Frank Bösenberg

Rafael Laguna de la Vera, president of Germany's Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIN-D), advocates for channeling capital-funded pension assets into research and development projects, as well as the growth of start-ups within Germany. He suggests that allocating a portion of these funds to an "innovation fund" could yield high returns, particularly in the technology sector, while also mitigating the migration of companies and innovators to financially stronger countries. Laguna de la Vera points to international examples, such as France's Tibi initiative, where institutional investors support tech companies, positioning France more favorably in this arena compared to Germany. He notes that Germany lacks a dedicated vehicle for investors to channel funds into technological innovations and start-ups, despite the potential for high profitability. He also references the UK's British Growth Partnership, which aims to attract pension fund investments into venture capital and innovative businesses, supported by government investment.

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I want to thank the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) for selecting Absolut Sensing for a 15M€+ blended grant and equity financing. Our AIM project will accelerate the deployment of our advanced "GEN2" spectro-imager technology on satellites dedicated to detecting and quantifying methane emissions at unprecedented accuracy. Special thanks to Jérôme Billé (Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche), Charlotte Rix Nicolajsen (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Entreprises), and Simon Brenet (Benkei) for providing valuable feedback throughout the selection process. Global warming is our generation's biggest challenge, and methane a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than CO2 in its warming potential. You cannot reduce what you cannot measure, hence why our technology is so key in allowing regulators and companies alike to fight emissions. L-3months before the launch of our first "GEN1" satellite. Stay tuned ! https://lnkd.in/eFXx5Tb5

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The collapse of #Germany's coalition government in November 2024 was triggered by deep-seated conflicts between the ruling parties over economic and fiscal policies... #SPD and #Greens favored increased public spending to stimulate the sluggish economy, particularly in response to #IndustrialChallenges and the #EnergyCrisis while the #FDP pushed for #FiscalAusterity, advocating for reduced public spending and tighter budget controls... Those differences were crucial to break the alliance during 2025 Budget Negotiation. After the #NuclearPhaseOut, #GermanElectricityMix is challenging both, #CountryDecarbonizationStrategy (majority of consumed #electricity is generated with #COAL) and #RegionalIndustryCompetitiveness (electricity price volatility has deeply affected energy-intensive industries like chemicals, steel, and automotive manufacturing)... With the slowdown on #Renewables, due mainly to grid enhancements... #NuclearPowerRevival could potentially lower electricity prices in #Germany helping to improve economy... Do you see that new government could consider a #NuclearRenaissance in #Germany??? How it potentially will affect to European Union policies on #NuclearSubsidies???

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European governments and institution are clinging to #AI as our last desperate answer to Europe's laggard problem - "AI magic" will get us out of the hole. What will we do? "AI factories". What are they, how do they help growth exactly? "<look away>". They are just datacentres right? "<look away>". Who owns them? "Oh the hyperscalers but they are "sovereign" because they are here!". Amidst this frenzy and folly, we are letting Big Tech hijack "Digital Public Infrastructure" (imagine!) away from a plan to reduce dependencies all along the stack; and we are just admiring the Usual Suspects doing "agreements" and acquihires as agencies won’t touch them. So weak! Of course if you rely on the same merger control "theories of harm" you have been doing forever, it does not "fit" - but so what? "Aggressively weaponising scaled assets to create persistent first-mover advantage in incipient markets, and pre-empt competition" is a theory of harm I would defend before a judge. Francesca Bria writes about our joint #EuroStack project, I write about the antitrust analysis (lack thereof) of agreements & acquihires, in this great collection of essays put together by the team at AINow: Amba Kak, Sarah Myers West, Frederike Kaltheuner and Leevi Saari. - with Dr. Cecilia Rikap, Zuzanna Warso, Francesco Bonfiglio, Burcu Kilic, Margarida Silva Michelle Thorne, Fieke Jansen, Kim van Sparrentak and more. Europe is careering ahead with a lot of nonsense and hype, on a roll with Big Tech selling us datacentres. How can we be so gullible.

