"Academia & Industry: developing the future together"

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Discover how your company can boost innovation

We are now well aware that innovation drives economic growth at the country and industry level. This is particularly true for a highly competitive country such as Switzerland. It is also proven that academic and fundamental research play a crucial role towards innovation; moreover, quality of research is one of the most important success factor for innovation and technology transfer. Swiss schools and universities are ranked among the best in the world and are pillars of our strength.

In this context, Switzerland Innovation Park Network West EPFL creates a platform for local and international companies coming from all industries. This platform allows companies to push their research activities further in partnership with our universities and higher-education institutions. Sharing ideas between researchers, talented individuals, and innovative entrepreneurs are the core ingredients to create a fertile ground for innovation.

The event will include testimonials and interactive debates from innovative industry leaders and top-notch professors, followed by a networking cocktail.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Program

16h30 Registration

17h00 Keynote, Johann N. Schneider-Ammann
Swiss Federal Councilor

17h10 Introduction, Philippe Leuba
Minister for Economy Canton of Vaud

17h20 Welcome, Prof. Martin Vetterli
EPFL President

17h30 Presentation of Switzerland Innovation Park Network West EPFL
with testimonials from Professors and Companies

17h45          Interactive debates
                   "How to be successful in an innovation park"
                     with panelists from academia, industry and politics

18h30 Conclusion, Jean-Nathanaël Karakash
Minister for Economy Canton of Neuchâtel

18h45 Cocktail and Networking

20h00 End of the event

Olivier Dominik, RTS Journalist and Anchor at Swiss National TV will moderate the event

Register

Registrations are now closed.

Speakers

Johann N. Schneider-Ammann
Swiss Federal Councilor

Philippe Leuba
State Minister Vaud
Department of Economy, Innovation and Sport
Co-president of Switzerland Innovation Park Network West EPFL

Jean-Nathanaël Karakash
State Councilor Neuchâtel
Chief of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Co-president of Switzerland Innovation Park Network West EPFL

Prof. Martin Vetterli
President of EPFL

Edouard Mignon
Group Research & Innovation Director
Richemont Group

Harald Jenny
CEO
Swiss Center of Data Analysis CENTREDOC

Anne-Claire Pliska
Head Mobility Lab
Postbus Mobility Solutions

Prof. Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin
Head of the GMF group
Energypolis

Eric Nicolas
CFO, Corporate VP Strategy & Global Services
Firmenich

Prof. David Sander
Professor of Psychology
Director of the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences
University of Geneva

Yvan Bourqui
Head of Global Engineering
Business Unit Actuation System
Johnson Electric International

Prof. Marilyne Andersen
Professor and head of Laboratory of Integrated Performance in Design
Dean of ENAC School

Peter C. Böhni
Managing Director EPFL Innovation Satellite
Bühler

Prof Lana Kandalaft
Cheffe de service of the Center of Experimental Therapeutics (CTE)

Prof Marcel Salathé
Academic Director
EPFL Extension School

Stéphanie Blum Sperisen
Head Oncology Care & Innovation Program
Nestlé Health Science

Venue

The conference will take place on Wednesday 14 March 2018 at the Forum Rolex Learning Center on EPFL Campus, in Lausanne in Switzerland.

By plane and by train

Genève-Cointrin is the nearest airport (40-60 minutes). The train from Zürich airport takes approximately 2h30 min to Lausanne. From these airports, you can take a train to Lausanne and then take the Lausanne metro to EPFL (two steps):