Pure Telecom, Ireland's high-speed broadband and telecoms provider, has announced the results of its inaugural Connected Lives survey, which found the average adult in Ireland is in five active instant messaging groups. The research found that the majority of people (79%) have at least one instant messaging group muted.

The nationally representative survey of 1,004 adults in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom and explored people's communications with others. The survey found that 96% of people are in at least one instant messaging group and the majority of us are not afraid to hit the 'mute' button.

Pure Telecom's research found that 38% of those who are in instant messaging groups have a family group silenced, while the same proportion are muting a friends group. Nearly a quarter (24%) said that they have muted their work group, while 16% have turned off notifications for a sport or fitness group. Others being muted are neighbourhood groups (15%), hobby groups (13%), parents' groups (13%) and family groups of a spouse or partner (13%).

The research also delved into how often people are communicating with each other - both over the phone and digitally, including via instant message, video call, social media and email. More than two-thirds (67%) of adults who are in a relationship reported having a phone conversation with their other half every day, while 58% said that they have digital communications with them daily.

Meanwhile, 40% of adults who can speak to their mother have phone calls with her every day - with women being far more likely than men to do this - while 33% communicate with them digitally every day. That compares to a considerably lower 25% who speak to their father on the phone every day, or 23% who exchange daily digital communications with their dad. Adults in Ireland are therefore 60% more likely to speak to their mum on the phone every day than they are to their dad.

Pure Telecom's research found that when it comes to all immediate family members, adults in Ireland prefer to have a chat on the phone. However, the survey found the opposite to be the case for friends, with 23% of people saying they have phone conversations with their friends every day, compared to 31% who have communicate digitally.

Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: "Our research shows that we are a connected, sociable population and most of us have found a balance between communicating with loved ones over the phone and using the range of digital options that are at our fingertips. And, of course, the 'Irish Mammy' is right up there at the top - second only to people's other halves - as the person who people speak to the most.

"The key with digital technologies is to find the balance that works for you and clearly, the majority are finding the 'mute' button as one way to achieve this and get a moment's peace! At Pure Telecom, we are proud to be able to connect people no matter how they choose to communicate - as and when they want."

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CleverCards, the global digital payments platform, is set to embark on a new phase of growth with the announcement that it has opened 350,000 accounts, coupled with the creation of 35 positions at its head office in Sandyford, Dublin. The expansion, announced during a visit with Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, marks a significant milestone for the company, reinforcing its commitment to advancing digital payments and contributing to Ireland's thriving fintech ecosystem.

CleverCards is an Irish fintech company that launched their payments platform in 2022. Over 5,000 Irish businesses have sent CleverCards digital Mastercards to their employees and customers for tax-free benefits, payouts, and expenses.

CleverCards Mastercard limits, expiry dates and spend category restrictions can be configured by employers, with real-time spend visibility, giving them complete control over business expenses paid by employees online or in-store worldwide using Apple Pay or Google Pay.

Speaking on the announcement, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney says: "In a testament to Ireland's thriving startup ecosystem, success stories like CleverCards continue to inspire growth. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland, invested 27 million in Irish start-ups, supporting a total of 161 companies in 2022. Today's announcement that CleverCards will undergo further expansion, is very welcome.

Karen Cohalan at Enterprise Ireland says: "Enterprise Ireland welcomes this expansion by CleverCards. The growth of the company over the past 3 years has been driven by its agility and innovation. We look forward to working with Kealan and his expanded team in the future to support CleverCards' ambitious plans to compete and win in international markets while continuing to create jobs here in Ireland."

CleverCards Chief Executive and Founder, Kealan Lennon says: "I am particularly proud of what we have achieved here at CleverCards over the past year. From facilitating tax-free benefits for hundreds of thousands of employees to streamlining the administration processes of over 5,000 businesses across Ireland, CleverCards continues to embody the essence of innovation and financial empowerment.

"I'd like to thank the Government for its support, enabling employers to provide CleverCards to employees tax-free under the Small Benefit Exemption. I look forward to further successes, pushing the boundaries of digital innovation and making Ireland a global fintech leader."

