Sustainable development

SAP expands sovereign cloud vision with EU AI Cloud

SAP introduced the EU AI Cloud as part of a unified plan that aims to support Europe’s digital sovereignty goals.

The offering consolidates SAP’s existing sovereign cloud work under one structure and provides organisations with a way to meet strict regulatory and operational needs, ensuring full EU data residency.

Customers can select deployment options that match their level of required control, ranging from SAP’s European data centres to on-site infrastructure.

SAP is also expanding its partnership with Cohere to integrate advanced multimodal and agentic AI features through Cohere North.

Incorporation into SAP Business Technology Platform enables enterprises with data residency constraints to apply AI within core processes without undermining compliance or performance.

A collaboration that is intended to improve insight generation and decision support across a wide range of industries.

EU AI Cloud is backed by a broad ecosystem that includes Cohere, Mistral AI, OpenAI and other partners whose models and applications can be accessed through SAP BTP.

European enterprises and public bodies gain access to routes for developing and deploying AI tools while maintaining flexibility and sovereignty.

The range of options includes SAP Sovereign Cloud, customer-operated on-site deployments and, where chosen, commercial services on selected hyperscalers with sovereignty controls. The approach also includes Delos Cloud for organisations in Germany that require dedicated public sector safeguards.

SAP positions the initiative as a means to advance AI adoption in Europe, aligning with regional standards on data protection and operational independence.

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South Korea accelerates AI adoption as NVIDIA strengthens national ecosystem

NVIDIA AI Day Seoul drew more than 1,000 visitors who gathered to explore sovereign AI and the rapid progress shaping South Korea’s digital landscape.

Attendees joined workshops, technical sessions and startup showcases designed to highlight the country’s expanding ecosystem instead of focusing only on theoretical advances.

Five finalists from the Inception Grand Challenge also presented their work, reflecting the growing strength of South Korea’s startup community.

Speakers outlined how AI now supports robotics, industrial production, entertainment and public administration.

Conglomerates from South Korea, such as Samsung, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and NAVER Cloud, have intensified their investment in AI, while government agencies rely on accelerated computing to process documents and policy information at scale.

South Korea’s ecosystem continues to expand with hundreds of Inception startups, sovereign LLM initiatives and major supercomputing deployments.

Developers engaged directly with NVIDIA engineers through workshops and a Q&A area covering AI infrastructure, LLMs, robotics and automotive technologies. Plenary sessions examined agentic AI, reasoning models and the evolution of AI factories.

Partners presented advances in training efficiency, agentic systems and large-scale AI infrastructure built with NVIDIA’s platforms instead of legacy hardware.

South Korea’s next phase of development will be supported by access to 260,000 GPUs announced during the APEC Summit. Officials expect the infrastructure to accelerate startup growth, stimulate national AI priorities and attract new collaboration across research and industry.

The Seoul event marks another step in the country’s effort to reinforce its digital foundation while expanding its role in global AI innovation.

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Coinbase Ventures reveals top areas to watch in 2026

Coinbase Ventures has shared the ideas its team is most excited about for 2026, highlighting areas with high potential for innovation in crypto and blockchain. Key sectors include asset tokenisation, specialised exchanges, next-generation DeFi, and AI-driven robotics.

The firm is actively seeking teams to invest in these emerging opportunities.

Perpetual contracts on real-world assets are set to expand, enabling synthetic exposure to private companies, commodities, and macroeconomic data. Specialised exchanges and trading terminals aim to consolidate liquidity, protect market makers, and improve the prediction market user experience.

Next-gen DeFi will expand with composable perpetual markets, unsecured lending, and privacy-focused applications. These developments could redefine capital efficiency, financial infrastructure, and user confidentiality across the ecosystem.

AI and robotics are also a focus, with projects targeting advanced robotic data collection, proof-of-humanity solutions, and AI-driven innovative contract development. Coinbase Ventures emphasises the potential for these technologies to accelerate on-chain adoption and innovation.

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EU prepares tougher oversight for crypto operators

EU regulators are preparing for a significant shift in crypto oversight as new rules take effect on 1 January 2026. Crypto providers must report all customer transactions and holdings in a uniform digital format, giving tax authorities broader visibility across the bloc.

