Insurers report over 860,000 occupational and recreational accidents in 2019
For 2019, the 27 accident insurers in Switzerland reported 868,159 occupational and leisure accidents involving employed persons and persons seeking employment. The number of accidents thus increased by 1.5 percent compared to the previous year. The increase is due to the growing number of insured persons. Two thirds of the accidents occurred during leisure time.
Editorial
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September 23, 2020
The number of occupational and leisure accidents increased in 2019 compared to the previous year. (Image: Suva)
In the mandatory accident insurance for employees and job seekers, the number of accidents in 2019 increased again compared to the previous year (+ 1.5 percent). The increase is slightly greater for occupational accidents at 1.8 percent than for leisure accidents at 1.6 percent. Accidents involving job seekers, on the other hand, decreased by 6.0 percent, which can be attributed to the good economic situation in 2019 and the declining unemployment rate. All accident insurers together paid around CHF 4.9 billion in medical expenses, daily allowances or disability pensions in 2018.
The most common accidents at work
Accident statistics according to the Accident Insurance Act UVG (employees and job seekers).
The most frequent occupational accidents are still tripping accidents. Thereby 22 % of the accidents happen without an involved object. 20 % of the occupational accidents involving slipping or sliding occur on stairs, and in 10 % a load carried by the accident victim is causally involved. In 5 % of these cases, the weather has a decisive influence. The second most frequent cause is being hit by a foreign object. In 38 percent of the cases, these are small parts such as dust, splinters, chips or even liquids. They almost always injure the eyes. In third place in terms of frequency are stabbing, cutting or scratching injuries. The victims cut or stab themselves primarily with hand tools. In most cases, the hand is affected by injuries.
Noticeable influence of the lockdown on accident occurrence
The figures already available for the first half of 2020 from the 27 accident insurers show that both occupational accidents and leisure accidents decreased during the coronavirus lockdown from March to May 2020 compared with the previous year. Recreational accidents decreased slightly more than occupational accidents. This can be explained by the fact that it was no longer possible to ski or play football from mid-March.
Current evaluations by Suva show that since July 2020, accident figures have been roughly on a par with the previous year and are even higher for individual leisure activities. So far this year, there have been significantly more accidents while cycling, gardening and hiking or walking. The first detailed analyses of the influence of Corona on accident occurrence will be available in 2022.
The Swiss Franchise Association becomes swiss distribution
The Swiss Franchise Association is repositioning itself as swiss distribution - licensing franchising agency. The professional association wants to deepen distribution topics in their entire breadth and will in the future focus not only on franchising but also on other integrated distribution models such as agency, licensing or e.g. sole distribution.
Editorial
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September 22, 2020
The Swiss Franchise Association becomes swiss distribution. Rainer Jöhl, CEO of RE/MAX, becomes president. (Image: zVg / swiss distribution)
The last few years have shown that companies are increasingly no longer committing themselves to one sales strategy alone, but are also using other forms of integrated sales in addition to franchising in order to grow sustainably. The reasons for choosing one or the other distribution system can be complex: Either the system provider wants to grant the distribution partner more rights and freedom, or precisely not.
Opening up the content of the association beyond franchising proved to be an obvious step, as integrated distribution models have similar topics. Under the new name swiss distribution, the Franchise Association wants to start here and promote the discussion about integrated distribution systems.
Plan correctly
The choice of the right sales strategy is forward-looking for every company that wants to position its brand successfully and conquer its own market in a targeted manner. In doing so, it is advisable to prepare the sales strategy carefully and to make outlines without preconceptions. What is decisive is what the business activity envisages and not which system sounds best. swiss distribution is intended to be a contact point for entrepreneurs, sales managers and other interested persons and institutions and to inspire them. swiss distribution also wants to contribute to the training of future sales managers and is working specifically with appropriate educational institutions.
SME promotion
Starting your own business with a well-known brand has its own appeal. Swiss Distribution wants to show that it is also possible to earn money as a distributor of a well-known brand without having to think about the concept and brand positioning yourself. swiss distribution aims to strengthen entrepreneurship. Rainer Jöhl, new president of swiss distribution and CEO of RE/MAX Switzerland: "The association supports SMEs in optimizing their sales organization".
