Rodolphe Eurin appointed new CEO of Schulthess Klinik

Rodolphe Eurin will become the new CEO and Director of Schulthess Klinik and the Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation on November 1, 2025. He succeeds Andrea Rytz. Schulthess Klinik is one of the leading orthopaedic clinics in Europe with around 1200 employees.

Rodolphe Eurin will be the new CEO of Schulthess Klinik from November 1, 2025. (Image: zVg / Schulthess Klinik)

Rodolphe Eurin, born in 1975, completed his studies in physics (BSc.) and as an operations and production engineer (MSc.) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ) and holds an MBA from IMD in Lausanne. Rodolphe Eurin has extensive experience in the healthcare sector. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for F. Hoffmann-La Roche and later in medical technology for Medtronic as part of the EMEA management team of the spine surgery business unit before moving into the world of hospitals and healthcare. Rodolphe Eurin was COO of a group of private clinics before becoming CEO of Hôpital de La Tour in Geneva in 2018, a position he held until the end of 2024. Since the beginning of 2025, he has been an independent Board member and consultant. He is passionate about patient-centric care and optimizing medical outcomes as differentiating factors for the future of healthcare institutions.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation, Peter E. Bodmer, says: "I am convinced that with Rudolphe Eurin, a proven expert will lead Schulthess Klinik successfully into the future. I would like to thank the outgoing CEO Andrea Rytz for her outstanding services to Schulthess Klinik and the Wilhelm Schulthess Foundation. She is handing over to her successor a successful company with an excellent national and international reputation." And Rodolphe Eurin says: "I am looking forward to shaping the future of Schulthess Klinik together with the management, medical staff and all employees. The clear focus on outcome research and the resulting outstanding results are key success factors for a healthcare institution and have long inspired my admiration for Schulthess Klinik. It is a great honor to lead an institution that enables patients to regain the best possible quality of life, while at the same time being committed to education and research for medical excellence in orthopaedics and thus also contributing to the sustainability of the healthcare system."

Source: Schulthess Clinic

Mewa wins "SAP Innovation Award 2025" for digital customer portal

Textile service provider Mewa has won the "SAP Innovation Award 2025" in the "Customer Experience" category for the development of pioneering new service applications for its digital customer portal. The integrated solution for ticket automation, which provides customers with a more convenient user experience, impressed the jury of the prestigious competition. Automation and implementation were developed by Mewa in close collaboration with SAP partner Sybit.

Caption: from left to right: Ortwin Frille (Mewa process management employee), Eric Rissler (Mewa application project manager), Markus Horvath (Sybit GmbH). (Photo SAP)

Mewa receives inquiries from over 200,000 B2B customers in Europe every year. Processing them by email or telephone is time-consuming and resource-intensive. In order to make the service processes more efficient and transparent, the digital customer portal mymewa.com is continuously being expanded with new self-service functionalities. The latest innovation, which received an award from SAP in Madrid, offers an automated ticket system for service requests such as repeat orders, changes and insights into the delivery status of workwear and cleaning cloths in the all-round service.

Digital services create time for personal advice

The customer portal and the implemented ticket system use SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP Sales Cloud, SAP Service Cloud and SAP ERP. The rule-based automation reduces the processing time per ticket by around 15 minutes on average. The time saved is available to the service teams for individual support with more complex issues and advice on qualitative questions.

In addition to the more personalized service quality, customers also benefit from the transparency of the digital functionalities: they can manage their clothing stock across all locations around the clock, view invoices and receive feedback as soon as their service request has been processed without losing any time. Last but not least, the digital solution also contributes to sustainability, as the use of the portal significantly reduces paper consumption. To ensure that the customers' perspective is incorporated into the further development of services and processes, the applications were developed in close dialog with users from the field - including the involvement of the Mewa customer advisory board. Regular customer surveys and measurements via the Customer Loyalty Index prove that customer satisfaction has increased as a result of the digital service offering.

