Can Ariane 6 turn Europe’s spacetech startups into global powerhouses?

Jul12
by on July 12, 2024 at 5:07 pm
Posted In: Insider


When Ariane 6 suffered a glitch on its first flight, the mishap felt strangely inevitable. Nearly half of all rockets fail on their first launches. After a troubled development and four years of delays, Ariane 6 looked like a prime candidate to join the list.  The launcher was commissioned to create a European pathway into the cosmos. Since the retirement of Ariane 5 last July, the continent has had no independent access to space. Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for the internal market, described the problem as an “unprecedented crisis.” A failure to launch on Tuesday would have deepened the woes.…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
 Comment 

SoftBank snaps up troubled British AI chip developer Graphcore

Jul12
by on July 12, 2024 at 11:09 am
Posted In: artificial intelligence


Japanese tech group SoftBank has acquired yet another British chip player. This time it has snapped up Bristol-based AI processor developer Graphcore, whose very survival was in doubt over the past year.  The acquisition comes as investors compete to back the next big thing in AI. Moreover, larger tech companies who feel that their own in-house AI capabilities are falling short have been searching high and low for acquisitions that can mitigate these inadequacies and give them a leg up on the competition. And it would seem they are increasingly looking to Europe for potential targets.  Just this week, the…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , , ,
 Comment 

Today’s ethical dilemmas are being decided by tech bros. How can they keep their compass straight?

Jul12
by on July 12, 2024 at 8:30 am
Posted In: artificial intelligence


Tech bros are for the first time poised to become pivotal players in highly sensitive sectors: national security, space exploration, and more. Most recently, NATO’s €1B Innovation Fund announced investments in eight startups and VC firms with a focus on emerging military and defense technologies.  As the startup ecosystem has become more sophisticated, it is now starting to disrupt these tightly controlled sectors, which were until recently the domain of governments and legacy institutions. Take these examples: Space is quickly becoming the next battleground for geopolitics — and private companies are now dominating cosmic exploration. Military conflicts are being defined…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , , ,
 Comment 

Cultivating giants: How nurturing university spinouts fuels innovation ecosystems

Jul11
by on July 11, 2024 at 12:46 pm
Posted In: artificial intelligence


Innovation thrives at the intersection of academia and entrepreneurship. Universities serve as breeding grounds for startups poised to disrupt industries with their novel ideas and cutting-edge technologies.  Yet, the path from academic breakthroughs to commercial success is laden with challenges, particularly for DeepTech companies with extended development timelines and hefty capital requirements. Here, venture capital emerges as the indispensable catalyst. Venture funds play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic research and commercialisation. They provide not only the necessary capital but also invaluable mentorship and industry connections, essential for navigating the complexities of bringing transformative technologies to market: …

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , ,
 Comment 

PhotonDelta’s new Silicon Valley hub to merge Dutch and US photonic chip expertise

Jul10
by on July 10, 2024 at 3:58 pm
Posted In: Uncategorized


PhotonDelta, a photonic chip accelerator in the Netherlands, has opened an office in Silicon Valley — marking a milestone moment for the Dutch semiconductor sector. The move is part of PhotonDelta’s goal to create a unified photonic chip industry that leverages the capabilities of both European and US-based companies. Founded in 2018, the organisation has built an integrated photonics ecosystem in the Netherlands, which boasts an end-to-end value chain, from design and manufacturing to packaging and testing. In 2022, it received a €1.1bn investment from the Dutch government to boost the country’s position in the field. Photonic chips use light…

This story continues at The Next Web

└ Tags: , , , , , , ,
 Comment