CEO NEURA Robotics
Dr Sylvain Calinon is a Senior Research Scientist at the Idiap Research Institute and a Lecturer at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). He heads the Robot Learning & Interaction group at Idiap, with expertise in human-robot collaboration, robot learning from demonstration, geometric representations and optimal control. The approaches developed in his group can be applied to a wide range of applications requiring manipulation skills, with robots that are either close to us (assistive and industrial robots), parts of us (prosthetics and exoskeletons), or far away from us (shared control and teleoperation). Website: https://calinon.ch
Auke Ijspeert is a professor at EPFL (the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, Switzerland), IEEE Fellow, and head of the Biorobotics Laboratory (https://www.epfl.ch/labs/biorob). He has a B.Sc./M.Sc. in physics from the EPFL (1995), and a PhD in artificial intelligence from the University of Edinburgh (1999).
His research interests are at the intersection between robotics and computational neuroscience. He is interested in using numerical simulations and robots to gain a better understanding of animal locomotion and movement control, and in using inspiration from biology to design novel types of robots and locomotion controllers (see for instance Ijspeert et al, Science, Vol. 315, 2007 and Ijspeert, Science Vol. 346, 2014). He is also interested in assisting persons with limited mobility using exoskeletons and assistive furniture. With his colleagues, he has received paper awards at ICRA2002, CLAWAR2005, IEEE Humanoids 2007, IEEE ROMAN 2014, CLAWAR 2015, SAB 2018, CLAWAR 2019, and ICRA2024.
He is associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Medical Robotics and Bionics. He is also a member of the Board of Reviewing Editors of Science magazine.
Katrin J. Yuan is an award-winning executive with a background in technology and transformation. With a Master of Business Administration and studies in IT and finance, Katrin is fluent in six languages. She is a Board Member, Chair of the AI Future Council, lectures at four universities, and serves as a Jury Member for the ETH. Katrin is an influential executive networker, investor and speaker. Her expertise extends to AI tech future and Boards, enforcing AI and a diverse data-driven approach.
Dr. Milan Kumar is a distinguished figure in the field of global technology as a Global Chief Information and Digital Officer (CDIO), renowned as a TEDx speaker, educator, international author and startups mentor. He currently serves as the CIO of ZF Commercial Vehicles based in Bern, Switzerland. He has led multiple global Digital Transformation initiatives and passionate about “Data Monetization”.
Dr. Kumar has a wealth of experience in senior IT leadership roles, having previously acted as the CIO and CDO, as well as a board member at WABCO (NYSE :WBC), VOLKSWAGEN Gr.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kumar has supported technology transformation of many Fortune 500 companies such as VOLKSWAGEN Group, ZF Group, BMW Group, General Motors, British Airways, Reliance, Atlas Copco, Morgan Stanley, WABCO etc.
Dr. Kumar’s academic achievements include a PhD in AI Management and completion of the “Driving Growth Through Innovation” at the Harvard Business School. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the “Swiss CIO of the Year,” “Global Digital CIO,” and “CIO Excellence Award” from Economics Times. Dr. Kumar is a TEDx & Global Keynote Speaker and an avid technical writer with his articles being published in various CIO magazines, Springer, World Economic Forum (WEF), MIT , Forbes etc.
Zakia is a deep-tech enthusiast with a passion for blending systems thinking and intelligent systems to drive transformative solutions. With a career spanning technology transfer, commercialization, and product development, she excels at fostering cross-cultural collaboration to tackle global challenges. Currently, Zakia advises young talents on unlocking business opportunities through the strategic application of AI for social good worldwide.
A graduate of TU Ilmenau with a specialization in Intelligent Systems and Automation, and holding an EMBA in digitalization and strategic management, Zakia bridges cutting edge technical innovation with economic foresight. Her work is fueled by a deep commitment to mentoring, exploring technological advancements, and harnessing creativity to enhance humanity’s legacy. Thriving at the intersection of curiosity, culture, and impact, Zakia embodies a future-oriented mindset that inspires purpose-driven progress on a global scale.
