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(CONNECT) ForenSwiss, Calvin Risk, Porters Group and BLP Digital are the nominees for the final of the Swiss FinTech Awards 2026, according to a press release. Two categories are taken into account: Early Stage for promising young companies and Growth Stage for more mature growth companies on an expansion course. The prizes will be awarded on June 23 as part of the first Swiss FinTech Week. It is jointly organized by the Finanz und Wirtschaft Forum and the Tenity innovation ecosystem and will take place in Zurich from 19 to 25 June.

The ForenSwiss team from Zollikofen supports financial companies in the fight against online crime and money laundering. The start-up, founded in 2025, uses the tools of cybercrime: the fully automated chatbots from ForenSwiss interact with fraudsters and extract relevant information. This enables financial institutions to disclose criminal money flows and networks in order to stop attacks early and in a targeted manner and protect customer accounts. 

Also founded in 2025 by industry veterans and based in Zurich, the Porters Group is an outsourcing partner that automates traditional, recurring and often strictly regulated banking processes for its customers with the help of independently operating artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The intelligent agents take over the often still analog work in the back office. This includes the blocking of accounts, chargebacks or coordination in the event of insolvencies

The two finalists in the Growth Stage are GLP Digital and Calvin Risk. BLP Digital AG, which was spun off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the University of St.Gallen in 2019, brings order and speed to the historically grown background processes of large companies. The Zurich-based company is building digital twins of existing IT systems and has hundreds of specialised, pre-trained AI agents working hand in hand. 

Calvin Risk from Kloten is developing a platform for the validation, testing and governance of AI systems. This platform enables companies to systematically review AI models, assess risks and better meet regulatory requirements. Continuous testing minimises the risk of security gaps, systematic distortions or failures during operation. ce/mm

• The AI Talk is all about the importance and impact of artificial intelligence. To reach a particularly large number of listeners, the podcast is available in Swiss German and English.
• In the NEST podcast, the podcast guests talk to Peter Richner, Deputy Director of Empa, about innovative ideas, opinions and visions that strengthen the construction sector.
• Follow the Gradient shares weekly insider knowledge and stories about starting a business and focuses on a specific topic each week. The podcast is recorded in English.
• The IFJ's Startup Talk Switzerland provides insights into the Swiss start-up scene, where founders talk about their experiences and share their knowledge.
• The Swiss Venture Club's KMUStorys podcast focuses on how an SME can be successful, how to manage succession and how innovation is not lost.
• InRadio 1 - KMU Talk, entrepreneurs share their experiences and provide direct insights into the world of SMEs.
• At Schampar digital, complex research topics are presented in a simple and understandable way in discussions with experts from Zurich universities.
• The Swisspreneur Podcast focuses on entrepreneurship and invites guests to share their knowledge and experience. The podcast episodes are recorded partly in English and partly in German.
• The ZHdK is releasing two podcasts: Kunstlicht discusses social issues and the importance of innovation from the perspective of the art world. TONI TALKS provides an insight into the ZHdK and invites various guests to talk about their specific topic.

(CONNECT) The Zurich-based company Zenline AI has welcomed the Kosovan Prime Minister Albin Kurti for a discussion on the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe. As startupticker.ch reports in an article, Kurti and Zenline CEO and co-founder Arber Sejdiji also exchanged views on the role of the diaspora as an economic bridge and discussed "how knowledge built up abroad can flow back more strongly into the countries of origin". Sejdiji, who has Kosovan roots, will meet the Minister of Digitalization in Kosovo in the summer to continue the exchange.

The Kosovan Prime Minister visited the company as part of his trip to Switzerland. Zenline develops AI agents that are specialized for commercial decisions in retail. The AI generates specific recommendations regarding the product range and pricing based on internal company data and external signals such as market trends and demand developments.

The start-up completed its first round of financing last year and is now active in the DACH region, Poland and France. The company has also already acquired its first customers in the United Arab Emirates and is planning to enter the US and UK markets in the fall as part of a second round of financing. ce/nta

(CONNECT) Researchers have found a new and minimally invasive way to repair the severed spinal cord of living beings. A research team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) and the University of Zurich has already succeeded in doing this in zebrafish and mice without the use of external electrodes or cables. According to an ETH press release, the "extremely promising results" from this study still require intensive testing before they can be used on humans.

