Finalists 2026
ZKB Pionierpreis Technopark 2026
Listing in alphabetical order
CCRAFT SA (Neuchâtel)
CCRAFT addresses a growing bottleneck in the data infrastructure required for the AI era. High-performance data centres increasingly rely on optical communication, yet scalable production of energy-efficient photonic chips remains limited.
As an independent foundry specialising in Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) technology, CCRAFT manufactures high-performance photonic chips in Switzerland that convert electrical into optical signals with exceptional efficiency. The technology enables faster and more energy-efficient data transmission, helping build the next generation of sustainable AI infrastructure.
GlycoEra AG (Zurich)
GlycoEra is developing a new therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases, where existing treatments often lack precision and produce limited clinical benefits.
The startup’s in vivo glycoengineering platform enables the development of novel biologics that bind disease-causing proteins through a natural mechanism of the liver. These proteins are then selectively degraded, offering a targeted and potentially more effective treatment strategy in immunology.
roboa AG (Zurich)
roboa tackles one of the most complex challenges in industrial inspection and rescue operations: accessing extremely confined or hazardous environments.
Its highly flexible modular snake robots can navigate narrow pipes, closed tanks or collapsed structures that remain inaccessible to humans or conventional robotic systems. The technology enables inspection, maintenance and emergency response in environments previously considered unreachable.
RTDT Laboratories AG (Zurich)
Wind turbines often operate below their potential because the aerodynamic behaviour of rotor blades cannot be measured precisely during operation.
With Aerosense, RTDT has developed an innovative sensor patch that analyses rotor aerodynamics in real time. The system enables operators to optimise turbine control settings for maximum site-specific energy output, improving both efficiency and reliability in wind energy production.
Unbound Potential AG (Zurich)
The transition to renewable energy requires scalable and affordable energy storage solutions. Current technologies remain expensive and difficult to scale locally.
Unbound Potential has developed a membrane-free flow battery designed to deliver cost-effective and rapidly scalable energy storage. The technology enables flexible, locally producible storage solutions that support a resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.
