End of January, participants gathered for the annual Z43 retreat to explore the transformative impact of generative AI across disciplines and to address ethical implications, future projects, and internal guidelines for AI use and development.

Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, is rapidly transforming disciplines across the board. AI’s ability to integrate real-time data access, expand multi-modal functionalities, and enhance reasoning capabilities is unlocking immense potential. Yet, alongside these advancements come pressing ethical and social questions that demand careful consideration.

Against this backdrop, Z43 organized this year’s retreat under the theme "ChatGPT and Generative AI", from January 20 – 21, at Hôtel des Horlogers in Le Brassus in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland.

For the retreat, the established format from retreats of previous years was adopted, with a focus on book presentations enriched with scientific publications, videos, internet research, and diverse multimedia resources. In their discussions, participants explored works that have shaped our understanding of AI and its implications, including A Brief History of Intelligence by Max Bennett, The Worlds I See by Fei-Fei Li, and The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman and Michael Bhaskar. Practical insights on building and using generative AI applications were drawn from books such as Generative AI with LangChain by Ben Auffarth and Generative AI on AWS by Chris Fregly, Antje Barth, and Shelbee Eigenbrode. The sessions also included reflections from The Art of Prompt Engineering with ChatGPT by Nathan Hunter, along with insights from thought leaders like Yuval Noah Harari and Nobel Prize winner Geoffrey Hinton, to explore the crossroads of AI and humanity.

One of the retreat's very interesting elements was a focus on self-reflection, prompting participants to evaluate how they use AI and how it influences their professional lives. As the sessions unfolded, participants delved into topics ranging from AI-driven humanoids and automation to practical applications of AI tools for productivity improvements at Z43. They also explored the use of generative AI in software development, considering its potential to optimize workflows. Complementing these discussions were interactive brainstorming sessions, which inspired new ideas for upcoming AI projects and fostered dialogue on creating internal guidelines for the responsible use and development of AI at Z43.

The retreat would not have been the success it was without the engagement of its participants. Their insights and contributions have set a solid foundation for the exciting challenges and opportunities ahead as we continue to navigate the complex yet transformative world of AI.

Thank you to everyone for making this retreat worthwhile!

The Winners: Sim4Life.lite Student Competition 2024

The search for the most outstanding student simulation project has concluded. After thorough evaluation, we are pleased to announce the winners of the Sim4Life.lite Student Competition 2024:

1st Prize:
Joseph Tharayil, EPFL, Switzerland, is awarded USD 3,000 for his work entitled "Simulation Insights on the Compound Action Potential in Multifascicular Nerves". Joseph developed a semi-analytic model of vagus nerve stimulation-evoked compound action potential (eCAP) in Sim4Life by combining coupled electromagnetic-neuro simulations with image-based nerve model creation and histology-based fiber statistics. His experimentally validated approach not only accelerates the prediction of eCAP – e.g., to optimize signal information content for closed-loop control purposes – but also sheds light on unexpected features of eCAPs from complex, multifascicular nerves. For example, subtle cancellation effects are shown to result in a non-monotoneous dependence of eCAP magnitude on the degree of activation, necessitating and enabling reinterpretation of previously collected eCAP data. Great work! 

Modeling and simulation of vagus nerve model with the NeuHeart VRAI stimulation electrode.

2nd Prize:
Pradnya Narvekar, University of Pennsylvania, USA, is awarded USD 2,000 for her work entitled “Enhancing B₁⁺ Field Homogeneity in 7T MRI Using Metasurfaces: Balancing Image Quality and Safety”. In her project, Pradnya modeled metasurfaces in Sim4Life, positioning them on either side of the head of Virtual Population model Yoon-sun in a 7T MRI setup. Using simulations in Sim4Life, she demonstrated B₁⁺ field uniformity and signal strength enhancements. However, her work also highlighted an increase in peak specific absorption rate values, emphasizing the trade-off between image quality and safety.

