The internationally escalating pressure of costs, pricing and competition, growing regulatory requirements, scarce expert capacities and the strong Franc leave the Swiss medical technology sector faced with enormous challenges. Valuable parts of the supply chain threaten to migrate out of Switzerland. The Swiss Medical Technology Industry 2012 report reveals where the journey leads.

A new report from Housing LIN has been published today, focusing on the role of assisted living technology within general needs housing. The report is the second in a series of Board Assurance Prompts (BAPs) aimed at leaders and decision makers that are responsible for the management of general housing schemes.

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the beta launch of its first social game on Facebook, called Syrum. Syrum will be a new and evolving platform for the research-driven pharmaceutical company to inspire and educate in a changing digital world. In development for more than two years, Syrum has been specifically designed to demonstrate the complex processes around medicine research and development through gaming mechanics. It aims at promoting science and innovation to the digital community in a fun and engaging way.

Millions of people suffer each year from viral diseases such as flu. These ailments develop quickly and can spread rapidly - at huge cost to the healthcare system and sometimes with severe consequences for the patient. Globally, flu epidemics are responsible for at least 500,000 deaths each year, with the very young and the elderly being at particular risk.

UK companies are set to be one of the main attractions at the world's largest assistive technologies and rehabilitation exhibition next month. 17 UK companies which are at the centre of cutting-edge solutions within the assistive technologies industry will be exhibiting their products on the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) sponsored Pavilion at REHACARE 2012 in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Headline sponsors Harris Healthcare, will highlight the critical role of technology in providing value-based healthcare at this year's Healthcare Efficiency Through Technology EXPO at Olympia, London. Wayne Parslow, VP EMEA Harris Healthcare will discuss how value-based healthcare, which is centred around delivering better outcomes by utilising the same or less resource, can only be achieved by discovering better models of care and using the right technology to support it.

Janssen Healthcare Innovation (JHI) announced the first ever JHI Connected Care Challenge Europe - a start-up and Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Challenge with three unique categories to spur innovation and drive action towards achieving better care and better health at lower cost through continuous improvement.