Digital Sovereignty from Switzerland: Opening of the AI Innovation Center in Allschwil
With today’s opening of the AI Innovation Center at the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, Phoenix Technologies, together with IBM Research, Red Hat, and other partners, is making a strong statement for a sovereign, secure, and responsible AI future in Europe. More than 200 representatives from business, politics, research, and the media attended the opening.
A New Era of Sovereign Cloud and AI in Switzerland
In the heart of Europe’s leading life sciences cluster, a new ecosystem for digital innovation is emerging – with a clear stance: digital self-determination is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for sustainable competitiveness.
The AI Innovation Center offers companies state-of-the-art infrastructure for the secure and sovereign operation of AI applications – directly from Switzerland, free from geopolitical dependencies, and at the highest technological level.
At the same time, the Center is more than just technology: it brings together top talent, responsible ethics, entrepreneurial spirit, and a strong commitment to trust and collaboration. Here, companies receive not only computing power, but a place where innovation can deliberately emerge and grow – securely, transparently, and future-ready.
“What is being created here doesn’t belong to a single provider or a state – it belongs to the companies themselves. The AI Innovation Center is like a source: ideas and innovations flow to where they are needed – to customers, to new markets, to real-world impact.”
Insightful Keynote and Hands-on Breakout Sessions
In his keynote, Abdel Labbi, IBM Department Head, Data & AI Platforms, painted a compelling picture of the opportunities that arise from an independent European innovation and technology culture – especially at the intersection of high-security infrastructure, trustworthy AI, and entrepreneurial courage
The various breakout sessions provided a refreshing, practical, and inspiring look into the future: from self-developed AI agents, to open source solutions, to making your own organization AI-ready, partners such as IBM Research, ITNB, Red Hat, and ICT Scouts presented exciting solutions for everyone.
f.l.t.r. Patrick Geiser, Abdel Labbi, Angel Mencias Nunez, Thomas Taroni, Désirée Lehmann, Talia Gershon, Codrin Bucur, Nicolai Brignoli