The 1,000 tax-free non-cash benefit, designed to be versatile, contributes to the circular Irish economy. CleverCards, a pioneer in facilitating seamless transactions, is recognised for its role in getting money into the hands of employees and supporting local Irish businesses.

CleverCards are entirely digital and accepted everywhere online and in-store using Apple or Google Pay, with no tap limits.

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Guest post by Mike McGrath, Co-Founder and CEO of Kwayga.com

Recently at Kwayga.com we hosted our final supermarket buying webinar of 2023 under the theme of "Reducing Supplier Sourcing Times by 40% Using AI + Smart Technology", and we were delighted to gather an audience from 17 European countries to learn about this intriguing topic. We have had lots of enquiries in the past 6 months from pioneering supermarket buyers to understand how next-generation technologies can offer competitive advantages to their stores, so we collated best practices from the industry to share with this avid audience.

From the outset, it is important to note that Artificial Intelligence (aka AI) has many supporters and optimists but some pessimists have their concerns too. I am in the AI fan club and I personally believe that if half of the AI claims and promises are true, then AI will transform every aspect of our lives over the next decade. Jeff Bezos has described AI as a renaissance, outlining that "we are at the beginning of a golden age.

We're now solving problems with machine learning and artificial intelligence that were in the realm of science fiction in the past and we're only scratching the surface of what's possible". More profoundly, Sundar Pichai at Google has said that "artificial intelligence could be the most profound technology in human history, more profound than fire and electricity".

When we speak of AI, we often focus on the future but it is important to remember that AI has been around for 40 years. In the eighties, computers were able to translate languages and speak with humans. In 1997, the first PR stunt from an AI perspective was from IBM's deep blue computer when it beat the world chess champion, Garry Kasparov. That was technology at its best at the time, but AI has enhanced significantly since then. AI research and development have been supercharged by improvements in computer hardware, and it comes down to the old reliable Moore's law, which indicates that the processing speed of computers will double every two years.

So on one hand we have this amazingly powerful and intelligent technology, while on the other we have traditional sourcing methods at most supermarket chains. This article will outline how AI is being applied to supplier sourcing and procurement, to save smart buyers time, money and hassle when sourcing, vetting and onboarding great new suppliers.

Through Kwayga and similar systems, supermarket buyers are using smart technology to source the right supplier at the right time for every sourcing request. Whether a grocery category has a supply chain issue or a market opportunity, the smartest buyers are now using smart technology to reduce sourcing times from months to minutes.

AI Definitions

In terms of AI, there is some confusion about the varying descriptions in the market across machine learning, deep learning and RPA. Therefore, from a procurement perspective, any software solution that includes self-learning within the technology and smart algorithms can be considered AI. AI is defined as any algorithm that exhibits any behaviour that is considered intelligent. AI is a branch of computer science and works as an umbrella term for technologies that exhibit human-like behaviour.

These include machine learning (ML). ML are algorithms that detect patterns in data and they can automatically improve through experience. Taking this a step further, Deep Learning is a class of machine learning but its methods are much more advanced than ML.

They use artificial and neural networks that progressively improve our ability to perform a task. A basic example of this is that regular machine learning is like drawing a stick figure. However, when it comes to deep learning, it's like a full- painting that you see in an art gallery. Deep Learning is significantly more powerful and creative than basic machine learning.

Finally, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has been around for a very long time and RPA's are algorithm...

Guest post by Paul Anderson-Walsh is the CEO and co-founder of The Centre for Inclusive Leadership.

"Where are you from? No, where are you really from…?"

Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is a feeling. When people feel that they are included, without the need to be inauthentic, the key psychological need for belongingness - that is to feel a part of the whole - is met. When absent, it signals to us that we are apart from the whole or, that we can only show-up here in part in this whole.

Why Diversity is so important

The reason for the preamble is that in our experience, most organisations are not populated by bad actors, they are staffed by busy people. Busyness begets thoughtlessness, and thoughtlessness is the enemy of inclusion. Inclusive behaviours are born out of thoughtfulness. Typically, what we seek to do is to help people transition from unconscious-unintentional-exclusion to conscious-intentional-inclusion. One success indicator is a reduction in the incidences of micro-aggressions.

