Swiss Data Space Forum 2026 Unlocking Data for AI
The 2026 Swiss Data Space Forum will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at the Unlimitrust Campus in Prilly (near Lausanne).
How can large volumes of potentially sensitive data be made available without compromising data protection and trust? This question is particularly pressing in the context of artificial intelligence.
The key lies in sharing the data in question only among selected stakeholders and for a specific purpose, such as the development of in-house AI models or automated processes. This can be achieved through a «data space» approach – a controlled environment where only authorized parties can interact with decentrally held data in a previously defined manner.
The Swiss Data Space Forum 2026 brings together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and innovators to explore practical ways of sharing data for AI applications. The event showcases real-world use cases from different sectors in Switzerland and across the world, paving the way for the AI Summit in Geneva 2027.
Through keynote addresses, breakout sessions and interactive workshops, participants will examine how standards and interoperability can lower barriers to data access for AI. In addition, the Forum will focus on data stewardship, data literacy and the operationalization of ethical and legal frameworks as critical success factors for making data both usable and accountable.
The Swiss Data Space Forum 2026 is proud to be an offical pre-event for the Geneva AI Summit.
Keynote Speakers
How can we establish trust and a bottom-up governance for digital public infrastructure?
Astha KapoorCo-Founder, Aapti Institute
How can government organizations boost cross-border and cross-sector data initiatives?
Bert Verdonck
How can we build digital commons as public infrastructure for the AI Era?
Alek TarkowskiBoard Member, Wikimedia Europe
-
![]()
Jurgi Camblong
Founder & Executive Chairman
SOPHiA GENETICS -
![]()
Martina Hirayama
State Secretary for Education,
Research and Innovation -
![]()
Adrian Lobsiger
Federal Data Protection
and Information Commissioner -
![]()
Katja Christ
Member of the National Council
GLP, Basel -
![]()
Philipp Naber
Technology Strategy & Transformation
Accenture -
![]()
Catherine Pugin
Digital Affairs Delegate
Canton of Vaud -
![Michael Gomez]()
Michael Gomez
Managing Director
Accenture -
![]()
Raphaël Conz
Economic Promotion & Innovation
Canton of Vaud -
![]()
Annika Pettersson
Chief Digital Officer
Swiss Olympic -
![]()
Diego Kuonen
Adjunct Professor
University of Geneva -
![]()
Thomas Schulthess
Professor of Computational Physics
CSCS -
![]()
Shani Evenstein Sigalov
AI-BRIDGES lead
University of London -
![]()
Ilario Valdelli
Innovation Programme Lead
Wikimedia CH -
![]()
Cédric Moullet
Deputy Director
Federal Office for Agriculture
Exclusive Pre-Event (October 27, 2026)
The Data Stewards Master Class with Stefaan Verhulst
Taking place on the afternoon before the Swiss Data Space Forum, the Data Stewards Master Class will equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to steward data effectively in a rapidly evolving and increasingly complex data ecosystem.
The program will revisit the fundamentals of data stewardship – including responsible access, governance, and stakeholder engagement – while preparing participants to anticipate and respond to emerging trends.
It will explore the implications of new metadata standards, emerging licensing regimes, privacy-enhancing technologies, the growing role of AI in data discovery, curation, and analysis, and the expanding use of non-traditional data sources such as privately held, AI-generated, and community-produced data.
Tuesday 27 October 2026, 15:00-18:00
Master class followed by networking apéro
«By connecting technical, institutional, and policy developments, the Master Class will help participants prepare for the governance challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities that will shape the future of data stewardship at a time of AI.»
Program Overview
9:30–10:45
Plenary Session I
Martina Hirayama, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
Switzerland's Vision for Data-Driven InnovationThomas Schulthess, Swiss National Supercomputing Centre
How AI Research Contributes to Digital SovereigntyJurgi Camblong, SOPHiA GENETICS
What the Private Organizations Expect from the Public SectorDiego Kuonen, University of Geneva
Why AI Needs Better Data, Not Just More Data
11:15–12:30
Plenary Session II
Katja Christ, National Council (Basel-Stadt/GL)
A View from ParliamentAlek Tarkowski / Ilario Valdelli / Shani Evenstein, Wikimedia CH
Open Knowledge in the Age of AI: Lessons from WikimediaAstha Kapoor, Aapti Institute (India)
What Switzerland Can Learn from India’s Digital Public InfrastructureAdrian Lobsiger, Swiss Federal Privacy and Information Commissioner
Trust, Privacy and Data Sovereignty in the AI EraBert Verdonck, Luxemburg National Data Service
Luxembourg’s Approach to Enable Re-Use of Data
12:30–13:30
Networking Lunch
13:30–14:45
Breakout Session I
Control Your Data
Use Data as a Strategic Asset
Data-Driven Innovation
Insights into Apertus
15:15–16:30
Breakout Session II
Trust in Data
AI-ready Data
Building Resilient Data Ecosystems
16:45–17:45
Martina Hirayama, Jurgi Camblong,Jan Kerschgens, Céliane Pochon
Plenary Panel: Unlocking Data for AICatherine Pugin, Déléguée au numérique at Etat de Vaud
Turning Today's Conversations into Tomorrow's Data Spaces
Final Plenary Session
17:45–18:45
Networking Apéro
The Swiss Data Space Forum is co-organized by the Swiss Data Alliance and digitalswitzerland.
Platin Partners
Gold Partner
Silver Partners
Event Partners
Location
The unlimitrust campus is a short walk from Prilly-Malley train station.
unlimitrust campus
route des Flumeaux 42
1008 Prilly
The Swiss Data Space Forum, organized by the Swiss Data Alliance and digitalswitzerland, aims to advance the understanding of dataspaces as a key element of a trustworthy digital infrastructure in Switzerland.
Founded in 2017, the Swiss Data Alliance is an independent think tank focusing on data policy and data re-use in Switzerland. It is financed through its members.