Last week, Ather Energy, a startup that originated in the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, successfully closed its IPO. Having successfully evolved from a startup to a commercial venture, Ather Energy has emerged as the poster boy of the incubation cell. Coincidentally, this development came about on the heels of the announcement from the incubation cell that it had birthed a record 104 deeptech startups last year. Cumulatively, it is home to about 460 startups. Not surprisingly, it is being dubbed as the deeptech hub for India. https://youtu.be/twbzL9Q9ZFY How did IIT Madras pull this off? Can these learnings, especially in forging…
Author: StratNewsGlobal Tech Team
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President Xi Jinping Pushes Shanghai to the Forefront of Tech Development President Xi Jinping has called on Shanghai to accelerate its transformation into a global centre for technology and innovation, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI). This marked Xi’s first visit to the city since November 2023, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua. Xi emphasised that Shanghai, China’s top international financial hub, should also lead in AI development and governance. His comments highlight the growing importance of the city not only in finance but also as a strategic pillar in China’s push for technological self-reliance. AI at…
Enforcement Directorate of India Investigates E-Commerce Practices The financial crime agency of India has requested confidential sales data and contract details from smartphone makers, including Apple and Xiaomi, as part of an ongoing investigation into Amazon and Flipkart. According to sources familiar with the matter, this move forms part of a broader effort to scrutinise potential violations of Indian e-commerce laws. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which probes economic offences, is investigating whether Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart have breached regulations by exerting control over inventory sold through their platforms. Under Indian law, foreign e-commerce firms can only operate as marketplaces, serving…
China Outlines Bold Plan for Robotic Mars Base by 2038 China has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for interplanetary exploration, aiming to establish a robotic Mars base by 2038. Managed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the project is part of a broader plan to explore the Solar System through 2050. Building Foundations for Martian Exploration The roadmap’s first major milestone is the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission. Already approved, it is scheduled for launch in late 2028, with samples expected to return to Earth by 2031. This mission will lay the technological foundation necessary for future Mars exploration efforts.…
Airbus Finalises Deal to Acquire Key Spirit AeroSystems Assets Europe’s Airbus has finalised an agreement to take over select assets from Spirit AeroSystems, completing a crucial part of a wider transatlantic carve-up involving US rival Boeing. The move stabilises an important part of the global aerospace supply chain. Spirit Split Between Airbus and Boeing Last year, Boeing agreed to reacquire Spirit, the world’s largest independent aerostructures supplier, for $4.7 billion in stock—two decades after originally spinning it off. Meanwhile, Airbus committed to take over Spirit’s loss-making, Europe-focused operations. This joint intervention by competing aerospace giants is unprecedented. It was triggered…
Hubble Celebrates 35 Years with Stunning New Space Images NASA has marked the 35th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope with the release of four breathtaking images that span our solar system and beyond. These new visuals showcase Mars, a colourful planetary nebula, the Rosette Nebula known for star formation, and the flocculent spiral galaxy NGC 5335. Since its launch aboard the space shuttle Discovery on 24 April 1990, Hubble has transformed how we view the cosmos. With its ability to observe in ultraviolet and visible light, it has given scientists and the public an unparalleled look at the universe’s…
Australia’s Energy Policy Heats Up Ahead of May 3 Election As Australians prepare to vote on 3 May, Australia’s energy policy has become a defining issue. Soaring power bills and fears of gas shortages are placing intense pressure on households, industries and policymakers. Australia, the world’s second-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), is also the highest per-capita polluter in the OECD — adding urgency to the debate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government and the opposition Liberal-National coalition, led by Peter Dutton, are both pledging to lower energy prices and improve domestic gas supply. However, their approaches diverge…
China and Russia Moon Mission Plans Accelerate Toward 2030s China is advancing plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon, which could power a future International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) being developed with Russia. The proposal was highlighted during a recent space conference in Shanghai, where Chinese and Russian officials discussed long-term lunar ambitions. As part of its strategy to become a leading space power, China aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030. The Chang’e-8 mission, set for 2028, will help lay the foundation for constructing a permanent manned outpost. This base is likely to be…
Global Brands Losing Ground in China’s EV Race Foreign automakers are under growing pressure at this year’s Shanghai auto show as Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers continue to gain ground. Chinese brands are now dominating the market with stylish, affordable, and high-tech EVs, leaving global brands scrambling to keep up. Legacy brands have steadily lost their grip on market share across all price segments. Once considered untouchable, even luxury marques are now being outpaced. The shift is being driven by Chinese companies offering advanced EV drivetrains and state-of-the-art interiors at lower prices. Porsche Faces Steep Decline Amid EV Boom Germany’s…
Key concerns ahead of quarterly earnings report Upcoming earnings report of Tesla on Tuesday has investors eager for answers from CEO Elon Musk. The focus is firmly on two major concerns: the launch of a long-promised affordable vehicle and the progress of its robotaxi project. Wall Street is banking on a low-cost Tesla model to reverse the company’s declining sales. Increased competition, particularly from Chinese EV makers, and backlash against Musk’s political affiliations have dented Tesla’s momentum. An exclusive report from Reuters last week revealed that Tesla’s affordable car may be a stripped-down version of the Model Y, built in…