Author name: Rejus Almole

uk’s-1bn-semiconductor-plan-branded-‘disappointing’-by-chip-sector

UK’s £1BN semiconductor plan branded ‘disappointing’ by chip sector

Deep tech, Investors and funding, Next Featured, Startups and technology / /
UK’s £1BN semiconductor plan branded ‘disappointing’ by chip sector

Ioanna Lykiardopoulou

Story by

Ioanna Lykiardopoulou

Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.

After a two-year wait, the UK has finally announced its semiconductor support plan, aiming to grow the domestic sector, increase its competitiveness, and reduce the risk of supply chain disruptions. But while industry players welcomed the strategy, they also criticised its level of support.

Under the new scheme, the government will invest up to £1 (€1.15) billion in the next decade, with an initial £200 million to be deployed in the next couple of years.

This amount, however, is dwarfed by similar initiatives in the West. The US has pledged $52bn in subsidies to boost its domestic semiconductor industry, while the EU’s Chips Act is offering €43bn to attract chip makers to build facilities within the bloc and ensure a European chip supply.

For Amelia Armour, partner at Amadeus Capital Partners, a UK VC firm which invests in semiconductor startups, the government’s funding is insufficient.

“The level of investment announced for the next two-year period is disappointing, especially considering the UK needs to try to keep pace with the investment levels announced as part of the EU and US Chip Acts,” Armour told TNW. “£200m spread over many initiatives won’t achieve much and will need to be allocated in a very targeted way to have an impact.”

Spreading the £1bn investment over a decade is also problematic, according to Amanda Brock, CEO at OpenUK, a non-profit organisation which represents the country’s open technology sector, including leading chip design company Arm.

“It simply won’t build a world-leading semiconductor sector even with the existing world-class R&D experience we have in the UK today. We need to see faster action behind bigger numbers to achieve the goal,” Brock explained.

Unlike the US and the EU, the UK’s plan comes without particular focus on strengthening manufacturing capabilities. Instead, it targets international cooperation and the growth of focus areas where the country already holds a leading position: R&D, design, compound semiconductors, and intellectual property.

The funding will also be used to improve the talent pipeline and enable easier access to necessary infrastructure for British firms, with a special focus on startups and SMEs.

According to Mark Lippett, CEO of Bristol-based semiconductor company XMOS, manufacturing isn’t the only way to ensure competitiveness and a secure supply chain.

“The UK will not be able to develop a full supply chain to fulfill its semiconductor needs — it’s beyond the scope of even the US or Europe,” Lippett told TNW. “The question is, how does the UK secure ‘a seat at the table’ when global allocation is being determined? By having technology that the others want.”

But for OpenUk’s Brock, coupling investment with skills, deep industry knowledge, and a semiconductor manufacturing sector are key elements for the UK’s success.

“Until the UK has all of those building blocks in place, either in-country or as part of established semiconductor supply chains that will involve the UK as a principal supplier, it will not be close to being the global science and technology superpower [Sunak] is seeking,” she said.

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Flix’s big green trains could be en route to the Netherlands

Ecosystems, Government and policy, Next Featured, Startups and technology / /
Flix’s big green trains could be en route to the Netherlands

Siôn Geschwindt

Story by

Siôn Geschwindt

German mobility startup FlixBus is best known for its fleet of big green buses that whisk passengers around mainland Europe at affordable prices — akin to Greyhound in the US. 

But there is also a rail-bound version of FlixBus dubbed, you guessed it, FlixTrain. The service began operations in 2018, following the opening of German rail lines to private competition five years earlier.

By mid-2022, the company serviced over 70 stations along many of Germany’s main rail routes. Flix also recently expanded its train network to Sweden.

Now, FlixTrain has its sights set on expanding into the Netherlands. This week, Flix notified the Dutch Consumer and Market Authority (ACM) of its intentions and applied for track capacity at ProRail — essentially asking for permission to run its trains on Dutch lines. 

The company is targeting a start date of November 10, 2024, for an open-access connection from Rotterdam to Oberhausen, Germany. The train will also stop at Arnhem, Utrecht, Amsterdam, and The Hague, according to FlixTrain’s application to the ACM. 

The applied-for route covers two train pairs per day, with around 500 to 700 seats per train, depending on the season (longer trains will be used in summer than in winter).  

FlixTrain is an open-access operator meaning that the company takes full commercial risk, operates on infrastructure owned by a third party, and buys access to chosen routes. This differs from state-owned enterprises like Deutsche Bahn (DB) in Germany and Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) in the Netherlands which own and operate much of the key infrastructure themselves.     

FlixTrain has become the main competitor to DB in recent years, partly thanks to its comparatively low fares. The company is often 50% cheaper than DB, with a ticket from Cologne to Berlin costing as little as €9 compared to around €45 from the national provider. 

They can offer such low fares because their rolling stock is essentially made up of old DB trains painted green. FlixTrain is also assumably being propped up by its more profitable sister company FlixBus, as it attempts to grow its share of the private rail market. However, it is to be noted that DB still has a 97% market share in Germany.  

Competing with NS won’t be easy either. Despite the fact that the Netherlands opened up its rail network to private competition in 2019, NS still has a monopoly on the rail network and benefits from generous concessions and government subsidies. 