Face-to-face contact remains essential in Mewa customer service

Rainer Monteagudo Santí, Head of Strategic Marketing & Product Management, comments on the award win as follows: "Our aim is to be close to our customers and offer them the best possible service - based on partnership, reliability and high quality. With digitalization, we can continue to ensure this, improve efficiency and transparency for both sides and thus remain fit for the future with our service for our customers as well as for our own employees."

Even with increasingly digitalized service processes, Mewa consistently relies on personal customer relationships. Direct contact with the textile service provider - by phone or email - is possible at any time. A team of sales employees, customer service staff and qualified service drivers provide technical support on site. Small and medium-sized companies are looked after regionally, while major customers with several locations, both nationally and internationally, receive centralized customer service.

Source and further information: www.mewa.ch

Which brands are particularly frequently misused for phishing

Technology and digital services remain a prime target for phishing - a growing threat to consumer trust. This is according to the cyber security service provider Check Point Research in its latest Brand Phishing Trend.

Examples of fraudulent Spotify login pages. (Image: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.)

Check Point Research (CPR) has published the Brand Phishing Ranking for the second quarter of 2025. The report describes the brands that are most frequently misused by cyber criminals to steal sensitive personal and financial data and highlights the constant evolution of phishing tactics. The Check Point Brand Phishing Ranking is published quarterly and is based on data from Check Point's ThreatCloud AI platform, the world's largest collaborative cyber threat intelligence network. The report analyzes phishing emails, fake websites and impersonation attempts across various vectors.

Microsoft remains the front runner

According to the report, Microsoft was again the most frequently attacked brand in Q2 2025, accounting for 25% of all phishing attempts. Google followed in second place with 11 percent and Apple was in third place with 9 percent. Remarkably, Spotify returned to the top 10 list for the first time since Q4 2019, taking fourth place with 6 percent of phishing activity. The technology sector thus remained the most imitated industry, followed by social networks and retail.

Omer Dembinsky, Data Research Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, comments: "Cyber criminals continue to exploit the trust that users place in well-known brands. The re-emergence of Spotify and the increase in travel-related scams, particularly around the summer and school vacations, show how phishing attacks adapt to user behavior and seasonal trends. Awareness, education and security controls remain crucial to reduce the risk of compromise."

Below you will find the brands that were most frequently targeted by phishing attacks in Q2 2025:

  1. Microsoft - 25%
  2. Google - 11%
  3. Apple - 9%
  4. Spotify - 6%
  5. Adobe - 4%
  6. LinkedIn - 3%
  7. Amazon - 2%
  8. Booking - 2%
  9. WhatsApp - 2%
  10. Facebook - 2%

Phishing attack pretends to be Spotify

One of the most high-profile phishing attacks this quarter targeted Spotify users. Hackers created a malicious login page that could be accessed at premiumspotify[.]abdullatifmoustafa0[.]workers.dev was set up and the users to activegate[.]online/id1357/DUVzTTavlOw/CgJiMcgc0fMOJY29SAg5JRoH? redirected. The malicious page mimicked the official Spotify login page, including authentic branding and design. Victims were asked to enter their usernames and passwords. They were then redirected to a fake payment page where an attempt was made to steal their credit card details. This campaign marks Spotify's first appearance in the phishing top charts since the fourth quarter of 2019, highlighting that entertainment services are now being exploited just as aggressively as technology platforms.

Another important trend in the second quarter was the sharp increase in phishing domains for Booking.com. Over 700 new domains with the format confirmation-id****.com registered. This represents an increase of 1000 percent compared to the beginning of the year. To add credibility and urgency, many of these domains contained real user data such as names and contact details. Although these websites were short-lived, they illustrate the increasing personalization and targeting capabilities of phishing campaigns.

Trend: Technology and digital platforms under attack

In the second quarter of 2025, the technology sector was still the industry most frequently targeted by phishing attacks. Tech giants, such as Microsoft, Google and Apple, continue to be prime targets due to their widespread use in authentication and productivity workflows.

Social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Facebook, also continue to be high-risk targets. The retail and travel sectors - including Amazon and Booking.com - have been exploited by attackers to capitalize on the seasonal shopping and travel business.