Lukas is the founder of a leading media house dedicated to robotics companies, ranging from innovative startups to industry giants like ABB and NVIDIA. As an expert in the field, Lukas is also a lecturer at the Business School of Warsaw University of Technology, where he imparts his knowledge of Industry 4.0 to MBA students.
With years of experience in the deep-tech startup ecosystem, Lukas serves as a Venture Partner at ffVC, where he plays an instrumental role in supporting emerging startups in the robotics market. His passion for advancing the robotics industry is further demonstrated through his creation of a vibrant community of over 250,000 enthusiasts, with a strong following in both Europe and the United States.
Lukas’s content reaches more than 100 million people annually, empowering and educating a global audience on the transformative potential of robotics and technology.
Head of Globalization at Booster Robotics
Chaoyi Li, Head of Globalization at Booster Robotics, is committed to bringing affordable, reliable, and useful humanoid robots to global markets. Chaoyi has over 10 years of experience in the ToB sector. Prior to joining Booster Robotics, he held leadership roles at ByteDance, managing complex ToB products, and also has a background in consulting and investment. With his extensive experience, Chaoyi aims to integrate technology and service to provide the best solutions for clients.
Emre Uğur is an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Computer Engineering at Bogazici University and the head of the Cognition, Learning, and Robotics (CoLoRs) lab. He received his PhD degree in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU, Turkey). He worked as a research scientist at ATR, Japan (2009-2013); visited Osaka University as a specially appointed Assist.&Assoc. Professor (2015&2016); and worked as a senior researcher at the University of Innsbruck (2013-2016). He has been the principal investigator of INVERSE and IMAGINE projects supported by the European Commission, Horizon 2020 Programme; EXO-AI-FLEX, DeepSym and DeepPlan projects supported by TUBITAK. He has been awarded The Young Scientist Award by the Science Academy (BAGEP) and The Excellence in Teaching Award by the Faculty of Engineering. He is interested in robotics, robot learning, and cognitive robotics.
Dr. Xavier Comtesse is a prominent figure in the fields of digital transformation. With a background in computer science and extensive experience in research and development, he has made significant contributions to both academia and industry.
Dr. Comtesse holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and has worked with various organizations, focusing on the integration of advanced technologies into practical applications. He is known for his interdisciplinary approach, bridging technical expertise with strategic insights to address complex challenges in digital technology.
Throughout his career, Dr. Comtesse has been involved in numerous research projects and initiatives aimed at fostering innovation, particularly in the realms of AI and machine learning. He is also emphasizing the importance of governance and accountability in the deployment of AI systems.
As a thought leader, Dr. Comtesse is a frequent speaker at international conferences and is actively engaged in mentoring the next generation of technologists and researchers. His work continues to influence the evolving landscape of thechnology and its applications across various sectors.
Solutions Architect – Robotics & AI at NVIDIA
Kartik Sachdev is a Solutions Architect at NVIDIA, specializing in Robotics and AI, based in Munich. He is leading customer engagements in the EMEA region across a diverse range of autonomous machines and robots, leveraging his expertise in technologies such as Humanoid Robotics, Computer Vision, Robot Learning, and Foundation Models.
As an expert in NVIDIA’s platforms, including Isaac Sim, Isaac Lab, and Omniverse, Kartik delivers innovative solutions that drive business value for the customers. With a proven track record of working in multiple geographies, including India, Germany, and Japan, he brings a unique blend of cultural and technical expertise to his role, enabling him to effectively collaborate with clients and deliver tailored solutions that meet their needs.
Tobias Rainer Schäfle, Ph.D., Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA), is a passionate engineer who is enthusiastic about robotics and innovative technologies. His academic career includes a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) in mechanical engineering and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in technical cybernetics. In 2021, he completed his doctorate in engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology in Japan. Until the end of June 2024, he worked as an expert in industrial service robotics in the robotics department of Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart. Since July 2024, he has been business segment manager for automated intralogistics and manufacturing systems at Fraunhofer IPA.
