Category: 3. Business

The project will involve fieldwork using biometric equipment and artificial intelligence to detect brain responses and emotional wellbeing associated with preparing food at home; eating ready meals; dining alone, with others, or while using mobile devices.

An innovative approach to studying everyday life

This newly launched research, expected to deliver results in the first quarter of 2026, will explore a previously unexamined area from a scientific perspective: the behaviours and emotions Spanish people experience around cooking, eating, and mealtime habits at home.

Two studies will be conducted: one led by SEN and URJC, analysing brain responses in different food preparation and consumption scenarios using biometric equipment and artificial intelligence; and another by CIBEROBN, exploring eating patterns and screen use during meals. For IKEA, understanding how people live in their homes is a priority, using both in-house research and collaborations with specialist partners to delve into less explored areas.

“This public-private collaboration project aims to provide scientific evidence on how the home environment and lifestyle habits influence our health. Understanding these dynamics can help us build awareness and improve our wellbeing,” says Dr Fernando Fernández-Aranda, researcher at CIBEROBN.

“For SEN, it is a pleasure to collaborate with CIBEROBN, URJC, and IKEA to explore the important implications of an act as human as cooking and enjoying food, allowing us to analyse the emotional and neuroscientific elements behind it,” adds Jesús Porta-Etessam, President of SEN.

Two complementary studies

The two new studies will run in parallel, aiming to provide a clear picture of people’s habits, behaviours, emotions, and feelings around cooking and dining.

SEN and URJC will conduct fieldwork using biometric equipment and artificial intelligence to detect brain responses and emotional wellbeing linked to cooking at home, eating ready meals, dining alone, with company, or while using mobile devices.

“From the Spanish Society of Neurology and the field of neuroscience, we know that cooking and sharing meals activate brain areas related to reward, empathy, and wellbeing. Analysing how these responses change in digital or solitary settings will help us better understand the impact of today’s lifestyle on brain health,” explains Dr Jesús Porta-Etessam.

“We are more connected than ever, yet increasingly isolated. This pioneering study combines artificial intelligence and biometric technology to explore how cooking and related habits can help us emotionally reconnect in a hyperconnected world,” says Ana Reyes, Professor of Marketing and Market Research at URJC.

In parallel, researchers from CIBEROBN will analyse eating patterns through interviews and surveys.

“We’ll not only examine what foods are consumed and how they are prepared, but also the conditions under which these activities take place—including time, environment, social or family rituals, and how screen use influences them,” says Dr Fernández-Aranda, who highlights “the importance of integrating environmental, social, and cultural factors into the study of eating habits.”

This approach could deepen our understanding of human behaviour and open new research avenues in brain and mental health and lifestyle patterns.

Public–private collaboration to open new scientific questions

The project highlights the importance of collaboration between public and private entities—businesses, scientific societies, universities, and research centres—to achieve outcomes that are meaningful for society.

From the Swedish company’s point of view: “This partnership allows us to apply scientific rigour to the study of everyday life in a field that has been largely unexplored—the intersection between food, social experience, and brain response.”

Results will be shared in the first quarter of 2026, offering what is expected to be an unprecedented snapshot of Spaniards’ habits and emotions around the table.

 

About Ingka Group 

With IKEA retail operations in 31 markets, Ingka Group is the largest IKEA retailer and represents 87% of IKEA retail sales. It is a strategic partner to develop and innovate the IKEA business and help define common IKEA strategies. Ingka Group owns and operates IKEA sales channels under franchise agreements with Inter IKEA Systems B.V. It has three business areas: IKEA Retail, Ingka Investments and Ingka Centres. Read more on Ingka.com.

Press Release:
09:29 CET • 05 Dec 2025

News release from Vestas Mediterranean
Madrid, 5 December 2025

Vestas has received a 10 MW order for a wind project from Cementeria Costantinopoli Srl, a leading manufacturer of construction materials, to deliver renewable energy directly to their cement factory in the Basilicata region in Italy.