What does the new franchise association do?
swiss distribution promotes discussion among members on all issues relating to integrated distribution and, together with educational institutions, is committed to the training and continuing education of distribution experts. Topics such as sustainability in corporate management are also on swiss distribution's agenda.
In addition to the already proven team with McDonald's Suisse represented by Thomas Mosimann and RE/MAX Switzerland represented by Rainer Jöhl, the association has a strong addition to the board with Coca-Cola HBC Schweiz AG represented by Martin Kathriner, Läderach (Schweiz) AG represented by Marco Heyn, and Valora Schweiz AG represented by Pierre-André Konzelmann. Rainer Jöhl, CEO of RE/MAX Switzerland, will assume the chairmanship. The management is led by Dr. Christoph Wildhaber and now Melanie Käser together with Barbara Kehl.
Ventoo AG is integrating RHS InfoSys GmbH, which has been active in the market for 30 years, in order to strengthen its position as a leading service provider for modern workplace solutions for SMEs, according to the company.
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September 21, 2020
View into the open offices with the new workstations for the employees of RHS InfoSys GmbH at Räffelstrasse 24 in Zurich. (Image: Ventoo AG)
In the future, RHS InfoSys GmbH and Ventoo AG will jointly appear on the market for reliable and high-quality SME IT services under the Ventoo brand. Ventoo is a leading cloud-first IT and telecommunications service provider from Zurich, Microsoft Gold Partner, Microsoft Direct (1-tier) Cloud Solution Provider and Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance member. Since 2007, the company has supported SMEs and startups in the introduction and operation of cloud infrastructures and services such as Modern Workplace and Collaboration, Dynamics 365 and Azure infrastructure solutions.
The merger with RHS InfoSys GmbH will allow customers of both companies to benefit from a larger team and broader-based expertise in the areas of IT infrastructure and cloud transformation, the company said via press release.
Already after the first talks and negotiations at the beginning of 2020, a high degree of agreement in culture and business philosophy became apparent, according to the statement. In addition, there were sensible additions to the business model of the two companies. This allowed the teams of the two companies to outline and shape a unified future, despite unscheduled changes to the schedule as a result of the COVID-19 situation.
The two companies will subsequently merge. As part of the merger, the business activities of RHS InfoSys GmbH will be transferred in full, with all rights and obligations, to Ventoo AG. All your familiar contacts will therefore be available to you in the future - together with new colleagues - under the enlarged Ventoo umbrella.
Swiss Mobile Academy is now called Swiss Connect Academy (SCA)
At the end of September, the Swiss Mobile Academy changes its name to Swiss Connect Academy (SCA). As part of the re-branding, the brand essence was sharpened and the company's orientation adjusted. The aim of the rebranding is to meet the current and future needs of training participants even better and to further expand the market position.
Editorial
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September 21, 2020
The Swiss Connect Academy (SCA) team. (Image: www.sca.online)
The Swiss Mobile Academy has many years of expertise in the pedagogical as well as the technological field. The symbiosis of classic teaching and innovative methods such as e-learning, mobile learning, blended learning, and even the development of cutting-edge virtual reality learning content is one of the unique selling points of the education company. Analyses have now shown that the Swiss Mobile Academy was mainly associated with mobile learning. In order to correct this only partially correct image, the name, the appearance, the brand core and the company orientation have been revised: The new name is Swiss Connect Academy (SCA).
Sharpening of the brand essence and corporate orientation
SCA's overarching mission is that education is always connected to a joyful experience. SCA supports people's instinct to pursue new things in life and enjoy learning. With the new direction it has taken, SCA is raising its profile and bringing solutions to a widespread continuing education problem. Linda Zolliker, Deputy Manager of SCA, explains, "More and more professionals are struggling when faced with an educational or academic challenge, as they often find it difficult to muster motivation to learn, stay focused and enjoy the learning journey." The SCA aims to eliminate these problems by connecting leaders of today and tomorrow and making learning a joyful experience.
Achieving goals through innovative methods and new offerings
Linda Zolliker explains the strategy SCA uses to achieve its goals as follows: "We work with what we call the 2 Forces Method. We combine high-quality pedagogy with our strength in the technological field." The broad pedagogical offering, which combines both classic learning methods and innovative approaches, thus forms the basis for efficient learning. SCA's academic content is underpinned by homegrown technology - called Connect. The in-house technology also enables social exchange between learners and trainers, allowing for a completely new learning experience. This symbiosis increases the motivation and enjoyment of learning, which has a positive impact on learning outcomes.
