Empa researchers have again improved the efficiency of flexible CIGS solar cells. Already last year a record could be reported. Independently certified measurements now showed a value of 22.2% in the conversion of light into electricity, which is an improvement on the previous record value of 21.4%. By comparison, the maximum efficiency of a rigid crystalline silicon solar cell is 26.7%. The team led by Romain Carron, group leader in Empa's Thin Films and Photovoltaics Laboratory under Ayodhya N. Tiwari, presented their latest results at the "8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion" (WCPEC-8) in Milan on September 26, 2022.

Thin semiconductor layer optimized again

The flexible solar cells are processed on a polymer film with a light-absorbing semiconductor layer consisting of a copper-indium-gadolinium-selenium compound. This mineral layer is deposited by a low-temperature co-evaporation process. Empa scientist Shiro Nishiwaki changed the composition of the layer to improve the performance and output voltage of the cells. "Two different approaches to alloying the crystal led to similar improvements in device performance," says Romain Carron. Therefore, the results can be transferred to an industrial scale in different ways, but with equivalent results. The solar cell's efficiency of 22.2% was independently confirmed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg, Germany.

Flexible solar cells: An area of research since 1999

Ayodhya Tiwari and his team have been researching flexible thin-film solar cells for more than 23 years. They have set several efficiency records over the years. Their "record streak" started in 1999 with an efficiency of 12.8%, then went on to 14.1% (2005), 17.6% (2010), 18.7% (2011) and 20.4 %(2013), and finally reached 20.8% in 2019 and 21.4% in 2021. However, given the already very high efficiencies, any increase, no matter how small, will require careful study of the factors limiting energy conversion and innovative approaches to address them, according to the statement. The current increase in efficiency is due to the alloying of the light-absorbing semiconductor layer, whose electronic properties have been improved.

Wide range of applications

Toxic leadership is widespread. Dishonest, unfair, unkind, ungrateful leaders lower employee satisfaction, motivation and performance. Stress, cynicism and exhaustion increase. Terms like "quiet quitting" are on everyone's lips. Unworthy managers take their worries home with them, and their private lives are also poisoned. (In one previous articles this topic has already been examined from a different perspective).

Leadership failure harms not only people, but also the company. It is therefore economically valuable and morally imperative to take a closer look: Why do toxic leaders persist so persistently? What are the consequences - for the employees, but also for the company? What can we do, as managers, as HR managers, as employees? In a live talk on the Youtube channel of the Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences on Oct. 12, 2022, from 3 to 4 p.m. Discuss:

• Prof. Dr. Birgit Schyns, Professor of Organizational Psychology, Neoma Business School
• Prof. Dr. Peter Michael Bak, Professor of Psychology, Fresenius University of Applied Sciences Cologne
• Prof. Dr. Georg Felser, Professor of Business Psychology, Harz University of Applied Sciences
• Prof. Dr. Christian Fichter, social and economic psychologist and head of research at Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences

The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions via chat.

Experts agree that reducing CO2 can make a significant contribution to improving the climate. But this is not equally easy to put into practice everywhere. In some industries, emissions are difficult to reduce, especially in those sectors that rely on fossil fuels in large quantities, either for high-temperature energy or for chemical raw materials. These include the iron and steel, cement, chemical, and building materials industries, which together account for about 30 % of the world's annual CO2 emissions. Heavy-duty transport also produces emissions that are difficult to reduce. Trucks or shipping, for example, are more difficult to electrify than passenger transport because they require enormous batteries that increase vehicle weight and entail long charging times.

Particularly large CO2 emitter: China

Many countries are exploring ways to decarbonize. Relatively wealthy countries such as the US and much of Europe are developing strategies focused on renewable energy generation and electric vehicles. China, on the other hand, faces very different challenges because of its particular carbon emissions profile, which stems from the much larger role of heavy industry in its economy. A new study published in the journal Nature Energy examines how China - by far the largest producer of iron, steel, cement and building materials - can use clean hydrogen ("green" or "blue" hydrogen) to decarbonize sectors with hard-to-reduce emissions (the so-called "HTA sectors") and meet its 2030 and 2060 decarbonization pledges. Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water molecules - H2O - using renewable electricity, while blue hydrogen is produced conventionally from fossil fuels, but in combination with carbon capture and storage.