The wind farm will be located next to the factory and enable Cementeria Costantinopoli to supply energy on-site, covering approximately one-third of its electricity needs with secure, affordable and sustainable power.

The contract includes the supply and installation of three V117-3.45 MW turbines and it includes a 10-year Active Output Management 4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement.

“This project marks a milestone for Vestas in Italy as it is the first of its kind in the country to exclusively power an energy-intensive cement factory with clean wind energy, setting a precedent for industrial decarbonisation in the region. We are proud to deliver the technology solution that will reduce the plant’s environmental footprint and reliance on external power”, says Francesco Amati, General Manager, Vestas Italy.

“For Cementeria, the activation of the first wind farm for self-consumption in Italy, realised with Vestas technology, is not only an energy milestone, but also a tangible demonstration of our deep commitment to environmental sustainability. This strategic investment strengthens our leadership in the decarbonisation of the sector and underscores our commitment to building a productive future with reduced impact,” adds Rabasco Roberto, Chief Sustainability Officer of Cementeria Costantinopoli Srl.

Turbine delivery and commissioning are expected in fourth quarter of 2026. The order also reinforces Vestas’ leadership in the country’s wind energy sector, where it has installed over 6 GW since 1991.

For more information, please contact:
Fernando Iwan Glazer
Senior Director Strategy, Marketing & Communication
Vestas Mediterranean
M +34 682 00 34 12
Email: feigl@vestas.com

About Vestas
Vestas is the energy industry’s global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 197 GW of wind turbines in 88 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 159 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas’ more than 37,000 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future.

For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on: https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images

We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels:

Warner Bros Discovery has entered exclusive talks to sell its streaming and Hollywood studio business to Netflix, a move that would dramatically change the established film and TV landscape.

Netflix is in competition with Paramount Skydance and Comcast, which owns assets including Universal Studios and Sky, to buy the owner of the Hollywood studio Warner Bros, HBO and the HBO Max streaming service.

Netflix is offering a $5bn (£3.7bn) breakup fee if the deal fails to gain regulatory approval in the US, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the exclusive talks.

Warner Brothers Discover shares are currently about $24, giving it a market value of about $60bn. Netflix has reportedly offered between $28 and $30 a share, suggesting its bid could be worth between $70bn and $75bn.

Analysts have warned that the deal could spark competition concerns as it would result in the combination of two of the biggest streaming services in the US.

Netflix has given assurances that it will continue to allow the Warner Bros film studio, home to franchises such as Harry Potter and Batman, to continue to have wide cinematic releases.

Prior to the closing of any deal, Warner Bros Discovery will complete a planned spin-off of its cable channels, which include CNN, TBS and TNT.

A deal would result in Netflix becoming the owner of HBO, the maker of hit shows including Succession, The White Lotus, The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, as well as an extensive TV archive that includes classics such as Friends, which is soon to be unavailable on Netflix.

Warner Bros formally put itself up for sale in October after receiving interest from several parties.

Earlier this week, James Cameron, the director of Titanic and the Terminator and Avatar series, warned that a sale to Netflix would cause a “catastrophic loss of long-term value” for the entertainment industry.

Paramount, run by David Ellison and bankrolled by his billionaire father and Oracle founder, Larry, had been seen as the early frontrunner.

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Paramount, which owns assets including Channel 5 in the UK, had also offered a $5bn termination fee if a deal is agreed but fails to get regulatory clearance.

Earlier this week, Paramount argued in a letter to Warner Bros that its bid was most likely to gain regulatory clearance.

Paramount accused Warner Bros of operating an unfair auction process that favoured Netflix. In the letter from litigation counsel the company called the process “tainted”.

Warner Bros, Netflix, Comcast and Paramount declined to comment.

Leonardo and the Italian National Armaments Directorate have signed a multi-year contract to provide Logistics Support for the Italian Air Force’s fleet of C-27J “Spartan” tactical transport aircraft and for the Full Motion Simulator of the International Training Centre (ITC) at the Air Base in Pisa, headquarters of the 46th Air Brigade.

