GOVERNANCE

Tecan’s corporate values of trust, highest standards and ambition are the cornerstones of our business and provide the framework for Tecan’s culture. Our customers, investors and other stakeholders trust Tecan to act responsibly and ethically as we meet our commitments to them, and our strong corporate governance processes ensures that this trust is honored. As well as reaching highest standards with our products, we work to provide reliable high-quality service to our stakeholders across all business areas, ensuring their data is secure, business risks are anticipated and proactively managed, and that any feedback provided is responded to appropriately.

Tecan’s good governance and ethical practices are reflected in the Organizational Regulations and Tecan’s Code of Conduct, available on tecan.com. Tecan’s Code of Conduct is binding for all employees, managers and Board members. In this Code, Tecan undertakes to maintain the highest standards in its business activities and to respect ethical values. The Code of Conduct was drafted by Tecan's General Counsel in accordance with industry best practice standards. With the Code, Tecan aims to document internally and externally that the Company is a credible and reliable business partner and employer in all situations. The Code promotes compliance with standards on occupational health, safety and the environment, provides instructions on ensuring data protection and handling confidential information, and requires accurate and timely communication of information and careful logging of relevant meetings and processes by Tecan staff. The Code also stipulates compliance with competition law as well as national and international trade law for the import and export of products. It also includes a zero-tolerance policy toward bribery and corruption and guarantees anonymity for whistle-blowers. 

Line managers are responsible for ensuring that all their staff know and understand the content of the Code of Conduct. The Code is available in English and German as well as seven other languages, including Spanish, Chinese and Japanese. By providing these different language versions, Tecan wishes to ensure that this important document is understood by employees all around the world. All employees globally must attend and successfully complete a training course on the Code when joining Tecan, and then every two years following. As of 31 December 2023, 96.6% of all employees who have access to the Learning Services Organization (LSO) learning platform, and 79.1% of all contractors at Tecan who have access to the LSO learning platform, had completed the Code of Conduct training. Just over 40% of Tecan employees have access to a learning platform that is separate to the LSO and carry out their Code of Conduct training there. Our training % data currently doesn’t include these employees and we expect to have combined training data in future. For all employees, for more advice and guidance on the Code of Conduct employees are encouraged to discuss with their line manager, and concerns can be raised anonymously via the whistleblower hotline. Tecan’s LSO use is tracked per individual, and managers verify that assigned trainings have been completed regularly and at a minimum prior to each employee’s annual performance review discussion. Mapping of individual LSO training completion to each employee’s employee category and region is not carried out due to capacity constraints and a preference to address this topic at the individual level. 

Tecan has established several organizational control mechanisms with the aim of ensuring good governance and ethical behavior. The Internal Audit department has the task of periodically assessing the effectiveness of the internal control system. The internal control system consists of all organizational measures taken by the Company in order to maintain the effectiveness of its operations, protect the corporate resources, appropriately manage the risks and ensure compliance with laws and regulations, while always keeping a strong focus on the trustworthiness of the financial reporting. Internal Audit has the power to check and verify processes, systems, management activities, projects and contracts, acting as a supervisory body independent from operations and is reporting directly to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. In the year under review, the Audit Committee and Head of Internal Audit held several meetings. The Head of Internal Audit is a certified member of the Institute of Internal Auditors of Switzerland (SVIR), and the department is subject to the international standards for internal auditing.

Tecan has not been involved in any significant instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations during the reporting period, including legal cases, rulings or other events related to corruption, bribery, anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust, or monopoly practices. No fines or non-monetary sanctions were imposed on Tecan or paid by Tecan in 2023, and no contracts with business partners were terminated due to violations related to corruption.

Tecan employees and third parties can report possible events of misconduct via a third party-managed whistleblower hotline, accessible at tecan.com. This whistleblower hotline also functions as a channel for filing grievances. This dedicated mailbox and multi-language telephone hotline is run by EQS, a specialized provider of compliance solutions. Reports can be filed anonymously if preferred and all complaints are reviewed by Tecan’s Compliance department, discussed with top management and addressed as necessary. The EQS platform ensures the highest standards of confidentiality and anonymity as well as a secure communication between the whistleblower and the members of the Compliance department of Tecan in charge of investigating the issues reported. Tecan updated internal procedures and training modules in order to take into account opportunities and obligations related to the whistleblowing reports delivered over the EQS tool.

