The Hub for Applied
Artificial Intelligence
in Switzerland
Positioning Zug and Switzerland as the leading engine for the practical implementation of AI.
The Mission
Bridging Theory & Practice
We are building a central ecosystem where Switzerland's brightest minds tackle AI challenges that matter.
Why Now?
AI transformation is accelerating exponentially. While global corporations are adapting, many local companies risk being left behind.
Our Vision
Ensure the economic sustainability of the region by bridging the gap between theory and practice in artificial intelligence.
The Hub
A Living Lab — a physical epicenter for open innovation where politics, academia, and the economy collide to solve real-world problems.
The Challenge
Pain Points for Swiss SMEs
Swiss businesses face mounting challenges in adopting AI. Without the right ecosystem, they risk falling behind.
- Existing models disrupted by AI — companies forced to innovate
- Transformation requires experience only few possess
- Unclear how to monetize new AI business opportunities
- High risk of losing competitiveness in a borderless market
- SMEs can't keep pace without an R&D team
- Little experience building AI solutions from own data
- Unclear which software and hardware stack to adopt
- Shortage of experienced staff at affordable prices
- Risk of losing control over sensitive company data
- Uncertainty over copyright and IP in AI-generated output
The Strategy
The “AAA” Framework
A structured three-pillar approach that takes organizations from AI curiosity to competitive advantage.
Awareness
Demystifying AI
Creating a shared knowledge base across the region, providing clarity for businesses and policymakers.
- Regular awareness sessions and keynotes
- Tangible AI demos and showcases
- Exclusive studies and market insights
- Industry-focused events and networking
- Curated podcast and newsletter
Ability
Empowering the Workforce
Up-skilling through hands-on practice — democratizing the ability to use AI and benefit from it.
- Strategic labs and hackathons
- University-backed training (HSLU, ETH)
- Practical workshops for skill transfer
- Expert-led masterclasses
- Talent and organizational assessments
Acceleration
From Hype to Productivity
Moving beyond curiosity into practical, implementation-ready solutions with measurable results.
- Funded PoCs with research partners
- Go-to-market coaching and scaling support
- Ecosystem matchmaking and partnerships
- Secure Swiss sandbox for testing
- Innovation grants for novel AI applications
Platforms
Core Products
Sovereign Swiss infrastructure and AI platforms designed for practical implementation.
Science GPT
Research as a Service
A specialized R&D platform trained on academic publications, books, and demonstrator documentation. Helps companies move from status quo to desired product with blueprint design and rapid prototyping.
- Trained on vast cross-domain knowledge (business, technology, legal)
- Blueprint generation and AI-assisted coding for fast prototyping
- Peer-to-peer anonymous knowledge exchange for network effects
ZugGPT
Secure Swiss-Hosted AI
A secure, Swiss-hosted platform providing AI services to local businesses. Full regulatory compliance with Swiss-industry specific solutions built on Apertus and state-of-the-art models.
- Full regulatory compliance and data sovereignty
- Swiss-industry specific solution development
- Built on Apertus and cutting-edge open models
Data & Compute Center
High-Performance Swiss Infrastructure
The high-performance backbone of Swiss innovation. Secure, localized infrastructure designed to power advanced research and data-intensive R&D, right here in Zug.
- GPU/TPU clusters for advanced research workloads
- Exclusive access for local projects and partners
- Breakthroughs stay powered and protected in Zug
Membership Model
Join the Ecosystem
Choose the membership that fits how you want to participate in Switzerland's applied AI ecosystem.
Founding Partner (max. 20)
Investment: CHF 50k one time, CHF 10k/year
Strategic steering: Advisory board seat, working group lead, roadmap influence
Preferred provider: First right of refusal on cluster flagship formats
Infrastructure: Priority access to AI Factory, sandboxes and the research agents
Top-tier visibility: “Powered by” on flagship studies, keynotes, hub entrance
Marketplace: Listing rights at lowest cluster margin
+ everything in "business member"
Ecosystem Member
Investment: CHF 200/year for individuals, CHF 500/year for Start-Ups, 1k/y for mid-sized companies, 2k/y for large companies
Shared R&D: Stop solving the same problem in isolation. Member rates on sandboxes and the cluster knowledge base.
Ecosystem Access: Direct access to the matchmaking pool, industry roundtables and working groups — alongside founding partners, researchers and service providers.
Skills: Member rates on hackathons, certifications, deep dives and Ability workshops.
Market intelligence first: Curated News, own reports, maturity benchmarks and Swiss-specific regulatory briefings ahead of publication.
Marketplace: Member rates on every service listed. And the right to list your own.
Visible in the ecosystem: Profile in the member directory, a slot to show what you built at Demo Days.
Service Provider
Investment: CHF 10k/year
Marketplace rights: List and sell services for all other ecosystem members
Visibility: Featured placement, logo on marketplace, curated speaking slots and further marketing possibilities
Ecosystem access: Matchmaking pool, rent-an-expert profile with rating
Infrastructure: Sandbox and AI Factory access at member rates
+ everything in "business member"
Founding Members
Academic Anchor Partner
Timeline & Call to Action
Be Part of What’s Next
Current Phase
Consolidating regional initiatives into a unified Living AI Cluster concept.
Next Milestone
Finalizing service portfolio and tiered membership framework for Q2 2026.
Association Launch
Official legal and operational installation of the Swiss Foundation — Q2/Q3 2026.
Become a Founding Member
We are currently onboarding visionary founding members to shape the ecosystem. Join us in positioning Zug and Switzerland as the global leader in practical AI implementation.
Get in Touch