The Swiss bank has teamed up with AI academic expertise to advance client solutions, including matchmaking clients to private market investments.

Recognising AI’s growing importance to financial services, VP Bank  has struck a partnership with the Center for Artificial Intelligence at Swiss university ETH Zurich in a bid to bolster its ambition to become an international open wealth service pioneer, the group said.

The hub was established inside ETH Zurich this time last year to advance AI and machine learning capabilities. The government-funded university is well known for its technology and research depth, and says a premium on trust is critical to developing the science.

The venture will target VP's relatively new client solutions division and use data-driven artificial intelligence to respond more rapidly to clients’ changing needs and arrive quickly at solutions, the Swiss lender said. Efforts will also be channelled into redefining access to private market investments through "intelligent matchmaking."

“Essentially, it's about solving problems with the help of data,” Felix Brill, VP Bank’s chief investment officer said. “For example, which stock is the best fit for a specific portfolio? How can we ensure that clients get the information that’s really important to them? And, that it’s delivered at the right time?” he added.  

Asked about the funding model behind the partnership, the bank said it could not comment. Rather, it emphasized that the move is part of its "strategy 2026" commitment to transition into a global open wealth provider.

Asked about co-developing new client products or IP with the university or founding a start-up out of the venture, VP said it had no plans.

AI is making its mark across research in engineering, natural sciences, robotics, health, climate, energy, and mobility to name a few big thematic investment areas, and the university has spun a number of startups out of its research in the field as are many other top-flight centres. It is another front where a battle for talent is being fought and partnerships between industry and faculties are being struck.

Besides access to AI research and applications, "the partnership also offers the opportunity to develop each other’s talents and to organise topic-specific research and events,” VP's head of client solutions, Thomas von Hohenhau, said.

The Vaduz-based bank, with offices in Zurich, currently manages around SFr53 billion (£41.8 billion) for clients.