Tecan received six reports via the whistleblower platform in 2023, which corresponded to six cases. Of these, four were investigated and are at varying stages of progress towards resolution. In two cases, there was no response by the complainant to the initial stages of Compliance follow up. All cases were reported by internal parties only. 

To ensure sustainable corporate growth, it is crucial that any risks that could compromise this growth be recognized early on, assessed in terms of likelihood and consequences, and mitigated through an appropriate plan of measures. Tecan has a well-established global risk management process for this purpose with clearly defined roles and responsibilities at the Board of Directors, Management Board and other relevant leadership positions. The process encompasses, among other factors, strategic risks, product risks, market and customer risks, occupational safety risks, risks relating to Tecan’s social and environmental impact and risks associated with the impacts of climate change. It also focuses on political and economic developments as well as the possible impacts certain events may have on external partners such as customers or suppliers. Tecan continuously adjusts its risk management system in line with changes to the environment and takes current events into account in its risk assessment. Business continuity planning is designed to ensure Tecan’s ability to withstand supply chain interruptions. The Board of Directors reviews annually whether the risk assessment of business activities is appropriate and whether it takes into account both internal and external changes. Where necessary, new measures to mitigate risk are implemented. Tecan’s risk management system is also regularly audited by a key insurer, who attests to the instrument’s high standard, enabling a premium reduction. Some of the company’s employees hold risk management certification, so the company does not have to depend exclusively on external experts. 

Tecan carries out regular detailed screening of its distributors and has established a separate process with the TMS (Tecan Management System) directive Distributors and Intermediaries Anti Bribery Due Diligence for this purpose. In particular, the TMS directive requires that all Tecan distribution partners and their owners, directors and employees refrain from bribing representatives of governments or state-owned or private enterprises, or from taking bribes. It does not matter whether bribery is prohibited, tolerated or allowed in the countries in which business is being done. Bribes are prohibited irrespective of whether a bribe is connected to a specific act or omission or is granted or received with a general view to the future execution of duties. Bribes do not only involve cash payments but also mean, for instance, lavish gifts, hospitality and entertainment. Distributors and intermediaries need to ensure that their representatives and their sales force are trained and adhere to Tecan’s standards of doing business. Tecan’s Compliance department closely monitors the compliance of the business run through dealers and distributors. In particular, activity is focused on ensuring that all third party intermediaries explicitly commit to our Code of Conduct, demonstrate a sufficient understanding of it and pass background checks without issues of concerns (legal disputes, criminal investigations etc.). These steps are automated through the ethiXbase platform, which ensures a solid audit track of the checks performed. This platform allows a “real time” detection of unethical behaviors which may potentially have been reported regarding our dealers and distributors in the press or in the dedicated data banks.

Tecan annually assesses all operations for risk related to corruption (100%, 21 organizations – some smaller entities provided joint reports), and in 2023 identified no significant risk. Tecan only generates a smaller portion of its sales in countries with an increased risk of corruption according to the criteria of the organization Transparency International.

Tecan is committed to handling all information (including personal, technical and commercial information) which employees, customers and other stakeholders entrust to it with due care, in compliance with applicable laws and solely for the purposes for which the information was provided or generated. When processing personal information, Tecan pays particular attention to the principles of transparency, lawfulness, proportionality and accountability. Tecan’s Data Protection Governance Structure includes a certified Group Data Protection Officer who directly reports to Tecan’s Management Board. Data protection is also supported by an online, easily accessible Data Subject Request Portal through which data subjects can invoke the rights they enjoy under applicable data protection laws.

Tecan’s strict adherence to the Company’s ethical code, respect for the environment, and full compliance to applicable laws and regulations in all the jurisdictions where Tecan operates applies also to the company’s approach to taxation. This is set out in the Tax Principles, shared here and also available at tecan.com. The Tax Principles are owned by Tecan’s CFO, who is responsible for ensuring compliance with these principles. Risks associated with tax are included in Tecan’s risk management process, and concerns can be raised through the whistleblower hotline.