Source: www.checkpoint.com/

EU AI law is being sharpened

The European Union's AI law, the world's first comprehensive AI regulation, reaches a key milestone on August 2, 2025. From this date, numerous key obligations will apply to companies, authorities and AI providers in the EU, and penalties can be introduced and imposed for non-compliance.

On August 2, 2025, the EU's new AI law will take effect: violations can be punished immediately. (Image: Depositphotos.com)

The AI Act, which came into force on February 2 of this year, creates a uniform legal framework for artificial intelligence within the EU. Although many regulations will not come into effect until 2026, a new phase focusing on three areas will begin on August 2, 2025:

  1. Penalties for non-compliance
  2. Obligations for general purpose AI models (GPAI)
  3. Establishment of supervision and governance at national and European level

Penalties of up to 35 million euros

AI systems with unacceptable risks have been banned since February 2 of this year. From August 2, 2025, additional fines can now be imposed for violations of existing obligations, which can amount to up to 35 million euros or 7 percent of their total annual turnover. For example, companies must ensure that their employees have AI skills. The European Union expects its member states to define their own effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties. The special circumstances of SMEs and start-ups should be taken into account so as not to jeopardize their economic viability.

New obligations for providers of GPAI models

GPAI models that are marketed in the European Union from August 2, 2025 are subject to legal obligations. The European Office for Artificial Intelligence published the final version of the codes of conduct on July 10, 2025. Providers of such GPAI models must, among other things, create technical documentation, observe copyrights and ensure transparency regarding the training data used.

GPAI models are AI systems with a particularly wide range of applications and are designed to perform a variety of tasks. They are trained with huge amounts of data and are correspondingly versatile. The best-known example is large language models (LLM), such as the generative language model GPT-4o, which is integrated into ChatGPT. For GPAI models that were already on the market in the European Union before August 2, 2025, a transition period applies until August 2, 2027.

Supervision and governance

The AI Regulation creates a framework with implementation and enforcement powers at two levels. At national level, each EU Member State must designate at least one market surveillance authority and one notifying authority by August 2, 2025. The former is responsible for the surveillance of AI systems, the latter for the notification of independent conformity assessment bodies. Member states must publish information on the national authorities and their contact details by the deadline. At EU level, the European AI Office and the European AI Committee will coordinate supervision. In addition, an advisory forum and a scientific committee of independent experts will be set up.

What does this mean for HR departments and employees?

The AI Act has a direct impact on how AI is used in the areas of recruitment, performance management, personnel analysis and employee monitoring. HR managers must ensure that AI tools in these areas are transparent, fair and compliant.

  • Fairness and anti-discrimination: AI systems used in hiring or promotion decisions must be traceable and free from bias. HR departments should regularly review their tools and providers to ensure compliance.
  • Trust and transparency: Employees gain a better insight into how AI systems influence their work, for example in scheduling, performance evaluation or occupational safety. HR departments can create trust by openly communicating how AI is used and how employees' data is protected.
  • Responsibility of third-party providers: If third-party AI tools are used, HR departments must ensure that these providers meet the transparency and documentation requirements. Contracts and procurement processes should be adapted accordingly.
  • Training and change management: With stronger regulation of AI, the HR department will play a key role in training managers and employees. The aim is to promote the responsible use of AI and anchor ethical standards in the corporate culture.

"Providers of GPAI models that were already on the market before August 2, 2025 have until August 2, 2027 to fully implement the new regulations. Further obligations for high-risk AI systems will follow in 2026 and 2027. This milestone reflects the EU's ambition to encourage innovation while ensuring that AI is safe, transparent and in line with European values. This puts HR at the center of responsible adoption of AI in the workplace," says Tom Saeys, Chief Operations Officer at SD Worx, a European provider of HR and payroll solutions.

