"The seal is a nice confirmation that we have an exceptional health management system," explains Corinne von Felten, Human Resources Director at Canon (Schweiz) AG. "We are now one of just under 90 companies in Switzerland that have been awarded the "Friendly Work Space" seal of approval. This naturally makes us proud."

To become a Friendly Work Space certified company, a comprehensive assessment process must be completed. The criteria used by Health Promotion Switzerland to assess the award of the label are based on the European quality criteria of the ENWHP (European Network for Workplace Health Promotion) and have been further developed by Health Promotion Switzerland in collaboration with leading Swiss companies.

As part of the assessment process, Canon Switzerland was able to demonstrate that the company has firmly anchored occupational health management in its philosophy and corporate policy.

"Occupational health management has been part of our HR strategy for many years and we are constantly working to create even better conditions for the well-being and health of our employees," says the HR manager. "We are delighted to receive the "Friendly Work Space" award, which confirms that investing in health management is worthwhile."

To ensure that Canon Switzerland can still call itself a Friendly Work Space company in three years' time, we are continuously working on long-term and sustainable health management.

Source: www.friendlyworkspace.ch / www.canon.ch

Cosima von Kries, Nintex Director, Solution Engineering EMEA, shows how responsible implementation of AI works and names four changes that could occur in four key areas in the future:

1. Customers integrate AI directly into their automation systems   

When thinking about the potential of AI-driven automation, the ultimate goal is to put the power of innovation directly into the hands of customers. A future is envisioned where users are not just consumers, but also active creators. They will be able to visualize a scenario and then design an intuitive workflow using generative AI. This will be driven by AI's ability to decipher documents, extract data and seamlessly integrate all of this into automated processes. This trend is expected to mark a decisive step in the evolution of business strategies, as AI is no longer seen as a standalone tool, but as an integral part of automated processes and their optimization.

2. Significant improvement in the customer experience 

With every new automation tool, there is a learning curve. Traditionally, this has been a barrier between the user and optimal productivity. With AI, you can find new learning processes that flatten this curve and make the whole process much more enjoyable and user-friendly. For example, an AI-powered helper is a personalized assistant that ensures end users find what they need when they need it. This speeds up the learning process and reduces initial frustration. 

3. Use of AI to optimize internal processes  

AI is having a transformative impact on businesses. By incorporating AI tools into workflows - from the creation of help files to the intricate nuances of coding - a new era of precision and efficiency has been ushered in. It's not about having fewer employees, it's about working with employees more and more efficiently. The goal is to accelerate growth and resilience through focus.

4. Applications of AI in product functions

The point of direct integration of AI in product functions is key as it promises to accelerate time-to-value for customers, primarily through AI-based design-time capabilities. 

Automation is aimed at a wide range of users: from business professionals and developers to IT experts and solution partners. Current automation tools are used to handle process documentation, define and monitor processes, collaborate on workflow designs and much more. For almost all of these activities, AI capabilities can be integrated to optimize user efficiency by leveraging relevant context. 

The most exciting areas of current AI innovation include process management, automation cloud integration and app development. In all of these areas, the need for manual creation can be further reduced and significant leaps in efficiency can be achieved. 

Responsible implementation of AI

While utilizing the numerous possibilities of AI, it is essential to rely on the basic AI principles.

People at the center of design 

We can all attest to the transformative power of AI. But AI-powered automation is a tool, not the end goal. Every design, every strategy should be executed with the end user in mind. By weaving the human element into their AI fabric, companies can ensure relatability, loyalty and true effectiveness. When AI is used in products to speed up the design/creation of processes, workflows, etc., the new AI assistants always give control back to the designer - i.e. the human. The AI acts as an assistant (not an oracle) and the human designer has the final say on what is published, tested and released.

Promoting transparency and accountability 

Transparency is not just a buzzword, it is an obligation. As you continue to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, you should ensure that all stakeholders - whether partners or customers - understand the intricacies of AI tools. It's about fostering a collaborative, informed ecosystem.

Governance and ethics 

Governance and ethics should be an operational compass. It is important to take every step of the AI journey with a deep sense of responsibility. It's not just about developing tools, but also about setting standards, ensuring fairness and preventing bias. 

Protection of privacy and security 

Data is the new gold, and its inviolability is of the utmost importance. Every algorithm and every tool must be equipped with robust security measures so as not to jeopardize user trust.

Combining AI and automation in a meaningful way

A mixture of enthusiasm and caution should characterize all developments. After all, it is about harnessing the promise of AI while remaining rooted in ethics, responsibility and humanity. The future is promising if it is accompanied by a commitment to added value and safety for customers.

Source: www.nintex.de

From supply chain problems and rising customer expectations to increased competition in rapidly changing markets - mechanical engineering companies are under enormous pressure in many respects. As a result, the focus of management is increasingly shifting towards the implementation of new digital tools and Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI, robotics and additive manufacturing. In addition, companies are relying on proven methods of operational excellence.

