Science and technology strategy
The European Union has released its first defense industry strategy and a new defense industry plan to strengthen Europe's combat readiness
According to the European Commission on March 5, the European Commission proposed the first European Defense Industry Strategy (EDIS) to improve the competitiveness and readiness of the European defense industry, in addition to the European Defense Industry Plan (EDIP) legislative proposal to clarify the ** of defense products and its regulatory framework. Among them, EDIS outlines the current challenges facing Europe's defense technology and industrial base and sets out a course of action for the next decade, requiring member states to achieve the following goals by 2030: at least 40% of defense equipment is procured in a collaborative manner; The total value of defence** within the EU accounts for at least 35% of the total EU defence market; More than 50% of the defense procurement budget within the EU has been achieved. EDIP involves both financial and regulatory aspects. In terms of finance, it is proposed to use the EU budget of 1.5 billion euros between 2025 and 2027 to continuously enhance the competitiveness of Europe's defense technology and industrial base; In terms of regulation, it is proposed to build a legal framework for the "European Armaments Program Structure", establish a security system for EU defense equipment, launch a defense project of common European interest, and establish a defense industry readiness committee to strengthen European defense cooperation and supervision.
The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament agreed to reach an agreement on the Cyber Solidarity Act and to amend the Cybersecurity Law
According to the European Council on March 6, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the "Cyber Solidarity Act" and agreed to amend the "Cybersecurity Law". The main elements of the Cyber Solidarity Act are to establish the EU's cybersecurity response capacity, to respond more quickly in the face of cyber threats, and to strengthen cooperation mechanisms. For example, enhancing cybersecurity threat detection and awareness; Establish a unified crisis management at the EU level and at the member state level. The main content of the amendments to the Cybersecurity Law in 2019 is to agree to the "Managed Security Services" certification scheme to enhance European cyber resilience, that is, professional cybersecurity companies will provide managed security services to European customers to strengthen cybersecurity incident prevention, detection, response and recovery.
information
U.S. lawmakers proposed a deadline for ByteDance to divest TikTok
According to Reuters news on March 5, the "U.S.-China Strategic Competition Select Committee" of the U.S. House of Representatives announced a legislative proposal requiring China's ByteDance to divest its short ** app TikTok within 165 days, otherwise TikTok will be banned from major app stores. The bill, co-sponsored by lawmakers from both parties and purporting to address so-called "** concerns" raised by TikTok, is expected to go to a preliminary vote on March 7. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a statement stating that the bill would infringe on the First Amendment rights of hundreds of millions of Americans who use TikTok for communication and expression every day. TikTok said that this legislation will trample on 1700 million Americans with First Amendment rights and depriving 5 million small businesses of the platform they need to grow and create jobs.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences will release the AI large model "Zidong Taichu 3."0" to optimize intelligent driving training
According to the news on March 5, the Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences will release the AI large model "Zidong Taichu 3." in the first half of 20240" to optimize intelligent driving trainingAt the beginning of the research and development, the "Zidong Taichu" large model took multimodal technology as the core, and used more types of data such as graph, sound, and text to carry out cross-modal unified representation and learning, and realized the "unified representation" and "mutual generation" between the three modal data of image, text, and speech. For intelligent driving, "Zidong Taichu" will greatly shorten and optimize its training process. Through large language models and multimodal capabilities, large models can replace massive manual labor and complete the automatic annotation of data such as cars, traffic lights, and road signs, greatly improving the efficiency of intelligent cars in perceiving the world.
Biology
The Chinese and American research teams proposed a new strategy of multi-scale immersion printing to achieve 3D printing hearts
According to the news of Science Network on March 4, the scientific research team of Dalian University of Technology and the University of Nevada, Reno, USA, proposed a multi-scale immersion printing strategy (MSEP) to realize the in vitro manufacturing of multi-scale human tissues and organs. This strategy is based on MSEP technology, which allows for rapid addition during printing and provides stable support at room temperature. The team used this technology to 3D print heterogeneous models of the human eye and aortic valve with millimeter-scale feature sizes, as well as full-scale models of the human heart with decimeter-scale scales. This study provides new methods and possibilities for the precision manufacturing of multi-scale human tissues and organs, and lays an important technical foundation for future tissue engineering research and artificial organ transplantation. The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The UK launches a £1 million project to boost biodiversity and water quality
According to the news of the British ** network on March 5, the British Environment Agency launched a 1 million pound Billingham Baker Valley Country Park habitat restoration project, aiming to improve wildlife and biodiversity, and promote water quality improvement. The project is part of a £30 million Tees Tidelands plan, which includes adapting flood control facilities, opening up rivers, restoring wetlands and salt marsh habitats, and improving community access. The project is funded by the National Highway Administration designation**.