Micro-aggressions are subtle, yet harmful snubs, insults, or banter, which can be verbal or non-verbal. They are often glossed over as being innocent and innocuous interactions. Micro-aggressions are typically directed, without conscious awareness, toward marginalised individuals or groups. They occur in everyday interactions with individuals who may have no harmful intentions but may not realise the impact of their behaviour.

For example, someone asks a person of colour "Where are you from?" to the member of the in-group the question is innocuous, but to the person in the out-group the dog-whistling message is loud and clear: You are a foreigner. For many people that renders them feeling homeless at home, aliens in their own land. Or how about the backhanded compliment, "You are so articulate" to the out-grouper, its message is an expression of surprise, because sub-consciously the speaker doesn't ascribe intelligence to people like them (pick any 'them' for yourself).

Research by the Gottman Institute suggests it takes five positive interactions (micro-affirmations) to overcome every negative interaction. Whoever came up with the idiom 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me' may like to reflect on that. As the Proverbs say, "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Pr. 18:21. Micro-aggressions can cause psychological harm and create a hostile and unwelcoming environment. Micro-affirmations are a balm to us all but especially to people from marginalised groups.

So, think, what do you want the words you are about to say to do to the person(s) who is going to hear them? If we took a moment to think about our intention, we could avoid any unintended impact. Micro-aggressions not only leave people feeling psychologically unsafe, to quote Jeremy D. Franklin, "they impair performance in a multitude of settings by sapping the psychic and spiritual energy of recipients creating inequities."

In an inclusive culture, inclusion is for all, by us all. Each of us has a responsibility to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. By becoming more aware of micro-aggressions and actively working to minimise their occurrence, we can build a more inclusive and productive workplace. Remember, the journey towards inclusivity is continuous, and every step taken is a step towards a better work environment for all.

Paul Anderson-Walsh is the CEO and co-founder of The Centre for Inclusive Leadership, who are specialists in inclusive leadership development, organisational behaviour and executive coaching. TCfIL work with organisations to enable them to create working environments in which people can be their best self and do their best work.

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Greentech HQ, the Southeast Sustainability Innovation Hub, is proud to announce its partnership with the NDRC Sustainability Founder Weekend, powered by the 2050 Ecosystem. This collaboration signifies a remarkable milestone in Ireland's journey towards fostering sustainability-focused start-ups. The event, the first of its type in Ireland, is set to unfold over a weekend in the first quarter of 2024, and promises to bring together 50 to 80 participants, igniting collaboration and innovation to tackle a diverse range of sustainability challenges.

Enniscorthy Hosts NDRC, Greentech Sustainability Weekend

The NDRC Sustainability Founder Weekend, hosted at Greentech HQ, stands as a shining example of our commitment to nurturing sustainability-focused start-ups in Ireland. Over the course of this dynamic weekend, a gathering of between 50 to 80 participants will collaborate on projects that hold the potential to revolutionize various aspects of sustainability. Attendees are welcome to come armed with their own ideas or take on exciting challenges presented at the event.

Throughout this intensive weekend, teams will receive invaluable mentorship from accomplished entrepreneurs and sustainability visionaries hailing from across Ireland. With an increasing number of sustainability-focused funds emerging in the country and a burgeoning demand for talent, this edition of NDRC's Founder Weekend aims to empower and propel the growth of sustainability-focused start-ups. Participants can come with ideas they want to work on or they will be provided with challenges.

Ed Murphy, CEO of GreenTechHQ "Today's partnership with NDRC's Sustainability Founder Weekend, powered by the 2050 Ecosystem, marks a pivotal moment in our mission at GreenTechHQ. It signifies our unwavering commitment to nurturing sustainability-focused start-ups in Ireland. This hackathon is not just an event; it's a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and real change.

We believe that by bringing together bright minds to tackle sustainability challenges head-on, we are shaping a greener, more sustainable future for Ireland and beyond. At GreenTechHQ, we are thrilled to be at the heart of this transformation, empowering entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into powerful solutions for a better tomorrow."

