Innovation

• [New] Digital labour platforms have created unprecedented opportunities for workers, businesses and society by triggering innovation on a global scale.
• [New] An increasing number of European companies are trying to establish more localized supply chains, with the twin goals of reducing the risk of disruption and increasing speed to market.
• [New] Corporations have been making money in Earth orbit for half a century and will continue to lead innovation in space, creating opportunities and challenges for governments.
• [New] SK Innovation surged 12% in Seoul after reaching a legal settlement with LG Energy Solution that won praise from the White House, relieved that the supply of batteries for electric vehicles to Ford Motor Co. and Volkswagen will not be disrupted.
• [New] Ford and Volkswagen both are slated to start production on electric vehicles in 2022, using batteries made at SK's plant in Georgia.
• [New] SK Innovation can now complete work on US manufacturing facilities costing $2.6 billion which will employ 1,000 workers by the end of 2021 and 2,600 by 2024, when they expect to produce batteries for more than 300,000 electric vehicles annually.
• [New] The settlement over a trade secrets dispute between LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation will allow two plants in Georgia to move forward with plans to produce lithium ion batteries for Ford and Volkswagen.
• [New] SK Innovation is nearing completion of one facility in Commerce, Georgia, and is already making battery samples, while a second facility is about 20% complete and projected to be done in 2022.
• [New] Economic growth and opportunity depend on dynamic innovation and transaction networks to connect American families, communities, and businesses to a range of goods and services to improve the quality of life.
• [New] Now antitrust is becoming an industrial policy tool to nudge Chinese Big Tech firms towards innovations that will help China achieve technological self-sufficiency.
• [New] The American Rescue Plan gives local leaders a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make collective, data-driven decisions and innovation the modus operandi in government.
• [New] Gartner forecasts the highest growth will come from devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and mobile phones and enterprise software (up 10.8%) as organisations shift their focus to providing a more comfortable, innovative and productive environment for their workforce.
• [New] Massive global changes have affected the way people work, play, shop and socialise, creating the need for innovative new ideas and disruptive business practices.
• [New] Feasibility projects should focus on innovative applications to industrial biotechnology and address a real market need or commercial opportunity through collaborative knowledge exchange and research between Industry Members and at least one of Scotland's talented HEI research teams.
• [New] Mission Innovation is a global initiative to accelerate public and private clean energy innovation to address climate change, make clean energy affordable to consumers, and create green jobs and commercial opportunities.
• [New] Hydrogen production equipment has the potential to cover a market of approximately £4 billion annually by 2050 and stationary fuel cells used for vehicles could make up a traded market of £15 billion annually (Vivid Economics, Energy Innovations Needs Assessment: Hydrogen and fuel cells, 2019).
• [New] The tax dollars could be essential in paying for Biden's newly announced $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan, which aims to fix roads and bridges, eliminate lead pipes, and invest in jobs, innovation, and clean energy.
• [New] More than half the US workforce is currently enrolled in a self-funded health plan, and we anticipate further growth as employers look to create customised and affordable health insurance plans.
• Carta will be bringing into the U.S. a fintech debit card offering that has driven innovative banking products in over 40 countries around the globe.
• Gartner forecasts the highest growth, on a global scale, will come from devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and mobile phones and enterprise software (up 10.8%) as organisations shift their focus to providing a more comfortable, innovative and productive environment for their workforce.
• Innovative Financial Initiatives for Africa will help close adaptation finance gaps, enhance access to existing finance and mobilize new public and private sector investment.

Last updated: 18 April 2021