Innovation, Falciani and personalised medicine

Here are the top stories we’re following the week of November 2, 2015:

 

Keystone

Monday 

The newly opened Swiss Innovation Park has talented researchers, extensive scientific infrastructure and close ties to industry. But will the project help protect the Swiss economy under increasingly turbulent global market conditions? swissinfo takes a closer look. 

Keystone

Whistle-blower Hervé Falciani blew the lid off tax dodging clients at the HSBC in Geneva. Now the Swiss are going after him for industrial espionage, unlawful data retrieval and violating banking secrecy. The only problem: he didn’t show up for his first court appearance and has vowed not to come to the second on November 2 in Bellinzona. If he does not appear, he will be tried in his absence. 

Keystone

Wednesday 

How many different kinds of cancer are there? According to the latest research, that’s a trick question: all cancer patients experience the disease differently based on their unique genetic makeup. On November 4 we take a look at how Switzerland’s multi-billion-franc chemical and pharmaceutical industry is taking advantage of innovations in genomics-based, personalised medicine. 

Keystone

Friday

A Swiss programme to train Tunisian interns was supposed to help make young Tunisians more employable in their homeland, but finding Swiss businesses to train the interns is proving harder than expected. 

What you may have missed last week 

Will Germany’s parliamentary debates over whether to allow assisted suicide have an effect on the practice in Switzerland? swissinfo’s Jessica Dacey talks with providers of the controversial service.