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(CONNECT) Researchers from the Neural Control of Movement Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) have been able to observe the pupil movements of sleeping people over several hours for the first time. They discovered that the size of the pupil constantly fluctuates during sleep. This reflects the state of arousal and the activation level of brain regions that are responsible for sleep-wake regulation.

"These observations contradict the previous assumption that arousal levels are generally low during sleep," one of the study leaders, Caroline Lustenberger, is quoted as saying in an ETH report. By measuring pupil activity during sleep, the team may be able to detect sleep disorders caused by diseases such as post-traumatic stress disorder or insomnia.

The study showed that pupil dynamics are not only related to the different stages of sleep, but also to specific patterns of brain activity. In addition, the researchers discovered that the brain reacts differently to sounds - depending on the level of activation, which is reflected in the pupil size. The study has been published in the journal "Nature Communications".

They now want to use medication to find out whether a specific brain region, the locus coeruleus, is actually responsible for controlling the pupils during sleep and how changes in the activation level affect sleep and its functions. Another aim is to make the technology usable outside the sleep laboratory, for example in hospitals. There, it could help to monitor the waking of coma patients or to diagnose sleep disorders more accurately. ce/mm

(CONNECT) Swiss Food Research 's Cocoa & Chocolate Innovation Group is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the network for innovation in the Swiss agricultural and food industry, based in Technopark Zurich, announced in a press release. "Our platform serves as a bridge between science and practice," says Swiss Food Research CEO Lucas Grob. "By working closely with companies such as Lindt, Bühler and leading research institutions such as ETH Zurich, ZHAW and IVV Fraunhofer, we can drive innovative developments forward in a targeted manner."

At its 56th meeting on March 6, the Cocoa & Chocolate Innovation Group will take a look at its history. The special event takes participants "on a journey through three decades of challenges and progress in cocoa and chocolate research", writes Swiss Food Research. Rising raw material costs are a key topic on the agenda.

As a certified Living Lab, the Cocoa & Chocolate Innovation Group works on new concepts, technologies and sustainable solutions for the future of the chocolate industry. Farmers, researchers and young and established companies are networked through regular events, the targeted procurement of partners and the strategic promotion of projects. ce/hs

(CONNECT) In 2025, the canton of Zurich will once again be the largest foundation location in Switzerland with over 2,200 charitable foundations. This is confirmed by the final report of the Directorate of Economic Affairs. The Swiss Foundation Report 2025 shows that the canton once again leads all cantons with 44 new foundations. "With total assets of over 18 billion Swiss francs, foundations not only promote the common good in the canton, but also strengthen Zurich as a business location and financial center," according to a press release.

The government council issued the mandate to strengthen the Canton of Zurich as a foundation location in 2023 after the number of new foundations had fallen significantly. The centerpiece was a reform of tax practice. In addition, an advisory center for the establishment of charitable foundations was created. In addition, the dialogue between state actors and private grant-making foundations was institutionalized and investments were made in the international positioning of the Canton of Zurich as a foundation location.

The Government Council will now be working with partners to establish the Zurich Foundation Association. According to Carmen Walker Späh, Director of Economic Affairs, its aim is to "make our foundation location even more attractive and to promote networking within the sector and with business and administration". Its main activities will include the Zurich Foundation Forum, an annual event for the entire foundation sector. ce/mm

(CONNECT) Polariton Technologies AG, a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH), is setting a new standard in electro-optical (EO) modulators in collaboration with ETH. In a freely accessible study, they have demonstrated that the EO bandwidth of Polariton's new state-of-the-art plasmon modulators extends into the terahertz (THz) range. According to a statement from Polariton, this means they have beaten previous records.

"This achievement confirms the potential of plasmonic modulators to bring Thz frequencies into photonic integrated circuits," first author of the study Dr. Yannik Horst is quoted as saying. "For many years, their capability beyond 500 GHz was just theory." Thanks to an optimized modulator design and improved electronics, measurements up to 1.1 THz are now possible.

According to Dr. Wolfgang Heni, Co-CTO of Polariton, these results "demonstrate the tremendous utility of plasmonic modulators, from high data rate fiber optic communications to simple, linear, ultra-wideband THz receivers. The linear DC-to-THz bandwidth within a single device enables broadband field detection over a wide frequency range. Consequently, such devices open up numerous new applications in THz imaging, sensing and wireless communications."

The successful demonstration of bandwidths beyond 1 THz marks a significant milestone in the field of photonics, according to Prof. Jürg Leuthold, Head of the ETH Institute for Electromagnetic Fields: "It paves the way for new avenues in research and development, and we are excited about the potential applications that this breakthrough will enable." ce/mm

(CONNECT) Loft Dynamics has equipped the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) with state-of-the-art simulators. According to a statement from the Dübendorf-based manufacturer of virtual reality (VR)-based flight simulators, the Air Support Division of the Californian security forces uses the simulator, which is a complete replica of an Airbus Helicopter H125, to train and educate its 50 pilots.

