Isabelle Siegrist

Germany’s innovation gap: R&D heavy, startup shy? Why do German corporations invest over €90 billion in R&D each year, yet continue to overlook startups as partners for innovation? Together with our friends at Bits & Pretzels, we set out to explore this question. The resulting report combines data, strategic analysis, and first-hand insights from innovation leaders at Bosch, STIHL, DHL, and others – alongside perspectives from Verena Pausder (Chair of the German Startup Association), Thomas Jarzombek (Parliamentary State Secretary for Digital Affairs and State Modernization), and Dr. Christian Rammer (Innovation Economist at ZEW). We’ve summarized the key findings and strategic recommendations in a dedicated blog article, which also includes access to the full report. Link in the comments. As an official partner of the Bits & Pretzels CIO Summit, we look forward to presenting the report and discussing its implications with corporate leaders in Munich from September 29 to October 1. We hope you’ll join the conversation!

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Sartiq, a Swiss Vertical AI company formerly known as Shootify closed a CHF 2.1 pre-seed funding round. The funding round was led by Founderful and included participation from Venture Kick, alongside a follow-on investment from original backer Magic Mind, the vertical AI investment vehicle of Zest and Compagnia di Sanpaolo. This investment will allow Sartiq to develop a content engine allowing fashion brands to generate entire visual campaigns, from early-stage lookbooks to final e-commerce assets, with unprecedented speed and creative control. Sartiq has already given tremendous results, from luxury fashion houses and high-volume digital retailers in Italy and Switzerland and is currently in pilot with leading European fashion houses including Guess, OVS Group, Missoni, MooseKnuckles and more. Luca Ambrosini, Andrea Ravano, Felipe Cardoso Sartiq Alex Stöckl Founderful Gabriele Ronchini #sahion #retail #GenAI More about the company from Ticino in our article: https://lnkd.in/ed7iCyzt

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AI, developed responsibly, can improve lives. I shared this belief in Fokus’ “Future of Technology” feature—and it reflects what’s unfolding across Switzerland today. In over three decades, I’ve never experienced a technology adopted as quickly as AI. And Swiss companies are among the leaders in practical implementation: According to our 2025 Work Trend Index, 52% of Swiss companies already automate entire business processes, above the global average.   The impact is tangible. Think about the Spring ACT – Action. Compassion. Technology.'s Sophia chatbot, developed in Bern, that supports victims of domestic violence worldwide. Or think about Virtuosis AI in Lausanne: Their solution can detect burnout with 90% accuracy through voice analysis. Zurich Insurance, in turn, leverages AI for more accurate risk assessments, while EKZ applies it to optimize energy distribution.  And now we’re entering the next chapter: Agentic AI—systems that understand context, plan, and execute, always with humans maintaining control. IDC forecasts 1.3 billion agents globally by 2028, and Swiss organizations are actively shaping this transformation. We already see Frontier firms emerging in Switzerland—companies that look markedly different from those we know today. Structured around on-demand intelligence and powered by hybrid teams of humans and AI agents, these organizations scale rapidly, operate with agility, and generate value faster. Our commitment matches this momentum: four Swiss data centers, partnerships with ETH Zürich and EPFL among many others, and a goal to skill one million people in AI by 2027.  AI is most powerful when it works hand in hand with people—amplifying insight, creativity, and impact. 👉 Read the full interview (in German only) here:  https://lnkd.in/ex-Yauxp

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