It all started in 2002 with the locations Kreuzlingen and Frauenfeld, where KMU Personal AG moved into its first offices. With the expansion to Aarau, Zurich and St.Gallen, the company has continued to grow in recent years. In retrospect, the concept of relying on flat hierarchies with short decision-making paths and personal responsibility on the part of the employees proved to be a successful model. From the outset, new offices were staffed with well-known and proven specialists from the respective region. "We thus benefit from the proximity to our customers and the know-how of the regional markets, which can vary from place to place," says owner and CEO Massimo Bella.

Grown into a national service provider

Thanks to permanent development and the conquest of new markets, KMU Personal AG has grown within 20 years to become a company with 28 employees operating throughout Switzerland. Massimo Bella explains: "We owe the national success of our company above all to the great team spirit and commitment of all our colleagues. They are our greatest asset and prove every day how efficient we are." This is one of the reasons why KMU Personal AG has been able to count on the cooperation of many companies for several years. The employees know what is important in the application process and which points in the job profile are important in order to bring together committed applicants and established companies.

The personnel service provider finds qualified employees for companies and suitable jobs for applicants - mainly in the commercial sector, retail, medicine and care, industry and logistics, and the construction industry. The company adapts its services to individual customer requirements and strives at all times for sustainable and successful cooperation. "We have made a name for ourselves through speed and reliability," says Massimo Bella. KMU Personal AG does everything in its power to match its customers with the right candidates and supports them from the first employee interviews to payroll accounting.

KMU Personal AG gives itself a new look

Even at 20 years old, the company feels dynamic, innovative and young. However, the exterior was getting a little long in the tooth. So, for its milestone birthday, KMU Personal AG gave itself a new look to make progress visible to the outside world. With a rejuvenated logo, fresh colors and a revamped website, the company is entering a new era. "Our brand follows our success story: the rebranding reflects growth and change and shows that we are constantly evolving," affirm Massimo Bella and his business partners Raphael Speck and Andreas Staub. Together, they are optimistic about the future.

More information

There is a gap between business growth and the ability to drive long-term change in a meaningful way. This is particularly evident in areas such as improving the customer and employee experience, but also in critical issues such as talent acquisition and the use of technology. A survey conducted by Longitude, a Financial Times company, sought to explore how companies have used the impact of the pandemic as a catalyst for change - and how leaders can realign their organizations for future growth.

Inertia in responding to new business opportunities

The good news is that post-pandemic, business leaders feel better equipped to make decisions quickly (71 %), think strategically about long-term goals (72 %), adopt new technologies (75 %), and build more empathetic and trusting relationships with both customers (71 %) and employees (69 %). Yet despite this positive sentiment, many companies face a sense of strategic uncertainty. This is due to constant upheaval and the increasing complexity of the hybrid business environment. Two-thirds of executives (66 %) said the pandemic has exposed weaknesses in strategy, while 60 % said they are finding it difficult to respond decisively to new business opportunities.

Sampath Sowmyanarayan, chief executive officer of Verizon Business Group, said, "The big lesson we've learned over the last few years is that there is no one right way to lead, build a culture or execute a strategy. That's also why we see many companies trying to adopt 'say yes' as a guiding principle. They are increasingly giving their employees the freedom to question the status quo, while also offering them the chance to openly ask why, for example, an implementation is taking so long or why their company can't meet customer requirements."

Increasing discrepancy between intention and execution

More than half of the executives surveyed pointed to the increasing role that leadership teams have played in technology adoption over the past 12 months. Among these, cybersecurity services (78 %), data analytics software and tools (75 %) and cloud enablement (74 %) were among the top technology priorities. However, according to the study, there is a disconnect between intent and implementation. For example, improving customer experience is cited as a top strategic priority (74%). However, only one-third (38 %) say they have increased their use of data analytics to improve the customer experience, and even fewer have used automation to improve customer service. At the same time, the report highlights the lack of digital skills (33 %) as the biggest shortcoming for companies.

Companies face a mix of challenges, from changing consumer behavior to technology-driven market disruptions to sustainability demands. The study provides recommendations on how executives can guide their companies into the future:

• Finding a clear path through an uncertain business environment
• Understand the importance of building resilience and implementing change through partnerships
• Uniting employees through a clear goal
• Driving innovation through experimentation and risk-taking
• Unleashing the potential of the entire workforce through inclusive cultures

Source: Verizon

According to a survey conducted by LINK on behalf of JobCloud (jobs.ch / jobup.ch), 40% of employees currently love their jobs. In addition, every second employee in Switzerland does not feel properly valued at work, while every fourth person is seriously considering changing companies. In addition, for around two-thirds of Swiss employees, salary is an important value at work. As part of this study, 1034 professionals aged 16 to 60 in German- and French-speaking Switzerland were surveyed.

