Daily Digest for

The Federal Council approved Switzerland’s participation in the NATO Support and Procurement Agency Patriot Support Partnership (NSPA PATRIOT SP) to strengthen security and enhance the availability of spare parts for ground-based air defence. This partnership will cover maintenance, ammunition monitoring, technical support, procurement, training, and transportation. Switzerland, being involved with NSPA since 1996, will establish logistic partnerships for the Patriot system, similar to its existing collaborations for AMRAAM and Stinger missiles. The integration of Swiss industrial companies into NSPA tenders aims to bolster security-related technological capabilities while maintaining Switzerland’s neutrality amidst international conflicts.

Spain-based Grupo Tragsa has inaugurated a new biotechnology plant cultivation laboratory in Maceda, Ourense. This facility is a significant advancement in the field of forest genetic improvement, coinciding with the International Day of Forests. The laboratory aims to be a reference point in enhancing forest genetics, contributing to sustainability and environmental conservation efforts.

The Government of Canada has announced its support for Siemens Canada’s proposal to establish a Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Centre for Battery Production in Oakville, Ontario. This centre will focus on enhancing battery efficiency and production methods to support the country’s transition to a clean energy future. The initiative aims to foster collaboration among academia, industry, and researchers to drive battery innovations and position Canada as a global leader in the battery sector. This project is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the clean energy market and reduce emissions.

GeoBitmine, an eastern Idaho startup, aims to utilize waste heat from data centers to enhance hydroponic greenhouse farming. With assistance from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the startup is optimizing its energy and water use to ensure sustainable operations. The INL’s Technical Assistance Program provided expert guidance, assessing several operational factors including crop prices and regional weather patterns, to facilitate GeoBitmine’s growth plans and job creation in IT and agriculture.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has published key indicators on climate risk in the EU banking sector based on data from banks’ Pillar 3 ESG disclosures. This new dashboard represents the first step in creating a broader ESG risks monitoring framework and centralizes access to climate risk indicators, enabling better assessment and monitoring of transition and physical climate-related risks. The EBA identified significant EU/EEA banking sector exposure to sectors contributing to climate change, with an average of over 70% exposure in most countries, while physical risk exposure was reported below 30%. The EBA plans to regularly update the indicators and enhance the monitoring framework.

Framatome and Perpetual Atomics have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to study the industrialisation of processing americium into sealed sources for radioisotope power systems, including space batteries. This collaboration aims to scale up the production of these power systems to support future space missions, particularly for the UK and European Space Agency’s lunar and Mars missions planned for the late 2020s. The partnership combines Framatome’s manufacturing expertise and regulatory compliance with Perpetual Atomics’ experience in radioisotope power systems.

Framatome and Perpetual Atomics signed a Memorandum of Understanding to study the industrialization of sealed source manufacturing based on Americium-241 for radioisotope energy systems, including Radioisotope Heater Units (RHU) and General Thermoelectric Radioisotope Generators (GTR). This partnership aims to enhance production for crucial energy systems for future space exploration missions. The UK has a significant inventory of Americium, and the collaboration addresses the growing needs of the European Space Agency’s initiatives.

The Open Power AI Consortium was launched today at NVIDIA GTC to spur AI adoption in the power sector. Led by EPRI, the consortium includes multiple energy and technology companies working collaboratively to build AI models for enhancing electric grid reliability and managing energy resources efficiently. Key players include EPRI, NVIDIA, and PPL Corporation, with plans to accelerate AI adoption in the industry over the next decade.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) of India, under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) to eight capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore on March 20, 2025. The proposals include the procurement of 1350 HP engines for T-90 tanks, Varunastra torpedoes for the Indian Navy, and Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft systems for the Indian Air Force. These acquisitions aim to enhance the defense capabilities of the Indian armed forces, especially in high-altitude areas and against submarine threats.

A report by Planet Tracker revealed that many leading European banks are not adequately addressing financial risks linked to plastic production and pollution. The analysis showed that one-third of the banks did not mention “plastic” in their reports, underscoring a significant gap in risk assessment. The report called for banks to develop better policies and avoid funding single-use plastic production to mitigate environmental and financial risks related to plastic waste.

