From ETH Zurich to São Paulo: Leading Innovation Ecosystems – Benjamin Bollmann

ETH alumnus Benjamin Bollmann, CEO of Swissnex Brazil, discusses his diverse path from ETH Zurich to his leadership role at Swissnex, connecting science, innovation, and education. With a background in neuroscience and technology from ETH Zurich and MIT, Benjamin reflects on the challenges and opportunities of building global partnerships. Comparing innovation ecosystems from Boston’s deep tech to Silicon Valley’s digital innovation and Zurich’s research-driven approaches, he highlights the distinct strengths of each region. Now based in São Paulo, he shares his experiences navigating the unique innovation environment of Brazil, particularly through Swissnex’s initiatives to support Swiss startups and foster global collaborations in science and technology. This episode provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of international innovation and collaboration.

Chapters:

(00:28) Settling into Sao Paulo

(02:48) Benjamin's Journey: From Skateboarding to Science

(05:39) Academic Pursuits and Neuroscience

(08:06) The Boston Experience and MIT

(11:29) Creating Neural Architectures

(13:10) Swissnex: A Global Network

(15:51) Reflections on ETH and Interdisciplinary Learning

(19:46) Conclusion and Upcoming Topics

books mentioned in the episode:

• Facing Gaia – Eight Lectures on the New Climatic Regime (Bruno Latour)
• Lina Bo Bardi 100 – Brazil's Alternative Path to Modernism
• Amazonia by Marcio Souza