The DAC8 framework brings mandatory cross-border data sharing, a centralised operator register and unique ID numbers for each reporting entity. These measures aim to streamline supervision and enhance transparency, even though data on delisted firms must be preserved for up to twelve months.

Privacy concerns are rising as the new rules expand the travel rule for transfers above €1,000 and introduce possible ownership checks on private wallets. Combined with MiCA and upcoming AML rules, regulators gain deeper insight into user behaviour, wallet flows and platform operations.

Plans for ESMA to oversee major exchanges are facing pushback from smaller financial hubs, which are concerned about higher compliance costs and reduced competitiveness. Supporters argue that unified supervision is necessary to prevent regulatory gaps and reinforce market integrity across the EU.

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Fragmented rules complicate South Africa green tech transfer

South Africa is betting on green technology to drive development while cutting emissions. Overlapping laws and strategies create a complex, sometimes conflicting environment for investors and innovators. Analysts warn that fragmentation slows both climate action and the just transition.

Flagship measures, such as the Climate Change Act and the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, anchor long-term goals. The government aims to mobilise around R1.5 trillion, including an initial R8.5 billion in catalytic finance.

Funding targets power generation, new energy vehicles and green hydrogen, with private capital expected to follow. Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer projects showcase successful public-private partnerships that attracted significant foreign and domestic investment.

Localisation rules, special economic zones and tariff tweaks seek to build manufacturing capacity and transfer skills. Critics argue that strict content quotas and data localisation can delay projects and deter prospective investors.

Observers say harmonised policies, clearer incentives and stronger coordination across sectors are essential for effective green technology transfer. Greater collaboration between the South African government, businesses, and universities could translate promising pilots into climate-resilient industries.

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G20 leaders seal landmark declaration in Johannesburg

World leaders gathered in Johannesburg have endorsed a landmark declaration under the 2025 G20 presidency of Cyril Ramaphosa, the first time the summit was held on African soil. The agreement, adopted at the very start of the meeting rather than at its usual conclusion, reflects a sharp pivot toward issues facing the developing world, which include climate resilience, debt relief, global inequality, inclusive development, and sustainable energy.

The 122-point statement, built around the summit’s motto ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,’ calls for increased international cooperation to ensure that ‘no one is left behind.’ It places strong emphasis on supporting low-income and middle-income countries battered by climate disasters, championing debt restructuring, reforming global financial systems, and scaling up investment in clean energy and critical mineral value chains, a priority especially for resource-rich regions in Africa and the Global South.

Support was also voiced for a more inclusive global governance architecture. The declaration calls for reforms to international financial institutions, enhanced representation for emerging economies, and more equitable global supply chains. It underlines that sustainable growth and prosperity cannot come without greater economic equality, technology transfer, and fairer development partnerships.

Addressing geopolitically sensitive issues, the summit called for just, lasting peace in several conflict zones, including Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Palestinian territory, highlighting a collective interest in global stability.

The decision to adopt the declaration immediately was a bold diplomatic move. The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, speaking in his opening address, said the G20 ‘has a responsibility not to allow the integrity and credibility of the G20 to be undermined,’ stressing that ‘multilateralism can and does deliver concrete results.’

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya announced the agreement had been reached by consensus among attending nations, framing the document as a ‘revolutionary’ step for Africa and the Global South.

The adoption of the declaration occurred despite a boycott by the United States, which declined to participate in the summit due to diplomatic tensions with the host country.

Observers note that the show of unity among nearly all other G20 members signals rising frustration with unilateralism and a willingness to reassert multilateral cooperation, especially on issues where developing countries have long been sidelined.

Whether the commitments enshrined in the Johannesburg Declaration will translate into concrete action remains uncertain. Still, by elevating the concerns of poorer and climate-vulnerable nations onto the global agenda, this summit may mark a turning point for the G20’s role in shaping a fairer, more sustainable world order.

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Australia strengthens parent support for new social media age rules

Yesterday, Australia entered a new phase of its online safety framework after the introduction of the Social Media Minimum Age policy.

eSafety has established a new Parent Advisory Group to support families as the country transitions to enhanced safeguards for young people. The group held its first meeting, with the Commissioner underlining the need for practical and accessible guidance for carers.

