The European Space Agency (ESA) has blasted its Biomass satellite into space aboard a Vega-C rocket. The launch took place at 11:15 (CEST) today from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.  Now in orbit, the first-of-its-kind satellite will deploy a radar antenna that looks like a giant space umbrella. Developed by US defence contractor L3 Harris, the antenna is so intricate that it will take nine days to unfold in orbit. The umbrella’s job is to direct radar pulses from a P-band radar instrument mounted on the satellite’s body down to the forests below. This type of radar uses long…

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A Tinder Swindler survivor has launched a tool to fight the scams that upended her life.  Pernilla Sjöholm, who starred in Netflix’s hit documentary The Tinder Swindler, cofounded the platform — called IDfier — alongside computer scientist Suejb Memeti.  Released globally today, IDfier provides a human-to-human identity verification system. The platform promises a simple yet secure way to check who you’re interacting with. Users verify themselves by first scanning their passport, driver’s license, or ID card with their phone camera. If the document has an NFC (near-field communication), IDfier will also scan the chip for additional security. The user then…

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German defence tech startup ARX Robotics has secured €31mn to ramp up production of its autonomous battlefield robots, which look like mini tanks — minus the guns.  ARX — backed by NATO’s Innovation Fund — will also use the fresh capital to advance its operating system, Mithras OS. The software is designed to modernise existing military vehicles through AI, sensor systems, and autonomous driving capabilities. The company estimates it can retrofit 50,000 NATO vehicles with the tech. The co-founder and CEO of ARX, Marc Wietfeld — who will speak at TNW Conference and the Assembly in June — wants his…

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In the global race to become the next big tech hotspot, many countries pour billions into nurturing homegrown talent, courting VCs, and crafting startup-friendly policies. While some struggle to gain momentum, others seem to leap forward—fast. So, what sets apart these rapid risers? What’s the secret to ecosystem transformation? Look no further than Bulgaria—a country that’s quietly but confidently building one of Europe’s most exciting tech stories. The key ingredients For years, Bulgaria has been a magnet for global tech firms thanks to its flat 10% tax rate, highly skilled workforce, and cost efficiency. Industry giants like SAP, Microsoft, Oracle,…

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Five standout scaleups from Southern Europe have reached the finals of TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” They’ll now face off with rivals from across Europe to be crowned the continent’s hottest scaleup. Southern Europe’s digital scene is still maturing — but growth is accelerating. Deep talent pools and academic strength are now backed by rising support from investors and policymakers. These developments have strengthened the foundations for building scaleups. Our contingent from Southern Europe was scouted from seven countries: Andorra, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain. Each of them experienced substantial growth in their tech sectors last…

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