IARPA seeks planning options for biomimetic and bio-supported supercapacitors
According to the IARPA official website on March 4, the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Program (IARPA) seeks biomimetic and bio-supported supercapacitors (BBS)-related planning schemes (RFI), aiming to break through the current technical barriers in power storage through biotechnology research and development. Supercapacitors have the advantages of both capacitors and rechargeable batteries, with higher energy storage per unit volume than traditional electrolytic capacitors, and can withstand more charge/discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries, which can meet both high energy and high power requirements.
GlaxoSmithKline announced the results of its Phase I clinical trial of its HIV drug, which only needs to be injected once every four months
According to Global Science *** on March 5, Viiv Healthcare, a subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), announced the results of the phase I clinical trial of its AIDS drug categravir ultra-long-acting injection cab-ula. The data showed that cab-ula only needs to be injected once every 4 months, doubling the dosing interval compared to the long-acting injectable version of categravir (CAB-LA, brand name Apretude) approved in 2021 for pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV** and HIV. It is reported that GSK plans to carry out large-scale clinical trials later this year, and plans to launch the first ultra-long-acting drug for the prevention of AIDS in 2026 and the ultra-long-acting drug for **AIDS in 2027.
Australia's National Science Agency will launch new initiatives to advance biosafety research, investment and innovation
According to the official website of CSIRO on March 5, the Australian National Science Agency (CSIRO) will launch a new initiative to promote Australian biosafety (CAB), which will use cutting-edge technology and digital systems to improve the current biosecurity system and protect native species, crops, livestock and food**. The cab initial project consists of five projects that will leverage cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, decision support platforms, genomics, robotics, drones, remote sensing, big data analytics, and next-generation biological solutions. It is expected that Australia** and related industries will invest more than US$55 million in CAB over six years to strengthen the country's biosafety defense.
Energy
Japan Railways showcased a hydrogen-fueled hybrid train running test, which is scheduled to be put into service in 2030
According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency on March 2, Japan's East Japan Railway Company (East Japan Railway) recently demonstrated the driving test of the hydrogen fuel hybrid train "Hybari". The train was jointly developed by East Japan Railway, Hitachi Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Corporation, with Toyota Motor Corporation developing a fuel cell system for the train and Hitachi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. developing a hybrid drive system (hydrogen fuel cell and rechargeable battery hybrid) for the train, and the train can travel approximately 140 kilometers with a single hydrogen refueling. It is reported that the development investment of the train is estimated to be about 34.7 million US dollars (4 billion yen), and East Japan Railway plans to put the train into service in 2030.
Ocean
Indian shipyard starts construction of the world's first green hydrogen-fueled offshore container ship
According to the international ship network on March 6, India's Cochin Shipyard (Cochin Shipyard) held a steel plate cutting ceremony for the new generation of 730TEU hydrogen fuel cell-powered offshore container ship "Samskip Seashuttle" built by the Dutch logistics company Samskip, marking the official start of the construction of the zero-emission ship. Samskip is the first of two 730TEU green hydrogen fuel cell-powered container ships ordered at the Cochin shipyard in March 2023 and will be the world's first zero-emission offshore container ship to use green hydrogen as fuel. The ship is 135 meters long and consists of 3A 2 MW hydrogen fuel cell provides power, and diesel generators are installed as backup. In zero-emission mode, each ship is expected to save around 25,000 tons of CO2 per year.