While FlixTrain would like to operate across Europe in the future, according to Arthur Kamminga, an expert on legal affairs and public affairs at Flix, concessions like the one afforded to NS present a major hurdle. “When you are competing with someone who gets a subsidy and priority on capacity —  there is, by definition, no level playing field,” he told industry publication RailTech.

Kamminga is also a representative of AllRail, a lobby group campaigning for the introduction of ‘fair competition’ in Europe’s rail market. According to the group, Europe’s rail sector must become more competitive in order to encourage innovation, lower prices, and ‘create a more attractive low carbon transport option.’        

For now, FlixTrain’s application sits with ProRail, who will decide if the private train operator can share the tracks with NS.

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Rolls-Royce completes first tests of ‘game-changing’ greener aircraft engine

Corporates and innovation, Next Featured, Sustainability / /
Rolls-Royce completes first tests of ‘game-changing’ greener aircraft engine

Ioanna Lykiardopoulou

Story by

Ioanna Lykiardopoulou

Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.

Rolls-Royce has completed the first tests of its UltraFan demonstrator aircraft engine at its facility in Derby,UK.

The tests were conducted using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) primarily from waste-based feedstock, but the company is also exploring options for hybrid-electric and hydrogen-powered options.

“The UltraFan demonstrator is a game changer.

In the making for nearly a decade, UltraFan has been designed to showcase technologies that can deliver greater fuel efficiency for both existing and future aircraft engines, in turn, lowering their emissions and increasing sustainability.

Specifically, UltraFan’s technology is slated to offer a 25% fuel efficiency improvement compared to the company’s first generation of Trent engines, and a 10% efficiency improvement over the Trent XWB — oneof the world’s most efficient large aircraft engines in service.

Rolls Royce UltraFan aircraft engine
The UltraFan. Credit: Rolls-Royce via Flickr

Other key features of the demonstrator include carbon titanium fan blades and composite casing; a new Advance3 core architecture that achieves maximum fuel burn efficiency; and a gear design that delivers efficient power for future high-thrust, high-bypass ratio engines. Notably, UltraFan’s power gearbox has reached 87,000 horsepower (64MW) during testing — an industry first, according to Rolls-Royce.

UltraFan hasn’t been built as a standalone product to power a particular type of aircraft. Instead, the focus is on the flexibility and scalability of the technology. Correspondingly, Rolls-Royce opted for a massive size (140-inch fan diameter), which enables it to scale down as required by customers and offer power solutions for two-shaft, three-shaft, direct-drive, and gear propulsion systems.

Rolls Royce UltraFan aircraft engine
The UltraFan. Credit: Rolls-Royce via Flickr

“The UltraFan demonstrator is a game changer — the technologies we are testing as part of this programme have the capability to improve the engines of today as well as the engines of tomorrow,” said Tufan Erginbilgic, Rolls-Royce’s CEO. Combining more efficient gas turbine engines with SAF will be “key” to meeting the industry’s target for net zero by 2050, he added.

In the near term, the company is considering transferring UltraFan’s technologies to current Trent engines. In the long term, the demonstrator’s scalable 25,000 to 110,000lb thrust capabilities could power both new narrowbody and widebody aircraft expected in the 2030s.

“This cutting-edge technology will help the transition towards a greener future for aviation while attracting further investment into the UK’s aerospace industry, helping grow the economy,” Kemi Badenoch, UK Business and Trade Secretary, commented.

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Seeing is believing: Don’t miss the ‘grandfather’ of VR at TNW Conference

Corporates and innovation, Deep tech, Investors and funding, Next Featured, Startups and technology / /
Seeing is believing: Don’t miss the ‘grandfather’ of VR at TNW Conference

Siôn Geschwindt

Story by

Siôn Geschwindt

Tom Furness will be speaking at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 15 & 16 in Amsterdam. If you want to experience the event (and say hi to our editorial team!), we’ve got something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo code READ-TNW-25 and get a 25% discount on your business pass for TNW Conference. See you in Amsterdam!

Since the world’s first (and rather crude) VR machine was invented in 1956, extended reality (XR) has evolved into some seriously advanced kit and is becoming increasingly common in workplaces and homes across the world. 

Few have contributed to the development of this technology more than American inventor, trailblazer, and professor Tom Furness. Celebrated as the ‘grandfather’ of VR and AR, Furness has spent 55 years pioneering the development of human interface technology. 

Fascinated with problem-solving from a young age, Furness joined the US Air Force in 1966, spending 23 years developing advanced cockpits and virtual interfaces for the Department of Defence. He later founded the Human Interface Technology Laboratory at the University of Washington, and then the Virtual World Society, an organisation dedicated to solving some of the world’s most pervasive problems using XR. 

Now, while I’ve heard of some pretty cool use cases of XR — like for teaching and surgery — I mainly associate the technology with gaming and other ‘fun’ immersive experiences. What I know less about, however, is how XR can be used to save the world.

“We are looking at how to put our art to work on solving some of the most existential problems of our time, such as climate change, disease, and water scarcity,” said Furness, in a video interview. “We need to wake up and become more aware of where our society is heading, and this [XR] is one of the tools we can use to foster that awareness.” 

