AGP Executive Report

Energy & AI Infrastructure: The European Commission is urging households to cut electricity use during peak hours as AI data centres strain power grids, alongside a new Data Centre Energy Efficiency Package with ratings and work toward minimum performance standards. Space Science: Astronomers report the first direct measurements of magnetic fields on seven ultra-hot Jupiter exoplanets, using atmospheric wind data to add a new tool for studying planetary evolution. Digital Sovereignty: The European Parliament will switch its default search on in-house computers from Google to France’s Qwant, citing privacy and digital sovereignty. French Space & Industry: France’s “Choose France” push continues with major AI infrastructure commitments and follow-on deals, including Campus AI expansion to multi-gigawatt scale. Environment & Health: A new UN University assessment warns AI’s environmental footprint isn’t just carbon—also water, land, and e-waste—while France’s heat records keep raising labour and public-health concerns. Biodiversity & Oceans: Scientists warn deep-sea mining could leave persistent, hard-to-recover damage to fragile ecosystems. Animals & Ethics: France has approved sending its last captive orcas and dolphins to marine parks in Spain, triggering renewed animal-welfare criticism.

AI & Jobs Debate: A CEPR workshop in Paris tackles how to turn breakthrough innovation into inclusive European growth, pushing back on the idea that AI productivity only comes from cutting labor. Mosquito Repellent Risk: French-led research shows mosquitoes can learn to associate DEET with a blood meal, raising concerns about a potential vulnerability in a key malaria-fighting tool. French Quantum Push: Quobly (France) raised €115M led by Bpifrance with STMicroelectronics and Sealsq to industrialize silicon-based quantum computers, aiming for a first commercial system via the cloud by end-2026. Cybersecurity AI Expansion: Anthropic’s Claude Mythos cybersecurity program expands to India, adding ~150 orgs and bringing participation to ~200 institutions across 15+ countries including France. Cancer Trial Update (France-linked): Final SERENA-6 data presented at ASCO shows switching to camizestrant after ESR1 mutation detection improves PFS2 versus staying on aromatase inhibitor + CDK4/6. Tech Infrastructure & Telecom: France’s AI/data-center momentum continues as SoftBank-backed investment themes dominate coverage, while telecom market briefs track MVNO growth and smartphone demand resilience in Europe. Biodiversity/Environment: EU wetlands restoration is linked to record flamingo numbers in Venice, with the lagoon’s health improving habitat for nesting.

AI & Media Rights: The New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger says AI firms “strip-mine” news sites for content without permission, warning the business model for original reporting is collapsing. AI Governance: A US executive order creates a voluntary scheme letting AI developers share advanced models with the government up to 30 days before release. Cloud Regulation Fight: Amazon argues EU DMA rules shouldn’t be extended to cloud services, saying it would create legal uncertainty and slow innovation. Exoplanets & Space Science: Astronomers report the strongest signs yet of magnetic fields around seven “hot Jupiter” exoplanets, inferred from extreme winds. French Health/Research: An Oxford-led cancer drug trial (GRWD5769) reports tumour shrinkage in multiple cancers across UK, France, Spain and Australia. Materials for Industry: Carbios and Wankai push back China’s first PET biorecycling plant commissioning to H1 2028. STEM Outreach: Merck’s Curiosity Cube™ brings hands-on synthetic biology lessons to students in Pretoria. EV Charging Interop: Hubject and Road expand eRoaming access for EV charging across Benelux, Germany, UK and the Mediterranean. Space/Defense Industrialization: France’s military chief warns air power is too small and calls for faster drone and production scaling.

AI Infrastructure Push: Macron’s “Choose France” summit landed a record €93bn in foreign investment, with SoftBank pledging up to €75bn for 5GW of AI data centres in Hauts-de-France—aimed at closing Europe’s computing gap. Quantum & Sovereignty: SEALSQ snapped up EPFL spinout Miraex to strengthen a fully sovereign quantum stack, adding photonics-based quantum interconnect capabilities. Energy Transition: France launched tenders for 10 new offshore windfarms, targeting 15GW by 2035, while a separate plan points to 10 huge offshore projects with bids due before 2027. Climate & Cities: Research links vehicle traffic to extra urban heat in city centres (Toulouse and Manchester), adding to the warming from buildings and heat systems. Biodiversity & Agriculture: French winegrowers are trialling “vitiforestry” (vines with trees) to buffer heatwaves and drought. Bio/Industry: Intact Regenerative opened its first industrial facility in France, using ambient, water-free plant extraction to make lower-carbon sustainable alcohol. Regulation Watch: Malaysia began enforcing a strict under-16 social media ban with government-backed age checks.