Tecan’s main business activities are the research, design and development of our products, the final assembly of these at our production sites, and the related sales and service activities. Tecan markets products directly to end users and as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The products manufactured by Tecan are used in laboratories for life science research, applied markets, clinical diagnostics, and medical devices. The largest product group comprises laboratory automation platforms, benchtop instruments, as well as instrument components and sub-modules. Customers depend on Tecan to produce solutions that facilitate reliable, reproducible results. As a business-to-business rather than business-to-patient company, Tecan does not handle patient data or clinical samples. Nonetheless, we never lose sight of the potential human impact at the end of the chain of activities we are a part of. Tecan’s products are serving regulated applications and markets, yet it is important to Tecan to go beyond legal requirements and strive for excellence in product quality and safety. This has been one of Tecan’s core competences since the company’s founding, more than 40 years ago. The company’s values: ambition, trust and highest standards, are embodied by Tecan’s central Quality and Regulatory organization (QARA). Tecan’s approach to product development is characterized by a deep understanding of quality and regulatory requirements globally. QARA colleagues collaborate with customers from an early stage, supporting the product development process in a series of structured stages that span the product’s entire life cycle, up to the point where it is withdrawn from the market. Tecan’s commitment to quality is described at tecan.com, with the Quality and Regulatory Solutions brochure at this link setting out the expertise that enables Tecan to build regulatory requirements into a product order and ensure optimal product quality. Our work in this area is governed by the Tecan Group Quality Policy and the supporting document Additional Quality Objectives. These internal documents are stored in the TMS, Tecan’s internal document management system, and accessible to all employees. 

Tecan facilities are subject to a number of audits conducted by regulatory authorities, testing, monitoring and certification agencies, customers, and Tecan’s own specialist teams. These experts inspect whether Tecan’s facilities comply with country-specific regulations and the company’s internal standards for product and occupational safety, as well as health and environmental protection. These inspections also cover measures that Tecan has to implement if it fails to meet any requirements. 

Tecan participates in the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP), which sets out a catalog of requirements for manufacturers of medical devices, drawn up by several participating countries. MDSAP aims to ensure that standardized audits are performed, in addition to covering all country-specific regulatory requirements. Thus, manufacturers of medical devices can gain access to several markets by means of a single audit. All (100%) of the Tecan production sites eligible to participate in MDSAP maintained certification in 2023.

Regulatory requirements are continually evolving globally. To ensure these requirements are understood and implemented correctly, Tecan maintains a robust program of regulatory intelligence monitoring. Through this program Tecan identifies new and upcoming drafts of regulations, participates in industry forums and on regulatory committees, and is an early adopter of new regulatory requirements affecting Tecan product lines. 

Another focal point in Tecan’s regulatory efforts is supporting customers in the Partnering Business by making key documentation available for authorization applications for new diagnostic products. Furthermore, Tecan builds strong, regulatory partnerships in order to guarantee successful marketing throughout entire product life cycles. 

In addition, Tecan continues to be an early adopter of new or revised standards to ensure our own product lines and OEM partners remain compliant.

The Tecan parent company and all production sites are ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 certified, all sales subsidiaries operate under certified quality systems including ISO 13485:2016 and in many cases also ISO 9001:2016. Tecan QARA teams are continuing initiatives to address scalability of the Quality Management System based on scope of business at each Tecan entity and to harmonize processes for the digital age where appropriate. Tecan is well positioned to be ready for FDA’s recognition of ISO 13485:2016 as the accepted quality system standard for medical device companies. Tecan wants to ensure that all market units worldwide work according to the same processes and strive together to continuously improve their products and services. The matrix certificate also accommodates the current and future Group structure with an increasing number of subsidiaries. This method of coordinated certification has benefits for customers and Tecan alike: greater transparency; the possibility to systematically monitor processes worldwide; and harmonized, standardized systems that also accommodate differences in the markets. Tecan’s quality system strategy positions the company well to serve a diverse geographic customer base.

Tecan follows a controlled process for product information and labeling that is mandatory for meeting a number of regulations and is described in the internal documents Global Product Labeling SOP and Development of APL Material. These documents do not include information about sourcing of product components. The Global Product Labeling SOP does include:

• Internationally recognized hazard standards/symbols
• Required regulatory information based on product type and areas of commercialization
• Instructions for safe use of the product
• Proper disposal of the product

Tecan also has a post-market surveillance process that monitors and responds to input from regulatory bodies and any customer complaints or inquiries received. This is set out in the internal documents Customer Support: Helpdesk/Expertline and Complaint Handling Process SOPs.

