Humanitarian healthcare meets AI, Web3 & decentralized technology, in Geneva. Ebola outbreaks. Neglected diseases. Community health. Funding gaps. These are not theoretical problems. They are challenges faced by healthcare and humanitarian organizations every day. So the question is: Can emerging technology actually help solve them? The Crypto Valley Association Sustainability Working Group is partnering again with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for an evening bringing together humanitarian leaders, technologists, innovators, and finance professionals to explore what can move from concept to real-world impact. Following last year's decentralized healthcare event and the launch of our Decentralized AI in Healthcare report, this edition gets practical. We'll examine where decentralized AI, health data, and Web3 can - and cannot - address real healthcare needs. One evening. Three perspectives. Keynote 1 – The humanitarian reality Lai Ling Lee Rodriguez, MSF’s Deputy Director of External Affairs and Field Operations, will share MSF’s perspective on the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and the funding gap facing humanitarian response, followed by a fireside chat with Stephanie Fuchs, Co-Chair of the CVA Sustainability Working Group. Panel: What can actually be built? A 45–50 minutes conversation connecting humanitarian needs with technology, Web3, communications, and funding. Panel speakers: Matthias Chardon, Finance Director, Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland Pablo Castillo, CEO, Chain4Travel Alvaro Cosi, Communications & Fundraising, UNHCR Moderated by Michele Soavi, Co-Chair, CVA Sustainability Working Group Keynote 2 – The technology opportunity Christopher Fabian, Digital Inclusion Lead at UNICEF, will share insights on innovation, digital infrastructure, and technology for global challenges, followed by a fireside chat with Sitara Jabeen, Philanthropy Diversification Lead at MSF Switzerland. Networking apéro Continue the conversation with a mixed crowd from humanita
Ab 17:30 Uhr hast du die Gelegenheit, die vielfältigen Demos des AI+X Summit zu entdecken, innovative Anwendungen auszuprobieren und mit Forschenden, Entwicklern und Unternehmen ins Gespräch zu kommen. Auf der Innovator Stage werden die Finalist*innen der KI Challenge ihre Projekte in kurzen Pitches vorstellen. Um 18:30 Uhr startet unser Bühnenprogramm, moderiert von Damita Pressl. Freu dich auf inspirierende Beiträge von Nadine Bienefeld (ETH Zürich) und dem Künstlerduo AATB – Andrea Anner & Thibault Brevet - und weitere spannende Programmpunkte. Den krönenden Abschluss bildet die Siegerehrung der KI Challenge 2026, bei der junge Talente aus der Schweiz für ihre innovativen KI-Projekte ausgezeichnet werden. +++ This event is part of the Zurich AI Festival, taking place from September 28 to October 3, 2026. Zurich AI Festival unites the minds building the future - visionary founders, bold investors, and tech leaders shaping tomorrow. Connect to tomorrow! Zurich AI Festival is a flagship initiative presented by ETH AI Center, Greater Zurich Area, the City of Zurich, the Canton of Zurich, and Zurich Tourism, and supported by leading partners from academia, industry, government and the broader AI ecosystem. We look forward to welcoming you soon! Zurich AI Festival Team
An evening of dialogues and networking before China Connect Summit main conference Two of the world's most active ecosystems in AI and robotics — China and Europe — are moving at different speeds, with different instincts, toward different bets. China is scaling embodied AI and humanoid robotics at a pace and volume few markets can match. Europe is building differentiated, deep-tech approaches with a different relationship to capital, talent, and go-to-market. This evening isn't about pretending those differences don't exist — it's about treating them as the point. We're bringing founders, investors, and operators from both ecosystems into the same room, because the most interesting conversations happen at the friction: sparks on disagreements and differences, or synergies on capital, technology, or markets. This isn't a casual mixer. Attendance is reserved for individuals and companies aligned around a simple bar: proven technology, real deployments, and strong ambition to scale globally. 📢 Event Program 5:30 - 6:00 Arrival & Networking 6:00 - 6:05 Event Opening 6:05 - 6:15 Opening Keynote 6:15 - 6:30 Spotlight Intros with Chinese companies 6:30 - 7:00 Fireside chat: how to build a global companies 7:00 - 7:30 VC Panel: cross-border collaborations 7:30 - Drinks & Open Networking 👤 Who You'll Meet Chinese AI & robotics leaders with live demos European AI & robotics founders building for global markets VCs and institutional investors active in cross-border deals Family offices and allocators exploring the space 🎟️ Participation Open to China Connect Summit attendees and invited guests. Space is limited. Early RSVP encouraged. 🌏 About the Hosts Varen Partners is a specialized investment firm dedicated to navigating China's evolving investment landscape, investing directly in Chinese growth-stage companies and next-gen venture funds. Ellipsis is a Zurich based VC backing visionary teams building defensible AI solutions for the world's hardest problems. Episode 1 Vent