The Sword Startup Challenge offers participants the opportunity to work with Swiss and international IT experts from the Sword Group. The five finalists will receive hands-on consulting and development support as well as access to a twelve-month follow-up program involving potential customers and partners

The winner of the program will receive an exclusive package worth EUR 50,000 of development and consulting services from Sword specialists, enabling them to further develop and expand their technology solutions.

"At Sword, we are convinced that successful innovation requires a strong technical foundation and extensive expertise. Through our partnership with Venturelab, we give start-ups access to this expertise and support them in developing marketable solutions," emphasized Olivier Perrotey, CEO of Sword Switzerland. "Our goal is to help entrepreneurs bridge the gap between visionary ideas and measurable success."

Startups can apply for the Sword Startup Challenge until March 1, 2025. Companies from areas such as government digitization, information sharing, human resources, cybersecurity, green IT management, data management and legal management are particularly welcome.

"Our goal is to provide startups with the best opportunities to connect with strong partners and accelerate their market access," emphasized Jordi Montserrat, Managing Partner at Venturelab. "We are delighted to be working with the Sword Group to realize this vision."

More information

Riso, known for its environmentally friendly and fast printing systems, brings patented inkjet technology to the partnership. Forsejet™ high-speed printing technology enables print speeds of up to 9,900 pages per hour without generating heat. This results in an energy-efficient printing process that consumes up to 91% less power than conventional systems.

Synergies for sustainable and efficient printing

The collaboration aims to promote sustainable solutions and strengthen market presence. Riso products fit perfectly with Graphax's commitment to environmental friendliness and cost efficiency.

Graphax's comprehensive service structure with its own hotline in Switzerland guarantees fast and competent support. Each customer is assigned a dedicated team from sales, technology and administration, which ensures comprehensive support.

Tailor-made solutions for a wide range of requirements

The expanded product portfolio covers a broad spectrum:

• High-speed printing: Riso systems produce up to 330 duplex pages per minute, ideal for high volumes.
• Versatility: Riso printers process paper weights from 46 g/m² to 350 g/m², including envelopes and environmental papers.

Graphax complements this with professional solutions for document management, process automation and information management.

Conclusion: A forward-looking partnership

The cooperation between Riso and Graphax combines innovative technology with comprehensive market expertise. It offers Swiss companies access to sustainable, efficient and customized printing solutions, supported by first-class service. This partnership is ideally positioned to meet the growing demands of the Swiss market and create significant added value for customers.

Source: www.graphax.ch

Cyberattacks on the healthcare sector are on the rise - and the consequences can be serious. IT systems are regularly tested for vulnerabilities, and time and time again, many institutions underestimate the risk or don't react until it's too late. A proactive security strategy is crucial to protect your organization's sensitive data and patient safety.

The Infosec Healthcare Conference offers a platform for valuable exchange and practical insights:

• How can cyber attacks be detected and defended against at an early stage?
• Which strategies are particularly successful in the healthcare sector?
• How do you implement preventive measures efficiently?

The Conference program is constantly being expanded and offers practical content especially for ICT and security experts, network administrators, medical IT specialists and specialists with management tasks.

More information and registration at www.infosec-health.ch

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/infosec-healthcare-conference-2025/

On January 16, 2025, the 24th Swiss Employer Awards were presented at the Lake Side in Zurich. With 50,935 participants from 149 companies in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, the survey is the largest Swiss employee survey. The best employers in their respective size category are: Baumann Koelliker Group, Corti Spleiss Holding AG, Wia - Wohnen im Alter Sonnmatt and Seeblick Haus für Pflege & Betreuung. The two special prizes: The rising star of the year is Hochgebirgsklinik Davos AG and the innovation prize for a modern working environment goes to Reha Rheinfelden.

