Published by Med-Tech Innovation

The Jura region is often referred to as the cradle of Swiss watchmaking, and a wide range of industries are now taking advantage of the wealth of precision engineering expertise in the area, most notably the medtech sector. This potent blend of microfabrication and medical knowledge is stimulating a wave of technological breakthroughs, such as a smart tool that makes it possible to perform spinal surgeries percutaneously in less than 30 minutes.

Switzerland has been known for its watchmaking skills ever since the end of the 17^th century, producing mechanical masterpieces that took the world by storm. The Jura region is, to this day, the most prominent source of watches of exceptionally high quality, and is home to many renowned brands, including Cartier, TAG Heuer, Baume & Mercier and Breguet. In fact, Breguet was behind one of the greatest innovations in watchmaking history: the ‘pare-chute’, a shock-absorbing system that significantly improved the accuracy and reliability of timepieces.

Creating such complex mechanisms requires vast knowledge in intricate engineering and microfabrication, as well as meticulously standardized and robust production processes. These qualities have been mastered by traditional watchmakers in the Jura region over centuries, being passed down over generations to ensure their knowledge continues to contribute to the industry today. More recently, these same skills have been applied to industries such as medtech, where they have proven invaluable in the development of medical devices. This is why many timepiece manufacturers have started to turn their attention – as well as their existing expertise – to high precision medical instruments. Switzerland has already had many triumphs in the medtech industry, delivering medical devices such as syringes, specialised imaging equipment, pacemakers, and orthopaedic implants of the same Swiss quality that made their watches so popular.

Incubating medical breakthroughs

The Jura region is now home to many companies that specialize in microtechnology, producing premium components and tools for the watchmaking and medtech industries alike. This bustling ecosystem creates unique opportunities for startups to innovate, but breaking the mould can be challenging, requiring the support of incubation and accelerator programmes to equip startups for success. The DayOne accelerator is one of the area’s – as well as Europe’s – largest medtech and digital health accelerator initiatives, nurturing early and mid-stage startups. The organization can offer help and advice to companies on their journey from ideation and prototyping to the final launch of the business. One company that has taken advantage of these favorable conditions is InnoSpina – a local startup specialized in intuitive guiding instruments and novel implants for spinal fusion and motion preserving surgeries.

Steely-spined

Spinal fusion is commonly performed on patients who suffer from conditions such as degenerative disc disease, narrowing of the spinal canal or slipped vertebrae. The surgery involves placing pedicle screws and short rods, connecting two or more vertebrae for increased stability. Aside from the high complexity and risks associated with this procedure, there are also many requirements that must be fulfilled for a patient to be a suitable candidate, and only a fraction of those in need of the treatment can tick all the boxes. InnoSpina’s vision is to address this issue by introducing easy-to-use equipment that allows a wider spectrum of patients to receive spinal surgery, while simultaneously reducing recovery time and post-surgery follow-up.

Spinal surgery in less than 30 minutes

InnoSpina combined its engineering expertise with the local competence in precision manufacturing – resulting from decades of watchmaking – to create a solution that allows accurate positioning of implants with simple pushing and tilting movements, while protecting the spinal cord at all times. The tool is made up of seven instruments that are gliding on top of each other and only a small incision is necessary to perform the entire surgery. This allows surgeons to carry out spinal procedures in less than 30 minutes, which is two to four times faster compared to operations using traditional equipment. Decreasing the time in surgery is not only beneficial for the patients but will also help hospitals save money as the running costs of surgical theatres are sky high. Additionally, the simplicity of the procedure will decrease the surgeon learning curve and make this type of treatment accessible to more patients.

Choosing to settle down in Jura

The founders of this technology decided to start and grow their company in the Jura region because of its technological environment, initiatives such as the DayOne accelerator, and the presence of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area – which have helped players in the watchmaking industry to diversify and apply their extensive know-how to the medtech sector.

Hannema explained: “The long-standing watchmaking industry in the Jura region has given the area a vast range of skills that are transferrable to medtech. We have greatly benefited from that local expertise, as well as the DayOne programme that provided valuable advice on procurement and regulatory matters. I would call it a mutually beneficial collaboration as I am now able to give back to the community by sharing my entrepreneurial experience with startups that are just beginning their journey.”