Both NDRC and the 2050 Ecosystem operate under the umbrella of Dogpatch Labs, Ireland's largest start-up hub. Greentech HQ proudly stands as a key partner within the 2050 Ecosystem. NDRC serves as Ireland's National Accelerator, offering unwavering support to start-ups in their early stages, while the 2050 Ecosystem, supported by the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications, is Ireland's National Sustainability Accelerator.

As the urgency of climate challenges continues to mount, novel solutions to rapid decarbonization are essential. Start-ups provide an ideal platform to address these critical issues, and investors have demonstrated their commitment, with over 20 billion in Venture Capital invested in sustainability start-ups within the EU this year, alongside the announcement of several upcoming sustainability funds in Ireland.

Our mission is clear: to harness the immense talent scattered throughout the nation and empower them to usher in the next generation of climate solutions. The NDRC 2050 Founders Weekend serves as the beacon, offering participants the opportunity to birth new start-ups, while granting them access to expertise and the broader NDRC support network.

Join Greentech HQ, NDRC, and the 2050 Ecosystem in our unwavering commitment to shaping a sustainable future for Ireland and the world. Together, we strive to transform innovative ideas into powerful solutions for a greener tomorrow.

About Greentech HQ: Greentech HQ is the Southeast Sustainability Innovation Hub, dedicated to aiding businesses in developing and expanding their sustainable ventures. Our mission is to connect businesses with investors, corporations, mentors, and offer a wide ...

Met Éireann, the Irish National Meteorological Service, announces a new multi-million-euro academic research programme at University College Dublin (UCD) to support the further development of weather and climate services for Ireland using data science and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Met Éireann Weather and Climate Research Professorship will incorporate a 1 million annual investment for an initial period of five years. Overseen by an expert knowledge transfer team at Met Éireann working closely with a professor-led research group at UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics and UCD Earth Institute, the partnership will build further capacity and capability in data science and AI in the higher education sector.

In direct response to impacts of climate change, the overarching objectives of the collaboration will focus on enhancing citizen safety, bolstering economic and environmental resilience, and supporting weather-sensitive sectors, by harnessing the latest innovations in the use of data science and AI in weather and climate services.

The programme will strive to bridge the gap between research and operations, by conducting cutting-edge, user-oriented studies, in the context of high impact weather, flood forecasting and the understanding of our climate, and using knowledge gained to train the next generation of scientists and engineers.

The research and development of AI models and techniques will enable Met Éireann to build on existing state-of-the-art forecasting capabilities, while developing skill levels to further enhance national capabilities and capacity in weather, climate and hydrology, and help to make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared for the future.

The establishment of the Met Éireann Research Professorship follows an international peer review process, through which UCD's application was selected based on its demonstration of excellence and impact, and its commitment to collaboration and knowledge transfer for the benefit of society and the economy.

Eoin Moran, Director of Met Éireann said:

"This Professorship is an innovative and first-of-its-kind partnership for Met Éireann. In doing this, we are putting Met Éireann at the forefront of technological developments that will shape national meteorological and hydrological services for years to come.

"Not only is it a significant investment in the development of national forecasting capabilities and capacity but it will help make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared, by enhancing and improving the level of information available to the public.

"We are hugely excited by the prospect of working closely with UCD, and of the potential opportunities this could lead to in the responsible use of AI for good."

Professor Helen Roche, UCD's Interim Vice-President for Research, Impact and Innovation said:

"The emergence of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning provides an opportunity to enhance our forecasting capabilities. UCD's world-leading experts in this dynamic field are conceiving and evolving creative solutions that impact all of society and our daily life.

"UCD researchers will help develop AI-enhanced models to enable Met Éireann to build on its forecasting capabilities and make Ireland even more weather and climate prepared.

"This ground-breaking partnership between UCD and Met Éireann will help produce the next generation of climate and weather scientists and help ensure that we have the tools and expertise needed to tackle the climate emergency.