Construction and care centers surprise as winners

Surprisingly, two of the four winning companies came from the construction industry and two from the retirement and care centers sector. Who would have thought that, despite the major challenges faced by these two sectors, they would be among the winners and outperform all companies from the other sectors? A comparison of these sectors with all 149 Swiss companies surveyed reveals a remarkable similarity: of the 17 dimensions examined that comprehensively describe workplace quality, the greatest positive deviations from the Swiss benchmark in both sectors relate to the same dimensions: employee development and dealing with change.

Both sectors appear to place above-average importance on the professional development of their employees and are characterized by a rapid response to external changes. The shortage of skilled workers is a major issue in these sectors, which certainly encourages the winners to adapt quickly to their environment and find innovative solutions. It is interesting to note that the "work and leisure" dimension is significantly below the Swiss benchmark and yet overall employee satisfaction and commitment are very high, meaning that the winners were able to outperform all other companies in their size category. This shows that being a great employer is not down to the workload.

The Swiss Employer Award is the most representative award for determining employer attractiveness in Switzerland. The decisive factor for this award is the detailed assessment of a company's employees with regard to their current work situation. The scientifically developed questionnaire consists of around 60 questions and was completed by an average of 76% of all employees of a company. As a result, the assessments are extremely valid and provide a differentiated picture of the working environment. A total of 45 companies were awarded the Swiss Employer Award label and a further 33 companies received a quality seal. The latter companies outperformed the Swiss benchmark in at least one of the three central target variables - overall satisfaction with the work situation, commitment to the employer or no resignation - but are not among the best employers in Switzerland and are therefore not included in the rankings.

The winners of the Swiss Employer Awards 2025

Large companies (1,000+ employees)

1. Baumann Koelliker Group
2. Luzerner Kantonalbank AG
3. Valens clinics

Medium-sized companies (250-999 employees)

1. Corti Spleiss Holding AG
2. Pistor AG
3. Aargau Cantonal Bank

Medium-sized companies (100-249 employees)

1. Wia - Living in old age Sonnmatt
2. Ameron Collection Switzerland
3. BitHawk AG

Small companies (50-99 employees)

1. Seeblick House for care and support
2. Esslinger AG
3. Breitenmoser Appenzeller Meat Specialties AG

Special prices

Rising star of the year: Hochgebirgsklinik Davos AG

Innovative project for a modern working environment: Rehab Rheinfelden

Further information and complete ranking list

Dr. Harald Schönfeld, Managing Director of the personnel consultancy Butterflymanager, which specializes in the placement of interim managers, explains: "The low birth rate is leading to a smaller pool of young people who are eligible for management positions. The so-called 'war for talent' will therefore inevitably intensify. Companies will have to get used to the fact that they will no longer be able to permanently fill every management position with a qualified manager." The management expert knows from experience that important management positions are already often filled for months with interim managers to bridge vacancies, especially in medium-sized companies.

In addition, the next generation of managers has a more self-confident understanding of their profession, says Dr. Harald Schönfeld. He explains: "The traditional career drivers of power and money are becoming less and less appealing to young people. The new generation is striving for much more self-realization and meaningfulness in their professional lives. They naturally demand a better work-life balance than the previous management cadre."

Interim managers as a way out of the management crisis

Butterflymanager has already prepared itself for an increasing demand for interim managers as a way out of the "manager crisis", says Dr. Harald Schönfeld. He is also Managing Director of the interim manager community United Interim. According to him, the demand for interim managers has been increasing for over a year.

Dr. Harald Schönfeld looks to the future: "Interim management is still considered a niche market with around 15,000 specialist managers in German-speaking countries, but it will become increasingly widespread in the future." He bases his forecast not only on the shortage of managers but also on changes on the corporate side. In numerous discussions with board members, managing directors and supervisory board members, he has noticed that a rethink is taking place at the top of companies. It is becoming increasingly clear that sprawling management hierarchies often lead to internal trench warfare, bureaucracy, navel-gazing, operational blindness and inertia, which are detrimental to the company. Interim managers are brought into the company for specific tasks. They offer valuable management resources that go far beyond bridging vacancies and act independently of internal structures."