3rd Prize:
Eunwoo Lee, Gachon University, South Korea, is awarded USD 1,000 for his work entitled “Customizable Automated Loop Coil Design System with Multiple Parameter Control”. Eunwoo introduced a new automated loop coil design tool in Sim4Life, enabling users to specify various design parameters, including coil size, conductor width, and the number of capacitors, to create optimized loop coils for specific frequency ranges.

Congratulations and a big round of applause to the winners! 

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2024 Sim4Life.lite Student Competition and look forward to receiving submissions from you again in 2025. Visit the Sim4Life Student Competition 2025 page to learn more about the conditions and registration.

Your Sim4Life Team

ZMT and TI Solutions Exhibit at NANS 2025

ZMT and Z43 partner TI Solutions are excited to present their latest products for optimized targeted neuromodulation at the upcoming North American Neuromodulation Society 28th Annual Meeting (NANS) in Orlando FL, USA, January 30 – February 1, 2025!

Join us at Booth #445 for demonstration of

• the TIBS-R V3.2 neuromodulation device, now with enhanced trigger functionality, enabling delivery of arbitrary-shaped envelope waveforms via phase modulation upon receiving an external trigger with minimal latency for advanced closed-loop studies (compatible with all our EEG and MRI filters)
• the TIP V3.0 temporal interference modeling tool for personalized stimulation planning with the TIBS-R device
• how you can use Sim4Life to advance patient-specific neural stimulation and sensing with ease through in silico modeling
• how Sim4Life automated workflows significantly reduce R&D time and costs
• how your innovation benefits from using the gold standard high-resolution neuro-functionalized anatomical models or image-based modeling techniques already implemented in Sim4Life

Don't miss the poster presentations from IT’IS experts at NANS 2025, where we share our latest research findings:

We look forward to welcoming you in Orlando!

The Teams of ZMT Zurich MedTech and TI Solutions

 

On Friday November 22, 2024, the Z43 team and invited guests celebrated five extraordinary jubilees, all on one unforgettable night! With great food, lively conversations, and cherished memories, this event was truly a milestone for all.

Last Friday, the Z34 team gathered to celebrate a series of truly remarkable anniversaries – 30 years SPEAG, 25 years IT’IS Foundation, 18 years ZMT, 5 years TI Solutions, and the 4-month milestone of our newest addition, Z43 NetZero Foundation – at a jubilee party that was as elegant as it was spirited. Held in the beautifully adorned Moyo venue in the industrial heart of Zurich, the evening was a testament to our shared achievements, made even more memorable by the elegance and style each guest brought to the event, honoring the black, white, and silver dress code in creative and fabulous interpretations.

As the evening unfolded, guests were treated to delectable food and expertly curated drinks, all impeccably catered by Franzoli, and light installations by Invasion created a cozy atmosphere. Guests also enjoyed the directed dynamic seating arrangements as they had to regularly switch seats, with each person moving two chairs to the left on their side of the table. This allowed everyone the opportunity to mingle with different faces throughout the night, keeping the conversations vibrant – familiar colleagues could reconnect, and people who might not typically cross paths in the Z43 workspace could be newly introduced.

A highlight of the evening was a series of six thoughtfully prepared speeches, altogether sharing memories, moving testimonials, accomplishments, and the collective spirit that has defined the Z43 journey. Finally, the evening was rounded off with a gig by the fabulous Tin Soldiers followed by DJ Fräne.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who made this jubilee celebration truly special. Here’s to many more achievements and many more nights like this one!

 

At the end of November, ZMT and Z43 partner SPEAG welcomed our global sales channel to the annual distributor week in Zurich to share insights, strategize, and align for future growth.

From 18 – 22 November 2024, ZMT and Z43 partner SPEAG hosted our Annual Strategic Sales Meeting at our head office in Zurich. The event brought together our regional sales teams, sales agents, and representatives from across the globe, creating a dynamic platform to celebrate achievements, exchange insights, and chart a clear path forward for sustained future growth.

Together, we discussed our latest innovations, product updates, and market initiatives designed to meet customer needs for the future and maintaining our products are compatible with the latest relevant international standards.

