FROM CODE TO COMPANY: ENERGY TOOLS THAT POWER THE FUTURE

Join us at the ETH Zürich to explore how local entrepreneurs transform lines of code into energy tools that power the future. 

Together with 5 Swiss Start-ups, we’ll explore the gritty, inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking journey from academic research—open source or not—to viable commercial ventures.  The event covers a candid farewell from the scene to Dr. Jimeno Fonseca— innovator in the field and ETH Zürich alumnus. The event is both a reflection and a handover of more than a decade of work in energy planning tools. 

Whether you’re building the next big energy tool, developing open-source tech, or just want to be part of what’s next, this is for you.

Topics include:

• Spotting the right moment to launch

• Scaling research-based energy startups

• Knowing when to pivot—or walk away

What to expect:

• 🎤 Keynote:  What we built, what we learned? - Dr. Jimeno Fonseca
• 🧠 Panel: Where are we going?
      - Innovators from City Energy Analyst, Superurbana, Planeto Energy, Sympheny, UUen, Urbio, and Energy Science Center
• 🔮 Outlook: What’s next for digital energy innovation? - Dr. Jimeno Fonseca
• 🍷 Networking Dinner: For a more personal conversation with this ecosystem (subjected to a fee)

Among the confirmed attendees are:

Delegates from ABB, Hitachi Energy, Axpo Group, Losinger Marazzi SA, AFRY, Empa, Swissgrid AG, CADMEC AG, Carrier HVAC, Vito Research, E-CUBE Strategy Consultants, Kopitsis Bauphysik AG, Digitec Galaxus AG, ISD Foundation, EcoVision, Liebherr Group, and more!

👉 Register only if you can 100% make it. Seats are limited & we will love to give the chance to those who can.

Speakers include:
🔹Dr. Jimeno Fonseca | Co-founder of City Energy Analyst and Superurbana, Head of Digital Engineering at Axpo Grid.
🔹Dr. Christian Schaffner | Executive Director of Energy Science Center at ETH Zürich
🔹Dr. Stefano Cozza - CEO and Co-Founder of Planeto Energy
🔹Dr. Julien Marquant - CPTO and Co-Founder of Sympheny
🔹Dr. Zhonming Shi - CEO and Co-Founder of UUen
🔹Dr. Nils Schüler - CTO and Co-Founder of Urbio

Agenda:

17:30 - 17:40
Welcome & opening remarks
Dr. Christian Schaffner

17:40 - 18:20
What we built, what we Learned?
Dr. Jimeno Fonseca
This keynote shares lessons learned in developing and launching the open source energy tool the City Energy Analyst (CEA) - now used in over 75 countries - for over a decade, from making the first lines of code, to building a community around it, developing a system to last, founding Superurbana, and ultimately navigating the complex transitions that come with scaling, handing over, or shutting down while commemorating all people that made this journey possible. The talk sets the tone for the evening and gives a quick view about what it takes to bring an academic (Open Source) project to the market.

10 ' Break

18:30 - 19:10
Where are we going?
Dr. Jimeno Fonseca, Dr. Christian Schaffner, Dr. Stefano Cozza, Dr. Julien Marquant, Dr. Zhonming Shi, Dr. Nils Schüler
This panel discussion brings together co-founders and energy innovators to reflect on the lifecycle of energy planning tools — from hypothesis to company, and sometimes, to conclusion. Together, we will explore the critical decision points that shape not only the success of a product, but the impact of a mission. Key themes include When to start? Identifying the signs that your research or prototype has real-world potential. When to grow? Timing, signals, and strategies. When to end? Whether it is handing over, shutting down, or transforming. What does it mean to preserve a legacy in a fast-moving field?

19:10 - 19:30
What comes next for digital energy innovation?
Dr. Jimeno Fonseca
In this closing segment, we look ahead to the future of energy innovation in Switzerland. On the horizon: new frontiers in energy tools branching out from digital planning into digital construction and operations. For Dr. Fonseca, this marks both a farewell and a handover — a moment of closure after a decade of work on energy systems, and a celebration of what comes next for the field, and for him.

19:30 - 21:30
Networking Dinner
In a follow-up, we meet the entrepreneurs, innovators, and companies shaping the future of digital energy tools. 

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