TheRobotCityAward
A live recognition platform for robotics and physical AI in the real world.
The Robot City Award recognizes selected systems operating live across Davos during Davos Tech Summit. Evaluated in the field rather than on slides, it highlights real-world deployment, societal relevance, and public resonance.
TANGIBLE INNOVATION
Supported by an innovation context with Innosuisse Booster
Why it stands out
Not a paper award. A live performance.
This is not an award for what robots will do.
It is an award for what robots are doing — here, now, in the streets of Davos.
Selected Robot City participants are considered through live observation during the summit. The recognitions are announced as part of the Gala Dinner at Davos Tech Summit.
Categories
Three recognitions. Two jury. One audience.
The Robot City Award combines expert jury recognition with one audience-driven award.
01
Most Impactful Real-World Deployment
Audience recognition shaped through participant response during the summit.
02
Robot for Society
Jury recognition for a system with strong societal relevance and public benefit.
03
People's Robot
A public-facing recognition shaped through audience response during the summit.
Evaluation
Five dimensions. Observed live.
The jury does not read applications. They walk through Robot City and score what they see.
01
Real-world impact
How clearly does this system demonstrate real utility — right now, in this environment?
02
Technical maturity
How reliably and autonomously is it operating, without human intervention?
03
Societal relevance
Does it address a meaningful societal challenge — and is it deployed responsibly among the public?
04
Innovation
How genuinely novel is the approach, use case, or human-robot interaction?
05
Deployment readiness
How ready is this for the real world beyond Davos — could it scale or replicate in other cities or sectors?
Jury
A jury built for real-world robotics.
The Robot City Award is supported by an independent jury bringing together perspectives from robotics, industrial technology, governance, policy, entrepreneurship, media, and venture capital.
Serial Entrepreneur and Founding Chairman; Former CEO, ABB Switzerland, France, Italy
ANYbotics / Gravis Robotics
Industry
Hanspeter Fässler is an entrepreneur, board leader, and robotics supporter with more than 25 years of top executive industrial experience. As Founding Chairman of ANYbotics and Gravis Robotics, and former ABB country CEO, he brings deep expertise in automation, robotics, technology strategy, and scaling innovation from engineering into industry.
Andie Zhang leads at the intersection of robotics, AI, business, and people. At ABB Robotics, she helps shape strategy across collaborative robots, safety, user experience, and the robotics ecosystem. With deep international experience across robotics, AI, innovation, and product leadership, she focuses on bringing intelligent automation from concept into real-world impact.
Jan Kerschgens works at the intersection of AI, robotics, and biotechnology, helping translate DeepTech into real-world impact through innovation and ecosystem collaboration. With 20+ years across research, industry, and innovation ecosystems, he brings expertise in AI governance, digital trust, and responsible innovation.
Professor of Industrial AI; Innovation Expert and Robotics Research Leader
ZHAW
Academia
Alisa Rupenyan-Vasileva is Professor of Industrial AI at ZHAW and a research leader working at the intersection of robotics, manufacturing systems, machine learning, and control. She is deeply involved in the Swiss innovation ecosystem, including as an innovation expert for Innosuisse, with a focus on translating advanced AI and automation into real-world industrial impact.
Managing Partner, Swisscom Ventures; Board Member in Physical AI Companies
Swisscom Ventures
Investor / Venture
Alexander Schläpfer is Managing Partner at Swisscom Ventures and a board member across multiple physical AI companies. With a background spanning venture investing, industrial strategy, and robotics entrepreneurship, he brings a strong perspective on scaling frontier technologies into globally relevant businesses.
Managing Partner, Reghorizon; Head of AI Policy Summit, ETH Zurich
Reghorizon
Policy / Governance
Ayisha Piotti is Managing Partner at Reghorizon and Head of AI Policy Summit at ETH Zurich, where she works at the forefront of AI policy, governance, and international technology dialogue. With 20+ years across the United Nations, multinational leadership, and government affairs, she brings deep expertise in ethical, inclusive, and innovation-driven AI governance.
Daniel Naeff is Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the ETH AI Center, where he helps translate frontier AI research into industry and society. With a background in mechanical and industrial engineering from ETH and MIT, he brings deep experience in early-stage ventures, AI strategy, and the application of emerging technologies including physical AI and robotics.
Ilir Aliu works at the intersection of robotics, industrial technology, and ecosystem visibility. With a background spanning Siemens, robotics AI startups, and early-stage venture support, he helps translate advanced technologies into stronger narrative reach, clearer market presence, and real-world commercial momentum.
How it works
Simple, selective, and embedded in the summit.
No slide decks. No paper submissions. The award is tied to live participation in Robot City.
Robot City participants are eligible for consideration
Eligible systems are observed live during Davos Tech Summit.
The jury reviews standout deployments in the field.
Selected recognitions are announced during the Gala Dinner.
Eligible: all systems physically deployed at Robot City Davos.