Summary

The canton of Jura is successfully expanding its global reputation for watchmaking capabilities to also become a big name in the medtech circle, attracting a wide range of medtech startups such as CNS Therapy, Incaptek and CryoThermo. These budding companies are receiving support from both watchmaking veterans and incubators, fuelling innovations in medical devices. InnoSpina – a company specialising in innovative instruments for spinal fusion and motion preserving surgeries – is one of the many businesses that have sprung up in the Jura, benefiting from the collaborative spirit and local talent that this region has to offer.

Spirecut AG is now based in Muttenz in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The medtech startup, which was headquartered in Fribourg up until the end of March, develops and sells instruments for two surgical fields of hand operations: carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger. In each case, the instruments facilitate minimally invasive procedures in which no incision is necessary. Rather, the surgeon merely has to puncture the skin.

As a result, in contrast to conventional operations, patients can immediately use their hand as normal again. Spirecut was awarded third place in the 2022 Swiss Innovation Challenge.

Founded in 2020, the company was supported in establishing its presence in the Basel Area by the “100 fürs Baselbiet” promotional program operated by BLKB, the cantonal bank for the canton of Basel-Landschaft, further details of which can be found in a statement. The aim of the initiative is to bring 100 companies to the canton of Basel-Landschaft, with debt capital of up to 500,000 Swiss francs available to finance the next growth step. The bank also offers coaching and mentoring in all relevant areas via its partners.

Unique ecosystem for medtech firms

The investment and innovation promotion agency Basel Area Business & Innovation functioned as a relocation partner and aided the search for suitable premises, which were eventually found at The 5th Floor coworking space in Muttenz. In the words of the Swiss-Belgian founder and CEO of Spirecut, Professor Frédéric Schuind, his company opted for the Basel region due to the fact that “it offers a unique ecosystem for medtech firms that encourages innovation and collaboration in a supportive environment”.

The medtech firm is keen to get in touch with the leading players in the Basel Area to sound out cooperation opportunities, informs Spirecut. The proximity to the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), as well as the University of Basel, University Hospital Basel and the Basel Area life sciences ecosystem and its suppliers, will open up recruitment opportunities for the company.

The jury of the TOP 100 Swiss Startup Awards 2022 has honored the best startups in Switzerland. Eight companies from the cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft did well. This was the twelfth year of the competition organized by Venturelab. It was supported by Credit Suisse and the Swiss Venture Club.

Five of the awarded firms from the two Basel cantons have been or are being supported by the biotech accelerator and incubator BaseLaunch. This includes Tolremo Therapeutics from Muttenz in 14th place, which has developed an active substance search engine to identify innovative drug resistance regulators and facilitates low-molecular weight therapies to combat these. Anaveon with headquarters at Tech Park Basel came in 30th place. It transforms potent cytokines into life-saving treatments.

Alentis Therapeutics also features in BaseLaunch’s portfolio. Located on the main campus of the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area in Allschwil, it took 51st place. The biotechnology company develops treatments for fibrosis. NextImmune from Basel, an innovative immunotherapy provider, came in 72nd place. Synendos Therapeutics from Basel took 79th place. It researches endocannabinoid modulators to restore the brain’s natural functions for those with central nervous system disorders.

Resistell is the top-ranked medtech startup

Furthermore, the jury placed Resistell at number 12. The medtech startup from Muttenz uses its nanomotion technology platform to rapidly find the correct antibiotic for each case, thus combating the issue of resistance. Resistell is not only the top-ranked startup from the Basel Area, but also the top-ranked startup in the medtech category overall. Bright Peak Therapeutics, a biotech startup from Basel, develops innovative cytokine active substances and took 33rd place. Qnami from Muttenz was assigned to 39th place. The startup uses quantum mechanics to measure things that have not been quantifiable to date on an atomic level.

Additionally, Tinamu Labs came in 32nd place. The spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich won with its drone technology the i4Challenge 2020 run by the investment and innovation promotion agency Basel Area Business & Innovation.