New appearance as Swiss Connect Academy
In addition to the strategic measures, the new brand identity also entails a change of name, the adaptation of the logo and the revision of the visual appearance (corporate design). The ownership structure, the products and services offered and the legal form remain unchanged.
After a corona-related break, an SKO LeaderCircle was held again for the first time on September 16, 2020. The topic was "Language and cultural diversity in Switzerland - what we can learn from each other". The four talk guests made clear how valuable the multilingualism of our country is, also for the economy.
Thomas Berner
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September 18, 2020
Panel discussion at the SKO LeaderCircle on September 16, 2020, on Switzerland's linguistic diversity: Moderator Stefan Barmettler (far left) in conversation with Bakel Walden, Corina Casanova, Virginie Borel and Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter (from left to right). (Image: Thomas Berner)
Switzerland functions more as a nation of purpose than of will: With this often quoted thesis, SKO Managing Director Jürg Eggenberger introduced the Feierabend event at the SIX Convention Point in Zurich. Often, the four national languages in Switzerland are perceived more side by side than together. Is this really the case? And to what extent is Switzerland's cultural and linguistic diversity also a management issue in companies?
Learning languages to get ahead economically
The four talk guests - interviewed by Stefan Barmettler, editor-in-chief of the Handelszeitung - answered these questions one after the other. Former German Chancellor Corina Casanova, who grew up in the Rhaeto-Romanic-speaking Lower Engadin, shared, among other things, her experience of how she had to learn German very quickly after her mother tongue. "We have to learn other languages to get ahead economically," Casanova said. She sees linguistic and cultural diversity as the cement of our society and appeals to managers to be aware of other languages and to be open to other cultures.
Putting linguistic diversity into practice
Virginie Borel, head of Forum Bilingualism from Biel, Switzerland's only officially bilingual city, also encouraged managers to be more aware of employees' language skills. "It is better to communicate with errors in a foreign language than to remain silent without errors," was her appeal to the audience. One's own language competence is too often underestimated.
Something that Antoinette Hunziker-Ebneter, CEO Forma Futura Invest AG and Chairman of the Board of Berner Kantonalbank BEKB, was also able to emphasize. Bilingualism (German and French) is central there. It pains her every time bankers from Zurich and bankers from Geneva end up talking in English, she admitted.
SRG as the linguistic image of Switzerland?
Finally, Bakel Walden, Director of Development and Offerings at SRG, reported on how Swiss radio and television fulfills its mandate to cover all national languages with broadcasts. Linguistic diversity at SRG is becoming increasingly important, Walden said. So to speak, the former SRG claim "idée suisse" is to be taken quite literally. With the "Play Suisse" project, a streaming platform to be launched in November 2020, the aim is to achieve more exchange between the language regions. Thanks to advanced digital technology, foreign-language programs will be available with subtitles.
Languages as an integrating element - and an educational mission
In the panel discussion that followed, the importance of our multilingualism was emphasized once again. "Migrants have shown us how to adapt quickly," said Virginie Borel. SMEs could also make much better use of the language potential of migrants, she added. Bakel Walden, on the other hand, notes that among the younger generation, English language competence is higher than that for another national language. Perhaps more countermeasures should be taken in this regard. A task for the education system, as was also evident from a few audience votes: Why not increase the exchange of students and teachers between the language regions?
Review EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference 2020: "Secure in uncertain times".
At the EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference 2020 in Bern, the association of experts, together with top-class speakers, examined and discussed the role of people in the governance system. Is he more of a risk factor or a guarantor of trust?
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September 17, 2020
Discussion panel at the EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference 2020 (from left to right): Victor Balli, Monika Rühl, moderator Patrizia Laeri and Martin Nay. (Image: EXPERTsuisse)
The conference motto "Safe in uncertain times" has taken on a completely different meaning this year. Therefore, the EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference 2020 was held for the first time as a hybrid event on September 15: In the Kursaal in Bern, 300 guests followed the event on site while adhering to strict security measures, supplemented by 300 guests, members of EXPERTsuisse, politicians and journalists who followed the event online.
