By Luca Mondada, Junior Project Manager - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The #SwissTech Pavilion comprising 22 leading Swiss startups had a dynamic and intense three days of pitching, networking and showcasing their cutting-edge innovations today at CES Asia - the biggest tech expo in Asia! With the largest ever country pavilion to date and featuring the CES ASIA awardees in 6 out of 20 categories, the 2019 edition of the Swiss pavilion at CES ASIA left no doubt as to Switzerland’s Number One position in Innovation. The feedback from all stakeholders was extremely positive, adding value for both startups and partners.
“The Swiss pavilion is the largest country pavilion, and it’s recording setting with 6 awards right away! These awards are very rare, and for one country to get six of them is a very big deal.” Gary Shapiro, CEO of CES.
The #SWISSTECH campaign landed for the first time in Asia in a resounding success to a deeply impressed audience with 22 startups from the very best of Swiss deep tech in fields ranging from AI, IoT, AR, Blockchain, Lifestyle, Robotics & Drones and HealthTech.
“With 3 potential clients we are already in discussion about specific projects. So that is a huge success for us. If those key clients will engage with us we will set up an office in China soon.” Jens Henker, CEO of CertX.
The Swiss pavilion was opened jointly by the Swiss Ambassador H.E. Regazzoni and the CEO of CES Gary Shapiro.
Switzerland was the spotlight at several occasions during the show. The ambition of #SWISSTECH was made clear from the start by the welcome addresses from Ambassador H.E. Regazzoni and from CEO of CES Gary Shapiro during the official opening ceremony. Our CES Asia #SWISSTECH team comprising 22 top-level Swiss also had the opportunity to pitch and network with 192 registered industry leaders and potential partners in a personal setting. During their 60 second pitches, the startups had the opportunity to showcase their products.
“CES was a great opportunity for us to confront our app to the Chinese market […]. I have now several meetings scheduled for the next days to come. I may even push back my flight to Switzerland!” Alexis Steinmann, CEO of Tomplay.
In addition to the access to over 1’400 members of the media and 40’000 industry attendees during the exhibition, the startups could meet over 150 of some of China’s most influential investors during the CES ASIA Swiss pavilion pitching night. The startups competed hard for the prize of the night that was awarded together by a panel of judges and the audience.
After three intense days of exhibition, over 100 onstage pitches and countless one-on-one meetings with potential partners, the startups are now either on their way back home, or busy keeping the streak in China with potential partners and investors – in any case, swissnex China wants to thank them for their brilliant showcase of Swiss innovation, and hopes to welcome them soon again in Shanghai.
Switzerland shone with a record number of CES ASIA Innovation Awards in 6 of the 20 categories.