QARA teams throughout Tecan ensure that the Global Labeling and Advertising SOPs and the post-market surveillance process are being adhered to in all (100%) cases. Customer concerns or questions regarding product information and labeling can also be addressed through customer sales contacts, Tecan’s customer services, or Tecan’s whistleblower hotline regarding environmental protection, handling of hazardous materials and their disposal, or endangering the health and safety of other persons.

In 2023, no such complaints were made to the whistleblower hotline and there were no incidences of non-compliance with the Global Labeling SOP. The post-market surveillance process functioned as intended: Tecan detected and voluntarily issued corrections to one product label in accordance with these post market procedures. In 2023, no incidents of non-compliance with regulations concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services were identified.

Tecan’s QARA team is organized at Group level to ensure ongoing improvements based on changes in regulations worldwide and monitoring of product quality, and for addressing customer complaints. The Company performs a global management review every year in which relevant data from all Group companies are reviewed centrally. The process assesses whether quality management is still optimized and effective to the legal requirements and regulations for the products and services supplied by Tecan. Tecan undertakes this review with regard to the individual national markets as well as from a Group-level perspective, in this way, progress is evaluated. 

By prioritizing the security and privacy of data, organizations can enhance trust, protect sensitive information, and maintain a secure operating environment. Cybersecurity is a material topic for Tecan, and includes implementing measures to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data (e.g., customer and employee data), and protecting this data from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Some of Tecan’s customers use certain products for purposes that entail the processing of personal data and protected health information. Tecan’s services do not have the primary business purpose of processing such data on behalf of its customers, nevertheless, Tecan may incidentally and unintentionally be exposed to such data. Tecan has processes and safeguards in place that address and mitigate the risks for the data subjects concerned in such instances. 

Tecan embeds cybersecurity in its product development processes and business operations. Expert teams systematically manage information security and related risks throughout and coordinate, as needed, with Tecan’s Group Data Privacy Officer.

A key aspect of Tecan’s cybersecurity strategy is raising awareness amongst all employees of the significance of a cybersecure environment. The foundation of a robust Tecan cybersecurity posture begins with educating our employees about potential cyber threats and the best practices to mitigate them. This is a critical element in protecting individuals and safeguarding digital assets of Tecan. We train employees to recognize and respond appropriately to various forms of cyber threats, such as phishing, ransomware, and social engineering attacks. Regular and engaging training sessions are conducted to ensure that employees are up to date with the latest cybersecurity trends and tactics used by cybercriminals.

We know that despite the best preventive measures, cyber incidents may still occur. To address this, Tecan has a well-defined incident response plan in place. This plan outlines the steps to be taken in the event of a cyber incident, including how to contain the breach, assess and mitigate the damage, and notify affected parties. Dedicated employees prepare to respond to such emergencies by participating in table-top exercises (simulations of cyberattacks and incidents that allow participants to practice in "real time" and familiarize themselves with their roles and responsibilities during a real cyberattack). A clear and practiced response plan helps us to minimize the impact of a cyber incident and expedite the recovery process. 

In the realm of cybersecurity, the implementation and adherence to robust policies and standards are fundamental to an organization’s security infrastructure. These serve as guiding principles and procedures to protect against cyber threats and ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data. A key component of these policies and standards is alignment with internationally recognized frameworks such as ISO 27001. ISO 27001 is a globally acknowledged standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic and well-structured framework that assists Tecan in protecting and managing our information through effective risk management. Currently, Tecan is in the process of achieving compliance with ISO 27001, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining a secure and efficient ISMS. Tecan’s cybersecurity policies and standards are meticulously crafted to align with ISO 27001 guidelines. This alignment not only enhances our cybersecurity posture but also instills confidence amongst stakeholders regarding the safeguarding of sensitive data and information systems. 

Tecan is committed to upholding the highest standards of privacy and data protection. In line with this commitment, Tecan embraces the principles of data protection laws such as the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which represents a significant milestone in data protection laws. The GDPR sets forth rigorous guidelines and practices for the handling of personal data, ensuring the privacy and security of individuals within the European Union and the European Economic Area.