With decades of expertise in healthcare and mechanics, the Basel Area has become a sought-after location for medtech startups.

Find here your comprehensive guide to the Switzerland startup ecosystem.

Three medtech startups began their year-long journey through DayOne Tech’s acceleration program in the canton of Jura on August 17. According to a press release, they are CNS Therapy, Moonlight AI, and CryoThermo 4.0. They will gain access to coaching, the ecosystem, office space, and funds. The healthcare innovation initiative from Basel Area Business & Innovation, an investment and innovation promotion agency, brings together professionals and specialists from various disciplines and companies in the Basel Area to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem and make it more sustainable.

Three startups selected

CNS Therapy from Zug has developed a treatment for chronic pain without medication, surgery, or implants. Its systolic extinction therapy, for example, using neuromodulation and behavioral therapy has been proven effective in randomized studies. It is an innovative, interactive behavioral therapy combined with a patented medical device.

Moonlight AI with headquarters at the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area – Jura in Courroux in the Swiss canton of Jura develops artificial intelligence models to predict genomic biomarkers that are therapeutically relevant. It uses scans of stained hematology or pathology slides to do so. The startup aims to use these to democratize access to genomic information for therapeutic decisions.

CryoThermo 4.0 is developing a new generation of patented medical thermal compresses “thanks to a technological and therapeutic paradigm shift”. The startup also plans to manufacture and market these. The aim is to become the global leader in this area.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) believes innovation holds the key to unlocking unutilized potential in rural regions. The thinktank for industrialized countries has therefore launched a new initiative aimed at improving the growth prospects of rural regions and making these less reliant on state aid.

In this context, an OECD delegation visited Switzerland, and the canton of Jura in particular, in October 2021. According to a report in the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs’ (SECO) magazine “Die Volkswirtschaft”, the delegation was impressed by the professional, committed and varied nature of the support awarded to innovative stakeholders in the region.

In its report, the OECD formulated four recommendations. For example, innovations should also be supported beyond the export sector. Support should also reach young and older workers, women and migrants. The coordination of the offers could be improved, as could the cooperation between the institutions for promoting innovation and agricultural advisory organizations.

Implementation of the recommendations

The canton intends to implement the recommendations in conjunction with Basel Area Business & Innovation, the regional investment and innovation promotion agency for the two Basel cantons, Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft, as well as the canton of Jura. In so doing, the organization will seek to focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), primarily in the area of medical technology. It also intends to strengthen the integration of the canton of Jura in the Switzerland Innovation Park Basel Area, an aspect which it is hoped would help to bring skilled workers back to the Jura after completing their studies outside the canton. Basel Area also operates two funding programs for innovation in the Jura. Finally, more female entrepreneurs are to be supported as well.

In 2009, Hiroshi Kobayashi, a scientist from the Tokyo University of Science, presented the world’s first robotic teacher Saya. According to Kobayashi, machines are better than human teachers. The AI-powered robot knows the answers to all questions – it monitors and analyzes childs’ behavior to individualize the learning process and support their hidden talents.

This utopian vision of education has a lot to do with healthcare. Of course, nobody would like to be treated by artificial intelligence (AI) wearing a doctor’s coat – like no parent would prefer a robot over a human teacher. Human social empathy cannot be replaced by a rational machine. However, a lack of data causes medical errors, delays diagnosis and worsens the treatment prognosis. Humans make irrational health decisions, getting lost in conflicting recommendations and random advice.

AI’s capabilities to memorize the medical records of millions of patients, analyze data, monitor, forecast and make decisions based on facts are now becoming a critical transformational power in medicine.

New challenges require contemporary approaches

Doctors are drowning in administrative tasks, and the patient’s journey through the system is like a labyrinth. Healthcare professionals waste up to 1/3 of their time on administrative tasks. While WHO forecasts a shortage of 9.9 million doctors, nurses and midwives by 2030, such a waste of medical staff resources cannot be afforded.

There are many more statistics showing that healthcare needs radical changes: approx. 250,000-440,000 people die each year in the US due to medical errors. This is the third cause of death, right after cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cancer treatment delayed by one month increases the risk of death by approx. 10%. Non-communicable diseases generate 80% of healthcare costs. Paradoxically, 80% of heart conditions, heart attacks and diabetes can be prevented by modifications in lifestyle.

