Emerald Technology Ventures marks 25 years of Zurich fair

Emerald Technology Ventures will mark the 25th anniversary of the European Venture Fair in Zurich. The event is expected to bring together about 150 corporate, institutional and independent investors.

Held at the Swiss Re Centre for Global Dialogueue near Zurich, the gathering has run for a quarter-century under the stewardship of the Zurich-based venture capital firm, which founded the fair when Europe's venture market was still taking shape.

The anniversary edition will focus on sectors drawing sustained investor interest, including energy, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and supply chains. The programme also includes discussion of how venture capital firms are adapting to geopolitical change, the growing role of corporate investors, and the use of artificial intelligence in sourcing, due diligence and portfolio management.

The European Venture Fair has remained relatively small compared with larger industry conferences. Attendance is capped to encourage direct discussion among investors, corporate backers, family offices and innovation executives, rather than broad exhibition-style networking.

Agenda focus

Topics include the future of energy, fusion technology, physical AI and the role of artificial intelligence in venture capital. Featured speakers include energy strategist Michael Liebreich, James Lockyer of the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund and Markus Moor, Chief Investment Officer of Emerald Technology Ventures.

Sessions are set to include a keynote on energy trends from Liebreich, along with panels on fusion energy, physical AI and electricity grid resilience in a more renewable-heavy power system. A roundtable will also examine whether artificial intelligence is reshaping established venture capital practices.

The themes reflect broader pressures on investors in Europe and beyond as they weigh industrial competitiveness, energy security and the commercial prospects of emerging technologies. They also point to continued interest in technologies tied to the physical economy, rather than the consumer internet models that once dominated parts of the venture market.

Investor network

The fair describes itself as a forum created by investors for investors. Over the years, it has drawn venture capital firms, corporate venture units, institutional investors, family offices and executives seeking insight into technology trends and market direction.

Participating investors also gain access to emerging technology companies selected for discussion at the event. That structure makes the fair closer to a private investor meeting than a conventional public-facing conference.

The event is organised as a non-profit initiative and supports selected charitable causes. That model has helped distinguish it in a European venture landscape where many large industry gatherings have become increasingly commercial.

Europe's venture capital market has changed sharply since the fair began. In its early years, the region's investor base was still developing. Today, the market includes a broader mix of specialist funds, corporate investors and institutional capital, even as fundraising conditions have become more demanding.

Against that backdrop, the Zurich gathering's longevity stands out in a market where investor forums often appear briefly before fading. Its continued emphasis on a small group of decision-makers suggests there is still demand for closed-door discussion at a time of economic uncertainty and technological transition.

A social programme tied to the anniversary includes a sunset cruise on Lake Zurich followed by a gala dinner at a castle in Rapperswil. Organisers present it as part of the fair's long-standing effort to create informal settings for relationship-building among investors.

Michael Liebreich, Chief Executive Officer of Liebreich Associates, is among the best-known speakers due to appear. He described the event as unusual for the mix of financial and industrial participants it attracts.

"This is a fantastic event. It's one of my favorites of the year because you've got all the right people thinking about innovation and earlier-stage technologies. They're not just financiers; they're also from industry. That creates very collegial discussions where you can raise real concerns. I think that's so important," said Michael Liebreich, Chief Executive Officer of Liebreich Associates.