14
Research Fellows
PhD candidates, postdocs and selected early-career researchers working primarily in entrepreneurship and related management fields.
They bring a research idea that has not yet been fully executed.
A flagship initiative of Talent Pitch Switzerland
Shaping the future of research in the age of AI.
Generative AI is transforming how research is produced, evaluated and translated into real-world impact. As producing polished outputs becomes easier, meaningful questions, human judgment, primary evidence and connection to practice become even more important.
The Research Futures Lab brings together emerging scholars, leading researchers and practitioners to explore — and actively shape — what excellent research should become.
2 June 2027
Volkshaus Zürich
Part of Talent Pitch Switzerland
Why now?
Research is changing. What should researchers become?
AI is rapidly changing the economics of knowledge production. Producing text, analyses and polished outputs is becoming faster and easier. But research has never been only about producing an output.
Great research begins with consequential questions, judgment, access to reality, distinctive evidence and the ability to understand what matters.
The Research Futures Lab asks what these changes mean for the next generation of researchers — and creates a place to test new answers in practice.
If outputs become easier to produce, what becomes more valuable?
The central question the Lab explores — not a settled answer.
AI makes more abundant
- Writing
- Summarising
- Structuring
- Standard analysis
- Information synthesis
- Polished presentation
Human capabilities that may become more valuable
- Judgment
- Problem formulation
- Primary evidence
- Context
- Field access
- Relationships
- Critical challenge
- Meaningful questions
The Lab in numbers
One day. A highly curated research community.
98
Structured feedback interactions
14 fellows × 7 Academic–Practice tables. Every idea challenged from seven angles.
14
Research Fellows
7
Senior Academic Mentors
7
Practice Mentors
7
Research Development Tables
1
Shared mission
Shape future-ready research.
The research journey
From an early idea to real-world research
The Lab is designed as a journey — not a traditional conference.
- 01
Arrive
Bring an early-stage research idea.
- 02
Question
Challenge assumptions through the Research Futures Roundtable.
- 03
Challenge
Pitch the idea to seven Academic–Practice mentor teams.
- 04
Redesign
Integrate feedback immediately between rounds.
- 05
Connect
Find potential access to people, organisations, data and real-world research settings.
- 06
Pitch
Present the refined research idea on stage.
- 07
Act
Compete for awards, research support and opportunities to make the study happen.
Research Futures Roundtable
What should research become in the age of AI?
This is not a traditional professor panel.
Senior researchers, young scholars and practitioners jointly discuss how AI is changing scientific work — and what the next generation of researchers should become excellent at.
- What should doctoral education change?
- What should journals reward?
- Where does human judgment matter most?
- Which parts of scientific work should remain deeply human?
1
What is AI making abundant in research?
2
What remains scarce — and valuable?
3
What should young scholars learn now?
4
How can primary data and connection to practice shape better research?
Seven Research Development Tables
Seven lenses. One research idea.
Each Research Fellow moves through seven mentor tables. Each table combines one Senior Academic Mentor + one Practice Mentor.
5min
Research pitch
5min
Focused feedback
10min
Immediate redesign
Who takes part
A deliberately small room with exceptional people.
The Lab is intentionally selective. It is not designed around reach or audience size — the intensity and quality of the interactions are the product.
7
Senior Academic Mentors
Leading scholars who challenge:
- Research questions
- Theory
- Research design
- Methodological rigour
- Scientific contribution
7
Practice Mentors
Entrepreneurs, executives, investors, accelerator leaders and other practitioners who challenge:
- Real-world relevance
- Feasibility
- Contextual assumptions
- Implementation
- Field access
Research Access Network
From advice to access.
Good feedback is valuable. Access can make research possible. Practice partners do more than comment on research — where appropriate, they can help create real pathways for the research to happen.
Interview Access
Executives, founders, employees, experts
Survey Access
Relevant organisational or entrepreneurial populations
Organisational Access
Companies or institutions as field settings
Startup & Accelerator Samples
Access to startup cohorts
Field Experiments
Real-world opportunities to test interventions
Data Access
Potential organisational or process data
Longitudinal Access
Repeated interaction with the same population
Expert Connections
Introductions to relevant stakeholders
The goal is not to make research “more commercial.”The goal is to connect rigorous research with the people, settings and evidence needed to study consequential questions.
Scientific independence remains non-negotiable.
Partners enable access. They do not control results.
What each Research Fellow leaves with
Not just inspiration. Tangible progress.
