AGP Executive Report

Digital Markets: Polymarket is challenging the Dutch gambling authority’s ban in court, arguing its event contracts are trading products rather than gambling. A ruling could shape how prediction markets are treated across Europe. Cybersecurity: Dutch researchers and the national cyber security centre found 8,547 wind and solar installations across 35 European countries reachable online; about 181 appeared to expose interfaces with potential control functions. AI and Materials: A Dutch company is using AI to design custom polymers in weeks, while ASML and Zeiss say next-generation chipmaking technology could be ready within a decade. Defence Technology: A Dutch tech firm is using AI to help Ukraine’s drone systems communicate on the battlefield.

Cybersecurity: Dutch intelligence agencies warn that Russia is hacking civilian security cameras across Europe and Ukraine, using image-recognition tools to identify military vehicles and supplies. Quantum Research: University of Twente physicists showed that testing three photons together can reveal more about their quality than the standard two-photon test — a potential boost for photonic quantum computing. Urban Engineering: Eindhoven’s Hovenring cycle bridge lifts cyclists above a busy junction, using a cable-supported circular deck to separate bikes from motor traffic. Advanced Manufacturing: ASML and Zeiss say technology for the next generation of chipmaking could be ready in about a decade. Digital Finance: The Dutch central bank and financial regulator are calling for legal changes to help the Netherlands keep pace in tokenization. AI and Defence: A Dutch firm is developing AI that helps drone systems communicate on Ukraine’s battlefield.

Ocean Research: OceanXplorer, an 87-metre research vessel rebuilt at Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam, now carries crewed submersibles and remotely operated vehicles to explore the deep sea. AI and Materials: TNO has spun out polySCOUT, a Dutch company using AI to design polymers to specification, with lab-validated candidates in weeks rather than years. Cybersecurity: Dutch intelligence says Chinese malware survived firmware patches and compromised 20,000 edge devices; Dutch researchers also reported thousands of European wind and solar systems exposed online. AI in Amsterdam: The Global AI Summit brought policymakers, researchers and industry leaders together to discuss safety, digital sovereignty and investment. Clean Energy: Dutch researchers estimate green hydrogen could cost as little as €7.20 per kilogram. Medical Technology: A Dutch court rejected shareholders’ request to investigate Philips’ handling of its sleep-apnea device recall.

Materials Innovation: Dutch AI spin-off polySCOUT says it can design and validate replacement polymers in weeks, speeding the search for materials that meet changing EU rules. TNO, which developed the technology, is a shareholder. Cleaner Mobility: Eindhoven University of Technology’s student team has built an electric car designed to capture tyre and brake particles. Simulations suggest its system could collect up to 42% of tyre particles in city driving; real-world performance remains to be tested. Privacy and Security: Hans Anders has stopped selling Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses in the Netherlands and Belgium amid privacy concerns. Separately, Dutch intelligence warned that Chinese malware survived firmware updates and compromised 20,000 edge devices. Dutch Tech Abroad: Greenhouse suppliers are shifting their China strategy from selling entire structures to advanced technology, software and system integration, where Dutch firms see room to compete.

AI and Defence: Dutch firm Intelic is using AI to connect drone and radar systems for Ukraine’s air defence. Cybersecurity: Dutch researchers warn that more than 8,500 European wind and solar systems are exposed online, raising risks for critical energy infrastructure. AI Governance: At the World Summit AI in Zaandam, Oxford professor Nigel Shadbolt urged international cooperation and shared human values to guide increasingly capable AI. Digital Sovereignty: The Dutch Tax Authority is moving Microsoft 365 data to its own servers, a step toward greater control over government information. Driver Assistance: Tesla has replaced “Full Self-Driving” with “Tesla Assisted Driving” on European websites, including the Netherlands, amid pressure to use a name that better reflects the system’s limits.

Cybersecurity: Dutch intelligence agencies warn that Chinese malware can survive firmware upgrades; it had compromised 20,000 internet-facing routers and other devices worldwide. AI Infrastructure: At Amsterdam’s World Summit AI, speakers said Europe’s push for sovereign AI depends on local data centres, power and suitable buildings. Privacy: Thirty-five Groningen cultural venues have banned AI smart glasses, citing covert recording risks, and called for national rules. High-Tech Manufacturing: A new project headquartered in Eindhoven aims to expand European production of thermal-imaging sensors and reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers. Renewable Energy Security: Dutch researchers found thousands of European wind and solar systems exposed online, highlighting cyber risks to energy infrastructure.