AI & Coding Tools: Microsoft is ending Claude Code licenses for GitHub Copilot and will push an in-house coding model, betting that distribution and enterprise data can beat raw model quality. Ebola Response: The DRC’s Ebola outbreak is still hard to contain, with WHO emergency status and a vaccine race heating up for the Bundibugyo strain. Health & Society: Sweden urges parents to put phones away around children, linking heavy screen use to worse parent-child interactions. Mental Health Care: A Paris-area psychiatric hospital is using therapy donkeys as a free, public-health-funded support program. French AI Infrastructure: SoftBank plans up to €75B in France for AI data centres (up to 5 GW), with power supply emerging as the key constraint. Cybersecurity: Android banking trojan OverlayPhantom is targeting users across multiple countries, abusing Accessibility Services for persistent control. Cancer Research: Early trial results suggest a “smart” drug can expose hidden cancer cells to immunotherapy and shrink tumours by at least 30% in some cases. Environment & Biodiversity: Venice’s flamingo numbers are rising as wetland restoration improves habitat. Defense Industry (France): France bans Israel’s official participation in Eurosatory while allowing non-assault displays by companies.

AI Infrastructure in France: SoftBank pledged up to €75B to build 5 GW of AI data-center capacity in Hauts-de-France, partnering with Schneider Electric and framing it as a jobs and robotics manufacturing hub. Online Child Safety: Malaysia began enforcing a ban on social media accounts for under-16s, requiring age verification and blocking sign-ups on major platforms, with fines for non-compliance. Health Tech & Diagnostics: ABL Diagnostics expanded its UltraGene multiplex qPCR portfolio to a 45-reference range, adding new respiratory panels to broaden pathogen coverage. Space & Astronomy: The ESA says a rare total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026 will be widely visible across parts of Europe, including France, during a major skywatch event. Environment & Biodiversity: Venice’s restored wetlands are drawing record numbers of flamingos, with nearly 24,000 wintering birds reported last year. Animal-Assisted Therapy: A psychiatric hospital near Paris is using therapy donkeys as a mediator to help patients break treatment routines and improve wellbeing.

AI Infrastructure Push: SoftBank plans up to €75bn for AI data centres in France, targeting 5 GW capacity (starting with €45bn/3.1 GW in Hauts-de-France) and citing France’s low-carbon grid and engineering talent. Nuclear Safety Watch: IAEA experts praised Lithuania’s “robust and mature” nuclear and radiation safety oversight after an IRRS review, including continued work on public communication and regulatory effectiveness. Space & Industry: A week of coverage highlights how smaller European players are building space-economy infrastructure, with Lithuania emerging as a satellite and aerospace engineering contender. Green Aviation Fuel: Europe’s synthetic jet fuel push (e-SAF) gets a boost as the Iran war reshapes supply risks, with one German facility turning hydrogen and CO2 into jet fuel while Brussels sets blending targets. Medical Research: A PEACE-2 trial update on cabazitaxel plus radiotherapy/ADT in very high-risk localized prostate cancer focuses on whether to treat the pelvis or only the prostate. Biotech & Science: Researchers show lab-grown brain cells can learn to play “Doom,” while another study maps how DNA rapidly escapes UV damage via multiple ultrafast pathways. Public Health & Safety: WHO reports Ebola recoveries in the current outbreak, as health teams continue vaccine and treatment work.

Climate & Health: A new wave of extreme heat is turning the French Open into a “hellish nightmare,” with players reporting heatstroke-like conditions and organizers facing mounting pressure to protect athletes and fans. Biodiversity: The Ocean Census reports 1,121 new marine species discovered in a single year, underscoring how much ocean life still remains unknown. Public Health Research: Studies highlight how mosquitoes are adapting to common repellents like DEET, suggesting future control strategies may need to evolve. Tech Policy & Borders: EU’s entry-exit system (EES) is causing major airport delays for travelers, with calls to arrive up to three hours early as biometric checks add friction. Space/Science Culture: A Blue Moon explainer leans on science and history, reminding readers how astronomy keeps re-entering pop culture. People & STEM Mindsets: French philosopher Edgar Morin dies at 104, praised for “complex thought” that bridged disciplines from science to society.

