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Despite massive investment, AI data centres are increasingly running into constraints, particularly with regard to electricity, leading to suggestions to put them in orbit. While this makes it possible to take advantage of abundant solar power, it also comes with significant challenges. The main barrier is economic, rather than technical, with future launch costs a key determinant. Space data centres pose important questions on data and orbital regulation and sustainability, which may require updating ...

This final report presents a comprehensive analysis of digital tools, particularly those leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), that support regulatory simplification and consistency across the EU legislative cycle. Building on extensive desk research and expert consultation, the study surveys current practices and innovative applications of eTools at the EU, Member State, and relevant third-country levels. The report maps the use of digital solutions throughout all stages of the policy cycle, ...

Academic freedom is widely recognised as a fundamental value of contemporary higher education and research, and as a prerequisite for well-functioning democratic societies. However, in recent years, major concerns have been expressed by various stakeholders about the state of academic freedom in the European Union. The European Parliament annual Academic Freedom Monitor aims to improve the promotion and protection of academic freedom in the EU. The 2025 edition is organised in two parts. The first ...

Quantum technologies have transformative potential and are already exerting a significant impact on global economies and society. The European Union (EU) supports the development of these technologies through initiatives such as the Quantum Flagship and Horizon Europe, as well as through national initiatives and programmes. However, the specific role of quantum technologies in supporting the EU's energy and climate goals has so far received limited and fragmented policy attention. This briefing explores ...

X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) are particle accelerators that create pulses of light of extremely short duration, similar to that of some lasers used in eye surgery. Combined with the X-ray energy-domain, they enable a close examination of the shortest processes in nature – such as the way atoms move during a chemical reaction. Although Europe hosts some of the world-leading XFELs, the next generation may allow scientists to trace the motion of electrons in its entirety. This could make XFELs ...

The ability of generative AI ('GenAI') to generate plausible text, images, music and computer code in response to human prompts is impressive. GenAI promises huge productivity gains in many domains, and large amounts of financial and political capital are staked on its success. Nevertheless, the current generation of models exhibit well-publicised weaknesses that might not simply disappear by using more data and processing power or smarter training. This paper looks at those limitations, and the ...

Although microelectronics have a significant role in modern life, their low visibility and complex value chain have contributed to concealing a decline in EU industry in the field. It is broadly assumed that microelectronics are designed in California and manufactured in Taiwan. What if the EU could take a particularly strategic position in this technology?

Fusion, regarded by many as the ultimate form of clean energy, may finally be within reach. This analysis looks at the context of the latest advances, in particular the explosion of private-sector interest. Overall, this has led to an acceleration of many planned timelines, although a lot of uncertainty remains, given the magnitude of the remaining technical challenges. In addition, questions also persist around skills, the regulatory environment, financing and economic viability. With a new EU strategy ...

This study explores the feasibility of a European news streaming platform (ENSP), with a focus on its governance, legal implications and potential added value for media pluralism in Europe. Such a platform would, according to its proponents, provide access to news and public interest content by audiovisual media service providers across the EU, with automatically generated subtitles that make content available in all EU languages. Such an initiative is a clear response to the requirements highlighted ...

Initiatives to restore European primary forests and thereby reverse centuries of decline are gaining traction. Such restoration could deliver significant ecological, environmental, climate-related and socio-cultural benefits, ranging from biodiversity conservation, water regulation and climate mitigation, to ecotourism and renewed human relationships with nature. However, a number of challenges and trade-offs need to be addressed, including the lack of primary forest mapping, concerns over human ...