The management expert cites the introduction of artificial intelligence in companies as a current example. "Middle managers are often far too afraid of losing their own jobs to make a serious effort to introduce AI on a large scale," says Dr. Harald Schönfeld, who has worked on several projects. "The aim of reducing bureaucracy, not only in public administration but also in companies, is often linked to the large-scale introduction of AI in order to streamline management hierarchies." Dr. Harald Schönfeld is convinced that, although the managers who have been made redundant are generally no longer able to find a suitable permanent position or are no longer even looking for one, they can "in many cases have a very good effect" as interim managers detached from a company-specific corset. He has often found that many managers can only really apply their creativity, assertiveness and experience to a task when they are no longer confined to the hierarchy of a rigid organization.

How Butterflymanager supports companies

Butterflymanager is a recruitment consultancy specializing in the placement of interim managers for more than 20 years. Interim managers are temporary executives who bridge vacancies or take on special tasks. The butterflymanager method developed by Managing Director Dr. Harald Schönfeld is a 5-step system for systematically finding the right interim manager in the shortest possible time and deploying them successfully in the company. The five steps include: 1. clarification of the assignment, 2. search for candidates, 3. decision support, 4. contractual partnership and 5. project support. In view of the shortage of qualified specialists and managers, interim managers have a key role to play in the success of a company. Dr. Harald Schönfeld is also the founder and managing director of United Interim, the leading online community for interim managers in German-speaking countries. He is also the publisher of the specialist book series "Learning from Interim Managers", which is published by the UN think tank Diplomatic Council. As a certified supervisory and advisory board member, Dr. Harald Schönfeld personally takes on corresponding mandates.

Source: www.butterflymanager.com

The main problem in companies is that employees are not listened to enough - valuable knowledge about where the problems lie or creative new solutions are used remains unused. As soon as Brain4E is implemented quickly and easily, a dialogue is created between management and employees about how the company can be organized more efficiently. Instead of traditional surveys, employees can discuss ideas, opinions and suggestions for improvement themselves and promote them in "duels" with each other. Companies that want to tap into the knowledge and experience of their employees rely on Brain4E. There is no other technology that allows the knowledge of employees to be collected directly and efficiently in the shortest possible time.

Andreas Seonbucher, CEO of BrainE4, says: "Libor Voncina's experience will further strengthen the company's position and help us to roll out our national and international strategy. Libor not only brings extensive leadership experience, but also a strategic vision."

Libor Voncina on his entry:

"BrainE4 is a service that brings valuable internal knowledge to the management's table. This can be done in just a few hours. It fascinated me and would have made my life a lot easier and enabled me to make better decisions in many of my tasks. In a world where organizations need to act faster and more precisely, BrainE4 offers exactly the right tool."

Having successfully established itself in Switzerland with customers from the public and private sectors, the company is now ready to expand its presence in Europe and beyond.

Source: www.braine4.com/de

The rapid development of AI-supported agents with their profound influence on the world of work is leading many observers to fear the marginalization of humans and the threat of mass unemployment. The new Workday study counters these reservations with a much more optimistic view of the future.

• Accordingly, the most active AI users also have the most positive view of its benefits (4.23 out of 5 points). Those who want to switch to AI in the next twelve months have the lowest score of 3.89 points and are therefore particularly skeptical.
• AI helps to free up human capacity for more important activities. 93 percent of active AI users state that artificial intelligence allows them to focus better on higher-level tasks such as strategy development and problem solving.
• Although there are social concerns that AI could affect trust, 90% of employees believe that artificial intelligence can ensure greater transparency and clearer accountability within the company. Managers and employees are close to each other here, with 92% and 89% respectively.
• They are less unanimous in their assessment of the need for interpersonal relationships in the age of artificial intelligence. While 82 percent of employees consider these to be necessary, only 65 percent of managers do.
• Unique human qualities such as ethical decision making, empathy, relationship building and conflict resolution skills are seen as essential for success in an AI-driven business world.

