– Classification of themes – All

03 Mar Innovation in the food industries: impacts of the digital revolution

National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF)
March 2021
The authors: Alain Michel Boudet, Pierre Feillet The appropriation of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and data-driven learning for more effectively designing, manufacturing, controlling and distributing food that meets consumer demands and respects environmental constraints – for the food industries this is a necessity and a great ambition that the public authorities must actively support.  
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24 Jan 5G in perspective – Publication

Real Academia de Ingenieria (Spain) (RAI)
2021
The title: 5G in perspective The date of publication: 2021 Authors: Mr Miguel Ángel Lagunas Main themes: Engineering Nature of publication: Opening of the Academic Year Report availability (link, paper version...):Link, paper. At the opening of Academic Year 2019-2020, the academician Miguel Angel Lagunas began with a brief introduction on digitisation and the first steps in the limits of transmission speed, making a short journey through the five generations from the first to the fifth. The deployment of this fifth generation is taking place now. Before going through that journey, he introduced two elements that were considered essential in the evolution of radio generations: the layered structure and information theory. 5G inverts the natural or temporary order of things, based on two singularities of great importance in this generation compared with previous ones. The first is that 5G is not a new generation mobile radio, but a new communications infrastructure that also involve cable, fibre and satellite technologies. This leads to a greater ability to make a big leap in supported applications and scenarios. These are the two reasons why this odd generation seems very different and certainly fascinating from an engineering perspective. http://www.raing.es/es/publicaciones/lecciones-inaugurales/5g-en-perspectiva
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01 Jan Skills shortage threatens Sweden’s competitiveness

Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering (IVA)
2021
Sweden is a country with many global and world-leading companies. Staying at the forefront of an accelerating green and digital transformation requires a strong commitment to research and development. With the R&D Barometer IVA is for the third consecutive year investigating what the Swedish research and development climate is like. The barometer is based on a questionnaire answered by 100 R&D managers in Swedish industry, ten of whom were interviewed in depth. Together, the companies in the survey have around 56,000 R&D employees, which corresponds to 74% of all R&D employees in Swedish industry.In summary, IVA's R&D Barometer 2021 shows that the Swedish R&D climate is good, but that it has gradually deteriorated since previous years' surveys. The business community continues to find that shortages of skill are the biggest threats to Swedish companies' R&D, while having employees with the right skill set is considered the most important factor for success. To strengthen the Swedish R&D climate, many executives see that the ability to recruit from abroad needs to be improved, and that tax policies should be adapted to attract foreign experts to come and stay in Sweden. In addition, cooperation between companies and universities needs to be strengthened. The report is available in Swedish.
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01 Déc The journey to an autonomous transport system

Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2020
Authors: National Engineering Policy Centre The Safety and ethics of autonomous systems project overview outlined a need for further sectoral exploration of the role autonomous systems could play. This output is the first of a series of sector specific deep dives. This summary sets out the current technological state of the art, domain challenges such as decision making time and software ownership, and crosscutting challenges such as safety assurance, ethical considerations and public perception.
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24 Nov Ceremony for awarding the medal and title to the Hon. Mr Javier Jiménez Espriú

Real Academia de Ingenieria (Spain) (RAI)
2020
On 27th February 2020, in a commemorative ceremony, the medal and title as corresponding academician was awarded to the Hon. Mr Javier Jiménez Espriú. The laudation of the new academician was delivered by the Academic Member the Hon. Mr Aníbal R. Figueiras Vidal. In his lecture, The miscegenation of our engineering and the ethical clash of the 21st century, the new corresponding academician, after thanking the RAI for the distinction received, which allows to strengthen bonds between Spanish and Mexican engineering, went on to make a brief tour of Mexican engineering throughout its wide and long tradition and its encounter with that which arrived from the Iberian Peninsula in different times in history. He pointed out as extraordinary works, housing, hydraulic, roads, the study of astronomy, and other works made to practice sports, which today remain the admiration of locals and strangers for their geometric and mathematical perfection, use of materials, construction techniques and inventiveness and art.
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24 Nov Engineering approaches and contributions in times of COVID-19. A contribution to the debate and to the development of possible solutions – Publication