Humans love a good story and seeing is believing, so the idea that XR can be used to create awareness and drive change doesn’t sound far-fetched at all. In fact, it sounds fascinating. Creating a better, more sustainable future is a mammoth task, so if XR can help, I’m here for it.  

At TNW Conference on June 15, Furness will deep dive into his journey at the bleeding edge of XR development, and explore how the technology can be harnessed for humanitarian applications, driving social change, and improving lives. See you there!

Furness’ insights on the humanitarian potential of XR are merely one attraction of TNW Conference. You can find more on the event agenda — and remember: for a 25% discount on business passes, use the promo code READ-TNW-25.

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The Expansion of Immersive Therapeutics in Healthcare

featured, Healthcare/Medicine, Immersive Technology, Mental Health, virtual reality / /

With better accessibility and affordability, immersive therapeutics is now transforming how patients receive optimal care. Particularly in mental health and physical therapy, it has been instrumental in optimizing treatment outcomes, and helping patients overcome anxiety, discomfort, and other challenges to their recovery.

For several years now, we’ve seen virtual reality at work in healthcare. VR is now widely used in virtual sessions for psychological therapy, training simulations for medical professionals, gamification of exercises for physical therapy, and healthcare marketing.

Today, developments in immersive technologies are widening the applications of immersive treatment options for various healthcare issues. One of these is immersive therapeutics for the treatment of intractable health conditions.

But what exactly is immersive therapeutics and how does it truly impact healthcare? Here, we dissect what this emerging treatment approach is and share feedback from tech experts and users alike.

What Is Immersive Therapeutics?

Immersive therapeutics is an evolving field of medicine that delivers treatment using advanced technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence. It alleviates patient suffering and enhances treatment by placing patients in highly immersive and sensory-rich environments.

Through immersive therapeutics, patients connect with virtual environments at a deep emotional level that can alter the brain’s perception of pain and divert their attention.

According to Gita Barry, President of Immersive Healthcare at Penumbra Inc., “By captivating the patients in a virtual environment, patients can engage with serene beachscapes or play cognition games to cope with the craving feeling and safeguard their path to recovery.”

Being highly effective in distracting patients from pain and cravings, immersive therapeutics has great potential for use in physical rehabilitation and addiction treatment.

“The more immersive an experience is, the more it can be engaging, positively distracting, entertaining, and effective from a therapeutic and clinical standpoint,” says Joel Breton, game designer and president of Immersive Healthcare Studios at REAL System by Penumbra. This is what makes immersive therapeutics effective in addressing challenges in therapeutic treatments.

Advancing Immersive Therapeutics for Better Healthcare

As immersive therapeutics continues to evolve, more companies are looking to increase the accessibility of these therapies, broadening their applications in new treatment options for various healthcare issues.

Some of the most promising clinical uses include treating stress, anxiety, fears, disorders, and phobias. Its applications for pain management, rehabilitation, wellness, and healthcare optimization are also expanding fast.

One company that is at the forefront of advancing the use of immersive therapeutics is Penumbra. Technologies like Penumbra’s REAL System are already showing real impact in the field of immersive therapeutics.

With platforms like the REAL i-Series for VR/mental health and the REAL y-series for VR/physical therapy, patients can access VR-based treatments and self-manage their conditions from the comfort of their own homes.

Penumbra REAL y-Series immersive therapeutics
Penumbra REAL y-Series

Of the 40 million US adults with substance abuse disorders, about 40 to 60% relapse at some point in their lives. While contact with drugs is the most obvious cause for relapse, stress cues linked to substance abuse are also common triggers.

This is where immersive therapeutics becomes most helpful. By helping counteract disruptive effects on the brain and behavior, immersive experiences help those in recovery regain control of their lives.

Real Impact of the REAL System

Barry believes that immersive experiences have the potential to impact millions of patients across a range of conditions. Developed using clinical evidence, Penumbra’s REAL System effectively supports the physical rehabilitation, cognitive, and wellness needs of patients in recovery.

The REAL i-Series, for instance, is currently in use at the Chemical Dependency unit of Hoag Health. The VR-based solution has been incorporated into group therapy sessions to create positive shared experiences and boost communal engagement.

Penumbra REAL i-Series immersive therapeutics
Penumbra REAL i-Series

The use of the system helps patients feel at ease and more open to participating in group therapy. Seeing the benefits of the i-Series, Hoag Health is now also using it to support staff well-being and retention.

As REAL System President, Breton explains that REAL’s VR experiences are designed to address physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language rehab as well as general mental wellness. According to Breton, the sense of immersion VR provides distracts patients from pain and fatigue. By keeping them engaged and entertained, the patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment programs.

Transforming the Future of Health

Immersive therapeutics is undoubtedly transforming the future of healthcare by providing patients with a higher level and quality of care.

“With greater awareness of the benefits VR-based tools can provide in addiction treatment and broader healthcare, we anticipate that clinicians will identify both new applications and also new patient populations who can benefit from the immersive experience VR provides,” says Barry.