Urs Gehrig is Principal Consultant Business Development and Head of the Competence Center (CoC) Predictive Maintenance SBB. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering (HTL), a Master in Law (lic. iur.) and a degree in Secondary Education. Urs Gehrig currently leading the Enterprise Asset Management in the S/4 SBB program at SBB. He was giving lectures on «Digitalized Maintenance» at Zurich University of Applied Sciences and is going to give lectures at FHNW on a “CAS GenAI and Human-AI Interaction”; Urs is a member of the Advisory Board of the Locomotive bOgie Condition mAinTEnance (LOCATE) project running European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, as well as in POLIMI (UIC Project 2020/RSF/664) and AIPM (UIC P700). He is a Certified SAFe® 5 Agilist. Urs is Chairman of SUGRail SIG for Intelligent Asset Management since 2019. He is a passionate drummer, instructor and composer.
Fujii has over a decade of experience in developing and expanding the market for working humanoid robots at Kawada Robotics. He played a key role in the business development of the “NEXTAGE,” a next-generation robot designed to make collaborative robotics more accessible through affordable and innovative solutions. His expertise spans business development and the promotion of robotics in manufacturing.
As a seminar speaker, Fujii has shared his insights at various seminars, including ROBODEX in Japan, where he discussed the potential of humanoid robots in addressing labor shortages. He continues to collaborate with European partners to expand the market for collaborative humanoids in Europe.
Kai Leuze is a visionary founder and innovator, having established and influenced several tech companies in the fields of cameras, sensors, imaging, and electronics. His “out of the box” work has advanced these industries, showcasing his commitment to technological excellence and innovation. In recent years, Kai has focused on drone and robotic technology, further pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through a strategic partnership with Deep Robotics.
Yuki Long is the founder of Sino Swiss Hub AG and the initiator of the DeepTech House @Davos Association. With over years of experience in international technology transfer and consulting, Yuki has been at the forefront of bridging innovative technologies and global markets. Sino Swiss Hub AG serves as the sales partner of Unitree Robotics in Switzerland and is dedicated to introducing a wide range of DeepTech products to seamlessly integrate into Swiss local markets.
Joëlle is a hands-on expert with in-depth knowledge of the Swiss and Bernese innovation and industrial ecosystem, particularly those driving excellence in manufacturing and technological advancement. As part of the Bern Economic Development Agency, Joëlle helps foster innovation and create optimal conditions for companies looking to settle and grow in the canton of Bern.
Yulia Sandamirskaya is the Head of a Research Center “Cognitive Computing in Life Sciences” at ICLS/ZHAW. She leads the Neuromorphic Computing Group that develops brain-inspired sensing and AI technology for assistive robots in health-, elderly-, and home-care. She has a degree in Physics from the Belarussian State University and Dr.rer.nat. in Neural Computation from the Ruhr-University Bochum. Before joining ZHAW she led the Applications Research team of the Neuromorphic Computing Lab at Intel and the Neuromorphic Cognitive Robots group at Institute of Neuroinformatics at UZH/ETH Zurich. She got a Business Insider Future Maker award and was listed under 30 women in robotics you need to know about by Robohub.
Founder & CEO of Mindfire
Pascal Kaufmann is a neuroscientist-turned-entrepreneur. The renowned US business journal “Inc.” named Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking and Pascal Kaufmann some of the leading voices in a new understanding of intelligence.
After receiving his Master’s Degree in Neuroscience and Economics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich and Northwestern University in Evanston, IL (USA), Pascal has worked at the prestigious Artificial Intelligence Laboratory of the University of Zurich, Switzerland. His work has been focused on numerous projects that explore the interface between brains and machines, aiming to unravel the secrets of neural networks and brain activity.