The role of clean hydrogen

The new study by the Harvard-China Project on Energy, Economy and Environment, a joint U.S.-China research program based at Harvard's John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, is the first to use an integrated modeling approach to assess the potential use of clean hydrogen in China's energy system and economy to meet its 2060 net-zero target. "Filling this research gap will help provide a clearer roadmap for China's CO2 emissions reduction," said Xi Yang, lead author of the study and a researcher with the Harvard China Project. "Our goal with this study was to design a role for clean hydrogen in China's energy economy, which can then serve as a reference for other developing countries with large heavy industry and transportation sectors."

The study examined three questions: What are the main challenges in decarbonizing the HTA sectors? What role could clean hydrogen play both as an energy carrier and as a feedstock in against emissions that are difficult to reduce? And would widespread application of clean hydrogen in HTA sectors be cost-effective compared to other options?

Models against emissions that are difficult to reduce

To analyze the cost-effectiveness and role of clean hydrogen in China's overall economy - with a focus on the under-researched HTA sectors - the team developed a model of an integrated energy system that includes supply and demand in all sectors. The results show that widespread application of clean hydrogen in HTA sectors can help China achieve carbon neutrality cost-effectively, compared to a scenario without clean hydrogen production and use. Clean hydrogen can save $1.72 trillion in investment costs and avoid a loss of 0.13 % of total GDP (2020-2060) compared to a pathway without hydrogen.

The researchers also examined which type of clean hydrogen - green or blue - would be most cost-effective. Their study shows that the average cost of green hydrogen in China can be reduced to 2 $/kg of hydrogen by 2037 and 1.2 $/kg by 2050, making it much more cost-effective than blue hydrogen (1.9 $/kg). "China has rich untapped resources of solar and wind energy, both onshore and offshore," said Chris P. Nielsen, co-author of the study and executive director of the Harvard China Project. "These resources give China advantages in developing green hydrogen for use in the industrial and transportation sectors.

Several flies at one blow

And while tackling hard-to-reduce emissions is critical to climate action, decarbonizing the HTA sectors could bring other benefits. New markets for green hydrogen could also support the energy system's transition to renewable energy sources. Nielsen explains that green hydrogen generation would provide a comparatively flexible form of electricity demand that does not need to be met immediately, as most electricity loads do. Instead, it can often be scheduled, at least within short periods of time. Such demand flexibility is valuable to grid operators because it helps them account for the inherent variability of renewable energy sources, which are affected by changing meteorological conditions. In this way, several flies could be hit at once.

Source: https://techxplore.com/

The three main formats of the Swiss Digital Days 2022 are all about setting the course for the digital future. A proactive approach to current and future challenges is essential to secure Switzerland's position as a leading digital location. Diana Engetschwiler, Deputy Managing Director of digitalswitzerland, says: "The main formats are intended to sensitize the population, business and politics to the digital challenges in terms of sustainability, diversity and talent development. Because these topics are important for the preservation of Switzerland - not only as a business location, but as a place to live."

NextGen - Generating enthusiasm for digitization

The NextGen event series enables school classes to discover digitization topics in a playful way and to reflect on the associated future skills. Children aged 10 to 15 thus learn about new technologies and methods and are encouraged to want to help shape our digital future. So far, 144 schoolchildren have taken part in the NextGen format at the Biel, Liestal, Zurich, Lausanne and Lugano sites and explored sensor and robotics solutions, among other things. In this way, the NextGen workshop participants learned, for example, how a distance sensor works and programmed a parking aid for cars with the knowledge they acquired.

Prof. Dr. René Hüsler, Director of the Department of Computer Science and Deputy Rector of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts: "The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts supports the NextGen format so that young people can be shown the potential of digitization and learn the necessary skills for the future. The shortage of skilled workers can only be countered with early involvement of the 'Next Generation'. This main format of Digital Days 2022 fits very well with our diverse activities for young people in the STEM field."

#herHACK - Swiss Digitaltage 2022 with Hackathon by and for women

The event, which has a symbolic character, is intended to encourage women to pursue a career in the technology industry. Following last year's premiere, the promotion of women in technical professions is the focus of the Digital Days for the second time. The offer is aimed at women of different ages and educational backgrounds, with no specific prior knowledge of programming, to raise awareness and enthusiasm for technology. Women are still heavily underrepresented in the tech industry. This needs to change as soon as possible. This year, women are once again working in teams to find solutions to social challenges that contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN Agenda 2030. Since the kick-off on September 15 in Basel, 4 workshops have already taken place. Digital solutions so far revolve around topics such as gender equality in the workplace, clean energy production and climate protection ideas for Swiss SMEs.