Climate & Health: A Lancet Planetary Health study links climate change to rising antibiotic resistance in Salmonella, with resistance genes increasing as temperatures and rainfall shift, raising the stakes for food poisoning treatment. Public Health & Neonatal Care: New research using France’s national health data flags complex patterns in early neonatal transfers for moderate-to-late preterm babies, suggesting current protocols may miss key drivers. Medical Breakthrough: Phase 2 ASCO results show elranatamab has a strong response signal in high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma, with high response rates and most patients achieving undetectable minimal residual disease. Biosecurity & Crime Tech: Gardaí are using an international DNA data exchange treaty to try to match DNA from Sophie Toscan du Plantier’s boot, with France’s database among the sources. STEM Policy & Industry: France and Indonesia announced a high-level business council and multiple deals worth $3.5B, including cooperation in innovation, technology, critical minerals, and downstream industries. Environment & Materials: A Lyon-based Nexans DC microgrid pilot aims to improve electrified building resilience, while broader EU reuse efforts name France’s Alexis Dusanter as a “Reuse Champion.” Tech & Society: A new study finds mosquitoes can learn to associate common repellent chemicals like DEET with blood meals, complicating pest control strategies.

Heatwave Watch (France): More than half of France shattered May temperature records during an early-season heatwave, with Meteo-France citing dozens of monthly minimum and maximum records and a national May peak of 24.9°C; Angoulême hit 37.8°C, the highest May value on record. Climate Impacts (Forests): Trees across Europe are “suffering” under heat and drought, with some closing leaf pores to save water at the cost of growth—an early warning for forest dieback. EU–China Trade Tensions: EU leaders are increasingly framing dependence on China as a strategic risk, with “panic” language in Brussels as Beijing warns it will retaliate against protective measures. NATO Drills Near Russia (Tech + Drones): NATO’s “Northern Star” exercises in Finland bring 9,000 troops from seven countries, focusing on rapid deployment and integrating sensor networks and autonomous drone capabilities. EU Security Planning: The EU is running simulations to activate its mutual defense clause (Article 42.7), aiming to strengthen planning even if it won’t replace NATO’s Article 5. Marine Protection (Greece–France): Greece and France agreed to boost Mediterranean marine protection cooperation, including digital monitoring and action against pollution and illegal fishing. Cybersecurity Leadership: A new ISC2 survey finds cybersecurity professionals view leaders as more credible after high-profile incidents, with strong emphasis on communicating risk.

EU Health Security: The European Commission has arranged emergency deliveries of the antiviral Favipiravir to France, Spain, and the Netherlands (1,400 tablets total) for possible Hantavirus response, with further procurement steps planned if needed. Climate & Public Health: A deadly European heatwave has already been linked to deaths in France, while research and WHO-linked figures point to rising heat-related mortality risks as warming accelerates. Mosquito Control Research: A new study from France suggests mosquitoes can learn to associate DEET with food, raising concerns about how well common repellents may work over time. Youth Policy Debate: A Frontiers guest editorial argues that social media bans for teens lack solid scientific support and could backfire, with France among countries moving toward restrictions. EU Industrial Strategy: EU ministers are set to discuss ramping up trade defenses against China to protect critical sectors, as the bloc warns of a “China shock 2.0” and jobs at risk from the trade deficit. Tech & Security: Researchers report a Russian influence operation that hijacked hundreds of Bluesky accounts to spread propaganda using real identities. France-Indonesia Ties: Macron and Prabowo highlight a strengthened partnership, including defense cooperation and expanded science/technology collaboration.

Climate & Public Health: A Europe-wide heatwave keeps breaking records, with Italy issuing a red alert for Rome and several northern cities while France and Britain report their hottest-ever May days; authorities link deaths mostly to heat-related drowning accidents. AI for Medicine: Clarius says CE-certified AI handheld ultrasound models are now available across Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Benelux, aiming to match traditional ultrasound diagnostic power. AI Infrastructure & Defense: Mistral defends military AI use and unveils a new 10MW data centre in Les Ulis, France, as part of a €4bn push to expand computing capacity. STEM Research & Safety: French-led lab work suggests mosquitoes can learn to approach DEET after associating it with feeding, raising questions about how repellents are used. Energy & Industry: TotalEnergies files for authorization of the giant Centre Manche Énergies offshore wind project off Normandy, targeting renewable power for nearly one million homes. Policy & Society: French lawmakers voted to formally repeal slavery-era “Code noir” laws, stopping short of reparations demands.