Source: SD Worx

UMB and QUMEA work together for innovative care technology

The IT service provider UMB and the Swiss e-healthtech company QUMEA are joining forces for digitalization in long-term care. As a Gold Partner of QUMEA, UMB will in future offer sales and integration of the radar-based solution in the Swiss market as a direct contractual partner for end customers or in the agent model.

From left to right: Reto Rüegsegger (UMB), Cyrill Gyger (CEO QUMEA), Carmelo Salmeri (UMB), Tanja Rölli (Director Marketing & Communications QUMEA), Peter Plank (UMB). (Image: zVg / UMB)

The Swiss company QUMEA, Winner of the Swiss Medtech Award 2025finds a powerful sales partner in UMB. As an experienced ICT provider for the healthcare sector, UMB takes on all phases from consulting and sales through to operation and 1st level support. To this end, the dedicated UMB sales team with a focus on healthcare was specifically trained on QUMEA.

Strategic expansion of the portfolio in the healthcare sector

With the combination of radar sensor technology and artificial intelligence, QUMEA enables contactless, anonymous monitoring that meets the highest acceptance and data protection requirements, particularly in sensitive care environments. Sales are aimed in particular at the long-term care sector, where UMB is an established provider of digital solutions as a holistic integrator. The company is currently in advanced talks with several existing customers regarding the introduction of QUMEA in their care facilities. "With QUMEA, we are strengthening our offering for long-term care with a forward-looking component. The radar-based solution enables discreet, effective monitoring and gives nursing staff valuable time for personal care," says Reto Rüegsegger, Product Management Healthcare Solutions at UMB. QUMEA complements the UMB portfolio strategically and technologically and meets a real market need with its data protection-friendly 3D radar technology, says Rüegsegger. And Cyrill Gyger, CEO of QUMEA, says of the strategic partnership with UMB: "QUMEA and UMB share the vision of combining digitalization and humanity in care. We are delighted to be moving into the future of care together."

Advantages of the QUMEA system

QUMEA enables completely contactless and anonymous monitoring using 3D radar technology, without the need for cameras, microphones or body-worn devices. The system detects early on when people in need of care leave their bed or wheelchair and alerts care staff in real time, effectively preventing falls and increasing safety. Thanks to precise detection, care staff receive targeted support and have more time for individual care. In addition, the solution allows the prevention of pressure ulcers and enables delirium management by registering unusual movement patterns or inactivity. The intuitive, app-based operation is simple, customizable and, together with full compliance with the highest data protection standards, ensures smooth, data-secure use in sensitive care environments. 

Source: UMB

Revision of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001: What it's all about

The ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) standards are currently being revised. The focus is on new requirements from practice, society and the environment - including opportunity management, climate relevance and leadership with integrity.

Is being revised together with the ISO 9001 standard: ISO 14001 for environmental management. (Image: Depositphotos.com)

The globally recognized ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards are currently undergoing a revision. The aim is to better reflect current requirements from practice, society and the environment. Topics such as opportunity management, climate relevance and leadership with integrity are becoming increasingly important and are being weighted accordingly in the revision.

ISO 9001 - What's new?

The most important planned changes concern the separation of risks and opportunities. Separate chapters are to give equal weight to both aspects. Companies are also required to systematically identify opportunities, e.g. by means of a SWOT analysis. Another point is dedicated to ethical and ethical behavior. In future, the standard will require top management to act as role models and actively demonstrate ethical behavior. Last but not least, there are also cultural aspects and editorial adjustments: For example, the structure of the standard will be revised and cultural influencing factors will be given greater consideration.

ISO 14001 - Which points are under discussion?

The aim of the revision is to clarify existing concepts so that environmental aspects can be better understood and managed more effectively. One focus, for example, is greater clarity in the annex to the standard. More practical information on the requirements for the environmental management system (EMS) is to be found there. There will also be a stronger focus on quality and planning. This is because better planning is central to effective environmental management - especially with regard to changing environmental conditions. The focus will be on the following questions, among others:

  • How are environmental risks and opportunities identified and taken into account?
  • How are environmental targets defined and coordinated with environmental aspects and legal and voluntary obligations?
  • How is the relevance of climate change or other local or global environmental issues assessed for the organization?
  • How is the product life cycle taken into account in the EMS?
  • How is the availability of documented information in the EMS ensured?

