Latest news with #Aschbacher
Euronews
12-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Multi-million pilot project leads Uzbekistan's digital transformation
At the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2025 (TIFF 2025), green tech and AI-ready infrastructure dominated the conversation, and few projects generated as much buzz as Data Volt's push to build the region's first fully sustainable, high-density data centres. 'We're bringing in the latest technology, especially in cooling', said Rajit Nanda, CEO of Data Volt, outlining how the company is rethinking the fundamentals of digital infrastructure. 'These facilities aren't just built for today – they're built for where AI is heading'. Data Volt's model is deceptively simple: use solar by day, wind by night, and store the rest in powerful battery systems that keep operations running around the clock. What makes it revolutionary is the scale and the context. In a world where data centres already account for around 3% of global emissions, and AI could triple energy demand, this model is a direct response to a growing crisis. 'If we don't start building sustainable data centers now, the industry's carbon footprint could rival that of aviation within a decade', warned Nanda. Data Volt isn't waiting. It has already launched a pilot project worth €185 million in Tashkent's IT Park. Larger facilities are in the pipeline, including a new site in the ancient city of Bukhara expected to attract €2.8 billion, and a third project in New Tashkent, a futuristic smart city being built from the ground up. Altogether, the company plans to invest over €4.6 billion in Uzbekistan over the next five years. What sets Data Volt apart is not just its green credentials, it's how the company is preparing for the next wave of AI. Traditional data centres in the region operate at roughly 10 kilowatts per rack. Data Volt's current designs push that to 100 kilowatts, and upcoming projects aim to reach densities of 1,000 kilowatts per rack – capable of supporting the heaviest AI workloads. This level of performance requires more than just power. It also demands sophisticated cooling both air and liquid, to keep high-density servers operating efficiently and sustainably. 'The world is running out of computer power,' said Nanda. 'As AI becomes part of everyday life, we want to make sure people don't experience buffering or lag like we did in the early days of the internet'. Uzbekistan's digital transformation continues to surprise many investors. With an action plan full of reforms, a young and tech-savvy population, and increasing openness to foreign investment, the country is fast becoming a testbed for innovation. 'Uzbekistan is transforming', Nanda admitted. 'The local talent pool, especially in energy and digital, makes it a natural candidate to lead the region's digital revolution'. And while the projects are rooted in Central Asia, the vision is global. Data Volt's infrastructure is being designed to meet the world's growing demand for real-time AI, green computing, and scalable, sustainable tech solutions. The digital future is coming faster than expected. The challenge is building the infrastructure to support it without breaking the planet. At TIIF 2025, one thing was clear: that work has already begun.
Euronews
12-06-2025
- Science
- Euronews
ESA considering freezing or axing missions amid NASA budget cuts
The European Space Agency (ESA) isn't ruling out programme cuts or freezes if proposed budget cuts to the American space agency NASA are passed by the US Congress later this year. NASA's 2026 technical budget request, which was released last week, details possible cuts to 19 European space research programmes and could impact key technologies that ESA supplies to American Moon missions. The bill still needs Congress' approval, likely to come this autumn. Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director general, told journalists on Thursday that the council is 'doing its homework' to analyse what the impacts of possible NASA budget cuts could be and how investments made by its member states could be 'used in the most efficient way,' to respond. Aschbacher assured that no cuts or cancellations were coming until the US "finalised" its position, but that no matter the decision made by Congress, ESA would be "ready" and "well-prepared" to react. Carole Mundell, ESA's director of science, said the agency had determined 19 research projects could be impacted by the proposed NASA budget cuts. Mundell said ESA and its international partners could mitigate the damage to all but three of them: the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a space probe that measures gravitational waves, Envision, ESA's first mission to Venus to measure its different atmospheres, and NewAthena, the world's largest X-Ray observatory. LISA and Envision have already been approved by the ESA council for funding, and NewAthena will come before the council but is expected to pass in 2027. ESA also supplies NASA with certain key parts for the NASA-led Artemis missions that would see humans return to the surface of the Moon for the first time since the 1960s. The ESA builds European Space Modules (ESMs) that provide electricity and oxygen to Orion, the spacecraft picked by NASA for the Artemis missions to the surface of the Moon. The ESA is also in charge of the Argonaut, Europe's lunar lander programme that would ultimately support these missions. It is also contributing three key elements for Gateway, the first international space station to be built around the Moon. The proposed NASA budget said that it will sustain funding for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for early 2026, and the Artemis III mission in 2027, but future missions would cancel the Gateway and retire Orion in the name of finding a more 'sustainable and cost-effective' lunar exploration strategy. Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA's director of human and robotic exploration, said the agency continues to fulfill its Gateway and ESM contracts with NASA. Even if cuts are approved, Argonaut and these European capabilities would still be used to support ESA missions, he added. Neuenschwander said ESA was now exploring with industry how some replacement technologies could be built in the EU. For example, the NASA cuts target the Rosalind Franklin ExoMars Rover mission, an ESA programme that drills down to the surface of the Red Planet to dig up organic material for further scientific study. NASA supplies three parts of the rover's technology, including the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA), an astrobiology instrument that does the sample extraction, and an americium radioisotope heater unit (RHU) to power the vehicle. Both technologies are not currently available to be produced in Europe, Neuenschwander said, but that engagement is starting to build them. The RHU in particular can also be used for future ESA lunar surface exploration missions, he added. Neuenschwander said ESA could rely on other partners, like the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), in the short term to supply technologies like the MOMA or RHU, but ultimately the goal is to build the necessary technology in Europe.
