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German defence tech startup ARX Robotics has secured €31mn to ramp up production of its autonomous battlefield robots, which look like mini tanks — minus the guns.  ARX — backed by NATO’s Innovation Fund — will also use the fresh capital to advance its operating system, Mithras OS. The software is designed to modernise existing military vehicles through AI, sensor systems, and autonomous driving capabilities. The company estimates it can retrofit 50,000 NATO vehicles with the tech. The co-founder and CEO of ARX, Marc Wietfeld — who will speak at TNW Conference and the Assembly in June — wants his…

In the global race to become the next big tech hotspot, many countries pour billions into nurturing homegrown talent, courting VCs, and crafting startup-friendly policies. While some struggle to gain momentum, others seem to leap forward—fast. So, what sets apart these rapid risers? What’s the secret to ecosystem transformation? Look no further than Bulgaria—a country that’s quietly but confidently building one of Europe’s most exciting tech stories. The key ingredients For years, Bulgaria has been a magnet for global tech firms thanks to its flat 10% tax rate, highly skilled workforce, and cost efficiency. Industry giants like SAP, Microsoft, Oracle,…

Five standout scaleups from Southern Europe have reached the finals of TECH5 — the “Champions League of Technology.” They’ll now face off with rivals from across Europe to be crowned the continent’s hottest scaleup. Southern Europe’s digital scene is still maturing — but growth is accelerating. Deep talent pools and academic strength are now backed by rising support from investors and policymakers. These developments have strengthened the foundations for building scaleups. Our contingent from Southern Europe was scouted from seven countries: Andorra, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Spain. Each of them experienced substantial growth in their tech sectors last…

As our favourite Dutch holiday approaches, TNW is celebrating the tech titans shaping the future in the Netherlands. Our beloved home country is the proud parent of a prodigious brood of digital talent. It’s given birth to cultivated meat, raised Booking.com to become the world’s largest online travel agency, and watched with joy as ASML grew into Europe’s most valuable tech company. The family also includes a gifted group of startups and scaleups. In recent years, economic headwinds, geopolitical turbulence, and questionable government policies have blown some of their progress off course, but Dutch tech continues to punch well above…

Researchers at Toshiba Europe have used quantum key distribution (QKD) cryptography to send messages a record 254km using a traditional fibre optic cable network. It’s the first time scientists have achieved a coherent quantum communication using existing telecomms infrastructure. The breakthrough marks a step closer to ultra-secure quantum encryption, which could fend off hacks from even the most advanced classical and quantum computers of the future.   QKD is a form of communication that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to securely share encryption keys between two parties. It transmits information in the form of light. These photons carry qubits, the…

Poland is set to power up its first full-stack quantum computer this year, following a deal with Helsinki-based startup IQM. IQM, Europe’s best-funded quantum hardware company, will install the machine at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST) in Poland.  Named “Spark,” the device is a superconducting quantum computer. This means that it uses superconducting circuits to create and manipulate quantum bits or “qubits” on quantum processors. Machines like Spark can only function at temperatures near absolute zero, making them some of the coldest places in the known universe.  “This is the first quantum computer in our country and…

Last year, NN Group and Rubio Impact Ventures launched the NN Social Innovation Startup Award providing grants and mentoring to startups to tackle mental, physical, and financial well-being challenges with tech-backed solutions. Over 360 startups applied. Based on the success of the first edition, NN Group and Rubio Impact Ventures will be hosting a second edition of the NN Social Innovation Startup Award at TNW2025 on June 19, 2025 in Amsterdam. The winning startups will receive a grant and year-long coaching opportunities—with tailored resources, networking, and support (Psst the application deadline is April 30th, so apply now!). Bringing our world…

Europe’s climate tech startups raised $2.3bn (€2bn) in the first quarter of this year — the lowest total since Q3 2020, according to Dealroom data.  Behind the headline figure lies a complex mix of growing pains, shifting investor focuses, and broader VC market dynamics, experts told TNW. More specifically, they said the slowdown stems from a blend of market maturity, strategic repositioning, AI’s outsized pull on capital, and a tough exit environment.  “If we use the narrative of Dunning-Kruger Curve, we are at a slope of despair in climate now, at least for investors,” Rokas Peciulaitis, founder and managing partner…

German biotech startup Ovo Labs has developed new technologies to “rejuvenate” human eggs, potentially boosting the chances of conception.  The therapeutics are designed to enhance in vitro fertilisation (IVF), one of the most transformative advances in reproductive medicine. The first baby was born via IVF more than 40 years ago. Since then, the technology has helped millions of women get pregnant. However, IVF can put significant emotional, psychological, and financial strain on patients. It is often unsuccessful on the first attempt. Some try multiple times without success. For many, IVF ultimately does not lead to parenthood. Ovo Labs wants to…

UK startup Aquark Technologies has used Boaty McBoatface — the internet’s best-loved submarine — to test its quantum sensing technology underwater for the first time. The NATO-backed company put its so-called “cold atom” system inside the autonomous submarine. Boaty McBoatface then descended to the bottom of a giant indoor tank at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton. The idea was to test how Aquark’s quantum tech — which must be completely isolated from external disturbances to function — would fare in the temperatures and pressures of an underwater environment.  Boaty Mcboatface with its quantum payload being lowered into the…