The global world is in the midst of economic uncertainty, shifting workplace dynamics and vast technological change - in no other sector are leaders facing more rapid and substantial challenges than technology.

As we look ahead to a new year, recalibrating strategies and setting intentions for success will help tech leaders remain focused, as they set the tone for yet another transformative period.

New Year Resolutions for Tech Leaders in 2025

Here are four resolutions that every tech leader should consider this year:

Make AI Work For Sustainability

AI has huge potential to do good, but when it comes to sustainability, the challenge is clear: "will AI drive sustainability forward or hold it back?" asks José Parra Moyano, contributor to Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation: A Playbook from IMD and Professor of Digital Strategy at IMD Business School.

"AI has the potential to revolutionize sustainability efforts by automating complex reporting, turning vast datasets into actionable insights, and streamlining compliance." However, he cautioned that innovation comes with challenges. "AI's energy and water demands are surging; Microsoft's 30% emissions increase tied to expanding AI offerings is a wake-up call. Leaders must champion 'green AI' by prioritizing energy-efficient algorithms, renewable-powered infrastructure, and optimization across AI life cycles."

Beyond environmental impacts, Parra Moyano also addressed social implications. "AI threatens to displace jobs, particularly in vulnerable sectors. Tech leaders need to lead the charge on reskilling and upskilling initiatives, ensuring no one is left behind as industries transform."

He framed 2025 as a pivotal year: "Tech leaders must commit to a bold resolution: ensuring AI accelerates sustainability rather than undermines it. By embedding responsibility into innovation, tech leaders have the power to ensure AI becomes a transformative force for good - delivering scalable, measurable impact while building a more inclusive and sustainable future."

Keep pace with AI, but don't get swept up in new trends

Jeremy Campbell is the CEO of Black Isle Group and the creator of Nudge.ai, an AI-powered platform designed to embed organisational learning more effectively. "My own New Year resolution is to try and keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI landscape while staying rooted in our core mission: developing technology that transforms 'learning into lasting habits'."

Campbell explained his approach to maintaining this balance, warning against getting swept up in new trends: "With the pace of AI innovation accelerating, regular reflection is essential. I'll dedicate time each week to reviewing new platforms and breakthroughs to ensure our product roadmap focuses on advancements that enhance outcomes rather than just following trends."

He also highlights the value of collaboration, saying "The last six months have shown incredible leaps in AI technology, from generative AI to adaptive learning platforms. Moving forward, it's clear that no single organisation can innovate in isolation. By participating in AI groups, networking events, and industry discussions, I aim to not only learn from others but also give back and share insights. Collaboration is the key."

Go Easy On Yourself

As a tech leader, it's easy to compare your company's success to others. "While there will always be another company growing 5 or 10x what you are, I think it pays to remember that building something worthwhile takes time," says Jono Hey, co-creator of Nutmeg and Zen Educate, and author and illustrator of Big Ideas Little Pictures.

He recommends considering these words from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone: 'Timing, perseverance and ten years of trying will eventually make you seem like an overnight success.'

"This is from someone who, from the outside view, achieved rapid, outsized success in the tech world. The path to success is often misrepresented. Most companies don't become unicorns, and most suc...

The global world is in the midst of economic uncertainty, shifting workplace dynamics and vast technological change - in no other sector are leaders facing more rapid and substantial challenges than technology.

As we look ahead to a new year, recalibrating strategies and setting intentions for success will help tech leaders remain focused, as they set the tone for yet another transformative period.

New Year Resolutions for Tech Leaders in 2025

Here are four resolutions that every tech leader should consider this year:

Make AI Work For Sustainability

AI has huge potential to do good, but when it comes to sustainability, the challenge is clear: "will AI drive sustainability forward or hold it back?" asks José Parra Moyano, contributor to Leading the Sustainable Business Transformation: A Playbook from IMD and Professor of Digital Strategy at IMD Business School.

"AI has the potential to revolutionize sustainability efforts by automating complex reporting, turning vast datasets into actionable insights, and streamlining compliance." However, he cautioned that innovation comes with challenges. "AI's energy and water demands are surging; Microsoft's 30% emissions increase tied to expanding AI offerings is a wake-up call. Leaders must champion 'green AI' by prioritizing energy-efficient algorithms, renewable-powered infrastructure, and optimization across AI life cycles."