Ahead of the EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference 2020: Instead of short-time work, long working days in many places
Peter Ritter, President of EXPERTsuisse, welcomed the more than 600 participants with a big thank you for the large amount of extra work done in many places by the association's approximately 10,000 auditors and tax and fiduciary experts throughout Switzerland over the past six months. "Instead of short-time work in many places, long working days" had characterized the work in support of clients. As a result, fiduciaries, tax advisors and auditors have been very much at the forefront of supporting the new and previously unknown situation for the Swiss economy. "We are all challenged to find new solutions in a changed environment," said Peter Ritter. Member of the Council of States Erich Ettlin pointed out in his remarks on current affairs from the federal government that EXPERTsuisse has been helpfully involved in the political discussions on new framework conditions to deal with the COVID19 crisis.
The trust "Triple A" - Audit, Assurance, Advisory
"In uncertain times, it is a matter of offering our clients, the economy and society as much security as possible," also said Marius Klauser, Director and CEO of EXPERTsuisse. To this end, the trust services provided by EXPERTsuisse members - Audit, Assurance, Advisory - are particularly important. This so-called "Triple A" creates trust and trust moves markets, companies and people. This is particularly relevant in uncertain times. With the campaign www.confidence.swiss, the industry association would like to bring these topics closer to an interested public and in particular also to politicians, journalists and other stakeholders.
Human risk factor
The external presentations were kicked off by Solange Ghernaouti, Professor and Director of the Swiss Cybersecurity Advisory & Research Group HEC - UNIL and Ivano Somaini, Social Engineer and Cyber Security Expert. They explored the question of which cyber risks are most relevant to the practice of companies in Switzerland, and how business can better protect itself. The criminal forces, some of which are very well organized, target a very specific weak point - people. A risk factor that also represents one of the greatest uncertainties in the daily work of auditors and tax and fiduciary experts.
Effective overall governance
As part of overall governance, the risk situation must be adequately assessed and compliance ensured through appropriate measures. In effective overall governance, internal lines of defense are of great importance before complementary mechanisms such as special authorities, auditors and regulators can play their part in overall governance. This was also made clear in the panel discussion, which included Monika Rühl (Chair of the Executive Board of economiesuisse), Victor Balli (Board of Directors of the FAOA) and Martin Nay (Division President Audit of EXPERTsuisse). In this context, the need for a clarification of the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance was also discussed. A corporate objective must be the protection of material tangible & intangible assets. However, practice shows that the potential of a corporate implemented Internal Control System (ICS) is still underestimated.
Inspire women to take up exciting careers
Afterwards, Ruth Metzler, former Federal Councillor, president or member of boards of directors & foundations as well as patron of the "EXPERTsuisse FrauenNetz" and Bernadette Koch, certified public accountant, multi-board member and initiator of the "EXPERTsuisse FrauenNetz" gave insights into the important topic of promoting young talent and women. The main focus was on the issue of promoting the training of women in the auditing, tax consulting and fiduciary professions, and how to attract the right talent to the exciting professions and enable attractive careers.
Conclusion of the EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference 2020: People are not only a risk
In uncertain times, the ability to plan continues to decline and the importance of experimentation increases. Gerhard Fehr, CEO of FehrAdvice & Partners, demonstrated in a scientifically sound and practically proven manner how the formation and testing of hypotheses in an entrepreneurial context leads to knowledge gain and continuous learning. In his closing remarks, Marius Klauser, Director of EXPERTsuisse, pointed out how important alliances and cooperations are when experimenting in uncertain times and how EXPERTsuisse has positioned and networked itself in this regard - for example with the alliance denkplatz schweiz, which was launched in 2016, and the newly launched alliance e-tax schweiz.
As a conclusion of the various presentations and panel discussions at the EXPERTsuisse Annual Conference, there is a consensus that the human being at the center of all economic activity is both the greatest risk factor and will probably remain so, but it is also only the human being who can satisfy transparency needs and thereby build trust.
The management thinker, keynote speaker and business philosopher Anne M. Schüller shows why the future of companies lies in the hands of unconventional thinkers in her new book "Querdenker verzweifelt gesucht". It will be published in October 2020.