Yemen's Houthi rebels said they attacked two U.S. destroyers
According to Xinhuanet on March 6, Yemen's Houthi spokesman Yahya Sareya issued a statement on the evening of the 5th, saying that the Houthis used drones and missiles to attack two U.S. Navy destroyers sailing in the Red Sea. Sareya said the Houthis would "not hesitate to expand their attacks on all hostile targets," but did not mention the timing of the attacks and the names of the ships attacked. The U.S. side has not yet expressed its position on the incident.
The British Ministry of Defense awarded Babcock a value of 5A £600 million contract for the modernization and upgrading of nuclear submarines
According to the Defense Post on March 5, the British Ministry of Defense awarded Babcock (Babcock) a share worth 5A £600 million contract to modernise and upgrade the second Avangard-class ballistic missile submarine so that it can remain operational in the 2030s until the next generation of Dreadnought-class nuclear submarines enter service. Currently, the UK has four Avangard-class ballistic missile nuclear submarines, the first of which has been in service for 30 years. Equipped with 16 Trident (D5) strategic missiles with a maximum range of more than 10,000 kilometers and four 533mm torpedo tubes, the submarines are mainly responsible for Britain's nuclear strike deterrence.
The U.S. Navy seeks a new type of air-launched standoff missile
According to the news of national defense science and technology on March 5, the US Navy recently issued a request for information, seeking a new type of air-launched defense zone, the cost of which is 1 10 of the current cost of missiles. Called the Multi-Mission Economy Capability Effector (MACE), it is equipped with a highly sophisticated propulsion system and proven payload to support combat missions; It has an out-of-zone range comparable to the Navy's long-range anti-ship missiles, and is capable of striking targets up to 370 kilometers away; Rapid prototype development and mass production, reaching combat readiness by 2027; The unit price of each missile is expected to be less than $300,000; Compatible with the external pylons of the F A-18 fighter and the internal pylons of the F-35 fighter; Equipped with a guidance system for detecting and combating moving surface targets.
The U.S. Navy develops AI-based electronic warfare capabilities
According to the National Defense Science and Technology News on March 5, the US Navy recently awarded a contract worth $17.4 million to the US Pacific Defense Corporation to develop open electromagnetic warfare technology based on artificial intelligence and machine learning for the "Strategic and Distributed Autonomous Network-Electronic Warfare General Sensor Platform" project. The company will develop general-purpose electronic warfare sensor-actuators based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, provide distributed AI capabilities, such as autonomous network-electronic warfare effects, distributed cooperative electronic warfare, web-based intelligent user interfaces for mission planning, command and control, and situational awareness, and develop maritime electromagnetic warfare system sensors for small UAVs based on the Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Network, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Electronic Warfare Modular Open Kit Standard (CMOSS). According to the contract, the work will be completed by March 2026.
aviation
Bell Textron of the United States and Leonardo of Italy signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop tiltrotors
According to Defensenews** on March 2, the United States Bell Textron and the Italian company Leonardo signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop tiltrotor *** According to the agreement, the two companies will cooperate in NATO's next-generation rotorcraft capability concept research project. Among them, Leonardo took the lead in proposing a tiltrotor architecture scheme; Bell provides support. Previously, Bell won a contract for the U.S. Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft Project in 2022 to develop the V-280 tiltrotor aircraft; Leonardo has been developing the AW609 aircraft since 2011.
The Thai Air Force has announced a new list of purchases for new fighters and drones
According to DefenseNews** on March 3, the Thai Air Force released a list of future development visions and new acquisitions at the 2024 annual seminar, including key projects such as anti-drone systems, new fighters, and medium-range air defense systems. This *** is based on the 2020 version of the *** update, which is designed to deal with the aging and decommissioning of the Thai Air Force's equipment**. ** Note: First, the Thai Air Force intends to purchase a 30-nautical-mile (about 55.) aircraft in the 2025-2028 fiscal year6 km); Second, the Air Force plans to purchase short-range air defense systems, including artillery, missiles, and lasers**, in fiscal years 2028-2032; The third is that the second phase of the procurement of medium-range or long-range air defense systems is expected in the 2033-2037 fiscal year. In addition, the Thai Air Force plans to launch a nine-year anti-drone system procurement program in 2025 and purchase 12-14 new fighters.
