News

(CONNECT) Early diagnosis of breast cancer can significantly increase the chances of recovery. Aeon Life, based in Winterthur, aims to provide a reliable diagnosis using a new method compared to the conventional mammography method. According to a press release, magnetic resonance mammography (MR mammography) is both a radiation-free and safer method of diagnosing carcinomas.

In future, women in Zurich will be able to choose between the traditional method and MR mammography screening for the early detection of breast cancer. Women with implants in particular avoid the risk of them being damaged by pressure.

"Our goal is to make early breast cancer detection safer, more convenient and more reliable," said Florian Huber, Chief Medical Officer at Aeon Life, in the press release. "With MR mammography, we offer an examination without radiation exposure, with greater accuracy and without pain." ce/ww

(CONNECT) c.technology AG, a Zurich-based cloud and platform provider for vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, is to develop a networked platform for owners of electric LiveWire motorcycles with the LiveWire Group. According to c.technology, it will be available in North America and Europe.

LiveWire operates from Milwaukee in the US state of Wisconsin and Mountain View in California and focuses exclusively on the electric motorcycle market. The company stems from the tradition of the motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson, which is also the main shareholder.

The new solution, which will lead to networked compatibility with Harley-Davidson's LiveWire and LiveWire ONE motorcycles, includes real-time vehicle data on battery status, range and performance, as well as location-based features such as route logging, displaying the vehicle's last known location and setting up configurable alerts. The new platform is also intended to facilitate exchanges with other drivers.

The cloud architecture and integration will be based on c.technology's scalable cloud platform. According to the information provided, it guarantees data security, modular expandability for future functions and seamless integration into the LiveWire ecosystem.

"At c.technology, our mission is to unlock the potential of connectivity for vehicles across the entire mobility industry," Christian Fehr, co-founder and CEO of c.technology, is quoted as saying. "This strategic plan with LiveWire shows how advanced vehicle data and rider-centric design can redefine the motorcycling experience." ce/mm

(CONNECT) The biotech company CDR-Life, based in Horgen, has presented the first early results of its Phase 1 study on the cancer therapy CDR404. The results were presented at the International Conference of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) from October 22 to 26 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, according to a press release.

CDR404 is a so-called T-cell engager (TCE). It is antibody-based and targets intracellular tumor antigens. In particular, CDR404 attacks the protein MAGE-A4, which is thought to be responsible for the growth of tumor cells in ovarian cancer and synovial sarcoma. It was shown that the administration of low doses of CDR404 reduced the growth of tumor cells and stabilized the condition. CDR404 was developed on the company's own M-gager platform. The Phase 1 trial is still being conducted in cancer research centers in the USA and Europe.

"The initial data show that our M-gager platform can extend the precision and power of antibody-based T cell engagers to intracellular antigens, an area long thought to be reserved for TCR-based modalities only," Christian Leisner, CEO of CDR-Life, is quoted as saying in the press release. "The fact that all four pharmacodynamic activity characteristics are visible in patients even at low doses underscores the potential of this approach to redefine the treatment of solid tumors." Further results on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics are still pending in the course of the study.

CDR-Life is a member of the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich. ce/ww

(CONNECT) Customers of Oberthur Fiduciaire and VHP Security Paper can now purchase patent-compliant silver-based antimicrobial overprint varnishes, according to a statement from HeiQ Materials AG. This is guaranteed by a license that the Paris-based company and its Dutch subsidiary have acquired from HeiQ. HeiQ's patent protects the use of antimicrobial silver compounds in overprint varnishes applied to a variety of printed products. These include banknotes, checks, passports, certificates, ID cards and lottery tickets as well as packaging for consumer goods, book and magazine covers.

This license agreement gives Oberthur and VHP Security Paper a formal license to use HeiQ's patented antimicrobial technology in their overprint varnishes and printed products, including the Bioguard range of anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral products used for security printing worldwide. "Our customers, including central banks, public authorities and brand owners, now benefit from the certainty that both functional protection and full patent compliance are guaranteed," comments Oberthur Managing Director Nicolas Koutros.

