Fortis Bank, the Dutch-Belgium financial services group, has licensed a risk management and compliance system developed by Norkom Technologies, an Irish financial technology firm. Initially it will be implemented in the bank's Brussels and Amsterdam operations. The National Australia Bank, AIB and HSBC have all signed up to Norkom's system this year. Banks are investing heavily in technology systems in an effort to increase efficiency and transparency in the wake of financial market scandals and in preparation for regulations such as the Basel II Accord.

OrbiMed signs automated data messaging