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Public policies for the circular economy – examples of European policies and references for Brazil
No full textDirect-to-Device Connectivity for Aviation:Opportunities for Integrated CNS Services
No full textSatellites are a key component of aeronautical telecommunication networks for supporting communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) services. Satellite communication, also known as SATCOM, acts as a bridge between aircraft and terrestrial infrastructure and establishes air-to-ground data (A2G) datalinks to connect aircraft with the air navigation service providers. For example, SwiftBroadband-Safety (SB-S) has been emerged to provide a global, secure, broadband IP connection for both operations and safety communications to aircraft, which can support CPDLC and ADS-C services with the same safety services, helping airlines to be ready for future air traffic management evolutions. Iridium, partnership with Aireon, supports satellite-based automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) in oceanic areas. Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is the underlying technology that enables safe navigation and provides precise location data for ADS-B [1].As an important milestone, Airbus and OQ Technology through their fruitful collaboration have demonstrated the feasibility of connecting an unmanned aircraft, carrying a 5G user equipment, to a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite running a full stack of 5G base station. Recently, many major airlines started to offer Starlink connectivity to passengers enabling Internet services including browsing and 4K video streaming. Despite these advancements, small unmanned aircraft may not be able to benefit from traditional satellite systems, whose terminals are often large and energy-hungry.Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity is an emerging concept in new space era satellite communications [3]. D2D connects compact consumer devices e.g., smartphones, wearables, and machine type device directly to Earth orbiting satellites without relying on terminal or mediator gateways. Due to small device form factors and high energy efficiency, D2D appears as a promising solution for meeting the CNS service requirements of unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Particularly, D2D devices due to small form factor and low energy consumption can be mounted on the unmanned aircraft and could provide satellite-based A2G links to support CNS services. D2D links can enable beyond-line-of-sight coverage over remote and oceanic regions, augments GNSS accuracy through correction data and 5G NTN support, and facilitates transmission of ADS-B and ADS-C, enabling situational awareness,and resilient CNS operations for UAS
Leveraging the transition to strategic capitalism:A summary of a Delphi expert-opinion study
No full textFractured geopolitics, shifting alliances, and growing systemic uncertainty define the environment in which Finland must now build and sustain its innovation resilience. This Delphi study was launched to explore how Finland, and Europe more broadly, can navigate these evolving conditions in order to foster a more robust and future-proof innovation system. The findings from the study revealed three interlinked layers of insight: external vulnerabilities, internal capabilities, and strategic positioning. Together, these layers form the underlying structure of this policy brief.The deck begins by outlining both internal and external vulnerabilities shaping Finland’s innovation environment. These range from the erosion of geopolitical trust and increasing threats to talent flows, to the growing dominance of China across critical technologies and value chains. These developments are not merely weak signals or short-term disruptions; rather, they represent structural conditions that fundamentally shape the global playing field for innovation. The middle section highlights an emerging shift from laissez-faire approaches toward what experts increasingly describe as strategic capitalism. Respondents emphasized the importance of not only investing in R&D, but also improving the capacity to absorb and deploy it effectively. They pointed to the need for stronger coordination across policy silos and a move away from episodic interventions toward more sustained, long-term innovation strategies. The discussion of industrial, technology, and innovation policy underscores a central message: ambition alone is insufficient without coherence.The final part of the deck repositions Finland’s innovation system firmly within the European framework. Experts stressed Finland’s growing dependency on EU-level instruments, particularly in funding, regulation, and standard setting, highlighted its potential role in helping to shape Europe’s global technological posture. At the same time, they noted that Finland must remain agile, sharpen its priorities, and engage strategically in Brussels to ensure influence rather than passivity. Across the study, it became clear that resilience should not be understood as a single policy choice or an isolated strategy. Instead, it represents a deeper structural shift in how innovation systems are organized and governed. This deck translates that insight into a coherent narrative - one that begins with risk, moves through leverage, and ultimately points toward action