Beyond environmental impacts, Parra Moyano also addressed social implications. "AI threatens to displace jobs, particularly in vulnerable sectors. Tech leaders need to lead the charge on reskilling and upskilling initiatives, ensuring no one is left behind as industries transform."

He framed 2025 as a pivotal year: "Tech leaders must commit to a bold resolution: ensuring AI accelerates sustainability rather than undermines it. By embedding responsibility into innovation, tech leaders have the power to ensure AI becomes a transformative force for good - delivering scalable, measurable impact while building a more inclusive and sustainable future."

Keep pace with AI, but don't get swept up in new trends

Jeremy Campbell is the CEO of Black Isle Group and the creator of Nudge.ai, an AI-powered platform designed to embed organisational learning more effectively. "My own New Year resolution is to try and keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI landscape while staying rooted in our core mission: developing technology that transforms 'learning into lasting habits'."

Campbell explained his approach to maintaining this balance, warning against getting swept up in new trends: "With the pace of AI innovation accelerating, regular reflection is essential. I'll dedicate time each week to reviewing new platforms and breakthroughs to ensure our product roadmap focuses on advancements that enhance outcomes rather than just following trends."

He also highlights the value of collaboration, saying "The last six months have shown incredible leaps in AI technology, from generative AI to adaptive learning platforms. Moving forward, it's clear that no single organisation can innovate in isolation. By participating in AI groups, networking events, and industry discussions, I aim to not only learn from others but also give back and share insights. Collaboration is the key."

Go Easy On Yourself

As a tech leader, it's easy to compare your company's success to others. "While there will always be another company growing 5 or 10x what you are, I think it pays to remember that building something worthwhile takes time," says Jono Hey, co-creator of Nutmeg and Zen Educate, and author and illustrator of Big Ideas Little Pictures.

He recommends considering these words from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone: 'Timing, perseverance and ten years of trying will eventually make you seem like an overnight success.'

"This is from someone who, from the outside view, achieved rapid, outsized success in the tech world. The path to success is often misrepresented. Most companies don't become unicorns, and most suc...

Munster Technological University (MTU), in collaboration with H&MV Engineering who delivers High Voltage design, engineering and construction services with a specialised focus in data centres, renewables, utility, commercial and industrial sectors and ABB, a global technology leader in electrification and automation, has launched a Digital Substation in the Power Academy Lab of MTU's Bishopstown campus.

The investment of the Digital Substation is part of H&MV Engineering's and ABB limited sponsorship, worth more than €200,000, aims to further develop the training and research capacity of Ireland's grid infrastructure.

The introduction of Digital Substations as part of Ireland's grid infrastructure upgrade is essential for the state to meet its energy transition goals, which targets becoming carbon neutral by mid-century with an interim target of 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 through the Climate Action Plan 2023. (Cap2024). Ireland's power system has achieved 75% integration of renewable energy sources and plans to increase this to 95% by 2030, highlighting the importance of state-of-the-art grid technologies.

Irish electricity demand is also increasing rapidly with increased population, industry and data centre consumption and the transition to electric heating and transport. Total demand is projected to rise from 33 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2022 to 56 TWh by 2030 and 80TWh in 2050. To support this growth the electricity grid requires significant upgrades with a growing need for skilled professionals in designing, developing, and operating modern grid systems.

The introduction of the Digital Substation at MTU as part of a joint ABB/H&MV investment positions MTU to upskill industry professionals from all sectors of the power engineering sector, including generation, distribution, transmission, and consumption to design, develop, commission, and operate the grid infrastructure required for the country's future development.

Commenting on the investment, Dr Martin Hill, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, stated that the industry support came at a critical time as the digital technologies in modern substation design required engineers to span both electronic, communication and electrical engineering domains at a level not previously supported in university programmes. This equipment allows students to work in an industry-standard environment with the current and future generations of smart grid protection equipment.

MTU will demonstrate the panel operation with practical workshops on digital substation testing at the national PowerGRID 2025 conference in MTU in January 2025. www.powergrid.ie. The deadline for submission for MTU's "Smart Sustainable Power Engineering" course is January 25th, 2025. For more information, visit www.mtu.ie/courses/cresspe9/

If there is anything not quite orthodox, it is the career path that Mark Ryland has taken. From writing programs in COBOL as a child, to studying philosophy and law, to becoming one of the leading voices in cybersecurity at AWS, his is a story of unrelenting curiosity, adaptability, and boundless creativity. It is just this combination of technical expertise and imaginative problem-solving that has made him a key figure in cloud security, driving innovation and trust in a rapidly changing technological environment.

