 23, 2025A week-long program welcoming Swiss startups, researchers and thinkers in the Bay Area to explore and shape the future of Robotics and physical AI.
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Beyond the Hype: Swiss Journalists’ Journey Through AI’s Impact
August 26, 2025Beyond the Hype: Swiss Journalists’ Journey Through AI’s Impact
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From Switzerland to Silicon Valley: A Journey Into AI and Life Sciences
August 25, 2025From Switzerland to Silicon Valley: A Journey Into AI and Life Sciences
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Connect Lunches: From Mapping to Building a Community
August 22, 2025Swissnex in San Francisco Connect Lunches: From Mapping to Building a Community
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How a Small Nation Became Europe’s Deep Tech Powerhouse
July 30, 2025How a Small Nation Became Europe's Deep Tech Powerhouse
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2025 Focus Topics for Swissnex in San Francisco
July 29, 2025In 2025, Swissnex in San Francisco is focusing on AI, Robotics, Climate, and Science Communication.
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The Future of the Past (Masterclass) | Looking Back
July 16, 2025On June 24, Swissnex San Francisco hosted a masterclass showcasing the world's largest digital image of a single object, a 1.6-trillion-pixel digital twin of the 1893/94 panorama painting depicting the Battle of Murten. The project represents a revolutionary approach to cultural heritage, transforming how we experience and interact with historic art through digital innovation.
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LAYERS
July 15, 2025LAYERS / Our event series uncovering the human stories behind scientific discovery, taking place from August through December 2025 at Swissnex in San Francisco.
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Reimagining Collections: A Museum’s Digital Anniversary Project
July 7, 2025Sophie Grossmann, Curator at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, reflects on the process of building cross-cultural dialogue through digital curatorship for their anniversary project.
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Report from the Bay Area: The (New) Robotics Renaissance
June 11, 2025A new era is unfolding in robotics, driven by the convergence of AI, advanced hardware, and powerful software—and Swissnex in San Francisco is tracking this “robotics renaissance” to foster exchange between the Swiss and North American innovation ecosystems.
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Open Call: Explore and Shape the Future of Robotics and Physical AI
June 4, 2025 — July 31, 2025Swissnex in San Francisco invites Swiss-based startups, researchers, thinkers, and tech artists working at the intersection of robotics, AI, and embodied systems to apply for a unique five-day program in San Francisco, October 27–31, 2025.
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2025 Focus Topic Robotics: Connecting Silicon Valley and Switzerland
May 14, 2025In 2025, Swissnex in San Francisco is putting the spotlight on robotics, launching a year-long focus that includes events, programs, and collaborations exploring the future of intelligent machines.
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![A vibrant gathering at Swissnex featuring a crowd of attendees exploring exhibits and networking in a bright, modern space. The Swissnex logo is prominently displayed on the wall, emphasizing the innovative and collaborative atmosphere. Attendees engage with displays, converse in small groups, and move throughout the open area, which is illuminated by natural light and modern overhead fixtures. The event radiates energy, creativity, and a sense of community, showcasing the spirit of innovation and exchange.]()
ZHAW Staff Mobility Program 2025
April 30, 2025This year, Swissnex is hosting a total of five staff members of ZHAW visiting the San Francisco Bay Area for a two-week sabbatical.
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Looking Back at SF Climate Week
April 30, 2025Over 25,000 people attended SF Climate Week this past week, and Swissnex was at the center of the action.
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Expanding Bionomous Horizons: How the Startup Camp (Robotics) Transformed Our Silicon Valley Journey
April 7, 2025EPFL spin-off Bionomous transformed their US market approach through the Startup Camp (Robotics) powered by Innosuisse and managed by Swissnex. Discover how CEO Frank Bonnet secured key investor meetings and research partnerships that will fuel their next phase of international growth.
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SF Climate Week at Swissnex in San Francisco
April 2, 2025Swissnex in San Francisco is participating in the SF Climate Week with several events and is the official home of two of SF Climate Week's Key Summits.
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HumanX 2025: AI in Finance, Cybersecurity, and Healthcare
March 25, 2025At the HumanX conference, over 3,000 global tech innovators gathered to unravel AI's transformative potential. From OpenAI and Anthropic to innovative startups, the event illuminated how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing finance, cybersecurity, and healthcare—offering a tantalizing preview of technology's most powerful frontier.
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2025 Multimedia Lab for Journalists
August 4, 2025 — August 15, 2025An immersive 2-week intensive program designed to support established and emerging professionals in journalism and multimedia storytelling.
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Bridges and Innovation Ecosystems: A Deep Dive in Robotics
March 21, 2025Is bridging international innovation ecosystems a contradiction? Join me on a journey from Zurich to San Francisco, where robotics innovation, cultural insights, and unexpected connections await. Discover what happens when Switzerland's precision meets Silicon Valley's dynamic spirit—and why the metaphor of bridges has never been more fitting.
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Swiss Venture Capital Report 2025: A Comment from Swissnex in San Francisco
February 18, 2025Swiss Venture Capital Report 2025: A Comment from Swissnex in San Francisco
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Big Tech Trends at CES 2025
January 24, 2025The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 – The Big Tech Trends to expect for 2025
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![An abstract digital artwork featuring intricate glass-like structures that twist and flow dynamically through the image. The composition includes crystalline forms in clear, blue, and amber hues, interspersed with floating, petal-shaped elements. The overall design evokes a sense of movement and fluidity, with reflective surfaces and sharp details creating a futuristic, otherworldly aesthetic.]()
AI Predictions for 2025
December 18, 2024With new releases, startups emerging daily, and an AI discourse oscillating between excitement and skepticism—breakthroughs and potential bubbles—navigating this sea of information can feel like a dense technological fog, thicker than the one we often have in San Francisco. Our AI Program Manager Maulde Cuerel clears the horizon and explores what’s in store for AI in 2025.
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Designing with Machines
January 6, 2025Anthony Masure, Associate Professor and Dean of Research at Geneva University of Art and Design, shares his perspective on the interplay of AI and the Arts.