AI is a necessity, not just an addition to healthcare. Imagine the scale of the benefits when algorithms start reducing the number of medical errors by analyzing patient data and comparing treatment scenarios with the outcomes of millions of other people, relieving doctors of paperwork by automatically sorting information and collecting data in electronic records with voice processing systems.

How healthcare professionals and patients benefit from AI

Released in September 2021 by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the list of AI/ML-based (artificial intelligence/machine learning) medical devices already includes 343 items. By 2016, there were 15 items on the list. The largest number of medical algorithms certified by the FDA in the USA and CE-marked in Europe go to radiology. It is followed by cardiology, hematology, and neurology.

The advancement of digital and AI technologies in healthcare has led to a rapid increase in research in the field of AI and ML. So much so that in 2019, the prestigious scientific magazine The Lancet decided to release a separate version devoted solely to digitization – The Lancet Digital Health. Scientists from around the world publish research on (among others) the effectiveness of algorithms in healthcare (e.g., the one from April 2022 confirming the reduction in the incidence of colorectal cancer in the case of colonoscopy using AI tools.

Such a rapid development of algorithms is a logical consequence of the digitization of healthcare, cultural changes, and favorable legislative solutions. Systematically developed IT architecture in healthcare facilities and digitization of patient files facilitate the exchange and re-use of data by research centers and commercial companies.

Yet, it is no longer about advances in medicine – the competitiveness of the future economies will be measured by the scale of innovation and digitization maturity. The European Commission is aware of this and, at the beginning of May 2022, presented the European Health Data Space project. EHDS is intended to facilitate the secondary use of data, including supporting research and health policy goals.

The potential of AI in life sciences is being recognized by the pharmaceutical industry. Pharma leaders are working with startups developing so-called ‘digital therapeutics’ – platforms and mobile applications supporting patients in managing chronic diseases.

Broad range of potential applications

The range of potential applications is much broad. Novartis has partnered with a Chinese technology giant to develop AI Nurse – an intelligent platform that supports patients, doctors and nurses in managing heart disease. The program covered 500 hospitals. BioNTech, known for developing an mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, recently announced a multi-year partnership with InstaDeep Ltd., aiming to apply the latest advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to develop new immunotherapies for cancer and infectious diseases. And recently, Fujitsu has begun research to develop AI for early pancreatic cancer detection in Japan.

Big tech companies are also eager to enter the healthcare market. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, announced the launch of Isomorphic Laboratories in November 2021. The company aims to introduce an “AI-driven approach” to bio-pharmacy research by becoming a commercial partner for drug manufacturers.

Last but not least, public health has started to explore the power of AI. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO created the Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. By using AI to analyze health data, the WHO wants to prevent and limit future pandemics.

The gradual adaptation of AI by health and pharma organizations is an opportunity for digital health startups. Healthcare facilities are increasingly open to co-developing and implementing innovative solutions. Patients are also eager to use modern mobile apps to manage chronic diseases or optimize their lifestyles to stay healthy.

The biggest risks of AI in healthcare

Before the technological revolution gains momentum, some AI-related challenges must be tackled.

One of them is a low quality and limited availability of data used to train the algorithms. There are legitimate concerns about bias in data sets, which could lead to algorithms failing in populations not represented in the practice data—the so-called ‘black box’ (i.e., the way algorithms make decisions). Nobody knows how AI makes decisions, so it isn’t easy to verify the correctness of the entire process.

Citizens have concerns about data security and privacy. The use of diagnostic algorithms that are cheaper than human labor can potentially lead to two-speed healthcare, where diagnostic services provided by bots will be the standard, while contact with a human doctor will become a premium option, available beyond standard health insurance.

Doctors look at AI-based health systems with hope but fear. There are ethical dilemmas regarding professional liability for medical errors caused by algorithms. A mistake by an AI system suggesting the purchase of new clothes, a book or displaying the most exciting content on social media has no such consequences as an incorrect diagnosis or imprecise selection of a drug. Imagine such a bug in mobile apps used by millions of patients.