"Oberthur and VHP Security Paper are recognized market leaders in high-security printing," Tom Ellefsen, HeiQ's Head of Antimicrobial Technologies, is quoted as saying. "This license ensures that customers worldwide have access to patent-compliant antimicrobial overprint varnishes through Oberthur and its subsidiary, while reinforcing HeiQ's commitment to protecting its intellectual property." At the same time, HeiQ advises printers and coating manufacturers who use antimicrobial additives without a license that HeiQ's patents are valid throughout Europe and the UK.

HeiQ is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, is based in the IJZ Innovation and Young Entrepreneur Center and is a member of Start Smart Schlieren. ce/mm

(CONNECT) In an interview with "Empa Quarterly", Lorenz Herrmann emphasizes that Empa's materials research has numerous points of contact with space research. As the member of Empa's Board of Directors explains in the current 89th issue of the quarterly magazine, partnerships such as Empa's still young membership of the Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein are elementary in the rapidly growing market for space technologies and applications. In order to become visible to the most important players, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), "a certain critical mass is essential, which we hope to achieve through this partnership," says Herrmann, who also heads Empa's Modern Materials and Surfaces department and the Empa research focus on nanoscale materials and technologies.

The primary goal is to gain access to the new market of the New Space Economy: "Swiss companies will also develop numerous new products and applications in this area in the future, and we at Empa naturally want to be part of this alliance," says Herrmann. He believes that Empa is ideally equipped for this thanks to its enormous expertise in materials and translation, i.e. the translation of scientific findings into practical applications. Since May, there has been a further link via the new European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Center Switzerland, which was opened by ESA in collaboration with the Paul Scherrer Institute at Park Innovaare and of which Herrmann is a member of the Advisory Board. The aim here is also to strengthen research cooperation with ESA.

Thanks to its almost 25-year partnership with the University of Bern, Empa is involved in numerous ESA projects, "and that is going very well". Another article in "Empa Quarterly" about Empa's involvement in space documents that an ESA space mission with components for measuring instruments from Dübendorf has already been successfully completed. Three more Empa components are currently in space and two more are in preparation. As Herrmann goes on to explain, the proximity to Innovation Park Zurich "just around the corner here in Dübendorf" is also very advantageous. ce/mm

(CONNECT) The HSG, ETH and Zurich Insurance have joined forces to fundamentally change the business model of the insurance industry with a joint research laboratory for artificial intelligence (AI). This is because "AI has the potential to create new customer experiences that are faster, smarter and more personal than ever before," the partners said in a statement to the same effect.

In the new Zurich AI Lab, the Institute of Business Administration of the HSG, the Agentic Systems Lab of the ETH and Zurich Insurance will research new business models, end-to-end processes and offerings in the insurance industry and develop them further or, if necessary, from scratch. The aim is not only to increase efficiency, but also to achieve holistic transformation and practical research, for example to improve risk analysis, damage detection or customer interaction. "The cooperation aims to use AI in an ethical and socially responsible manner," the press release states. The scientific freedom of the university partners should be fully respected.

The lab will be based in St.Gallen, Zurich and Singapore. Students, doctoral candidates and researchers will work directly with Zurich Insurance executives and technology experts. "The Zurich AI Lab is our think tank," says Zurich Insurance Group CEO Mario Greco. It is pursuing the clear goal of "revolutionizing our business model and driving the next generation of insurance solutions".

According to ETH professor Dr. Elgar Fleisch, the lab builds a bridge between students "and a leading company". Prof. Dr. Karolin Frankenberger from the HSG wants to "promote new research work and make a contribution to society through valuable knowledge, innovation and partnerships", building on the HSG's expertise in business model innovation and disruption through AI. ce/mm

(CONNECT) The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) has inaugurated an agrivoltaic system on the Grüental campus in Wädenswil. According to a press release, the potential of the system, which enables both agricultural use and the generation of solar power on one area, is being tested.

The system now in operation on the ZHAW campus in Wädenswil is the first of its kind in Switzerland to be installed above a vegetable and arable field. Researchers hope to gain insights into the influence of partial shading by solar modules on the microclimate and crop growth and want to investigate which combinations of system control, installation and crop type lead to the best overall benefit.