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Building Europe’s #Innovation #Powerhouse: How the #EIC #Trusted #Investors #Network Aims to Keep #Start-#Ups in #Europe The European Innovation Council (#EIC) recently launched its Trusted Investors Network, a platform that offers participating venture capital (#VC) firms privileged access to the EIC’s promising pipeline of start-ups. By joining, 71 VCs across Europe have committed to invest in at least two EIC-backed companies by 2030 and to encourage these companies to maintain their European roots. This initiative aligns closely with the European Commission's ambition to build a stronger innovation ecosystem, ensuring that high-potential companies have both the capital and support needed to grow within Europe. Commissioner Iliana Ivanova emphasized the importance of this collaboration, citing Europe’s urgent need for competitive technology advancements, as highlighted in the recent #Draghi report. Yet, with many network members already well-embedded in the #deep-#tech #start-#up #space, a question arises: What additional value does this network bring? A Hub for Collaborative Growth and Scale As #start-ups #transition from #early-#stage to #growth, accessing larger pools of capital and partners with specialized expertise becomes essential. The Trusted Investors Network can bridge this gap by creating a cooperative environment where knowledge is shared freely, and investors join forces to back promising ventures. The network’s collaborative structure is especially beneficial for #scaling initiatives, where the right mix of strategic investment and operational expertise is critical. Scaling Up and Encouraging Consolidation For later-stage funds, the Trusted Investors Network offers the advantage of seeing developed EIC-backed investment candidates, helping VCs prepare for subsequent funding stages. Moreover, the Trusted Investors Network is expected to encourage investment from larger, traditionally conservative institutional investors such as insurance companies and pension funds. The Trusted Investors Network launch coincides with other significant developments in Europe’s start-up ecosystem. For example, London Social Ventures is supporting university-led social impact start-ups, while Latvia has joined the European Space Agency’s incubation network, and Italian spin-out BeDimensional is scaling graphene production with the help of the European Investment Bank. Through the Trusted Investors Network, the EIC and its partners are building a robust foundation for a stronger, more cohesive European deep-tech sector and hopefully the impact will be as expected for the benefit of the target beneficiaries. https://lnkd.in/d3uPhpX8

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EU to spend €900M on expanding critical technologies According to #POLITICO, the total budget set aside for grow #companies working on critical technologies, such as #microchips and #quantum #technology in the next three years — until the end of the EU's current budget — amounts to €900 million. With the fund, the European Commission aims to dissuade the bloc's tech companies from tapping non-EU funds when they want to expand their operations significantly after their initial build-out. The United States, for example, is known to have far larger scale-up funds than Europe. Under the new program, eligible companies can apply for an equity investment of between €10 million and €30 million. The fund is meant to scale up companies working on tech, clean tech or biotech that have already raised money. The companies should also be able to demonstrate interest from other, private, investors in joining the funding round. https://lnkd.in/dRUgWZyD

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EIC Accelerator becomes a powerful indicator of Europe’s maturing innovation landscape The October cut-off date for Step II submissions (full applications) saw unprecedented interest. The highest number of applications for Step II since the program began: 1.211, an increase of almost 25% compared to the 969 submissions in March 2024. More about it here: https://lnkd.in/efSbpuNq #EICAccelerator #followfundingloop #deeptech #fundinginnovation #HorizonEurope