Robot arm control based on online resolution of nonlinear equation systems using novel matrix-pseudoinverse-free neurodynamics
No full textRobot arm control plays a pivotal role in modern industrial automation. Designing a controller without matrix-pseudoinverse computation for robot arms from the acceleration-layer control perspective is a challenging topic. In this article, based on the temporal-variant nonlinear equation system (TVNES) problem, we propose a novel acceleration-layer TVNES (AL-TVNES) problem. By constructing an output function and an energy function, and applying twice Zhang neurodynamics (ZN) design formula, a new matrix-pseudoinverse-free acceleration-layer ZN (MPF-ALZN) controller is proposed. The controller effectively avoids the complicated computation of the temporal-variant matrix pseudoinverse, thereby reducing computational complexity. In addition, theoretical analyses and numerical experiments show the convergence and robustness of the MPF-ALZN controller. Finally, the proposed MPF-ALZN controller is successfully applied to the control of the Kinova Jaco2, Franka Emika Panda, and Kinova Gen3 robot arms, with the tracking errors between the desired paths and the actual trajectories being below 0.01 mm, which validates the efficiency of the proposed controller. Through various experiments in MATLAB, CoppeliaSim, and physical platforms, the high tracking accuracy and robustness of the MPF-ALZN controller are confirmed, indicating its practicality.</p
Photonic contact thermometry based on 3 µm thick silicon cascaded ring resonators
No full textWe demonstrate a photonic temperature sensor based on three silicon cascaded ring resonators (CRRs) integrated on a 3 µm thick silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform for contact thermometry. A CRR-based sensor achieves an expanded free spectral range (FSR) of 23 nm, enabling a broader operational temperature range compared with the FSR of 1 nm for the single ring resonator. The thick SOI platform offers several advantages, including low propagation loss (less than 0.1 dB cm-1), negligible polarization dependence (approaching zero birefringence) and high-power handling capability (greater than 10 mW) without any resonance shape deformation from two-photon absorption (TPA). Optical coupling was achieved through edge-coupled fibre packaging to the photonic chip. The sensor exhibits a temperature sensitivity of 85 pm K-1 with an uncertainty of 16.1 mK, measured over a temperature range from -20 to 90°C. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'The redefined kelvin: progress and prospects'.</p
Interface morphology and dislocation-mediated processes during rapid solidification of thin films
No full textRapid solidification experiments have, in recent years, revealed a wealth of new microstructural phenomena that suggest a strong connection between the kinetics of solidification and the crystalline structures that emerge as a result. In this work, we investigate the interplay between interface morphology and defect-mediated processes during rapid solidification conditions using a Phase Field Crystal (PFC) model, enabling us to simultaneously and efficiently explore the physics of solidification and elasto-plasticity in the formalism of a single-field theory. We predict that there are two mechanisms by which dislocations emitted directly from the solid–liquid interface induce orientation gradients as well as the formation of subgrain boundaries within a single solidifying cell. We relate these mechanisms to the morphology of the moving solid–liquid interface and identify a suitable control parameter in the PFC model with which we can go between said morphologies by effectively changing the relative strength of the capillary length and kinetic coefficients of the solid–liquid interface. Thus, we are able to provide mechanistic explanations for several microstructural features (with an emphasis on orientation gradients and subgrain boundaries) observed during the rapid solidification of pure materials. We also provide a simple explanation for the formation of “jagged” subgrain boundaries, which is consistent with our experimental observations in rapidly solidified samples of Aluminum, whose mechanisms have thus far been unknown.</p
Formation of coherent nanocomposite structure in nickel-aluminum alloys synthesized far from equilibrium
No full textThe present study reports on the structure formation in thin epitaxial nickel-aluminum films (Ni1-xAlx; Al atomic fraction x up to x = 0.24 ) grown on MgO ( 001 ) substrates by magnetron sputtering. Experimental and computational data demonstrate that for x &lt; 0.11 , the films exhibit the face-centered cubic random solid-solution Ni1-xAlx structure ( γ phase). Whereas in the range x = 0.11–0.24 the γ phase coexists with the ordered L 1 2 structure ( γ ′ phase). The two phases are homogenously intermixed forming a strained coherent nanocomposite , which exhibits a single lattice parameter that expands as the Al content increases. Isothermal annealing of films containing x = 0.14 of Al, coupled with structural and nano-mechanical characterization, reveal that the coherent nanocomposite retains its overall integrity for temperatures up to 673 K , while the film hardness increases from 5.5 GPa (as deposited films) to 6 GPa . Further increase of the annealing temperature to 873 K and 1073 K causes the coherent nanocomposite to dissolve into distinct γ and γ ′ phase domains and the hardness to decrease down to values of 4 GPa . These findings confirm the metastable nature of the as-deposited thin Ni1-xAlx alloy films and underpin the effectiveness of high supersaturation/undercooling for creating non-equilibrium phases and self-organized nanostructures upon synthesis of multicomponent materials.</p