The goal of immersive therapeutics is to widen access to transformative care. Whether patients are in health facilities or at home, immersive solutions can help them overcome health challenges and ensure optimal recovery. Through the continued collaboration of tech experts and health practitioners, immersive therapeutics has the potential to transform the entire healthcare industry.

The Expansion of Immersive Therapeutics in Healthcare Read More »

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Samsung Acquires eMagin Microdisplay Maker, Citing ‘significant potential growth’ of XR Devices

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eMagin, the US-based developer and manufacturer of OLED microdisplays for AR/VR headsets, announced a merger agreement with Samsung Display, a subsidiary of the Korean tech giant. Samsung says it anticipates “significant potential growth” of XR devices.

The company announced in a press statement that Samsung will acquire all outstanding shares of eMagin common stock on a fully diluted basis for $2.08 per share in cash, totaling approximately $218 million.

Founded in 2001, eMagin has created head-mounted displays to showcase its OLED technology since the release of Z800, which launched in mid-2005. Since then, the company has focused on creating VR headset prototypes to further showcase its high-density OLED microdisplays while also providing its displays for integration into aircraft helmets, heads-up display systems, AR/VR headsets, thermal scopes, night vision goggles, and future weapon systems.

President & CEO of Samsung Display, Joo Sun Choi, says the acquisition comes along with expectations that XR devices will have “significant potential of growth in the future.”

“This agreement is a validation of our technical achievements to date including our proprietary direct patterning (dPd) technology, provides a significant premium for our shareholders, and represents a win for our customers and employees,” said Andrew G. Sculley, eMagin’s CEO. “By teaming with Samsung Display, we will be able to achieve the full potential of our next-generation microdisplay technology with a partner that can provide the resources and expertise we will need to scale production. Moreover, our customers will benefit from resulting improvements to our production capabilities in terms of yield, efficiency, and quality control.”

The merger will very likely allow Samsung to exclusively manufacture micro-OLED displays using eMagin’s direct patterning display (dPd) technology, which boasts higher efficiencies and brightness since its displays use RGB emitters instead of traditional displays, which typically use a white OLED with a RGB color filter.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023, whereby eMagin will continue to maintain its operations and facilities in Hopewell Junction, NY. The merger agreement has received unanimous approval from eMagin’s Board of Directors, and stockholders holding around 98% of eMagin’s total voting power have committed to voting in favor of the transaction.

Samsung Acquires eMagin Microdisplay Maker, Citing ‘significant potential growth’ of XR Devices Read More »

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‘Firmament’ Review – Complex Puzzles & Visual Richness Lacking a Native VR Touch

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Firmament was created in the spirit of Myst, the studio’s genre-defining puzzle adventure which maroons you in a strange realm with some very imposing architecture, all of which houses a smorgasbord of some patently challenging puzzles. In this respect, Firmament is kind of an old dog with a few new tricks, as it brings modern beauty and narrative finesse, although the game’s VR implementation sadly feels like a bit of an afterthought.

Firmament Details:

Available On:  SteamVR, PSVR 2 (coming later)

Release Date:  May 11th, 2023

Price: $35

Developer: Cyan Worlds

Reviewed On:  Quest 2 via Link

Gameplay

Firmament: from Latin firmamentum—that which strengthens or supports. In an ancient cosmological sense, the word was also used to refer to the sky, or the vault of the heavens fixed above Earth. You’ll have plenty of time to ponder meaning that as you teleport between the four realms via the game’s conveniently located conveyance pods, which automagically shuttle you Dr. Who-style atop wind-swept mountains and steampunk botanical gardens just waiting to be explored (and fixed).

Image captured by Road to VR

Firmament dishes out real moments of awe between serving up maddeningly complex puzzles—basically a Cyan Worlds game through and through. The game’s gigantic machines will leave you scratching your head as you run back and forth just to make sure the figurative pilot light is on. While you have some narrative-based voice recordings and found notes to go by, you’re basically on your own when it comes to puzzling, meaning you won’t be babied by a ‘helpful robot’ who feeds answers into your ear. You’ll need to pay close attention to everything, and really get a grip of all the pieces in play before you can make sense of things. Beating your head against puzzles rarely works, so you’ll be greeted by some very familiar frustration if you’ve played any of Cyan’s most recent games, like Obduction or Myst VR.

Anyway, here are some useful hints: Watch out for every ladder. Watch out for every socket. Keep your head on a swivel and mess with everything a little just to see if it moves, but not so much that you scramble puzzles beyond their intended solvability.

Interacting with the world is done by way of activating a swath of standardized sockets, which pair to your hand-held ‘adjunct’ tool—kind of like a remote-controlled sonic screwdriver that lets you tether and interact with machines. Some sockets only have a single function, like opening and closing a door, while others have multiple functions that you’ll need to flip through. More on that in the Immersion section below.

Image courtesy Cyan Worlds

There is a lot of running back and forth, which feels more like a chore in VR than on traditional monitors. That frustration is compounded by moments when I wasn’t sure whether the game was borked, making me wonder whether it was me who screwed up or the game. It seems Firmament came well prepared for this eventuality at least, as you can safely reset back to a central location, which typically also resets puzzles too. While complex and mostly logical, a minority of puzzle solutions can be downright obtuse. I was provided with a solutions guide, which included hints as well as solutions, and I’m not ashamed to say I needed a few of those hints to complete the game, which I did in about nine hours.