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September 16, 2020
Lateral thinkers wanted: Anne M. Schüller shows why the future of companies lies in the hands of unconventional idea creators in her new book. (Image: zVg)
If you want to reach the future, you need new ideas. Other ideas. Better ideas. Bold ideas. Ideas that no one has had before. This is where lateral thinkers come into play. They are mediators between outdated practices and new approaches, pilots into a new era. They shake things up, make things different, and bring things forward. They provide a breath of fresh air and drive important initiatives forward with a high level of commitment because they really care about the progress of their employer. Yet in many organizations, lateral thinkers are considered annoying and undesirable. This is dangerous. Where lateral thinkers are not allowed to become truly active, inertial tendencies increase. Stagnation, irrelevance and decline are the result. In contrast, the management thinker and multiple award-winning bestselling author Anne M. Schüller shows in her new book in a trenchant and practical way how the leap into the future actually succeeds with the help of good lateral thinkers.
Companies need lateral thinkers more urgently than ever before. Why is that? We're in the midst of the biggest change process ever. All over the world, visionaries are redefining what is possible. Only the nimble, smart, innovative market players with bold, unconventional, market-relevant ideas will survive. Excellent lateral thinkers, sometimes called organizational rebels, are thus strategically critical. This makes a strong lateral thinking culture essential. The crucial questions: In what kind of organization can this succeed? What tools are needed for this? How can you make yourself attractive to lateral thinkers? Where and how can lateral thinkers be deployed in order to move from thinking to action? What should you do to avoid driving away the good lateral thinkers you have? How can a lateral thinker stage his ideas so that they become acceptable? And what should even the most passionate lateral thinker stay away from? This book has the right answers at the ready: both for those responsible in companies and for the lateral thinkers themselves.
Book information:
Anne M. Schüller Lateral thinkers desperately sought Why the future of business lies in the In the hands of unconventional idea generators (with a foreword by Gunter Dueck) Gabal Verlag 2020, 240 pages, 29 ,90 Euro ISBN: 978 3 86936 998 3
A modern Chief Information Officer is at the heart of many of a company's transformations today. Against this backdrop, EY Switzerland annually presents the Swiss CIO Award to the best IT managers in Switzerland in collaboration with the CIO platform Confare.
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September 16, 2020
EY honors Switzerland's best IT managers: From left: Andreas Toggwyler (EY), Konrad Zöschg (CIO of Zurich Airport) and Michael Ghezzo (CONFARE). (Image: EY Switzerland)
Every year, EY Switzerland, in collaboration with the CIO platform Confare, awards the best IT managers in Switzerland. The winners are selected by a jury headed by Andreas Toggwyler, Partner Financial Services, Head of IT Risk and Assurance at EY Switzerland.
This year's winner was Konrad Zöschg, CIO of Zurich Airport. The award jury, chaired by Andreas Toggwyler, Partner Financial Services, Head of IT Risk and Assurance at EY Switzerland, commended him for successfully transforming "a large and complex company operating in a multi-faceted ecosystem. The role of IT plays an important part in the day-to-day operations of the airport to ensure smooth flight and airport operations. Around 400 systems and applications must always be available, function smoothly, interact with each other and be further developed.
Markus Guggenbühler (CIO of Manor AG), Ricardo Nebot (Head of IT at Emmi Switzerland) and Tobias Rölz (Member of Group Management and Head of Market & Digital Services at Komax), were the other winners at yesterday's award ceremony in Zurich. "We received many excellent applications for this year's Swiss CIO Award. Looking through the submissions, we could see a clear trend, with the CIO at the heart of the transformation of many companies, driving change from both a digital and talent perspective," said jury president Toggwyler, commenting on the challenges and focus of the honorees.
One of the larger, independent Swiss consulting firms in the area of business software has reformed. In the future, topsoft Consulting will engage the best expert consultants for various application areas as a firm model.
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September 15, 2020
The topsoft Consulting team (from left to right): Roger Busch, Marion Schmid, Max Künzli. (Image: www.topsoft.ch)
For 15 years now, the team from topsoft Consulting various large and small companies successfully through different phases of digitization. As a result, the network has an impressive list of references. Companies such as Swisscom and Meteotest have already benefited from the expertise of these specialists. Now, topsoft has further expanded its consulting network and offers comprehensive and neutral consulting for all business IT needs with specialized consultants. The offer also includes competent support in process and organizational design.
Now topsoft has further expanded its consulting network and offers comprehensive and neutral consulting for all business IT needs with specialized consultants. The offer also includes competent support in process and organizational design. Owner and CEO Cyrill Schmid is responsible for the management of the consulting team. The goal is to further expand the existing resources and to form a comprehensive network.
