Entrepreneurs, managers and interested individuals met yesterday at the Switzerland Innovation Park East for the first innovation forum dedicated entirely to artificial intelligence. Under the motto “Artificial Intelligence – Beyond the Hype”, they discussed practical applications, possible limits and future developments in the field of AI.

“The progress made by generative AI in the last six months makes it a powerful co-pilot for the management level,” emphasized Prof. Dr. Siegfried Handschuh from the University of St.Gallen in his keynote speech. Corinna Rutschi from Bühler Ag Uzwil advocated integrating AI into operational processes as early as possible in order to further develop technology and employees together.

In interactive workshops, the participants developed practical solutions for the integration of AI in day-to-day work and risk management. At the same time, the focus was on ethical issues and the regulatory framework. The event concluded with a keynote speech by Stefan Meuser from STIHL Kettenwerk GmbH & Co KG, who used specific examples to show how AI is already being used successfully in production and industry.

The subsequent discussions made it clear that interest in AI runs through all sectors – from industry and trade to research. Due to the high demand, the innovation forum will be continued. The next event will take place on February 26, 2026, once again in cooperation with the Switzerland Innovation Park East and the St.Gallen-Appenzell Chamber of Industry and Commerce.