NextGen Hero: These young talents made it to the finals

On 14 November, it's that time again: 24 finalists in six categories will go head-to-head for a Digital Economy Award in Zurich's Hallenstadion. Among them are four promising young men and women in the 'NextGen Hero' category. They were pre-selected on the jury days after having presented their innovative projects and answered critical questions. 

Representing the whole of Switzerland

The NextGen Hero Award is once again being presented this year in collaboration with Switch. As jury president, I am particularly pleased that this year's finalists include young talents from all of Switzerland's language regions. They will have the unique opportunity to pitch their projects to the audience at the award ceremony on 14 November as part of the Digital Economy Award Night at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. An audience vote will decide which digital heroes between the ages of 20 and 28 have the greatest potential to play an outstanding role in shaping Switzerland's digital future. The candidates were nominated by Swiss universities.

Selina Pfyffer, ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences

Jury Statement

Selina has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities with her start-up SeasonCell, which aims to develop solutions for an emission-free future. SeasonCell integrates energy technology, environmental engineering, machine learning and robotics to create a highly efficient thermal energy storage system. Co-leading a team of five, she founded her company while still a student, raising funds and filing two patents. Her innovation promises to have a lasting positive impact on the energy transition in Switzerland.

Yu Sun, HSG University of St.Gallen

Jury Statement

Yu is a PhD student in computer science and specialises in human-computer interaction with a focus on mixed reality (MR) and virtual reality (VR). As a leading expert in the MR industry, she leads projects that revolutionise user interaction in digital and physical spaces. Her passion for enhancing user experiences through technology drives her work, including published articles on VR shopping, MR streaming and improving everyday MR experiences. Her extensive knowledge of the opportunities, but also the dangers, of living in digital reality could have a major impact on its use in the future.

Alessandro Plantera, USI Università della Svizzera italiana

Jury Statement

Alessandro, an interaction design student and lifelong technology enthusiast, shows his potential with the ATLARC project 'Generous Interfaces for Cultural Archives'. His work combines digital humanities and machine learning to improve access, analysis and preservation of architectural heritage. This initiative could revolutionise searches in large data sets and facilitate exploration. Will his charisma inspire others and drive the digital data transformation in Switzerland?

David Cleres, EPFL École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Jury Statement

David is the co-founder of GirlsCodeToo, a non-profit organisation dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. As founder and president, he aims to inspire young girls to take on leadership roles in the tech industry through early exposure and mentorship. Since July 2021, GirlsCodeToo has grown from a small volunteer group to a thriving organisation that has run 124 workshops with 1,450 participants. This year, the organisation aims to further expand its reach and influence. Now that's what we call a tangible contribution to closing the gender gap in technology!