"UCD and Met Éireann have a long-standing relationship in working together to enhance weather forecasting. By harnessing the power of AI to support the protection of life, property and infrastructure, this partnership takes that relationship to the next level."

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Image Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius) (c) Liam Olds

Wales has become the first country in the world with a map of its most important areas for insects and other invertebrates - a vital source of information to help guide nature recovery in Wales. Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is launching the 'Important Invertebrate Areas: Putting Bugs on the Map in Wales' report at the Senedd today. The network of 17 Important Invertebrate Areas (IIAs) has been identified by the charity working closely with experts and using millions of records collected by naturalists.

Welsh Bugs Mapped

Wales is home to iconic and threatened species found nowhere else in Britain, such as the Cliff Mason Bee (Osmia xanthomelana) now only known from two short stretches of Welsh cliff top, and the Critically Endangered Scarce Yellow Sally Stonefly (Isogenus nebecula) which is only found in the River Dee and was once feared once being feared extinct.

The IIAs, which are home to nationally or internationally significant invertebrate populations and their habitats, took nearly five years to map. They cover 1,344km2 of Wales. Although this is just 6.5% of the country, they are home to over 10,800 species of invertebrate, including 7 of Britain's endemic species - those found nowhere else in the world. The IIAs are also home to threatened species, including the stunning Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus), Britain's rarest snail - the Glutinous Snail (Myxas glutinosa), and the Fen Raft Spider (Dolomedes plantarius)- our largest spider.

Buglife Cymru Manager, Clare Dinham, said, "Wales' Important Invertebrate Areas, from the Ll?n Peninsula to the South Wales Coast, are home to some of our most special species. But many are under threat. We hope that the new IIA map will help people to learn about and celebrate their local wildlife. And also understand what they can do to help nature recover."

Jamie Robins, Programmes Manager, said, "To secure a better future for our invertebrate populations and help nature to thrive, it is essential to know where our most threatened species live. We've started the job by mapping IIAs for Wales, but this is only the beginning. We need decision makers to recognise the important role that invertebrates play and use our IIAs to prioritise much needed conservation action."

The full map of IIAs can be explored on the Buglife website, with freely accessible profile documents for each of the 17 IIAs that explain why they are important, the threats they face and what needs to be done to enable their special inhabitants to thrive.

Cymru yw'r wlad gyntaf yn y byd gyda map o'i ardaloedd pwysicaf ar gyfer pryfed ac infertebratau eraill - ffynhonnell wybodaeth hanfodol er mwyn helpu i arwain adferiad natur yng Nghymru. Mae Buglife - Yr Ymddiriedolaeth Cadwraeth Infertebratau yn lansio adroddiad 'Ardaloedd Infertebratau Pwysig: Rhoi Pryfed ar y Map yng Nghymru' yn y Senedd heddiw. Mae'r rhwydwaith o 17 o Ardaloedd Infertebratau Pwysig (AIP) wedi ei ddynodi gan yr elusen drwy weithio'n agos gydag arbenigwyr a gan ddefnyddio miliynau o gofnodion a gasglwyd gan naturiaethwyr.

Mae Cymru'n gartref i rywogaethau eiconig ac sydd dan fygythiad sydd ddim i'w canfod yn unman arall ym Mhrydain, fel Saerwenynen y Clogwyn (Osmia xanthomelana) sydd bellach ond i'w chanfod mewn dau safle bach ar ben clogwyni yng Nghymru, a'r pryf cerrig prin Isogenus nebecula sydd Mewn Perygl Difrifol, sydd ond i'w gael yn Afon Dyfrdwy ac yr ofnwyd ei fod wedi diflannu am byth.

Cymerodd yr AIP, sy'n gartref i boblogaethau o infertebratau o bwys cenedlaethol neu ryngwladol a'u cynefinoedd, bron i bum mlynedd i'w mapio. Maent yn cwmpasu 1,344km2 o Gymru. Er bod hyn yn ddim ond 6.5% o'r wlad, maent yn gartref i dros 10,800 o rywogaethau o infertebratau, yn cynnwys 7 o rywogaethau endemig Prydain - rhai sydd ddim i'w cael yn unman arall yn y byd. Mae'r AIP yn gartref hefyd i rywogaethau sydd dan fygythiad, yn cynnwys y chwilen ddaear Carabus intricatus h...