GreenTech - digital solutions with sustainable impact

Solutions that enable us to live, work and produce more sustainably are more in demand than ever. At the GreenTech Startup Battle, a total of 20 young companies present particularly sustainable project ideas that preserve and protect natural resources. Five of the seven finalists have already been selected after five weeks: mobileup from the capital region, myFeld from northwestern Switzerland, viboo from the greater Zurich area, resilio from French-speaking Switzerland and Hive Power from Ticino. mobileup brings together supply and demand for used electronic equipment, MyFeld is the first online garden in Switzerland, viboo offers self-learning predictive control as a cloud service for heating and cooling equipment manufacturers, resilio accompanies companies in their sustainable digital transformation and Hive Power convinced the jury with innovative solutions for smart grids. The final will take place on October 27 in Zug. The prizes are CHF 10,000 in prize money, 25,000 AWS credits and 1 year of venture services or a coworking space.

Source: digitalswitzerland

More and more people are seeing the ability to work from home as an advantage, according to a blog from major UK electrical retailer Ebuyer. But how do different employees prefer to work? What kind of work environment do people who are more introverted prefer, and what kind of environment do extroverts feel comfortable in? With the help of an expert in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a well-known personality testing method, Ebuyer gathered a few factors that go into designing a workplace for different personalities. The following compilation shows which elements a home office or a conventional office should contain to make employees with different personality profiles feel comfortable.

If you are more extroverted

Overall, extroverts are more outgoing compared to introverts and need the opportunity to interact with other people to stay stimulated. An office shared with colleagues or a home office with many incentives to stay motivated is ideal for them.

• Space on the desk: A large desk with opportunities to move around is ideal for extroverts. Sitting on an exercise ball or using a treadmill under the desk to keep moving can be tools of choice. A standing desk is also a good way for extroverts to move around and get into work at the same time. The desk should be large and have an abstract and colorful design. It can look a bit messy, but pen holders and traditional office organization tools are ready to help when the need for organization arises.
• Ambience: Mixed bright colors and inspirational quotes will make extroverts feel comfortable. Ideally, the space should provide a pleasant environment where other people live. You need regular meetings with other team members, such as team lunches and lounge areas where people gather to talk.
• Lighting and sound: Modern lighting or even lighting effects create the right mood. Extroverts like it when upbeat music comes out of the speakers, like pop, rock or bossa nova. Turning on a TV can also be an option.
• Illustrative material and decoration: Interactive elements such as whiteboards or maps help extroverts visualize their work. Playful decoration with games and toys should be part of the workplace design.
• Company: Extroverts like to have lots of people around to talk to and attention-grabbing pets, such as a dog, to keep them busy and entertained.

If you are more introverted

Introverts typically prefer a quieter, more personal space and a minimalist design. For this reason, working from home may be a better option for some to escape the hustle and bustle of an office.

• Space on the desk: The desk for introverts should be a quiet space with minimal distractions. Some prefer a creative, cozy space or space for personal items such as books or prints hanging on the walls.
• Ambience: Overall, introverts prefer a minimal, clean environment, with some requiring smaller appliances for entertainment. They appreciate a separated personal space where they can relax and where plants provide a balanced feeling. To create this separated space, they can use room-dividing elements and furnish the room with beanbags and egg chairs for reading so they can relax during breaks.
• Light and sound: Introverts like a quiet room where there is either complete silence or only light background noise. Being able to hear relaxing sounds of a water fountain or natural white noise helps them concentrate. When music is played, they are more likely to hear classical pieces or light jazz in the background.
• Illustrative material and decoration: Introverts will benefit from bulletin boards for documents to keep the space clutter-free, and lots of plants to create a zen ambiance. The room is furnished with minimalist images that include soothing colors and shapes like shades of blue and green.
• Company: Introverts enjoy the company of a small pet that doesn't need much attention and is quiet, such as a cat or an exotic iguana. Ideally, they have a space to themselves and the ability to stay away from colleagues.

Introverted vs. extroverted is just one part of the well-known MBTI personality index. The Myers-Briggs personality test takes into account even more than just these two personality types.

Source and visualizations of office configurations: https://www.ebuyer.com/myersbriggs (in english)

The ApprenticeshipPulse measures the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on apprenticeship companies and their current and future apprentices in Switzerland. The latest results show the situation of apprentices in September 2022 and compare it with the situation since the beginning of the pandemic - especially with the last survey in June 2022 and one year ago.

