News

JLR expands global innovation network with launch of Open Innovation Hub in India

JLR has announced the launch of its latest Open Innovation Hub in India to identify and work closely with startups to develop the next generation of products and services that will help to define JLR’s future client experiences.

How to know when you should upgrade your chiller unit

Chiller units are an essential part of many industrial and commercial operations. They help maintain the necessary temperature for various processes, from manufacturing to data centres, keeping systems running efficiently. However, like any equipment, chiller units have a lifespan. Over time, they can become less efficient, more costly to operate, and prone to breakdowns. Knowing when to upgrade your chiller can save money and improve overall performance.

The future of tourism is written with AI, regulation and personalisation

New technologies, especially artificial intelligence (AI), have brought about a true revolution, affecting tourism. However, their use, challenges and regulation generate a great deal of public debate. These challenges have been the protagonists of the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2024 where experts from the tourism industry and the European Union have discussed the impact of AI in the tourism sector and European regulations related to its use. In addition, the challenges and opportunities associated with the deployment of the tourism data space have been addressed, analysing how these technologies can transform and improve travel experiences.

Small business owners fearful of Autumn Budget announcements that would damage growth plans

Nationally, 86% of UK small business owners are fearful of Autumn Budget announcements that could negatively impact the growth outlook and finances of their enterprises – according to new research from Novuna Business Finance.

Segittur, Hotelverse and Ilunion Hotels among the winners of the Tourism Innovation Awards 2024

Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2024 has once again hosted the Tourism Innovation Awards 2024, which recognise initiatives and projects that are committed to innovation, digitisation and sustainability in the tourism sector. In this new edition, solutions to improve the user experience or advanced technologies that are changing the current tourism landscape have been highlighted. Of the more than 140 nominations received, six projects from different companies and institutions have emerged as the winners of this fifth edition of the Tourism Innovation Awards 2024.

Geovation announces 19th cohort on accelerator programme

Geovation, Ordnance Survey’s (OS) geospatial innovation hub, welcomes the next cohort of GeoTech and PropTech startups to join the award-winning Accelerator Programme.

Jarvis and JA partner to streamline pension management for umbrella companies

Jarvis, a pension fintech that empowers employees to actively plan for their ideal retirement, has partnered with JA, the software provider for umbrella companies, to transform pension management for umbrella companies.

Wayve launches in US with San Francisco testing programme and office

Wayve, a startup in Embodied AI for the automotive industry, has expanded its US operations with the opening of a new office in Silicon Valley and the start of a driver assistance testing programme in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Slashed budgets and steep ambitions: British businesses strive to do more with less

Pleo, a European spend management platforms, has released a new report examining the current landscape of UK businesses. ‘The Finance and Business Synergy Report’ from Pleo, delves into the sentiments surrounding budget cuts, collaboration and growth in 2024, and how these dynamics are influencing business operations.

UK SMEs face potentially catastrophic credit ‘down rating’

UK SMEs face a ticking time bomb as a result of the imminent effects of an account reporting standard change, according to national audit, tax, advisory, and consulting firm Crowe.

NVIDIA and Tech Mahindra launch AI Centre of Excellence

Tech Mahindra has announced the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) powered by NVIDIA platforms to drive advancements in sovereign large language model (LLM) frameworks, agentic AI, and physical AI.   

Accountants call for tax reforms to support small businesses

Accountants are calling on the new Labour government to provide more support for UK small businesses by introducing legislative reforms and simplifying tax laws, according to new research by accounting software company FreeAgent.

Poor sales lead to Ai Pin’s price slash

Humane has dropped the price of its Ai Pin by $200 after experiencing poor sales for the gadget.

Regenerative tourism moves forward: integrating with local communities and optimizing resource management

Avoiding being invasive with the visited culture, managing experiences with the local government, improving the conditions of employees in the sector and getting local communities to value tourism positively are key aspects that the industry is beginning to focus on. This was made clear during the first day of Tourism Innovation Summit 2024 (TIS). The international tourism innovation summit focused on sustainability as one of the key aspects of the future, with an eye on regenerative tourism, integration with local communities and a commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

Finalists announced for 22nd everywoman Entrepreneur Awards

The UK’S most extraordinary female founders have been unveiled as the finalists for the 2024 everywoman Entrepreneur Awards, in association with BGF, the UK’s longest-running recognition programme for women in business. Now in their 22nd year, the awards set out to uncover and amplify the diverse array of female-led businesses, recognising them as influential role models for future generations, and celebrating their economic contribution.

Oxford Capital achieves 17x return on Moneybox EIS investment

Oxford Capital, the Oxford-based venture capital firm, has sold part of its Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) investment in Moneybox, the award-winning savings and investment platform, achieving a return of up to 17x.

Trustly to process $100bn annually, leading the pay by bank surge

Trustly, the global fintech in Open Banking Payments, is on track towards processing $100 billion in Total Payments Value (TPV) in 2024, underscoring a substantial shift in the payments industry as merchants worldwide continue to explore card alternatives. To date, over 112 million consumers have used Trustly’s products globally, showcasing the appeal of Pay by Bank options at checkout.

Opteran and Airbus join forces to show how nature can revolutionise space robotics

Opteran, a company focused on natural intelligence, has revealed that Airbus Defence and Space, with support from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency, will trial its Opteran Mind neuromorphic software in Airbus’ space rovers.

TIS2024 advocates technological innovation as a driver for more sustainable and personalised tourism

Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS) 2024, kicked off its fifth edition in Seville, Spain, on Wednesday. The tourism innovation summit par excellence has opened its doors to more than 7,000 congress attendees who, from October 23 to 25, will be able to learn about the latest innovations and technological solutions defining tourism worldwide. Also, all those trends and strategies will make this industry take a giant step forward in terms of sustainability, accessibility, competitiveness or adaptation to the new and changing demands of travellers looking for an ever-greater personalisation in their tourism experiences.

Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati eyes $100M for new AI startup

OpenAI’s former Chief Technology Officer, Mira Murati, is reportedly raising funding from venture capitalists for her new AI startup. The news was originally reported by Reuters, who claimed it came from sources familiar with the matter.