Swiss startups and scale-ups join the EU AI Champions Initiative

The EU AI Champions Initiative launched at the AI Action Summit in Paris, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to position Europe as a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The initiative will foster collaboration across technology, industry, and policy sectors, boosting AI adoption, talent, investments and innovation to drive Europe’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

For the first time, European leaders from across countries, industries, technology, and policy have come together to create a functional flywheel aimed at accelerating Europe's leadership in artificial intelligence. By framing an ambitious and positive vision for Europe, mobilizing talent and capital, and driving AI adoption, this unprecedented collaboration seeks to create self-reinforcing mechanisms that will foster the growth of new technology companies and strengthen the global leadership of Europe’s established industries. Together, they aim to drive economic growth and social prosperity across the continent.

The initiative emphasizes the need for a regulatory environment that supports AI innovation while ensuring ethical and secure use of AI technologies. By streamlining AI regulations, the initiative aims to create a more conducive environment for the development and deployment of AI solutions. One of the core goals is to transform diverse industries, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and finance, by leveraging AI to improve efficiency, create new products, and deliver innovative services.

With an investment of over €150 billion earmarked by 20 key international investors to create AI-related opportunities over the next five years, the EU AI Champions Initiative is set to propel Europe to the forefront of global AI leadership, offering significant growth prospects for the entire region. The key capital allocators include Balderton, Blackstone, CVC, DST Global, EQT, General Catalyst, Insight, KKR, Lightspeed, and Warburg Pincus.

Switzerland well represented
Four Swiss startups and scale up companies including Cradle, Ethon AI, GetYourGuide and On, are part of the initiative. They are joining major firms and startups from other European countries – these are: Adyen, Airbus, Airbus Defence & Space, Alan, Artemis Holding, ASML, Autone, Axa, Black Forest Labs, Bonnier Group, BNP Paribas, Celonis, CMA CGM, Dassault Systèmes, Dataiku, Deel, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Telekom, E.ON, EDF, ElevenLabs, Exor, Flix, Franke Group, Giesecke & Devrient, Heineken, Helsing, Henkel, Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, Infineon, Kering, L’Oréal Groupe, Langdock, Loft Orbital, Loh Gruppe, Lufthansa, Mercedes-Benz, Mistral AI, N26, Novo Nordisk, Orange Group, Owkin, Parloa, Pelico, Personio, Philips, Photoroom, Pigment, Porsche, Publicis, Ravensburger, Robco, SAAB AB, SAP, Schwarz, Shift Technology, Siemens AG, Siemens, Energy, Spotify, Supercell, Sword, Tom Tom, TotalEnergies, United Internet, Volkswagen Group, Wallenberg Investments, and ZF.

(Press release/RAN)
Image by DC Studio via FreePik