New campaign for more love for the job

Helping workers be happy in their jobs and enabling them to find their dream job are the goals of jobs.ch and jobup.ch's new campaign: "Stop working. Love what you do", which was launched on September 5. However, the new campaign of the two job portals of JobCloud does not primarily want to call on people to quit their current job. Rather, it aims to challenge them to question their daily job routine and do everything they can to enjoy their job. JobCloud has recruiting tools to help find a job or company that leads to higher satisfaction. The ability to be notified when the ideal job becomes available or to see if the salary is reasonable will help in the search for the dream job.

Another goal of the campaign is to make Switzerland a place where as many people as possible have a job they love. This is important for both employees and employers. People who love their job show more commitment, are more creative and less prone to stress. This also reduces employee turnover. So it should be in the interest of all companies to ensure more than ever that their staff love their job.

Conveying the meaningfulness of work

"We know that having a sense of purpose at work can lead to greater satisfaction in all areas of life. That's why we suggest companies do more to meet the needs of their employees - for example, by involving them in defining goals, giving them confidence and allowing flexibility. Employees thus gain more control over their own work-life balance. And that pays off: Not only will the company get more productive, engaged and satisfied employees, but it will also be more likely to attract top talent," explains Davide Villa, CEO of JobCloud.

The survey clearly shows that employees who love their job are generally more satisfied - whether with their work, the company or their salary. They generally prefer to go to work, are more likely to see the meaning of their work, and the majority of them say that their work also has an enriching effect on the rest of their lives. "At JobCloud, we firmly believe that if you find a job you love, you won't feel like you have to work anymore," Villa concludes.

Click here to go to the campaign

1,400 young people have opted for a commercial apprenticeship in the retail sector. The training and further education of young traders is one of the key services provided by Handel Schweiz. At the award ceremony for the "Best Apprentices 2022", Director Kaspar Engeli explained: "In addition to basic training, we are also dedicated to further training, for example in foreign trade or e-commerce. We are convinced that only with high quality education and good training companies can the industry face up to the growing shortage of skilled workers." But how do young people rate apprenticeships in retail? And what challenges do they see ahead for their industry? In order to find out more, the umbrella organization conducted a survey among this year's final year students of the commercial apprenticeship in the retail sector.

China in the morning, Panama in the afternoon

57 % of the still-learners surveyed find retail interesting as an industry. 40 % appreciates the high quality of education and training and wants to deepen the knowledge gained later. 16 % named a future management position as a goal. Almost a third of the new traders are fascinated by the variety in retail. During the apprenticeship, the junior staff were able to spend several months working in purchasing, sales, accounting, customer service and marketing. In an interview, four of the "Best Apprentices 2022" described what they learned in the process.

Jil Bachmann, for example, completed her apprenticeship at the Stöckli Group in Oberkirch, which is active in medical technology. With a company grade of 5.8, she is in first place. For her, the "international surroundings" make everyday life particularly varied, as she vividly explains: "In the morning, I exchange ideas with China before my contacts go to bed. I deal with Panama in the afternoon, because there they don't get up until 3 p.m. Swiss time," she explains with a laugh. After studying politics, economics and geography, the 28-year-old opted for a shortened commercial apprenticeship plus, because no other offer matched her interests. She is very happy with her choice. She is looking forward to continuing her work with the employer and to further training in medical technology. In her opinion, there are a number of international challenges in retail. These include sustainability: "There is still a lot of room for improvement here! There is a lot of catching up to do in the efficient design of supply chains. Retailers need to get behind this as quickly as possible!" Jil Bachmann's assessment is in line with the overall results of the survey. For 28 % of the learners surveyed, sustainability represents the greatest challenge in international trade. No other topic receives so many mentions.

More sustainability in packaging

Laila Lomello also finds the topic of sustainability very important, as she emphasizes: "Young people attach importance to sustainable packaging or materials in the products." The 22-year-old was able to see this during her initial apprenticeship in the retail trade, when she had direct customer contact. These experiences and the joy of daily variety motivated her to acquire more knowledge about the origin of items, supply chains and pricing. So she started a second apprenticeship in the commercial sector at her employer Interdiscount in Jegenstorf. She completed this with an operational grade of 5.5, putting her in second place. She does not want to stand still in the future either. Further education is one of her personal goals.