Tecan has a Group Data Protection Officer (GDPO) to ensure accountability. The GDPO oversees our data protection strategy and compliance with GDPR requirements. The appointment of the GDPO underscores Tecan’s dedication to privacy and data protection. We continuously strive to maintain the highest level of data integrity and security, ensuring that our data handling practices not only comply with data protection laws but also align with the best practices in data protection. 

Looking ahead, Tecan is actively embracing the potential of future technologies, with a particular focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI). As we venture into this innovative domain, our approach is holistic, encompassing every aspect from governance to practical application. As we develop and deploy AI technologies, we keep ethical considerations and regulatory compliance front of mind. This includes establishing clear guidelines for AI usage, addressing issues such as data privacy, bias mitigation, and transparency in AI decision-making processes. At Tecan, we are excited about the future of AI and its transformative potential. Our approach is guided by a commitment to responsible innovation, ensuring that as we harness the power of AI, we do so with a focus on creating value for our customers and society at large.

Information systems and technology are always in focus of potential cyber security events. Not only large enterprises, but increasingly also small and medium-sized companies can be targeted by actors aiming to compromise cybersecurity. Tecan Global IT runs a solid enterprise application landscape with focus on an SAP core platform which integrates sales, customer service, production and the entire financial area in one platform and harmonizes processes. This platform also forms the basis for a “business intelligence reporting suite” with integrated planning modules, for instance for human resources or the budget process. A continuous lifecycle for updates ensures that Tecan always has the latest software versions, thus limiting outages and helping avoid large-scale, expensive update processes with long test phases. 

In the financial area, an IT-based control system automatically recognizes and flags potential areas of conflict with regards to employees entrusted with a range of duties, which when combined could result in a risk of manipulation. Tecan also uses an internal, self-managed treasury system, executes all money transfers for all Group companies centrally, and manages their cash reserves. This has enabled Tecan to optimize the number of banks it uses in connection with its business activities, and transfer cash reserves to banks at lower risk of failure. The treasury system has also improved short-term financial planning and ensured an interest rate benefit compared with decentralized management. 

All main IT infrastructure services offered by the group worldwide are outsourced and hosted to servers of an external service provider. The data is backed up redundantly, and the data centers are physically separated from one another and from the production sites. This enables Tecan to minimize the risk of critical data loss and increase data security. Global IT support is also available for Tecan sites in all regions, thereby reducing outages. 

Tecan carries out regular cybersecurity audits, and related training is mandatory for all Tecan employees, with employees in key roles or demonstrating need receiving additional training. In 2023, 96.8% of all employees with access to the Learning Services Organization (LSO) platform and 80.8% of all contractors with access to the LSO platform at Tecan completed Cybersecurity training. Just over 40% of Tecan employees have access to a learning platform that is separate to the LSO and carry out their Cybersecurity training there. Our training % data currently doesn’t include these employees and we expect to have combined training data in future. The success rate of phishing simulations is tracked and forms the basis for follow-up where needed. This rate was satisfactory for Tecan in 2023 and is not disclosed as to do so is considered to be more likely to detract from rather than enhance Tecan’s cybersecurity efforts. 

Tecan continues to emphasize the importance of product security to ensure that customer use of Tecan products within a connected environment is not compromised and does not pose a security risk to end-user infrastructures. As the importance and benefits of global connectivity and open digital ecosystems become more widely appreciated, equally important is to develop secure digital offerings.

A Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SSDLC) process is essential so that security considerations and requirements are introduced early on in product development and evaluated and maintained throughout the product lifetime. 

Tecan has identified IEC 81001-5-1: Health software and health IT systems safety, effectiveness and security Part 5-1: Security Activities in the product life cycle as a state-of-the-art framework to ensure proper secure design of products. A gap analysis of the process requirements within 81001-5-1 has been conducted within 2023 and action items are identified to evaluate gaps where required. Of note within 81001-5-1 important techniques such as threat modeling, security risk assessment, penetration testing and vulnerability management will be further refined at Tecan and utilized in product development and maintenance. Respective measures and evidence will be part of milestone documentation and templates.

