Minister Lawless announces €63.84 million to accelerate commercialisation of research across Ireland

From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science  Published on 12 February 2025 Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless has today announced a multi-annual ‘Accelerating Research to Commercialisation’ (ARC) Hub investment programme to fast-track the commercial potential of scientific research across Ireland. The new programme establishes two new […]

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A boycott campaign fuels tension between Black shoppers and Black-owned brands – evoking the long struggle for ‘consumer citizenship’

Some Black consumers may be breaking up with Target this February. It all started late last month, when the retailer announced that it was ending its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The move drew widespread rebuke from social justice organizers, including New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant. Although Target said one set […]

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Poland’s Ambitious Investment Strategy Aims to Surpass €150 Billion in 2025, Says Tusk

Poland is positioning itself to not only catch up with but surpass leading Western economies, as it prepares to inject over €150 billion into its economy in 2025, according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk. This marks a record investment figure, reflecting Poland’s aspirations to lead Europe in sectors such as logistics, green energy, and artificial […]

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Brookfield to Invest €20 Billion in French Data Centres as Paris Hosts AI Summit

As Paris hosts the Global AI Summit today and tomorrow, Brookfield, a Canadian investment fund, has announced a €20 billion ($21 billion) investment into France’s data infrastructure by 2030. The funds will be directed towards building data centres crucial for advancing the country’s role in the global AI race. This significant investment aligns with France’s […]

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Why the price of your favorite chocolate will continue to rise

Valentine’s Day often conjures images of chocolates and romance. But the crop behind this indulgence faces an existential threat. Regions like northeastern Brazil, one of the world’s notable cocoa-producing areas, are grappling with increasing aridity – a slow, yet unrelenting drying of the land. Cocoa is made from the beans of the cacao tree, which […]

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A feasible idea to invest strategically, or a giant opportunity for waste?

Could the United States soon be joining the likes of Norway, Kuwait and Mongolia in having a national reserve to invest on projects of strategic interest? If President Donald Trump gets his way, then perhaps so. On Feb. 3, 2025, Trump issued an executive order calling for the creation of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. […]

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Private Credit Sector Soars Amid $400bn Funding Gap

The global financial landscape has shifted dramatically since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), with one of the lasting effects being the contraction of bank lending, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). Regulatory changes, particularly Basel III, forced banks to maintain more capital for certain types of loans, prompting them to scale back lending to […]

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The Eagles and Chiefs have already made Philadelphia and Kansas City economic winners

If you live in the Philadelphia or Kansas City metro areas, congratulations: The fact that your city made it to the Super Bowl translates to about $200 extra in your pocket. That’s right – whether the Philadelphia Eagles or the Kansas City Chiefs win the big game on Feb. 9, both cities have scored an […]

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What states lose if the executive order remains in place

A single wind turbine spinning off the U.S. Northeast coast today can power thousands of homes – without the pollution that comes from fossil fuel power plants. A dozen of those turbines together can produce enough electricity for an entire community. The opportunity to tap into such a powerful source of locally produced clean energy […]

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Smart brands rein in ad spending when a rival faces a setback − here’s why

Imagine: You’re in charge of marketing for a major automaker, and your biggest competitor just recalled thousands of vehicles. Now customers are worried about the safety of cars like yours. Do you seize the moment and ramp up advertising to steal market share? Or do you pull back on ads, fearing that customers will connect […]

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