Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced that it has opened the next round of applications for startup companies to participate in the global Merck Accelerator program. Startups can choose to participate in one of the two programs, either at the company's Innovation Center at global headquarters in Darmstadt or at its China Innovation Hub in Shanghai. 
International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra (STO: SECT B) has signed a five-year contract with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust for the delivery of a regional digital pathology solution to the Northern Cancer Alliance. The solution will span the ten separate trusts of the consortium and aims to improve cancer care workflows through enabling pathologists to instantly access and share images and information between departments and locations. 
xt invest AG becomes the new majority shareholder of InterComponentWare AG (ICW). This investment and the resulting close cooperation of the firms x-tention, soffico, and ICW will create the strongest eHealth provider in the Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. The companies already have numerous clients in common, with proven success e.g. by recently winning contracts for AOK's Digital Health Network. 
A leading mental health service is using the digital mental health platform developed by SilverCloud Health to support a confidential NHS service for GPs in England. London-based Efficacy is offering doctors using the GP Health Service access to the SilverCloud platform, on which there are more than 30 programmes, to improve mental health and related conditions. 
The Doctrina Academy is a new service, developed by Doctrina, a video e-learning platform that reaches over 1,000,000 healthcare professionals (HCPs) from around the globe, helping them to switch from volume-based to value-based continuing education. The company was founded in 2013 and has since made it easier for HCPs to decide on the right treatment and medicine for the right patient at the right time. 
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) a leading global health technology company, has announced it signed a 10-year strategic partnership agreement with Rutherford Diagnostics. This collaboration will utilize Philips innovative radiology technology and Rutherford Diagnostics' healthcare expertise to deliver and operate advanced personalized diagnostic services through a network of community diagnostic centers, driving the best possible healthcare outcomes for patients.