Apple is expanding Self Service Repair, and launching a new diagnostic tool that gives users more transparency and autonomy to troubleshoot issues. Self Service Repair is now available for the iPhone 15 lineup and Mac models powered by the M2 lineup, including the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac mini, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio.

Self Service Repair is also now available for Apple users in 24 additional European countries, including Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland. With this latest expansion, Self Service Repair now supports 35 Apple products in 33 countries and 24 languages.

Additionally, Apple Diagnostics for Self Service Repair is available today in the U.S., with availability in Europe to come next year. Intended for users with the knowledge and expertise to repair Apple devices, Apple Diagnostics troubleshooting sessions will give customers the same ability as Apple Authorised Service Providers and Independent Repair Providers to test devices for optimal part functionality and performance, as well as identify which parts may need repair.

Launched in April 2022, Self Service Repair gives anyone with relevant experience repairing electronic devices access to the manuals, genuine Apple parts, and tools used at Apple Store and Apple Authorised Service Provider locations. The program is part of Apple's broader commitment to expand repair options for consumers.

For users who don't have experience repairing electronic devices, visiting a professional Apple Authorised Service Provider with certified technicians who use genuine Apple parts - designed and tested to internationally recognised standards - is the safest and most reliable way to get a repair. Over the past three years, Apple has nearly doubled the number of service locations with access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and training, including more than 4,500 Independent Repair Providers. A global network of more than 5,000 Apple Authorised Service Providers supports more than 100,000 active technicians.

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Today, eviivo, a leading hospitality software company known for its property management system, eviivo Suite, and mobile app, eviivo Mobile, releases its annual Top Hospitality And Booking Tech Trends report for 2024.

"Travel is constantly changing every year, yet it always remains a force of good," says eviivo CEO Michele Fitzpatrick. "Working behind the scenes, travel companies help generate travel trends with tech innovations that ensure travellers continue to have authentic, memorable experiences.

Major tech advancements, from AI to green tech, will shape hospitality and bookings in 2024, with positive impact for travellers, hoteliers, property hosts and vacation rental managers, as well as online travel agencies (OTAs) and other travel companies that will feel the shift, as well as expected growth.

For eviivo's annual 7 Significant Travel Trends To Expect for 2024 report, click here.

According to Statista, the online travel market size worldwide reached the $433.2 billion mark in 2021, and it's expected to reach $690.71 billion by 2026.

Top 5 Hospitality And Booking Tech Trends For 2024

1. Gen AI will become "the new normal"

In 2023, ChatGPT, an OpenAI tool, became a household name and spearheaded the rocketship rise of Generative AI. While "Artificial Intelligence" has been around for decades, "Generative AI" is the evolution (and revolution) of AI; consider it the "next generation" of artificial intelligence. Generative AI technology can take text outputs, images, computer code - you name it - and create unique content to the user, trained to learn data sets and patterns - and only improve by creating new data the more it's used.

With Generative AI, travellers have an "assistant" when booking trips, travel specialists have tools that make their job easier and property owners, from hoteliers to vacation rental hosts, leverage Gen-AI to reduce redundant work while running their business to gain back more personal time.

eviivo is the first hospitality software company to introduce Gen-AI for independent accommodation in May 2023 with the launch of eviivo Concierge, a virtual concierge for property hosts, hoteliers and vacation rental group managers, who can utilise the tool on their websites. In eviivo's latest case study with partner Expedia Group, UK's Brambles of Inveraray is experiencing +8% year-over-year revenue growth and international exposure, enabled by eviivo Suite and the integration of eviivo Concierge.

Generative AI will remain a buzzword - and a standard - in 2024. Expedia.com noted in its 2024 annual report that only 6% of travellers used AI to plan a trip in 2023; 40% would use Gen AI to help find a hotel or vacation rental in 2024.

In November 2023, eviivo partner Airbnb announced its acquisition of AI company GamePlanner.AI to "develop some of the best interfaces and practical applications for AI," according to CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky.