"Machine and plant manufacturers often still rely on conventional lean production approaches," explains Michael Staebe, co-author of the study and head of the Industrial Goods and Services practice group in the DACH region. "Although many companies are examining which digital tools and Industry 4.0 technologies they can use and how they can best benefit from sustainability measures, they usually do this in organizationally separate silo structures without an overall strategy."

To truly become a successful factory of the future and achieve productivity gains, mechanical engineering companies must face three key challenges. Firstly, they should integrate the latest Industry 4.0 technologies into their existing production processes. Secondly, they need to integrate Operational Technology (OT) and Information Technology (IT) from an operational and systems perspective. And finally, it is crucial to align sustainability and circular economy with overall business goals and optimize production processes accordingly.

AI is becoming a top priority for machine manufacturers

Many mechanical engineering companies are now focusing on AI solutions. In a global Bain survey of industry executives, 75% stated that the introduction of new technologies such as AI in research and development (R&D) is their top priority. If companies are first-time users of AI, they use it primarily in procurement, assembly, maintenance, quality control and warehouse logistics. Companies with several years of AI experience, on the other hand, prefer to use this technology to make their supply chains more resilient and sustainable in the face of ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical turbulence.

While the potential applications of AI are developing rapidly across industries, the Bain study highlights the far-reaching potential of generative AI in particular for the realignment of the manufacturing sector, its productivity and its processes. For example, generative AI can generate insights from unstructured data that can lead to dramatic improvements in productivity, customer service and financial performance. Specific areas where engineering companies are currently using AI particularly effectively include minimizing assembly errors and improving quality control, increasing productivity and streamlining warehouse management.

Focus shifts from products to digital solutions

The manufacturing industry now consumes more chips and components for the Internet of Things (IoT) than any other sector - which indicates, not least, that machine builders need digital

tools quickly. What's more, according to the Bain study, those companies that lead the way in implementation can even double their total shareholder return compared to the industry average.

In light of this development, many mechanical engineering companies are moving away from manufacturing standard products for a global market towards more customized solutions tailored to selected industries. As part of this reorientation, they are focusing on a smaller number of customers in specific fields of activity, while at the same time increasing the range of products offered to these customers and making the supply chain less fragmented.

"The markets of the future will be defined by the targeted servicing of promising customer segments and no longer by products alone," summarizes mechanical engineering expert Staebe. "In this new era, it's all about creating holistic solution packages consisting of machines, digital offerings and associated services. This enables machine manufacturers to gain a competitive advantage that is difficult to catch up on."

Combining the circular economy with IoT

In addition to digital tools, the topic of the circular economy has become increasingly important. A recent cross-industry Bain survey of around 400 companies worldwide revealed that 47% of large mechanical engineering companies have already made commitments in this regard. However, most initiatives remain narrow and focus on recycling and waste reduction. "Many companies see the circular economy merely as a regulatory necessity," says Staebe. "Some, on the other hand, have already seen it as an opportunity to create value."

According to the Bain study, companies that have integrated the circular economy into their operating processes and combine it with IoT technologies achieve particularly extensive efficiency and sustainability gains. Companies that already have circular supply chains, for example, benefit from up to 28% less material consumption, which not least reduces their dependence on scarce raw materials. These pioneers are also more resilient: Two thirds of companies with circular supply chains did not suffer any restrictions during the corona pandemic - compared to just 2 percent of those with a conventional supply chain approach.

The IoT data collected in this context also offers enormous opportunities to maintain the value and service life of their machines and production facilities for as long as possible, improve energy efficiency and reduce resource consumption. "Circular business models rely on connected machines and the data they generate," emphasizes Bain Partner Staebe. "With the right strategy, leading companies can tap into new customer groups and revenue streams over the next 20 years or so and make their supply chains more resilient."

Source: www.bain-company.ch

According to the latest study report, the use of hybrid multicloud models is set to double in the next one to three years. The driving factors are artificial intelligence (AI), security and sustainability, which are putting additional pressure on IT managers.

Companies continue to struggle with the complexities of moving applications and data across different environments. Against this backdrop, the importance of hybrid multicloud infrastructures is increasing, according to the ECI report. The main reasons for migrating applications from one environment to another over the past twelve months were security and innovation, according to the study. As AI became the focus of companies, participants in the ECI survey cited increasing investment to support AI strategies as their top priority, closely followed by investment in IT modernization.

"Whether due to AI, sustainability or security, IT organizations are facing increasing pressure to rapidly modernize their IT infrastructure," said Lee Caswell, SVP, Product and Solutions Marketing at Nutanix. "Eighty percent of respondents plan to invest in IT modernization and 85 percent plan to increase their investments specifically to support AI initiatives. This year's ECI report reveals that organizations must support the technologies of tomorrow by future-proofing their IT infrastructures today. The hybrid multicloud will continue to become the preferred infrastructure standard. This is because of the flexibility it provides to support traditional virtual machines as well as modern containerized applications and their migration between cloud and on-prem environments."

