Top 3 tech, startup and sustainability stories of the week, 14th

This week’s stories are about tech, startup and sustainability, coming from the EU, France and Japan

1-EU unveils AI strategy to compete with USA and China

The European Union has unveiled a new plan to supercharge its artificial intelligence industry, aiming to position itself as a global competitor to the United States and China while addressing mounting concerns from tech firms about regulatory overreach.

I read this story at CNBC and dubbed the “AI Continent Action Plan,” the initiative was presented by the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm. It sets out a roadmap to transform Europe’s established industrial base and skilled workforce into a hub for AI innovation. The plan includes the development of large-scale “AI factories” and “gigafactories” — advanced facilities designed to support the creation and training of cutting-edge AI models — along with specialized labs to improve startups’ access to high-quality data, according to the story. (By the way I have a story here about EU’s high tech export)

The EU says these efforts are aimed at accelerating AI development across the continent while ensuring companies can navigate the bloc’s evolving regulatory landscape. As part of the plan, a new “AI Act Service Desk” will be established to guide businesses through the EU’s recently passed AI Act — landmark legislation that governs AI use based on its societal risk.

According to the Commission, the Service Desk will offer legal clarity and promote trust in AI technologies, serving as a “central hub for information and guidance,” emphasized the story.

Legal experts say the Commission’s new plan reflects a shift toward reducing regulatory friction. “This isn’t only about the EU,” said John Buyers, global head of AI at Osborne Clarke. “If they are serious about eliminating legal uncertainties caused by interpretation of the AI Act, this would be a real boost for developers and users — not just in Europe, but in the U.K. and the U.S. as well.”

EU announced a new AI strategy to compete with USA and China

2-French sustainable fashion startup raises $16 million

Fairly Made, a Paris-based sustainable fashion startup, has secured €15 million (approx. USD $16.4 million) in a Series B funding round. The funds will be used to further develop its supply chain tracking technology, enabling fashion brands to accurately evaluate the environmental and social impact of their products.

Founded in 2018 by Laure Betsch and Camille Le Gal, Fairly Made offers a SaaS platform that allows fashion companies to trace the origins of raw materials and the production journey of their goods. I read this story at esgtoday and this tool not only helps brands comply with growing regulatory demands but also allows them to provide consumers with digital passports that ensure full transparency. The company collaborates with major brands such as Versace, LVMH, Paul Smith, SMCP, ba&sh, Another Tomorrow, A.P.C, and Courrèges, and has already issued over 100 million digital passports.

Recently, Fairly Made launched an Ecodesign module, offering brands data-driven tools and real-time simulations to create products with reduced environmental impact.

The new funding will support the expansion and enhancement of the company’s technology, the development of new features for traceability, impact measurement, and ecodesign, as well as international growth and team development.

Co-founder Laure Betsch stated, “Building a powerful SaaS platform allows us to help fashion brands confront environmental and social challenges. By merging traceability, sustainable design, and transparency, we’re giving the industry the tools to make real progress.”

The investment was led by BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund, alongside GET Fund, ETF Partners, and Frenchfounders.

Camille Le Gal (on the left) and Laure Betsch, founders at Fairly Made

3-Waymo goes to Japan

Waymo is set to begin its first international trial of autonomous vehicles with manual testing on public roads in Japan. Although the Alphabet-owned company hasn’t announced plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service there, it still considers the testing phase a major achievement.

I saw this story at The Verge and describing the initiative as a “road trip,” Waymo aims to collect data on Japan’s unique driving conditions—such as left-side traffic and densely packed urban areas. For now, around 25 vehicles will be operated manually to gather mapping data, with the help of local taxi company Nihon Kotsu.

According to a LinkedIn post sharing photos of the cars, Tokyo presents some serious challenges for autonomous vehicles, with narrow, winding roads and busy pedestrian and cyclist traffic.

Trained drivers from Nihon Kotsu will guide the cars through seven central Tokyo districts. In addition to the vehicle tests, Waymo has been training personnel from GO, a widely-used taxi app in Japan, and working closely with government agencies, first responders, and community leaders to prepare for the rollout.

“In Tokyo, we’re following the same principles we use in the U.S.: prioritizing safety, building community trust, and working with local stakeholders,” said Nicole Gavel, Waymo’s head of business development.

Currently, Waymo’s robotaxi service is available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, with plans to expand to other U.S. cities like Miami and Washington, DC. It’s also conducting test drives in San Diego and Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, China’s Apollo Go—another major player in the self-driving space—recently announced it completed over 1.1 million paid driverless rides in late 2024 and is expanding operations to Hong Kong. Like Waymo, it averages around 200,000 paid trips weekly, as the story put it.