Europe surpasses US in private spacetech investment for first time, report finds

Apr12
by on April 12, 2023 at 4:31 pm
Posted In: Insider


For the first time ever, Europe has surpassed the US in private spacetech investment, according to new research. A study by Seraphim, a leading spacetech VC firm, found the European sector attracted $565m in the first quarter of this year. The whole of North America, meanwhile, raised $456m. Asia followed, with investments of $306m, while the rest of the world totalled around $29m. The figures made Europe the world’s biggest market for private spacetech funding. The quarterly investment in Europe hit almost 50% of the entire previous year. In contrast, US investment has fallen further compared to 2022. Asia was the…

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Scientists renew calls to rejoin EU’s Horizon after UK unveils backup

Apr11
by on April 11, 2023 at 7:35 pm
Posted In: Insider


The UK’s proposed alternative to the EU’s Horizon research programme has failed to sway support for the bloc’s funding scheme. Named Pioneer, the programme provides a backup plan in case the UK doesn’t rejoin Horizon. A recent trade agreement for Northern Ireland had opened the door to reentering the EU scheme, but negotiations over Horizon’s terms have stalled. Pioneer will be activated if a deal is not agreed upon. “We hope our negotiations will be successful, and that is our preference, but it must be on the right terms,” said Michelle Donelan, Britain’s minister for science and technology. “We must ensure we…

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The world’s first self-driving bus fleet will soon hit Scotland’s streets

Apr07
by on April 7, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


Next time you board a bus in Scotland and it’s driving itself, don’t freak out — this is all part of a government plan to bring self-driving tech into the mainstream. Five fully autonomous buses will be taking to the streets near Edinburgh next month, announced Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, who will be managing the fleet. The UK government said the project, named CAVForth, would be the world’s first full-size, self-driving public bus service. CAV stands for “connected and autonomous vehicles.” The service, which aims to transport 10,000 passengers weekly, will initially run a 22.5km circuit…

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Digital twins could save your life. Here’s how

Apr07
by on April 7, 2023 at 10:23 am
Posted In: Uncategorized


Digital twins — virtual replicas of real-world things — are already commonplace in manufacturing, industry, and aerospace. There are highly complex digital models of cities, ports, and power stations — but what about people?  The idea of digital doppelgängers has long been confined to the realm of science fiction. But a new book presented at London’s Science Museum last week suggests the concept could be coming to life.   In Virtual You, Peter Coveney, professor of chemistry and computer science at University College London, and Roger Highfield, science director at London’s Science Museum, show how far researchers have already got in…

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TNW València 2023 was a blast — here are our favourite moments

Apr07
by on April 7, 2023 at 8:31 am
Posted In: Uncategorized


For 16 memorable years, TNW Conference has been at the center of Amsterdam’s tech ecosystem, but on March 30 and 31, TNW València brought — for the very first time — the heart of tech to Spain’s east coast. But we didn’t choose Valencia simply for its bright blue sea, delicious paellas, or sunny weather. The vibrant city is Spain’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, and has the most startups per capita of anywhere in the country — transforming itself into Mediterranean’s startup powerhouse. “Valencia’s tech ecosystem is a breath of fresh air,” says Myrthe van der Erve, TNW’s CEO. At València’s…

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