Sustainable development Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Latvia gains EIB expertise to scale technology companies

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will guide Latvia on promoting technological innovation and scaling high-growth companies.

Cooperation with the Ministry of Economics and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) aims to strengthen national policies, financing tools, and support mechanisms.

EIB experts will assess existing support for businesses, research, and emerging technologies, while exploring regional alignment with Estonia and Lithuania to foster Baltic-wide initiatives.

The advisory programme includes capacity-building for public authorities and universities, ensuring practical, market-aligned solutions. Riga Technical University’s development plan will be evaluated to link investments with national innovation objectives.

Recommendations will provide a strategic roadmap to amplify the innovation ecosystem of Latvia and attract international investment.

The initiative falls under the InvestEU programme, using data-driven insights to bridge early-stage financing gaps, support scale-ups, and enhance high-growth sectors.

Latvia’s goal is to expand its tech ecosystem, increase competitiveness, and integrate with Europe’s dynamic innovation networks.

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Digital Public Goods Alliance roadmap incorporates UNESCO Open Solutions

UNESCO announced that its Open Solutions have been included in the Digital Public Goods Alliance’s roadmap as part of its membership.

Roadmap activities focus on Open Solutions supporting knowledge ecosystems and information resilience by advancing Open Educational Resources as digital public goods, mainstreaming equitable open access to knowledge ecosystems, unlocking open data for research and learning, and strengthening Free and Open Source Software, according to UNESCO.

Mariya Gabriel, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, said: ‘The inclusion of UNESCO’s Open Solutions— Open Educational Resources, Open Access, Open Data and Free and Open Source Software— in the Digital Public Goods Alliance roadmap, underscores our commitment to knowledge as a public good and to multilateral cooperation. Through these open systems, UNESCO supports Member States in expanding access to information and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.’

UNESCO said its Open Solutions support the discovery, use, and adaptation of digital public goods that help reduce structural barriers to knowledge. It added that they prioritise multilingual access, equitable participation, and the reuse of educational, scientific, and public-interest resources.

UNESCO described the Digital Public Goods Alliance as a multistakeholder initiative that supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by advancing the discovery, development, use, and investment in digital public goods. It said these include open source software, open data, open AI models, and open content that adhere to applicable laws and best practices, are designed to do no harm, and contribute to sustainable development.

Liv Marte Nordhaug, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Public Goods Alliance Secretariat, said: ‘Through its Open Solutions, UNESCO is advancing open and inclusive knowledge ecosystems while strengthening the development and adoption of digital public goods that expand access to shared, interoperable resources and enable equitable participation in the digital age.’

UNESCO also said its engagement in the alliance contributes to implementing the UN Global Digital Compact and the United Nations Pact for the Future, reaffirming that knowledge, and the digital systems that underpin it, must remain a global public good, governed in the public interest, anchored in international human rights standards, and accessible to all without discrimination.

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Kazakhstan Machinery Forum examines technology policy, industrial development and energy strategy

Representatives from Samruk-Energy JSC took part in the 13th Kazakhstan Machinery Forum, according to the company. The event brought together government and business figures to discuss the future of the machinery and manufacturing sectors.

During a sector session, Managing Director Galymbek Autalipov outlined plans to adopt and localise clean coal technologies. These are described as a strategic priority to balance energy security with environmental commitments.

Company representatives also joined discussions on procurement and industrial policy under Samruk-Kazyna JSC. Talks focused on import substitution, technological modernisation and increasing domestic value in supply chains.

The forum serves as a platform for shaping long-term industrial strategy through cooperation between state bodies and businesses, including the development of manufacturing capacity and modern technologies in Kazakhstan.

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Oracle expands AI options for US government agencies

The US government is set to gain expanded AI capabilities through new infrastructure and model deployment options in Oracle Cloud.

These developments aim to improve agencies’ ability to manage critical tasks, from situational awareness to cybersecurity, while maintaining strict security and compliance standards.

High-performance GPUs and AI models will support faster, more reliable inference and training, helping agencies respond more effectively to public needs.

The focus is on enabling secure deployment in environments with sensitive data and complex regulatory requirements, ensuring AI use aligns with public interest and safety.

Such an expansion builds on existing government AI frameworks, offering capabilities for retrieval-augmented generation, secure inference, and operational analytics.

By integrating AI in a controlled, compliant environment, US agencies can improve efficiency, decision-making, and public service delivery without compromising security.

Ultimately, these advancements by Oracle aim to ensure that government AI adoption benefits citizens directly, supporting transparency, accountability, and effective public administration in high-stakes contexts.

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EU delegation in China calls for sustainable e-commerce and safety standards

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) completed a visit to Beijing and Shanghai to address pressing e-commerce challenges affecting the European single market.

The delegation studied local business models and market supervision frameworks, engaging with Chinese regulators, e-commerce platforms, and the EU company representatives.

The discussions highlighted the surge of parcels from China, which now account for 91% of small shipments to Europe, and the resulting pressures on fair competition.

MEPs stressed that regulatory compliance must be consistent across all operators, ensuring consumer protection is not compromised by disparities in market practices or enforcement gaps.