Cyrill Schmid sees great potential in the consulting area: "The evaluation and implementation of new business software is extremely complex. Even beforehand, organization and processes have to be rethought. Professional help is very welcome here. I am all the more pleased that with Marion Schmid, Roger Busch and Max Künzli we have been able to gain competent and very experienced management consultants. We clearly see ourselves as enablers of digitization projects."
The neutral topsoft consulting network guarantees, according to its own representation, that the consulting is carried out independently of the influence of software providers. There are no financial interests or dependencies. In addition, the free evaluation platform enables topsoft.ch Each company is subject to a prior, anonymous market assessment based on numerous criteria.
New map shows COVID-19 impact on business operations
Companies around the world are ramping up their operations again. International SOS's new COVID-19 Impact Map presents a summary assessment of COVID-19's impact on health, safety, and logistics, and thus local business operations, for all countries.
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September 11, 2020
Shows the COVID-19 impact on business operations in each country: The COVID-19 Impact Map. (Image: International SOS)
The first of its kind, a new map, provided by International SOS, brings together information and analysis on business-critical indicators affected by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Impact Map is publicly available. It complements the International SOS Risk Map, which already covers health, safety, including road safety. The COVID-19 Impact Map data is updated daily. An overall value is provided for each country. It should be noted, however, that the impact of COVID-19 can be very different in individual locations of a country, so there can be differences, for example, between cantons, municipalities or cities.
COVID-19 impacts mapped.
The following factors are decisive for the analysis of the data on which the map is based:
COVID-19 case counts on a 14-day moving average;
the health and safety risk environment;
Travel restrictions in the respective domestic country as well as restrictions for foreign travel;
existing measures against COVID-19 and their effectiveness.
Cédric Fraissinet, Managing Director Switzerland and Italy at International SOS, explains: " We now realize that today, for all organizations, the health of their employees is a strategic priority. Recovering and accelerating business in the current context, which is still very uncertain, is not possible without access to reliable information. With our COVID-19 Impact Map, we help our clients to provide their local action plans and global strategy with concrete information updated in real time. This enables them to minimize the impact of the pandemic on their teams and business operations."
A variety of risks
"In addition to COVID-19, companies also need to be aware of what we call second- and third-degree health and safety risks," adds Gautier Porot, Security Director at International SOS. "There will also continue to be natural disasters, political tensions, elections and civil unrest, and the pandemic will exacerbate some of these events. A holistic approach is essential to assess all risks and implement appropriate strategies. This is to protect the company and its employees, but also to ensure business continuity and therefore resilience of the company and their teams."
On this basis, International SOS has classified Switzerland with the status "Low". The parameter takes into account the dynamics of the epidemic in the respective country. As of today, economic activity is possible with slight restrictions. Most companies in various sectors are active as before.
Exclusively for customers
In addition to the COVID-19 Impact Map ratings, International SOS provides detailed logistical information exclusively for customers on inbound travel to specific countries and regions (Inbound Travel Impact Scales). These include information on air traffic restrictions and entry requirements. Likewise, customers gain access to the variables behind the COVID-19 Impact Map and recommendations from experts to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on business operations.
The COVID-19 impact map is part of the services provided by International SOS. These include: Comprehensive management information and tools, as well as consulting services to ensure employee protection and health and safety support for traveling and local employees worldwide.
Within the Executive Board, Claude Rohrer will take over as Head of the Audit Department as of October 1, 2020. Claude Rohrer is a certified public accountant and has been with OBT since 2011, where he was promoted to Head of Audit Zurich in 2014.
Editorial
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September 10, 2020
Claude Rohrer (Image: OBT)
With Claude Rohrer, OBT was able to appoint an ideal successor from its own ranks, who has many years of experience in auditing and knows OBT AG very well. The previous head of department, Stefan Traber, will remain with OBT and concentrate on the market region of St.Gallen. He will also continue to support his successor as an important member of the management team.
The main activity of the new head of department lies in auditing and advising medium-sized and larger privately owned groups of companies, in particular with regard to accounting in accordance with Swiss GAAP FER. He also brings proven experience in serving national and international corporate clients.