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EU Moneybox Funding Opportunities - Climate Change, XR, Artists, Edge, IoT Extended Reality | Up to €500K - closes 17 September XR2Industry (Extended Reality (XR) for Industry needs) Project will create a European Extended Reality reference platform by developing the first European XR headset. The project will fund and support developers of XR components to populate the new platform and integrate emerging technologies, such as 5G/6G, IoT, data, AI, edge, and cloud computing, to enable possibilities of XR experiences. https://buff.ly/3TSoV9B Artists / Manufacturing | Up to €37.5K - closes 20 September Artists, only two weeks left to become a part of the big change! At Hungry EcoCities, we are passionate about developing cutting-edge prototypes for products and services in the agri-food sector. We seek individual artists to secure funding and explore the fusion of technology and art. Gain scientific expertise, access cutting-edge tools, and collaborate with SMEs to shape sustainable food practices. https://buff.ly/3TjD28t IoT-edge-cloud platforms | Up to €60K - 30 September Develop AI-powered IoT solutions with ICOS project (IoT2cloud Operating System)! We are looking for SMEs & Mid-Cap tech providers to address challenges in managing data across cloud, edge & devices. Apply to the open call to collaborate on industry-specific use cases. https://buff.ly/3AT5k3k Climate Change | Up to €300K - closes 15 October Committed to advancing the European Commission's climate change adaptation mission, the Climaax 2nd open call will support highly vulnerable regions and communities in implementing effective climate change adaptation strategies and updated risk management plans. We not only support you with funding but also with expert tools and frameworks and tailored technical guidelines. https://buff.ly/4g9SDBp ​​ IoT/Cloud/Edge | Up to €110K - closes 20 October NEPHELE project aims to create a seamless and efficient computing environment that spans from the cloud to the edge and down to IoT devices. The initiative is looking for 8 SMEs or Mid-caps with expertise in developing distributed applications or intelligent orchestration mechanisms to create use cases and validate the NEPHELE architectural approach & synergetic meta-orchestration framework. https://buff.ly/4dN620P AI at the Edge | Up to €60K - closes 31 October Attention PhD Students & Researchers, we are seeking talented individuals in the field of AI at the Edge! dAIEDGE Open Call for Exchange Programmes is now accepting applications! Apart from funding, you will have the opportunity to spend time in one of the dAIEDGE hosting institutions to perform common research and release a scientific publication together with the hosting institution. https://buff.ly/4dQ7S0C

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Yesterday marked a significant milestone as the European AI (EAI) Act came into force, setting a global precedent as the first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence. The EAI Act provides a forward-looking definition of AI, emphasizing a product safety and risk-based approach within the EU. To ensure compliance, three advisory bodies have been established to support the enforcement of these regulations. Companies failing to adhere to these rules will face fines, ranging from up to 7% of the global annual turnover for banned AI applications, up to 3% for other violations, and up to 1.5% for providing false information. This groundbreaking legislation aims to shape the future of AI governance, promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical AI practices. #ArtificialIntelligence #EuropeanAI #AI4Good #HumanCenteredAI Read more: [Link to the European AI Act legislation] https://lnkd.in/euvT3-ju

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According to Science|Business, the #EuropeanCommission is considering funding for #digital #research, starting in 2025, and covers #AI, #quantum, #photonics, #chips, #networking and related fields. In all, the proposed calls would add up to €550 million, as part of a larger “cluster” of #industrial #technologies in #Horizon #Europe.  Some of the calls under consideration are big, some small. One would set up a previously promised “hub” to interconnect European AI developers, as part of the GenAI4EU initiative. That initiative, announced as part of a big AI policy push last year by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is supposed to develop novel uses of AI in 14 industrial sectors. The hub is intended to interconnect everybody involved in that, carry out a “comprehensive landscape analysis of generative AI initiatives,” and “support the uptake” of the resulting GenAI4EU solutions in other parts of Horizon Europe. It’s also supposed to “support the European Commission’s AI Office in its function to promote an innovative ecosystem of trustworthy AI.” The budget: €3 million, a relatively modest sum by tech industry standards. https://lnkd.in/dcFTEB-V

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20 years in VC. Going from CVC to VC. Here's the story of Rainer Märkle, General Partner at HV Capital. 1/ Engineering roots: His journey began in electrical engineering. Working on exciting projects like mobile and fiber communications. 2/ A twist of fate. By chance, he landed a role at a corporate VC arm of Siemens. Investing in the very tech I helped build. 3/ VC journey: That's where the VC journey began! He discovered a passion for nurturing innovation. So, he knew his mission was to help promising startups. What inspired your VC journey? Share your thoughts with us in the comments. #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding #europe

