The Zurich AI Lab will collaborate with the Institute of Management & Strategy at the University of St. Gallen and ETH Zurich’s Agentic Systems Lab in a joint initiative based in St. Gallen, Zurich, and Singapore. The lab will harness some of Europe’s brightest minds, bringing together academic researchers and industry professionals to explore the transformative potential of AI in insurance.

A multidisciplinary team of PhD and master’s students will lead the research, guided by senior leaders from Zurich and professors from the University of St. Gallen and ETH Zurich. The lab will ensure academic freedom for both universities while supporting Zurich’s drive to innovate and adopt AI-powered solutions. It will also publish academic papers exploring the impact of AI on insurance, strategy and business models, using data and insights from its research.

Mario Greco, Group Chief Executive Officer of Zurich Insurance Group, said that AI has proven its significant value by helping the company serve customers better, reduce response times and provide more accurate risk information. He described the Zurich AI Lab as a “moonshot factory” that combines business expertise, technology, and research to revolutionise Zurich’s business model and pioneer the next generation of insurance solutions.

Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger of the University of St. Gallen stated that AI will radically transform the business model of the insurance industry. She expressed excitement about collaborating with Zurich to drive transformation, advance research, and contribute to society through impactful innovation and partnerships.

Prof. Dr. Elgar Fleisch of ETH Zurich highlighted that the latest developments in Agentic AI challenge traditional approaches to problem-solving and innovation. He noted that ETH Zurich students are leading this new wave of AI research, and the Zurich AI Lab creates a bridge between academic talent and business application to build the future of AI-driven insurance solutions.