Fatigue is a symptom of many - if not most - health ailments. It is also a precursor of illness and a monitor of treatment as many body functions work less effectively under fatigue. Yet, fatigue monitoring is underutilized in healthcare because self-reported fatigue – the prevailing method - is notoriously subjective as results are based on personal moods, circumstances at the time questions are answered and types of questions asked. The Swiss SME has identified a digital method of objectively measuring levels of fatigue through the analysis of pulse waves.

Smart farming could become a prerequisite for future agricultural production to meet the steadily increasing global demand for food. The United Nations estimates that the world population will rise up to 9.6 billion people by 2050, with global food production expected to increase by 70% to meet the new needs. At the same time, however, agriculture is facing major challenges such as the limited availability of arable land, increasing demand for fresh water and the effects of climate change. One solution to these problems is the use of intelligent farming methods.

Human activities are the major cause of soil pollution. Industrial activities including mining, smelting and manufacturing; domestic, livestock and municipal wastes; pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers used in agriculture; petroleum-derived products that are released into or break-down in the environment. In Europe, statistics relative to soil-remediation show an enormous market need. There are an estimated 2.5 million potentially contaminated sites in the European Economic Area (EEA-39), of which 45% have been identified by 2011.

Population growth, climate change and limitations of natural resources mean that agriculture must become more productive, efficient and environmentally sound. According to the United Nations (UN), the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, placing further strain on food production. Global agriculture is tasked with meeting this demand, with cereals as its cornerstone. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) believes food demand will require raising cereal production by 70% globally. As part of improving agricultural yields, irrigation plays a crucial role.