"The debates around artificial intelligence are often characterized by concerns and fear of job loss; we see AI as an incredible opportunity," emphasizes Jim Stratton, Chief Technology Officer, Workday. "It's our chance to focus on what makes us human - our creativity, our empathy and our ability to build relationships. With AI, we can create a work environment where these qualities are critical to success. Our study shows that employees are ready to embrace this opportunity."

People as a positive factor

According to the Workday study, 83% of respondents believe that AI will both increase the importance of human skills and enhance human creativity, thereby generating new types of economic value. A comparison with a study commissioned by Workday a few months earlier, in which only 52% of employees welcomed the use of AI in their workplace, also shows that attitudes towards AI in the workplace are becoming more positive. 

The findings of the current study underline the great importance of promoting typical human qualities such as creativity, leadership, learning ability, trust and collaboration, especially in an AI-driven world. We are at a tipping point that makes us collectively aware of how much AI will define the future of work and how important human qualities will be in that future - a tipping point towards an AI-driven skills revolution that has the potential to impact everyone in some way, from factory workers to data analysts.

"AI is propelling us into a future where we can use our innate human abilities to connect, create and innovate," says Sadie Bell, VP of People Systems at HPE. "This is not just about efficiency and problem solving, but about unleashing our potential to create a future that prioritizes skills like empathy, ingenuity and our shared humanity."

Almost all (93 %) of the active AI users state that the use of artificial intelligence helps them to focus on higher-level tasks such as strategy development and problem solving. But that's not all: active AI users have a consistently more positive attitude towards artificial intelligence. 92 percent of employees and 95 percent of managers share this view. Overall, the findings underscore the transformative potential of AI in the workplace to unleash human capacity for meaningful, innovative collaboration, unlocking new ideas and opportunities that enable organizations to adapt to economic change and thrive.

Human qualities count

AI is completely reshaping the way we work. 81% of respondents are aware that this will have an impact on the skills profile of their job. The top three AI application areas are data analytics (51 %), fraud detection and security monitoring (43 %) and human resources and talent acquisition (39 %). A number of employees will need to acquire new knowledge and skills, but they will also need to cultivate typically human traits to succeed in the AI age. In fact, the data reveals a clear trend: qualities that only humans possess will become even more important as AI usage increases.

"In 2025, AI will play an important role in unlocking efficiencies in the way people teams work, but it won't replace the essential human aspects of empathy, communication and relationship building," says Jennie Rogerson, Global Head of People at Canva."

The very skills that AI will not have in the foreseeable future are also the ones that will be most valuable in the workplace: ethical decision-making, networking and relationship building, emotional intelligence and empathy, and the ability to resolve conflict. Ethical decision-making is proving to be the most important skill across scenarios, both today and in an AI-dominated future.

Discrepancy in the evaluation of interpersonal relationships: Managers must act

It is striking how differently employees and managers rate the need for interpersonal relationships in the workplace. While 82% of employees believe that the desire for human interaction will increase, only 65% of managers share this view. For the latter, this offers an important opportunity to promote interpersonal interaction and build stable relationships with their team.

When asked about the impact of AI on leadership and management priorities, participants identified three key aspects: better data-driven decision-making processes, increased upskilling and training opportunities using AI technology and targeted resource allocation to mission-critical areas as a result of the automation of routine work through AI. The even weighting of the responses underlines the potential that is attributed to artificial intelligence in supporting managers in these areas - coupled with the expectation of being able to focus more on cultivating empathy and deeper team relationships.

Building trust together

AI is revolutionizing the world of work. 90 percent of employees believe that it can provide greater transparency and clearer accountability within the company. However, this benefit can only be realized if everyone involved is committed to using AI responsibly. There is a widespread expectation here: 54% of respondents believe that the technology sector will lead the way in implementing measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of AI. However, the shared responsibility attributed to individual organizations (12 %) and governments (12 %) reflects a broader sense that building trust in AI requires collaboration across different sectors.