"Claude Rohrer is an excellent appointment. What could be better for the management of an entire specialist area than an experienced professional who has been able to develop within the company and thus knows the business, the clients as well as all employees very well and is also a guarantor for excellent service quality", adds Thomas Züger, CEO of OBT, with regard to the new appointment of the head of the specialist area audit.
For the tenth time, the Swiss Startup Award honored the 100 best startups in Switzerland: Cutiss (1st place), Wingtra (2nd place) and Piavita (3rd place) topped the expert jury, while Authena (formerly Acatena) won the public voting. A select audience of 100 startups, 100 investors and TOP 100 partners were present at the event.
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September 10, 2020
Cutiss AG came out on top in the competition for the 100 best startups. (Image: venturelab.ch)
The anniversary edition of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award was also broadcast live for the first time. The award for the best startups in Switzerland was held in collaboration with presenting partners Credit Suisse, SVC, Swiss Prime Site, SECA and digitalswitzerland.
Ten years of TOP 100 Swiss Startups
Within a decade, the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award has become a reference event in the Swiss startup ecosystem. The award show brings together the most promising Swiss startup CEOs with Swiss and international investors, executives and journalists. What started with an initial publication of the ranking in 2011 has evolved into a comprehensive collection of events and activities, including an Award Night, the Investor Summit, where hand-picked TOP 100 startups can pitch to selected Swiss and international investors, regional pitch events organized together with presenting partner Credit Suisse, and the Scale-up Ranking. The Swiss startup magazine "TOP 100" reports on all these events and news with editorial content in German, French, English and Chinese.
The potential of TOP 100 nominees was illustrated by the evening's keynote - featuring the founders of Climeworks (ranked 11th in the first TOP 100 edition 10 years ago), which just closed a CHF 100 million investment round to accelerate the fight against climate change, and AMAL Therapeutics, the largest European biotech startup exit in 2019. "Such role models show that we are well prepared and can look forward with anticipation to see how TOP 100 startups will shape the next decade," said Stefan Steiner, co-managing director of Venturelab and TOP 100 director. "The quality of Swiss startups is evidenced by the fact that funding continues at a similar level as in the record year of 2019."
Three female founders among the TOP 3 Swiss startups
Cutiss, Wingtra and Piavita took home the top prizes. All three companies were among the 10 most promising Swiss startups in 2019.
First Place: Cutiss. The life sciences startup is able to produce large areas of customized human skin grafts: denovoSkin™ is a safe, effective and accessible therapy for children and adults suffering from large-scale burns or scalds. Cutiss' human skin grafts are expected to leave minimal scarring after transplantation. The Zurich-based startup was founded in 2016 by Dr. Daniela Marino (CEO) and Dr. Fabienne Hartmann-Fritsch (CCO) and ranked #6 in 2019.
Second place: Wingtra. The Zurich-based startup develops vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones for surveying purposes. Wingtra's drones are used in more than 70 countries on all continents. Industries such as mining, construction, research, agriculture, urban and regional planning benefit from its powerful surveying drones. Wingtra was founded in 2016 by Maximilian Boosfeld (CEO), Basil Weibel (CTO) and Elias Kleinmann (CFO). The start-up and was ranked 4th in 2019.
Third place: Piavita. Founded in 2016 by Dr. Dorina Thiess and Sascha Bührle, the medtech startup aims to develop digital solutions that transform veterinary medicine. Piavita combines sensors, Big Data and AI to create a platform for remote monitoring of sick and convalescent horses with a hardware-assisted software solution for a completely non-invasive approach to monitoring vital signs. The Zurich-based startup was ranked 8th in the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards in 2019.
Winner of the TOP 100 public vote: The TOP 100 public vote, which runs parallel to the expert ranking, was the audience's chance to highlight a promising Swiss startup. The winner of this year's public vote is Authena (formerly Acatena), a Zug-based company whose patented technology allows products to be traced from location to consumer, helping to prevent counterfeiting and fraud.
The 100 best startups in Switzerland that were nominated this year represented the tip of an iceberg, as it were: To date, a total of 435 startups have received the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Award. Cumulatively, they have raised more than 5.4 billion Swiss francs. 47 startups were acquired and three went public (IPOs). The TOP 100 Startups represent more than 9,553 active jobs. And the proportion of women is also growing: 85 women currently hold management positions in the TOP 100 Startups 2020, including 24 co-founders.