Recommendation for companies

Work on the revision is ongoing. Changes are therefore not yet necessary at this time. Nevertheless, it makes sense to address the issues of climate change, opportunity management and responsible leadership at an early stage. The publication of the revised ISO 14001 is planned for March 2026, that of ISO 9001 for fall 2026.

Source: Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV)

The energy transition is taking place at the edge

The energy transition is making our electricity grid increasingly volatile and complex. Edge intelligence, i.e. the AI-supported analysis of sensor and device data directly on site, is becoming an indispensable tool for control and stabilization.

Controlling the local power supply, supporting e-mobility, stabilizing the overall grid: Edge intelligence is a key instrument of the energy transition. (Image: Pixabay.com)

The energy transition is profoundly changing our electricity grid. The increasing use of photovoltaic and wind power plants is making it more and more decentralized and volatile. Without digitalization, this power grid would no longer be manageable. Edge intelligence plays a key role here: the analysis of measuring device, control unit and sensor data using artificial intelligence directly at the point of origin. Dell Technologies shows how this edge intelligence supports the energy transition in many ways. 

  1. Decentralized control in real time. As artificial intelligence analyzes the data at the edge, it does not need to be transferred to a central data center or cloud for processing. This makes it possible to control the local power supply from photovoltaics and wind power in real time. If there are fluctuations in supply and demand, the AI can react without delay: by regulating the feed-in, storing electricity or shifting loads.
  2. Support for e-mobility. The charging infrastructure for electric vehicles can also be controlled in real time. Artificial intelligence analyses data directly at charging points and in the local grid and can forecast charging requirements, react immediately to external conditions such as grid load, electricity prices or vehicle condition and dynamically optimize charging performance. These fast and context-related decisions are particularly essential in larger charging parks and for bidirectional charging.
  3. Stabilization of the overall network. By controlling local grids and charging infrastructures, edge intelligence not only ensures local grid stability. It also keeps the higher-level electricity system more stable because it dampens load peaks and avoids frequency fluctuations. Its fast, autonomous reactions relieve the burden on central grid control centers and prevent local problems from escalating into large-scale instabilities. The more edge intelligence is active in local systems, the more flexible and robust the overall grid becomes. 
  4. Strengthening data protection. Edge Intelligence also strengthens data protection. Sensitive personal information such as consumption data, attendance patterns or the energy consumption of individual households remains local and does not have to be transferred anywhere. This significantly reduces the risk of data leaks and unauthorized access.
  5. Increasing resilience. Last but not least, edge intelligence makes the power grid more resilient. By processing data on site, it is not dependent on a functioning internet connection. This is particularly beneficial in rural areas, where technical faults or internet outages occur more frequently. The power supply in microgrids, isolated solutions or battery systems is not affected by such cases. 

"Edge intelligence is a key tool in the energy transition because it reacts to local fluctuations in real time, thereby ensuring stable and efficient grid operation," says Chris Kramar, Director & General Manager OEM DACH at Dell Technologies. "It is supported by robust and powerful IT systems on site and central platforms that allow these systems to be supplied with the necessary software and secured."

Source: Dell Technologies

Swiss pension commitments continue to have high coverage

After a strong first quarter of 2025, the funding of Swiss pension commitments in company balance sheets declined slightly in the second quarter of 2025. According to the WTW Pension Index, the funding ratio fell by 1.3 percentage points to 124.2 %.

Source: WTW

According to the WTW Swiss Pension Finance Watch for the second quarter of 2025, Swiss pension commitments continue to have high coverage despite a decline in the second quarter and global volatility. Assets remained largely unchanged in the second quarter of 2025, while obligations increased by 1.0 % due to the slight decrease in discount rates. As a result, the funding ratio (i.e. the ratio of pension assets to pension obligations) deteriorated by 1.3% in the second quarter, as shown by the WTW Pension Index. It fell from 125.5 % as at March 31, 2025 to 124.2 % as at June 30, 2025.