AI Defence: A Dutch tech firm is developing an AI system to help Ukraine’s drone defences communicate and coordinate on the battlefield. Autonomous Driving: Germany has cleared Tesla’s supervised Full Self-Driving system, renewing pressure for EU-wide approval; the Netherlands was the first European country to authorize it. Digital Policy: The Dutch central bank and regulator want legal changes to keep pace with tokenization, while the tax authority has dropped its Microsoft cloud migration in favour of its own servers and open-source software. Cybersecurity: A European review found 8,547 solar and wind systems exposed to cyber risks, prompting calls for stronger safeguards. Dutch Industry: ASML and Zeiss say next-generation chipmaking technology could be ready in about a decade. Westinghouse and Hyundai E&C have also begun front-end engineering studies for two proposed Dutch nuclear reactors.

AI Defence: Dutch company Intelic is helping Ukraine link radar, sensors and interceptor drones through its Nexus software. A test at Katwijk showed the system identifying a simulated threat; the firm has a €30 million Dutch Defence Ministry contract. Energy Cybersecurity: Researchers working with the Netherlands’ National Cyber Security Centre identified 8,547 internet-facing solar and wind systems across 35 European countries, warning that exposed controls could put power generation at risk. Chipmaking: ASML and Zeiss say technology for the next generation of chipmaking could be ready within a decade. Nuclear Plans: Hyundai E&C and Westinghouse have begun front-end engineering studies for two proposed Dutch reactors. Food Innovation: Wageningen University & Research has opened an AI-enabled facility to speed future-food development, while Dutch researchers are testing rice as a crop that could help protect sinking peatlands.

Nuclear Energy: Hyundai E&C has signed a design contract with Westinghouse for two proposed Dutch reactors, covering site reviews, project planning and local licensing requirements. Dutch Tech Deals: New York-based Zeta Global is buying Amsterdam’s Digital Audience, whose data and AI tools connect customer insights to marketing channels. Self-Driving Scrutiny: Dutch approval of Tesla’s driver-assistance system has helped open the path to an EU-wide decision, but safety researchers dispute the company’s crash-reduction claims. Digital Security: Dutch researchers say thousands of European wind and solar systems are exposed online, highlighting risks to clean-energy infrastructure. Materials Innovation: Delft-developed self-healing concrete, which uses bacteria to seal small cracks, is heading to a major U.S. industry showcase.

Digital Sovereignty: The Dutch Tax Authority has dropped its Microsoft 365 cloud plan. It will move email and calendars to its own servers in 2027, then adopt European open-source tools for storage and collaboration. Self-Driving Scrutiny: Tesla is pressing for EU-wide approval of Full Self-Driving after Dutch regulator RDW approved the system in April. Reuters reports that safety researchers question Tesla’s testing methods, making Dutch oversight central to the next stage. Cybersecurity: Amsterdam-based Hadrian raised $40 million to expand its AI-powered security platform in Europe and the US. Separately, Dutch researchers warn that thousands of European wind and solar systems are exposed online. Biotech Patents: A court in The Hague ordered MSD to stop supplying injectable Keytruda in eight European markets, including the Netherlands, in a patent dispute with Halozyme.

Smart Glasses Privacy: Norway moves toward a temporary ban on camera-equipped AI glasses in public spaces, joining a wider wave of restrictions after similar concerns in Australia, the UK and the US, with Dutch retailer Hans Anders also halting Meta Ray-Ban sales. AI Security & Identity: RSA in Amsterdam-backed AI governance push launches RSA Agent ID to control and govern AI agents for regulated sectors, as “agentic” systems outpace security teams. Cyber Risk: ASOS faces a ransom demand after hackers sent customers a message claiming access to a Snowflake instance and warning of data leaks. Biotech Funding (NL): Netherlands-based Forbion raises €2.3B across two venture funds to back up to 30 life-science startups. Health & Research: Cancer rates rise among younger people in new international findings, while Russia’s suspected plague case remains murky after conflicting official explanations. Energy Grid Tech: Europe’s power grid digitalizes faster than regulators can keep up, raising practical issues for operators as solar, EVs and heat pumps connect rapidly.