Supply of apprenticeships declines slightly

The results show that 72 percent of companies are offering the same number of or more apprenticeships for the start of apprenticeships in 2023 than in 2022, compared with 74 percent of companies in September 2021. However, the study authors point out that this offer may still change in the coming months and that the recruitment process for apprentices in Western Switzerland has not even started yet. Future ApprenticeshipPuls surveys will show whether this decline in the number of apprenticeships on offer will prove to be true and could become a challenge in view of the rising number of students.

Career starters with better prospects

By contrast, the outlook for career starters is more encouraging: Compared with previous years, a higher proportion of companies believe that entering the workforce is easier this year than before the COVID 19 pandemic. Only a small proportion still feel that the situation is currently more difficult. Specifically, in September, 28% (25% in June) of establishments indicated that it was currently easier for apprenticeship graduates to find a job than before the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, only 7% (12% in June) felt that it was currently more difficult to get a job. Notably, even compared to one and two years ago, establishments rated job entry as easier currently. In September 2021, 32% still stated that it was more difficult for apprenticeship graduates to find a job than before COVID-19, and in September 2020 this figure was as high as 47%.

The results are particularly encouraging because the apprentices had completed a large part of their apprenticeship during the pandemic, the study continues. This positive outlook is also supported by the fact that the apprenticeship companies consider the overly choosy apprentices - especially with regard to working conditions and wages - to be the greatest challenge for career entry. In addition, this year the training companies have continued to employ a relatively large number of apprentices in the company after they have completed their apprenticeship, albeit often in a temporary position.

Home office also plays a more important role in vocational training

Despite the abolition of all measures, the home office has remained a component of in-company training for apprentices, as the current Apprenticeship Pulse shows: 6% of all apprentices still spend at least one day in the home office. However, this proportion varies according to occupational field, with home office still part of the daily routine of in-company training for 29% of learners in the top occupation "IT". However, home office is limited to an average of one day per week for most learners. The results show that home office can have both positive and negative effects on the learners. On the one hand, according to the companies, the grades of the company QV worsened for the weaker learners due to home office. This is possibly related to the fact that the apprenticeship companies consider distraction to be one of the biggest challenges in the home office. Thus, the companies find it particularly important that the learners in the home office have clear rules regarding presence and accessibility and that the vocational trainers and learners meet regularly in the office. On the other hand, the home office has influenced the soft skills of the learners: In particular, the motivation but also the resilience of the learners has decreased in the view of the companies.

Source: www.lehrstellenpuls.ch

Today, market conditions are changing much faster and more drastically than they did a few years ago - the same applies to customer requirements, which have to comply with massive legal changes, among other things. How a holistic approach on the way to a crisis-proof, digital and process-optimized company can look in this environment and which questions have to be asked are explained by the experts of the Swiss consulting firms hpo and CNT Management Consulting.

Suffering pressure as an impetus for change

Our world, and so markets, tend to change faster and faster. With the increasing number of companies and new technologies, disruption seems to be the rule rather than the exception. In addition, the pressure on companies to meet the ever-increasing customer expectations is intensifying. Legal changes also have a major impact, as an example the currently discussed CO2 pricing on long delivery or distribution routes. "The impetus for change always comes from a certain level of suffering, and this can look very different," explains Andreas Lechner, Partner at CNT Management Consulting. Some customers cannot deliver the desired quality, are not fast enough in production or one has to become fundamentally more innovative in order to make resources available and to be able to bring a product to market at all. For others, the transition from the outgoing SAP model R3 to the newer S4HANA is the starting signal they need to take a critical look at their own Target Operating Model (TOM) and the processes it contains. For a company to evolve into a high-performance organization, clear strategic goals must be set and market positioning must be unambiguous. "The Target Operating Model, the digital core of the company and the entire organizational structure must be process-oriented," continues Stefan Zirhan, partner at hpo management consulting. In addition, employees with the appropriate skills and requirement profiles are crucial for success - and the intrinsic will of all those involved for further development should not be underestimated.

Ask the right questions

In order to establish a so-called process-based corporate structure and ultimately satisfy all stakeholders, the two consulting companies have developed a holistic approach. This is designed to look at and optimize the entire enterprise architecture. In addition to analyzing the processes, the digital core design and the actual transformation, this also includes a comprehensive performance check-up at the beginning. Here, an understanding of the individual functioning of the company is to be created, and the previous ERP (enterprise resource planning) landscape is to be recorded and evaluated. "Before we define and prioritize the individual action areas, we first need to ask the right questions, i.e. what is my market and who are my customers? What is my value proposition and what is its USP. How is my value chain structured and where do I source materials?" is how Zirhan describes the first step.