Tech companies, the economy as a whole, but also government agencies need to work together to ensure that AI benefits everyone. This collaboration can lead to a future in which humans and AI create great things together.

Source: www.workday.com

Cyber incidents such as data breaches, ransomware attacks and IT outages, such as the CrowdStrike incident in the summer, are once again the biggest risk for companies worldwide this year. Business interruptions follow in second place, regardless of company size. After another year of extreme weather events, natural disasters are back in third place in the global ranking, while the super election year of 2024, rising geopolitical tensions and potential trade wars ensure that changes to laws and regulations outside Switzerland remain in fourth place (Switzerland in third place). Climate change makes the biggest leap in this year's Allianz Risk Barometer, rising from 7th to 5th place, its highest ranking since the study was compiled.

Companies of all sizes rate cyber incidents as their biggest business risk. However, there are significant differences in the rest of the ranking. Smaller companies are concerned about local and immediate risks such as regulatory compliance, macroeconomic developments and skills shortages. However, there are also signs that some of the risks that traditionally concern larger companies are now also affecting smaller companies. These include climate change, political risks and violence.

Skills shortage still among the top 5 risks

Among the participants in the study from Switzerland, cyber attacks and business interruptions were also ranked 1st (2024: 1st) and 2nd (2024: 2nd). In contrast to the global ranking, changes to laws and regulations occupy 3rd place, as they did in 2024. As in the previous year, the shortage of skilled workers is perceived as a major risk in Switzerland. In this country, it is in 4th place, compared to 11th place worldwide.

Vanessa Maxwell, Chief Underwriting Officer of Allianz Commercial, comments on the results: "2024 was an exceptional year for risk management. The results of our annual Allianz Risk Barometer reflect the uncertainty faced by many businesses around the world. The interconnectedness of the top risks is particularly striking this year, as climate change, new technologies, regulation and geopolitical risks are increasingly intertwined. This leads to complex cause and effect relationships. Companies need to put resilience at the top of their agenda and consistently strive to improve their risk management and resilience."

Cyber risks increase with technological progress

Cyber incidents (38%) are the main risk for companies for the fourth time in a row and for the first time with a clear lead of seven percentage points. Cyber is the top risk in 20 countries, including Switzerland, Argentina, Germany, France, the UK, India, South Africa and the USA. More than 60 percent of respondents cite data breaches as the most worrying threat, ahead of attacks on critical infrastructure or assets (57 percent).

"Many companies cite cyber as the biggest risk, which is being exacerbated by the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Given the increasing dependence on technology, it is likely to remain a key risk for companies in the future. The CrowdStrike incident in the summer of 2024 reminded us how dependent we all are on secure IT systems," says Rishi Baviskar, Global Head of Cyber Risk Consulting at Allianz Commercial.

Business interruptions are closely linked to other risks

Business interruption (BI) has been ranked either first or second in every Allianz Risk Barometer for the past ten years. With 31 percent of responses, it will remain in second place in 2025 - both globally and in Switzerland. BI are usually the result of events such as natural disasters or cyberattacks that disrupt or interrupt a company's operations. Several examples from 2024 show why companies still see them as a major threat to their business model.

For example, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea led to supply chain disruptions as container ships had to be diverted, while incidents such as the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore also had a direct impact on global and local supply chains. Supply chain disruptions with a global impact occur approximately every 1.4 years, with an increasing trend, according to an analysis by Circular Republic in collaboration with Allianz and others. They cause additional downtime and significant economic damage, accounting for between five and ten percent of product costs.

"The pursuit of technological progress and efficiency has an impact on the resilience of supply chains. Automation and digitalization have significantly accelerated processes. When implemented effectively, these technologies increase resilience by providing better data analytics, predictions and more agile response capabilities. For this reason, building and investing in resilience is becoming more important for every organization," says Michael Bruch, Global Head of Risk Advisory Services at Allianz Commercial.