18-year-old Thomas Stjelja, on the other hand, did not want to use his foreign language skills only in his free time and therefore decided to do an apprenticeship in commerce. Shortly after graduation, he began further training to become a graduate in business administration. What he finds exciting about commerce is its important function in society, for example in the supply of food. He, too, is convinced that there is still a lot of potential when it comes to implementing sustainability. He is clear: "While sustainability is writ large in many places, it is still too often a matter of professions on paper." With an operational grade of 5.5 and second place, he is also one of the six "Best Apprentices" in the commercial apprenticeship sector. He completed his apprenticeship with the SFS Group, a global supplier of precision molded parts and mechanical fastening systems. They often invisibly perform functions critical to success in technical devices such as cars, smartphones and aircraft.

Switzerland as an island

Dounia Schmid didn't feel like going to high school as a teenager. Instead, she started an apprenticeship at Audemars Piquet in Le Brassus. Founded in 1875, the watch manufacturer generates annual sales of CHF 1.58 billion with 800 employees, 610 of them in Switzerland. Every year, around 45,000 watches in the top price category are produced at the three Swiss sites in Le Brassus, Le Locle and Meyrin. The 19-year-old is proud of her operational grade of 5.5 and the 2nd place of the "Best Apprentices". She is looking forward to now being able to develop further in the internationally successful company. She is convinced: "As a small country, Switzerland depends on good international contacts. In this context, it is also important to live sustainability even better and to take it very much to heart."

Dounia Schmid's assessment is in line with the survey results. This year's commercial apprenticeship graduates named the changing markets as the second most important international challenge. This is where Swiss retailers can bring their strengths into play. In Jil Bachmann's view, these include Switzerland's good reputation and networking. However, the lack of EU membership complicates imports and exports and makes Swiss trade inflexible, she believes. But flexibility is one of the basic requirements of globalization. For the future, she sees Switzerland's lack of raw materials as another major challenge. Foreign trade is central for Switzerland, says Jil Bachmann, because "we are an isolated island and depend on imports. It is more important for many companies than trade in the domestic market." Thomas Stjelja can only agree: "Foreign trade has a major influence on Switzerland's prosperity. That applies to exports as well as imports."

Employers must benchmark themselves again and again

Ueli Stursberg, as first secretary of Handel Schweiz responsible for leading education, summarizes what the survey results mean for employers: "Employees are interested in salary, job content and identification with the job. Employees stay with a company as long as the overall package is right - but people are changing jobs much more quickly today than in the past. Employers in the retail sector therefore also have to benchmark themselves again and again."

Source: Trade Switzerland

According to Swissmem, incoming orders in the Swiss MEM industries increased by 10.1 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2022. After six quarters of positive growth rates, the order volume is now 30 percent above the pre-crisis level (Q4/2019), the industry umbrella organization reports. However, according to Swissmem, growth momentum slowed in the second quarter of 2022. A similar picture emerges for sales. These increased by 12.1 percent compared to the first half of 2021. Due to the high order backlog, sales are also likely to increase further in the second half of the year. Both SMEs and large companies are benefiting from this positive business development.

MEM industry with growing exports and high capacity utilization

The half-yearly balance sheet for the MEM industries also records high capacity utilization in companies, reaching a high 90.3 percent in the second quarter of 2022. According to the latest KOF survey, it fell to 89.5 percent in July. However, it remains well above the long-term average of 86.2 percent. In terms of employment, half-year figures are not yet available. In the first quarter of 2022, 320,900 people were working in the MEM sector. This is 2.4 percent more than in the same quarter of the previous year. In addition, the number of vacancies in Swissmem member companies has risen by 32 percent within a year.

Exports of goods by the MEM industries reached a value of CHF 36.5 billion in the first half of 2022. This value is +9.0 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year. The MEM sector exported more to all main markets (Asia +14.1%, EU +8.5% / USA +7.5%). All product groups increased their exports. Exports in metals rose by +13.3%, in electrical engineering/electronics by +8.9%, in precision instruments by +7.6% and in mechanical engineering by +7.4%.

Dark clouds on the horizon

Stefan Brupbacher, Director of Swissmem, says: "The development of orders and sales in our industry is encouraging. However, this is only half the truth. Delivery problems and, above all, the sharp rise in energy and raw material prices have significantly increased production costs. By no means all companies can quickly pass on the higher costs to their customers. The exploding energy costs in particular are threatening the very existence of some companies."

