The Medisiams trade show for West Switzerland suppliers will take place under the same roof as the World Medtech Forum Lucerne (WMTF) for the first time this year. This is the result of a decision made by Medical Cluster, Medtech Switzerland, Siams S.A. and Messe Luzern AG. The events take place in Lucerne September 25–27, 2012.

A major challenge for manufacturers of artificial tissue for implantation is the provision of multiple cell layers that can be fed nutrients via a supply system. This is the focus of efforts by a consortium of 16 European industrial and research partners under the direction of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT).

With the winter semester of 2012/2013, the Tuttlingen campus of Furtwangen University launches a new course of study to be offered each year during that semester, which begins in October. The subject is industrial materials engineering. Potential candidates have until July 15 to apply to the admissions office in Furtwangen.

Thuringia is home to a new biotech consortium working toward development of bioactive, functionally stable devices for medical implantation. The growth core, called Basis (for BioAnalytics and Surfaces for Integration in Systems), is organizing its first public workshop, to be presented in Erfurt, Germany, February 23 and 24.

Philipp Wittmann has taken over the management of the Austrian healthcare cluster Gesundheits-Cluster (GC), effective January 1, 2012. Wittmann has been active within the network for more than five years and, as an experienced project manager, was viewed as the outstanding candidate during the multipart job application process.

An introduction to medical device law and current legal issues will be provided by MedInform on March 27 and 28, 2012, in Bonn, via the “Foundation and Advanced Seminar on Medical Device Law.” MedInform is the medical technology information and seminar service organized by BVMed, which supplies the seminar moderator.