Climate change is increasing in risk perception

2024 was the hottest year since weather records began. It was also a year of terrible natural disasters with extreme hurricanes and storms in North America, devastating floods in Europe and Asia and drought in Africa and South America. After slipping down the rankings in the years of the coronavirus pandemic as companies had to deal with more immediate challenges, climate change moved up two positions in the top 5 global risks in 2025. With 5th place worldwide, as well as in Switzerland, it reaches its highest position to date. In the previous year, it was still in 10th place in the Swiss ranking, which shows that awareness of the problem has increased significantly.

Natural catastrophes closely linked to climate change remain in third place worldwide at 29%, while in Switzerland they are in sixth place. For the fifth time in a row, insured losses exceeded 100 billion US dollars in 2024. Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Croatia, Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey, where some of the most severe events occurred in 2024, rank natural catastrophes as the greatest risk. In Central and Eastern Europe and Spain, storms and floods had a dramatic impact on people and businesses.

According to the German Insurance Association, the insured losses from the floods in southern Germany in June 2024 alone amounted to around two billion euros. These effects underline the importance of prevention and damage limitation through cooperation between governments, insurers and local authorities.

Geopolitics and protectionism remain on companies' radar

Despite ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty in the Middle East, Ukraine and South East Asia, political risks and violence fall to 9th place worldwide (2024: 8th), while they are no longer even in the top 10 in Switzerland, in stark contrast to the previous year, when they were still in 4th place in this country. However, they remain an increased risk for large companies (7th place), while smaller companies now rank them in 10th place.

Fears of trade wars and protectionism are on the rise. Analysis by Allianz and others shows that export restrictions on critical commodities have increased fivefold in the last ten years. Tariffs and protectionism may be at the top of the new US administration's list, but on the other hand, there is also a risk of a "regulatory Wild West", particularly in relation to AI and cryptocurrencies. In Europe, sustainability reporting requirements will be at the top of the agenda in 2025.

"The impact of new tariffs will be similar to that of (over)regulation: rising costs for all affected companies," explains Ludovic Subran, Chief Economist at Allianz. "Not all regulation is inherently 'bad'. In most cases, it is the implementation that makes business life more difficult. The focus should not only be on the number of rules, but also on efficient administration. A thorough digitalization of the authorities is urgently needed. However, we will probably still be waiting in vain for a corresponding digital strategy in 2025. Instead, trade wars are looming. The prospects are not rosy," Subran continues.

Source: www.commercial.allianz.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/allianz-risk-barometer-cyber-attacken-bleiben-2025-weltweites-top-risiko-fuer-unternehmen/

The Institute for Computational Life Sciences (ICLS) hosted the Computational Life Sciences Day on January 8, 2025. Among the more than 150 participants were representatives from the fields of healthcare, pharmacy, biotechnology, agro-food, the environment and hardware and software development. In his welcoming address, Institute Director Thomas Ott pointed out that the focus on AI - and Large Language Models LLM in particular - was far too narrow and called for a broader perspective. The title of the event should be seen in this light. In addition to AI, two topics played important roles in many of the presentations: Digital twins, i.e. digital representations of real objects or processes, and robots.

Models need care - through human intelligence

Lukas Hollenstein, Head of the Digital Labs & Production research focus area at the ZHAW, spoke in his keynote speech on "Modeling Lab & Production Systems with Human and Artificial Intelligence" and immediately took up the topic of digital twins. These are constantly evolving and are very useful, e.g. for predictive maintenance of production systems. Specifically, he used a digital twin of a bioreactor to show what the individual groups in his research focus are working on. He emphasized that a model is always involved and that this must be maintained. This requires human intelligence. In addition to the bioreactor example, Lukas Hollenstein also presented example projects from the food sector, such as the supply chain for cocoa mass or wheat.