The legislation does not keep up with the rapid development of technology – many potentially beneficial solutions for patients are not scaled up on the market because health insurers do not reimburse them. However, this is also changing. In 2019, Germany adopted a new law that allows doctors to prescribe certified apps to their patients. Now France will implement a similar legislative framework.

The adoption of new technologies also requires a change in the work culture in healthcare. The case of IBM’s Watson Health proves that we are still far from balanced cooperation between doctors and AI. Neither the technology nor the doctors were ready. As a result, Watson Health was accused of making inaccurate and unsafe recommendations, prompting many hospitals to sever their cooperation with Watson. IBM eventually sold Watson Health.

Quantum computing will accelerate big data science

AI advances will be strongly related to advances in hardware. Solutions enabling the processing of large data sets and the detection of correlations in data invisible to the human eye (or rather, traditional statistics) have only become popular in the last decade. We are talking about so-called ‘deep learning/machine learning’ (DL/ML). And although the history of neural networks dates back to 1943, DL/AM entered practical use in this century. AI needs not only data, but also computing power. And this – according to Moore’s Law – grows exponentially: the number of transistors on a single microchip doubles every two years.

Yet, another innovation will fuel the development of AI – quantum computers with computational power incomparably higher than traditional computers. Google says its laboratory version of a quantum computer is 100 million times faster than any classic computer. Its performance can be compared to the strength of 5 million laptops. In tests, Google’s 54-qubit computer was able to complete a task in 200 seconds that would take over 10,000 years on traditional computers. Such machines can speed up, hundreds or thousands of times, the time it takes for AI systems to search for new molecules for potential drugs.

In 2017, a Chinese AI-based robot passed a medical exam. But even in China, with ambitions to become an AI leader by 2030, robots have yet to replace doctors. Instead, they support them. And one group will benefit most: patients.

AI, healthcare transformation and innovation ecosystems

Advances in healthcare and life sciences need a favorable ecosystem that fosters collaboration and supports the most brilliant ideas of young entrepreneurs. One place where these growth drivers can be found in Europe’s leading healthcare and life sciences hub is the Basel Area – a hotspot for progress in life sciences and medicine.

The people, culture of inventiveness, and location make it an excellent place to co-shape the future of healthcare. Based in Basel, it’s within walking distance from leading pharma companies working on breakthroughs in life sciences and – for a few years – also applying AI across their value chain. Here, Novartis cooperates with Microsoft within AI Innovation Lab, IBM plans a new center for quantum computing, while numerous international startups find symbiosis with the local supportive environment for entrepreneurship.

Based on this ecosystem, the DayOne is an accelerator that focuses on creating the ideal conditions for disruptive innovation in the life science industry. Recently ranked in the top 10 accelerators in Europe for health technologies, the DayOne initiative offers a platform for collaborative innovation across disciplines and industries by accelerating startups, launching catalyst projects, and hosting a community and events to bring innovative healthcare ventures forward. Since 2018, the hub has supported 23 companies with a combined valuation of over CHF 80 million, contributing to the life sciences ecosystem of the Basel Area, helping to launch, connect, and mentor many innovative healthcare ventures in medtech, medical devices, digital health, AI and more.

One example is Zoundream which uses AI to monitor baby cries to identify infants’ needs, emotions, well-being, and physical and neurological status. Another of its companies, Rekonas, has developed AI for EGG analysis to assess brain health, current, future cognition, and sleep macro/micro-structure. Or Nutrix, which applies AI to analyze molecules and biomarkers in saliva samples for health monitoring.

The future, AI-driven healthcare starts from ideas that can grow in the right ecosystem. The DayOne initiative represents a great example of the need to invest in ecosystem activators to achieve healthcare transformation.

Explore how DayOne is accelerating digital transformation in healthcare. Check the cooperation opportunities in its innovation hub >

EvokAI Creative Labs is taking over Advancience AG as part of a deal announced by the AI-powered medtech firm. Both companies are based in Allschwil in the canton of Basel-Landschaft.