Loft Dynamics and the LAPD have worked together to develop real city scenarios that can be used to train operational situations. The LAPD also uses the VR simulation LoftWIN, developed by the Dübendorf-based company, to train pilots and co-pilots. This solved the problem of location-based training.

"The realism of the full-motion platform, combined with the ability to create highly specific police scenarios, is revolutionizing our training methods," Kevin Gallagher, Chief Pilot of the LAPD, is quoted as saying in the press release. "Creating scenarios is revolutionizing the way we train - whether it's accidental instrument failure, low altitude chases or night vision operations. This technology ensures that our pilots are prepared to act with precision and confidence in critical moments."

Gallagher has developed VR lessons for risky flight and landing maneuvers especially for Los Angeles. An avatar, also developed by Gallagher, accompanies pilots with his programmed knowledge and skills in the training sessions to improve their flying skills. ce/ww

(CONNECT) The Basel-based company vector8 has acquired two Zurich-based companies: aighty-twenty and Morrow. As vector8 explains in a press release, the fast-growing and internationally active AI transformation company aims to become an end-to-end partner for AI transformations throughout Europe, "from strategic consulting to scaled AI deployment and organizational change management".

With aighty-twenty, vector8 is reportedly bringing "one of the most dynamic AI companies in Switzerland" on board. It has acquired 25 customers in a very short space of time, including Raiffeisen, Axpo and Helsana, and is able to seamlessly integrate AI into company processes.

Through Morrow, vector8 aims to expand its capabilities in terms of business model transformation, business building and strategic AI implementation. Morrow specializes in finance, insurance and healthcare. By joining forces, the three companies reportedly count the five largest Swiss banks and four of the five largest Swiss health insurers among their clients.

"AI is redefining industries, and companies need a partner who can deliver both strategic vision and implementation," aighty-twenty co-founder and CEO Niclas Delfs is quoted as saying. "With vector8, we are uniquely positioned to guide companies through the entire AI transformation process." Morrow co-founder Robert Iken is looking forward to combining his own consulting expertise with AI capabilities. And Marc Maret, co-founder and Group CEO of vector8, believes: "Together, we are setting a new standard for comprehensive AI transformation." ce/mm

(CONNECT) OxyPrem has officially closed its crowdfunding campaign on Capital Cell, according to a statement from the manufacturer of oxygen sensors for the brains of premature babies. According to the campaign page, 2,911,803 euros of the targeted 2.3 million were raised in the crowdfunding round, which runs until February 28. The valuation of OxyPrem is 17.1 million euros.

OxyPrem, based in Schlieren and Zurich, develops optical sensors that precisely monitor the oxygen content in the brain non-invasively and continuously. This helps medical teams to react in time and counteract insufficient oxygen levels to prevent irreversible brain damage and lifelong disabilities. According to OxyPrem, around 10 percent of all people are born prematurely. These infants are at high risk of lifelong brain damage caused by harmful oxygen levels in the brain.

Commenting on the investment in OxyPrem, Capital Cell says that the technology on which the sensors are based has shown that it can reduce false positives and negatives from one in six measurements to just one in 200. reduced. It is based on 13 clinical studies and 17 publications, among other things. The first product, launched as OxyPrem 1.4, has already been used for over 300 extremely premature babies in 38 neonatal intensive care units in Europe and India. ce/gba

(CONNECT) Joël Mesot has decided not to run for a third term as President of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. The President, who has been in office since January 2019, addressed the ETH Board at its meeting on 5. and 6 March that he intends to pass on the baton at the end of his second term of office at the end of 2026, writes the ETH Domain Council in a statement. "But until then, there is still a lot to tackle and complete," Mesot is quoted as saying. The outgoing President of the university has been a member of the ETH Board since 2010. Mesot was at the helm of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) from 2010 to 2018.

At Mesot's request, the ETH Board appointed Annette Oxenius as a new member of the Executive Board of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich at its meeting. She will replace Christan Wolfrum as Vice President for Research at the beginning of August. Wolfrum joins Nanyang Technological University NTU Singapore as Deputy President & Provost. Her successor Oxenius has been a full professor of immunology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich since 2012.

At its meeting, the ETH Board also allocated the federal funds for 2026 and a supplement for 2025. On the one hand, the supplementary allocation serves to partially compensate for a one-off budget cut in 2025. Further funds will also flow into the Swiss Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiative. Most of the federal funding for 2026 will go to the two Federal Institutes of Technology in Zurich and Lausanne and the four research institutes PSI, the Swiss  Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) and the Water Institute Eawag. ce/hs

(CONNECT) Unique has closed a Series A financing round raising 30 million dollars, according to a statement. This brings the total investment to 53 million dollars since the provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions for financial companies was founded in 2021. This round was led by CommerzVentures and DN Capital, with support from existing seed investors such as VI Partners and Pictet Group, it added.