On 6th December, Google officially launched its long-awaited Gemini, a powerful AI model that can seamlessly understand, operate across and combine text, code, audio, image, video and other types of information, and it will power Google AI apps like the Bard chatbot and Search Generative Experience.

2. "Green tech" is on the rise

The environment and futuristic tech will harmonise in hospitality. In 2024, we'll see more technology supporting sustainability, which will include the obvious - automation! - though more companies will "walk the talk" to reduce carbon emissions and prioritise the environment, especially with green tech.

"Green tech" is eco-minded solutions that aim to reverse and reduce human impact on the environment, whether the use of LED or alternative energy.

Many hotels, vacation rentals, Airbnbs and other independent accommodation, such as inns and castles, will have a stronger commitment to eco-sensibility, which travellers are preferring, resulting in more bookings and guest satisfaction. Newer properties opening in 2024 will promote "green te...

EU Funded Global Collaboration Hub Aims To Accelerate Development of Carbon Capture Technologies

Crowdhelix's new CO2 Removal Helix will bring together industry experts, leading academics, high-tech SMEs, policymakers and investors to accelerate the development and deployment of technologies that will remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.

Specifically designed to create synergies between stakeholders across multiple disciplines, the CO2 Removal Helix will foreground impact and bridge the gap between research, industry and investors to fast-track innovation.

Support for more Carbon Capture Technologies

Speaking at COP28 in Dubai, the leader of the CO2 Removal Helix, Professor Ondej Mašek from the University of Edinburgh, outlined why he believed interdisciplinarity and broad stakeholder engagement are central to the sector delivering on its potential.

"Building carbon removal technologies and systems is only part of the challenge facing this emerging sector".

"We also need to be able to scale capacity and deploy those solutions if we are to extract the 5 - 16 gigatonnes of CO2 required to keep global warming to 1.5C, according to research published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change".

"That requires the rapid scaling of carbon removal research, alongside a simultaneous expansion of investment, manufacture and deployment of technology".

"Overcoming that challenge requires experts and actors to collaborate across numerous fields and specialisms. Fortunately, the infrastructure that will help us do that is beginning to come together".

Echoing Professor Mašek's assessment, Crowdhelix CEO, Michael Browne, believes that recent announcements have signalled the emergence of a distinct sector that is attracting some of the world's leading innovators and investors.

"The establishment of Stripe-owned company, Frontier, changed how investors see carbon removal technology".

"In an instant, Frontier became the leading backer of early-stage carbon removal technologies having secured nearly $1 billion in funding from a group that included Alphabet, Shopify, Meta and McKinsey".

"Since then, the conversations around carbon removal have become increasingly tangible".

"We're no longer talking about the technology in an aspirational way, real discourse around regulation is now taking place. The creation of the EU's Carbon Removal Certification Framework expert group manifests this evolution".

"At Crowdhelix, we want to create a focused open-innovation community that brings together stakeholders from across this rapidly growing sector".

"If we can bring scientists, SMEs, regulators, policymakers and investors together at an early stage, I believe that we can help to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon removal technologies".

The EU-funded C-Sink project is indicative of the rapid evolution of the carbon removal sector. The 5.2 million project seeks to lay the foundations for regulators to create a standardised and transparent European CO2 removal market.

The key project within the CO2 Removal Helix, C-Sink brings together 24 organisations from 11 different countries, each of whom possesses complementary skills and expertise in carbon removal technologies, climate law, carbon trading and stakeholder engagement.

The multidisciplinarity nature of the project symbolises how stakeholders are working together to establish regulations and standards that will propel innovation according to Professor Mašek.

"The carbon removal sector has been negatively influenced by a lack of regulation and high-quality standards".

"The current self-regulated market relies on an unsatisfactory patchwork of third-party verification of the removals achieved at individual sites".

"This has allowed low-quality carbon credits to enter the market, lowering credibility and prices to levels at which high-quality permanent removals cannot compete".

"The purpose of the C-SINK project is to deliver a complete package of worked-up proposals to suppo...