Startup Creasphere Expo Day recap: AI in action

The event featured insightful discussions, startup pitches, and networking opportunities, showcasing the impact of AI-driven solutions in diagnostics and patient care.

Dr. Robert Schnitzler, Digital Ecosystem Innovation Lead at Roche Information Solutions, kicked off the event by emphasizing the importance of open innovation and collaboration with startups. He highlighted Roche’s commitment to co-developing digital health solutions through collaborations, leveraging Startup Creasphere to explore new business models and address healthcare challenges such as interoperability, clinical validation, scalability, and more.

Christine Jacob, Lecturer and Health Researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, and Founder & Managing Director of Digi-Bridges GmbH, delivered an insightful talk on the regulatory landscape of AI in healthcare. She discussed Switzerland’s 8.2 billion CHF digital health opportunity and the importance of explainability, transparency, and clinical validation in AI adoption. Through the DigiSanté initiative, efforts are being made to accelerate Switzerland’s digital healthcare transformation.

Before handing the stage over to the startups, Julia Schmidt, Digital Health Innovation Coordinator at Roche Information Solutions, provided an overview of Startup Creasphere, highlighting its mission, focus areas, and key achievements. She shared how the program, launched in 2018, has fostered innovation by connecting startups with Roche to co-develop, test, and validate digital health solutions.Two promising startups presented their cutting-edge AI solutions and the results of their pilot projects in collaboration with Roche:

• Arabesque Technologies (US): Leveraging AI-powered Raman spectroscopy for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) detection, enabling rapid, scalable, and cost-effective diagnostics.

• Qure.ai (India): Utilizing AI to enhance the interpretation of radiology and ultrasound scans, providing automated and efficient imaging solutions for improved patient outcomes.

Lea Knoepfel, Healthcare Solutions Lead Infectious Diseases at Roche Diagnostics Switzerland, shared the Startup Cresaphere journey of Nosotech, a Canadian company specializing in digital surveillance solutions for infection prevention and control. Its initial collaboration through the integrated innovation program evolved into broader synergies and commercial opportunities pursued jointly with Roche, with a focus on Switzerland. Their success exemplifies the potential of intelligent data solutions in scaling across markets and driving real-world impact.

Moderated by Dr. Robert Schnitzler, the panel featured experts including Lea Knoepfel, Fabien Gaire, Chapter Lead of the Analytics Product Domain at Roche Information Solutions, and Manuel Römer, Chief Strategy & Business Development at Exploris Health. Their discussion revolved around:

• The challenges and opportunities in AI adoption within healthcare.

• The role of AI in improving diagnostics and workflow efficiency.

• The future directions for AI integration and commercialization in healthcare.

The event concluded with a networking aperitif, providing attendees the opportunity to connect and explore potential collaborations. The Startup Creasphere Expo Day once again demonstrated the power of open innovation in shaping the future of healthcare through AI-driven solutions.

Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing collaborations and upcoming Startup Creasphere initiatives!