The new “Creative Europe” programme will promote the mobility of European artists and works, and help audiovisual professionals to adapt to the digital age, for the next seven years. On Tuesday Parliament passed a draft law putting in place a loan guarantee mechanism to help micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in the cultural and creative […]
It’s Democracy, Dam It Brazil!
Amazon deforestation increased by 28% between August 2012 and July 2013. Brazil’s Environment Minister, Izabella Teixeira, said the government is trying to reverse this “crime” – much like the ruling party has tried to reverse charges against politicians and businessmen convicted in the nation’s biggest corruption trial. Jose Dirceu, Chief of Staff to former President, […]
Finland’s Picodeon Gets Precious With Thinner Materials
Finnish coating technology specialist Picodeon Ltd has developed its ColdAb ultra-short pulsed laser deposition technology (US PLD) for use in the application of gold and platinum thin films, enabling thinner films and the reduction of precious metal costs. Precious metals like gold and platinum are finding more and more industrial applications in memory storage, energy […]
‘Spain! Get With The Programme!’ Says Commission
Olli Rehn sent Spain to the naughty step, again. For the first time, the European Commission has issued opinions on euro area Member States’ Draft Budgetary Plans, which from this year must be submitted to the Commission by 15 October, at the same time as draft budgets are sent to national parliaments. Presenting a major package […]
German Growth ‘Normalisation’… Whatever That Might Look Like
Back to normal. After a strong second quarter, the German economy has returned to its potential growth rate in the third quarter. According to the first estimate of the German statistical office, the economy grew by 0.3% QoQ, from 0.7% QoQ in 2Q. On the year, German GDP is up by 1.1%, from 0.9% in […]
Pip Howeson, London Entrepreneur Tailored To Perfection
London tailor, Pip Howeson, has announced funding from ex Dragon’s Den star Doug Richard, and media entrepreneur Chris Ingram, to build on her fast-growing reputation for bespoke high-end tailoring, using ethically sourced British fabrics. Setting out a vision to make made-to-measure fashion more accessible to women everywhere, Howeson, a graduate of the first class of ‘School […]
Hotel TV Revolutionised By Cloud-Based Solutions
Hotel entertainment and IT specialist Locatel has teamed up with Anevia, the creators of the VLC media player, to create a new cloud-based TV system for hotels. Locatel’s new Eclipse Cloud TV means that hotels can offer their guests an unlimited number of TV channels from around the world, and change them at will. It […]
Carbon Neutral Copenhagen – ‘European Green Capital 2014’
With an eye to the New Year, Cummins Power Generation is preparing for Copenhagen’s green leadership. John Dorman, Power Systems Director, EMER, Cummins Power Generation, reports on Copenhagen’s ambitious carbon neutral plan as it prepares to lead as ‘European Green Capital 2014’. Earlier this year, Copenhagen was designated European Green Capital 2104. The European Green Capital […]
TTIP Negotiations. Round Two. Seconds Out.
Negotiators meet for the second round of Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks. The EU and U.S. EU negotiators met in Brussels yesterday for the first day in a second round of talks to foster progress in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The beginning of the week will be devoted to discussions on investment […]
Generation 2018 – Rise of the iWorkers
The number of ‘intelligent workers’ (iWorkers) in European businesses is expected to rise sharply over the next five years, according to new research commissioned by Ricoh Europe. Research from McKinsey highlights that companies with higher concentrations of knowledge workers (above 35 per cent of the workforce) create, on average, returns per employee three times higher […]