Real Academia de Ingenieria (Spain) (RAI)
2020
The title: Engineering approaches and contributions in times of COVID-19. A contribution to the debate and to the development of possible solutions. The date of publication: 2020 Authors: Academicians of the Royal Academy of Engineering Main themes: COVID-19 Nature of publication: Engineering Report availability (link, paper version...): Link, paper. In the concerning and challenging context of the pandemic, several RAI academicians proposed to contribute their knowledge and experience in relation to some of the fields related to the pandemic. In accordance with this initiative, the following document Engineering Approaches and Contributions to in times of COVID-19 has been prepared, contributing to the debate and the proposal of possible solutions. It includes the works of the academicians Mr Enrique Castillo, Mr César Dopazo, Mr Javier Jiménez, Ms Nuria Oliver and Mr Daniel Ramón, in several cases with other non-academician authors.
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24 Nov Reflections on Bacteria, Food and Health – Publication

Real Academia de Ingenieria (Spain) (RAI)
2020
The title: Reflections on Bacteria, Food and Health The date of publication: 21st January 2020 Authors: Daniel Ramón Vidal Main themes: Food production Nature of publication: Inauguration as full member academician Report availability (link, paper version...): Link, Paper Daniel Ramón Vidal has always worked with microorganisms. At first with fungal species that were of interest to the pharmaceutical industry as antibiotic producers. A few years later, after joining the CSIC, with bacteria, yeasts and fungi relevant to food production. Today he is still working on it, but in a private company, trying to develop microorganisms that improve consumers’ health. His view of how the microbial world influences the production and nutritional assimilation of food has changed significantly in the last decade, largely due to the advent of so-called massive genomic sequencing techniques. http://www.raing.es/es/publicaciones/discursos-de-ingresos/reflexiones-en-torno-las-bacterias-la-alimentaci-n-y-la-salud
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01 Nov Beyond Covid-19: laying the foundations for a net zero recovery

Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2020
Authors: National Engineering Policy Centre (see report for working group members and contributors) In this briefing the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC) calls for an economic recovery that pivots the UK towards a net-zero future, rather than one that locks us into a high-carbon future. It offers five foundations, accompanied by actions that the government, engineering community and others could take, which will secure a low-carbon and resilient recovery.
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24 Oct Exploring the icy moons of giant planets – Publication

Real Academia de Ingenieria (Spain) (RAI)
2020
The title: Exploring the icy moons of giant planets The date of publication: 26th October 2020 Authors: Juan Ramón Sanmartín Losada Main themes: White Paper Nature of publication: Closing of the academic year Report availability (link, paper version...): Link, paper. The closing lecture is based on a White Paper, Bare-Tether Missions Paradigm for Exploration of OceanWorlds in Plumes of Icy Moons Enceladus, Europa, and Triton which he had submitted, with the unique Topic, OceanWorlds, to the Decadal Survey on Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023 -2032 From NASA and the National Science Foundation http://www.raing.es/es/publicaciones/lecciones-inaugurales/exploraci-n-de-lunas-heladas-de-los-planetas-gigantes
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05 Oct Understanding COVID-19. Report of the COVID-19 Advisory Team at the President of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN)
2020

A report delivered by a team of scientists, working under the supervision of Prof. Jerzy Duszyński, president of the Academy, presents the current state of knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 disease and its medical, psychological, economic and social impacts. In an accessible manner, this document provides forecasts of the COVID-19 epidemic for the upcoming winter season and recommendations for citizens and institutions. The publication includes information about the course of the disease and treatment, phases of pandemic development and its implications for human health. The study provides verified information on prevention and presents current works on coronavirus vaccines. Among other topics covered are preparations for a winter COVID-19 peak, including the opening of educational institutions, and the risk of co-infection.

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