The Apéro Digital series is a platform for interdisciplinary discussions on digital technologies. It is coordinated by Ning Wang from the BRIDGE Lab of the University of Zurich, and Ricardo Chavarriaga, group leader on Responsible AI Innovation at CAI. Apéro Digital provides a space for exchange and co-creation on key digital technologies that drive impactful change. The first two editions of this series addressed major challenges in AI certification and cross-sector collaboration in the manufacturing industry. Apéro Digital is possible by the financial support of the DIZH initiative.

The first event, hosted in partnership with the Swiss Digital Initiative (SDI), focused on the critical issue of "Certifying Trust in AI Systems." Industry leaders, including CertX and Modulos AG, contributed insights on how to assess the trustworthiness, safety, and reliability of AI systems. A major highlight was the unveiling of the new version of the "Digital Trust Label (DTL)", a tool developed by SDI to enhance transparency and accountability in AI technologies. The event provided a curated space for AI developers, legal experts, and innovators to exchange knowledge and experiences. The discussions underscored the importance of certifying both organizations and their AI processes, emphasizing the actors that need to be involved in the certification journey.

 A full infographic from the event is available for download here (PDF, 231 KB).

 The second Apéro Digital event, organized in collaboration with the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) and Swissmem, addressed Innovation Strategies for Switzerland with a focus on boosting R&D through cross-sector collaboration. This gathering brought together experts from academia, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), startups, and business leaders. The release of a joint report by SATW and Swissmem sparked critical discussions on the need for better matchmaking tools to connect innovators, enhance international partnerships, and foster a more entrepreneurial mindset. The event also highlighted the need for strategic investments to fuel innovation across sectors, unlocking potential and strengthening Switzerland's manufacturing competitiveness.

 You can download the infographic of this event here (PDF, 394 KB)

 Apéro Digital infographics are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA). It can be shared, reused, and adapted for non-commercial uses. To view a copy of this license visit:  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/."

Content design by Ning Wang (University of Zurich), Ricardo Chavarriaga (Zurich University of Applied Sciences, ZHAW), and relevant event partners.

Graphic design by Hanna Lea Dykast.