News - For Business
Daily digest of all European digital development news

Europe opens bidding for seven AI ‘gigafactories’ in a €30bn bid to catch up
The European Commission launches a €30 billion bid to build seven AI "gigafactories." This initiative aims to give the EU computing power for frontier AI training, reducing reliance on the United States.

ChatGPT and Roblox reportedly set to face strictest EU DSA rules
ChatGPT and Roblox may soon face the EU's strictest Digital Services Act rules. A European Commission spokesperson confirmed designation is "definitely possible" for these platforms.

EU launches AI Gigafactories call to boost Europe's computing capacity and unlock more than €30 billion in investment
EU launches AI Gigafactories call to boost computing capacity and unlock €30B+ investment. Seven factories will combine advanced AI, cloud, and data centers to accelerate AI development and strengthen Europe's technological sovereignty.

Drivalia secures €48 million EIB financing to boost electric mobility in Italy and Finland
European Investment Bank (EIB) backs electric mobility with €48 million financing for Drivalia. The agreement will deploy nearly 2,900 battery electric vehicles across Italy and Finland, significantly cutting CO₂ emissions.

British defence startup Agon creating virtual battlefields to combat drone attacks launches, raising $30M
British defence startup Agon launches with $30m to build virtual battlefields for AI weapons training. The funding supports European defence autonomy companies in an AI arms race.

The European Union's new victory: having a device repaired even out of warranty comes into effect on July 31
The European Union's new "right to repair" directive takes effect July 31, mandating device repairs even out of warranty. This directive aims to reduce electronic waste and promote circular economy principles by making repairs more accessible and attractive.

5U AI lands $3.2M pre-seed for AI freight workforce platform
Munich-based 5U AI lands $3. 2M pre-seed for its AI freight workforce platform....

Sofia-based Tiger Technology raises €8.7 million to advance always-on hybrid cloud data infrastructure
Sofia-based Tiger Technology secures €8. 7 million for its hybrid cloud data infrastructure....

Europe wants to pay without depending on Visa or Mastercard, and Lidl has just taken a key step to achieve it: with Wero
Lidl Germany now accepts Wero, an EU banking initiative aiming to reduce reliance on Visa and Mastercard. This integration allows customers to pay directly from their bank accounts in real-time.

A development bank just built a €1.4bn insurer in two years
Budapest-based Ominimo, a motor insurance startup, secures €20. 1 million in Series B funding....

Milan’s Beelzebub raises €3 million to fight AI-driven cyberattacks with AI-powered hacker traps
Milan's Beelzebub secures €3 million Seed funding to combat AI-driven cyberattacks with AI-powered traps. The AI-native cybersecurity platform will expand its research team and client acquisition across Europe, focusing on NIS2-regulated organizations.

Digital sovereignty is real in Europe. The UK? Not so much
The EU accelerates digital sovereignty efforts as Germany ditches Microsoft SharePoint for open-source alternatives. Ireland halts a €1 billion Microsoft deal, eyeing open-source options to avoid US tech dependency.

Weekly retrospective
The Week in European Digital: Record Fines, TikTok's Reckoning and Europe's Sovereignty Wager
Brussels handed out its two largest platform fines yet, opened a fresh child-safety case against TikTok, and watched its own interoperability rules collide with encrypted messaging. Underneath it all, a quieter story: European governments and investors betting real money on reducing dependence on US tech.

CuspAI bags $450M, Resist.UA launches €50M fund, and DSIT axed
European tech funding deals surpassed €1 billion this week. CuspAI secured $450M, Augustus raised $180M, and Humanoid hit $1....

ispace-EUROPE lands €65 million ESA contract to deliver and operate MAGPIE, Europe’s first lunar polar ice exploration rover
ispace-EUROPE secures €65 million ESA contract for Europe's first lunar polar ice exploration rover, MAGPIE. The mission will investigate lunar volatiles and water ice, advancing European lunar exploration capabilities.

EU charges TikTok with failing to protect children’s privacy under the DSA
The European Commission has charged TikTok with breaching the Digital Services Act (DSA). Preliminary findings indicate TikTok's default settings failed to protect minors' privacy by leaving their accounts open to adults.

AI-powered robotics in Europe: Live demonstrations and strategic debate
European Parliament hosts policymakers and industry leaders for AI-powered robotics debate, aiming to boost innovation and competitiveness. The event will discuss strengthening Europe's leadership in physical AI and accelerating its deployment.

TikTok’s protection of minors should not be opt-in, warns EU
EU regulators scrutinize TikTok's child safety, citing Digital Services Act findings. The European Commission wants TikTok to default minors' accounts to private, restricting content visibility and recommendations.

Google breaks Alibaba’s record for Europe’s largest DMA fine
Google faces €890 million in EU fines for Digital Markets Act breaches. The European Commission penalized Google for favoring its own services in search results and failing to inform Play store users about alternative app distribution channels.

Google fined €890M in its first Digital Markets Act penalty
Google fined €890M by the European Commission for violating the Digital Markets Act. Brussels penalised Google €460M for search self-preferencing, marking the first penalty under the new rulebook.