Tecan’s existing Cybersecurity Information Standard Operating Procedure, stored in Tecan’s internal document management system (TMS), is being enhanced to further align with 81001-5-1 requirements and best practices. Additionally, the security risk management process will continually evaluate security risks at a product level to determine if there are changes within the security risk profile of Tecan products. Processes utilized for secure design and maintenance are also subject to authority, certification body and/or internal audit review. To date there has been no reported exploit of a Tecan product which represents a serious incident. 

Tecan’s vulnerability management process will continue to monitor products for potential exploitability and is closely linked to remediation actions and improvements to further harden product’s security. In addition to process enhancements to meet IEC 81001-5-1 requirements Tecan is conducting a portfolio evaluation and will determine a product transition plan for existing products to become compliant with IEC 81001-5-1 as applicable. Product user information will continue to be enhanced to inform users how to setup Tecan products securely. Ongoing evaluation of new regional security regulations such as NIS2 are incorporated into the process accordingly. 

Tecan recognizes the importance of innovation to our long-term business success. In this context, "innovation" refers to product and service innovation, from improvements to disruptive or breakthrough innovations. This includes the R&D (research and development) activities undertaken to innovate products and services, as well as business model adaptations that might better satisfy customer needs and / or be aligned with sustainability challenges. 

Innovation is an area in which Tecan stands out, particularly with regards to software development. Tecan has created a software architecture that allows us to cater to customer needs across a range of application areas, reflecting our unique end-to-end “from research to the clinic” product capabilities. Our software offering is modular, able to span a breadth of usage from industrial large-scale workflow hardware solutions to smaller benchtop solutions, closer to the direct patient environment. This modularity aspect of both hardware and software gives us the opportunity to use a common R&D and operational footprint in many different application areas, covering both the Life Sciences Businesss and the Partnering Business world. 

Tecan is able to develop digital solutions that cater not just to research needs but also to the regulated IVD markets. A number of products have been commercialized in the areas of service and the management of whole fleets of instruments, and our most recent offering is a complete new suite of software solutions for lab orchestration. Tecan is offering software solutions to boost personnel and equipment effectiveness by orchestrating the entire lab workflow, including hardware and configurations in these labs that are not necessarily coming from Tecan. An open ecosystem is being created that will allow Tecan to be front and center of application method development, for example for research and pharma labs, as these look to increase efficiencies. This innovative offering is something Tecan will be able to further build on over time. 

In 2023, Tecan’s grassroots innovation programs continued: the Time-boxed Innovations program, initiated in 2014, included 13 new approved ideas and was able to pursue two concepts for active use. The Dream Big initiative, launched in September 2022, received almost 300 entries covering virtually all areas of Tecan’s strategic focus, including sustainability, culture, customer satisfaction and technical innovation. Ideas were submitted from every part of Tecan and all geographical locations, and winners announced in July 2023, with several projects chosen for in-depth follow-ups. 

In October 2023, Tecan held its first hackathon, fusing the intensity of a brainstorming session, the dedication of a coding marathon and the spirit of innovation, bringing together the brightest coders from R&D. The primary goal of the hackathon was to foster collaboration among R&D teams and ignite their creativity, free from the constraints of daily routine. Seven teams were formed and worked together for three days, with the winning idea focused on the coordination of robotic arms and notable mentions in the areas of Fluent® tutorials and a development helper tool. The event was a resounding success, generating great enthusiasm for future sessions.

Tecan’s R&D development process was previously improved by integrating sustainability topics into existing stages such as the milestones review meetings, which is where project alignment with Tecan’s sustainability strategy is described. This alignment includes consideration of opportunities to design out waste, specify the use of materials with recycled content, and adopt lower impact packaging. Eco-design concepts and the importance of R&D in advancing Tecan’s sustainability strategy were topics at the all-R&D Townhall in October 2023, and examples of the alignment of projects with the sustainability strategy were also presented and discussed. 

Tecan’s approach to innovation is reflected in successful product launches, with a key example from 2023 being the Phase Separator. The Phase Separator is a unique module with advanced sensor handling to detect the interface between plasma, immune cells and erythrocytes of human and animal blood. This is a growing demand of workflows like cell free DNA sequencing used in Liquid Biopsy to advance e.g. cancer diagnosis procedures and tissue transplantation. It is also applicable in fields such as separating the organic solvent phase in sample prep for mass spectrometry workflows.