The contract will run from 2026 to 2028 under a Performance-Based model, ensuring high levels of efficiency for the Italian Air Force’s fleet of 12 aircraft operating out of the Pisa and Pratica di Mare (Rome) bases. During the same period, Leonardo will provide technical and administrative management services for operations at the Air Force’s International Training Center in Pisa and, above all, technical and maintenance support services for the ITC’ flight simulator in Pisa.

Leonardo’s C-27J “Spartan” is the most effective and versatile multi-mission tactical transport aircraft in its class available on the market today. Equipped with two powerful turboprop engines, it offers outstanding performance with extraordinary operational flexibility and economical use. Its ability to operate from unprepared runways and under extreme environmental conditions is unmatched by any other transport aircraft in its category. These exceptional features are taken even further in the enhanced C-27J Spartan Next Generation version, introducing new equipment and aerodynamic solutions.

Thanks to its exceptional structural robustness and the redundancy of its systems, the “Spartan” offers unique reliability, resilience and manoeuvrability, demonstrated during more than 275,000 hours in flight. Ordered and deployed by some of the world’s most important air forces, the C-27J has been extensively tested under the most challenging operational circumstances and continues to prove that it can effectively carry out a wide range of missions every day. Typical tasks of the C-27J include not only transport and airlift operations supporting troops close to the front line (“last tactical mile”), but disaster relief and firefighting missions.

The cabin of the C-27J can be quickly converted into 11 main configurations, each designed to carry out a specific type of mission. The five basic configurations (Cargo Transport, Troop Transport, Medical Evacuation, Cargo Raid, Parachute Raid) are produced using standard kits, and can each be set up in less than 30 minutes. The six optional configurations, requiring additional modules or equipment available to customers on request, are: VIP Transportation, Passenger Transportation, Special Medevac, Biocontainment, Basic and Advanced Firefighting.

Like many of Porsche’s technical inventions, PTM’s roots can be traced back to Ferdinand Porsche. The ingenious engineer laid the foundation for the brand’s sporty all-wheel drive as early as 1900, using the means available at the time. The idea, now in series production at Porsche for almost 40 years, has been continuously developed.

Today, a particularly powerful drive system called Porsche Traction Management (PTM) is installed in many of the sports car manufacturer’s all-wheel-drive models. This active system ensures rapid distribution of drive torque between the rear and front axles, enhancing driving dynamics, safety, traction and therefore delivering even greater driving pleasure. In other words, everything that constitutes the core philosophy of the brand.

PTM makes optimal use of the physical conditions to improve driving dynamics. Depending on the driving situation, axle loads change. This dynamic load transfer causes the tyres to transmit different forces depending on the axle and position during driving. For example, when driving straight uphill, the rear wheels are more heavily loaded and can transmit higher forces. In this case, PTM reduces the torque transferred to the front axle.

How does the ePTM work?

During the development of the Macan Electric, the engineers completely reimagined the system and created the electronically controlled Porsche Traction Management (ePTM). Through power electronics, the two electric motors of the all-wheel-drive Macan models are controlled individually and almost in real time. The ePTM reacts around five times faster than a conventional hang-on part-time all-wheel-drive system and can respond to slip within 10 milliseconds. Additionally, the all-wheel distribution depends on the selected driving mode.

In Normal mode, the drive distribution is optimised for high efficiency and range, meaning rear-wheel drive is used as often as possible. In Sport and Sport Plus modes, the focus of the ePTM is on optimal traction, with the front axle drive engaged more frequently. In Offroad mode, the Macan switches to all-wheel drive with off-road specifications. In this case, a virtual longitudinal lock limits the differential speed between the front and rear axles, improving traction. The ride height is also adjusted, increasing by 20 millimetres or 40 mm in special terrain mode.

In the Macan Turbo, Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus), an electronically controlled rear-axle differential lock, contributes to traction, driving stability, and lateral dynamics. Macan models with air suspension are generally equipped with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), an electronic damper control system. This system can also be combined with steel suspension.