Astronautics
The U.S. Space Command has identified five priorities
According to the U.S. Executive News on March 2, Stephen Whiting, commander of the U.S. Space Command, outlined the command's five priorities in the Senate Armed Services Committee. The five priorities include: first, resilience and timely operational command and control; the second is integrated space firepower and protection; the third is a modern and agile electronic warfare architecture; Fourth, enhanced battlefield situational awareness for space operations; Fifth, cyber defense of space systems. Whiting said the U.S. Space Force needs a long-term budget and funding to ensure the development of five priorities to support the U.S. in maintaining its superiority in the space domain.
The U.S. company Axient has signed a $2 million contract with Blacksky to train artificial intelligence models using its satellite data to enhance the tracking of moving targets in space
According to the Daoda think tank on March 6, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded Blacksky a $2 million contract to use its satellite imagery to train data for artificial intelligence models to enhance the ability to track moving targets in space using artificial intelligence and satellite imagery. The contract was awarded by defense contractor Axient on behalf of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Axient will leverage BlackSky's satellite imagery and data analysis platform to support research and technology demonstrations of moving objects in space.
The U.S. Space Force plans to use smaller, lower-cost satellites to enhance the capabilities of the GPS constellation
According to Spacenews** on March 4, the U.S. Space Force is reviewing the private sector's plan to use smaller and lower-cost satellites to enhance GPS systems. The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command issued a request for information in February to explore the ability of the private sector to design a more affordable GPS satellite. In addition, the U.S. Space Force expects these small satellites to operate in medium orbit and achieve interoperability with existing GPS infrastructure.
SpaceX launched the 143rd batch of 23 micro-versions of "Starlink" V20 satellites
According to Space** on March 4, the American SpaceX company used the "Falcon"-9 rocket to successfully launch the 143rd batch of 23 micro-versions of "Starlink" V2 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida0 satellites, marking the completion of 3 launch missions by SpaceX in 24 hours. After this launch, the number of "Starlink" satellites launched by SpaceX reached 5,942, including 1,205 micro-versions of "Starlink" V20 satellitesCurrently, there are about 5,549 Starlink in orbit. According to statistics, this launch is SpaceX's 22nd launch mission in 2024, and it is also a micro-version of "Starlink" V20 satellites of the 55th launch.
New materials
Brazilian researchers have developed a new material that can degrade the antibiotic levofloxacin in water
According to PhysOn March 5, it was reported that the Federal University of San Carlos (UFSCAR) in Brazil (Federal University of S O Carlos, UFSCAR) cooperated with researchers from other scientific research institutes to develop a new material that can degrade antibiotics in water. The material, an electrode containing iridium dioxide and niobium oxide membranes on a titanium substrate, successfully degrades the antibiotic levofloxacin, which is widely present in water sources. The material exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity and stability, as well as a large electrochemically active surface area. The results show that the material has a broad prospect in the treatment and removal of organic pollutants in water. The research results were published in the journal Acta Electrochemica.
Advanced manufacturing
Axient awarded Terran Orbital a $15 million contract to provide small military satellite experiment management services to the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
According to Spacenews** on March 5, the American company Axient awarded Terran Orbital a one-year contract worth $15 million to provide small military satellite experiment management services for the US Air Force Research Laboratory. Under the terms of the contract, Terran Orbital will provide the main line and associated support equipment for Axient's two payload capacity experimental satellites to support the additional payload capacity. It is reported that the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory awarded defense contractor Axient a $25 million contract in September 2023 to conduct a three-year integrated space experiment.
-end-
Consolidated by the International Institute for Technical Economics.
*Please specify. 
About the Institute
Founded in November 1985, the International Institute of Technology and Economics (IITE) is a non-profit research institution affiliated to the Development Research Center, whose main functions are to study major policy, strategic and forward-looking issues in China's economic, scientific and technological and social development, track and analyze the world's scientific and technological and economic development trends, and provide decision-making consulting services for the world's scientific and technological and economic development trends. The "Global Technology Map" is the official WeChat account of the International Institute of Technology and Economics, which is dedicated to conveying cutting-edge technology information and technological innovation insights to the public.
Address: Block A, Building 20, Xiaonanzhuang, Haidian District, Beijing.
WeChat: iite er