The team has developed a biohybrid microrobot for its completely new approach. Living neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are connected to magnetoelectric nanoparticles in such a way that they can then be directed to exactly the right place with the help of external magnets, where they then stimulate the stem cells. "We can use microrobotic control to make treatment more precise and minimally invasive," says senior scientist and first author of the study Hao Ye.

From the combination of these special nanoparticles and the precursor cells, the researchers fabricate NPC bots just six micrometers in size. Depending on the test variant, they need hundreds of thousands of these microrobots for cell-based studies and several million for animal studies. They have developed lab-on-chip systems measuring around 1 square centimeter for their production.

In zebrafish larvae, the microrobots were injected precisely into the injured area and electromagnetic fields were generated. After only three days, the zebrafish showed almost normal swimming and exploratory behavior. In mice, the severed nerve cells were reconnected after 28 days. This is all the more remarkable as, unlike zebrafish, the spinal cord of mice does not normally regenerate. No harmful side effects were observed in either case.

"The reproducible and scalable production of microrobots with our lab-on-a-chip system shows that the platform's application potential goes beyond basic research," explains Professor Salvador Pané i Vidal from ETH's Multi-Scale Robotics Lab. The process could also be adapted for cardiology, oncology, wound healing and other targeted regenerative therapies, for example. ce/mm

(CONNECT) Vetropack Group is launching a lighter Rhine wine bottle on the Austrian market. The classic 0.75-liter bottle has been technically enhanced, now weighs just 350 grams and consists of 80 percent recycled glass.

According to a statement from the glass packaging manufacturer, which has its headquarters in Bülach and legal domicile in St. Prex, the bottle saves CO2 during production, transportation and distribution thanks to its lower weight. Compared to a conventional bottle of Rhine wine, this is around 33 grams or 13 percent over 100 kilometers of transport.

The Rhine wine bottle produced in Austria retains its previous dimensions. "The reduction to 350 grams for a 750 ml Rhine wine bottle is technologically challenging," says Harald Geist from Vetropack.

Since spring 2026, Vetropack has also been supporting a new reusable system for wine bottles in Austria. To this end, the company produces another newly developed reusable Rhine wine bottle for a pool system at its Pöchlarn site. "In addition to CO2 savings of up to 90 percent along the value chain, users benefit from standardized processes, for example in cleaning and logistics," Geist is quoted as saying. ce/as

(CONNECT) U-blox is participating in the international research project PANOSETI (Pulsed All-sky Near-infrared Optical SETI). According to a press release, the Thalwil-based provider of positioning and short-range communication technologies for the automotive, industrial and consumer goods markets is supplying its ZED-F9T satellite-based receiver for the project led by the University of California at Berkeley.

PANOSETI (SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) searches the entire sky for optical or near-infrared signals. Time synchronization is of great importance for the reliable functioning of a telescopic field. The high-precision GNSS receiver from u-blox delivers a synchronization of 0.7 nanoseconds with a 1PPS (pulse per second) signal on a 1-kilometre baseline. Special filter techniques can improve performance to below 200 picoseconds.

The new technology from u-blox enables high-precision time measurements in terrain where fiber optic infrastructure is unavailable, impractical or too costly. It can also be used outside of scientific applications in distributed sensor networks, remote-controlled timing systems and for the resilience of critical infrastructures. Samuli Pietilä, Production Director for the GNSS line at u-blox, is delighted "to be able to support PANOSETI in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence". ce/ww

(CONNECT) Autoneum is focusing on the first public presentation of its new battery cover prototype at the Battery Show Europe, according to its press release. It will take place from June 9 to 11 at Messe Stuttgart. The Winterthur-based automotive supplier will be located in the Maximum Engagement Zone at stand J43.