Key study results

• Hybrid multicloud infrastructures are becoming the infrastructure standard. 90 percent of respondents pursue a cloud-smart approach as part of their infrastructure strategy. They use the best environment for each of their applications - data center, public cloud or edge. Given the widespread adoption of this approach, it is no wonder that hybrid and multicloud environments have become the de facto standard for infrastructures. Furthermore, 80 percent of organizations see the greatest benefit of hybrid IT environments as being able to manage applications and data in equal measure. This capability is increasingly gaining priority status in top management, with almost half of respondents stating that the implementation of hybrid IT is a top priority for their CIOs.

• Ransomware protection is top of mind for CXOs and IT professionals alike, but most organizations are busy dealing with the aftermath of attacks. Attacks with ransomware and malware pose an existential threat to modern companies. Unfortunately, the cat-and-mouse game between malicious actors and corporate security specialists will continue in 2024. Accordingly, data protection and recovery will remain a challenge. For example, 71 percent of respondents who have experienced a ransomware attack reported that it took days or even weeks to fully restore operations. As a result, 78 percent of companies plan to increase their investment in ransomware protection solutions over the course of the year.

• The migration of applications and data remains a complex challenge in the area of conflict between security and innovation. In many cases, enterprise workloads, including their applications and data, are realized in the IT environment that best meets their specific requirements. This environment can be an on-prem data center, the public cloud, a smaller edge location or a mix of all three. Different deployment locations for applications are the reason why 95 percent of survey participants have migrated applications from one environment to another in the past year, with security and innovation being the motivating factors. Companies should therefore focus their infrastructure plans and decisions on making application and data migration a permanent state, with flexibility and transparency in mind. 35% of respondents described the migration of workloads and applications as a major challenge for their current IT infrastructure, which presented them with major hurdles when carrying out complex application migrations.

• IT teams don't just plan sustainability programs, they actively implement them - starting with the modernization of their IT. For 88% of respondents, sustainability is a priority in their organizations. However, in contrast to last year's study, according to which corresponding projects barely made it past the planning stage, many companies say they are taking active steps to put sustainability initiatives into practice. One of the most widespread steps is the modernization of IT infrastructure. This survey result is fascinating and shows the direct influence of infrastructure on sustainability goals.

• AI, application modernization and data growth make infrastructure modernization a must. Respondents to the ECI survey cited increasing investment to support AI strategies as their top priority, closely followed by investment in IT modernization. Furthermore, 37 percent of respondents identified the operation of AI applications on their existing IT infrastructure as a major challenge. To successfully overcome this challenge, companies prefer projects to modernize IT and provide edge infrastructures. This is because they can create the conditions for accelerating data access and processing. This in turn can help to connect data from different environments and make it more transparent where the data is located in the dynamic environments.

Source: www.nutanix.com

The ten start-ups selected by a jury of investors and biotech experts from over 70 applications will take part in the roadshow in Boston, one of the most important life science centers in the world. From May 13-17, 2024, the roadshow will bring the participants together with international investors and industry leaders to accelerate the expansion of their companies in the US.

The Venture Leaders Biotech will present themselves and their startups at a kick-off event at the Swiss Biotech Day in Basel on April 22, 2024.

The startups follow in the footsteps of high-profile former team members such as Covagen (acquired by Johnson & Johnson), Versantis (acquired by Genfit), SimplicityBio (acquired by Precision for Medicine), AMAL Therapeutics (acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim), NBE-Therapeutics (acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim), Alentis (USD 105m funding round in 2023) and Interax Biotech (seed round with US investors met during the roadshow). With the biotech industry accounting for 39% of Swiss exports, the Venture Leaders Biotech program contributes to the continued strength and vitality of the sector.

"The preparation of this roadshow, which is already in its 18th edition, is a tribute to the quality of the innovations and startups that have been part of this journey" said Jordi Montserrat, co-founder and CEO of Venturelab. "I can't wait to be part of this new edition and support this new team in its international expansion." 

"Thanks to our preparation, we were able to connect with VCs and pharma contacts during the roadshow, which opened up invaluable opportunities for us. The mix of youth and experience in our team has taught us to succeed together," said Mamta Chabria, co-founder and CEO of Tandem Therapeutics and Venture Leaders Biotech 2023 participant.

Venture Leaders Biotech is organized by Venturelab in partnership with Swissnex in Boston and supported by Debiopharm, EPFL, ETH Zurich, Hansjörg Wyss, Kellerhals Carrard, Novartis, Swiss Biotech Association and Vischer.

The Venture Leaders Biotech 2024:

Adoram Therapeutics - Geneva

Adoram Therapeutics is a Geneva-based multi-asset startup developing next-generation small molecule therapies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and other diseases that are safer and more effective than conventional therapies thanks to an allosteric mode of action.

Allegria Therapeutics - St. Gallen

Allegria Therapeutics is a Basel-based biopharma startup founded in 2023 with the goal of building a differentiated portfolio of therapeutic approaches around biological targets that selectively modulate mast cells as triggers of allergies and inflammatory diseases. The startup focuses its efforts on sustainable innovation to combat the growing burden on patients and restore their quality of life.

Eviive - Zurich

Eviive's mission is to revolutionize precision medicine research and development and its application by intercepting once undetectable cell-to-cell communication to deliver novel, actionable biomarkers with the goal of achieving unmatched success in treating and curing patients.

inSEIT - Berne

inSEIT is dedicated to the bioinformatic design and improvement of immobilized enzymes to develop next-generation biocatalysts for the chemical industry. The focus is on sustainability, market introduction and cost efficiency, thus contributing to a greener future.