New to PASM are dampers with two-valve technology. Thanks to the expanded damper characteristic map, there is a wider spectrum of adjustments between comfort and performance settings. This is especially noticeable when driving over rough asphalt as well as on winding mountain roads. The latter can be taken with precision and excellent tracking even at high speeds. On rough terrain, shocks and jolts are filtered so that passengers in the electric Macan hardly feel them. And that’s the appeal: the interplay of suspension systems ensures safety, comfort and driving pleasure. It’s the power of all four wheels – reinterpreted.

Info

Text first published in the Porsche Fahrer Special Edition: Porsche E-Performance.

Text: Wolfgang Schäffer
Images: Porsche AG

Copyright: All images, videos and audio files published in this article are subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted without the written consent of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Please contact newsroom@porsche.com for further information.

To strengthen this growth pillar, BBVA Chile has appointed David Velasco to lead local initiatives related to project finance and structured finance. With a solid track record, he has been involved in some of the most high-profile transactions in the Chilean market. His appointment aims to reinforce the team’s capabilities, with the goal of not only supporting transactions, but also leading them, as the bank already does in other markets.

At the same time, the technical capabilities and senior expertise of BBVA CIB’s team in Chile allow the bank to deliver a broader suite of financial solutions that complement these transactions, ranging from corporate and syndicated financing to the structuring of bonds and risk management derivatives. In doing so, the bank offers its clients a comprehensive value proposition that supports every stage of their investment and development cycles.

Moreover, BBVA CIB is committed to deepening its client relationships, providing ongoing and strategic support throughout their project lifecycles. “The bank maintains a constant dialogue with each company, with the goal of building strong, long-lasting partnerships based on trust, specialisation and a shared vision for sustainable growth,” says Serani.

Local execution, global reach

In line with this growth trajectory, BBVA CIB in Chile continues to strengthen its market position through the expansion of additional business lines that enhance its reach and connectivity with the bank’s global network.

From Santiago, BBVA CIB’s multidisciplinary team delivers a wide array of Global Trade & International Banking (GTB) solutions, ranging from traditional structures to complex, bespoke transactions tailored to each client’s needs. All deals have a significant cross-border component, coordinated through the bank’s international platform and in close collaboration with affiliates in Peru, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, as well as financial hubs in New York and Madrid.

“Sustainability is no longer just a narrative: it is now a way to structure capital”

This model reinforces BBVA CIB’s role as a natural bridge between global investors and transformative projects, helping to channel international capital into local opportunities. At the same time, it positions Chile as a regional benchmark in sustainable finance and a key node within the bank’s Latin American network.

“The development of sustainable projects requires global coordination, technical know-how and local presence. That combination is what enables us to deliver differentiated value to our clients,” Serani explains.

BBVA CIB’s strategy in Chile brings together sustainable growth, sectoral specialisation and regional collaboration, with the goal of advancing the energy transition and supporting infrastructure modernisation. With this vision, the bank reaffirms its role as a long-term financial partner, committed to projects that deliver tangible value and progress for the country.

“Chile is where global capital meets opportunity,” Serani concludes. “Our aim is to help turn that connection into development, innovation, and a sustainable future for the country.”

OP2B is strengthening its Board with the appointment of two new Co-Chairs Jan Derck van Karnebeek, CEO of Royal FrieslandCampina, and Ewan Andrew, President, Global Supply & Chief Sustainability Officer of Diageo.  

Their extensive experience will be fundamental in moving forward the work to support European farmers, reward environmental performance, and accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture. OP2B brings together 25 global companies committed to expand regenerative farming practices that help farmers stay resilient, protect nature and strengthen supply chains. Since its inception in 2019, OP2B promotes regenerative agriculture principles and aligns companies around results-based indicators to catalyze collective investment and action across production basins.

