Grocery delivery app Getir exits Spain, after bidding adieu to France

Following its upcoming exit from France, quick commerce startup Getir is losing yet another European market: Spain. According to Spanish trade union CCOO, Getir failed to raise sufficient capital in a recent funding round. As a result, it will cease operations in the country and lay off its entire workforce of 1,560 employees. “We condemn the disastrous business management of Getir, which has not known how to grow or have a market strategy in Spain. Now its staff will suffer the biggest harm,” the union said in a statement. The Turkish-owned Getir Group emerged as the greatest rapid grocery delivery…

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Euclid telescope set to embark on dark universe exploration mission

ESA’s mission to unravel the mysteries of the dark universe is set for launch. Following a one-year delay caused by the Ukraine invasion, the Euclid space telescope is scheduled for takeoff on July 1 at 5:11PM CEST time from Cape Canaveral in Florida, US. Named after the famous Greek mathematician, the telescope will embark on a month-long journey to reach its destination at a position in space known as the second Lagrange point (L2) — located 1.5 million kilometres away from our planet. There, it will be able to observe deep space, with the sun, the Earth, and the moon…

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Italy’s ChatGPT ban sets a worrying precedent for EU startups

OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which took the world by the storm after its launch in November, is now facing a temporary ban in Italy over “unlawful” personal data collection and the lack of an age verification system for children. The Italian data protection agency, known as Garante, was prompted to act by ChatGPT’s data breach on March 20, which, according to OpenAI, allowed a number of users to see other users’ information, such as their first and last name, email address, and the last four digits of their credit card number. Garante accused the US-based AI company of having “no legal basis”…

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NATO picks Netherlands for HQ of new €1B innovation fund

The Netherlands has been selected as the headquarters of NATO’s Innovation Fund (NIF) in a decision disclosed on Monday. First announced at the organisation’s 2022 Madrid Summit, the fund will invest €1 billion on behalf of NATO member countries over the next 15 years. NIF is a multi-sovereign venture capital fund that will focus on investing in early-stage startups and other VC funds developing (dual-use) emerging and disruptive technologies — to be used in military and defense applications. These include: artificial intelligence; big-data processing; quantum technologies; autonomy; biotechnology and human enhancement; novel materials; energy; propulsion and space. “This will allow…

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EU extends crisis state aid rules to prevent green tech firms from leaving

The EU Commission is extending the relaxation of state aid rules to prevent green tech firms from relocating abroad and enable the bloc’s transition to a net-zero economy. The rules around national subsidies had already been amended in 2022 as a response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, seeking to enable member states to more easily finance struggling companies and energy production in Europe. Now, rising concerns about an escalating global subsidy race have pushed the EU to further prolong this temporary crisis framework — and even expand its scope to include support to domestic clean tech companies fighting climate change.…

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Intel wants another €5BN in subsidies to build chip plant in Germany

Under the Chips Act, the EU is seeking to end its dependence on China and produce 20% of the world’s semiconductors by 2030. Amidst the political push, attracting global giants to invest in the union’s domestic production has been a key strategy — with Intel’s plan to construct a massive chip plant in Magdeburg, Germany, considered a big boost for the bloc. But now, Intel is asking the German government for an additional €4 billion to 5 billion in subsidies to move forward with the project, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. In March 2022, Intel announced an initial…

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Spain has launched a digital nomad visa — here’s how to get one

Sunny weather, a reasonable cost of living, delicious food, stunning landscapes — Spain has it all. And with some of the best internet speeds in Europe, the Mediterranean nation has become a popular destination for expats and remote workers. The newly-launched digital nomad visa has made the country an even more appealing option. The scheme has been in force since January, as part of the recently approved Startup Law, which aims to make the nation a frontrunner in attracting investment, innovative entrepreneurship, and talent. While other EU countries such as Greece, Portugal, and Croatia have already introduced similar schemes, Spain’s…

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€7.5M EU scheme aims to help Ukrainian SMEs benefit from the single market

The European Commission has launched a new €7.5 million grant scheme to help Ukrainian SMEs integrate and benefit from the single market. The so-called ReadyForEU scheme comprises two calls for proposals directed to Ukraine-based businesses and entrepreneurs: the Business Bridge and the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs — Ukraine. The calls follow the country’s recent entrance into the singlemarket programme, which is also providing the funding. “ We’re offering tangible financial support for small Ukrainian businesses and entrepreneurs. The Business Bridge With a budget of €4.5 million, this action offers financial support to SMEs affected by the war, in the form…

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Can AI make better art than humans? We asked IBM’s Seth Dobrin

Artificial intelligence has been infiltrating every industry and the world of arts and culture is no exception. In other words, AI art is poised to explode. AI text-to-image generators such as DALL-E or Midjourney have been creating remarkable visual artworks. ChatGPT has taken the world by the storm with its ability to answer questions, write essays, and summarize texts, among other things. AI-generated art is even being displayed at world-renowned museums. These examples show just how powerful generative AI can be and bid this pressing question: is AI about to replace human artists? Seth Dobrin, IBM’s first-ever Global Chief AI…

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New €15M fund for early-stage quantum startups launches in the Netherlands

A new €15 million fund has launched to help quantum technology research in the Netherlands transform into venture capital-investable startups. Backed by Quantum Delta NL (QDNL), a foundation that seeks to boost and scale the Dutch quantum ecosystem, the so-called QDNL Participations fund has a twofold focus: early-stage startups in the sector and research teams working on promising quantum technologies before they incorporate as startups. In the first case, the funding will reach up to €1.5 million — with the foundation typically leading the investment round. In the second case, the fund will offer €50,000 to researchers via a SAFE…