The initiative brings together twelve organisations representing a broad cross-section of communities in Australia, including First Nations families, culturally diverse groups, parents of children with disability and households in regional areas.

Their role is to help eSafety refine its approach, so parents can navigate social platforms with greater confidence, rather than feeling unsupported during rapid regulatory change.

A group that will advise on parent engagement, offer evidence-informed insights and test updated resources such as the redeveloped Online Safety Parent Guide.

Their advice will aim to ensure materials remain relevant, inclusive and able to reach priority communities that often miss out on official communications.

Members will serve voluntarily until June 2026 and will work with eSafety to improve distribution networks and strengthen the national conversation on digital literacy. Their collective expertise is expected to shape guidance that reflects real family experiences instead of abstract policy expectations.

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Ecuador and Latin America expand skills in ethical AI with UNESCO training

UNESCO is strengthening capacities in AI ethics and regulation across Ecuador and Latin America through two newly launched courses. The initiatives aim to enhance digital governance and ensure the ethical use of AI in the region.

The first course, ‘Regulation of Artificial Intelligence: A View from and towards Latin America,’ is taking place virtually from 19 to 28 November 2025.

Organised by UNESCO’s Social and Human Sciences Sector in coordination with UNESCO-Chile and CTS Lab at FLACSO Ecuador, the programme involves 30 senior officials from key institutions, including the Ombudsman’s Office and the Superintendency for Personal Data Protection.

Participants are trained on AI ethical principles, risks, and opportunities, guided by UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.

The ‘Ethical Use of AI’ course starts next week for telecom and electoral officials. The 20-hour hybrid programme teaches officials to use UNESCO’s RAM to assess readiness and plan ethical AI strategies.

UNESCO aims to train 60 officials and strengthen AI ethics and regulatory frameworks in Ecuador and Chile. The programmes reflect a broader commitment to building inclusive, human-rights-oriented digital governance in Latin America.

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UAE strengthens digital transformation with Sharjah’s new integration committee

Sharjah is advancing its digital transformation efforts following the issuance of a new decree that established the Higher Committee for Digital Integration. The Crown Prince formed the body to strengthen oversight and guide government entities as the emirate seeks more coordinated progress.

The committee will report directly to the Executive Council and will be led by Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi from the Sharjah Digital Department.

Senior officials from several departments in the UAE will join him to enhance cooperation across the government, rather than leaving agencies to pursue separate digital plans.

Their combined expertise is expected to support stronger governance and reduce risks linked to large-scale transformation.

Its mandate covers strategic oversight, approval of key policies, alignment with national objectives and careful monitoring of digital projects.

The members will intervene when challenges arise, oversee investments and help resolve disputes so the emirate can maintain momentum instead of facing delays caused by fragmented decision-making.

Membership runs for two years, with the option of extension. The committee will continue its work until a successor group is formed and will provide regular reports on progress, challenges and proposed solutions to the Executive Council.

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AI is accelerating the transition to clean energy

AI is playing an increasingly vital role in supporting the transition to clean energy. AI helps optimise power grid operations, plan infrastructure investments, and accelerate the discovery of novel materials for energy generation, storage, and conversion.

While energy-hungry data centres can increase electricity demand, AI applications are helping reduce energy consumption across buildings, transport, and industry.

On electric grids, AI algorithms enhance efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and predict maintenance needs to prevent power outages. Grid operators can utilise AI to forecast supply and demand, optimise energy storage, and manage resources in real-time.

Technologies such as smart thermostats, electric vehicle batteries, and AI-managed data centres provide additional flexibility to balance peak demand and supply.

AI also aids long-term planning by helping utilities forecast future infrastructure needs amid growing renewable deployment and climate-related risks. Additionally, AI accelerates the discovery of materials for energy technologies.

At MIT, researchers use AI-guided experiments and robotics to design and test new materials, significantly shortening development times from decades to years.

Through research, modelling, and collaboration, AI is being applied to fusion reactor management, solar cell optimisation, and energy-efficient data centre design. MIT Energy Initiative programmes unite academics, industry, and policymakers to harness AI for a resilient and sustainable energy future.

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