Kylys Aesthetics - Geneva

Kylys Aesthetics develops a biocompatible hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler designed for excellent injectability, long-lasting effect and stable placement at the injection site. The patented technology enables injections with an ultra-thin 34G needle, ensuring greater precision, less pain for the patient and less post-injection hematoma.

OBaris - Zurich

OBaris enables the painless administration of injectable drugs via the OctoPatch® - a small, needle-free buccal patch inspired by an octopus sucker. The proprietary platform enables easy and painless administration of various injectable drugs with minimal waste production.

Shape Biopharmaceuticals - Zurich

Shape Biopharmaceuticals combines deep immunobiology and medicinal chemistry expertise with innovative, computational protein design to develop cost-effective, next-generation immunotherapies that will change patients' lives.

TissueLabs - Ticino

TissueLabs specializes in advanced biofabrication and offers a comprehensive range of devices, biomaterials and services for the development of lab-grown organs and tissues. TissueLabs is dedicated to streamlining biofabrication and enabling groundbreaking research and therapeutic advances in the field.

Well Science - Zurich

Well Science is on a mission to revolutionize the treatment of respiratory allergies. We combine the best of nature with innovative science that we have gathered over 17 years. www.BlossomUp.com is the first natural product whose ingredients have been proven to contribute to a well-functioning, balanced immune system.

Ymmunobio - Basel

Ymmunobio was founded in 2021 and focuses on gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The start-up's first-in-class platform produces an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate (YB-800ADC) that has tremendous potential for the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. The novel receptor target is present in Ø50% of colorectal cancers.

Source and other information: www.venturelab.swiss / www.venture-leaders.ch

In times of uncertainty, many organizations have realized that they need a better understanding of their financial situation and the risks they are exposed to. This has led to a greater focus on improving control information and optimizing processes. Charlotte Jacobs, Senior Manager at Swiss recruiter Robert Walters and specialist in controller recruitment, emphasizes that this trend has gained momentum over the last two years. Good risk coverage has proven to be crucial for companies to become more agile.   

Challenges in the recruitment and retention of controllers   

The growing need for controllers is a result of the general demand for more control over finances and cost management. Charlotte: "Above all, companies are looking for controllers who can not only analyze the figures, but also interpret them and formulate targeted advice for management. This is essential for managing future risks."   

False expectations  

Companies are faced with the challenge of attracting and retaining the right controllers. "This is not only due to the general shortage in the job market, but also to the unclear expectations of the controller's role in the company," says Charlotte. "We often find that companies don't yet have full control and therefore need an experienced controller to achieve this. This can lead to confusion about the duties and responsibilities of the position.  

Misunderstandings  

Expectations are not always clear for controllers either. "Financial controllers are no longer just concerned with the figures. Nowadays, they are also expected to take on an advisory role to the organization," explains Charlotte. "However, not everyone is aware of this broadening of responsibilities, which can lead to confusion between the company and the applicant about the exact content of the job. This miscommunication can lead to the company investing a lot of time and money in controllers who leave after a few months because the content of the job turns out differently than expected."   

Recruitment and retention of controllers  

Controllers are in demand, and they know it. "They are critical and can be demanding in terms of salary and working conditions," says Charlotte. "I try to talk to recruiters as much as possible about what they're looking for in a controller, because that makes it easier to find the right candidate. The problem is that the term 'controller' can be interpreted in many ways and can therefore be filled in differently by applicants."   

Charlotte advises companies to make it clear on paper exactly what the intended controller will do. "Hold internal discussions with employees in similar positions and research their expectations in detail. Then the chances of a match are many times higher, as is the chance that the new employee will stay with you."  

Source: www.robertwalters.ch

"Numerous challenges that should have been solved yesterday rather than today are currently tying up valuable capacities in many companies," says Urs Hirt, Managing Director of Staufen.Inova AG. For example, 76 percent of the companies surveyed admit that solving acute problems currently takes up the most time and energy. And in view of the stressful day-to-day business, only one in four companies is able to consistently implement strategic decisions.

The results of the study show the challenging times in which the economy in the DACH region is currently operating. 83% of companies state that they have rarely faced such diverse challenges in their history. The spectrum of negative factors ranges from climate protection measures to geopolitical uncertainties and internal problems. The industry feels most challenged by the shortage of skilled workers (62% of companies) and the economic situation (59%).

Operational excellence instead of paralysis of fear

"Even if many challenges - such as bureaucracy, supply chains or energy supply - are admittedly not always within a company's direct sphere of influence, complaining doesn't help," says Staufen.Inova Managing Director Hirt. "If you want to drive your business back to peak performance, you have to leave your comfort zone and take a bold approach. Operational excellence instead of paralysis of fear. This is the only way to free up the necessary resources to invest in new technologies and employee qualifications."

