innovation
Transparent and accessible global data critical for European researchers: Interview with Professor Thomas Hartung
The landscape of scientific research is shaped by global digital infrastructures, with critical databases in health, medicine, climate, and the social sciences. The dominance of foreign and commercial databases poses strategic vulnerabilities for academic freedom, innovation, and research continuity in Europe. What are the risks associated with this concentrated 'power' of some databases? And how ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Prof. Stephanie Wehner on the quantum internet
“The EU now faces a critical choice: continue to lead this transformation, or risk becoming dependent on others for this foundational technology," says computer scientist and quantum physicist Stephanie Wehner. She is Professor in quantum information at Delft University (the Netherlands) and Director of the European Quantum Internet Alliance. She is also the laureate of ...
Is Europe ready for the quantum internet?
With its unique physical properties, quantum-transmitted data is impossible to eavesdrop on. The EU is at a critical juncture in the development of this groundbreaking technology, with major efforts underway to build the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure. As other regions and countries, such as China, also invest heavily in quantum internet, the question remains whether ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Prof. Angela Sara Cacciapuoti on the quantum internet
“The quantum internet is not just the next-generation communication network, it is a revolution. By using the weird and counter-intuitive laws of quantum mechanics, it enables a form of information sharing fundamentally impossible in today’s internet.” These are the words of Angela Sara Cacciapuoti, Associate Professor at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) and ...
Plants driving the future of sustainable technology
Scientists across Europe seek inspiration from flora to develop robots and materials. Europe is home to more than 20,000 plant species. Shaped by millions of years of evolution to withstand extreme conditions such as, droughts, floods, and harsh winters, plants convert sunlight into oxygen through photosynthesis, protect the soil from erosion and, not to forget, ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Dr Isabella Fiorello on plant-inspired materials and robots
You might not expect plants to be able to jump. But wild oats possess almost magical ability: their seeds, though dead and without muscles, use the energy of moisture to bury themselves in the soil, searching for the spot to start a new life. Dr. Isabella Fiorello leads a research group in the Cluster of ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Dr Mònica Mir Llorente on robotic plant roots
In humans and animals, the brain sends signals to indicate hunger, animals go hunting, while humans go to the refrigerator. But in plants, this process is controlled by the roots, which grow toward areas rich in nutrients. This idea inspired the study “Biomimetic Plant-Root-Inspired Robotic Sensor System”, which was developed within the framework of the ...
Towards a sustainable space economy
The space economy is a rapidly developing sector projected to grow at an average annual rate of 9%, reaching over 1.5 trillion euros by 2035. However, to ensure the long-term sustainability of space activities, it is essential to address their environmental impact on Earth and beyond, from atmospheric emissions to the growing accumulation of space ...