Clinical Research in France: NETRIS Pharma secured €7.25M under Horizon Europe to run a Phase 2b trial of NP137 in head and neck cancer, led at Lyon’s Centre Léon Bérard with French and Spanish oncology partners. Molecular Diagnostics: ABL Diagnostics presented at SEIMC 2026 how next-generation sequencing can map CMV antiviral resistance mutations in maribavir-treated immunocompromised patients, aiming to catch low-frequency variants missed by standard methods. AI for Product Testing in France: Ipsos launched “Product Studio,” bringing faster, AI-assisted product testing and consumer insight workflows to France and other major markets. Energy Infrastructure: A new analysis argues Europe’s gas networks and LNG/storage assets remain a strategic backbone for security of supply during shocks. Nuclear Deterrence (Norway–France): Norway is set to fall under France’s nuclear umbrella via a French-led nuclear initiative, while keeping no peacetime deployment on Norwegian territory. Quantum/Defense Context: Broader coverage highlights Europe’s rearmament debate and NATO uncertainty around US commitment. Tech & Industry (France-linked): Corning and SGD Pharma expanded pharmaceutical glass tubing capacity in India using French-linked expertise and advanced vial technology.

Climate & Health: A record early “heat dome” is baking western Europe, with UN climate chief Simon Stiell calling it a “brutal reminder” of human-driven climate change; France and the UK logged their hottest-ever May days as temperatures stay above 30°C and authorities warn of health risks. Energy Systems: A separate analysis argues Europe’s renewables aren’t the problem—grid bottlenecks are—highlighting how fast-growing solar and wind collide with distribution infrastructure that can’t handle surges. Nuclear Deterrence: Norway is set to join France’s nuclear umbrella under a new defence agreement with Macron, following similar moves for Poland and Lithuania. Defence Industry: Britain and Poland sign a pact to jointly manufacture next-generation air-defence missiles, while Canada eyes Saab’s GlobalEye radar aircraft for its surveillance fleet. Space: NASA lays out first steps for a Moon base, ordering landers, drones and other hardware for a south-pole outpost ahead of early Artemis crew plans. Biomed: Institut Pasteur-linked researchers win the Shaw Prize for work underpinning targeted therapy for acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Health Research: A large French study links certain food preservatives to higher risks of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Semiconductors: Soitec reports FY2026 results with momentum in Photonics-SOI, tied to surging AI data-centre demand.

Heatwave Emergency: A record-breaking early-season “heat dome” is frying Western Europe. In the UK, Kew Gardens hit 35.1°C, breaking a century-old May record again after 34.8°C the day before, with rare “tropical nights” and reports of heat-linked drownings. France issued an orange alert as temperatures stayed far above normal, and Spain warned of up to 40°C. Public Health & Transport: London’s Underground reportedly hit sauna-like conditions, with major delays and platform temperatures topping 34°C. Geopolitics & Energy: Iran says the US violated a ceasefire after strikes near Hormozgan; oil jumped back toward $100 as markets stayed upbeat on AI optimism. Digital & Finance: Sri Lanka’s push to expand PayPal-style digital payments signals deeper integration into global fintech. Carbon Governance: DR Congo named Lumiere its sovereign carbon registry, with a fuller unveiling due at the GEF Assembly in early June. Defense Industry: Elbit Systems won a ~$1.4B European modernization contract, lifting backlog above $30B.

Ebola Watch: The International Rescue Committee warns the current Ebola outbreak could become the deadliest on record as conflict, fast spread, and funding cuts threaten to outpace the 2018–2020 crisis. Heat Dome Crisis: Western Europe is getting baked by an early “heat dome,” with the UK smashing its May temperature record again (35°C at Kew/Heathrow) and France reporting at least seven heat-related deaths, including drownings and a runner’s fatal heart attack. Defense & Drones: New footage and reporting point to Iran-backed militia training for anti-aircraft missile use, while England’s World Cup camp is rolling out “hunter-catcher” drone protection and jamming gear. EV Shake-up: Ferrari unveiled its first fully electric model, the Luce, as Stellantis’ five-year plan leaves investors asking for more detail on how its 14-brand future will actually play out. Media & Disinfo: Radio France Internationale launches an Armenian-language, youth-focused digital newsroom aimed at countering disinformation.