The novelty here is that it is designed as a "highly customizable top cover for the battery pack". According to the information provided, its composite structure enables the integration of additional functional layers, for example for flame retardancy or electromagnetic shielding, depending on the vehicle and platform configuration. It is also said to be manufactured using a cost-effective process and is 30 percent lighter than conventional production methods.

"By combining functions that previously required several individual components, such as a separate battery cover and a flame protection shield, our solution reduces the complexity and effort involved in assembly," says Luca Mazzarella, Autoneum's Head of New Mobility. "This allows us to replace two or more parts with just one."

Thanks to the integration of several protective functions in a single, lightweight composite component, the cover is also intended to facilitate battery design for electric vehicles (BEV). "By combining advanced composite materials and multifunctional design, we can offer OEMs and partners a solution that increases safety and efficiency while meeting the requirements of future BEV platforms," says Mazzarella. ce/mm

(CONNECT) A Swiss research team has developed a method to prevent the transmission of the Escherichia coli (E. coli) virus type K1 from the mother to the newborn, according to a report by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH). This virus is a natural part of the intestinal flora in one in three healthy people and does not cause any problems. For every 500. In newborns, however, it causes life-threatening meningitis, which may leave severe and permanent damage in surviving children. So far, it can only be treated with antibiotics in a race against time.

The team, led by Emma Slack, ETH Professor of Mucosal Immunology, and Médéric Diard, Professor of Infection Biology at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, pursued the idea of eliminating E. coli K1 in pregnant women so that transmission does not occur in the first place. However, in order to combat the tenacious bacterium, it must first be freed from its protective outer skin. This was achieved using bacteriophages, i.e. viruses that specialize in attacking and destroying bacteria. The team found suitable bacteriophages in wastewater samples from a sewage treatment plant in the Lucerne agglomeration.

In experiments with pregnant mice that had been infected with E. coli K1, the researchers administered firstly phages that force the bacteria to shed their protective coating, secondly a phage inoculation that kills these bacteria and thirdly a harmless probiotic competitor bacterium that can occupy their ecological niche in the intestine. In a control experiment with untreated dams, E. coli K1 was transmitted to 83 percent of the young animals at birth. With triple therapy, the figure was only 23 percent.

According to Prof. Slack, all three components can be easily packaged in a capsule. The scientists now want to use this to develop a therapy for humans. They also want to use the same approach to combat other bacteria, including multi-resistant pathogens, against which many antibiotics are no longer effective. ce/mm

(CONNECT) Digital Winterthur and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) gave interested members of the public an overview of how far autonomous agentic models and robotics have actually come at their 5th Digital Night. According to a press release, the focus was not on the technical possibilities of robots, but on the question of when robotics can make a difference.

Robert MacKenzie, Partner at Ellipsis Ventures, therefore made it clear that 99 percent performance is not enough for robotic systems. Instead, these systems are only sufficiently reliable to enter and survive on the market from 99.999 percent. The two ZHAW professors Theresa Schmiedel, Professor of Information Systems, and Alexandre de Spindler, Professor of Information Systems, spoke about a major shortcoming of robots: their lack of social intelligence. You not only have to recognize people, but also understand their intentions.

The advertising and film industry is also evolving thanks to AI. Manuel Flurin Hendry, film director and researcher at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and the Zurich University of the Arts, illustrated how this happens. René Raber, CTO at Microsoft Switzerland, showed how digital sovereignty is implemented in Switzerland. He then discussed with Manuela Hug, founder of KI Power Swiss, how employees can be trained in the use of AI.

"The record attendance of 130 participants at the Digital Night showed that there is a great deal of interest and many questions about AI in Winterthur," Andri Fabig, President of Digital Winterthur, is quoted as saying. He took the opportunity to refer to the first Digital Impact Day, which will take place on September 10 at the Technorama in Winterthur, with four practice-oriented workshops, a keynote speech and a panel discussion. Interested parties can already register on a waiting list. ce/mm

(CONNECT) VirtaMed has entered into a distribution partnership with the French company Life Support Distribution. According to a press release, it now represents VirtaMed in France, Belgium and Luxembourg. The Schlieren-based company is thus expanding the distribution of its high-resolution simulation training courses in this part of Europe as well.