In 2010, Kaufmann founded the company Starmind for self-learning knowledge networks together with the business IT specialist Marc Vontobel. In 2017, he launched the Mindfire group that aims to decipher the principles of intelligence and make this knowledge available to cutting-edge research to empower humans. Since June 2022, Mindfire has been bringing together thousands of talents at its AI lab in Davos called Lab42 to develop human-level AI for humankind. Pascal Kaufmann serves on numerous boards and institutions and is currently the president of the Tech category of the Swiss Digital Economy Award. In 2023, he co-founded the tech startup AlpineAI that offers AI solutions to companies allowing them to leverage the potential of AI to enhance their business.
Baptiste Busch holds a PhD in robotics and machine learning for human-robot interaction from Université de Bordeaux, France. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at LASA EPFL on human-robot interaction in industrial settings before co-founding AICA in 2019. With a solid technical background and hands-on experience in developing advanced software, he is devoted to creating solutions that bridge the gap between complex robotic tasks and seamless execution.
Oliver currently serves as Project Coordinator at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the Division of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence. His work includes projects leveraging AI and digital tools for development. Previous projects also established accelerator programs, learning and innovation hubs or factories, and mentorship programs all geared towards making technologies accessible and ensuring sustainable impact. Piloting state-of-the-art technologies for development projects has been a key component of his work since 2016. With a passion for technology, he provides his approaches and ideas to a variety of projects in developing countries.
Thanks to his experience, he navigates the complex environment of international affairs, coordinates projects among diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, enabling him to find the best solutions required for sustainable manufacturing practices.
Björn Jensen studied Electrical Engineering with a specialization in Automation and Image Processing. In 1998, he received a MSc degree from the Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany and in the following year a Master’s degree in Industrial Management from the same institution. He then joined the Autonomous Systems Lab at Ecole Polytéchnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, and participated in Robox@Expo.02 and Smarter-Elrob projects. In 2005, he visited the Arai-Ota lab at Tokyo University, Japan, before receiving his PhD in the area of human-robot interaction from EPFL. After his studies, he founded Singleton 3D, a start-up company developing 3D laser measurement technology. He taught robotics at the Bern University of Applied Sciences. Today he teaches medical robotics within the Biomedical Engineering Program of the University of Bern and is a lecturer in the Computer Engineering branch of Business Engineering at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Dr. Sébastien Dalibard is the Hardware Chief Technology Officer at Aldebaran, where he has spent the last 12 years driving technological advancement. Sébastien has graduated in Computer Science from ENS Paris, and holds a PhD in Robotics from the University of Toulouse, France, specializing in Motion Planning for Humanoid Robots. After having held academic research positions in LAAS-CNRS, Toulouse France and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Sébastien joined Aldebaran in 2012.
At Aldebaran, Sébastien has worked on the development of Pepper, two versions of Nao and the Plato mobile service robot. He has held various positions: motion control and planning engineer, head of embedded Robotics Software, head of System Architecture and for the last year Hardware CTO. In his current role, he is focused on the development of the seventh version of Nao, which will be put on the educational and healthcare markets in 2026.
Andre Heskamp possesses extensive expertise in advancing digital transformation in manufacturing, particularly through cutting-edge applications in humanoid technology. His efforts have significantly advanced Schaeffler’s commitment to leveraging automation for enhanced operational efficiency and manufacturing excellence.
Andre Heskamp has a robust background in Digitalization and Operations IT and has held various key roles at Schaeffler since 2017, including Vice President of IT Product Line in Germany and Head of Digitalization and Operations IT for the Asia Pacific region based in Vietnam. He plays a vital role in driving the development and implementation of innovative technologies for the company’s production.
Dr. Davide Zappetti is the Innovation Manager at Enchanted Tools, where he drives technological advancements, fosters strategic collaborations with academia and industry, and leads intellectual property (IP) creation. With a PhD in robotics and a background in mechanical engineering and materials science, he has worked at the intersection of AI, machine learning, and advanced mechatronics. Since joining Enchanted Tools at its inception, he has contributed to the development of innovative robotic systems, including humanoid robots, which he has been working on for the past few years. His expertise lies in bridging hardware and AI, ensuring seamless integration of technology to enhance robotic performance. While deeply rooted in research and development, he also ensures that these technologies make sense from a business perspective, aligning innovation with real-world applications and market needs.
