The Swiss canton of Graubünden is not only the location of our headquarters – it’s also home to many tech start-ups. These young companies are advancing progress in industries like healthcare and sustainability with their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. We are delighted that a jury made up of representatives from INTEGRA and our co-sponsor, CSEM, a public-private, non-profit Swiss technology innovation center, could honor one of these hidden champions with the 2024 Tech Start-up Award. Award recipients and finalists were announced at the 12th Graubünden Founders’ Night on October 23, organized by the Young Entrepreneurs Forum, a platform for start-ups and new entrepreneurs in the region. This year’s deserving prize recipient, BIOS Medical, is a med-tech start-up developing digital biomarker monitoring solutions to detect, predict and prevent pathologies. 

An estimated 1.7 million hip fractures occur annually worldwide, and 25 percent of these patients will unfortunately pass away within a year. Around 10-15 percent of individuals will not be deemed mobile enough to live independently in their own home, and those who have experienced a hip fracture also show a 3-4 fold higher risk of mortality in comparison to those who have not. BIOS Medical therefore developed its flagship digital health product, the HIPBeacon, to promote early mobilization after fracture, shorten hospital stays and improve long-term patient outcomes. The device is the world's first implanted hip mobility sensor, and provides healthcare professionals with long-term mobility data. This information can be used to identify patients in need of more comprehensive care, and those able to return to independent living with minimal ongoing medical attention. The data collected by HIPBeacon also supports the personalization of treatment and timely follow-up adjustments, ultimately helping to transform hip fracture from a life-threatening event to a manageable episode.

In recognition of this technology’s potential, BIOS Medical will receive 3000 CHF, a professional video clip about the company, and media coverage in various print and online media channels. INTEGRA offers its sincere congratulations once again for this amazing achievement!