The Digital Economy Award, presented on November 14 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, once again provided an impressive platform for digital innovations. A particular highlight of the evening was the success of the Eastern Swiss start-up Robonnement, which triumphed in the "Digital Excellence Commercial" category.
Robonnement, a spin-off from Altstätten, impressed with an innovative business model: instead of selling expensive robots, the start-up offers them through a flexible subscription model. This "industrial robots-as-a-service" solution enables small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, to utilize robotics technology without high investment barriers. Especially in labor-intensive sectors such as the painting industry, which is affected by labor shortages, Robonnement offers efficient and cost-effective support. This allows companies to optimize their processes while easing the workload on their employees.
Young talents with impressive ideas In addition to companies, young talents were also a focal point of the awards. Particularly exciting was the competition in the "NextGen Hero" category, where young innovators presented their projects live. While Selina Pfyffer and David Cleres ultimately emerged as winners, HSG doctoral candidate Yu Sun unfortunately did not make it to the podium. However, her impressive work in mixed reality and virtual reality, which explores new approaches to human-computer interaction, earned her a spot in the finals.
Diverse winners in other categories The Digital Economy Award 2024 also honored numerous other companies for their groundbreaking digital solutions. For instance, Cradle impressed in the "Next Global Hot Thing – in AI" category with an AI-based platform for optimizing proteins, while Switzerland Tourism was recognized for its digital innovation with the virtual assistant "hAIdi." Additionally, SUVA and UBS AG secured awards for their outstanding digitalization projects.
Those who wish to get a comprehensive overview of all finalists and winners can find them on the official website of the Digital Economy Award.
