As recent global shocks expose the vulnerabilities of traditional outsourcing, industrial firms are increasingly leveraging mergers and acquisitions to own key assets, regionalise production, and embed digital and sustainability technologies to forge more resilient supply networks. Industrial companies are increasingly leveraging mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as a strategic tool to repair and redesign supply chains that have been severely disrupted by a series of shocks over recent years. According to industry analysis, rather than relying solely on organic growth initiatives and incremental capital expenditure, leadership teams are using targeted acquisitions to secure critical inputs, localise production, embed advanced technology, and…

Global ESG and sustainability consulting sees rapid growth, highlighting increased corporate reliance despite recent EU regulatory rollbacks and regional disparities in reporting standards. Industry experts stress the importance of agility amidst evolving requirements to maintain transparency and access to capital. Sustainability and ESG strategy consulting has emerged as a resilient and rapidly expanding sector amid evolving regulatory landscapes and fluctuating political commitments worldwide. According to the latest Environment Analyst’s Global Environmental & Sustainability (E&S) Consulting Market Assessment, these services experienced a remarkable 56% year-on-year increase in 2023, the fastest growth within the broader environmental consulting domain. This momentum is projected…

As COP30 highlights the urgency of addressing hard-to-abate sectors, Malaysia’s abundant agricultural biomass and advancing engineering capabilities position it to lead regional industrial heat decarbonisation, preparing industries for tighter international emissions standards and boosting sustainable competitiveness. As the COP30 climate summit concluded in Belém, Brazil, a clear and urgent message echoed among negotiators: the next phase of climate action must decisively address the “hard-to-abate” sectors, particularly the industrial heat segment. This focus carries profound implications for countries like Malaysia, where manufacturing remains a key economic driver and exporter. In Malaysia, industrial heat is largely invisible in public conversations dominated by…

Swedish startup Stegra secures €37 million in public funding to progress its pioneering hydrogen-based steel plant, highlighting both strides and hurdles in Europe’s green industrial transition. Sweden’s green steel startup Stegra has secured a crucial €37 million ($43 million) grant from the Swedish Energy Agency under its Industrial Leap programme to support the completion of its ambitious 740MW hydrogen-based steel plant in Boden. This latest tranche of public funding aims to bolster the project’s financial foundation and enhance Stegra’s prospects for attracting further investment. The €37 million award is part of a broader pattern of public support for this pioneering…

Ferrari signs a ten-year renewable electricity agreement with Shell to power nearly half of its Maranello operations, exemplifying a bold move toward its 2030 carbon neutrality goal amid industry-wide sustainability shifts. Ferrari has taken a significant step toward its ambitious carbon neutrality goal for 2030 by signing a decade-long power purchase agreement (PPA) with Shell to secure 650 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable electricity through 2034. This agreement will supply nearly half of the electricity required at Ferrari’s primary production facility in Maranello, Italy, a plant that consumes around 130 GWh annually. The remaining energy demand will be met through a…

Germany’s partnership between Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde pioneers commercial-scale ammonia cracking, enabling scalable green hydrogen production to decarbonise heavy industries across Europe and strengthen energy security. In the evolving landscape of industrial decarbonisation, Germany is establishing itself as a pioneering hub for ammonia cracking technology, a critical pathway for delivering clean hydrogen at scale. This advancement is spearheaded by a strategic partnership between energy player Uniper and engineering specialist thyssenkrupp Uhde, targeting the decarbonisation of heavy industries across the country and Europe. The partnership marks a significant leap in the practical commercialisation of ammonia cracking, a process whereby ammonia (NH3)…

IFS has introduced its latest Cloud 25R2 release, embedding agentic AI as autonomous digital workers to boost operational productivity and address growing labour challenges in industrial sectors. IFS, a notable provider of Industrial AI software, has unveiled its latest release, IFS Cloud 25R2, aimed at embedding advanced AI to enhance operational productivity in industrial sectors. According to the company announcement, the new version introduces agentic AI capabilities, notably through IFS Loops Digital Workers, autonomous digital agents designed to think, decide, and act across systems, functioning as collaborative members within the industrial workforce. The company framed this development as a direct…

Microsoft updates its D365 SCM platform with advanced sustainability features, including real-time environmental monitoring, AI-driven optimisation, and circular economy tools, reshaping how organisations embed eco-friendly practices into supply chains. Sustainability is increasingly recognised as a non-negotiable priority for modern supply chains, driven by tightening regulations, rising customer expectations, and corporate responsibility objectives. In response, Microsoft has been evolving its Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management (D365 SCM) platform with a strong emphasis on embedding sustainability throughout supply chain operations, reflecting a broader industry shift towards greener, more transparent, and efficient systems. Microsoft’s latest sustainability features within D365 SCM offer organisations comprehensive…

Danish-German startup Again is pioneering the use of genetically engineered bacteria to convert captured CO₂ into valuable chemicals, signalling a new era for industrial decarbonisation and European manufacturing revival. In the quest to decarbonise the industrial sector, few ventures have captured attention as distinctly as Again, a Danish-German deep-tech startup leveraging synthetic biology to transform CO₂ emissions into valuable chemicals and materials. Founded in 2021 with roots in pioneering research from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Stanford, and MIT, Again exemplifies the fusion of academic innovation with industrial-scale ambition and venture-speed growth. At its core, Again employs genetically engineered…

Dublin-based Ecocem has formed a Materials Science Advisory Council comprising leading global scientists to advance low-carbon cement technologies like ACT, aiming to reduce industry emissions by up to 70% and achieve decarbonisation ahead of current targets. Ecocem, a Dublin-based innovator in low-carbon cement technologies, has taken a significant step toward accelerating the decarbonisation of cement and concrete production by establishing a Materials Science Advisory Council. This newly formed expert group, consisting of 11 leading materials scientists from prestigious global institutions, is tasked with guiding the company’s research priorities while providing independent scientific advice to policymakers, standards organisations, and industry stakeholders.…