SEUNGJOON YANG received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea, in 1990 and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1993 and 2000, respectively, all in electrical engineering. He worked at the Digital Media Research and Development Center at Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. from September 2000 to August 2008. He is affiliated with the Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence and the Department of Electrical Engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Ulsan, South Korea. He is the director of the Industry-University Convergence Campus at UNIST. His research interests include image processing, 3D surface geometry representation, compression, and understanding.
Arash Ajoudani is the director of the Human-Robot Interfaces and Interaction (HRI²) lab at IIT. He received the ERC proof-of-concept grant 2023 (Real-Move) and the ERC starting grant 2019 (Ergo-Lean). He coordinates the H2020 SOPHIA project, co-coordinates H2020 CONCERT, and is a principal investigator in several Horizon Europe and national projects. He won the IEEE RAS Early Career Award 2021, Amazon Research Award 2019, KUKA Innovation Award 2018, and multiple best paper awards. His PhD thesis was a finalist for the Georges Giralt PhD award 2015. He is the IIT-PI of the IIT Leonardo R4M and IIT-Intellimech JOiiNT labs. He authored Transferring Human Impedance Regulation Skills to Robots and numerous publications. He is an IEEE RAS AdCom member (2022-2024), IEEE-RAS YP Chair, and Senior Editor of IJRR. His research focuses on physical HRI, mobile manipulation, robust control, assistive robotics, and tele-robotics.
Alex Petrovic, born in Vienna, Austria, is a robotics and articial intelligence engineer with an academic background in mechatronics and robotics from Technikum Vienna University of Applied Sciences and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He followed his passion for AIdriven robotics through a double-degree master’s programme, which led him to Switzerland.
Currently, Petrovic works as a research associate at HSLU’s Applied AI Center, collaborating with researchers and engineers to develop advanced algorithms and intelligent software architectures. His knowledge of ROS2 enables him to improve communication, control and coordination between robots and their environment.
His work includes various projects using SLAM, GPS navigation and other technologies to improve the autonomous operation and spatial awareness of robotic systems. He actively works with humanoid, mobile and industrial robots, developing solutions to improve their efciency, adaptability and real-world applications.
Robert Katzschmann is an Assistant Professor of Robotics at ETH Zurich and the founder of the Soft Robotics Lab, where he develops new robotic morphologies for a future of life-like robots that seamlessly integrate with us. Robert is also the cofounder and scientific advisor of mimic robotics, which develops autonomous dexterous manipulation solutions. He holds a Diplom-Ingenieur from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), wrote his master thesis at Stanford University (2013), and earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL) in 2018.
Before joining ETH, Robert engineered robotic surgery and biopsy systems at Auris Surgical Robotics (now Johnson & Johnson), created new robotic manipulation technologies as an Applied Scientist at Amazon Robotics, and served as CTO at Dexai Robotics (now Sony AI), where he led the development of autonomous kitchen robots. His research spans soft robotics, biohybrid systems, musculoskeletal robotics, and dynamic control, with work published in top journals such as Science Robotics and Nature.
Robert’s contributions have been recognized internationally, including as a IEEE RAS Senior Member, Ellis Member, and a TED Fellow. His TED Talk from 2022 on robots inspired by animal movement has been viewed by millions. He serves as an Editor for the International Journal of Robotics Research (IJRR) and IEEE BioRob and holds leadership roles in major conferences such as Robotics Science and Systems (RSS), ICRA, IROS and RoboSoft. Additionally, he is an Editorial Board Member of Advanced Robotics Research and npj Robotics. His work has been featured in prominent media outlets, including The New York Times, National Geographic, and BBC News.
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