SCI's Daily Digest: your one-stop shop for all of the day's news in science based industry

In today's Daily Digest, by 2030 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold must be electric, worldwide employment in renewable energy reached 13.7 million in 2022, and more.

Policy

The UK government has said that by 2030 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold must be electric. These figures will rise to 100% by 2035. The government said that it has provided £2 billion to support the move to electric cars and that this latest announcement will give car manufacturers clarity.

Heads of the European Investment Bank, the European Central Bank, and the International Energy Agency, have called on leaders in government, finance, and industry across Europe to deliver a clean energy transition that is just and swift to maintain the blocs competitiveness.

Agrisciences

The UK government is providing £12.5 million in funding to support 19 projects which are developing robotics and automation to boost productivity, food security and sustainable farming practices. The projects include the development of a system to accurately predict and enhance strawberry yields.

Innovation

Nine new regional partnerships between universities and business have been established in the UK which are focused on industry-driven challenges and developing new technologies. Areas of research include sustainable 100% biomass-derived flexible packaging that will be compatible with commercial, high-speed production packaging lines.

The UK’s Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is providing funding of £18 million to four research teams to tackle what are described as ‘bold challenges at the frontiers of bioscience…’ Areas of research include: elucidating the rules that cover microbial communities.

Australia’s Group of Eight, and the UK’s Russell Group Universities have signed an: Australia-UK Strategic Alliance on Innovation which as aimed at increasing two-way research collaboration and building trusted partnership in areas of sensitive research.

Energy

South Africa’s Minister for Higher Education, Science and Innovation is to visit Japan as part of the South Africa’s plan to build a hydrogen economy. The meetings will promote collaboration, investment and innovation, in support of the deployment of hydrogen at scale, which is set out in the country’s roadmap for hydrogen.

Careers

According to research from IRENA and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) worldwide employment in renewable energy reached 13.7 million in 2022, an increase of one million since 2021. The research also found the renewable is attracting increasing investment.