Global News
06-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety
Economic and geopolitical turmoil is forcing the Canadian and European space agencies to work together more closely, the organizations' leaders said Friday as they signed a joint statement reaffirming their long-standing collaboration. At the Canadian Space Agency's headquarters south of Montreal, Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said economic uncertainty and global conflict are pushing Europe's space sector to establish its autonomy — and reassert links with allies. 'If we are aiming to be more … independent, this does not mean that we want to isolate ourselves,' Aschbacher said. 'We want to be strong and autonomous in order to have partnerships with other agencies.' Canada is the European agency's only non-European co-operating state, and as such Canadian companies are granted privileged access to Europe's space market. Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency, said every dollar awarded to Canadian firms generates three dollars in return. Story continues below advertisement Leaders at both organizations signed a joint statement Friday reaffirming the agencies' close ties; Canada has had a deal with the European Space Agency since 1979. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Aschbacher's two-day visit to Canada is the first in a quarter century by a European space chief and included discussions with government and industry leaders. Defence spending is rising across the globe, and the United States is pressuring NATO members to increase their spending on defence, he said. 'We should not forget that defence is tightly linked with space because you do need communication, Earth observation capabilities and many other space technologies in order to work hand in hand.' As well, Aschbacher added that the United States' space agency — NASA — could be facing deep budget cuts. 'You have all seen the budget proposals that have been released as a very first proposal of the White House,' Aschbacher said. 'I can only say this is a work in progress: the budget negotiations are ongoing, but be assured that Europe and the European Space Agency will get out of this stronger, more autonomous, more independent.' Campbell said that in uncertain times it's important to reaffirm relationships with like-minded allies. Canada is a spacefaring nation, she added, from rovers to instruments to robotics that will be in demand around the world in low Earth orbit and in deep space. Canada is already a partner with NASA and ESA in the James Webb Telescope, the world's most powerful telescope. Story continues below advertisement 'We're resilient because we're quite confident that there's going to be a growing need for what we do in low Earth orbit and in deep space,' Campbell said. With a need for independent access to space, nascent launch capability involving commercial firms on the East Coast could come into play, she said. 'It's just a matter of time before Canada is a launching nation as well.'
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety
LONGUEUIL - The Canadian and European space agencies say economic and geopolitical turmoil are forcing them to work closer together. Leaders at both organizations signed a joint statement today at Canadian Space Agency headquarters south of Montreal reaffirming their co-operation. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, says space programs are having to contend with economic uncertainty and global conflicts. His visit comes as the United States is pressuring NATO members to increase their spending on defence — a sector of the economy that is tightly linked to space. As well, Aschbacher says the United States' space agency — NASA — could be facing deep budget cuts. Canadian Space Agency president Lisa Campbell says that in uncertain times it's important to reaffirm relationships with like-minded allies. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
06-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian, European space agencies reaffirm relations amid political, economic anxiety
LONGUEUIL – The Canadian and European space agencies say economic and geopolitical turmoil are forcing them to work closer together. Leaders at both organizations signed a joint statement today at Canadian Space Agency headquarters south of Montreal reaffirming their co-operation. Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, says space programs are having to contend with economic uncertainty and global conflicts. His visit comes as the United States is pressuring NATO members to increase their spending on defence — a sector of the economy that is tightly linked to space. As well, Aschbacher says the United States' space agency — NASA — could be facing deep budget cuts. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Canadian Space Agency president Lisa Campbell says that in uncertain times it's important to reaffirm relationships with like-minded allies. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