Companies are therefore faced with the challenge of getting their figures under control without losing know-how and clout. Traditional job cuts are therefore likely to provide short-term relief at best. "Ultimately, successful performance improvement means that I am determined to identify and implement the measures that will improve my income statement," Urs Hirt is convinced. "This consistent increase in performance can only be achieved through a holistic operational excellence strategy that includes process improvements, employee empowerment and data-based management of financial performance."

Cautious optimism for the future

The prerequisites and the attitude that this path could succeed in many companies are definitely in place. After all, when looking to the future, 40% of those surveyed for the "Performance Drivers 2024" study see more opportunities than risks for their company. A further 46% agree with this statement at least to some extent.

Source: www.staufen-inova.ch

"Our latest Patent Index shows that global invention activity remained high in 2023," says EPO President António Campinos. "The EPO has been tasked with examining more patent applications than ever before. This underlines both the attractiveness of the European technology market and the high quality of our products and services. Small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe are using patents more and more frequently. Their share of applications reached its highest level ever last year. These companies can now also benefit from the newly created unitary patent. It has significantly improved the framework conditions for innovation in Europe. It offers inventors an easier and more cost-effective way to protect their inventions and introduce them to the large EU market."

Significant increase in inventions in digital communication and energy technology

The technical fields with the most patent applications filed with the EPO last year were digital communication (including technologies for mobile phone networks), medical technology and computer technology.

However, the largest growth in 2023 was seen in the technology segment electrical machinery, equipment, energy (+12.2 % compared to 2022), which includes inventions relating to clean energy technologies including batteries (+28 %). Biotechnology also continued to record rising application figures (+5.9 %).

Application trends from Europe and worldwide

The five most active countries of origin of European patent applications in 2023 were the USA, Germany, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. Around 43 % of all applications came from the 39 member states of the EPO, 57 % were non-European applications.

The number of patent applications from the member states also increased in 2023 and amounted to 85,748 (+1.8 %). European companies were particularly well represented in the segments of digital communication (+10.7 %), biotechnology (+6.4 %), computer technology (+4.2 %) and measurement technology (+4.0 %).

Finland, Spain, the United Kingdom and Italy as growth drivers in Europe

The number of patent applications from Germany, the country with the most applications in Europe, returned to growth at +1.4 %, while applications from France fell slightly year-on-year (-1.5 %). Patent applications from most other European countries increased. Among the European countries with high patent activity (more than 5,000 applications per year), Switzerland (+2.7 %), the Netherlands (+3.5 %), the United Kingdom (+4.2 %), Italy (+3.8 %) and Sweden (+2.0 %) recorded the highest increases. Among the European countries with more than 1,000 applications per year, Finland (+9.2 %) and Spain (+6.9 %) recorded the most significant increases. Switzerland again recorded the highest number of patent applications per capita, followed by several Nordic countries (see graphic Patent applications per million inhabitants).

Strong growth in patent applications from China and the Republic of Korea

The strong growth from the Republic of Korea (+21.0 % compared to 2022) and once again the People's Republic of China (+8.8 %) contributed significantly to the positive balance of applications. The Republic of Korea was represented in the top 5 for the first time, while patent applications from China have more than doubled since 2018.

Canada (+2.6 % compared to 2022), Brazil (+4.1 %), Chinese Taipei (+5.9 %), India (+8.4 %) and Singapore (+22.3 %) also showed significant growth in registrations, albeit at a lower level.

Huawei leads the ranking of patent applicants

Huawei remained the leading patent applicant at the EPO in 2023. With a significant increase to more than 5,000 applications, this company accounted for almost a quarter of all patent applications from China. Samsung and LG follow in second and third place, together accounting for two thirds of all European patent applications from the Republic of Korea. Qualcomm and Ericsson rank fourth and fifth respectively. The top 10 includes four companies from Europe, two from the Republic of Korea, two from the USA and one each from China and Japan.

Almost one in four patent applications in Europe filed by SMEs

Patents are also of strategic importance for smaller companies. In 2023, 23% of all patent applications from Europe were filed by individuals or small or medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees. A further 8 % came from universities and public research institutions (see graphic Applicants by category). As part of its ongoing support for smaller applicants, the EPO will reduce certain fees for micro-enterprises, individuals, non-profit organizations, universities and public research institutions as of 1 April 2024.

Focus on female inventors  

For the first time, this year's Patent Index also contains statistics on the contribution of women to technical innovations. In 27 % of all patent applications from Europe, at least one woman is named as an inventor. Among the larger European patent filing countries (with more than 2,000 applications per year), Spain (46 %), France (33 %) and Belgium (32 %) had the highest proportion of patent applications in which at least one woman was named as an inventor in 2023. In the individual fields of technology, the proportion ranged from 14 % for patent applications in mechanical engineering to 50 % in chemistry. The data clearly shows that more women should be supported in order to exploit the full potential of female inventors.

