Category: 3. Business

Eviden’s solutions will be integrated into a collaborative security testing platform, allowing European essential service providers to assess their cyber threat resilience strategy

 

Paris, France – 20 November 2025

Eviden, the Atos Group product brand leading in advanced computing, cybersecurity products, mission-critical systems and vision AI, today announced that it has won a call for projects from the European Cybersecurity Competence Center and Network (ECCC)[1] to improve the cyber protection and resilience of European critical infrastructures.

This ECCC initiative aims to develop a strong and coherent community around cybersecurity issues by strengthening collaboration, knowledge sharing and the deployment of innovative cybersecurity solutions on a European scale.

The CIPHER[2] (Cybersecurity Intelligence, Protection and Holistic Enterprise Resilience) consortium will directly contribute to the ECCC’s mission to strengthen Europe’s digital resilience by providing a standardized, collaborative facility for testing, validating, and certifying the cybersecurity posture of essential service operators.

Led by Eviden, CIPHER brings together 13 partners from 7 European countries — including critical infrastructure operators, research organizations, and cybersecurity SMEs — ensuring a strong, multi-sectoral approach to advancing Europe’s cyber resilience.

For more information, please click here.

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[1] ECCC https://cybersecurity-centre.europa.eu/index_en is Europe’s executive agency responsible for coordinating investments in cybersecurity research, innovation and industrial development in relation to a network of National Coordination Centres (NCCs) composed of national cybersecurity authorities, industry, start-ups and research centres. Initiated by ECCC, CIPHER strengthens detection and coordination capabilities at the European level through technological innovation and automation, meeting the objective set by ECCC to deploy concrete digital security solutions. ECCC is involved in the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL).

[2] CIPHER is funded under the European Commission’s Digital Europe Programme (DEP) through the ECCC ‘Cybersecurity Deployment’ call, which supports the large-scale deployment of cybersecurity capacities across the EU.

The boss of Ford UK has warned Rachel Reeves against increasing taxes on electric vehicles in next week’s budget, saying it could discourage drivers from making the switch away from petrol and diesel cars.

Lisa Brankin, the managing director of Ford UK, said it was “certainly not the right time” to introduce new levies on EVs, amid reports that the chancellor could implement a new pay-per-mile charge on electric vehicles (EVs) from 2028.

The proposed plan would introduce a charge of 3p a mile for EVs on top of other road taxes, to help offset falling tax revenue from petrol and diesel cars.

“That [policy], in the face of really fragile demand for electric vehicles, is just another brake,” Brankin told the BBC.

“Electric vehicles in some instances have gone from being a great thing to being something that we’re trying to push people into,” she added.

Brankin’s company, which makes the bestselling car in the UK, the Ford Puma, is among the many carmakers under pressure to meet the government’s target for 80% of new vehicle sales to be EVs by 2030.

The government reintroduced an electric car grant worth up to £3,750 in July after intense lobbying by carmakers who argued that they were struggling to meet targets on electric sales.

Electric car sales have been hitting record highs in the UK since, but Brankin said that without such government support Ford would not be able to achieve the 80% target.

The market was “distorted” owing to heavy discounting and lower values for second-hand EVs, she said.

“When that [target] was set a number of years ago, the outlook for demand around electric vehicles was buoyant and there seemed to be momentum behind electric vehicles. What we’re seeing now is that customer demand is not in line with that ambition.”

Brankin added“It’s really easy to sell people things they want,. It’s hard to sell people things they don’t want.”

Many new EVs are sold to businesses for their employees, who benefit from lower rates of “company car tax” compared with diesel or petrol options.

Brankin said Reeves should retain this tax benefit for companies “greening” their fleets.

Ford, whose world headquarters is in Michigan in the US, employs about 6,000 people in the UK, including at its diesel engine plant in Dagenham.

Brankin said the company was yet to make any decisions about the long-term future of the Dagenham plant, which will build diesel engines up until 2030.

“We’re working really hard on what the next life of Dagenham looks like,”she said, adding there was “nothing that we’ve settled on at the moment”.

A spokesperson for the Treasury said: “Fuel duty covers petrol and diesel, but there’s no equivalent for electric vehicles. We want a fairer system for all drivers whilst backing the transition to electric vehicles, which is why we have invested £4bn in support, including grants to cut upfront costs by up to £3,750 per eligible vehicle.

“Just as it is right to seek a tax system that fairly funds roads, infrastructure and public services, we will look at further support measures to make owning electric vehicles more convenient and more affordable.”

Science & Exploration

20/11/2025
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New research^[1] from Aviva has revealed an increase in engagement with financial advice and also pointed to wider benefits for consumers, although the overall take-up rate has fallen from 13% to 11% over the past four years.

In the new Appetite for Advice report, launched today, Aviva has calculated an ‘appetite for advice’ index which shows that perceptions of advice and the value it can bring to people’s lives have improved across the board.