Collaborative Digitalisation and the Future of Networked Production:Exploring Decentralised Technical Intelligence in Supply Chains
No full textNetworked production, supported by advanced logistics and supply chain processes, is crucial for companies to stay competitive and foster cooperation and integration of production resources. It replaces sequential processes with dynamic arrangements, presenting challenges like managing product variants, short life cycles, and process optimisation. Agility is vital for adapting to changes and natural disasters. Decentralised Technical Intelligence (DTI) is an approach that manages complexity and incentivises integrating new technologies in planning and manufacturing. DTI involves distributed and autonomous intelligence embedded in interconnected systems, where humans and machines collaborate to achieve common goals. Humans bring unique skills like creativity and intuition, complementing AI’s capabilities. DTI relies on a multi-agent architecture, enabling trust, interoperability, and data sharing for better decision-making and efficiency. The EU knowlEdge project exemplifies this by providing AI solutions that are distributed, secure, standardised, and collaborative, integrating cognitive technologies, data analytics, IoT and more. DTI’s human-centric design fosters a different quality of intelligence, leading to greater autonomy within multi-agent systems. To realise advanced networked production, a roadmap must be implemented, focusing on a vision, value promise, and development pathway. Europe can maintain its leadership in future networked production through this approach.</p
Effect of spatially non-uniform boronization on plasma restart in WEST
No full textThe recent ITER re-baseline with the adoption of a full-W wall calls for mandatory boronization studies. ITER pulses will be inboard limited on the W tiles of the central column for several seconds during the current ramp up phase. Our first question of this study is: will it be possible to efficiently start plasma operations in a full-W ITER without any boronization? In particular, throughout the start of research operations (SRO), ITER will be equipped with an asymmetric boronization system as glow anodes in the equatorial plane will not be uniformly distributed in the toroidal direction due to the limited availability of ports. According to recent simulations, such arrangement of the glow anodes could lead to a strongly non-uniform B layer with depleted regions. Our second question hence is: should a boronization be needed to start plasma operations in ITER, would a non-uniform B layer be enough? In November 2024, we attempted to restart WEST plasma operations without boronization after a vent and after installing new bulk W limiter tiles. In about 4 days of operation corresponding to 74 pulse attempts, we reached a maximum pulse duration of 1.55 s and a maximum plasma current of 600 kA. Plasmas were cold and dense, mostly detached from the inboard limiter and dominated by light impurities with radiated power fractions close to unity. No runaway electron beams were observed but the restart without boronization was not timely. We then carried out the first WEST boronization utilizing only 3 out of 6 diborane (B2D6) inlets (half torus), to deposit a non-uniform B layer. Repeatable, 10 s long, ohmic limiter pulses were immediately achieved with radiated power fractions between 50 % and 70 %. Through a separate experiment in February 2025, we achieved matching pulses before and after a second non-uniform boronization to better characterize its effects: the radiated fraction initially dropped by 22 % with the reduction mainly occurring in the central plasma and well correlating with lower UV signals for O, N and W. These effects almost vanished by the end of the first day after the non-uniform boronization corresponding to a cumulated injected energy of 0.7 GJ.</p
How to get the most out of fungal biotechnology?
No full textDuring the past decades, the importance of fungal biotechnology in advancing a bioeconomy and a circular economy has been emphasized in both scientific literature, project proposals, awarded grants and social media. Filamentous fungi have been proven to provide sustainable solutions for various industrial applications, ranging from bioremediation and medicine to the production of food, feed, materials, chemicals and energy. This is where we are today, but where could tomorrow’s fungal biotechnology take us? How can the seemingly infinite potential of fungal biotechnology for a circular economy become unlocked? In this editorial, we will cover some of the critical aspects that we believe are essential for the success and impact of fungal biotechnology to a future bioeconomy.</p