- Seven structured Academic–Practice feedback sessions
- A stronger early-stage research design
- A sharpened 5-minute research pitch
- Greater clarity about the research question and contribution
- Potential access to organisations, people, data or research settings
- A new network of senior scholars and peers
- Visibility within the Talent Pitch Switzerland ecosystem
- The opportunity to compete for Research Impact Awards
Proposed Awards
Research should not end with the pitch.
Selected ideas can receive support to move from promise to implementation. The final award structure and amounts may still evolve.
Research Impact Grand Award
The strongest overall combination of scientific promise, design, relevance and implementation potential.
Scientific Promise Award
For an especially promising scientific contribution.
Practice Impact Award
For the strongest pathway from research to meaningful real-world relevance.
Selected awards may be linked to implementation milestones rather than simply being paid out for the best presentation.
- Field access secured
- Study launched
- Primary data collection started
- Intervention implemented
- Research partnership activated
Best Reviewer Recognition
Great research also depends on great feedback.
Research Fellows may recognise the mentors who gave the most useful, actionable and thought-provoking feedback.
The day · 2 June 2027
A day designed for momentum.
Current working schedule. Timings may be refined.
- 09:00–10:00Set-up & room preparationInternal team only
- 10:00–10:15Arrival Coffee & Registration
- 10:15–10:30Opening ProvocationWhat makes research valuable in the age of AI?
- 10:30–11:15Research Futures Roundtable
- 11:15–11:30Coffee Break
- 11:30–11:40Research Development Circuit Briefing
- 11:40–12:50Research Development Circuit ISeven structured rounds
- 12:50–13:35Research Match Lunch
- 13:35–14:45Research Development Circuit IISeven structured rounds
- 14:45–15:00Break
- 15:00–15:25Final Redesign Sprint
- 15:25–16:40Final Stage Pitches
- 16:40–17:00Awards & Research Access Matches
- 17:00–17:45Networking Apéro
18:00 onwards
Talent Pitch Switzerland
Main Event · Volkshaus Zürich Main Hall
From research talent to entrepreneurial talent.
2027 Talent Pitch Switzerland Festival
Part of something bigger.
One festival. Two stages of future talent. Talent Pitch Switzerland brings together leading universities and their selected startup teams for the main pitching competition at Volkshaus Zürich.
During the day
Research talent develops ideas.
Research Futures Lab · 10:00–17:45
In the evening · 18:00
Entrepreneurial talent takes the main stage.
Lab participants transition into the main event.
Initiated by
The people behind the Lab
Dr. Noah Bellwald
Prof. Dr. Tatyana Tsukanova
Prof. Dr. Urs Fueglistaller
Partner with us
Help shape the future of research.
The Research Futures Lab is designed as a platform where research talent, academic expertise and real-world access come together.
Partners can support the Lab financially, intellectually or by opening access to real research environments.
01
Founding Partner
Supports the overall Lab and its long-term development.
- Possible contribution
- Financial support.
- Value
- Thought leadership, association with the future of research, visibility across the initiative and the Talent Pitch ecosystem.
02
Research Impact Partner
Supports Research Impact Awards and the implementation of promising research ideas.
- Possible contribution
- Research funding.
03
Research Access Partner
Provides access to companies, employees, entrepreneurs, startup communities, datasets, field settings and experiments.
- Possible contribution
- Access. Cash contribution optional.
04
Knowledge Partner
Supports the Lab through scientific, institutional or methodological expertise.
- Possible contribution
- Expertise, networks, dissemination, research infrastructure.
Founding partners will be announced here.
Become a Partner
Let’s start a conversation.
Every partnership begins with a personal exchange about what your organisation could open up for the next generation of research.
Get involved
Interested in joining the 2027 Research Futures Lab?
The first cohort will consist of approximately 14 selected Research Fellows — PhD candidates, postdocs and selected early-career scholars, primarily in entrepreneurship and related management research.
Bring an early-stage research idea that is still open enough to be challenged, redesigned and connected to real-world evidence.
Join as an Academic Mentor
Challenge the next generation of researchers at the point where your feedback can still change the study.
Express interestJoin as a Practice Mentor
Bring the perspective of the real world — and, where possible, help open the environments where meaningful evidence can be created.
Express interestLocation
Volkshaus Zürich
2 June 2027
Research Futures Lab
Daytime
Talent Pitch Switzerland
From 18:00 · Main hall
Volkshaus Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
Detailed arrival information will follow.