In the end the juice is generally worth the squeeze with Firmament, as you’re whisked off to new, even more impressive areas of the game. While the ending left me feeling a little perplexed, the overall level of world-building is extremely high. I only wish I could be more present in the game and given more agency than casting my tether to manipulate glorified on-off buttons.

Immersion

Firmament is a sumptuous and potentially beautiful game that I wish I could be more present in. My aging GTX 1080 was able to play along decently on medium graphics settings in most areas, which is more than I can say for Obduction. Still, some of the inherent beauty of the game is marred by jagged edges and a muddiness in some areas that feel like it’s really pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. My GPU, which is probably the minimum spec for VR at this point, was much happier sipping along on all low settings, so make sure to curb your expectations if you’re running an older or less powerful setups like mine.

I touched on some of the frustration of puzzle solving above, or rather, when solving puzzles goes wrong, but there’s another frustration that has more to do with level design, and not whether things are actually working properly. While slick and in line with ‘AAA’ games in terms of graphics, level design is still very much rooted in the studio’s point-and-click past, which means you’ll have less physical agency than you’d probably think is rational given the expectation of working hands and feet.

Image captured by Road to VR

In VR, I’m used to being able to not only do what I can in physical reality, like climbing and jumping, but even more. Some of the game’s level design feels like a step backwards in terms of what should be logically possible, like scrambling over a simple banister railing, or sidestepping a box to get to another area. I know that’s part and parcel of the studio’s puzzle style, but if I’m not offered some explanation beyond “no, you just can’t because of reasons,” it negatively impacts my perception of the inherent solidity of the world around me.

And while the world is so rich with possibility, the only meaningful way to interact with it is by using your adjunct tool to manipulate sockets, save a single other tool you’re given that disperses ice and other crusty bits in your way. This raises the question whether Firmament is making good use of VR beyond giving you a more immersive view of the game. Sadly, it doesn’t. It feels more like a flatscreen game with an optional VR mode that hasn’t really informed many of the game’s puzzles or much of its level design. While the amount of backtracking from place to place isn’t such an issue on traditional monitors, it feels way more like a chore in VR.

Image captured by Road to VR

And yet, all of the frustrations of Firmament never seemed to completely overwhelm me. The game’s score is excellent, complementing both its strong voice acting and mostly well-reasoned narrative. I only wish it were just a little more sympathetic to the modern VR gamer, and a little less of an optional mode that basically works, but not as well as you’d hope.

Comfort

The game’s a bit at odds with standard VR movement schemes. While teleport and smooth movement are options, the game default movement scheme puts turning on one stick, and forward movement on another—something I’m not generally used to. Besides a few cart ride-style vehicles, the game is ultimately comfortable enough for most players.

‘Firmament’ Comfort Settings – May 18th, 2023
Turning
Artificial turning
Snap-turn ✔
Quick-turn ✖
Smooth-turn ✔
Movement
Artificial movement
Teleport-move ✔
Dash-move ✖
Smooth-move ✔
Blinders ✔
Head-based ✔
Controller-based ✔
Swappable movement hand ✔
Posture
Standing mode ✔
Seated mode ✔
Artificial crouch ✖
Real crouch ✔
Accessibility
Subtitles
Languages English, Italian, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America)
Dialogue audio
Languages English
Adjustable difficulty ✖
Two hands required ✔
Real crouch required ✖
Hearing required ✖
Adjustable player height ✔

‘Firmament’ Review – Complex Puzzles & Visual Richness Lacking a Native VR Touch Read More »

the-next-wave-in-urban-transport:-my-top-pick-for-tnw-conference

The next wave in urban transport: My top pick for TNW Conference

Ecosystems, Government and policy, Insider, Next Featured, Sustainability / /
Thomas Macaulay

Story by

Thomas Macaulay

Senior reporter

Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on deeptech, startups, and government policy. Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on deeptech, startups, and government policy.

Jinhua Zhao and Shashi Verma will be speaking at TNW Conference, which takes place on June 15 & 16 in Amsterdam. If you want to experience the event (and say hi to our editorial team!), we’ve got something special for our loyal readers. Use the promo code READ-TNW-25 and get a 25% discount on your business pass for TNW Conference. See you in Amsterdam!

Urban transport systems are straining under unprecedented pressure from population growth, fiscal challenges, and environmental harm.

Living in London, I feel the impact every day. The roads are horribly polluted, the metro is the world’s most expensive, and the buses are constantly in traffic jams. Indeed, the commute’s so bad it was named the most stressful in Europe — and it had serious competition.

Technology could create a better future. But the promises of fully-autonomous cars, air taxis, and zero-emission cities have been tricky to fulfil.

At TNW Conference, the potential meets reality.  On day two of the event, transit leaders will expose the next wave in urban transport: integrating mobility ecosystems.

Jinhua Zhao, Professor of City and Transportation Planning at MIT, and Shashi Verma, Director of Strategy and CTO at Transport for London, will reveal the latest trends in urban transit tech.