Corporate bonds were volatile in the second quarter, but ultimately the discount rate changed only slightly over the quarter, falling by 3 basis points. This had only a modest impact on pension obligations in corporate balance sheets. Asset markets were also volatile over the quarter, with typical pension fund asset classes falling by around 5 % in the first week of the second quarter, but then recovering to close the quarter virtually unchanged.

Resilience despite headwinds: Swiss pension funds remain financially stable

After a sharp increase in the first quarter of 2025 and a slight decrease in the second quarter of 2025, the discount rate has leveled off at around 1.20 %.

"Swiss pension funds continue to have strong financial positions. The general resilience of the system continues to be supported by proven investment strategies and careful risk management. The latter is characterized by timely adjustments to parameters such as conversion rates and the technical interest rate over the last five to ten years. On average, the fluctuation reserves are still almost fully covered and provide a valuable buffer against possible future market volatility," comments Adam Casey, Head of Corporate Retirement Consulting at WTW in Zurich.

Possible shift to investments with higher risks

In June, the Swiss National Bank lowered its key interest rate to 0.00 %. The European Central Bank followed suit and reduced its key interest rate by 25 basis points to 2.00 %. The US Federal Reserve (Fed), on the other hand, kept its key interest rate unchanged at 4.25 to 4.50 %, although the markets continue to expect further interest rate cuts in the course of the year.

The first part of the year was characterized by rising geopolitical tensions, including trade disputes, conflicts in the Middle East and increasing friction between the US and China. These developments led to significant market volatility in the first quarter, with the recent rise in oil and commodity prices reflecting the prevailing uncertainty. These trends continued in the second quarter, with the USA announcing far-reaching tariff increases, which led to strong market fluctuations. However, the stock markets recovered noticeably in June.

"Against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty, many institutional investors such as pension funds have increasingly turned to alternative investments such as private equity, infrastructure and real assets - a strategy aimed at diversification and risk mitigation, especially in light of falling bond yields. Accordingly, we advise pension funds to review their strategic asset allocation and, if necessary, replace traditional bond investments with other bond instruments," says Alexandra Tischendorf, Head of Investment at WTW Switzerland. "A highly diversified portfolio with a balanced risk exposure to the various economic sectors remains important," she continues.

Source: WTW

Helsana Group acquires software company Adcubum

The Helsana Group is acquiring Adcubum AG, the leading provider of health and accident insurance software in Switzerland. With the acquisition of Adcubum, Helsana secures the long-term stability and further development of IT systems that are of central importance to Helsana and the entire industry.

The Helsana Group takes over the insurance software manufacturer Adcubum. (Image: Helsana)

The Helsana Group is taking over Adcubum AG, which is majority-owned by the American private equity company TA Associates. Adcubum will be assigned to the Helsana Group's holding company and will remain an independent company headquartered in St. Gallen. All existing contracts will be fulfilled. Operational management will remain with the current management, and all employees will be retained. "With this investment, Helsana wants to maintain and further develop its stable, efficient and innovative health insurance software," says Helsana CEO Roman Sonderegger, explaining the takeover of Adcubum. "The investments and targeted innovations for the software will benefit Helsana and all health and accident insurers that work with Adcubum. This will ultimately benefit millions of insured persons throughout Switzerland".

Equal treatment of all customers

As the new owner, Helsana promises that Adcubum will continue to operate as an independent company. With this in mind, the majority of Adcubum's new Board of Directors will in future be made up of people who are independent of Helsana, the company announced. Adcubum is also committed to ensuring that all customers have equal access to products and services at fair prices.

Digitalization and resilient IT systems are key in a mass business such as insurance. Helsana and Adcubum have been working closely together for over a decade. The takeover should therefore also be seen in the context of Helsana's strategic development, according to the statement. The takeover strengthens digital expertise and is a decisive step towards even greater efficiency and innovation.