A Journey from Philosophy to Technology

Ryland became interested in computers early on. Influenced by his older brother, he learned to program in COBOL at a time when punch cards dominated the scene. His academic interests took him into philosophy and law, fields quite distant from technology. Ryland reflects on this eclectic journey:

Mark Ryland AWS

"I thought philosophy and law were impractical, but I loved them. I believed the rest would work itself out."

It was during law school that the personal computing revolution got underway. Ryland dove back into programming as a hobbyist, tinkering with early PCs and teaching himself through books. His technical expertise grew alongside his legal career, eventually leading him to an unexpected crossroads: a job offer from Microsoft.

"I joined Microsoft at 31 with no formal technical training," he recalls. "My experience as a lawyer and a hobbyist programmer gave me a unique perspective. Logic, whether in law or technology, works in similar ways."

From Law to Leadership in Tech

At Microsoft, Ryland took on a technical role in a sales organization - a precursor to today's solutions architect function. His lack of formal technical credentials was an asset rather than a liability. He engaged in Socratic dialogues with network engineers, asking probing questions that revealed fundamental truths about systems design.

"I'd ask, 'Why isn't this protocol routable?' and force them to articulate the essence of the issue," he says. "This process not only helped me learn but also sharpened their understanding."

This method of learning by questioning and collaboration became a hallmark of Ryland's approach, blending intellectual rigor with hands-on problem-solving.

Ryland joined AWS in 2011 after a successful tenure at Microsoft. He was first involved in public sector solutions architecture, which involved the adoption of cloud technology by governments. It was here that he became a security expert-not out of choice but out of necessity.

"All they wanted to talk about was security," he says. "I realized that for governments, security wasn't just a feature; it was the foundation."

The security factor in heavy detail shaped Ryland's philosophy. He became an ardent advocate for the principle that security has to be built into the systems from the ground up. His work entailed not only technical safeguards but the teaching of governments and organizations why the cloud, though misconceived, was a safer choice.

"The term 'public cloud' is misleading," he says. "It sounds risky, but actually, AWS environments are isolated by default. You can't access anything unless you explicitly allow it. That foundational isolation builds trust."

Security by Design: A Philosophy of Anticipation

For Ryland, security is as much about imagination as it is about technical controls. He says effective security requires a mindset of anticipation of threats, understanding patterns, and thinking like both an attacker and a defender.

"Security isn't just about locking the door. It's about recognizing the windows, the hidden paths, the patterns that might repeat elsewhere," he says with emphasis.

This proactive mindset has informed AWS's approach to security. From multi-layered isolation techniques to designing infrastructure that puts security over efficiency, Ryland has been at the heart of developing these strategies.

"We made decisions early on to avoid risks others might consider acceptable. For example, we d...

HLB Ireland, an accountancy, tax and advisory firm, has highlighted significant opportunities for the tech sector under the R&D tax credit scheme. Bruce Stanley, Tax Partner at HLB Ireland, points to the latest data showing a substantial increase in R&D investments, with total R&D expenditure reaching €4.688 billion or 4,688 companies in 2022. This reflects robust engagement from tech companies.

"The R&D tax credit is a useful incentive for businesses to invest in innovative projects," says Bruce. With 588 tech companies claiming €135 million in 2022, the sector stands out as a beneficiary of this scheme, particularly in driving advancements in Information & Communication.

As the December 31 deadline approaches, HLB Ireland urges tech companies to take advantage of these benefits. "This is a prime time to leverage the R&D tax credit," Bruce adds. "Especially as the tech sector continues to show dynamic growth and innovation, contributing significantly to Ireland's economy."

HLB Ireland assists tech companies in navigating the complexities of claiming R&D tax credits. For more information or to make a claim, please contact Bruce Stanley, Tax Partner HLB Ireland [email protected].

Lack of awareness around the opportunities STEM holds for their future careers is students' number one barrier to entry into the industry.

This is according to a survey of more than 150 second-level students.

Respondents to the STEM South West survey cited their top three possible reasons for not pursuing or considering a career in STEM:

Lack of Knowledge About STEM Careers - 29%

Perception of Difficulty - 21%

Uncertainty About Ability to Handle STEM Subjects - 20%

The experts at STEM South West, an industry-led STEM cluster which promotes and nurtures STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) throughout the South West region of Ireland, say these insights underline the need for better communication around STEM opportunities and better support systems to build confidence and engagement among students.