For anyone who’s been in sweaty metros, overdue buses, or gridlocked roads, it could be a glimpse into a better tomorrow. As someone who desperately needs the hope, I’ll certainly be there — as long as my train isn’t late.

Transport tech is among many innovations that will be explored at TNW Conference. You can find more on the event agenda — and remember: for a 25% discount on business passes, use the promo code READ-TNW-25.

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This new spacecraft system could bring ‘supermaterials’ back to Earth

Deep tech, Next Featured, Startups and technology / /
This new spacecraft system could bring ‘supermaterials’ back to Earth

Thomas Macaulay

Story by

Thomas Macaulay

Senior reporter

Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on deeptech, startups, and government policy. Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on deeptech, startups, and government policy.

A UK startup has unveiled a unique system for bringing spacecraft back to Earth.

The company, named Space Forge, developed the tech to provide a low-cost and sustainable way of reusing satellites. Ultimately, the startup wants the system to support in-space manufacturing, which can produce materials that can’t be made on Earth.

These “supermaterials” have transformative potential for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and alloys. Unfortunately, returning them to Earth is currently painfully complex and costly.

To solve this problem, Space Forge developed two separate components: a hover-net called Fielder and a heat shield dubbed Pridwen.

Named after King Arthur’s legendary shield, Pridwen is made of a flexible alloy fabric that can withstand harsh temperatures. It’s also reusable, unlike conventional “ablative” heatshields, which must be replaced after every flight.

To fit inside a launcher vehicle, Pridwen folds into a compact size. To protect its cargo on the return journey, the origamic-style heatshield expands. Joshua Western, the cofounder of Space Forge, describes the system as “Mary Poppins but from space.”

Prototypes of Pridwen
Prototypes of Pridwen have already undergone extensive testing. Credit: Space Forge

As the spacecraft approaches the atmosphere, Pridwen will unfurl like an umbrella to shield the satellite from the heat of re-entry. In a manner reminiscent of a shuttlecock, Pridwen can also decelerate the drop to Earth’s surface.

Then Fielder comes into play.  As the satellite descends, the water-based hover net will move beneath the vehicle to soften the landing and enable a quick return to land.

SpaceForge's capture system
The net can catch Pridwen and softens the landing for its cargo. Credit: SpaceForge

According to Space Forge, the system has already completed trials including high-altitude balloon drops, sea survival, and plasma wind tunnel testing. The company is planning a launch later this year to further tests the re-entry system.

Eventually, Space Forge plans to use Pridwen and Fielder in a world-first in-orbit and return-to-Earth manufacturing service, named ForgeStar.

“Supermaterials made in space will be able to save industries on Earth enormous amounts of energy, limiting their CO2 emissions in a way their terrestrial counterparts can never match,” said Andrew Bacon, CTO and co-founder of Space Forge.

“Pridwen and Fielder are key parts of our plan to develop fully reusable manufacturing satellites that can kick start a new industrial revolution.”

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Social impact startups face unique challenges — joining the right accelerator is key

Corporates and innovation, Deep tech, Startups and technology / /
Social impact startups face unique challenges — joining the right accelerator is key

Andrea Hak

Story by

Andrea Hak

Andrea is TNW’s Branded Content Editor and, as a writer, she’s covered a wide range of topics from ClimateTech to AI and gender bias. She’s Andrea is TNW’s Branded Content Editor and, as a writer, she’s covered a wide range of topics from ClimateTech to AI and gender bias. She’s always on the lookout for stories that explore the social and political impact of emerging technology.

A growing number of founders are leveraging the power of technology to help solve some of society’s biggest problems, from developing self-monitoring digital health platforms that give patients more autonomy to finding new solutions for storing renewable energy.

Today, on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, it’s particularly important to recognise the advancements a growing number of founders have made in making technology open, equal, and accessible to all, from creating devices that take into account deaf and blind communities to using AI to build groundbreaking advancements in prosthetics.

But, due to the novel and often disruptive approaches they take to solve common problems, these startups also need to contend with additional hurdles. They often struggle with developing their product and business models, complying with regulations and bureaucratic red tape, gaining funding, and marketing their products and services.

Zeng Xi Feng, founder and CEO of TangTangQuan, a new platform that offers professional health management to children with Type1 diabetes, understands this all too well. With digital and wearable technology, his company aims to help diabetics maintain a normal life and combat key issues, such as discrimination in social environments and gaps in medical insurance coverage.

However, despite the potential TangTangQuan has to change lives for the better, Xi Feng and his team faced a number of challenges.

Challenging the status quo

Ironically, the main difficulty social impact startups are up against is not inventing a new solution, but getting people to change their habits and ways of thinking. As Xi Feng explained, many chronic disease patients place a greater focus on medicine and body examinations than on continuing health monitoring and management, which are actually more beneficial for therapy.

“The most difficult hurdle for digital health startups is developing a business model. Patients with chronic disease are used to paying for doctor visits, physical medicines, and examinations, but there is no notion of paying for digital services.”

Despite the fact that the type 1 diabetes community is already one of the chronic disease community’s most concerned about continuing health management, Xi Feng shared that less than 10% of patients are willing to pay for the health service.