"This funding will significantly advance our global expansion efforts and enhance our ability to deploy agent-based solutions for our customers," Manuel Grenacher, CEO of Unique in Zurich, is quoted as saying. Unique will "drive the next wave of innovation with the strong backing of our investors".

Unique's platform supports customers in the use of agent-based AI (Agentic AI) through "off-the-shelf" use cases or customized agents, according to the press release. These solutions should be seamlessly integrated into existing systems to enable improved performance and accuracy in the processing of data and queries.

According to the company, Unique's AI solution is already being used by companies with more than 2.3 trillion dollars in assets under management, including Pictet Group, UBP, LGT Private Banking, SIX and other companies in the financial services sector. The Pictet Group, which has 6,000 employees, reports efficiency gains of around two hours per week per employee, according to Unique. ce/gba

(CONNECT) According to a press release, Dietikon-based DuraMon AG successfully completed a financing round of 1.6 million Swiss francs for the seed extension in February. The round was led by venture capital and private equity investor QBIT Capital in Zurich, which had already led DuraMon's seed financing round in June 2023. Sika in Baar, a key investor since June 2023, has extended its commitment by re-investing as a strategic partner alongside Helbling Equities and others, it added. The fresh capital creates the conditions for scaling and expansion beyond the DACH region.

DuraMon is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) that specializes in a new type of sensor technology that ensures long-term stable corrosion monitoring of concrete infrastructures such as bridges, tunnels, multi-storey parking lots and parking garages. This enables the early detection and understanding of deterioration processes in concrete structures, according to the press release. This allows the right type of repair to be determined at the right time and in the right place in the structure, enabling building owners to optimize their maintenance strategies and reduce repair costs.

The newly secured funding will enable DuraMon to automate and optimize key internal processes, namely automated data analysis and sensor installation, according to the press release. There will also be a strong focus on customer development and expanding DuraMon's market reach beyond the DACH region into other European countries. ce/gba

Bridging the Gap from Shadow AI to Strategic Investment

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, many organizations have found themselves struggling with the unintended consequences of Shadow AI - the unregulated use of AI tools across departments. While these early, independent AI implementations have driven creativity and productivity, they have also introduced significant risks, such as data security vulnerabilities, compliance challenges, and inefficiencies in operations. Without a structured approach, businesses face fragmented efforts, lack of strategic oversight, operational conflicts, and difficulties in tracking performance and return on investment.

AgenticBlue is designed to solve these challenges by providing a unified, enterprise-grade AI management platform that aligns AI initiatives with business objectives. By centralizing AI investments, team collaborations, and governance policies, the platform ensures that AI is not just another experimental tool but a core driver of sustainable business growth.

A Comprehensive Solution for Enterprise AI Management

AgenticBlue offers a strategic framework that enables organizations to plan, implement, and scale AI initiatives effectively. The platform provides clear goal-setting and alignment with business strategies, ensuring that AI deployments contribute directly to long-term company objectives. By integrating team collaboration tools, AgenticBlue allows cross-functional teams to work seamlessly, breaking down silos and enhancing innovation.

Beyond collaboration, the platform includes investment and resource management capabilities, giving businesses the ability to track budgets, optimize AI expenditures, and allocate resources efficiently. With real-time operational oversight, companies gain transparency into AI usage, performance, and compliance with AI regulations.

BlueCallom’s CEO, Axel Schultze, emphasized the significance of this launch:

"With AgenticBlue, we are not just offering another AI tool. We are providing a transformative platform that enables organizations to manage AI as a mission-critical investment. Our solution empowers businesses to strategically align AI with their core objectives while ensuring security, compliance, and measurable results."

Empowering Organizations Worldwide

AgenticBlue is designed for companies that want to move beyond the pitfalls of Shadow AI and establish AI as a structured, scalable, and high-impact part of their operations. By bringing AI governance, investment tracking, and operational transparency under one framework, the platform enables businesses to make data-driven decisions, optimize productivity, and maximize return on investment.

The future of AI in business is not just about automation but about making AI an integral part of strategic decision-making. AgenticBlue offers enterprises tools they need to confidently navigate this transformation, ensuring that AI is used responsibly and effectively at every level of the organization.

Medicine, neuroinformatics and finance: Innovative minds founded spin-offs in these areas last year, incorporating research findings from the University of Zurich. In addition to the start-ups, 35 patent applications and 61 invention disclosures were registered in 2024.

Detecting prostate cancer in good time, making transplant organs last longer or a laboratory that fits on a chip: Spin-offs from the University of Zurich (UZH) make ideas from research ready for the market. Six new spin-offs were founded last year. Since 1999, 161 spin-offs have been created at UZH, 79 percent of which are still active. This result is remarkable in that, according to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office, the nationwide survival rate of newly founded companies after five years is only around 50 percent.