Daily Archives: 19, June 2025

AI and Gen AI Deliver Growing ROI as Capgemini Report Signals Surge in Agentic AI Adoption

(IN BRIEF) A new report by the Capgemini Research Institute finds that organizations are achieving strong returns on their AI investments, with an average 1.7 times ROI. Around 40% of businesses expect to see positive returns within one to three … Read the full press release

Lagardère Travel Retail Strengthens Executive Team with Appointment of Frédéric Chevalier as CEO

(IN BRIEF) Lagardère Travel Retail has appointed Frédéric Chevalier as its new CEO, effective July 1, 2025. Working alongside Chairman and CEO Dag Rasmussen, Chevalier will take full charge of global operations. With nearly 20 years of experience at the … Read the full press release

Neoclease Wins Merck’s 2025 Biotech Grant for AI-Powered Gene Therapies Targeting Parkinson’s and Genetic Disorders

(IN BRIEF) Merck has awarded its 2025 North American Advance Biotech Grant to Neoclease, a Boston-based startup developing AI-designed gene-editing therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other monogenic disorders. Neoclease will benefit from Merck’s technologies, contract testing, regulatory guidance, and hands-on … Read the full press release

University of Copenhagen Develops CRISPR-Based Method to Identify Hereditary Cancer Risk Before Symptoms Appear

(IN BRIEF) The University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Rigshospitalet, has introduced a clinically validated gene-editing method to identify harmful inherited mutations that raise cancer risk. Developed at the university’s Biotech Research and Innovation Center, the CRISPR-Select technique allows scientists … Read the full press release

EIF and EIB mobilise €370 million via securitisation with Santander to support women entrepreneurs and sustainable farming

(IN BRIEF) The EIB Group and Santander have structured a €250 million securitisation—comprising a €200 million EIF guarantee with ING and a €50 million EIB investment—to support Spanish SMEs, mid-caps, agricultural enterprises and women entrepreneurs. This transaction is expected to … Read the full press release

EIB commits additional €500 million to Greek urban sustainability projects

(IN BRIEF) The EIB and Greece’s CDLF have signed a €500 million loan under the Antonis Tritsis urban investment programme, bringing the EIB’s total commitment to €1 billion. The funds will support hundreds of local authority projects—ranging from water and … Read the full press release

KfW reinforces education and protection for Syrian refugee children in Jordan on World Refugee Day

(IN BRIEF) To commemorate World Refugee Day on 20 June, KfW Development Bank spotlights its six-year partnership with BMZ and UNICEF in Jordan, where over 600,000 refugees—half children—receive education, psychosocial care and individual support. Through phased “Syrian Refugee Support to … Read the full press release

GKN Aerospace launches ASPIRE to validate next-generation composite wing and flap structures

(IN BRIEF) ASPIRE, a £12 million, three-year R&D programme led by GKN Aerospace and co-funded by the Aerospace Technology Institute, brings together SMEs and academic partners to advance composite wingtip and flap technologies. The project will produce three full-scale wingtip … Read the full press release

Expanded Google Cloud tie-up brings Nokia’s network AI suite anywhere customers need it

(IN BRIEF) Nokia’s Autonomous Network Fabric unites telco-trained AI models, integrated security, data-mesh management and AI apps into a cohesive intelligence layer that automates and secures multi-vendor, cloud-native networks. The expanded partnership with Google Cloud enables deployment as a SaaS … Read the full press release

Norges Bank Cuts Policy Rate to 4.25 Percent and Outlines Path for Further Reductions in 2025

(IN BRIEF) On 18 June 2025, Norges Bank’s Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee reduced the policy rate from 4.50 percent to 4.25 percent in a unanimous decision, marking the beginning of a cautious normalization after a tightening cycle that … Read the full press release

New Continental Report Highlights Tyre Innovations and Policy Drivers for Zero-Emission Road Freight

(IN BRIEF) Continental’s new 38-page white paper, “Electric Mobility for Commercial Vehicles,” released on June 19, 2025, offers a thorough survey of electrification trends for trucks, buses, and vans in Europe. It begins with background on EU emissions standards, toll … Read the full press release

Hydro’s Alunorte Refinery Achieves 1.4 Million-Tonne Annual Emissions Reduction Through Gas, Electric Boilers, and Renewables

(IN BRIEF) Hydro’s Alunorte refinery in Pará has spent BRL 1.3 billion to switch from fuel oil to natural gas—via an FSRU at Barcarena—across its steam and calciner units, cutting 700,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. This initiative underpins Hydro’s broader … Read the full press release

Co-op and Banking Consortium Align £350 Million Funding to Ambitious ESG Targets

(IN BRIEF) Co-op has arranged a £350 million sustainability-linked term loan over five years with HSBC UK, Barclays, ING, Lloyds, NatWest, and Rabobank. This facility reflects Co-op’s strong financial performance—including a 35 percent boost in operating profit, a return to … Read the full press release

Luxembourg tops European fashion spending at €1 777 per person while Romania lags at €375

(IN BRIEF) NIQ-GfK’s pan-European analysis finds that average per-capita spending on clothing and shoes in 25 countries is €772, with Luxembourg (€1 777), Switzerland (€1 096) and Norway (€1 034) at the top and Romania (€375) at the bottom; fashion … Read the full press release

Ahlstrom expands Turin site with advanced molecular filtration media line to meet global demand

(IN BRIEF) Ahlstrom has launched a state-of-the-art molecular filtration media production line at its Turin site, enhancing its leadership in sustainable specialty materials and meeting growing global demand for configurable, high-performance filtration solutions. The new infrastructure features advanced process controls … Read the full press release

VELUX partners with Domea.dk to deliver affordable low-carbon homes under Living Places framework

(IN BRIEF) The VELUX Group and Domea.dk have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the green transition in Denmark’s affordable housing sector. Through this collaboration, Domea.dk becomes the first non-profit housing organization to test and implement VELUX’s Living … Read the full press release

Maersk christens Berlin Mærsk as largest dual-fuel methanol ship to join its fleet

(IN BRIEF) Maersk has named Berlin Mærsk, its 14th dual-fuel methanol container ship, at HHI’s Ulsan facility on 18 June 2025. Part of a six-ship series delivered this year under the Danish flag, Berlin Mærsk retains the Ane Mærsk class … Read the full press release

University of Southampton rises into global top 200 in THE Impact Rankings with strong SDG 17 showing

(IN BRIEF) The University of Southampton has achieved a top-200 overall ranking in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2025 out of 2,318 universities assessed against the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with standout performances in Partnerships for the Goals (42nd … Read the full press release

As Sober.Buzz Community Explodes Its Growth Globally it is Announcing “Spreading the Good BUZZ” Podcast Hosted by Josh Case Debuting July 7th

Sober.Buzz’s Online Store that includes the Exclusive Inspirational Collection by Heidi Case has Launched. Additionally, the much-anticipated Public Sale of the $BUZZ Token begins October 1st. (IN BRIEF) Sober.Buzz, a global recovery-focused community founded by entrepreneur and recovery advocate Josh … Read the full press release

Bizzy startet den AI Sales Agent in Deutschland: ein intelligenter Agent zur Automatisierung der Vertriebspipeline

Der smarte Agent von Bizzy identifiziert, qualifiziert und reichert Inbound- und Outbound-Leads an (IN KÜRZE) Bizzy, the AI-powered sales platform from Belgium, is bringing its new AI Sales Agent to Germany to support sales and marketing teams with automated lead … Read the full press release