Gaining funding

Many VCs still carry the outdated notion that social impact can’t be profitable, especially when it’s targeting new and niche audiences. For many social impact startups, this can make it difficult to raise funding amongst traditionally risk averse investors.

“The type 1 diabetes we are targeting is actually a very small community with few patients. Many of our peers and investors felt that our team would not survive the fierce competition using such a large team to serve such a small number of patients. As a result, we do not receive as much financing from VCs as other firms in the digital health field.”

Building a network

Xi Feng and his team realised forming a partnership with a large industry player would be the best move to gain the influence, credibility, and network TangTangQuan needed to reach more users. But attracting attention would be difficult.

“In China, business health insurance is still in its early stages. So there is no way to get the business model off the ground as rapidly as digital health startups in Europe and the United States can by working with commercial insurance companies,” Xi Feng explained.

That’s why they decided to enter the OPPO Inspiration Challenge which is aimed at empowering startups with innovative solutions to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.

TangTangQuan was selected as one of the top ten proposals in the 2022 OPPO Inspiration Challenge, gaining access to OPPO’s tech, marketing, and business experts, and allowing it to establish a longer-term partnership with the brand.

Could joining an accelerator programme be right for you?

Joining an accelerator is a great way to get the guidance, mentorship, network, and visibility you need to take your startup to the next level. However, you need to select the right one for your business.

1. Define your goals and needs

Each program has its own unique strengths and areas of focus, so it’s important to find the one that best suits your startup’s specific needs. Start by clearly defining your startup’s long-term goals. It’s important to consider the growth stage your startup is in and what it would take to make it to the next level of growth, whether that’s access to new markets, technology, or funding.

Xi Feng had identified OPPO as a partner with the technology and market influence TangTangQuan needed to get its business off the ground.

“We had been researching the OPPO watch on our own before joining this challenge. We wanted to integrate the blood glucose monitoring app and the artificial pancreas app into the OPPO watch, and then have the watch send the blood glucose data to the cloud, allowing the patient’s parents to have real-time distant blood glucose monitoring as well as local blood glucose management.”

After being selected as one of the top 10 winning proposals last year, TangTangQuan started a partnership with the company. Now, OPPO watch (Chinese version) can be applied to the app to help more type 1 diabetes patients. Meanwhile, its IoT team has also helped TangTangQuan optimise data connection and transmission, making the app more accurate and convenient for patients to use.

“Of course, I think the value of participating in the OPPO Inspiration Challenge is still in the business model optimization mentioned earlier. In China, it’s still quite difficult for digital health startups to charge for their services, but by combining with OPPO hardware, we can successfully productize the service physically, while being able to transmit data remotely and make the service easy.”

2. Assess network access

When evaluating accelerator programs, it’s crucial to consider their market influence and reputation. Take a deeper look at the program’s network both in terms of potential corporate partnerships and its media presence. A well-connected accelerator can provide invaluable introductions, partnerships, and guidance from experienced professionals who can help propel your startup forward.

“Of course, OPPO’s brand influence and corporate awareness remain high, which is a positive endorsement for us. The variety of media coverage we received as a result of our participation in the Inspiration Challenge also contributed to our increased visibility. At the same time, we made many new acquaintances and generated commercial potential for future collaboration. In addition, we were also invited to participate in the filming of a video to promote our startup project to a wider audience.”

3. Research past alumni

Look for programs that have a strong track record of success, with alumni who have gone on to achieve notable milestones or made significant industry impact. Programs that have produced successful startups in your specific sector can also provide valuable market connections and credibility. Research the program’s alumni network and don’t be afraid to reach out to previous participants.

2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge now open for applications

If you’re a social impact startup developing innovative new solutions in the fields of digital health, accessibility, and environmental protection, the OPPO Inspiration Challenge could be for you.

Together with Qualcomm, GSMA 5G IN, Amazon Web Services and LinkedIn, OPPO and its global technology ecosystem partners aim to bring new and innovative solutions to life by providing funding, support, and partnership opportunities. By working together, OPPO hopes these innovations can create a positive impact, and encourage greater awareness of the issues that affect global communities.

Each of the final top 5 winners will receive a grant of $50,000 (tax-included). The top 15 will be invited to OPPO’s Acceleration Camp where they will receive mentorship from experts and industry partners. Additional partnership opportunities will be open to the global top 45 participants.

The deadline to submit your proposal is 30 June 2023. Check out the OPPO Inspiration Challenge’s official website for more information.

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A Geospatial Web Platform to Enhance In-Person Events? Absolutely, Says Fabric

AR platform, augmented reality, featured, location-based AR, sports, Sports & Fitness / /

Fabric aims to change how in-person events are held, through geospatial web. Starting with sports, the geospatial web and augmented reality platform Fabric can transform live events into an immersive, augmented reality-assisted experience to thrill sports fans.

Better Experiences With the Geospatial Web

The geospatial web is simply the use of geolocation technology within the greater realm of the Internet. For Fabric, it means syncing location, time, and content. By utilizing this technology along with immersive AR tools, spectators can elevate their experiences.

Fabric geospatial web

With geospatial technology, Fabric draws attention to an emerging trend in the experience economy in the sports industry. Using geospatial web technology, brands and sports teams can make in-person events more unique, social, and exciting.