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Elon Musk’s announcement of a live debate with Alice Weidel, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) chancellor candidate, has caused significant uproar in Germany. Musk’s vocal support for the AfD, referring to it as "the last spark of hope for Germany," has drawn sharp criticism, with questions raised about his motives. The debate, set to be broadcast on Musk’s X platform, is seen as both a political statement and a potential interference in German democracy. Musk’s endorsement of the AfD aligns with his history of controversial political statements. Known for his admiration of disruptive figures like Donald Trump, Musk has used his platform to influence public discourse on a global scale. By championing the AfD—a party known for its euroskepticism and anti-immigration policies—Musk signals a willingness to challenge European Union stability, potentially aligning with broader U.S. geopolitical objectives. Critics, including German Social Democratic Party leader Rolf Mützenich, have demanded explanations, suggesting Musk’s actions might reflect the interests of the new Trump administration. If true, Musk’s involvement could represent an orchestrated attempt to undermine the EU and push Germany toward isolationist policies. Such a move would carry significant implications for EU cohesion, particularly in the face of growing nationalist movements across Europe. Musk’s motivations may also be rooted in his business interests. Germany is a key market for Tesla, and the AfD’s opposition to strict EU climate policies could benefit Musk’s operations by reducing regulatory pressures. Supporting a party that challenges EU environmental goals may align with Musk’s push for a freer, less restrictive market for Tesla’s innovations. Despite the controversy, the AfD remains second in the polls with 19% of voter support, trailing the CDU at 30%. It is unclear whether Musk’s endorsement will help the AfD gain momentum or further polarize public opinion. Regardless of electoral outcomes, Musk’s actions highlight the increasing influence of billionaires in shaping political landscapes, often blurring the lines between economic power and democratic processes. This event underscores a broader trend of individuals like Musk leveraging their platforms to influence elections and policy. While Musk positions himself as an advocate for free speech and open dialogue, his engagement in Germany’s elections raises concerns about the intersection of business, politics, and sovereignty. Whether his actions stem from personal conviction, economic strategy, or geopolitical alignment, Musk’s involvement has undeniably reshaped the discourse ahead of Germany’s critical elections.

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What used to be, is no more! Defence tech now relies on private sector for research and new innovations. #technology #innovation #privatefunding #vc #pe #research #dualuse #nato #defencesector #development #scaleup #growthcapital #startups

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This is interesting and useful, The Global Cooperation Barometer 2025 (https://lnkd.in/eN-QshWR). The video in the article is informative: https://lnkd.in/et6qDhF9. How to get funders of development, peace etc to be able to programme in this way? 

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The censor strategy is known to the people who read history books: 1. First they take an outlier, someone hated by almost all. Censor that person. Everyone cheers! 2. Then they take aim at people with broader audience but which are still not liked by the majority. Still almost everyone cheers! 3. This process is slow, but it always expands to more people with a broader range of influence and opinions that are more towards the center than to the extreme. It is as evil as it is genius because first all people cheer and one by one the herd is reduced to the absolute core beliefs that are the actual goal and the only ones allowed. Along the way, the enthousiastic supporters which opinion suddenly becomes outlawed, notice that they have no way to oppose or protest. Because they actually supported the implementation of crackdown on discent, they suddenly find themselves on the receiving end. Powerless. In 1984, the Ministry of Truth erases and alters records as needed to better align with Party policy. The government is also introducing Newspeak, a language which cuts down on rebellious thoughts by removing the terms for them. The EU leadership needs this because they led the lemmings drop off the cliff en masse. And they have it good financially, so everything criticising policy is going to become outlawed. Fixing problems is for pussies, right? Far easier to create a narrative that is supported without much transparency by Youtube, Google, Facebook, Insta, Whatsapp, ... and vilify the X app. The appropriate reaction to censoship is NOT cheering, the appropriate reaction is to ask what they are afraid of that they need to resort to practices only very deadly regimes in the past needed to remain in control. Are you afraid to read what Solzhenitsyn wrote? Or Orwell? Because you have heard about those books, but have you actually read those? The new generations forget. And history repeats itself in a very similar and deadly way.

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