Mary Good, Chair of STEM South West, spoke of the significance of empowering the next generation,

"Ireland is at a pivotal moment in ensuring its place as a global leader in tech, pharma, MedTech, engineering, and biosciences. For students, STEM is not just a pathway to incredible careers but a chance to contribute to solving the world's most urgent problems - from healthcare and climate change to housing and energy. By inspiring and equipping today's students with the skills to innovate and lead, we can secure a brighter future for all.

Ireland's current STEM industry base and the companies that choose to locate here depend on a robust talent pipeline. Together, we must ensure our students are on board.

We must make students aware of the vast possibilities that lie ahead if they choose a career in STEM. The pathways available are diverse and abundant, ranging from cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence and robotics to groundbreaking work in healthcare and environmental science. By highlighting these opportunities, we can inspire students to envision themselves as the innovators and problem-solvers of tomorrow."

STEM Education: The Key to Ireland's Future Success

To maintain its position as a global hub for innovation, STEM Southwest estimates that at least 35% of Ireland's 964,000 primary and secondary students will need to pursue STEM education. Current participation trends at the third level show approximately 30% of students studying STEM, with female participation growing steadily at 40% of STEM students.

Ms. Good concluded,

"Educating students about the myriads of career options in STEM not only broadens their horizons but also equips them with the knowledge and confidence to pursue these fields. Our goal is to ensure that every student understands the potential impact they can have on the world through a STEM career and to provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed."

We look at the myFirst CareBuds for children, see more about their products here.

myFirst CareBuds for children, reviewed

Our testers were interested to review and play around with these earbuds, because, as often as possible, they are all using their own ones anyway. They liked the look and feel of the them, the colours were felt to be a good choice for the intended age group. The intended safety features also made sense as you need the child to still be aware of the world around them, though, overall, it might just make sense that these are not to even be used when outdoors.

There are still some good use cases, when you are on noisy trips, ships, and you could do with some noise reduction. That said there are new studies coming out suggesting that, as is often the case, the technology may have got ahead of the health studies for earbuds in general, and that there may need to be a rethinking of wider usage levels for the inner ear and devices inserted into it.

The 85db max volume setting seems like a good idea, because we all know children can't be trusted not to ramp up the volume to the max. Therefore it is good to know that the max level is not one that is going to damage their hearing. The battery life is good, and the recharging time fast too, price also works for the age group who will be using it. Overall it was a positive thumbs up from our testers, a good good stocking filler for those kids that have been good enough!

More about the True Wireless Stereo Earbuds For Children

myFirst CareBuds

Introducing myFirst CareBuds - earbuds designed specifically for kids! The myFirst CareBuds feature a maximum volume of 85db, ensuring that kids won't be able to turn up the volume to potentially harmful levels. They also come with various size ear tips, ensuring a comfortable fit for kids of all ages.

But that's not all - myFirst CareBuds also have a unique feature that automatically switches them to transparency mode when the earbuds detect body movement. This is a crucial safety feature for kids, as it allows them to hear their surroundings while walking on the road or engaging in other activities

Specifications

Each Earbud

• Dimension: 19*19*36.65mm

• Net weight: 5g, 0.17oz

• Battery capacity: 45 mAh

• Battery life: 6 hours Charging Case

• Dimension: 56*50*26mm

• Net weight: 45g, 1.60oz

• Battery capacity: 400 mAh

• Battery life: 25 hours

myFirst CareBuds also have a unique feature that automatically

switches them to transparency mode when the earbuds detect body movement.

This is a crucial safety feature for kids, as it allows them to hear their surroundings

while walking on the road or engaging in other activities.

85dB Max Volume

The myFirst CareBuds are designed with the safety of young children in mind. With a maximum volume of 85db, these earbuds are specifically engineered to ensure that kids won't be able to turn up the volume to potentially harmful levels.

The myFirst CareBuds are the perfect combination of fun and safety for kids.

This remarkable TWS comes complete with various eartip options for a comfortable fit, ensuring an immersive sound journey tailored to their needs. Specially designed for kids aged 3 to 12 years old, myFirst CareBuds offers a one-of-a-kind listening adventure that's secure, comfortable, and tailored to young explorers.

See more reviews here.

Guest post by Abbe Borg. He has published articles at oneesports.gg as contributor and is a crypto enthusiast as well.

The CHILLGUY token, inspired by the "Just a Chill Guy" meme, has experienced significant volatility in recent days. As of December 16, 2024, the token is trading at approximately $0.329, reflecting a 6.62% decline over the past 24 hours.