At the inauguration, representatives from agriculture, the energy sector, research institutions, authorities and associations spoke about the advantages of dual use of an area. Jürg Rohrer, Head of the Renewable Energies Research Group, emphasized the importance of photovoltaics in the energy transition, "as it has the lowest electricity generation costs in the world". Director of Education Silvia Steiner emphasized the pioneering character of the facility and reminded the audience of the interdisciplinary effort involved in realizing the facility for the benefit of research.

Knowledge from climate-resilient agriculture, agroforestry, horticulture and soil ecology in combination with renewable energy systems for the construction of alpine solar systems and photovoltaic technologies on roof surfaces were combined in the development and implementation of the system. ce/heg

(CONNECT) The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (HWZ) has founded the new Department of Banking & Finance, Controlling and Real Estate. According to a press release, the new educational institution will be managed by Nadine Eve Rusch-Schenker from January 2026.

The new department is intended to strengthen the university's expertise in the areas of finance and real estate. This is intended to meet the changing conditions in the specialist areas due to digitalization, sustainability and complex markets.

"The topics of Banking & Finance, Controlling and Real Estate have become increasingly important in the HWZ's Department of Management & Leadership in recent years," said Brian Rüeger, Rector of the HWZ, in the press release. "With the new department, we are creating the organizational conditions to give these areas more space and to serve the high demand in these subject areas in an even more targeted manner."

Before her appointment, Nadine Eve Rusch-Schenker worked in management positions at international companies such as CBRE, Johnson Controls and SBB Immobilien. She is looking forward to shaping the new department with her team and "further developing the topics of Banking & Finance, Controlling and Real Estate in research and teaching in a practical way". ce/ww

(CONNECT) Relai AG, a digital financial services provider and provider of the Bitcoin trading app Relai, has received its MiCA license from the French financial market regulator AMF, according to a statement. With the licensing, which creates uniform legal standards for crypto assets and services in the European Union, the Zurich-based company now wants to scale its app in all 30 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).

The regulated financial services provider from Switzerland is thus continuing its growth trajectory. Relai was already registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) with the Italian tax authorities in March of this year, enabling it to enter the Italian market. "We are incredibly proud to be one of the first Bitcoin companies to receive the MiCA license. We are now looking forward to expanding first to France and, in a second step, to Europe," says Julian Liniger, co-founder and CEO of Relai AG Switzerland.

In future, EU customers will be able to buy Bitcoin instantly via the Relai app using Instant SEPA. Cooperation with local payment providers, multilingual learning content on the topic of Bitcoin and European community events accompany the app's expansion into Europe.

The app's non-custodial model, which allows customers to store their wallets themselves without restriction using private keys and protects them from insolvency or hacker attacks, remains unchanged.

Zurich-based Relai AG operates the Relai app, which, according to the company, currently has over 90,000 active users and a total investment volume of over 1 billion dollars. Founded in 2020, the AG raised a total of 12 million dollars from investors in 2024 alone to finance its planned expansion. ce/yes

(CONNECT) Trilliome, a biotech company based in Zurich, has won first prize in the EIT Food Accelerator Network's Food as Medicine competition. According to a press release, the prize is endowed with 50,000 euros.

Trilliome intends to use this prize money to further expand its nutrition platform, which is supported by artificial intelligence, and to transfer it to the technical validation phase. The company uses a plant-based product that is designed to change the microbiome in the human gut and renew the local bacterial world. The platform created by Trilliome establishes a link between healthy gut flora and mental health by analyzing numerous data sets. Studies show links between the increase in gut bacteria associated with neuroprotection and mood regulation and a significant increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate and propionate. These are said to be of crucial importance for cognitive health, mood regulation and the immune system.