The mood among Swissmem member companies has generally clouded over. For the coming twelve months, 30 percent of entrepreneurs expect orders from abroad to fall. This is 12 percentage points more than in the survey of the first quarter of 2022, while the proportion of those expecting higher orders has fallen from 35 percent to 29 percent. The level of the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for industry reflects this gloom. In the eurozone, the most important market for Swiss industry, the PMI fell below the growth threshold in July 2022 for the first time since mid-2020.

Great uncertainty in energy supply

The MEM industries are concerned about the threat of an energy shortage. For its production processes, the industry is vitally dependent on an uninterrupted energy supply. Only some of the MEM companies are in a position to absorb any interruptions with flexible production planning. Companies whose production processes require high temperatures, on the other hand, are absolutely dependent on an uninterrupted supply. If this were to disappear, they would have to cease production completely. Martin Hirzel, President of Swissmem, warns: "An electricity or gas shortage must be prevented at all costs. It would endanger companies and their jobs in industry." Therefore, industrial companies that are technically dependent on an uninterrupted energy supply must be exempt from any gas/electricity rationing.

That the federal government triesSwissmem takes a positive view of the proposal to develop considerable reserve capacities for electricity production already this winter. However, the association believes that this will not be sufficient and therefore proposes the following measures:

1. Start saving energy now. What is needed here is a national alliance between companies, the administration and the population. The temperature in homes, offices, production halls, museums and shopping centers may only be a maximum of 19 degrees during the heating period. The associated loss of comfort is acceptable if it means that companies and their jobs can be preserved.
2. Solutions for threatened companies: The skyrocketing electricity prices are an existential threat for many production companies. The companies got into this extraordinary situation through no fault of their own. Electricity producers, the public sector as their owner and industrial consumers must therefore work together to find solutions to defuse the situation.
3. Switch operation of dual fuel systems from gas to fuel oil. Swissmem estimates that this could save up to 20 percent of annual gas consumption. Companies that have therefore exceeded their target agreements for reducing CO₂-emissions, should not suffer any disadvantages, according to the intention of the Federal Council. This must be implemented quickly. However, operation with heating oil can cause additional costs. Further measures are therefore needed to exploit the full savings potential.
4. Provide targeted incentives. In order to be able to increase electricity production in the short term, incentives are needed for owners of reserve power plants and emergency generators. Incentives that motivate energy-intensive companies to temporarily forego their electricity consumption are just as important.
5. Production at night or on weekends. In the event of a shortage, peaks in consumption of electricity and gas must be broken. Industry can make a contribution by shifting production to nights or Sundays. This requires a simple and unbureaucratic licensing practice on the part of the authorities.

Furthermore, according to Swissmem, Switzerland must not fail to ensure a secure and sustainable energy supply in the medium and long term. The umbrella organization of the Swiss MEM industries is therefore calling for an adjustment of the Energy Strategy 2050. "The current situation clearly shows that it is not possible to phase out nuclear and fossil energy sources at the same time. The federal government's intention to build two to three gas-fired power plants with a total capacity of up to 1000 megawatts by 2025 is a step in the right direction," Swissmem writes in this regard. In addition, there is a need for a streamlining of the approval procedures. Martin Hirzel, President of Swissmem, demands: "The 15 hydropower projects that the Round Table identified last December must be realized as quickly as possible. Switzerland can no longer afford years of delays in power plant projects." With a bill that restricts the possibilities for objections to these projects and streamlines the procedures, the people could vote on them in a possible referendum as early as the end of 2023.

Source: Swissmem

The Swisscom StartUp Challenge 2022 was all about Climate protection and sustainability. More than 200 startups from 30 countries applied for the tenth implementation of the funding program. In the first round, a jury of experts selected ten finalists by the beginning of August 2022. What they have in common is that all of their innovations contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases. The spectrum of solutions is broad, ranging from IoT applications and hydrogen fuel cell technology to platforms for the circular economy.

Convincing business models honored

On September 2, 2022, the ten-member jury with representatives from Fastweb, ETH, South Pole and Swisscom selected the five winners. To score in the final, however, the startups not only had to present smart, sustainable solutions and a convincing business model, but also demonstrate team spirit and determination. The jury was particularly enthusiastic about Almer Technologies AG, ECCO2 Solutions AG, mobileup, SmartHelio Sarl and Swiss Vault AG.

The five winners secured participation in a week-long exploration program with sustainability and ICT experts from Swisscom and access to the Swisscom ecosystem. In addition to workshops, coaching, a network of climate protection and energy efficiency entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, the winners also have the chance to partner with Swisscom. Because Swisscom wants to save one million tons of CO2 per year by 2025 Swisscom wants to save one million tons of CO2 per year by 2025, in addition to its climate-neutral target, by offering private and business customers innovative ICT solutions that enable them to massively reduce their carbon footprint.