Protecting our intellectual property is of importance in ensuring that the development of new products and technologies gives Tecan a sustainable advantage in the market. Tecan registers patents on relevant developments for the most important markets in a timely manner and has several hundred patents in various patent families. In 2023, Tecan filed 18 patent applications on new inventions; one utility model patent, and one Design patent. Tecan was granted in 2023 105 individual patents and five design patents (same design in different countries). An overview of the various patents has been published on Tecan's website.

In 2023, Tecan developed an internal guideline to support colleagues in their responsible use of AI tools. “Innovation” at Tecan is not governed by a stand-alone policy, and the goals, targets and indicators used to track process in this area are embedded in the wider R&D processes. The effectiveness of Tecan’s approach to R&D is tracked internally, and lessons learned are incorporated into Tecan’s procedures. This information is not shared externally, for reasons of business confidentiality. 

In January 2024, Tecan established a Digital Innovation & Transformation Office, to expand our successful digital strategy in close collaboration with all relevant functions and stakeholders. Co-led by two newly created roles reporting directly to the CEO, VP Digital Innovation and VP Digital Transformation, this strengthening of leadership in digital competency demonstrates that Tecan’s ambition goes beyond keeping pace: we aim to lead the change in this fast-moving domain and ensure that potential is turned into impact in innovative growth products as well as substantial improvement of business processes.

Tecan’s main business activities are the research, design and development of our products, the final assembly of these at our production sites, and our related sales and service activities. Tecan manufactures products that are used in laboratories for life science research, in applied markets and in clinical diagnostics as well as in the medical area. The largest product group comprises laboratory automation platforms, benchtop instruments, as well as instrument components and sub-modules. Our products add value to society, and as described in the Social Impact section of this report, we also add value in our role as an employer. In 2023, Tecan took steps to ensure that we have positive impacts, and avoid any negative impacts, through our supply chain. Tecan’s Human Rights and Responsible Business Practices policy reiterates our commitment to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), including the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights, the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor, and the effective abolition of child labor. Potential negative impacts in the supply chain include breaches of the UNGC principles, either by Tecan suppliers or stakeholders our suppliers work with. This policy is available on tecan.com and is maintained by Tecan’s Executive Vice President of Operations. In 2023, 91.9% of all employees with access to the Learning Services Organization (LSO) platform at Tecan and 51.2% of all contractors with access to the LSO platform at Tecan had completed the Human Rights and Responsible Business Practices policy training, to ensure they are aware of the purpose, content and requirements of this policy. Approximately 60% of Tecan’s employees globally had access to the LSO platform in 2023, and global learning system is anticipated in future. Employees without access to the LSO platform carry out trainings that have been reflected in the "training hours" data reported in the Social Impact section of this report. 

Tecan products tend to be associated with specific Tecan production sites, and the sourcing for those sites is led by the site manager. In spending terms, between 60% and 80% of Tecan’s purchase volume is typically sourced in the same region as the production site. As well as facilitating the development of trusted business relationships, this proximity enables Tecan to better manage cost efficiency, inventory needs, just-in-time delivery, freight cost, and quality aspects. 

In 2023, establishment of Tecan’s Responsible Sourcing program was completed and the related policy was published on tecan.com. The policy is supplemented by a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) found in Tecan’s internal document management system, the TMS (Tecan Management System). The steps of the Responsible Sourcing program are illustrated in the diagram here and described further below. 

The aim of the Program is to ensure Tecan sources products and services from suppliers who adhere to internationally recognized ethical standards, and to avoid suppliers who engage in practices that are harmful to people or the planet. The policy sets out how Tecan works to create a more responsible and sustainable supply chain that promotes social and environmental responsibility throughout the value chain. The process and instruments of the policy are as follows:

The Data Section of this report includes the results of Tecan’s Responsible Sourcing program. The program includes assessing the risk of conflict minerals or child labor issues in Tecan’s supply chain. In 2023, particular focus was given to conflict minerals and child labor in accordance with the Swiss supply chain legislation (DDTrO). Through this assessment it was determined that Tecan does not import into Switzerland or treat in Switzerland materials that fall within the scope of this legislation. Child labor risk is included in the steps of the program described above.

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