Adcubum with long-term oriented Swiss owner and clear ambitions

With the leading health insurer Helsana, Adcubum gains a long-term Swiss owner that is also an important customer. This creates additional opportunities to take the needs of Swiss health and accident insurers even more into account in future and to implement innovation projects efficiently. Adcubum wants to play an active role in shaping the digital transformation in the healthcare sector and further expand its position as a leading provider of insurance software in this area. With its combination of technological expertise and broad access to industry knowledge, the company will continue to focus on innovative solutions.

No premium money for takeover

The acquisition is being carried out by Helsana Beteiligungen AG, a company specializing in investments in the healthcare sector. The purchase will be financed via the holding company (Helsana Ltd). The insurance business will not be affected and no premium money will be used for the purchase of Adcubum. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Source: Helsana

Cloud-based AI applications and the danger of shadow AI

The rapid spread of cloud-based AI is revolutionizing companies, but harbors an underestimated danger: "shadow AI". The uncontrolled use of cloud-based AI tools increases the complexity of cyber security and poses new challenges for the protection of sensitive data and processes.

Shadow AI can lead to phenomena that raise questions about governance and resilience. (Image: AdobeStock / Stormshield)

Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI start-up, has been available on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform since the end of May. The announcement, made at the Build 2025 conference, marks a strategic turning point: Microsoft is opening up its ecosystem to a wider range of AI players, including some that are challenging its traditional partners such as OpenAI.

Open cloud environments lead to more complexity

"In general, the rapid development of AI in the cloud requires a rethink of access policies and improved monitoring of usage to ensure greater security for sensitive data flows," says Sébastien Viou, Director of Cybersecurity & Product Management at Stormshield: "The integration of AI models developed by xAI, such as Grok, on the Microsoft Azure platform represents a further step in the opening up of cloud environments to alternative large language model providers. While this open ecosystem dynamic appears to bring agility to organizations, it also introduces a new level of complexity for the teams responsible for cybersecurity."

Transparency of use is a key concern here. With generative AI now accessible via standardized Azure interfaces, the number of potential applications can increase without meaningful controls and countermeasures, especially in complex application environments that span a variety of subsystems. The result is a blurring of the line between legitimate experimentation and "shadow AI". Without precise monitoring mechanisms, it is difficult to know who is using these models, with what data and for what purposes.

New requirements for risk management

This inevitably raises the question of risk management of a legal or technical nature, such as governance of access, traceability of usage and protection of sensitive data. The fact that Grok now exists alongside other AI tools on the same platform requires a granular reassessment of the impact on data processing and operational resilience. A least privilege philosophy must prevail, with tighter controls on identities and usage sessions. Otherwise, the risk of sensitive information being compromised or leaked simply due to configuration errors becomes non-trivial.

Finally, beyond the access and visibility issues, controlling sensitive data flows is a critical blind spot. Seemingly innocuous interactions between employees and AI can hide data exfiltration or processing operations that violate security policies. In an environment where traditional data loss prevention solutions were already complex to apply, the challenge takes on a new dimension. This requires holistic cybersecurity measures that go beyond mere reactivity and are integrated into the corporate strategy from the ground up. This includes comprehensive mechanisms to enforce zero-trust principles that ensure that every access request - whether from a human or AI - is authenticated, authorized and continuously validated, regardless of location or device.

Digital sovereignty as the key

Controlling the flow of data in the context of AI applications also requires innovative solutions that go beyond traditional perimeter defense. An effective security strategy must be able to analyze AI-generated content and AI-driven interactions in real time to prevent potential misuse or leakage of sensitive information. This requires advanced network-level inspection capabilities and endpoint protection capable of detecting and preventing unusual behavior or suspicious patterns emanating from AI models.

Given the rapid pace of development and potential risks, it is essential to rely on trustworthy and transparent cybersecurity solutions, especially when it comes to protecting critical data and infrastructure. Only by building a robust security foundation that prioritizes digital sovereignty and compliance with European standards can companies reap the full benefits of AI safely and responsibly. Such a comprehensive strategy is key to unleashing the innovative power of AI without losing control. Because without a rigorous approach to governance and oversight, AI, whether generative or not, is likely to evolve in organizations faster than the means to control it.