Following the keynote speech, four representatives from the industry had their say. In the first presentation, Thomas Zaugg from Roche addressed the challenges facing robotics as automation progresses towards the intelligent laboratory. Today, he said, there are still too many isolated solutions that need to be connected. He also highlighted the interesting aspect that robots can be used in different ways in laboratories, whether in interaction with humans during the day or autonomously at night. Alexander Blass from Neura Robotics presented cognitive robots as a trump card for humans. In contrast to other robots, these would not treat people like machines, but as people.

He asked the crucial question of what we actually want from AI and answered it using the striking example of waste disposal. Generative AI only provides advice, he said. What is needed, however, are intelligent assistants that support people everywhere and at all times, i.e. that dispose of waste straight away. Ahmad Asraf and Bruno Olivera from Bioengineering took us into the world of bioreactors and their digital twins. They were supported in their presentation by Muriel Zumbihl, who worked on digital twins of bioreactors and the interface to the process that is to run in the bioreactor as part of her ZHAW Master's thesis. In the last presentation, Angela Botros from DataHow presented her approach to hybrid modeling. Biological processes are both too complex for pure simulations and too complex to use enough data for data-driven machine learning. That's why they combine the two to create hybrid modeling.

Presentation from the institute and its students

Presentations from the research groups of the Institute of Computational Life Sciences and their research partners formed the second part of the symposium. Two students (Bachelor's and Master's), a doctoral student and two alumni also had their say. The work presented showed the breadth of the study programs - from lawn mowing robots and computer-aided enzyme design to event-based cameras.

Maria Anisimova from the Center for Bioinformatics kicked off the research groups and presented current research projects on biomarkers. She was accompanied by Julien Duc from Nexco Analytics, which offers data analysis as a service. He presented possible joint projects for students. Sebastiano Caprara from Balgrist University Hospital Zurich spoke on behalf of the Center for Computational Health. He showed how an agile framework can be used to accelerate clinical research with digital twins in the field of orthopaedics. Yulia Sandamirskaya from the Centre for Cognitive Computing shed light on the questions of where we stand technologically today with assistance robots and what is still needed for a breakthrough. For the Centre for Digital Labs and Production, Robert Vorburger presented how agent-based AI systems can be used to successfully integrate generative AI into laboratories and production. Research partner PRORES concluded the event with René Puls. He pointed out the exciting developments in commercial space travel. Starlab Space will build one of three science parks worldwide in Dübendorf and develop it as a commercial platform for research and production in the life sciences sector, among other things.

Source: www.zhaw.ch

The OCRE framework agreement provides an EU-compliant set of rules for cloud procurement. It is managed by Géant, a collaboration of the European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). SoftwareOne has been repeatedly selected as a service provider since the launch of the Géant Cloud Framework Agreement in 2017. With the new agreement, which runs from February 2025 to 2030, SoftwareOne is extending its offering beyond educational and research institutions to the entire public sector.

Secure cloud services for the public sector

SoftwareOne was re-included in the framework agreement due to its close partnership with leading hyperscalers and other cloud and AI providers, as well as its extensive expertise in the education and research sector. The renewal and extension of the agreement will enable the public sector, including critical government organizations, to procure cloud and AI services in a legally compliant, efficient and cost-effective manner.

This will accelerate cloud deployments and provide access to high-end networks that are directly connected to hyperscalers' data centers. In addition, organizations can leverage sovereign cloud solutions to ensure data security and compliance as well as optimize their cloud spend. In addition, the framework agreement enables organizations to securely collaborate with other institutions and increase data security.

"Cloud computing and AI are already heavily used in this sector. Cloud computing revenue is set to rise to $2 trillion by the end of the decade. As a leading global provider of software and cloud solutions with deep industry expertise and strong relationships with multi-cloud providers, SoftwareOne is ideally positioned to help these organizations choose their cloud and AI technologies," says Florian Schulz. He is Global Public Sector Leader at SoftwareOne. "We look forward to supporting the digital transformation of European public sector organizations as their IT partner."