These surgical simulators work with hyper-realistic digital twins, artificial intelligence and customized hardware. They support medical technology and pharmaceutical partners in product development and training. In addition, VirtaMed's standard solutions for robotics, orthopedics, obstetrics, gynecology, urology and general surgery enable hospitals and associations to train and test physicians. Accordingly, the Life Support Distribution teams will in future support training centers, medical faculties, university hospitals and professional associations in the implementation of training concepts based on VirtaMed solutions - from needs analysis, installation and training through to technical support.

The partnership between the two companies is "based on a shared commitment to advancing surgical education," according to VirtaMed. To ensure this, the Swiss company has now introduced Life Support Distribution employees to the entire spectrum of its simulation portfolio, from arthroscopy and laparoscopy to robot-assisted applications.

VirtaMed is based in the Innovation and Young Entrepreneur Center IJZ and is a member of Start Smart Schlieren. ce/mm

(CONNECT) The Innovation Sandbox for AI of the Department for Economic Affairs of the Canton of Zurich has tested five AI use cases under real conditions, namely in the context of building permit procedures and medical documentation as well as inspection robots, sensor-based monitoring of bridges and the evaluation of retinal images. According to a statement, a total of 24 organizations applied to take part.

In the AI for building permits project, the Innovation Sandbox, together with project partners Gossweiler Ingenieure, Byte Studio and Nokema and in close coordination with the building department, has developed a prototype for an AI-supported preliminary check in the notification process, for example for solar systems, heat pumps or charging stations. This helps applicants to recognize at an early stage whether the documents are complete and where formal details are missing or need to be improved. "The project on building permits is an example of how the responsible use of AI can contribute to better submissions and greater efficiency - without weakening the decision-making authority and responsibility of the authorities," said Carmen Walker Späh, Government Councillor and Head of the Department for Economic Affairs.

An example from the company MPAssist was used to investigate how AI can relieve the burden on doctors when transcribing and structuring medical reports. Together with the Eye Clinic of Zurich Triemli City Hospital and the Werner H. Spross Foundation, it has been investigated how AI can support the evaluation of retinal images in clinical practice. The results of the project with irmos technologies and Schweizerische Südostbahn clearly show that sensor data is a useful addition to traditional on-site inspections of railroad bridges. Together with ANYbotics, the manufacturer of four-legged inspection robots, the regulatory conditions under which robotic systems can be used for inspections in critical infrastructure such as energy plants were analyzed.

"The second phase of the Innovation Sandbox for AI shows that artificial intelligence creates added value above all where it supports specific, practical tasks," says Raphael von Thiessen, Program Lead AI Hub at the Office for Economy. "Widespread use therefore requires not only powerful models, but also test environments that combine the technology with clean data, clear processes, human control and a reliable legal framework." ce/mm

Eviive has its sights set on complicated particles: extracellular vesicles are difficult to detect, tiny - and at the same time a great source of hope for people suffering from cancer. They are sent out as messenger substances by cells to transmit biological "messages". This information is valuable for therapies against various cancers or tumors because it can reveal the communication between immune cells or between immune and cancer cells.

The team of experts, led by Eviive founders and immunologists Kevin Yim and Richard Chahwan, is developing a new procedure that should make this process more precise and at the same time speed it up - based on research work at UZH and experience gained during years of cooperation with the University Hospital Zurich. The idea: decoding the messages between the immune system and cancer cells should help to find the most suitable therapy for each patient - or even an answer to the question of whether a single treatment or a combination of several therapies is the best choice.

As an example, Yim cites a study on melanoma that was completed in early 2026. Using blood samples from 125 people affected by this skin cancer, the developers showed that they were able to accurately predict the success of treatments with a reliability of over 90 percent of those affected. Following these and other encouraging successes, the team at the young spin-off Eviive is now working on "scaling up" this innovative analytics. "We are simultaneously validating the analysis with external clinical networks in the EU and the US and pharmaceutical partners," explains Yim, "with the robust proof of applicability required in modern precision medicine."