ATTRACT lights the way to commercialising R&D
Europe has struggled to leverage its spending on research and development to create commercially attractive products. The ATTRACT project, which held its final conference in early July, offers some evidence of what works and what doesn’t as food for thought for policymakers charting the future of EU research funding.
Puff, the magic jacket: In this EU project, students design some surprising tech prototypes
When Anna Cain, a master’s student in Barcelona, was looking for inspiration for a school project, she was thinking about climate change and how technology might help.
There was a severe drought underway that “was really bad where we were living in Barcelona,” she recalls; “so I think it was just at the top of my mind.” What if, she and some friends wondered, you could get water directly from the air?
How a swim helped launch one of Europe’s fast-moving quantum start-ups
It was in a swimming pool that Massimo Caccia, an Italian physicist, first got the idea that would lead to what is now one of Europe’s promising new quantum electronics start-ups.
At the time, he was struggling with some pesky quantum “noise” that kept disrupting the output of photon detectors he had been working with at the CERN particle accelerator near Geneva.
ATTRACT Academy: empowering Europe’s next generation of innovators
The ATTRACT Academy is revolutionising how students engage with deep-tech innovation and entrepreneurship. Born from the success of the ‘Young Innovators and Entrepreneurs’ pilot in ATTRACT phase 1, it scaled up its impact during phase 2, expanding its reach to multiple universities across Europe.
What happens when you let a bunch of sociologists loose in a tech lab?
Around the world, governments spend billions of euros a year to get new discoveries out of the lab and into the market. But do they actually know what works and what doesn’t?
Spoiler alert: not really. In many cases, the design of R&D support programmes is just a matter of “well-intentioned guesswork,” says Albert Bravo-Biosca, director of the London- and Barcelona-based Innovation Growth Lab, a non-profit that studies innovation policy.
TeSI programme: connecting science and business to address societal challenges
Technological advancements continue to play a significant role in addressing societal challenges. The intersection of technology, business, and design provides opportunities for developing innovative solutions that respond to critical social needs. Within this framework, different initiatives aim to bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world applications, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration.
ATTRACT Final conference—Register now!
The ATTRACT effect: How big science and tech will make Europe more competitive
This event serves as a dynamic platform, bringing together all key actors involved within the ATTRACT phase 2 to showcase their achievements and impact. It underscores ATTRACT’s transformative role in fostering deep-tech innovation, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and market-ready applications, and strengthening Europe’s global competitiveness.
CBI A3 programme: empowering students across continents to tackle global challenges
The increasing complexity of societal challenges has led to the emergence of educational programmes that aim to equip students with the necessary skills to develop innovative solutions. These programmes focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering global responsibility, and leveraging emerging technologies. By integrating different domains, including deep technology, design, and engineering, among others, such programmes prepare students to address issues aligned with global sustainability goals.
FTSF programme: linking design and technology for sustainable textile solutions
The Future Technologies for Sustainable Fashion (FTSF) programme is an initiative designed to explore the intersection of fashion and technology through a critical lens focused on sustainability, future scarcity, and space habitation.
CBI4AI programme: connecting technology with human needs
The development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly transformed different aspects of society and business, influencing industries, economies, and human interactions. Its rapid advancements have introduced new possibilities in data analysis, automation, and problem-solving, raising fundamental questions about its ethical and sustainable implementation. As AI continues to evolve, there is a growing need to bridge the gap between technological innovation and human needs, ensuring that new developments serve society effectively.