Great interest in the European unitary patent

Since June 1, 2023, inventors have been able to use the unitary patent system. This means they benefit from a cost-effective option for patent protection in currently 17 EU member states in which the European patent applies with unitary effect. Legal action can be taken before the newly created central Unified Patent Court. The new system is already enjoying a high level of acceptance among patent proprietors: applications for unitary protection were filed with the EPO for 17.5 % of all European patents granted in 2023 - and even for 22.3% of all patents granted in the second half of 2023 after the system was launched. In total, more than 18,300 such applications were filed. Patent proprietors from the 39 member states of the EPO showed the greatest interest with 25.8 %, followed by companies from the USA and China (10.9 %), the Republic of Korea (9.7 %) and Japan (4.9 %). Most applications in 2023 were filed by Johnson & Johnson, Siemens, Qualcomm, Samsung and Ericsson. Two thirds of the patent holders who had converted their European patent into a unitary patent came from Europe.

Source: www.epo.org

The digitalization initiatives of recent years have been shaped by Industry 4.0 and the communication of sensors and systems. Now the shortage of skilled workers is shifting the focus to human resources. Based on studies and the software manufacturer Augmentir's own project experience, 6 developments are currently emerging here:

1. skill management has an increasing impact on production

According to a study conducted by management consultants Mercer in spring 2023, companies are increasingly investing in skills management solutions that record skills and qualifications. But this is only the first step: from 2024, the main focus will be on optimally deploying skilled and unskilled workers based on their documented skills - from one day to the next if necessary. It will also become more important to provide them with individual guidance and support at their workplace. AI algorithms will provide the necessary personalization. 

2. urgent transfer of knowledge

In its current study "HR Trends in the Food and Consumption Chain", the Arbeitgebervereinigung Nahrung und Genuss e.V. (ANG) emphasizes: "In view of the increasing number of baby boomers leaving the workforce, ensuring an orderly transfer of knowledge is becoming increasingly important." Mentoring programs or partnerships between older and younger employees can help with this. However, such mentors are not always and everywhere available on site to take the new employee by the hand. This is where digital remote assist systems can help. They enable industrial workers to chat and consult with experienced experts from the factory floor. As a welcome side effect, the protocol builds up a knowledge database that survives any employee turnover.

3. trainings become measurable

The concrete benefits of training measures carried out have so far been difficult to grasp. Long-term evaluations were not carried out in many places for cost reasons. Until now. For teams in production, the effectiveness of training can now be measured technically - almost incidentally, during their shift. Smart algorithms not only help to analyze the data of individual work steps and thus evaluate progress through further training. They also indicate measures with the greatest potential for improvement and suggest targeted training opportunities for different teams.

4. gaps in maintenance management are closing

Although computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) help with the planning of maintenance tasks and the tracking of work orders, they only do this to a limited extent. This is because daily maintenance routines, which are not carried out by maintenance specialists but by machine operators, fall through the cracks in these systems. Yet it is precisely these routines that play a key role in determining the service life and functionality of a system in the long term. Connected Worker tools provide easy-to-understand instructions for this. This turns the vision of "Total Productive Maintenance" into reality.

5 Chatbots reach the store floor

Ever since the hype surrounding ChatGPT, companies have been looking at the potential uses and benefits of generative AI. A recent study from the customer service department of a software manufacturer shows that employees who had only been with the company for two months were already acting like employees who had been on board for six months thanks to the AI helper. More and more of these chatbots are also helping to answer staff's spontaneous questions in production and maintenance. For this to work, however, it is crucial that the bot recognizes whether it is talking to an expert or a temporary employee. This allows it to adjust the level of the answer as well as its level of detail and confidentiality according to the role.

6. quality management starts in production

Employees in production and maintenance are increasingly becoming a central part of the quality management process. After all, if quality and safety incidents can be identified at this early stage, problems can be investigated more quickly and proactively addressed in good time. This increases occupational health and safety and reduces the costs of poor quality. Studies also confirm this. According to a study by analyst firm LNS, equipping the frontline workforce with networked technologies is currently the most important lever for collaborative quality management for leading companies in the area of Quality 4.0.

"Thanks to digitalization, the importance of the operational workforce is becoming more and more prominent," emphasizes Russ Fadell, CEO of Augmentir. "Tasks that frontline workers used to do more or less on the side are becoming visible and measurable thanks to digital tools. Be it autonomous maintenance or identifying and rectifying quality problems: Connected worker technology fully demonstrates the value contribution of the men and women in blue overalls. In short: it really puts people at the center."

Source: www.augmentir.com

A study by Keeper confirms that many users of computers, tablets or mobile devices have not yet established sufficient protection for their passwords to ensure digital access to sensitive private and business applications and data. Worldwide, 64 percent of respondents use either weak passwords or variations of passwords to protect their online accounts. At the same time, 80 percent of data breaches are due to compromised login credentials. Keeper provides helpful tips for maintaining digital security while traveling and in unprotected environments - because the upcoming Easter, Whitsun and summer vacations are also peak season for cyber criminals.

Wanderlust instead of cyber frustration

According to a recent study by the Foundation for Future Studies, the desire to travel continues to increase: more than six out of ten respondents are already planning their next vacation and the frequency of travel has now reached the pre-corona level of 61% and is even three percentage points above the previous year's level. Regardless of the reason for traveling, the security of online accounts, personal and financial data is always of great importance. Seemingly harmless habits such as poor passwords, saving passwords in insecure documents or tools or posting a travel destination on social media can lead to sensitive information or important account data being attacked by skilled cyber criminals.

