Scientific research, and biomedical research in particular, generates a phenomenal volume of data, such as genomics, medical imaging, or pathogen surveillance. Since its founding in Geneva, the SIB has been connecting Swiss researchers to strengthen large-scale data sharing, visualisation and analysis. "Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping science, healthcare, the economy and society", says Christophe Dessimoz, Executive Director of the SIB. "But its value ultimately depends on the quality of the data on which it is built."

It is in this spirit that the SIB is organising ECCB 2026, from 31 August to 4 September at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), under the theme "Biodiversity, AI & Health: computational biology to address the challenges of our time". More than 1,000 international experts — researchers, clinicians, industry representatives and policy-makers — will gather to discuss data-driven advances across fields as varied as personalised medicine, cancer research, epidemic surveillance and environmental protection. The opening ceremony on 31 August will bring together federal and cantonal authorities, including Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, Anne Hiltpold, President of the Geneva State Council, and Audrey Leuba, Rector of the University of Geneva.

A public forum to explore the issues

On 31 August at the CICG, running alongside the scientific sessions, an afternoon open to all — no scientific background required — will invite the public to explore the promises and limitations of data science. Geneva-based scientists will speak on four concrete themes: precision oncology (Prof. Olivier Michielin, SIB, UNIGE & HUG), epidemic surveillance and food security, the environment and biodiversity (Prof. Pascal Peduzzi, UNIGE), and the ethics of data sharing (Prof. Samia Hurst-Majno, UNIGE).

"Health data touch on life and on the most personal aspects of our existence, and how we govern them reflects our collective responsibility", says Antoine Geissbühler, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. “The University has a crucial role to play in thinking critically about medical AI with a view to its responsible, ethical and equitable use. It places at the fore the complementarity with human intelligence — and therefore augmented intelligence — as well as the need for sovereign management of data and their processing, for the benefit of patients and society." He will take part in the forum's round table on data sovereignty, responsible AI and international cooperation, alongside Geneva State Councillor Delphine Bachmann and other institutional representatives.

Datarium: an open-air exhibition

From 3 August, the exhibition Datarium — Geneva at the heart of living data will take up residence in the Parc des Bastions with 30 bilingual panels (French and English), before moving to the Rotonde du Mont-Blanc in late August and then to the CICG during the conference. Organised around five themes — precision oncology, personalised health, epidemic surveillance, biodiversity and artificial intelligence — it presents the work of researchers from UNIGE, the SIB and the HUG, with visuals by Geneva-based photographer Nicolas Righetti. A multilingual digital version will be available online from early July. The exhibition will subsequently be offered to the Faculty of Medicine in the autumn, before travelling to other Swiss cities.

Geneva: a global crossroads for trusted data

#GenevaLovesData is part of a broader ambition: to affirm Switzerland's position — and Geneva's in particular — as a world centre for high-quality scientific data. "No single country can, on its own, generate, curate, govern and connect all the data, expertise and standards needed for trustworthy AI", the SIB notes. "Progress in this domain therefore depends on international cooperation." In a context where data governance represents a major strategic challenge, this initiative — supported by the federal government (SERI) and the Canton of Geneva — invites us all to reflect on the stakes involved in producing, using and securing data. Deployed across Geneva's public space — the Jet d'Eau lit in data colours, flags on the Pont du Mont-Blanc, posters in TPG transport and at the airport — data science is opening itself up to the city.