Although men are more likely to take advice, and rate its benefits more positively, the increase since 2021 in this measure for men has not been as steep as with women. If the relative rates of improvement continue at the same levels, we will see parity by 2042.

The Appetite for Advice index is calculated using feedback from a nationally representative sample of 2,000 consumers and then compared to the same factors measured in a previous survey conducted in 2021.  The Index is a composite score, with a maximum possible score of 100. It brings together responses to all questions which explore perceptions of advice and the value it offers, combined with actual behaviour in relation to taking advice, and the frequency with which people interact with their adviser.

In 2025, the overall Appetite for Advice Index measured 30, which is up from a score of 24 in 2021. This shows an overall increase in the level of engagement with advice across all consumers surveyed, advised and non-advised. For men, the score is 32, up from 26, and for women it is 29, up from 23.

This gives us a benchmark from which we can measure changes in engagement in the future, whilst identifying the factors which have most influence over changes in the score, and what action needs to be taken to make improvements.

Lorna Whalley, Director, Aviva Retail Platform, said: “Our research shows there has been a real shift over the last four years in the way financial advice is perceived. Even though fewer people said they are now taking advice than four years ago, the benefits of it, both for wealth and well-being, are felt much more than before. This is testament to the work advisers have been doing to help their clients with their financial, and wider, planning. Advice really delivers security and peace of mind for those who take it, and it’s important to get that message across to a wider audience, so that more people can benefit.”

Although the research shows that fewer people are taking financial advice in 2025 compared with 2021 (11% vs 13%), perceptions towards advice and the value it brings have risen amongst those who do. Financial benefits are acknowledged, with 81% (up 9%) of men and 71% (up 6%) of women agreeing^[2] that they are better off than they would be without advice. 81% of men, and 69% of women saying they have avoided mistakes they would have made without financial advice (an increase of 10% and 7% respectively).

However, the biggest increase has been seen in the ways financial advice provides wider benefit. 82% of advised men and 78% of advised women in our survey now agree that financial advice contributes to their overall well-being, up significantly from the 72% and 67% who said this in 2021.  

Lorna Whalley, said: “Our research shows that fewer women than men take financial advice, at 8% and 14% respectively, but it is encouraging to see that engagement with women has risen more strongly even if from a lower base. If this is sustained, engagement levels for men and women will be the same in seventeen years, but we should challenge ourselves to find effective ways to bring that date forward, by understanding how we can demonstrate the very real benefits advice can bring in a way which is meaningful to women, and in ways that resonate with them.”

-Ends-

References:

^1. _{Research carried out 21.05.2025 – 23.05.2025 by Censuswide, with 2001 nationally representative consumers. ‘Advised clients’ = those agreeing ‘I have an ongoing relationship with scheduled reviews’ in response to ‘Which of the following best describes your relationship with your adviser?’}

_{The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,028 general consumers/2001 Nationally Representative Consumers. The data was collected between 04/01/21 – 06/01/21/21.05.2025-23.05.2025 . Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council. [↑]}

^2. _{Combines ‘Strongly agree’ and ‘Somewhat agree’ [↑]}

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Squire Patton Boggs has advised Vital Energi, a leading provider of energy infrastructure solutions, on a £175 million fundraising through a Nordic Bond issue and the acquisition of the Port Clarence biomass facility in Teesside, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategic asset ownership growth plans. The bond is one of the largest Sterling-denominated Nordic Bond raises in the UK energy infrastructure sector.

The multi-disciplinary Squire Patton Boggs team was led by Corporate partner James Fitzgibbon, and included Mariche Chambers, Matthew Ingram, Tom Cerdan and Caroline Morris (Financial Services), Darren Warburton, Louise Barber and Tom McClusky (Corporate), Patrick Ford and Alex Paterson (Tax Strategy and Benefits), Mark Barker, Rachel Koral and Holly Rowbottom (Real Estate), John Alderton and Vanessa Stuart (Restructuring and Insolvency), Ray O’Connor (Construction) and Kerry Lee (Intellectual Property and Technology).

Vital Energi specialises in heat networks, renewable generation, power distribution, and energy-from-waste facilities. The £175 million Nordic Bond was issued through the Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) in August 2025, providing flexibility for future strategic investments and partnerships. The Port Clarence biomass facility was acquired from Nuveen Infrastructure / Glenmont Infrastructure and represents the next phase of Vital Energi’s evolution from energy solutions provider to significant asset owner.

Ashley Malin, managing director at Vital Energi, said: “Thanks to the team at Squire Patton Boggs for all of your support and going above and beyond on this fund raise and acquisition. We definitely couldn’t have done this without the support of the full team.”

James Fitzgibbon commented: “Having worked with Vital Energi over a number of years, we are proud to assist one of the industry leaders on a milestone project that furthers its strategy to develop and own critical renewable energy generating assets and support the UK’s transition to sustainable energy.