Reflecting on a strong sales performance over the past three years, the team reaffirmed in SPEAG’s and ZMT’s industry leadership in several market segments. Looking ahead, the focus remains on satisfying our expanding customer base, delivering innovation, and meeting customer expectations with advanced numerical tools and instrumentation for the accurate evaluation of electromagnetic near- and far-fields close to and within the human body.

“Our sales meeting was a resounding success”, said Mike Summerfield, Global Sales Director. “It’s inspiring to witness the energy, passion, and commitment of our team as we continue to set new benchmarks for excellence. Together, we are poised to continue to meet our customer demands and needs for their future measurement challenges”.

A big thank you to everyone involved for a very productive week!

Sim4Life V8.2 Release

Sim4Life has become an indispensable tool for researchers and companies alike, providing the highest realism for pushing the boundaries of innovation in medical applications, wearable technologies, and scientific research. Power users take advantage of both the desktop and web-based versions in their R&D tasks, enjoying the best of both worlds, e.g., by using the pipelining functionality of the web version to extend Sim4Life with other services while reserving the desktop version for working with proprietary information, e.g., confidential computer-aided-design data that should not be shared on Amazon Web Services. We have been working extensively on updating our web-based versions sim4life.io and sim4life.science – with Sim4Life V8.2, we introduce powerful new features and an enhanced user experience. And, we are already working on further improvements to be released in V9.0!

Significant Enhancements in V8.2

Our latest release is focused on enhanced usability and performance, making advanced simulations more accessible than ever before:

Upgraded Performance

Project loading times in Sim4Life 8.2 are significantly faster compared to V8.0.

Intuitive Search and Discovery

Sim4Life’s new search toolbar is designed to boost productivity – beyond simple queries, the search function allows users to find tools quickly, learn about a tool’s usage/requirements, access documentation, and view animated tutorials on tool usage.

 

Seamless Collaboration

Projects can be organized in web-based folders to create common workspaces for sharing with collaborators, enhancing efficient teamwork worldwide. Users benefit from project-associated communication and commenting functionalities to facilitate discussions and invite contributions.

Improved folder structure: Sim4Life V8.2 projects can be effortlessly grouped into one main folder (in this example ISO TS 10974) along with subfolders (Tier2, Tier3, etc.). Entire folders can be moved to a Shared Workspace that allows specific content to be accessed by selected internal and external collaborators.

 

Streamlined Interface

Redesigned progress monitoring and management tools accelerate your workflow, letting you focus on innovation rather than navigation.

Anatomical models: The Virtual Population models in Sim4Life V8.2 are available in predefined postures that reflect common scenarios, such as standing, sitting, driving, holding a phone, and more. These models can be used as-is or can serve as a foundation for customization to meet your requirements for specific in-use or exposure scenarios.

 

Cloud-Powered Flexibility

Our robust cloud infrastructure perfectly balances reliability, performance, and cost efficiency, allowing access to your simulations anytime, anywhere.

 

Advanced CLS Features

- Electrostimulation: Realistic electrode-tissue interface models – user-defined or selected from built-in circuit or electrode-skin interface models – can be combined with quasi-static simulations to account for transient effects

- Implant Safety: New and unparalleled tools to define implant routings in complex human anatomies

Implant safety tools: Two examples of implant safety tools available in Sim4Life V8.2 are shown here: the Routing Tool simulates diverse implant paths by randomly creating multiple splines within an adjustable volume around a base spline; the Check Wire Path tool provides a visual summary of an implant's route by color-coding spline segments to indicate the tissues that are traversed by the implant.

 

- POSER: Easily create realistic model setups with predefined postures from our library, then fine-tune using our powerful and interactive biomechanics-based tool

Computable phantoms: The new Models/Phantoms menu in Sim4Life V8.2 provides easy access to the vast libraries of human and animal models provided by the ITIS Foundation, along with a database of phantoms from SPEAG. Users can quickly browse and easily import CAD models directly into their current Sim4Life V8.2 session.

