Signals, in order.

More than 12,000 students have returned to classes at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, where artificial intelligence has become a fixture in university studies. A survey of student representatives shows that the vast majority use AI while recognizing its limitations, and teachers are exploring ways to incorporate it into courses. Learning experts emphasize the need for students to critically assess whether AI aids learning or does it for them.

Source: EPFL News

Researchers at EPFL identified four rubber-related chemicals in Swiss raw milk, with at least one compound present in seven of 17 samples. The study also found 14 such chemicals in dairy equipment components, indicating that food-contact materials may be a source of contamination. The findings, published in Food Chemistry X, highlight the need for further research into contamination pathways and potential health risks.

Source: EPFL News

AI models are increasingly solving long‑standing mathematical problems, exemplified by an OpenAI proof related to the Navier–Stokes equations, a Millennium Prize Problem. Fields Medalist Alessio Figalli and 24 other leading mathematicians warn that while AI can accelerate results, it does not replace the human processes of questioning, failure, and creative insight, and that the flood of AI‑generated publications may dilute genuine progress. They also highlight risks in education, where students may submit AI‑generated solutions without understanding the underlying reasoning, urging a shift t…

Source: ETH Zurich News

The Swiss Confederation, Canton of Geneva, and City of Geneva have implemented targeted investments since 2025 to modernize international organizations’ digital infrastructure and improve resource use, resulting in no international organization leaving Switzerland and the addition of two new entities. The number of states represented in Geneva rose to 185, while the decline in international sector employment remains contained at 9.1%. A joint steering committee has been established to further coordinate efforts and address challenges such as digital infrastructure modernization.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

The Swiss Federal Audit Office examined the Transport ’45 project, launched by the Federal Council in early 2025 to prioritize transport infrastructure developments up to 2045. The audit found major weaknesses in establishing a logical order of priority, especially for new developments, and called for the project to be halted until key issues were resolved, a request that was ignored.

Source: Swiss Federal Government

On 19 September 2026, Federal Councillor Karin Keller‑Sutter will attend the informal meeting of the EU's Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Ireland, invited by the Irish ECOFIN presidency. The meeting will focus on economic developments, financial stability, and the risks and opportunities associated with technological change and geopolitical developments, and will include bilateral talks with Swiss counterparts. No decisions are taken during these semi‑annual informal meetings, which serve as a forum for open exchange of views between finance ministers and central bank gover…

Source: Swiss Federal Government

Women accounted for only 14.1% of founders of Swiss startups that raised at least one financing round in 2024, and female CEOs closed 10.5% of all funding rounds in 2025, while Swiss venture capital investment reached CHF 2.95 billion. The FE+MALE Think Tank report argues that systematic changes in how investors, accelerators and funding institutions evaluate, connect with and allocate capital can narrow this gap, citing case studies where process redesign increased female founder participation by up to 30% and doubled the proportion of female-led companies progressing to due diligence. Only …

Source: Startupticker

Swiss deep‑tech startup SurfAce Cleantech has closed a CHF 250,000 pre‑seed financing round, backed by Swiss business angels and Stiftung HSG START Accelerator. The funding will support industrial development, expand the team from three to five, and focus on optimizing printing, refining mechanical reinforcement, conducting industrial‑scale trials, and advancing compostability certification with a target market readiness in Q1 2027.

Source: Startupticker

Assaia, a Swiss leader in artificial intelligence and computer vision for airport operations, received an investment from United Airlines Ventures (UAV). The funding will support the development of StandManager, a new stand and gate management product that integrates operational data, business rules, and real‑time conditions to aid airlines and airports in decision‑making. The investment reflects confidence in Assaia’s approach to addressing complex airport operations and its potential to serve the broader aviation industry.

Source: Startupticker

The I 3 LUNG study enrolled 2,396 patients in a real‑world, multimodal AI trial, integrating clinical and blood data, CT images, digital pathology, and genomics into machine‑learning early fusion (MLEF) and deep‑learning intermediate fusion (DLIF) models. Machine‑learning CB‑only models achieved AUCs up to 0.77 in the test set, outperforming traditional markers such as PD‑L1, ECOG PS, NLR, LDH, and LIPI, while external validation showed a performance drop (AUC 0.55–0.72). A clinical usability study demonstrated that both expert and non‑expert physicians improved their predictions when using t…

Source: OpenAlex