These five cyber security tips will help protect you from cyber attacks:

1. Device safety comes first

All electronic devices must be equipped with the latest security updates and patches. Pay attention to important notifications and install updates as soon as possible. The easiest way to do this is to activate the automatic update function. Software updates not only improve existing functions, fix bugs and improve performance, but also close security gaps and add new security measures - which is why they are an important part of a security strategy.

2. Best possible protection for online accounts

You should set unique passwords that are at least 16 characters long, do not contain common words, patterns or consecutive numbers, but consist of upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. The security of an account can also be significantly improved by using two-factor authentication (2FA). This additional layer of protection ensures that unauthorized access is prevented even if the password is compromised. A password manager makes things easier at this point. It can create, save and automatically fill in secure passwords.

3. VPN first - avoid public charging stations and Wi-Fi

You should avoid public USB charging stations to prevent juicejacking attacks. This is because cyber criminals can load malware onto these charging stations and use it to access other people's devices. In addition, the automatic connection of WLAN and Bluetooth connections should be switched off and public WLAN networks should be avoided because they are usually unsecured and vulnerable to attacks. Instead, use your phone's hotspot function and use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt the connection and protect yourself from cyber threats when accessing accounts from different locations.

4. Mindful use of social media

You should be careful when using social media and not post travel plans and vacation information. Disclosing your location in real time makes you a target for cyberattacks and physical crime. Not only are you revealing your location and personal details, you are also alerting thieves to the fact that you are not at home. It's best to only share this information with trusted contacts and only post travel details when you return home.

5. For emergencies: Set up access to important documents

The risk of important financial, ID and other documents being lost or stolen is particularly high when traveling. Travelers should therefore make backup copies of important cards and documents and upload them to a secure password manager. Alternatively, an encrypted service such as One Time Share can be used to securely pass on important information to a family member or a trusted person so that they can access it in an emergency.

"With cybercrime ever-present and everywhere, implementing robust cybersecurity practices while traveling is essential," says Darren Guccione, CEO and co-founder of Keeper. "That's why we believe it's important to give people tools to increase their digital resilience. With a secure password manager, travelers can look forward to a carefree and secure travel experience."

Source: www.keepersecurity.com

Companies of all sizes and in all industries face multiple challenges. Speed, flexibility and agility make the difference between success and failure. In order to stay ahead of the international competition, resourceful leaders rely on agility, far removed from command-and-control principles and entrenched structures. "However, simply dissolving all internal frameworks without any guidance and acting absolutely freely will not get any company anywhere," says agile expert Dagmar Hebenstreit. "Of course, a rigid corset doesn't fit all companies; one-size-fits-all is exactly the opposite of agility. However, certain steps count for change in every company. They provide good orientation." The Agileus co-founder explains which hurdles need to be overcome.

The phases of change

Change projects resemble a matrix. They consist of successive project phases such as analysis, concept and introduction. The individual change phases are inserted into these project phases. However, this does not always end well. A typical course for a dangerous change: in the first part, the project receives a lot of encouragement and makes great progress in the first six months until the concept is completed. This is often followed by longer waiting times and loops in the approval process in the second part, triggered by management's growing awareness of possible consequences and pitfalls. In the third part, the first implementation gives the project new momentum until, after around 14 to 18 months, attention wanes in the fourth phase. This happens when the project exceeds the management's scope of interest and they turn their attention to new issues. Unresolved organizational obstacles and thus a failure to experience the full potential intensify the effect.

Possible consequence: questioning the entire change. This is the critical point that needs to be overcome in order to implement the change sustainably.

To ensure that change can grow sustainably in companies, managers need to pay attention to these five conditions:

1. Create awareness

People are extremely reluctant to leave their comfort zone. They only accept change when there is no longer an option for the familiar. Various large companies have failed to change due to a lack of pressure to realize what they were doing. The search for convincing reasons for change is therefore at the forefront: Why does a change need to occur? Is the pressure to act great enough? Transparency and clear communication of the reasons should be the most important prerequisites for creating awareness within the organization.

2. Work out motivation

Change is not only costly. It has consequences in terms of organizational and collaboration structures or responsibilities. This phase relies heavily on the managers, sponsors and stakeholders of the change project. Attitudes such as "Wash my fur, but don't get me wet" threaten to nip any desire for change in the bud. Is the organization, above all the management levels, ready for this? Measures such as consultations and workshops should clarify fears and expectations, define a common goal and determine the procedure. The fundamental question is: What motivation is driving the change? This is where the transition between formulating the vision and launching the Agile Transition Team begins.

3. Determine knowledge

A change requires methodical competence as well as the ability to design the target image and structure it down to the last detail. The ability to plan strategically and the ability to implement operationally are indispensable. What knowledge needs to be built up in the teams or the organization in order to function in the new structures with the new way of working? What know-how does the transformation require? Who do we need on board? Ideally with cross-functional members, employees from the departments to be transformed and the interface departments from different hierarchical levels drive the change from within as an agile scrum team. They are supported by at least two external consultants and usually a Scrum Master.