Target operating model must fit the market

Once the individual fields of action have been defined and prioritized, the TOM, or "target operating model" in German, can be developed. This is used to define and document future optimization strategies and thus represents the link between vision, strategy and the organizational structure. "This is often where the problem starts," explains Lechner. The TOM, he says, must fit what the company sells, the markets in which it operates and the suppliers it uses. "Because often companies never see the end customer who will use their product, not even the installation company that installs the heating system, for example, but only the planning office that orders the control valves. The question of the purchasing decision is not so easy to make here," Lechner points out.

Following the pressure of digitization

Only then do we move on to digital core design, in which all processes are individually defined in line with the TOM and the conversion of current business cases takes place. "In this step, we then implement digital solutions, such as SAP S/4HANA or Ariba," Lechner continues. After that comes one of the most important steps, namely the involvement of employees and the development of a suitable communication strategy - the aim is to turn those affected into participants. "Change management measures and subsequent regular check-ups to anchor the TOM help our customers to ensure implementation and then to actually be able to realize innovation," concludes Zirhan.

Sources and further information: https://www.cnt-online.com/de/ and https://www.hpo.ch/

The start is made by 21-year-old HSG student Tim Miljko with his company "PoCatWalk" from Baar (ZG). His idea: while shopping for clothes, young people try on outfits on a catwalk. This results in photos that go online. The hope is that this will generate feedback on the outfit and advertise the brand. His wish now: an investment of 160,000 francs in exchange for a 20 percent share in the company. But the lions were skeptical: Can this work? Is the business model right? The tenor could be summarized as follows: It's a good idea, but at this point in time it's still too half-baked to raise money for it. That's why no deal was struck.

Another record deal becomes fact

Then went straight into the full "SoFlow"a company from Flawil (SG) that manufactures e-mobility solutions for both private and industrial use. It has just developed a special scooter for a major German car manufacturer that enables employees to move around the company premises quickly and safely. And the turnover of the company, which was founded in 2015, also caused a stir among the lions: between 2016 and 2021, the turnover was increased six-fold to CHF 14 million, and even more than CHF 30 million is expected for the current year. However, the founders Manuel Hug (34) and Martin Neuckel (37) want to develop new products and have big plans in other respects as well. Their idea is correspondingly self-confident: the lions are to invest CHF 1.3 million. While the lions Jürg Schwarzenbach and Lukas Speiser wave them off, Bettina Hein, Roland Brack and Anja Graf join forces, but initially demand a 7.5 percent share in the company. In the end, however, they "bargained down" to 6.6 percent of the shares - and the record deal was a fact. Remarkably, SoFlow is already the second company from Flawil to receive such a high amount. A year earlier, Feey also made an investment of 1.2 million landed. SoFlow intends to use the money primarily to invest in its own structure and to expand the team. The company is also aiming for further internationalization in Spain, France, Benelux and the UK.

Good, but not enough well-developed ideas

The lionesses and lions bite at the next candidates: they taste a "Bean Piece", a sweet protein snack made from white beans - and are amazed at how good it tastes to them. However, they find the company valuation of the founders Nadine (27), Sarah (24) and Monika (27) rather hard to digest. The likeable young women want 230,000 Swiss francs and are offering 8 percent company shares in return. Especially the lion Tobias Reichmuth questioned the sales figures: Is an investment of this amount in proportion to the 2000 "bean pieces" sold so far at Fr. 4.80 each? The conclusion of the five lionesses and lions: Likeable product, but unfortunately not yet "shelf-ready", so no deal was made. But this will not stop the three young women from persistently wanting to continue on their way. They have plans to do so.

With the figures, the investors have also been able to "Loopia" Mühe, a circular economy app developed in Zurich to extend the life of products. The idea is an online platform that maps the entire life cycle of a device: At the time of purchase, the warranty period is stored, and any repairs can also be "booked" up to the point of disposal. According to the four founders, various partnerships already exist. "An egg-laying lizard," stated Jürg Schwarzenbach, a lion. 250,000 francs against 5 percent company shares is what the company now wants in order to take off with their app. They are not live yet, but are aiming for 12,000 users in the first phase. 250,000 users would be needed for break-even, which would be 3.8 million francs in sales. But how much time does it take to reach this goal? Bettina Hein sums up the mood among the investors: "You're here a bit too early. In half a year, we could talk again," she said, signaling at least an interest in the solution. The other four lions could not bring themselves to invest either.

