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EU lawmakers have agreed on a new set of rules aiming to make batteries in the bloc more sustainable and reusable. The regulations will cover the entire battery life cycle: from the extraction of materials and industrial production, to disposal. They will apply to all types of batteries sold in the EU, including portable batteries used in electronic devices, industrial batteries, SLI batteries used in automotive applications, as well as batteries used in two-wheelers and EVs. The green requirements of the newly-agreed rules set an impressive milestone for the Union as part of its goals to advance its energy transition…

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The newly-adopted 2023 work program of the European Innovation Council (EIC) will grant €1.6 billion in funding to scientists and innovators who can scale up breakthrough technologies and create new markets. Notably, 70% of this amount (€1.13bn) is reserved for the EIC Accelerator, which supports startups and SMEs in developing and marketing high-impact innovations. Specifically, €525 million is made available for startups developing future technologies that will contribute to the EU’s strategic objectives. These include biomarkers for cancer, decontamination for pandemic management, energy storage, quantum or semiconductor components, resilient agriculture, space tech, and the New European Bauhaus initiative. The remaining…

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Shocking absolutely no one, it turns out the UK barely gives a diddly about the metaverse — especially when compared to the rest of the world. But, for startups and businesses, this apathy is actually an opportunity. First off though, the data. According to a report from law firm Gowling WLG, 10% of UK consumers aren’t interested in the metaverse, and 20% don’t expect it to become mainstream. On top of that, many people are concerned about its downsides: Credit: Gowling WLG The report also highlights that twice as many consumers in China (83%) want to take part in the…

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Getir, the Turkish fast delivery startup, has bought its German rival Gorillas. This further reduces the number of companies in Europe promising to bring groceries to your door within minutes. This merger leaves only three such businesses active on the continent: Getir, Berlin-based Flink, and US-based Gopuff. As Getir’s founder tweeted, the acquisition valued Gorillas at $1.2 billion — down from $3.1 billion in September 2021. Gorillas was among the most hyped-up startups in the instant grocery delivery sector, offering delivery times in less than ten minutes and numerous discounts. Founded in 2020, the company expanded rapidly covering multiple European…

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The Netherlands is one of the best places in the world for startups and businesses working on green tech. Managing the climate is deeply rooted in Dutch culture. With nearly a third of its land below sea level, the country has been highly-adaptive to environmental challenges — finding ways to turn them into opportunities for technological growth. Think, for instance, of how the Dutch have managed to reclaim land from sea with polders, or avoid flooding from the North Sea with the construction of the Delta Works, a series of dams and surge barriers along the southern West coast. The…

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When signing up for Facebook and Instagram, users are forced to agree to Meta’s privacy policy. This allows the company to deliver targeted adverts — but not for much longer. On Monday, EU privacy regulators ruled that users of Meta’s platforms should no longer have to accept these sort of adverts, sources from Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reveal. The regulators declared that this kind of coerced consent falls foul of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU’s wide-reaching privacy law. This doesn’t mean it’s a done deal though. Ireland’s Data Protection Commission still needs to issue specific orders…

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