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Ethics committees fill moral vacuum

This content was published on Dec 23, 2003 Rapid advances in science, particularly in the field of medicine, mean politicians and business leaders find it increasingly difficult to assess future risks and benefits. Genetically modified organisms, human cloning, stem-cell research and the production and storage of embryos for therapeutic purposes are just some of the issues that have raised perplexing moral issues. Though…

Swiss economy poised for better year ahead

This content was published on Dec 22, 2003 However, growth will at best be very modest and there are a number of question marks still clouding the horizon. While 2003 was anything but spectacular on the economic growth front, there have recently been increasing signs that Switzerland has started to recover from a double-dip recession. The economic barometer of the KOF Institute for…

Success still eludes “Helvetistan” after 11 years

This content was published on Dec 22, 2003 The arrangement gave Switzerland more clout in those institutions while the countries concerned received Swiss help in adapting to a market economy. It was no accident that the Swiss became involved Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Poland. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Switzerland saw an opportunity to get on to…

Swiss-Russian start-up has brighter future

This content was published on Dec 22, 2003 Top tier European venture capital firm, Amadeus Capital, which manages funds of more than SFr500 million ($400 million), Apax Partners, currently investing a $4 billion fund, and Moscow-based Mint Capital are all providing financial backing. ACOL (which stands for “all colors of light”) is a spin-out from Moscow-based Corvette Light, founded in 1998 by two…

Watchmakers call time on slump

This content was published on Dec 22, 2003 The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry said the slump in sales during the first half of 2003 had slowed down significantly. Jean-Daniel Pasche, president of the federation, said the drop in watch exports stabilised at around four per cent in September – a big improvement on the seven per cent figure at the end…

Watchmakers wallow in the doldrums

This content was published on Dec 22, 2003 International sales have been sluggish since the beginning of the year, but analysts believe some markets still have growth potential. At the beginning of June, Cartier shed 180 jobs, while Ebel, a maker of middle- to high-end watches slashed 24 jobs at the end of the month. And nobody seems sure whether the job cuts…

Traditional toys make a Christmas comeback

This content was published on Dec 22, 2003 Sales of board games are outstripping all other toys, leaving perplexed retailers scrabbling for an explanation. “We can already confirm that traditional toys have claimed the best part of the market,” Reto Zurflüh, spokesman for the Swiss society of toy suppliers, told swissinfo. Two of the country’s leading retailers, Manor and Franz Carl Weber, have…

The Swiss Army knife is still a cut above the rest

This content was published on Dec 21, 2003 If anything is a real symbol of Switzerland, it must surely be the Swiss Army knife, the little red prodigy that stands for precision and quality. Its image is so polished that it is frequently used in advertising for products that have absolutely nothing to do with a pocket tool. But to keep that reputation,…

Toy store offers bear necessities

This content was published on Dec 20, 2003 At the Bear Factory, customers can select a bear, pick out a snappy outfit, record a message – and give the toy a heart. It may be pure kitsch, but it seems to be hitting the spot among the sophisticated shoppers along Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse. The voice chip, in particular, appears to have won over adults…

Medical records go online

This content was published on Dec 20, 2003 The Médicentre in Balexert claims the move is a world first. The project is a pilot study involving 50 patients, who can access their records spontaneously without having to ask for them or justify themselves. Research is continuing into the consequences of such a move – in particular how it affects the relationship between patients…

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Internal: Archive

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Ethics committees fill moral vacuum

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Swiss economy poised for better year ahead

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Success still eludes “Helvetistan” after 11 years

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Swiss-Russian start-up has brighter future

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Watchmakers call time on slump

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Watchmakers wallow in the doldrums

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Traditional toys make a Christmas comeback

More

The Swiss Army knife is still a cut above the rest

More

Toy store offers bear necessities

More

Medical records go online

Popular Stories

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