Failure and success are close together

In the ten years that the Swisscom Startup Challenge has been in existence, around 2,000 startups have applied for the competition and 45 have completed the support program. Nearly 100 young entrepreneurs traveled to the Swisscom Outpost in Palo Alto and pitched their business cases to major venture capitalists and Internet giants. Among them were startups such as Ava (2015), Creal (2019), Ecorobotix (2017), Geosatis (2014), Gmelius (2019) and Nanolive (2016). Swisscom Ventures, a division of Swisscom, also invested in all of them. Six of the winning startups have since sold their companies: For example, regtech startup Qumram (2016) to Dynatrade or intelligent image recognition Fashwell (2016) to Apple. Some of the Swisscom Startup Challenge alumni are now ranked among the top 100 young companies in Switzerland. 4 of the 45 have unfortunately already had to abandon their entrepreneurial journey. "Compared to the statistics in the US, the failure rate in the Swisscom Startup Challenge Hall of Fame is much smaller," explains Beat Schillig from Venturelab. "So either the selection was very good or we in Switzerland take fewer risks than startups in Silicon Valley and still have a lot of untapped innovation potential. Because those who dare more can also win more!"

Short portraits of the winners of the Swisscom StartUp Challenge 2022

Almer Technologies AG
Almer Technologies focuses on providing high-tech augmented reality glasses with Swiss-made hardware/software for businesses and offers its service all over the world. Their service offers multiple solutions to problems: Eliminating the travel time an expert must spend to a foreign office, no transportation costs, and reducing the company's carbon footprint.

ECCO2 Solutions AG
ECCO2 reduces building heating energy consumption by an average of 15 percent with a data-driven IoT/AI solution and compiles ESG-relevant building data. Property owners are challenged by high energy consumption. Energy costs, regulatory obligations and social pressures are a real nuisance. Energy efficiency impacts market value for tenants and investors. The ECCO2 solution is fast, affordable, can be deployed anywhere and is subsidized by the Swiss government.

mobileup
mobileup is a platform for buying and selling used smartphones and tablets. All devices are sold with a 12-month warranty and a 30-day return policy. The price and the product range are the most important criteria for customers. Therefore, mobileup has set up APIs for the largest European providers. An algorithm identifies the devices with the best price-performance ratio and thus helps match supply with demand.

SmartHelio Sarl
SmartHelio is the fastest growing cleantech data intelligence company in the world, according to the company. The company's solution, founded by Bcorp and Y Combinator, is used by leading solar developers in Europe, Asia and the U.S. to make solar installations profitable and sustainable. After investing $15 million in research and development, SmartHelio has developed software that predicts PV system faults in real time. This can prevent downtime and increase revenue by up to 10 percent.

Swiss Vault AG
Swiss Vault is a data innovation company that helps the world manage its data efficiently and in an environmentally responsible way. Swiss Vault provides companies with technologies that combine hardware and software solutions for better, economical, resilient and environmentally sustainable data management.

It all started at a table half rented on the second floor of a coffee house in Basel: The start-up Revendo was founded in 2013 by two friends to fight electronic waste - a growing problem: More and more smartphones and computers end up in the trash, even though they could still be used. To combat this, Revendo started buying used devices, repairing or upgrading them, and then reselling them at a low price. The concept was successful: one year after the online store, the first store was opened. Today, Revendo already has 10 stores and more than 145 employees. And at the end of 2021, the company won the Prix SVC Northern Switzerland a prestigious entrepreneurial award.

Salt customers benefit several times over

Now Revendo has found a new partner in telecom service provider Salt: Together, the two companies are fighting e-waste and thus promoting a sustainable circular economy. Thanks to the partnership with Revendo, Salt can now simplify the buyback of used devices: In a Salt branch, customers can have their smartphone valued directly on site. In doing so, they benefit from a price guarantee: The amount estimated in the branch is guaranteed to be paid out to the customer by Revendo. Alternatively, customers can also have their device valued conveniently online and then send it in for sale. They also benefit from an eco-bonus: For every device sold at Salt, customers receive an additional eco-bonus of CHF 15. By selling their old devices, they are helping to conserve our planet's resources. The used devices will be recycled by Revendo
reconditioned and then sold to new owners. In this way, the useful life of the equipment can be massively extended.

