Patrick Meier

Patrick Meier, PhD, is an internationally recognized social impact founder and translational leader with 15+ years of international experience at the intersection of emerging tech and social innovation. Deeply committed to climate action, social justice, and systems change, Dr. Meier invented the concept of using crisis mapping in humanitarian emergencies and was publicly recognized for his pioneering work in humanitarian technology by President Clinton in 2010.

Dr. Meier serves as Entrepreneur in Residence at the Swiss Institute of Technology's Center for EssentialTech and co-leads the Climate Robotics Network, which leverages advanced robotics and artificial intelligence to fight climate change. He also advises and consults for multiple startups, investors and international organizations.

Previously, Dr. Meier served as Strategy Lead for Robotics at the Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL Robotics) and at Innovation Booster Robotics, an accelerator funded by the Swiss Agency for Innovation. Before this, he served as the Executive Director of WeRobotics, an international tech nonprofit he co-founded with labs in more than 40 countries. He also co-founded the Flying Labs Network, Digital Humanitarian Network, Humanitarian UAV Network, and CrisisMappers: The Humanitarian Technology Network.

Dr. Meier has consulted for multiple United Nations agencies, the World Bank, the International Federation of the Red Cross, the European Commission, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the European Space Agency, the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, and international companies.

He also holds multiple fellowships. He is a National Geographic Emerging Explorer and was a fellow at Climatebase, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, UBS Global Visionaries, UNICEF Innovations, and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has given over 200 talks and keynote speeches, including several TEDx talks. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, BBC, NBC, ABC, UK Guardian, Forbes, Times, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, NPR, Mashable, Wired, Slate, Nature, New Scientist, National Geographic and in dozens of other outlets.

Dr. Meier is also the author of the book "Digital Humanitarians" and co-author of over 80 articles, reports, peer-reviewed papers, and book chapters. He holds a Ph.D. from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, a Pre-Doc from Stanford University, an MA from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), and was an exchange student at UC Berkeley.