4. Exploring opportunities for change

In this phase, cooperation and communication structures need to be revised, as well as the management role, for example through a different planning approach and changed reporting. What framework conditions need to be considered that cannot be changed? Which processes or structures need to be adapted for sustainable change? This phase is characterized by the development of skills and new roles.

5. From concept to trial and error to habit

Grit your teeth and pull through - change is a never-ending process. Even after the external supporters have completed their project, change continues internally. This is because new expansion stages and topics that were not previously on the prioritized agenda come into focus over time. The question that needs to be asked again and again is: How are the first steps in the new setup being received? What is the feedback? In order to make everyone aware of the transformations that have taken place, it is worth measuring success, for example using KPIs. Even small advances and partial successes should be celebrated and provide regular proof of concept.

The important thing is that change succeeds through a two-way implementation - top-down and bottom-up. Without the support and active involvement of the management levels, every change hits a glass ceiling. Potential is not fully realized and teams become frustrated if they do not make progress. Without the involvement of senior management, change will not be accepted and supported. Leaders see resistance and critical feedback as an indicator of the need for improvement. Objective reasons should be isolated and clarified. Then the fears behind the resistance do not influence the change that makes the company future-proof.

Source: www.agileus-consulting.de

Cybercrime is a challenge for organizations of all sizes, but it hits small businesses the hardest and often under the public's radar. While cyberattacks on corporations and government agencies make up the bulk of news coverage, small businesses are generally more vulnerable and suffer proportionally more from the consequences of cyberattacks. A lack of experienced security personnel, insufficient investment in cyber security and overall lower budgets for information technology contribute to this vulnerability. SMEs are no small matter. According to the World Bank, more than 90 percent of companies worldwide are small and medium-sized organizations and they account for more than 50 percent of global employment.

Keylogger, spyware and stealer in 50 percent of attacks

Keyloggers, spyware and so-called stealers, i.e. malware for stealing data and access data, are used in almost half of all attacks on SMEs. Cyber criminals later use this stolen information for further actions such as unauthorized remote access, blackmail or the installation of ransomware.

The Sophos report also analyzes so-called IABs, or initial access brokers. These criminals specialize in breaking into computer networks. The report shows that cyber criminals use the dark web to offer their services specifically to SME networks. They also sell instant access directly to SMEs that they have already hacked.

Cybercrime has only one goal: data

Christopher Budd, Director Threat Research at Sophos X-Ops, categorizes the findings as follows: "The value of data as a currency has grown exponentially among cybercriminals and this is especially true for SMBs as they tend to use one service or application per function for the entire organization. An example: Attackers use an infostealer on a target network to steal access data. A password for the entire company's billing software falls into their hands. They could now gain access to the company's financial data and transfer funds to their own accounts. There's a reason that 90 percent of all cyberattacks Sophos investigated in 2023 involved data or identity theft - either through ransomware attacks, data extortion, unauthorized remote access or outright data theft."

Ransomware remains the biggest threat for SMEs, LockBit is number 1

Even though the number of ransomware attacks against SMEs has remained the same, they still represent the biggest cyber threat to companies with fewer than 500 employees. According to the Sophos Incident Response team, which intervenes in acute attacks, LockBit was the ransomware group with the greatest potential for chaos. Akira and BlackCat follow in second and third place. Attacks by older or less well-known ransomware, such as BitLocker or Crytox, have also occurred recently.

Remote encryption increases by 62 percent

The report also shows that criminals are maintaining their strategy of constantly changing the tactics for their ransomware attacks in order to remain successful. This currently manifests itself in the increased emergence of encryption activities via remote access and the targeting of MSPs (Managed Service Providers) as attack surface multipliers. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of ransomware attacks with remote encryption increased by 62 percent. The Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR) team also responded to several cases in 2023 where SMBs were attacked via vulnerabilities in their MSP's remote monitoring and management (RMM) software.

Social engineering and business communication: attackers are becoming more penetrating

Scam emails aimed specifically at companies, known as business email compromise (BEC), were among the second most common attacks after ransomware in 2023. These and other social engineering attacks involve an increasing level of sophistication: Instead of simply sending an email with a malicious attachment, criminals now engage more closely with their victim and send a whole series of email messages or even call them. In an attempt to evade traditional spam tools, attackers are now experimenting with new formats for their malicious content, such as embedding images with malware or malicious attachments in OneNote or archive formats. In one case, Sophos discovered that the fraudsters sent a PDF document with a blurred, unreadable thumbnail of an "invoice". The download button then contained a link to a malicious website.

"Our latest report shows once again that there is no shortage of threats for SMEs, and the complexity of these attacks is often comparable to those on large organizations," says Christopher Budd. "This is because while the expected ransom or extortion sums are lower than for a larger organization, the criminals easily make up for this 'shortcoming' through the sheer volume of attacks and due to the often laxer cyber security precautions. Attackers count on the fact that smaller companies are less well protected and do not use modern, sophisticated tools to protect their users and assets."

Source: www.sophos.de