Source: Stormshield

Ten Swiss medtech start-ups selected for US expansion

Ten promising startups have been named to the Swiss National Startup Team 2025 and will travel to Boston from September 28 to October 3, 2025 to present themselves to investors, expand their network and meet company representatives.

Ten medtech start-ups will be able to present themselves to various investors in the USA from September 28. (Image: Venture Leaders)

Venturelab has been putting together the Swiss national start-up team since 2006. As part of the Venture Leaders Roadshows, the entrepreneurs meet investors, industry experts and potential customers in leading global technology centers such as Silicon Valley, Boston, Asia, Barcelona, Munich and London. The Venture Leaders Medtech 2025 program is supported by EPFL, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Helbling Technik, the Health Innovation Hub Aargau, Kellerhals Carrard, the Canton of Vaud and Vischer.

Attracting international attention

After a competitive selection process that reviewed over 70 applications, a panel of investors and industry experts selected ten startups to participate in the upcoming roadshow in Boston - one of the world's leading centers for healthcare innovation. The week-long program will give participants the opportunity to connect with company representatives, potential partners and investors and advance their US market entry strategy.

The selected Swiss medtech startups are receiving international attention - and for good reason: they address challenges such as smart implants, AI-assisted diagnostics, neonatal nutrition and non-invasive monitoring. "These innovations are not only impressive - they have the potential to change medical technology worldwide," says Stefan Steiner, Co-Managing Director of Venturelab.

This year's Venture Leaders Medtech participants join a remarkable group of previous attendees - including Lunaphore Technologies (acquired by Bio-Techne), Virtamed, Credentis (acquired by vVardis), Stimit (acquired by Dräger), CUTISS, Distalmotion, MindMaze, Positrigo and Volumina Medical. "The organization of the program was exceptional, and the quality of the meetings exceeded all my expectations," says Pablo Lara, co-founder of OncoSwab and former Venture Leader Medtech 2024 participant. "I was so impressed that I even postponed my return flight to extend my stay. I can recommend this program without reservation."

The 10 medtech start-ups of 2025

This year's national start-up team in the medtech sector is made up as follows:

  • Babylat | Bern | www.babylat.com: Babylat is the first automated table-top device for enriching proteins and fats from breast milk to improve the nutrition of premature babies.
  • Clee Medical | Geneva | www.cleemedical.comClee Medical enables safer and faster neurosurgical procedures through high-resolution real-time brain imaging combined with AI-driven navigation.
  • dEEGtal Insight | Bern | www.deegtal.aidEEGtal Insight improves the diagnosis of epilepsy and mental illness by using AI software to extract hidden patterns from routine EEGs.
  • DigeHealth | Vaud | www.digehealth.chDigeHealth is developing a wearable that records bowel sounds to detect blockages early and enable more informed clinical decisions.
  • Hemetron | Zurich | www.hemetron.comHemetron offers a solution for home monitoring using novel blood tests to enable the early treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.
  • Inteeth | Geneva | www.inteeth.comInteeth is the first truly invisible dental splint that straightens teeth from behind and enables faster, more discreet treatment.
  • NX-Spine | Basel | www.nexilis.chNX-Spine improves the fixation of bone screws in spinal fusions with a fast, polymer-based solution that increases stability and safety.
  • OrthoSens | Jura | www.orthosens.chOrthoSens makes orthopaedic implants intelligent by integrating battery-free sensors that provide surgeons with real-time recovery data.
  • Augury Medical (Pace Locator) | Bern | www.pacelocator.comPace Locator helps to prevent heart failure caused by pacemakers by providing real-time heart data during the procedure.
  • Scanvio Medical | Zurich | www.scanvio.comScanvio Medical uses AI to turn standard ultrasound into a tool for faster, non-invasive detection of endometriosis.

Source: Venture Leaders