EIT Food is based in Leuven, Belgium, and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU body. ce/ww

The collaboration introduces an advanced mobile and web application suite that empowers riders with a seamless, data-driven experience. The new solution, designed for connected compatibility with both Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire model and LiveWire ONE motorcycles, includes:

• Real-time vehicle data: Monitor battery status, range, and performance for accurate vehicle monitoring and operational awareness.
• Location-based features: Record ride histories with route tracking, view the vehicle’s last known location, and set configurable alerts.
• Community engagement: Share rides, statistics, and experiences with fellow LiveWire enthusiasts to strengthen rider networks.
• Secure cloud architecture and OEM-grade integration: Built on c.technology’s scalable cloud platform, ensuring data security, modular expansion for future features, and seamless integration within LiveWire’s ecosystem.

Commitment to Customer

By leveraging c.technology’s SaaS offering and LiveWire’s commitment to rider-focused innovation we will restore and enhance the connected functionality with a more robust, future-ready ecosystem.

Statements from Leadership

"EV riders expect the best digital experience to go with their electric motorcycles," said Dylan O’Mahony, LiveWire’s Director of Digital Product. "By working with c.technology we can rapidly deliver a smart, reliable solution designed with the rider in mind."

"At c.technology, our mission is to unlock the potential of connectivity for vehicles across mobility industries," said Christian Fehr, Co-Founder and CEO of c.technology AG. "This strategic plan with LiveWire demonstrates how advanced vehicle data and rider-centric design can redefine the motorcycle experience."

About c.technology

c.technology powers the future of mobility with secure, cloud-based platforms for connected vehicles. Its modular applications and AI-driven services help vehicle manufacturers link their vehicles and customers—unlocking new digital business models and smarter operations. Trusted by manufacturers worldwide, c.technology delivers scalable, future-ready cloud infrastructure and platform that keeps partners ahead in a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.

About LiveWire

LiveWire has a dedicated focus on the electric motorcycle sector. LiveWire’s majority stockholder is Harley-Davidson, Inc. LiveWire comes from the lineage of Harley-Davidson and is capitalizing on a decade of its learnings in the EV sector. LiveWire plans to develop the technology of the future and invest in the capabilities needed to lead the transformation of motorcycling.

The digital platform for commercial real estate, maison.work, has seen a strong increase in interest for months. In July, August and September, the number of contact requests sent via the platform reached new highs - three record months in a row.

The growth in supply and the three consecutive record months for contact requests impressively demonstrate the relevance of and demand for a focused platform in the complex environment for commercial real estate in Switzerland.

This trend is particularly evident in French-speaking Switzerland:

More and more companies are looking for suitable office, sales or production space that meets their specific requirements. At the same time, owners are faced with the task of marketing their land efficiently and in a targeted manner. To bring supply and demand even closer together, maison.work is now officially launching in French-speaking Switzerland. In this way, the independent platform aims to minimize vacancies in commercial properties throughout Switzerland.

A key value proposition of maison.work is the quality of the contacts it provides. "Our marketers benefit from high lead quality, cost-saving marketing and a simple and free connection to all CRM interfaces," explains Remo Stahl, CEO of maison.work AG.

The platform also offers clear advantages for searchers:

The search for commercial space will be simpler, faster and more transparent. Users can see at a glance what kind of space it is, how the rental costs are to be understood and what infrastructure belongs to the space. This considerably shortens the path from the initial search to the actual inquiry.

In recent months, maison.work has reached important milestones that further support its expansion into French-speaking Switzerland. A French-speaking Business Development Manager was hired to provide optimal support for advertisers in French-speaking Switzerland. Over 5,000 advertisements are now available on the platform - a clear sign of the broad acceptance and relevance of the offering. In addition, maison.work already has a strong presence in important centers such as Lausanne, Geneva, Neuchâtel and Fribourg.

By entering the French-speaking part of Switzerland, maison.work is strengthening its presence throughout the country. "Our aim is to make the commercial real estate market simpler, more transparent and more efficient," emphasizes the team. The expansion is a logical step to take advantage of the momentum of recent months and to consistently drive forward digitalization in the real estate sector.

The three record months show that the market for commercial space is on the move. maison.work wants to actively support this development and use its platform to help reduce vacancies and sustainably increase efficiency in the Swiss commercial real estate market. With the launch in French-speaking Switzerland, the company is ideally positioned to connect owners and property seekers across the country and help shape the future of the commercial real estate market.