 

- API: Leverage the upgraded Python 3.11 application programming interface to automate tasks, develop custom tools, and tailor the platform to your needs

Accessible to All

No matter whether you are a commercial user, an academic researcher, or a student, we offer a Sim4Life V8.2 solution perfectly tailored just for you. Access it via sim4life.io, sim4life-lite.io, or sim4life.science, or download the latest desktop version from our website. A comprehensive list of Sim4Life V8.2’s new features (web and desktop versions) is provided in our Release Notes.

New to Sim4Life? Visit sim4life.swiss to begin your journey to accelerated research.

For further information, please email us at s4l-support@zmt.swiss or call +41 44 245 9765.

Kind regards,

The Sim4Life Team

Sim4Life.lite V8.2 beta: Free Student Version Pre-Release Ahead of the Main Sim4Life V8.2 Desktop and Web Release!

The intense interest in our cloud-based simulation tools for students, educators, and universities has been overwhelming. Now, thanks to the sponsorship of the National Institutes of Health (NIH, USA) and ZMT, some of the most advanced simulation tools can be provided to students for free.

No other high-end simulation tools are as easy to use or so readily available as Sim4Life on the web – no installation needed and no hardware requirements other than internet access via a simple browser.

The wealth of valuable feedback we have received has guided us in further refinements of the simulation platform to improve usability.

Key enhancements of V8.2 beta:

• Performance and Usability: Faster navigation, quicker startup, and improved video streaming for a smoother experience.
• New Features: Resource monitoring, integrated Help, Guided Tours, and an IPython-based Console for automation.
• Growing Toolset: New Material Calculator, Multiport Simulations, and new modeling tools.

Automated Microstrip Antenna Evaluation with a 3-D-Corrugated Ground Structure:
Sim4Life.lite provides all tools you need – Python scripting, Jupyter integration, and advanced modeling and visualization tools – to explore such simplified yet complex systems. Optimized for students and educators, Sim4Life.lite offers seamless collaboration that is ideal for classroom projects. [Samal et al., IEEE Trans. on AP, 2024]

If you are a student and have not yet signed up for Sim4Life.lite, you can start your free account by clicking here. If you are an academic, contact us if you intend to use the platform in your classroom. Students should not miss the Sim4Life.lite Student Competition 2024 and the opportunity to vie for a US$ 3000 cash prize. Click here to check out the simulation projects of last year’s awardees. 

Want to know more? Listen to the voices of our users as they share their excitement about the unique capabilities of Sim4Life.lite!

"... The flexibility that Sim4Life.lite offers is invaluable in my teaching as an engineering educator ..."

"... our students using a MacBook found Sim4Life.lite particularly beneficial, as it enabled them to complete their entire project seamlessly on that platform. We are pleased with its performance ..."

"... The cloud-based platform enables me to design interactive simulations that help students visualize and engage with challenging electromagnetic concepts ..."

"... Its intuitive, user-friendly interface makes it accessible for beginners, while still providing robust functionality for more advanced users ...”

 

On September 6, 2024, Z43 and DYMSTEC hosted their annual Z43-DYMSTEC Workshop at the Gachon Convention Center in Sungnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, bringing together over 100 experts from industry and academia.

The workshop’s primary goal was to present Z43's latest cutting-edge solutions while promoting insightful discussions, networking and collaboration opportunities. Once again, this year’s workshop was a big success, with attendees offering enthusiastic feedback. The event was structured into two focused segments: a full-day session centered on the wireless industry, followed by an afternoon session dedicated to advancements in medical applications and technologies. This format allowed participants to immerse themselves in their preferred topics through interactive demonstrations and in-depth presentations.

ZMT hosted the afternoon session to present their newly released groundbreaking sim4life.web platform, a cloud-native computation solution that enables to make high-performance simulations accessible from virtually any device - delivering the same performance as on the desktop. They also introduced the platform's innovative hypertools, a feature that fully automates complex simulation tasks, making specific workflows more efficient than ever. With V9.0 set to release in early 2025, sim4life.web aims to seamlessly integrate custom computational engines, various pre- and post-processing tools while offering the flexibility of sharing capabilities and the ease of cloud-based access.