Another deal - and many conflicts of interest

However, the lionesses and lions then find pleasure in "Pumphead", a Bernese start-up that upcycles disused bottles with pumps so that they can be used as soap dispensers, for example. The investors are impressed by how 29-year-old founder David Brönnimann wins customers and how little it costs him. Lions Tobias Reichmuth and Bettina Hein propose a deal: 100,000 francs in exchange for 20 percent company shares. David Brönnimann has to swallow a little empty at first, because his pain threshold was 15 percent. But then he relented - after all, he also gets "double the power," as he said.

Last but not least, the St.Gallen-based financial experts from "Kaspar&" for the favor of the lionesses and lions. Sebastian (33), Jan-Philipp (35), Lukas (34) and Lauro (31) have developed a card or account app that allows laypeople to invest by simply rounding up to the next franc when paying. The lionesses and lions are totally enthusiastic. And even the desired investment of 100,000 francs didn't seem like a big hurdle at first. But there was another problem: Four lionesses and lions (Roland Brack, Bettina Hein, Lukas Speiser, Jürg Schwarzenbach) had already invested in similar financial service providers (e.g. Neon, Yapeal). So there would be conflicts of interest. Therefore, they unfortunately had to decline. That left Anja Graf: But she is not interested in financial apps and also declined. The viewer asked himself the question: Is a product that is good in itself too late to stir up a market that is already very crowded? A few years earlier, "Kaspar&" might have been a candidate for a record deal...

Conclusion of the first broadcast of the fourth season: Apart from the record deal, only a few investments were made, which was not due to the good business ideas, but perhaps to the overly ambitious ideas of the young entrepreneurs - or perhaps because they wanted too much too soon? It was certainly instructive for everyone.

More information on upcoming shows: https://www.oneplus.ch/detail/1000604

The study "Switzerland's Digital DNA" was conducted for the sixth time, jointly by the international strategy consultancy Oliver Wyman and digitalswitzerland. It is published as part of the Swiss Digitaltage and shows the state of digitization in Switzerland. The online survey was conducted in July 2022. More than 1,600 people from German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland were surveyed for the study. A representative survey group was selected in terms of sociodemographic criteria.

Digitization in Switzerland is received differently

According to the study, 75 percent of the population currently see the Internet and technology as an opportunity for Switzerland - a stable figure compared with the previous year. The proportion of people who do not feel personally able to keep up with progress remains equally stable: at 22 percent, they account for more than one-fifth of respondents. Respondents see the greatest need to catch up in terms of digital skills in the further development of technological skills such as programming (44 percent) and the use of new technologies such as smartphones or VR glasses (18 percent). This view is shared by respondents across almost all age groups. Only the group of over 70s is different - 36 percent of respondents think they have no need to catch up in terms of digital fitness.

However, the perceived digital fitness varies greatly depending on the industry: While 15 percent of bankers rate themselves as not capable in this respect, 29 percent in healthcare and social services believe that their skills are not sufficient. The most self-critical assessment of their lack of digital skills is made by professionals in wholesale and retail (30 percent) and those in the hotel and catering industry (36 percent).

Differentiated view of opportunities and risks

"The Swiss view technology upheavals with detached optimism," Oliver Wyman partner Nordal Cavadini comments on the findings. "But quantum leaps have hardly been seen in this attitude so far." For example, according to the survey, only 29 percent feel comfortable trusting big tech companies with their personal data. Online retailers (36) also compare poorly in terms of trust. By contrast, there is widespread agreement when it comes to the use of data by hospitals, doctors and health insurance companies - 68 percent of respondents trust these service providers. It may come as a surprise that banks (64) and universities (61) are even more trusted when it comes to data sharing than the government and public offices (53).

Along with the willingness to disclose data, there is an increasing awareness of cyber risks. 74 percent of all respondents believe that the Internet and technologies will lead to an increase in cybercrime. There is general concern about cybersecurity. 30 percent of respondents said they have already been the victim of a cybercrime or corresponding attack. "Even though the fear of such attacks is constantly high, the willingness to share one's own data with third parties and to use services is growing," says Nordal Cavadini. What could be considered a paradox, the Oliver Wyman partner interprets pragmatically: the perceived benefit outweighs the perceived risk.

"The willingness to engage in lifelong learning is a constant in Swiss society," says Diana Engetschwiler, Deputy Managing Director digitalswitzerland. According to the survey, 75 percent of the population believes that the Internet and technology facilitate this lifelong learning - an approval rating that has remained at the same high level for years. "In Swiss education, however, digitization still lags behind in international comparison. Yet the continuous integration of digital learning content into education and training is crucial for the competitiveness of our future workforce. digitalswitzerland is committed to this, for example, as part of the Swiss Digitaltage with our 'NextGen Future Skills Labs' format, which brings children closer to digitization topics in an accessible and entertaining way," Engetschwiler continues. The fact that digitization will not be a foregone conclusion is also suggested by the attitude of 27 percent of all respondents who believe that their working lives will become more complicated as a result.