Two strong partners for less e-waste

As Aurel Greiner, CEO of Revendo elaborates: "We are convinced that our two companies complement each other ideally in this partnership. Revendo has nine branches and over 145 employees. This makes Revendo the largest provider of refurbished devices in Switzerland and a perfect fit with a strong partner like Salt, one of the largest telecommunications providers in Switzerland." Thanks to the competencies of the two partners in their respective core businesses, the collaboration has the potential to be the start of a longer-term trend towards reducing e-waste in Switzerland, the two companies are convinced. According to estimates, there are currently more than one million unused devices lying around in Swiss households. Only about 20% of the e-waste produced worldwide is recycled. "By all of us consistently focusing on more upcycling and reuse, we can change that. That's why we are very motivated to use this partnership to ensure that fewer used smartphones are gathering dust in Swiss drawers. After all, it would be much better if these devices found new owners again and gave them plenty of pleasure for a long time to come," says Aurel Greiner.

Source and further information: Revendo / Salt

On September 3, 2022, the Generations Forum will be ceremoniously opened in the Kulturpark Zürich. The promotion of a changed culture of the perception of age images, the understanding of generations and a meaningful contribution of the "old" and "young" as an active contribution to a better generation togetherness are the goals of the Generation Forum Zurich.

Solutions for relevant future topics

Initially, the Kulturpark will offer a platform as a sounding board and breeding ground for existing projects that connect generations. In the future, solutions for relevant future issues will be actively developed and promoted with partners from civil society, government and business. The Generations Forum is initially financed by the Hamasil Foundation, which also operates the Culture Park. In and with the Kulturpark at Pfingstweidstrasse 10 and 16 in Zurich, over 200 new jobs have since been created. The business activities are diverse and are all committed to a sustainable society. In addition to societal, social and cultural services, others are offered in the environmental sector and for the economy.

Promote meaningful dialogue between generations

Exciting panelists from different generations, such as Samantha Zaugg (28), journalist and art student, and Ludwig Hasler (78), philosopher and publicist, who have been conducting a public correspondence for two years, will show on September 3 in Zurich how the dialog between the generations succeeds - or fails. They discuss expectations, attitudes, experiences, dating, climate and humor.

www.kulturpark.ch

According to Biomasse Suisse and the Swiss Gas Industry Association VSG, biogas and other climate-neutral gases are key to the decarbonization of gas supply envisaged by politicians and the industry. The technologies to provide renewable and climate-neutral gases such as biogas and synthetic biomethane and hydrogen have been available for years. Against this background, the topic of this year's Bioenergy Forum could not have been more topical: Implementing a net-zero gas supply is challenging. The annual gathering of research, producers, business, administration and politics provided a platform to discuss seminal ideas on how to shape the gas supply of the future.

Contribution of biogas to decarbonization is underestimated

The first part of the forum was devoted to biogas, which still receives far too little attention as a domestic, renewable and flexible energy source. Biogas can be produced on our doorstep from waste and at the same time reduces greenhouse gas emissions (especially methane from livestock). The presentations showed that the contribution of biogas to decarbonization is generally underestimated.

Power-to-gas plants on an industrial scale

In the second part, representatives of research from Germany and abroad reported on the latest innovations in the field of renewable gases and their potential for sector coupling. Power-to-gas plants can only play their key role in the seasonal storage of renewable energies if the framework conditions are right. The Limeco plant was presented as the first industrial-scale example in Switzerland. It also dealt with its economic operation and issues such as an exemption from grid usage fees. Another presentation addressed the technical challenges of using green hydrogen to increase biogas production.

General conditions must be adapted

The third part dealt with the necessary technical adjustments to the gas infrastructure so that hydrogen and other renewable gases can also be transported safely. Furthermore, a research project was presented that converts the electrically produced hydrogen into biogas deep underground (power-to-gas). The fact that seasonal storage can also take place there underground could efficiently combine two important processes of sector coupling.

In a panel consisting of representatives from politics, business and administration, the various topics were discussed in depth. The participants agreed that increased promotion of biogas and climate-neutral gases is the order of the day. There is still room for further debate on the how.

Source and further information: Biomass Suisse

The hot summer of 2022 and supply bottlenecks for fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas as a result of the Ukraine conflict make it obvious: our energy resources are becoming scarce. Energy experts believe it is likely that there will be supply disruptions in winter. Saving energy is therefore the order of the day, to avoid rationing of energy sources in the worst case scenario. With the campaign "Energy is scarce. Let's not waste it" campaign, the Swiss government is now calling on companies and private households to cut back on energy consumption.

