Palexpo Locarno - FEVI

26.04.2027-29.04.2027
The Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), in collaboration with the HPC-AI Advisory Council, will host the 18th Annual HPC-AI Advisory Council Swiss Conference 2027 in Locarno, Switzerland, from 27–29 April 2027, preceded by a dedicated tutorial day on 26 April 2027.
HPC and AI at the Forefront of the 18th Swiss Conference (27 - 29 April 2027) and Tutorial day (26 April 2027)
Palexpo Locarno / FEVI
Via Peschiera 9
6600 Locarno, Switzerland
The 18th annual Swiss Conference brings together the global HPC, AI and emerging-technology community in Locarno, Switzerland. It is hosted by the HPC-AI Advisory Council and the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS). The conference is a forum for industry leaders, innovative startups and research pioneers to explore how next-generation compute, storage and networking technologies are reshaping science, industry and society.
This year's edition moves from exploration to production, focusing on how HPC and AI are being deployed at scale in ways that are open, efficient and trusted. Sessions will cover open and sovereign foundation models trained on national research infrastructure, and the challenges of serving AI inference securely and at scale. They will also address energy-efficient system design and operations, from power-aware scheduling to liquid cooling and heat reuse. Further sessions look at the integration of quantum computing into hybrid HPC workflows, and at AI-driven science, from domain foundation models to physics-informed digital twins. Across all tracks, the emphasis is on real-world experience: what works in production, what doesn't, and what comes next.
The conference opens with a dedicated tutorial day on 26 April, followed by three days of keynotes, invited talks, panels and interactive activities. Attendees will gain actionable insights across HPC, AI, quantum computing, digital twins, next-generation architectures, data and storage for AI, cloud-native and containerized workflows, and more. They will leave equipped for the next wave of breakthroughs and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Agenda
The agenda will be available shortly.
- Tutorial Day – 26 April 2027
The agenda and further details will be available soon.
- Registration
Take advantage of Early Bird registration, with discounted rates available until March 14, 2027 (CET).
Registration is required for all participants. The registration fee includes access to the sessions covered by the selected ticket, daily coffee breaks and lunches, and the conference dinner on 28 April 2027. Places at the conference dinner are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please confirm your attendance by selecting the relevant option on the registration form.
Early Bird Registration (through March 14, 2027)
Fee Event CHF 300 Tutorial + HPC-AI Advisory Council (26–29 April, 2027) CHF 200 HPC-AI Advisory Council only (27–29 April, 2027) CHF 100 Tutorial only (26 April, 2027) Regular Registration (from March 15, 2027)
Fee Event CHF 450 Tutorial + HPC-AI Advisory Council (26–29 April, 2027) CHF 300 HPC-AI Advisory Council only (27–29 April, 2027) CHF 150 Tutorial only (26 April, 2027) Students
Early: 50% discount
Regular: 50% discountIf you are a student, please contact hussein.harake@cscs.ch to receive the voucher code.
Cancellations
Registrations can be cancelled free of charge until March 26, 2027. To request a cancellation, please send an email to events@cscs.ch. After this date, registration fees are non-refundable.Registration Deadline: Thursday, April 15, 2027
- Venue
Palexpo Locarno / FEVI
Via Peschiera 9
6600 Locarno, SwitzerlandPalexpo Locarno (FEVI) is wheelchair accessible. If you have specific access needs, please contact events@cscs.ch in advance and we will be happy to help.
- Conference Dinner on Wednesday, April 28, 2027
The HPC-AI Advisory Council is delighted to announce that the evening event will be held at the Blu Restaurant & Lounge in Locarno on April 28, 2027.
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2027, at 19:00
Location: Blu Restaurant & Lounge
Via Respini 9
CH-6600 LocarnoThe conference dinner is traditionally a highlight of the social program of the HPC-AI Advisory Council Conferences. Set along the picturesque shores of Lake Maggiore, Blu Restaurant & Lounge offers an elegant atmosphere with magnificent views of the lake and surrounding mountains. We look forward to welcoming you for a delightful evening of fine dining, inspiring conversations and the opportunity to connect with colleagues in this beautiful lakeside setting.
Attendance at the conference dinner is included in the registration fee, but participation in the evening event must be confirmed at the time of registration. It is also possible to register an accompanying partner for an additional fee of CHF 100.
The full agenda of the meeting is available on the HPC-AI Advisory Council website.
- Accommodation
All attendees, including sponsors and presenters, are responsible for the coordination and the costs related to individual or group travel, accommodation, etc.
Participants are invited to book accommodation at their earliest convenience, as Locarno is a destination in high demand in the springtime.
Looking for accommodation? Participants may refer to the official Locarno-Ascona Tourism website.
Ticino Ticket
A personal guest card will be handed to overnight guests when they check in. The Ticino Ticket includes free use of public transport and discounts on the most popular tourist attractions.
- How to Get There
Conference Venue
Palexpo Locarno (FEVI)
Via Peschiera 9
6600 Locarno, SwitzerlandBy Train to Locarno
From Locarno railway station, you can easily reach the conference venue, Palexpo Locarno (FEVI), by bus or on foot.
By bus: Take bus line 1 towards Ascona or line 316 towards Brissago and get off at the "Palexpo" stop. The journey takes approximately 5 minutes, and the venue is located close to the bus stop.
On foot: Walk towards the city centre and Piazza Grande, then continue towards Palexpo Locarno (FEVI). Allow approximately 20–25 minutes for the walk.
By Air
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Zurich Airport is Switzerland's largest international airport and offers convenient train connections to Locarno. The journey takes approximately 2.5–3 hours, depending on the connection, with transfers usually in Zurich and/or Bellinzona. Train tickets and timetables are available on the SBB website.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Milan Malpensa Airport is approximately 1.5–2 hours from Locarno by car or 2–2.5 hours by train.
By train: Take the train from Malpensa Airport towards Switzerland, changing trains as required to reach Locarno. Tickets and timetables can be found on the SBB website or the Trenord website.
By taxi: Private taxi transfers to Locarno are available. Prices vary depending on the provider, so we recommend booking in advance.
We recommend checking the latest schedules and fares before travelling.
- More information
Please contact hussein.harake[at]cscs.ch for questions related to the program content, or events@cscs.ch for questions related to the event logistics.
We look forward to welcoming you to Locarno!