SCAO 2027: The Second Swiss Colloquium on Applied Ontology

Switzerland is one of the world’s most innovative countries, boasting the highest number of registered patents per capita.¹ While pharmaceuticals dominate in patent activity, the food industry is a close second, reflecting the country’s strength in food technology; however, despite this innovation, developing food start-ups remains challenging, and digitalization is increasingly recognized as a key driver for advancing Swiss agriculture and food sectors.²³

Against this backdrop, SCAO 2027 focuses on the development and application of ontologies in the domains of food and food production. Food ontologies clarify the meanings of key terms, offering a shared interdisciplinary framework that supports research, innovation, and policy-making in areas such as food security, sustainability, and climate resilience. By structuring knowledge in this way, ontologies help bridge gaps between scientific research, industry practices, and societal needs.

We are honored to welcome two leading experts in food ontologies:

• Damion Dooley, Ontology Development Lead at the Centre for Infectious Disease Genomics and One Health, Simon Fraser University, and creator of the widely used FoodOn ontology.
• Andrea Borghini, philosopher at the University of Milan, specializing in the philosophy of food and the integration of philosophical insights into food ontology development.

According to the 2026 AI Index Report, published by Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), Switzerland ranks first globally in AI talent density, with 110.5 AI researchers and developers per 100,000 inhabitants.⁴⁵ This exceptional concentration of expertise motivates SCOR to explore the relationship between AI and ontologies within the SCAO series over the long term.

SCAO 2027 investigates the ontological foundations of AI safety, with a special focus on concepts and conceptualization. The rapid development of artificial intelligence is not only driving technological innovation but also reshaping the social, ethical, and political dimensions of our lives, particularly in Swiss society.⁶

Children effortlessly acquire everyday concepts — for example, understanding that a glass can hold liquid — and can combine concepts to form new ones, such as imagining a “lion man”. By contrast, this kind of flexible conceptual learning remains a major challenge in AI research. Moreover, our use of concepts profoundly shapes thought, communication, and society. Concepts evolve over time, adapting to changing cultural, technological, and social contexts.

These observations raise several critical ontological questions:

• What exactly are concepts, and how do we understand or create new ones?
• Are these abilities uniquely human, or can AI exhibit similar conceptual creativity?
• What are the social, political, and ethical roles of concepts and conceptualization?
• How can addressing these questions advance AI safety and responsible AI development?

To explore these questions, SCAO 2027 features two distinguished researchers, each delivering presentations and participating in a panel discussion with accepted presenters:

• Maria M. Hedblom, computer scientist at Jönköping AI Lab, Jönköping University, whose research focuses on conceptual abstraction (e.g., image schemas) and the ethical implications of AI.
• Matthieu Queloz, philosopher at the University of Bern, whose research includes core cognitive concepts (e.g., knowledge, understanding, systemization), concept formation in AI models, and prior work in conceptual ethics and AI ethics.

08:45–09:15: Reception
09:15–09:30: Introduction
09:30–10:30: Presentation Session (1)
(10:30–11:00: Short break)
11:00–12:00: Presentation Session (2)
(12:00–14:00: Lunch break)
14:00–14:50: Invited Presentation by Damion Dooley (Simon Fraser University)
(14:50–15:20: Short break)
15:20–16:20: Presentation Session (3)
(16:20–16:50: Short break)
16:50–17:40: Invited Presentation by Maria M. Hedblom (Jönköping University)

(19:30– : Dinner)

09:00–09:30: Reception
09.30–10:20: Invited Presentation by Andrea Borghini (University of Milan)
(10:20–10:50: Short break)
10:50–11:50: Presentation Session (4)
(11:50–14:00: Lunch break)
14:00–14:50: Invited Presentation by Matthieu Queloz (University of Bern)
(14:50–15:20: Short break)
15:20–16:20: Panel Discussion on AI, Concepts, and Conceptualization
(16:20–16:50: Short break)
16:50–17:30: SCOR General Meeting – Winter 2026-2027 Edition
17:30: Closing

(19:30-: Dinner – exclusively for organizers, institute members, and keynote speakers)

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Neuchâtel is located at Espace Tilo-Frey 1, 2000 Neuchâtel

• For the University of Neuchâtel (UniNE): https://www.unine.ch/
• For the city Neuchâtel: https://www.neuchatelville.ch/
• For Neuchâtel Tourism: https://www.j3l.ch/fr/Z10488/neuchatel-tourisme

• 1.5 hours from Geneva Airport to Neuchâtel (by train)
• 2 hours from Zurich Airport to Neuchâtel (by train)
• 4 hours from Paris to Neuchâtel (by TGV)

There are several hotels (including affordable ones) within walking distance of the colloquium venue. For example:

• Hôtel des Arts (https://hoteldesarts.ch/) — A 10-minute walk from the venue.
• Hôtel Alpes et Lac (https://alpesetlac.ch/) — A 15-minute walk from the venue, a one-minute walk from the station.

No, SCAO 2027 is primarily an on-site event. The only exception is the SCOR General Meeting — which, as before, will be held in a hybrid format.

Participation in SCAO 2027 is free of charge. However, registration is mandatory for participation. See Participation & Registration above for details.

Yes. SCAO 2027 invites proposals for the “Ontology of Food” Track and the “AI, Concepts, and Conceptualization” Track. Funding opportunities will be available for accepted presenters. Please consult the Call for Proposals (CfP) webpage for submission guidelines and further details. Only proposals that fall within the scope of these tracks will be considered.