Savings potential everywhere

Every company has the potential to save energy, and the amount varies depending on the industry. However, many companies are not sufficiently aware of this. Despite energy-efficient construction methods, the planned values are often not achieved because user behavior is not adjusted or is adjusted too little, regret the authors of the guide "Energetic Optimization of Operations" published by energieschweiz. Often, this is also due to the fact that technical building systems are not operated optimally. A lot can be achieved here with professional optimization of operations (OO). With simple measures, companies - whether in the service sector or in industry - can save 10 to 15 percent in energy costs.

Five tips for saving energy quickly

In addition to optimizing operations in terms of energy, the following energy-saving measures can already make a difference:

1. Optimize heating (savings potential: 10 - 15 percent)
   Check the thermostatic valves: are they working and set to the right temperature? In older and new buildings, heating costs increase for each additional degree in room temperature. So, if necessary, set the thermostats 1 degree lower. In workrooms (i.e., at the workplace itself), ensure at least +20 °C for light work while sitting and +17 °C for medium work while standing or walking.
   Vent the radiators: Do the radiators make bubbling noises and only get partially warm? Then bleeding them will help. This will make the heating work more efficiently again and consume less energy.
   Setting the heating curve correctly: The heating curve, also called heating characteristic, describes the relationship between the outside temperature and the flow temperature of the heating system. First define the temperatures (especially in critical rooms), determine the room temperatures, correct the heating curve if necessary, adjust the heating limit, observe the course and then set the temperature correctly. It is important to have the appropriate documentation.
   Reduce the flow temperature of the heating system or individual heating circuits outside the times of use, e.g. at night.
2. Optimize ventilation (savings potential: 10 - 25 percent)
   Adjust the operating times to the effective room usage and reduce the power at unused times or switch off the ventilation altogether. For example, if you turn off the ventilation from 8 pm to 6 am every day, its energy consumption will decrease by up to 40 %.
   Adjust the air volume of the ventilation system to the effective demand in the rooms, because especially in large rooms (restaurants, halls of all kinds) the occupancy fluctuates greatly. If you halve the air volume, you save up to 80 % of energy.
3. Lighting (savings potential: 10 - 25 percent)
   Adjust motion sensors and daylight sensors: Readjust the daylight setpoint and overrun time so that the lights turn off with enough incoming daylight, or when no one is in the room.
   In rooms with long periods of use, check whether replacing fluorescent lamps with LED tubes is worthwhile in the short term. In the long term, plan best with a new, energy-saving lighting system.
   Adjust the light output to individual use by selectively removing luminaires in overlit zones or setting the basic illumination to a lower level. Install presence and motion detectors as needed. For healthy and younger workers, an illuminance of 500 lux is considered optimal; older people need 750 to 1500 lux in the office.
4. Refrigeration equipment (savings potential: 10 - 15 percent)
   Outside opening hours, refrigerated cabinets should be consistently closed. Night blinds, covers or glass doors are suitable for this purpose. This way, the cold stays inside the furniture and you avoid unwanted temperature fluctuations. Make sure that all refrigerated and frozen furniture such as display cases, shelves, trip or action chests are closed outside opening hours (at night, on weekends). If ice accumulates on the ceiling or on the evaporator of freezer rooms, there is too much moisture in the room. In both cases, remove the deposits, reduce the moisture input and check the room regularly for ice formation.
5. Fix leakage
   Check piping systems for leaks. For example, even in a regularly maintained compressed air network, 25 to 60 % of air can often be lost through leaks. Check the compressed air piping system annually for leaks, mark the spots and seal all of them. One indication of leaks is, for example, compressors starting too frequently.
   

Further and more detailed tips as well as information brochures on saving energy can be found here: https://www.energieschweiz.ch/programme/nicht-verschwenden/spartipps-unternehmen/

2021 was a golden year for private banks in Switzerland. Assets under management increased by CHF 373 billion (12.9%) last year and now stand at CHF 3,263 billion. Net new assets of CHF 131 billion and performance of CHF 234 billion due to very positive equity and foreign exchange markets were key contributors to the growth. At 91% of banks, assets under management increased in 2021, with median growth reaching a record 13.7%. Gross profit rose to CHF5.8 billion in 2021 and revenues to CHF19.7 billion, according to a survey by auditing firm KPMG in collaboration with the University of St.Gallen. In this study, "Clarity on Swiss Private Banks," a total of 76 private banks operating in Switzerland and 11 in Liechtenstein were examined. The performance of these institutions and the most important industry trends were assessed.