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Plan to build UK’s first battery gigafactory falls out of British hands

Britishvolt, a prominent UK battery startup, had generated enthusiasm over its plans to build the country’s first battery gigafactory. But after filing for administration in January, it has now been bought by Australian firm Recharge Industries. Launched in 2019, Britishvolt had planned a £3.8 billion battery plant near the Port of Blyth in Northumberland, promising 300,000 batteries per year, the creation of 3,000 direct jobs, as well as a significant boost to the region’s economy and the UK’s production of EV batteries. Despite gaining a funding pledge by the government and partnering with major companies like Aston Martin and Glencore, in…

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European Space Agency unveils new plan for growing plants on the Moon

With the goal of establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, the European Space Agency (ESA) is working on a new project that will help determine the feasibility of growing plants on the lunar surface. Led by Norway’s Solsys Mining, the project will seek to develop a method for converting lunar soil into fertiliser for use in hydroponic farming. The study builds on previous research on lunar soil samples. While lunar soil, also known as regolith, is rich in most nutrients necessary for plant growth, it compacts in the presence of water, making it problematic for seeds to establish healthy…

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Can data-driven research show us how to be happy?

What is happiness? And how can we be happy? These questions are integral to the human experience, but their answers can be elusive. We can apply several perspectives to approach them, through philosophy or psychology, for instance. We can also use our personal view of our feelings and goals as we navigate through life. But can we bring a scientific approach to happiness? Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, believes we can. The institute combines qualitative and quantitative methods to provide insights on well-being, happiness, and the quality of life. Its mission? To inform decision-makers in…

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UK at risk of lagging behind EU and US in clean energy investment race

Although the UK has set out ambitious clean energy targets, it risks lagging behind the US and the EU in attracting the required investments, two of the country’s energy trade organisations have warned. Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget next month, Energy UK and Renewable UK have published two separate reports, calling on the government to implement measures and rule changes that will enable the UK to attract vital private investment in renewables. “The renewable energy sector is facing a perfect storm this year. According to Energy UK’s report, investment in low-carbon electricity generation “has deteriorated significantly” in the past…

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EU gets closer to blockbuster investment into domestic semiconductor chip production

According to EU data, numerous vital tech sectors in the bloc have been suffering from supply shortages in semiconductor chips, mainly as a result of the European dependency on imports from a limited number of companies and countries. To address this issue, the union aims to boost its domestic industry by implementing new legislation. On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted its position on two proposed draft bills: the Chips Act and the Chips Joint Undertaking. On the Chips Act, MEPs endorsed the text put forward by the Industry Committee and expressed their support of its three main measures: Reinforcing technological…

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7 key takeaways about the Dutch tech startup ecosystem you need to know

The Dutch tech startup ecosystem has been steadily flourishing over the past five years, establishing itself as one of Europe’s most vibrant hubs. Yet, there are still hurdles the Netherlands needs to overcome in order to reach its full potential and successfully compete on a global scale. That’s according to the annual State of Dutch Tech report by TechLeap, a non-profit organisation which helps quantify and accelerate the ecosystem in the Netherlands. Here are seven key takeaways from the report you need to know about: The Netherlands houses the EU’s most successful ecosystem In 2022, the Amsterdam-Delta region was the…

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EU launches €3.75 billion fund of funds to help tech startups scale up

Five EU member states and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have launched a new fund to support the late-stage growth of promising European tech startups and increase the continent’s competitiveness in innovation. The so-called European Tech Champions Initiative (ETCI) aims to address the issue with inadequate late-stage funding, especially for companies seeking more than €50 million in capital. Boosting European investment “Europe’s tech startups often do not have sufficient capital to compete on a global scale and are pushed to relocate overseas. Closing this scale-up gap could create a large number of highly skilled jobs and boost growth,” the…

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Scientific breakthrough could take us closer to impactful quantum computers

In a world first, scientists from the University of Sussex and Universal Quantum, a spin-off of the university, have demonstrated that quantum bits (qubits) can directly transfer between quantum computer microchips. This breakthrough is expected to overcome a major obstacle in building quantum computers that are large and powerful enough to address the crucial societal challenges they’re envisioned to: from medicine development, to the creation of new materials and climate change solutions. To address these issues, experts estimate that millions of qubits are required — a number currently out of reach, with existing quantum computers operating on the 100-qubit scale.…

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EU awards €50K to three pioneers in social innovation

The EU has announced the three winners of the European Social Innovation Competition (EUSIC), which seeks to find pioneering solutions to societal challenges. The 2022 challenge, named “the future of living,” was designed to attract participants who can advance the affordability, sustainability, and re-invention of European housing districts. “Social innovation is crucial to increase resilience and support the transformation of our economies, while putting people first,” Hubert Gambs, the Commission’s Deputy Director General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs,  said. “With this competition, which celebrates its tenth edition this year, we support social innovations that will bring social, environmental,…

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UK strikes seven Russians with first-ever joint cyber crime sanctions

In a coordinated action with US authorities, the UK has imposed sanctions on seven Russian cyber criminals associated with the deployment of the Conti and Ryuk ransomware as well as the Trickbot banking trojan. This follows a thorough investigation led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and marks the UK’s first-ever joint cyber crime sanctions. According to the British government, ransomware is a “tier one national security threat” that’s increasingly used to attack businesses and public sector organisations. Ransomware groups known as Conti, Wizard Spider, UNC1878, Gold Blackburn, Trickman, and Trickbot have been responsible for the deployment of ransomware strains…

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