SPEAG introduced a series of exciting updates to its measurement and simulation tools, with special attention given to new enhancements within the DASY product line. One highlight was the new DASY8/6 Module SENS, optimized for testing time-averaged proximity sensors, alongside the DASY8/6 Module WPT, designed for measuring inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) systems and local magnetic (H-) field sources. The DASY8/6 Module mmWave, which assesses power density from millimeter-wave transmitters, also drew significant interest. In addition, SPEAG demonstrated the capabilities of MAGPy and the new DAK resonator (DAK-R), engineered to handle the precise measurement of low-loss materials. This electromagnetic session wrapped up with a preview of the upcoming sim4life.engineering as well as its hypertools, a groundbreaking cloud-based computational design tool set for launch in early 2025.

Z43 partner TI Solutions AG further impressed attendees by showcasing their TIBS-R device for non-invasive neurostimulation research. Additionally, the IT’IS Foundation presented TIP V3.0, the latest version of the planning tool that is soon to be released, which helps to optimize exposure parameters when performing experiments with the TIBS-R system.

Throughout the day, attendees engaged in stimulating conversations, explored the latest innovations in the wireless and medical fields, and networked during breaks. The workshop ended on a high note with the traditional raffle, which offered exciting prizes such as a flight to Switzerland, the new MoonSwatch Snoopy edition, Freitag bags, and Swiss chocolate.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to the DYMSTEC team for organizing yet another successful and dynamic event, fostering innovation and collaboration across multiple sectors.

Peter Song (CEO of Dymstec) welcoming all workshop attendees for the 2024 Korea workshop.

The lucky winner of the 2024 raffle's 1st prize: two flight tickets to visit Switzerland.

Dr. Sven Kuehn providing the latest updates on DASY8/6 Modules mmWave and APD.

Dr. Erdem Ofli at the "Medical Industry" session in the afternoon, presenting the latest advances of Sim4Life and the new cloud-native simulation platform sim4life.web.

Packed audience, listening to Prof. Niels Kuster's introduction speech.

The Dream Team: 2024 workshop members of Dymstec and Z43.

Z43 partners ZMT, SPEAG, IT’IS, and TI Solutions have made the next step in our journey toward net-zero emissions: We have established the Z43 NetZero Foundation, a Swiss-based nonprofit dedicated to reducing the impact of human activities on the climate through scalable, carbon-neutral technologies.

As a science-driven organization, and with the firsthand witnessing of our rapidly disappearing Swiss glaciers, we are profoundly alarmed by the changing climate and its socio-economic impacts. As an engineering-focused organization, we are committed to developing solutions.

In this spirit, we have already made significant investments in carbon-free heating and electricity for our buildings. During our recent Z43 energy retreat we analyzed our greenhouse gas footprint and identified the key sources of remaining emissions: the gray fossil-based energy in our products, along with emissions from business travel and product shipments by air.

At the retreat, we made a collective commitment as an organization to operate at the cost of carbon-free solutions, such as investing in solar panels, heat pumps, and other sustainable technologies, and to prioritize renewable energy wherever possible; for unavoidable emissions, like those from air travel, we decided to offset our climate footprint.

To achieve this goal efficiently, we have established the Z43 NetZero Foundation, a Swiss-based nonprofit. Z43 NetZero’s mission is to substantially reduce the impact of human activities on the climate by investing in the research and development of scalable, carbon-neutral technologies.

Our analysis of Z43’s footprint has revealed that air transportation requires a high-density energy source. One such source, fossil kerosene, has a density of >10 kWh/kg, while today’s batteries only achieve about 0.25 kWh/kg. Currently, the most plausible solution is synthetic fuel, or E-Fuel*, which matches the energy density of kerosene but is significantly more expensive than fossil fuels like oil and coal – resources that have taken 50 to 300 million years to form and whose combustion now jeopardizes the planet’s future. Until E-Fuels become available, Z43 will donate the difference in cost between E-Fuel and fossil kerosene to the new Foundation retroactively, starting from 2023.

This donation is estimated to range from USD 300k to USD 600k annually, and the Z43 NetZero Foundation will use it for effective investments in sustainable solutions. We hope many will embrace this spirit and join us in donating to the Foundation.