Banking offers convince users

This sentiment is also expressed in figures when asked about the specific use of and satisfaction with digital services. Digital financial services are way out in front: 93 percent of the population use them, and 90 percent of users say they are satisfied with them. Online stores receive a similarly positive response: 90 percent use them, 87 percent of whom are satisfied with the offerings. "Services that are used frequently also score higher in users' favor," says Diana Engetschwiler of digitalswitzerland. "You can see a habituation effect with highly frequented services on the one hand, but also a high degree of customer centricity on the other." So it may come as no surprise that telemedicine still has some catching up to do in this area: only 45 percent said they had already used telemedicine. Of these, 54 percent reported a positive user experience. The urban-rural usage comparison reveals other noteworthy points, for example in connection with digital mobility offerings (e-scooters, bikes) or e-food (online food ordering). The unevenly strong use of these offerings is probably also due to the different degree of coverage of these offerings in urban and rural areas.

Sources and further information:  oliverwyman.ch; www.digitaltage.swiss

The newly ordered bicycle will not be delivered for another year? The blinds can't be repaired because spare parts are missing? The shelves are empty in the neighborhood store? The logistics of goods and resources are based on supply chains that have become increasingly complex and thus more vulnerable in recent decades. For companies today, it is central to be able to rely on functioning supply chains. "It is therefore not surprising that most companies invest a lot in intact logistics and efficient supply chain management," says Ilja Bäumler, head of the new Master in Logistics & Supply Chain Management program, which will be offered at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts starting in the fall semester of 2023. The new master's program explicitly addresses the current and future challenges of global flows of goods, information, and finance.

Logistics as a success factor

Challenges with logistics and supply chains affect various business areas. They arise both in companies in the logistics industry itself and in companies in other industries. "There is now hardly a branch of industry that does not have to deal with the implications of global flows of goods and information," says Bäumler. For the head of the program, it is therefore clear: "Companies can set themselves apart from their competitors through functioning supply chain management and good logistics. They no longer compete only on the quality of their products and services, but also in particular on their supply chains."

Master in Logistics and Supply Chain Management against the shortage of skilled workers

To enable companies to position themselves accordingly, specialists are in demand. However, logistics professionals are in short supply, Ilja Bäumler knows from discussions with practice partners. "The studies in the new logistics master's program enable students to take on demanding specialist and management functions in industries where it is particularly difficult to find qualified specialists today," says the program director. The master's program has a broad thematic focus. In addition to classic logistics and supply chain management topics, students also delve deeper into the areas of information technology and digitalization, applied psychology, data science, and digital leadership. Bäumler is certain: "This results in a particularly high level of qualification for graduates in various professional fields." In concrete terms, students in the Master's in Logistics & Supply Chain Management could later, for example, fill a position in a logistics department in a large corporation, work in an SME as a contract logistics manager, or work independently as a management consultant.

Flexible studies with practical relevance

In order to prepare students as well as possible for real challenges from the business world, the master's program has a practice-oriented structure. In various project work, students deepen their knowledge on the basis of real problems from a wide range of application areas and in cooperation with practical partners. For example, the program is conducted in cooperation with Logistikum Switzerland and Logistikum Upper Austria. Every semester, students attend a block week at the Innovation Lab in Altdorf UR, where they can work with so-called "emerging technologies" (e.g. collaborative robotics, Internet of Things, augmented reality, etc.). "Our lecturers have both sound scientific knowledge and up-to-date practical experience," says Bäumler.

The master's program is deliberately designed as a part-time course. Ilja Bäumler: "We want to make it possible for students to continue working in a professional environment alongside their studies and to be able to bring their practical experience into the classroom." The program will start in the fall semester of 2023 and will run for four semesters part-time, with parallel employment possible.

Source: www.hslu.ch

In-service training

There are countless options in this area: Seminars and courses, but also the possibility to enter higher vocational education and obtain a federally recognized qualification. The professional examination (federal certificate) and the higher professional examination (federal diploma) certify in-depth specialist knowledge in a particular field. This educational pathway builds on professional experience. It combines classroom instruction and professional practice, thus ensuring the dual system of vocational education and training at the tertiary level as well. The training is action-oriented and promotes the rapid implementation of new technical knowledge in practice. In this way, tertiary vocational education and training provides the Swiss economy with qualified specialists.

