Greater Zurich Area – the Silicon Valley of Robotics

Swiss universities are at the forefront of international robotic research. International tech giants are aware of this, leading multinational corporations like Disney, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Meta to set up their R&D centers in Greater Zurich and battle for the best talent from the local universities. 

Did you know that Switzerland has been named the most innovative country for over 10 years in a row? One central characteristic of the Swiss R&D landscape boosting this achievement is the frequent collaboration between academia, start-ups, and big tech companies. One perfect example of a longstanding and fruitful collaboration is Disney Research Studios: Located in Zurich, it conducts research and development together with ETH Zurich.

Start-ups in the area of robotics research find the ideal foundation in the Greater Zurich Area: While other countries are still researching, Greater Zurich is already involved in action. 

Successful start-ups leading with pioneering innovation based in Greater Zurich include Ascento, ANYbotics, Aerotain, FemtoTools, Fixposition, Fotokite, Embotech, Gravis Robotics, QualySense, Scewo, Sevensense Robotics, Tethys, Wingtra, Verity, or Voliro.

Machine construction, microtechnology, and optics are long traditions and strengths of Switzerland. Robotics research is even a state affair: Since 2010, robotics has been a national research focal point of the Swiss National Research Fund and for years, while Switzerland and the Zurich economic region have held spots in international rankings with regard to the ability to recruit talent, innovative force, and competitiveness.

Swiss universities are at the forefront of international robotic research: Nowadays, ETH Zurich is educating as many students and doctoral candidates in robotics as the top colleges in the Bay Area of California based on estimates by Roland Siegwart, Director of the Autonomous Systems Lab (ASL) at ETH.