EvokAI is building a platform for brain health and recovery. “Our concept is aimed at measuring the invisible”, comments Alejandro Antalich, co-founder of EvokAI, in the press release. “It is also tremendously important to be able to spot arising problems as soon as possible; knowing what’s typical is the most important foundation to know if something is out of the ordinary”, he adds.

The acquisition of Advancience brings the company one step closer to bridging the gap between neuroscience and AI. As part of EvokAI’s expansion plan, the takeover of Advancience will enable it to combat Alzheimer’s.

Advancience participated in DayOne Accelerator

Advancience is working with the University of Basel. The company offers digital, fully automated tests, in which it integrates gaming elements. By simulating various scenarios, these can be regarded as a “perfect tool to probe, assess and even predict human behavior”, the press release states.

DayOne, the Basel-based startup accelerator for the life sciences sector, is a partner of both EvokAI and Advancience. DayOne and Basel Area Business & Innovation, the investment and innovation promotion agency, awarded Advancience one of the three startup spots for its DayOne Accelerator program at Technologiepark Basel in 2019, supporting it with a grant of 70,000 Swiss francs in the process.

Learn what it’s like to work in Switzerland, what permits you need as a foreign worker and how to find work here. Check out our working in Switzerland page for more info.

Superlab Suisse is establishing a presence in Basel. Founded in 2019, the Zurich-based firm will be offering its laboratory services from Stücki Park in Basel. Superlab Suisse will have one high rise building with lab and research space covering an area of 6,200 square meters at the Innovation Center for Life Sciences in Stuecki Park Basel North.

The Superlab Suisse business concept is directed towards biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medtech companies, and encompasses lab facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, professional and concierge services as well as financing support. “These companies should have to worry as little as possible about infrastructure, allowing them instead to focus their investments entirely on research and innovation”, comments CEO Zhang Xi.

Entire life sciences value chain available

Superlab Suisse already has laboratories based in Lausanne and in 2024 also in Schlieren in the canton of Zurich. The company now also has its sights set on tapping into one of the most important life sciences clusters in Europe and around the world. As the company explains, the entire life sciences value chain can be found in the Basel Area. This ranges from research and startups all the way through to manufacturing, commercialization and distribution activities. Therefore, there is a “large talent pool of experienced specialists, suppliers and service providers at every stage and for every function of your company”.

Three new verticals will support a wider community of innovators from concept to mid-stage ventures. Each selected team will receive equity-free funding up to CHF 100,000 in addition to 1-2-1 coaching, tailored mentoring and training, workspace, industry-wide visibility and access to DayOne’s 2,000+ network of key digital health experts.

Learn more [DayOne Accelerator – Day One]

The three verticals include:

Digital Health Nation

An NTN Innovation Booster powered by Innosuisse for researchers and entrepreneurs with a radical idea to transform digital health and patient care in Switzerland. Stages include identifying customer needs and feasibility, determining profitability and product creation to turn hypotheses into a minimum viable product with up to CHF 20,000 non-dilutive funding.

DayOne Tech

A 12 month program for medtech startups, offering the funding, space (Canton of Jura), and guidance needed to turn prototypes into medical devices ready for market launch. Includes up to 150 hours of coaching and up to CHF 100,000 non-dilutive funding to support ambitious milestones and long term business success.

DayOne Health 4.0

A 12 week intense program for early (pre-seed) to mid-stage (pre-series B) digital health ventures from all over the world looking to scale into a successful pharmaceutical business. Entrepreneurs will gain access to a personal coach and advisors, engage with our Pharma partners along the program to build your business model at their interface and showcase your collaboration proposal at a private Demo Day. You will also receive up to CHF 15,000 non-dilutive funding to work on priority areas and get your venture closer to a potential collaboration with our partners.

Learn more about DayOne Health 4.0.

Located in Europe’s healthtech capital, applicants across all verticals will benefit from unlimited access to world-leading research institutes as well as an extensive pool of specialists and collaborators with which to grow their company.

Interested in applying?

Registration for DayOne Accelerator 2.0 is now open to digital health and medtech startups around the world. Express your interest and join one of Europe’s largest healthcare ecosystems today.

I’m interested! Apply – Day One