CHILLGUY Token: A Harrowing Ride

Recent Developments

On December 13, 2024, the token's value plummeted by over 45% within 30 minutes following revelations that the project lacked the necessary intellectual property rights to the original "Chill Guy" meme.

The situation was further complicated when the creator of the meme, Philip Banks, announced via his X (formerly Twitter) account that he had granted official licensing rights to the CHILLGUY token team. However, this announcement was later revealed to be the result of a hack, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the token's association with the meme.

Market Performance

Since its launch on November 15, 2024, CHILLGUY's market capitalization surged from $10 million to over $461 million, driven by the growing popularity of meme coins.

However, the recent controversies have led to a sharp decline in value, with the token currently trading at approximately $0.329.

Technical Analysis

As of December 16, 2024, technical indicators for CHILLGUY suggest a bearish trend:

Moving Averages (MAs): The majority of MAs indicate a 'Sell' signal, reflecting downward momentum.

Oscillators: Most oscillators are neutral, with some signaling 'Sell,' suggesting potential continued price depreciation.

These indicators suggest that CHILLGUY may face further downward pressure in the short term.

Community Sentiment

The CHILLGUY token's trajectory underscores the volatile nature of meme coins, which often experience rapid price fluctuations influenced by social media trends and community sentiment. The recent events have led to increased skepticism among investors, highlighting the importance of due diligence and caution when engaging with such assets.

Conclusion

The CHILLGUY token's recent rise and fall serve as a reminder of the speculative nature of meme coins. Investors should remain vigilant and informed, especially in light of the recent controversies surrounding the token's legitimacy and intellectual property rights.

Abbe Borg

Abbe Borg, best known as "DieHardBirdie," is a Swedish gamer considered as the 'world's oldest esports champion' after winning the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) senior world championship at the 2019 DreamHack with his team, the Silver Snipers, who are all older than 65 years old. Now at 80 years old, he has successfully evolved from a professional artist for more than 40 years to become the world's oldest esports champ with only a few years of gaming under his belt.

Abbe, who along with his former teammates has appeared in documentaries, talk shows, and on gaming fan sites, earned his nickname Birdie due to his talent for mimicking birds' whistling sounds for decades which he now makes when he takes aim in a game. He has published articles at oneesports.gg as contributor and is a crypto enthusiast as well. He can be reached at [email protected]

See more stories here.

A new European research report reveals that artificial intelligence is on track to overhaul businesses in 2025, with over two-thirds expected to integrate AI-powered software by the end of next year.

While AI is set to redefine many industries in the year ahead, not all sectors and markets are equally positioned to benefit, the State of European BusinessTech 2024 report found.

It paints a nuanced picture of European BusinessTech, highlighting both transformative potential and emerging disparities expected in 2025.

Contrary to fears that AI might disrupt the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, the report highlights that AI is supercharging SaaS growth rather than replacing it.

The report found that businesses are increasingly turning to SaaS solutions enhanced with AI capabilities, driving a surge in spending. In 2024 alone, investment in SaaS and supporting tech infrastructure grew by over 20%, while spending on Generative AI infrastructure surged by 30%.

The report highlights that workforce disparities are becoming more pronounced in Europe with automation advancing rapidly in desk-based roles, such as sectors like tax, accounting, HR and legal seeing AI adoption rates as high as 85%.

The legal and regulatory sectors have seen AI adoption jump from 17% to 79% in just two years, signaling a dramatic shift in how businesses approach compliance and legal frameworks.

However, 80% of Europe's workers - those in deskless roles such as medical, industrial, hospitality and retail sectors - are being largely left behind, according to the report. These workers receive only 1% of enterprise software funding, highlighting a critical gap in digital transformation efforts.

This divide is further exacerbated by broader funding trends identified in the report.

While mid market M&A activity remains strong, particularly for deals under €500 million, the lack of significant VC-backed exits above this threshold since 2022 suggests that capital flows are not aligning with the scale required for systemic transformation.

Combined with a 26% drop in business technology funding across Europe in the first half of 2024, these challenges could slow the region's progress toward a more inclusive AI-powered economy, the report found.

The European funding picture

The report, authored by European growth capital firm Finch Capital, reveals largely dynamic BusinessTech funding across Europe, with the UK firmly retaining its position as the leading hub.