The Department of Space in India has launched the Technology Adoption Fund (TAF) to support startups in commercializing early-stage space technologies. This initiative allows for the upgradation of existing space technologies from TRL-3/4 to TRL-7/8, the development of innovative products, and encourages import substitution of space technology components. Startups must be managed in India, present commercially viable proposals, and cannot be receiving similar funding from other government bodies. This aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative to enhance self-reliance in space technology.

The ECB published a report highlighting the surge in energy demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) models, which now require substantial computing power. AI-related energy consumption in data centres has been estimated at approximately 20 terawatt-hours (TWh). The report indicates that the energy consumption of major tech companies, referred to as the ‘Magnificent Seven,’ is rising significantly, contrasting with the flat energy consumption of S&P 500 companies. Data centres are expected to use 80% more energy by 2026, mainly driven by AI. The demand may be met through natural gas or renewable energy, with limited expected upward pressure on gas prices.

Marine NGOs including Oceana, Seas At Risk, and ClientEarth released an analysis revealing that no EU country has comprehensive plans to phase out destructive fishing activities, such as bottom trawling, from Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) by 2030. This analysis coincides with the first anniversary of a deadline imposed by the EU Marine Action Plan for countries to submit roadmaps for such initiatives. Despite some measures in place within certain MPAs, many remain endangered, prompting legal actions against several national governments for failing to uphold EU environmental laws. Notably, Germany is the only country that has designated more than 30% of its waters as MPAs, while others have designated as low as 5% of their marine areas.

The Statistisk sentralbyrå reported on the sales of petroleum products and liquid biofuels in Norway. The final numbers from 2020 to 2024 showed sales data categorized by industry and product, with petroleum sales including biofuels measured in thousands of liters. The updated figures for the year ended December 2024 are expected to provide insights into trends in the biofuels market. This data collection allows for analysis of how the integration of biofuels is impacting petroleum sales. The reference period for the next set of results will start from the end of the current year.

The Australian government has introduced mandatory country of origin labelling (CoOL) for seafood in hospitality venues. This decision was made in November 2023 after extensive consultation with federal, state and territory consumer ministers. The standard, which will be implemented under the Australian Consumer Law, will categorize seafood as Australian (A), imported (I), or mixed origin (M) beginning in April 2025. The government is currently seeking public feedback on the draft information standard until 17 April 2025.

The South African government has engaged with ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA) to prevent the planned wind-down of the longs steel plant in Newcastle. Financial assistance of R380 million was provided by the dtic and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in February 2025, along with a R1 billion working capital facility extended in June 2024. Additionally, funding of nearly R417 million has been approved through the Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme to support 2,982 employees for 12 months, conditional on AMSA’s participation in the Productivity SA turnaround programme. The technical working group, including key stakeholders, is addressing policy challenges affecting the steel industry.

The Australian Government is seeking feedback on proposed changes to offshore policy settings to support the Future Gas Strategy. The consultation covers guidelines on exploration work-bid, declaration of location, and retention lease. Additionally, feedback is requested on the venting and flaring of gas associated with offshore petroleum facilities. Submissions are open until 2 May 2025.

The International Trade Commission determined on March 14, 2025, that revocation of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe from China would likely lead to material injury to a U.S. industry. The reviews were initiated on September 3, 2024, and concluded with an expedited review process. This decision comes under the Tariff Act of 1930, emphasizing the Commission’s regulatory role in trade matters concerning imports from China.

The Australian Government has announced that $750 million of the $1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund will support innovative green metal projects. The funding aims to enhance the early-stage development of Australia’s green iron, steel, alumina, and aluminium sectors, which are pivotal to the national economy, employing around 200,000 jobs and contributing $153 billion in annual exports. The initiative builds on an additional $2 billion Green Aluminium Production Credit and a $1 billion Green Iron Investment Fund.

Saudi Arabia has granted exploration licenses worth SR366 million ($97.5 million) for two mineral belts at Jabal Sayid and Al-Hajjar, covering a combined area of 4,788 sq. km. The licenses were awarded to various companies including Ajlan and Bros-Norin for Mining and a consortium involving Hancock Prospecting. The exploration investment from winning companies is expected to exceed SR366 million over three years, with additional funds pledged for community development. Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy through mining as a key pillar in line with Vision 2030.