From May 19 to 23, 2025, the Swiss-Korean Innovation Week took place in Seoul, bringing together Korean and Swiss experts, including several members of The Sense, to explore the theme of “human augmentation”. Organized by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Republic of Korea, this annual event aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries in science, technology, research and innovation.
Exploring the dimensions of human augmentation
The 2025 edition highlighted the many dimensions of human augmentation, a rapidly expanding field at the intersection of neurosciences, biotechnology, AI and robotics. Through engaging workshops, interdisciplinary panels, activities and bilateral meetings, participants exchanged ideas on technologies designed to enhance human capabilities, such as neuroprosthetics, AI-driven enhancements and wearable technologies.
The Sense, represented by Micah Murray (Scientific and Academic Director) as well as Alba Motes (PhD) and Maëlan Menétrey (PhD), made valuable contributions to these discussions by offering sensory, cognitive and ethical perspectives aligned with its research, education and innovation focus.
Thought-provoking technologies
Micah Murray highlights the importance of Swiss-Korean Innovation Week : “This was an outstanding occasion to reinforce cooperation between Swiss and Korean academic, industrial, and governmental institutions. The Sense is proud to have contributed to the delegation and to shaping these interactions. We look forward to the next steps of instantiating research projects, student/staff exchanges, and innovation partnerships.”
A central question guided the discussions: How can technologies enhance human capabilities (physical, mental, or sensory) and what are the ethical, social and cultural implications of this transformation? The Swiss-Korean Innovation Week offered an in-depth exploration of these issues while highlighting the transformative potential of such innovations. This week was a follow-up to the visit of a Korean Delegation to Switzerland and in particular to The Sense offices in October 2024. Find out more in the following article.
Making innovation meaningful
By participating in this international event, the Sense team helped open new avenues for research and collaboration. Their presence also emphasized the importance of integrating scientific and human perspectives in order to develop meaningful technologies that are truly aligned with societal needs.