Accentuation between "weak" and "strong" private banks increases

Despite the excellent results mentioned above, the gap between strong and weak private banks continues to widen. According to KPMG, the number of banks with operating losses rose sharply in the last three years despite a very positive environment. The median return on equity was 10.1% for strong banks and -2.0% for weak banks. "The strong banks are entering a clearly deteriorating macroeconomic environment very robustly. For the weak and medium-strong banks, the uncertain economic environment will be a major challenge, again leading to an accelerated decline in the number of private banks," adds Philipp Rickert, Head of Financial Services at KPMG Switzerland.

"Big8" will dominate the Swiss private banking landscape in the longer term

With the softening of banking secrecy as well as the increasing tax transparency due to the automatic exchange of information, many private banks have made strategic and operational improvements and invested in the repositioning of their business. With corresponding success: excluding UBS and Credit Suisse, a group of eight large Swiss private banks stands out the longer, accounting for almost 80% of assets under management of the analyzed banks and almost 90% of gross profit. "The high growth is the result of continued success in the market. Through better customer service and above-average performance, the "Big8″ have succeeded in retaining existing customers, increasing their 'share of wallet' and attracting new customers," explains Philipp Rickert. Crucially, success enables these banks to attract the best people and continuously invest in high-quality services, tailored products and digital initiatives. This enables the banks to stabilize their revenue margins in a highly competitive market.

The number of private banks in Switzerland fell from 99 at the end of 2020 to 92 in June 2022. The strong transaction momentum with ten M&A transactions in the first quarter of 2022 came to a halt due to the uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine, rising inflation and interest rates, and fears of an impending recession.

Independent asset manager industry facing fundamental transformation

The Swiss independent asset management (IAM) sector has also been successful in recent years. 37 of the largest UVVs manage client assets of more than CHF 100 billion. This exceeds the combined client assets of CHF 69 billion of the 29 small private banks included here. But the UVV market is also in flux: Higher regulatory requirements, growing interest from foreign private equity investors, and an aging advisor base nearing retirement.

By the end of July 2022, only about 400 out of 2,100 UVVs had received a license from FINMA as a result of the Swiss Financial Institutions Act (FINIG). "Most independent asset managers are very small firms that are more likely to sell their business than apply for a license under the current time pressure. This could lead to a significant increase in M&A activity or to the disappearance of many small players," explains Christian Hintermann.

Headwinds in the coming years accelerate consolidation of private banks

After many years of rising valuations in the financial markets and ten years of negative interest rates, inflation is returning and interest rates are rising. The group of strong private banks is well positioned to face this against the clearly increasing headwinds triggered by an increasingly likely economic stagnation or even recession. However, the pressure to act on the weaker banks, which were able to profit during a record-long stock market boom, will increase markedly. KPMG Switzerland believes that this new reality will increase the need for consolidation among Switzerland's weaker private banks and that a new wave of market exits and greater concentration in the Swiss financial center will become apparent.

Source: KPMG

As the first university of applied sciences in Switzerland, the Distance Learning University of Applied Sciences Switzerland FFHS receives the accreditation of the Higher Education Promotion and Coordination Act (HFKG) and the Health Professions Act (GesBG) for the Bachelor's degree program in Nutrition and Dietetics in July. With the accreditation, the Swiss Accreditation Council confirms, at the request of the Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ), that graduates of the program achieve the required competencies according to the specifications and are qualified to practice in the diverse professional field of nutrition counseling. The Nutrition and Dietetics degree program has been conducted with two classes each year since fall 2015 and is the first bachelor's degree program toward a regulated health profession offered by the FFHS Department of Health. The accreditation is valid for the study program until 2029, a first review in terms of quality assurance will be carried out by AAQ in 2023.

As the Swiss agency for accreditation and quality assurance, AAQ carries out institutional accreditations at universities on the one hand and accreditations for medical education and training on the other. According to the GesBG, seven categories of health professions are subject to accreditation. This also includes the profession of nutritionist and thus the course of study "Bachelor of Science SUPSI Nutrition & Dietetics". In short, the GesBG requires graduates of the Nutrition and Dietetics degree program to be able to provide professional advice, guidance and care to individuals of all ages in various contexts (institutional, private practice, home).

The program accreditation by AAQ started at the beginning of 2020 with preparatory work and surveys and took place over several stages. In spring 2021, AAQ granted institutional accreditation to FFHS as an affiliated school of SUPSI. This was the prerequisite for fulfilling the further accreditation requirements according to GesBG for the study program Nutrition and Dietetics. A self-evaluation report, including a statement on each quality standard, provided the basis for the external evaluation in November 2021, which took place in an online visit together with representative groups of students, lecturers, staff and practical trainers of the study program. The international group of experts then wrote a report that listed the strengths and development potential of the program and awarded accreditation with a single condition and a few recommendations for further development.

Source: FFHS