The delegation urged representatives of e-commerce platforms to implement preventive measures, reinforcing accountability in areas such as product safety, customs compliance, and the removal of unsafe goods from the market.

MEPs underscored that these standards are essential to maintaining a sustainable and secure e-commerce environment for European citizens.

The visit, the first in eight years, demonstrated the EU’s commitment to safeguarding consumer rights, strengthening international cooperation, and ensuring digital commerce evolves in a manner that is fair, transparent, and safe for all citizens.

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MIT develops AI framework to test ethics in autonomous systems

Researchers at MIT have introduced a new framework designed to evaluate the ethical impact of autonomous systems used in high-stakes environments. The approach aims to identify cases where AI-driven decisions may be technically efficient but fail to meet fairness expectations.

Growing reliance on AI in areas such as energy distribution and traffic management has raised concerns about unintended bias. Cost-optimised systems can still disadvantage communities, especially when ethical factors are hard to measure.

The framework, known as SEED-SET, separates objective performance metrics from subjective human values. A large language model is used to simulate stakeholder preferences, enabling the system to compare scenarios and detect where outcomes diverge from ethical expectations.

Testing shows the method generates more relevant scenarios while reducing manual analysis. Findings highlight its potential to improve transparency and support more balanced decision-making before AI systems are deployed.

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EIB highlights AI as key driver of Croatia’s economic growth

The European Investment Bank and the Croatian National Bank have emphasised the strategic importance of AI in strengthening Croatia’s economic competitiveness. Discussions at a joint conference focused on accelerating AI adoption through coordinated investment, policy development and skills enhancement.

Despite strong investment activity among firms in Croatia, the uptake of advanced technologies remains limited. Only a small share of companies systematically use generative AI, with applications largely confined to internal processes, highlighting significant untapped potential for productivity gains.

Participants identified key structural barriers, including limited access to finance, shortages of skilled workers and regulatory uncertainty.

Addressing these challenges requires a combined approach that mobilises private capital, improves access to funding for smaller firms and supports the development of a more robust innovation ecosystem.

The EIB continues to play a central role in Europe’s digital transformation, with major funding initiatives aimed at scaling AI technologies and strengthening strategic infrastructure.

By aligning financial instruments with policy priorities, the initiative seeks to enhance long-term growth, resilience and integration into global value chains.

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EPO accelerates digital patent shift with paperless system by 2027

The European Patent Office (EPO) is accelerating its transition towards a fully digital patent system, with plans to implement a paperless patent-granting process by 2027.

Discussions at the latest eSACEPO meeting highlighted steady progress and broad stakeholder support for modernising patent workflows.

Electronic filing and communication are set to become the default, with paper-based processes limited to exceptional cases. The shift aims to improve efficiency and accessibility, supported by legal adjustments and the gradual introduction of structured data formats to enhance processing accuracy.

Digital tools continue to evolve, with the MyEPO platform expanding its functionality through interface upgrades, self-service features and new capabilities such as colour drawing submissions.

The rollout of DOCX filing, alongside optional PDF backups, reflects a cautious approach designed to balance innovation with reliability.

AI is increasingly integrated into patent examination processes, supporting tasks such as search and documentation.

However, the EPO maintains a human-centric model, ensuring that decision-making authority remains with patent examiners while AI enhances productivity and consistency.

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New Oracle agentic AI tool streamlines CAD to procurement workflows

Oracle has launched a new agentic AI application designed to connect engineering and procurement into a single workflow. The Design-to-Source Workspace for product lifecycle management aims to reduce delays, improve traceability, and minimise compliance risks across sourcing processes.

Traditional design-to-source models often operate sequentially, with engineering and procurement working in separate stages. Oracle’s approach replaces that structure with a continuous, coordinated loop, where AI evaluates cost, supply, and risk in real time as designs evolve.

The platform translates CAD data directly into sourcing actions, eliminating manual input and reducing errors. Automated workflows handle supplier identification, risk assessment, and request-for-quote execution, while maintaining compliance and auditability throughout the process.

Expected gains include up to 60% less manual work, significantly faster RFQ cycles, and a 20% to 30% reduction in overall sourcing timelines. Greater accuracy and improved decision-making allow teams to focus on higher-value tasks rather than repetitive coordination.

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Mozambique explores AI role in strengthening electoral systems

Electoral stakeholders in Mozambique are examining the growing role of AI in democratic and electoral processes. AI tools are increasingly used to improve voter registration, logistics, and public engagement, yielding greater efficiency and accessibility.

Concerns remain around data protection, digital security, and institutional accountability. Officials and partners stressed that while AI can strengthen electoral administration, it also introduces risks that require careful governance and clear ethical safeguards.

A technical session organised under a UNDP-supported project provided a platform for national institutions, including the electoral commission, judiciary, and police, to discuss responsible AI adoption.

Participants highlighted the need for structured preparation, training, and due diligence before wider implementation.

The discussions also underscored growing interest in coordinated AI integration, while reinforcing the central role of transparency and public trust, which remains central to any technological adoption in electoral systems.

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