Cloud solutions for Europe's institutions

"The Géant Cloud framework contracts have been a key driver of digital transformation and innovation in European research and education," says Monique Pellinkhof. She is Senior Procurement Manager at Géant. "Together with the innovative service providers included in this framework agreement, such as SoftwareOne, we expect to see greater adoption of commercial cloud services alongside the community's cloud efforts to drive global research, digitize education and transform institutional access to resources. "

SoftwareOne serves public sector organizations in more than 100 countries, including universities, research institutes, healthcare providers, infrastructure organizations and other government institutions, with a tailored portfolio of software, cloud, AI and services.

Source: www.softwareone.com

This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/softwareone-erneuert-und-erweitert-position-im-neuen-ocre-2024-rahmenvertrage/

Cybersecurity: an underestimated priority for SMEs

"Cyber security is one of the biggest business risks, especially for small and medium-sized companies," explains Christoph Lanter. As an entrepreneur, he also sits on various SME boards of directors. "However, there is often a lack of awareness because many SMEs believe that they are not interesting targets for cyber criminals. This is a dangerous fallacy."

Lanter sees it as essential to sensitize companies of all sizes to cyber security. With Gobugfree as a partner, SMEs can improve their security processes step by step. From analyzing their attack surface to integrating ethical hackers through bug bounty programs, the platform offers practical and affordable solutions for greater digital resilience.

Building bridges - also at events like Gohack

As an experienced event organizer and moderator, Christoph Lanter appreciates the importance of events such as GOhack, which is organized annually by Gobugfree. "Gohack brings the cybersecurity community and companies together - from CEOs to IT specialists. It's a great opportunity for SMEs in particular to learn more about bug bounty programs, overcome reservations and exchange ideas with experts," says Lanter.

A perspective for the future

With his experience as an entrepreneur, networker and communicator, Lanter enriches the Gobugfree Advisory Board. He not only brings a broad network, but also a feel for how the topics of cyber security and ethical hacking can be communicated in an understandable and practical way - especially to companies that have previously had little contact with them.

"I look forward to supporting the mission of Gobugfree. To make cyber security accessible and help companies to protect themselves against the growing risks of cybercrime with simple means," says Christoph Lanter.

Source: www.gobugfree.com

By integrating Arobase and Interiman, Albedis strengthens its ability to provide seamless and nationwide recruitment solutions. At the same time, the company retains its valued personalized and high-quality approach to clients and candidates. Arobase brings its recognized expertise in IT and digital, while Interiman enriches the portfolio with its expertise in the OMS (Office Management Support) professions. With this know-how, Albedis is uniquely positioned to cover diverse needs from specialist to executive search with customized 360-degree solutions.

With offices in Geneva, Lausanne, Bern and Zurich, Albedis combines a local presence with national reach. This enables Albedis to meet the needs of companies and candidates throughout Switzerland in an efficient and targeted manner.

"The integration of Arobase and Interiman into our Albedis brand marks a significant milestone in our strategy to merge regional recruitment consultancies into one national entity. Our aim is to establish leading brands in all relevant market segments of the industry while further expanding the strength of our expertise and network. The new brand structure sharpens our presence in the recruitment industry, creates synergies between the regions and enables us to offer even more efficient and forward-looking recruitment solutions - at a time when competition for the best talent is more intense than ever before," says Raphael Schmid, CEO of the Interiman Group.

The most important points of the merger:

• United expertise: Expanded capacity for the targeted placement of support profiles, specialists, managers and executives in various industries.
• Extended services: New offering and in-depth expertise to meet changing staffing needs at national level.
• Increased national reach: Smooth cooperation between the locations ensures uniform and customized solutions for all customers.

This strategic merger reflects Albedis' vision of simplifying the search for talent and supporting companies with innovative and efficient recruitment services. By joining forces, Albedis is ideally positioned to successfully bring companies and talent together in a highly competitive market.

Source: www.albedis.com