There’s no doubt that Europe has ambition. Over the last decade, we’ve laid the foundation for a thriving digital economy, from regulatory leadership to tech-driven reforms and rapidly growing regional hubs. But infrastructure alone doesn’t build the future; people do. And today, we face the very human challenge of how to win — and retain — the talent that powers innovation. We’re seeing highly skilled individuals, such as founders, engineers, and product leaders, move their operations or careers to the US and, in some cases, to Asia. This trend reflects global competition at its fiercest. But it’s also a moment…

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The scientific world is reeling. New discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope — a joint project by the European Space Agency(ESA), NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) — aren’t just surprising, they’re contradicting our deepest assumptions about how the universe works. Fundamentally, it seems the universe may not be playing by the rules we mostly thought we understood.  So, what could it all mean for space exploration, space technology, and future deep tech? And what should space tech businesses, inventors, investors, and VC funds in Europe be considering as a result of the latest discoveries? At Beyond Earth…

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Arguably the most important thing that the rise of intelligent AI could potentially bring is access. Access to goods, services, and information not just for the few, but for everyone. Victoria Slivkoff, Head of Ecosystem at Walden Catalyst and Managing Director of Extreme Tech Challenge — a nonprofit uniting startups and VCs to accelerate progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — is excited for what lies ahead. In her view, the physical manifestation of AI could bring us closer to realising these ambitious goals. “Now we’re moving into the area of reasoning. AI is not just aggregating and…

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“Microbial protein,” says Katelijne Bekers, waving a vial of beige-coloured powder in front of me like it’s a magic potion. It doesn’t look like your typical lunch fare, but this unassuming dust could play a crucial role in the future of food. Bekers is the co-founder of MicroHarvest, a Hamburg and Lisbon-based startup that turns agricultural waste streams into protein powder using microbes — tiny organisms that exist all around us. The vegan ingredient is already making its way into dog treats. If all goes to plan, human snacks like protein bars, shakes, and ice cream won’t be far behind.…

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Crypto crashes, money laundering, and digital fraud — the EU’s financial watchdogs have had enough. Regulatory bodies need to keep up by rolling out tighter regulations aimed at strengthening consumer protections and stabilising the market.  As EU lawmakers scramble to protect consumers, others worry they are smothering growth. Case in point: in 2024, the FCA fined HSBC £6.2mn for not properly treating customers in financial difficulty. The regulatory bodies are defending the public, but had restrictions been lighter, would HSBC have had more creative solutions for its customers, such as embedding personalised, data-first lending? Banks have been fearful of exploring…

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