“This complex project involved specialist expertise from across the firm working together to structure and secure funding, manage the acquisition and development of the Port Clarence facility and assist with the company’s growth strategy. We look forward to continuing to support Vital Energi with its future plans.”

20^th of November 2025, Oslo (Norway), Rotterdam (Netherlands)

Norsk e-Fuel AS, a pioneer in Power-to-Liquid (PtL) technology, and Braskem, a global leader in polymers and biopolymers, have announced a strategic collaboration to explore the possible integration of e-Naphtha into the plastics value chain. This partnership aims to accelerate the development of plastics derived from carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to a circular future.

Norsk e-Fuel is driving the industrial rollout of PtL technology by building large-scale facilities that convert fossil-free electricity, water, and captured CO² into synthetic fuels and feedstocks. The company’s plan foresees at least three plants in operation by 2032, with a combined annual capacity of more than 200,000 tons of e-Fuels. Around a quarter of this output could be supplied as e-Naphtha – a versatile feedstock used to produce plastics.

Braskem’s sustainability strategy, “Keeping Carbon in the Loop”, focuses on retaining carbon within products and the economy through renewable, circular, and carbon-optimized solutions. The company already produces I’m green^TM bio-based polyethylene at an industrial scale-a renewable plastic made from sugarcane ethanol-and offers mass balance certified solutions for markets where segregated routes are not yet feasible. By potentially processing e-Naphtha into polypropylene and other essential materials, Braskem aims to expand its portfolio with innovative plastics that could have a significantly reduced climate footprint.

“e-Naphtha is more than a by-product; it is a valuable feedstock for creating long-lasting, circular products,” said Lars Bjørn Larsen, CCO of Norsk e-Fuel. “By capturing carbon and embedding it into durable, recyclable materials, we keep carbon in use and out of the atmosphere.”

“Plastics are essential to modern life, and by producing them with captured carbon, we keep that carbon in the economy-not in the air,” said Walmir Soller, Vice President for North America, Europe, and Asia (NAMEA) and CEO of Braskem BV. “This collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation and to building value chains that enable circularity and carbon neutrality.”

The collaboration will focus on developing a framework for integrating e-Naphtha into plastic production, assessing market opportunities, and engaging with customers seeking circular solutions. It also highlights the role of carbon capture utilization (CCU) in creating new value chains for the plastics industry, circulating carbon through products, not emissions.

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Norsk e-Fuel in brief

Norsk e-Fuel was founded in 2019 to drive the transition to renewable aviation by establishing the industrial production of sustainable fuels based on CO₂ and water. As project developer, the company is establishing large-scale production sites to deliver synthetic fuels to the aviation industry. Supported by strategic investors and carefully selected partners, Norsk e-Fuel is set to bring Power-to-Liquid production to industrial scale and determined to develop a new value chain for sustainable fuels.

For more information, visit

www.norsk-e-fuel.com

Contact: Luisa Biesold, Head of Communications & Corp. Development,

lbiesold@norsk-e-fuel.com

Braskem in brief

With a global vision of the future oriented towards people and sustainability, Braskem is committed to contributing to the value chain for strengthening the Circular Economy. The petrochemical company’s almost 8,000 team members dedicate themselves every day to improving people’s lives through sustainable chemicals and plastics solutions. Braskem has an innovative DNA and a comprehensive portfolio of thermoplastic resins and chemical products for diverse segments, such as food packaging, construction, manufacturing, automotive, agribusiness, healthcare, and hygiene, among others. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the United States, Mexico, and Germany, Braskem markets its products to clients in more than 70 countries. For more information, visit

www.braskem.com

.

 

Braskem on social media:                                                                    

www.facebook.com/BraskemGlobal

www.linkedin.com/company/braskem

 

For press information, please contact:

 

Braskem North America, Europe, and Asia

Stacy Torpey

Communications Director

 

 

 

stacy.torpey@braskem.com

 

Shell Plc (LON:SHEL) said on Wednesday it has struck a deal to offtake around 75% of the output of a 230-MW solar project in Germany to secure the electricity supply of its 100-MW Refhyne II proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser.

The power purchase agreement (PPA) with Solarkraftwerk Halenbeck-Rohlsd has a 10-year term and complements a five-year deal for roughly a third of the output of the 332-MW Nordsee One offshore wind farm in the German North Sea.

The contracted photovoltaic (PV) project is currently under construction and will create two identical plants of 115 MW each. Its owner is 50%-owned by Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing (DAL).

The two PPAs signed by Shell Energy Europe Limited secure “a significant proportion” of the renewable electricity required for REFHYNE 2’s operations. The hydrogen electrolyser is currently being installed near the company’s Energy and Chemicals Park Rheinland near Cologne, Western Germany. Once in operation in 2027, it will have the capacity to produce up to 16,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen every year for use to partly decarbonise Shell’s operations.

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