The appointment of Jan Derck van Karnebeek and Ewan Andrew as OP2B’s new Co-Chairs comes at a decisive moment, as the major steps that will shape the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are set to unfold in the coming year – decisions that will determine how Europe supports farmers, rewards environmental performance and accelerates the transition to regenerative agriculture. With OP2B’s ambition to help transform 40 million hectares to regenerative practices by 2030, the coalition is stepping into the CAP debate with renewed leadership focused on practical, farmer-centred solutions—solutions that directly align with ongoing discussions on how the next CAP can better integrate soil health, water, biodiversity outcomes and long-term resilience into agricultural support frameworks.

Both leaders bring deep experience in supply-chain transformation, performance-based sustainability and cross-sector collaboration. Their appointment strengthens OP2B’s ability to make the business case for a policy environment that rewards outcome-based approaches, supports landscape-level collaboration and ensures farmers have predictable incentives to adopt nature-positive practices. As CAP reform will go through major steps in 2026, OP2B will leverage this leadership transition to align its corporate membership, mobilize evidence from its landscape projects and advocate for a policy architecture capable of tripling today’s rate of regenerative adoption.

Under its new Co-Chairs, OP2B will continue engaging European institutions, national governments and financial actors to ensure the next CAP, and policies such as the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) and Nature Credits Roadmap, support profitable farming models that regenerative natural capital and secure resilient value chains. The coalition’s cross-sector membership and proven track record position it to contribute constructively to the policy dialogue, helping bridge market-driven initiatives with the regulatory frameworks needed to deliver systemic change in agriculture and nature conservation across Europe.

Incoming OP2B Co-Chair Jan Derck van Karnebeek: “It is an honour to join OP2B as Co-Chair. I’m driven by a deep commitment to advancing business practices that give more access to nutrition, but also regenerate soils, and mitigate climate impact. At FrieslandCampina, ‘Nourishing by nature’ is our purpose. We believe that farming in harmony with nature is essential not only for the planet, but also for the long-term resilience of our member farmers and the communities we serve. I look forward to working with Peter and the OP2B members to scale nature-positive practices across value chains and contribute to a more sustainable food system.

Incoming OP2B Co-Chair Ewan Andrew: “Stepping into the role of OP2B Co-Chair is a privilege, particularly at a moment when bold collaboration across the food and beverage sector is essential to scaling regenerative agriculture. Businesses and farmers must work together to make this transition practical, consistent and economically viable. At Diageo, we see OP2B as a catalyst for aligning action across value chains, and I’m eager to help drive tangible, nature-positive solutions that strengthen biodiversity and build resilience across global supply chains.

One Planet Business for Biodiversity (OP2B) is an international cross-sectoral, action-oriented business coalition on biodiversity with a specific focus on agriculture. We are determined to drive transformational systemic change and catalyze action to protect and restore cultivated and natural biodiversity within the value chains, engage institutional and financial decision-makers and develop and promote policy recommendations. 

OP2B members include Arla, Boortmalt, Boston Consulting Group, Carlsberg, Clarmondial, Danone, Diageo, FrieslandCampina, Griffith Foods, HowGood, IKEA, Inditex, InVivo group, Kering, L’Oréal, Livelihoods Funds, LVMH, McCain Foods, Mirova, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Pernod Ricard, Rabobank, Tikehau Capital, Unilever. 

OP2B board members include Anita Wälz (Head of Sustainability Europe,Nestlé),Antoine de Saint-Affrique (CEO, Danone), Arnaud de Saignes (President, Maison Chandon, LVMH), Ezgi Barcenas (Chief Responsibility Officer, L’Oréal), Greg Metschke (Global VP Purchasing & Sustainable Sourcing, Griffith Foods), Guillaume le Cunff (CEO Europe, Nestlé), Laurent Martel (CEO, Bioline by InVivo), Max Koeune (CEO, McCain), Peter Bakker (President & CEO, WBCSD), Robbert de Vreede (General Manager Foods Europe).

For more information, see www.wbcsd.org/OP2B or follow OP2B LinkedIn