The UK accounted for more than 50% of all capital raised in Europe, driven by record-breaking investment in AI for customer support, analytics and process automation.

Over £6 billion was invested in UK data centres last year to prepare for the AI era, and BusinessTech funding surged by 83% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, reaching €2.9 billion compared to €1.6 billion in the same period last year.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, boasts a thriving startup ecosystem centred in Amsterdam, now home to a record 4,000 active startups. Despite this growth, BusinessTech funding in the Netherlands declined by 23% year-on-year for the first half of 2024, signalling challenges in maintaining investment momentum.

In contrast, Ireland experienced exceptional growth, with BusinessTech funding increasing by 123% year-on-year to €49 million. The largest deal in the sector came from AccountsIQ, which raised €60 million in a Series C round.

France is positioning itself as a leader in AI innovation with ambitious programmes like Mistrall AI. BusinessTech funding in the country surged by 238% in the first half of 2024 to €1.2 billion, up from €343 million during the same period last year.

Spain also saw significant growth, driven by a strong focus on cloud infrastructure investments. Amazon's announcement of a €15.7 billion investment in the country over the next decade aligns with a 227% increase in BusinessTech funding to €170 million, compared to €52 million in H1 2023.

However, not all markets experienced growth. Germany ...

A new European research report reveals that artificial intelligence is on track to overhaul businesses in 2025, with over two-thirds expected to integrate AI-powered software by the end of next year.

While AI is set to redefine many industries in the year ahead, not all sectors and markets are equally positioned to benefit, the State of European BusinessTech 2024 report found.

It paints a nuanced picture of European BusinessTech, highlighting both transformative potential and emerging disparities expected in 2025.

Contrary to fears that AI might disrupt the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, the report highlights that AI is supercharging SaaS growth rather than replacing it.

The report found that businesses are increasingly turning to SaaS solutions enhanced with AI capabilities, driving a surge in spending. In 2024 alone, investment in SaaS and supporting tech infrastructure grew by over 20%, while spending on Generative AI infrastructure surged by 30%.

The report highlights that workforce disparities are becoming more pronounced in Europe with automation advancing rapidly in desk-based roles, such as sectors like tax, accounting, HR and legal seeing AI adoption rates as high as 85%.

The legal and regulatory sectors have seen AI adoption jump from 17% to 79% in just two years, signaling a dramatic shift in how businesses approach compliance and legal frameworks.

However, 80% of Europe's workers - those in deskless roles such as medical, industrial, hospitality and retail sectors - are being largely left behind, according to the report. These workers receive only 1% of enterprise software funding, highlighting a critical gap in digital transformation efforts.

This divide is further exacerbated by broader funding trends identified in the report.

While mid market M&A activity remains strong, particularly for deals under €500 million, the lack of significant VC-backed exits above this threshold since 2022 suggests that capital flows are not aligning with the scale required for systemic transformation.

Combined with a 26% drop in business technology funding across Europe in the first half of 2024, these challenges could slow the region's progress toward a more inclusive AI-powered economy, the report found.

The European funding picture

The report, authored by European growth capital firm Finch Capital, reveals largely dynamic BusinessTech funding across Europe, with the UK firmly retaining its position as the leading hub.

The UK accounted for more than 50% of all capital raised in Europe, driven by record-breaking investment in AI for customer support, analytics and process automation.

Over £6 billion was invested in UK data centres last year to prepare for the AI era, and BusinessTech funding surged by 83% year-on-year in the first half of 2024, reaching €2.9 billion compared to €1.6 billion in the same period last year.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, boasts a thriving startup ecosystem centred in Amsterdam, now home to a record 4,000 active startups. Despite this growth, BusinessTech funding in the Netherlands declined by 23% year-on-year for the first half of 2024, signalling challenges in maintaining investment momentum.

In contrast, Ireland experienced exceptional growth, with BusinessTech funding increasing by 123% year-on-year to €49 million. The largest deal in the sector came from AccountsIQ, which raised €60 million in a Series C round.

France is positioning itself as a leader in AI innovation with ambitious programmes like Mistrall AI. BusinessTech funding in the country surged by 238% in the first half of 2024 to €1.2 billion, up from €343 million during the same period last year.

Spain also saw significant growth, driven by a strong focus on cloud infrastructure investments. Amazon's announcement of a €15.7 billion investment in the country over the next decade aligns with a 227% increase in BusinessTech funding to €170 million, compared to €52 million in H1 2023.

However, not all markets experienced growth. Germany ...