On Friday August 9, 2024, the Z43 NetZero Foundation’s three Board members – Prof. em. Niels Kuster, Dr. Roland Walthert, and Dr. Davnah Urbach – held their inaugural meeting in Zurich.

Defining the Foundation’s core mission and setting funding and investment priorities is the first task. Over the coming weeks, the Board will explore the most promising options in greater detail and refine their focus areas.

We will keep you regularly updated on our progress.

Z43 – Think Renewable!

 

*E-Fuel is a synthetic fuel made by combining hydrogen produced using renewable energy with carbon dioxide (CO₂) captured from the atmosphere. This process creates a carbon-neutral fuel that can be used in aviation and shipping.

 

From July 12 – 19, 2024, for the 17th time, AUDEN Technology Corporation, together with ZMT and Z43 partners SPEAG and TI Solutions AG, conducted the annual Z43–AUDEN Workshop Series in Taiwan and China.

This year’s workshop series was a major success, highlighted by enthusiastic attendee feedback. Participants appreciated the new and effective format, which featured dedicated customer meetings in the morning and the actual workshops in the afternoon. The workshops included two parallel sessions: one for the wireless industry and another focused on medical applications and solutions.

The series kicked off in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 12, 2024, followed by events in Beijing (July 15), Shanghai (July 17), and concluded in Shenzhen (July 19). The main objectives were to present Z43's latest innovative solutions, foster industry dialogue, and provide networking and collaboration opportunities.

ZMT showcased their newly released groundbreaking cloud-native simulation platform, sim4life.web. They introduced the platform's innovative hypertools – a novel engine that enables full automation of the most complex tasks and workflows – which will become available with the release of V9.0 in early 2025. sim4life.web supports high-performance cloud-based simulations on any device, delivering the same performance as the desktop version for complex scenarios. It features instant sharing, requires no maintenance, is highly flexible, user-friendly, and integrates various pre-/post-processing tools and custom computational engines seamlessly.

SPEAG presented the latest enhancements to its measurement and simulation tools, focusing on upgrades to the DASY product line. Highlights included the new DASY8/6 Module SENS for testing time-averaged proximity sensors, DASY8/6 Module WPT to measure inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) systems and local magnetic (H-) field sources, and DASY8/6 Module mmWave for testing power density in millimeter-wave (mmWave) transmitters. Other notable demonstrations covered MAGPy, the DAK resonator (DAK-R) for measuring low-loss materials, and a section on SPEAG's latest EM phantoms. Another highlight in the wireless session was an exclusive preview into sim4life.engineering, a groundbreaking cloud-based computational design tool, set to launch in early 2025.

Furthermore, TI Solutions AG showcased their Temporal Interference Brain Stimulator for Research, along with the soon to be released TIP V3.0 – the IT'IS planning tool for non-invasive neuromodulation, supporting advanced temporal interference (TI) stimulation research as part of their Early Adopter Program.

Attendees were keen to gain firsthand insights into Z43's latest hardware and software innovations. The specialized presentations were complemented by informal networking during coffee breaks, creating a relaxed atmosphere for in-depth discussions, knowledge exchange, and exploring collaborative opportunities.

To heighten excitement and foster engagement, traditional raffles were held at each workshop, featuring entizing prizes such as a gold bar, the new MoonSwatch Snoopy edition, Freitag bags, and Swiss chocolate, which added to the vibrant atmosphere.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the AUDEN team for orchestrating another dynamic event where innovative ideas were shared, and valuable connections were made.

The 2024 introduction speech by Prof. Niels Kuster, welcoming all workshop attendees in Beijing.

A lucky winner in Shanghai: Dr. Erdem Ofli hands over one of the rare MoonSwatches (Snoopy edition).

Product demos and vivid discussions about the latest innovations from Z43 during the coffee break in Shenzhen.

Dr. Nik Chavannes at the "Medical Industry" session in Shanghai, presenting the latest advances of Sim4Life and the new cloud-native simulation platform sim4life.web.

Packed audience in Shenzhen, listening to Auden's introduction session.