Agenda
Keynotes and high-level discussions featuring Swiss leaders from industry, academia, and policy. Meet Thomas Zurbuchen, one of the keynote speakers. Head of ETH Space and founder of ETH GeoLab.
to
Entrance Hall
Check-in & pick up your badge
Please bring your personal QR code which was sent to you when you registered. You will receive your personal badge. The Check-in desks will open at 08:30 and will remain open all day.
to
Coffee Corner
Welcome to Swiss Robotics Day 2026
Kick off the day with us — join fellow attendees for a Welcome Coffee before the program begins. A great chance to connect, network, and settle in before the first session starts.
to
Main Stage
Welcome from the Director of ETH Center for Robotics – RobotX
Marco Hutter, opening todays Swiss Robotics Day
to
Main Stage
Welcome from the ETH Zürich Vice President
- Effy Vayena
to
TalkMain Stage
The Science of Robot Learning in Switzerland
- Alesandro Giusti - Talk
- Aude Billard - Talk
- Sylvain Calinon - Talk
we would like a link to from the title to extend to the content of the session
This session explores how Swiss research groups are advancing robot learning — from reinforcement learning and simulation-to-reality transfer to data-driven control for legged and manipulation systems. Leading scientists from Swiss institutions will share how these methods are pushing robots toward greater autonomy, robustness, and adaptability in real-world environments, offering a look at the research shaping the next generation of intelligent machines.
to
PanelMain Stage
Humanoids in the Workplace: Ready or Not?
- Moritz Bächer
- Hexagon, Arnaud Robert
- Neura, David Reger
- Flexion, David Höller
- RAI, Dario Bellicoso
- Agile, tbc
Link to Title for content of this session
Welcome Disney, Hexagon, Neura, Flexion, RAI and Agile for an exiting exchange. Silicon Valley is betting billions that humanoid robots will soon work alongside us. This session cuts through the hype: what can they really do today, and how close are we to sharing the workplace with a robot colleague?
to
TalkMain Stage
How Robot Learning Is Reshaping Industry
- Skydio, Davide Falange - Title
- Google DeepMind, Davide Falanga - Title
link to title for the content
Industry speakers share first-hand experience deploying robot learning on real factory floors — the breakthroughs, the surprises, and the lessons learned bringing it from research to reality.
to
KeynoteMain Stage
Keynote of Thomas Zurbuchen
From NASA's Science Mission Directorate to ETH Zurich Space, Thomas Zurbuchen shares what it takes to lead breakthrough innovation at the edge of the unknown.
to
Marco Tempest
To close the morning, we hand the stage to someone who blurs the line between technology and wonder. Marco Tempest, the world-renowned cyber illusionist, brings magic and robotics together in performances that leave audiences questioning what's real. Expect the unexpected — a fitting, unforgettable finale to a day spent exploring the future of robotics.
to
Closing Morning Session
Dr. Cesar Cadena, A closer look at how robots perceive and make sense of the world, bridging today's talks with the challenges still ahead. Inviting to an exiting afternoon program.
to
The Archade of Stage One
Lunch
to
ExhibitionExhibition Floor
Exhibition open
Open across the whole afternoon, which is why the programme below it is drawn in columns rather than as one list.
to
to
Exhibition
Test
Main Stage
to
Pitch
Swissmem / Robotics & Factory Automation in Practice
Real Stories from the Shop Floor — Three Swissmem member companies share hands-on experience putting robotics to work — the challenges, the solutions, and the results.
to
PitchMain Stage
Swiss Start-ups: What Separates Success from Failure?
We start with a pitch of three selected start-up presentations, followed by a panel by some of the most successful Swiss Start-ups.
Switzerland punches well above its weight in deep tech and robotics start-ups — but for every breakout success, many more quietly fail. In this session, founders and industry experts share candid, first-hand lessons from the trenches: what actually made the difference, the mistakes that nearly sank them, and the best practices every early-stage start-up should know. No polished pitch decks — just honest insights into what it really takes to build a lasting company in Switzerland's robotics ecosystem.
to
Main Stage
to
Talk
Swiss Robotics Association – Connecting the Swiss robotics ecosystem
- Nicola Tomatis
Nicola Tomatis
CEO at BlueBotics SA and President of Swiss Robotics Association
Nicola has been the CEO of BlueBotics since 2003 and joined its Board of Directors in 2015. He holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science from ETH Zurich and a PhD in Robotics from the EPFL in Lausanne. He received the IEEE Early Career Award in Robotics and Automation in 2008 and has twice been included in Bilan’s 300 Most Influential People in Switzerland
An overview of the Swiss Robotics Association, its activities and initiatives, and its role in bringing together academia, industry and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and foster the development of the Swiss robotics ecosystem.
to
Talk
Innovation Booster Robotics – Funded robotics projects in 2025
Discover three promising robotics projects supported by the Innovation Booster Robotics in 2025. The project teams will present their ideas, share their progress and highlight how their innovations are contributing to the development of new robotic technologies and applications.
- Anca Rusu, Executive Director of the Swiss Robotics Association and Community Manager at EPFL Robotics
2nd Floor / NVIDIA Room
to
NVIDIA Workshop
Learn the latest features of the NVIDIA research.
This is a test
please register for it
Meeting Room, 2nd floor
to
Workshop
Workshop
Moderated, with a panel of investors
Separate room on the second floor, twenty five seats. Runs straight through the stage programme, which is the second place the day goes multi-track.
to
SocialMain Stage
SRD Networking
The main stage area will become the networking zone after our last speaker. Enjoy some refreshments from 15.30 - 17.30
A social apéro will follow to close the day.
This should be the last on the agenda on it's own. More text will follow. Need to go to sleep now...