Intermediate

Employees with an apprenticeship who want to continue their education in smaller stages can expand their expertise by gaining an additional qualification at the level between basic education and higher vocational education. For people wishing to return to professional life, career changers and practitioners without a professional qualification, these further education courses offer an attractive alternative in individual career planning. The open admission requirements make it possible to obtain a diploma that is recognized throughout Switzerland. These advanced training courses are practice-oriented, promote professional competence and enable job holders to work independently. This is a direct added value for employers and employees, because what is learned can be applied immediately in everyday life.

Three edupool.ch training courses of interest to SMEs:

Clerk:in Accounting edupool.ch

Well-founded specialist knowledge enables your employees to carry out operational work in financial and management accounting autonomously and to relieve you efficiently. Recognized as basic training for admission to the federal professional examination, this degree also enables people without a commercial apprenticeship to acquire the professional certificate.

On the other hand, this degree is the preliminary stage for further training as a Clerk:in Fiduciary edupool.ch and thus the start for a successful career in this economically important industry.

Higher Business Diploma edupool.ch

This course of education has a generalist orientation and imparts broad basic commercial and business management knowledge. Thanks to the strong practical orientation, students learn to use modern business management tools efficiently and to understand the interrelationships of the various business areas.

Quality label for continuing commercial education

edupool.ch is the most important quality label and the most important examination organization in Switzerland in non-formal commercial further education. The pioneer and market leader at the clerical level also develops offerings in the areas of basic knowledge, general commercial education and expert knowledge. The edupool.ch diplomas and certificates, which are recognized throughout Switzerland, are co-signed by the Commercial Association and, depending on their focus, by renowned industry and professional associations. Continuing education with the nationally recognized Quality label edupool.ch are carried out by accredited Partner schools (KV continuing education centers) conducted.

Contact:

edupool.ch
Baarerstrasse 77
6300 Zug
041 726 55 66
info@edupool.ch

www.edupool.ch

The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) demands: Global greenhouse gas emissions must fall from 2025 and be more than 40 percent lower than today by 2030. Only in this way can the 1.5-degree target of the Paris climate agreement, to which Switzerland has also committed itself, still be achieved. What we are doing and have done so far, however, is not enough - although we have little time left to mitigate the climate crisis. Much, much more needs to happen very quickly - but how?

Business has an effective lever to drive sustainability and climate protection. Even though many companies have already started with climate targets, studies (e.g. Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor) that green promises alone will not be enough. What is needed is a fundamental reorientation of the economy toward sustainability. But how can we succeed in anchoring sustainability deeply in the Swiss economy under the current time pressure?

Change is needed - and as we all know, that can only happen together

The question of how the reorientation of the economy towards sustainability can be accelerated through intensive cooperation is what the Forum ö 2022 with the title "Let's Rethink Business - Change can only happen collaboratively". The Forum ö is the participatory and practice-oriented annual conference of sustainable business and has been organized since 1989 by the Association öbu organized.

The Forum ö is not a classic annual conference, because the format already focuses on exchange and practice. The result is a collaborative, interactive event with the right balance between keynotes, breakouts and exchange rounds, which is also highly appreciated by the participants.

"Forum ö is one of the best events for me to share sustainability challenges and best practices with peers from other companies and other industries," says Julia Baumann, the head of the sustainability department at öbu member Lidl Switzerland.

The participants of the Forum ö represent the broad spectrum of the Swiss business world: representatives from large companies, SMEs and start-ups, personalities from science and civil society, and representatives from politics and administration. This leads to results.

How does the ö 2022 Forum work?

This year, the nominees of the Green Business Award, like Planted or Kyburz, for inspiration in the morning and show what rethinking and transformation can look like in practice.

Participants can work on concrete issues in the interactive breakout sessions. What can change look like in the participants' companies? What does collaboration in and between companies look like? The content of the practice-oriented breakout sessions will be supported by the following, among others ewz, Swisscom, Energy 360°, Danone Switzerland or also PostFinance.

The keynote speakers for the morning were Robert Szilinski, CEO esentri AG and Senator of the Economy, and Nele Kreyssig, Reference book author and podcast hosttwo rethinkers. However, the two do not paint the world beautifully, but give authentic insights into their world and want to inspire to be courageous and take concrete steps into a new way of management.

Forum ö 2022: Let's Rethink Business - Change can only be collaborative
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Tanzwerk eins0eins, Zurich