Nov 11, 2025
Lizzy Herzer
When Innovation Meets Proven Precision
"AI will not replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will replace those who don't."
This thought came to mind as I listened to Dr. André Baumgart from the Association of Zurich Hospitals at the specialist symposium "Healthcare with Focus on AI for Hospitals and Care Facilities" in Zurich.
Three intensive days (November 3-5), organized by the German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, demonstrated:
Digitalization in hospitals is no longer a vision of the future – it's happening now.
German Innovation Meets Swiss Healthcare Excellence
The first day began with a warm welcome from Verena Stübner of the German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Rolf Bühler, Director Europe of Greater Zurich Area AG.
The Greater Zurich Area encompasses nine cantons of German- and Italian-speaking Switzerland. It is considered Europe's most stable technology hub.
In his presentation, Bühler explained that German healthcare startups are seen as ideal partners for the economic region. This was followed by a city tour through picturesque Zurich.
The cultural highlight of the first day: dinner at the historic Zunfthaus zur Zimmerleuten. The 850-year history provided the perfect contrast to cutting-edge technology.
Superintelligence in Healthcare: More Than Just Buzzwords
Dr. André Baumgart delivered comprehensive insights with his presentation "Superintelligence in Healthcare": Intelligent data utilization is already fundamentally changing patient care today. Nevertheless: Digitalization is primarily teamwork and not purely an IT issue.
Nine selected German companies presented their AI solutions in healthcare to a high-caliber Swiss audience.
Among them:
René Herzer from basebox
Joachim Neugebauer from Vitagroup health intelligence AG
Dr. Philipp Kurtz from Famedly GmbH
Alexander van der Mey from Healex GmbH
Menia Ettrich from Lindera GmbH
The Swiss AI Sandbox: A Model for Systematic Innovation
The AI Sandbox initiative of the Canton of Zurich, presented by Raphael von Thiessen, was a highlight.
The Innovation Sandbox for Artificial Intelligence offers a unique testing environment. Startups, SMEs, large enterprises, and research institutes can implement AI projects within clearly defined frameworks.
What makes the Swiss Sandbox special: Unlike many international approaches, submitted projects are not only reviewed but also practically implemented.
The scope is remarkable:
Autonomous systems
Smart parking
AI in medical documentation with speech recognition
Large Language Models
This systematic approach exemplifies how innovation can be promoted.
Raphael von Thiessen emphasized the special value of know-how transfer between participating organizations. All insights gained are shared publicly and provide valuable input for designing future legal frameworks.
Practical Insights: From Research to Clinic
The Tech Talks with Prof. Dr. Alexander Geissler from the University of St. Gallen and Dr. Michelle Heber from the B. Braun Group actively engaged the audience.
With Geissler, a lively discussion developed around a central dilemma:
While some demand that the federal government and cantons must establish clear guidelines for AI in healthcare, others advocate for the pragmatic approach of "just getting started."
The challenge lies in combining precision and perfection with the willingness to work with technologies that are not yet fully mature. This balancing act is not always easy to reconcile with the Swiss-German mindset.
Simple Questions, Clear Answers
Dr. Michelle Heber chose a refreshingly direct approach in her Tech Talk.
Instead of complicated theories, she posed simple but crucial questions: "How do you think AI can best be introduced in an organization? What are the first steps?"
The interactive format allowed each participant to come forward and present their thesis.
Various experts reached very similar conclusions. Jonas Stulz from Swiss HIS manufacturer Cistec AG and Lizzy Herzer from basebox agreed: Success lies in small teams and initial simple use cases.
A consensus that shows: Successful digitalization in hospitals depends less on perfect technology than on the right approach.
OR-X: Surgery of the Future
The visit to the University Hospital Balgrist on the second day was a highlight.
Dr. Sebastian Caprara guided us through the OR-X project – a simulation operating room that combines augmented reality, robotics, and AI.
The investment: 10-12 million Swiss francs. The message: Switzerland is serious about AI in healthcare.
He explained: "Modern surgical innovation should happen in the most realistic environment possible, before deployment on patients."
The SURGENT project demonstrated how biomechanical computer simulations are revolutionizing precision surgery.
ETH AI Center: Where Visions Become Reality
The visit to the ETH AI Center crowned the day.
Daniel Naeff, Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, presented in a breathtaking setting – with views over Zurich to the Alps – the Center's mission: "To pave the way for trustworthy, accessible, and inclusive AI systems for the benefit of society."
Three Pillars of Success
The ETH AI Center pursues three central pillars:
Research Excellence: Creating a central AI hub across all disciplines
People Focus: Promoting AI researchers and transformational leaders in a transdisciplinary environment
Impact Orientation: Addressing ethical, social, and political implications of AI
Naeff's approach goes beyond pure technology development. He involves the public in AI topics and supports AI startups as well as industry collaborations.
The cooperation between ETH and German healthcare startups opens new possibilities for cross-border innovation. Remarkable: In Zurich, the AI hubs are within walking distance.
Swisslog: Logistics Meets AI
The subsequent visit to Swisslog Healthcare AG rounded off the day.
The company develops, produces, and optimizes automated logistics solutions along the entire supply chain – powered by their modular software platform SynQ.
The demonstration of modern pneumatic tube systems and an intelligent medication cabinet showed practical examples of how AI in healthcare is already increasing efficiency in hospitals and care facilities today.
Key Insights
After three intensive days, these central insights crystallized:
Change Management beats Technology: The best AI solutions fail without a well-thought-out implementation strategy.
German-Swiss cooperations have enormous potential: Both markets benefit from complementary strengths.
Simulation before Implementation: Projects like OR-X show how risks can be minimized and success rates maximized.
Data Quality over Quantity: Intelligent data utilization beats big data without strategy.
Interdisciplinary teams are indispensable: Successful healthcare AI emerges only through dialogue between medicine, IT, and management.
Systematic promotion pays off: The Swiss Sandbox initiative shows how innovation can be systematically advanced.
The Way Forward
The symposium made clear: AI transformation in healthcare is not a question of "whether" but "how."
German innovative strength and Swiss precision can together set standards that extend far beyond the DACH region.
Many thanks for the warm hospitality and the invitation to Zurich to the team of the German-Swiss Chamber of Commerce.
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