While the concept of the geospatial web has already been around for some time, Fabric spent the past five years finding new ways to leverage this technology. The result is their main geospatial product, called “Space.” Space aims to prioritize human connections during in-person events as opposed to purely digital connections. It serves as a new medium of communication among fans, teams, and brands.

Fabric also offers a no-code platform that lets sports stakeholders, such as leagues and venues, display relevant content for any game or sporting experience.

Merging Sports and Augmented Reality for a Unique Experience

The company believes that sports are the top industry for live, in-person events; hence why they chose to start there. Fabric can facilitate peer-to-peer interactions within the same venue, plus help increase monetization and brand activation. They market Space as an “interactive jumbotron in every sports fan’s pocket.”

a 3D jumbotron Fabric

Space encourages sports spectators to disengage from artificial connections and seek real-time, location-based interactions with other people. And because it takes place at a single event, users know they already have a shared interest with other fans.

Within the app, AR assets called “Fabs” are powered by the geospatial web to encourage real-world interaction. These Fabs are designed to get people to interact more with each other in a unique and fun way, made possible by technology.

Enhancing Human Connections Through the Geospatial Web

Fabric is trying to bring back the experience of human connection, which is enhanced instead of hampered by technology. The company holds a different perspective than that of metaverse pioneers.

According to Fabric, the metaverse can offer unique, shared experiences via virtual reality. But ultimately, the user is, in fact, isolated from other people in the real world. The connection comes through VR via a headset. The “shared” experience is, in a way, manufactured artificially through VR technology.

This version of shared experiences provides advantages and disadvantages, as other technologies do. The metaverse can also open opportunities not available for other people and brands otherwise.

geospatial web Fabric

Meanwhile, Fabric offers an alternative way to experience life with digital technology. Fabric Spaces allow people within the same geographical location—in this case, a sports stadium or arena—to have meaningful, offline and online connections. Add to that the shared real-world experience of attending a sports event, and you have a potentially unforgettable encounter.

Growing the Social Fabric

Fabric began as an idea that founder and president Sarah Kass had while noticing societal issues brought about by connectivity. Together with co-founder and CEO Saul Garlick, they developed the geospatial web platform that became Fabric.

In an interview with Forbes magazine, Kass explained her reasoning for coming up with Fabric. She saw that mobile phones offer unprecedented connectivity but also distance people from others, so she sought to develop a product that could address this paradox.

“I began to frame the problem as ‘how do we grow the social fabric?’ What new infrastructure could propel the growth of social capital in the digital age? Or what new infrastructure would allow us to strengthen the social fabric in today’s time when we’re walking around with all these phones?” she stated in the interview.

As of press time, the Fabric team works with five professional sports teams and leagues. The goal is to provide fans with an elevated sports experience during games and other sporting events through the geospatial web and mixed reality.

A Geospatial Web Platform to Enhance In-Person Events? Absolutely, Says Fabric Read More »

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[Industry Direct] Grab a Great Deal on VR Games during Fanatical’s Bundlefest Celebration

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Industry Direct by Mark at Fanatical

Industry Direct is our program for sponsors who want to speak directly to the Road to VR newsletter audience. They are written by sponsors with no involvement from the Road to VR editorial team. Links to these posts appear only in our newsletter and do not intermix with our on-site editorial feed. Industry Direct sponsors help make Road to VR possible.

For a limited time only, at Fanatical we are holding our annual Bundlefest celebration, offering a range of PC VR and Quest VR games at incredible prices.

As an official digital retailer of PC and Quest games, this week sees the launch of two exciting collections.

Build your own Quest VR Collection

Choose from a collection of 24 Quest VR games that includes Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition, Zombieland: Headshot Fever, Death Horizon: Reloaded, Ragnarock, IRON GUARD and more, starting at 4 games for just $40. This will be a limited run collection so select your favorites as soon as you can, so as not to be disappointed.

Here is the full line-up:

  • Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition
  • Sairento VR : Untethered
  • Zombieland: Headshot Fever
  • Death Horizon: Reloaded
  • Ragnarock
  • IRON GUARD
  • Table of Tales: The Crooked Crown
  • Swarm
  • HitchHiker: A Mystery Game
  • Audio Trip
  • Prison Boss VR
  • Shadowgate VR: The Mines of Mythrok
  • Yupitergrad
  • SculptrVR
  • Mare
  • Startenders: Intergalactic Bartending
  • Pinball FX2 VR
  • Gadgeteer
  • AVICII Invector: Encore Edition
  • ForeVR Bowl
  • YUKI
  • Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey
  • ForeVR Cornhole
  • ForeVR Pool

Check out the collection here

Bethesda VR Collection

For just $24.99, get a collection of four amazing VR games from the team at Bethesda. With a total value of over $150, this is truly great value and includes

  • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR
  • Fallout 4 VR
  • DOOM VFR
  • Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot

Check out the collection here

To see these and other bundles launching during Bundlefest this week, check out our bundle page.

[Industry Direct] Grab a Great Deal on VR Games during Fanatical’s Bundlefest Celebration Read More »