EU Health & AI: The EU launched CHAIN, a 36-month cardiovascular health data and AI network coordinated by the European Society of Cardiology to improve prevention, early detection and care across 20 countries. Cybersecurity & Energy: Dutch researchers warned that thousands of wind and solar sites in Europe expose administrative systems to the internet, raising sabotage risk; they urged operators to lock down admin interfaces fast. Privacy & Smart Glasses: Norway is proposing a temporary ban on Meta camera glasses in public spaces like parks, schools and beaches, with the plan still in the proposal stage. Fraud & Payments: Fraudio found 1 in 10 newly observed merchants face fraud within 90 days, with median time to first fraud at 33 days—early-stage risk is the big problem. Caribbean Digital Resilience: CaribNOG 32 heads to Curaçao for network resilience talks, while Dutch-backed studies flag disaster-response gaps and propose two regional emergency hubs for the Kingdom’s islands. Netherlands Tech & Energy: An IEA report says digital grid upgrades (plus AI) could unlock up to 330GW of capacity without new physical infrastructure. Biotech & Health Research: A new global obesity definition classifies fewer children as clinically obese, and studies report rising cancer cases among under-50s.

AI Privacy Crackdown: Norway plans a temporary ban on AI smart glasses in parks, schools, gyms and other sensitive public spots, aiming to stop covert photo/audio recording without consent. Dutch Retail Pushback: Dutch eyewear chain Hans Anders halts sales of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses over privacy worries, adding pressure on EU-wide wearable rules. Accessibility Startup Exit: Netherlands-based Envision will stop product development by year-end unless it finds a partner, despite its app-to-glasses tools for visually impaired users. Health Research: A new international study reports rising cancer rates among people under 50, with early-onset prostate, bowel, kidney and uterine cancers accelerating in England, the US and the Netherlands. Care Policy: The Netherlands Institute for Social Research urges more government support for informal caregivers, including paid leave, to prevent overload as the care workforce shrinks. Tech & Chips: Qualcomm signs a multiyear patent cross-licensing deal with Huawei, including Huawei’s LogicFolding chip manufacturing approach. Space & Games: ESA and Pokémon GO run a limited-time Astronaut Pikachu event tied to European science museums.

Smart Glasses Crackdown: Norway is pushing a temporary ban on AI glasses in privacy-heavy public spots (schools, gyms, parks), while Dutch retailer Hans Anders has pulled Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses from stores over covert-recording fears. Education Tech Rules: The Dutch cabinet wants smartphones out of primary and secondary schools from January 2027, tightening rules around children in online content and commissioning research into major platforms’ effects. Dutch Health Tech & Biotech: Science Corp reports 36-month durability results for its PRIMA BCI trial restoring vision in geographic atrophy; Lanterne Dx completes its merger with Flagship Biosciences to expand biomarker and digital pathology services. Climate & Water Tech: Baron Weather unveils AI flash-flood modeling and solid-state radar for faster, street-level guidance; a study warns stopping new plastic inputs won’t stop microplastic buildup without cleanup of existing debris. Netherlands in the World: A Dutch economic mission heads to the Czech Republic to boost smart manufacturing and dual-use tech ties; KLM Cityhopper trials SITA’s OptiDescent fuel-saving descent tech. Cybersecurity: A teen alleged to be behind the ShinyHunters FBI hack is reported arrested in Jordan, with claims of massive data theft.

Dutch Water Tech Abroad: Malolos City in the Philippines is showcasing a Dutch-backed nature-based coastal protection model, blending bamboo breakwaters with local materials, drawing Asean and European delegates as tidal flooding and land subsidence worsen. Cybersecurity & Law Enforcement: A suspected ShinyHunters leader, Saif al-Din Khader (“Rey”), is reportedly detained in Jordan and cooperating with the FBI after the group claimed it stole data on 5,000 FBI employees. Privacy in Smart Glasses: Dutch retailer Hans Anders suspends Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses sales over covert filming fears, as privacy backlash spreads across Europe. Semiconductor Supply Chain: Nearfield Instruments warns Korea must build local infrastructure before expanding next-gen chip clusters, while a report claims China is exploiting a DUV export-control loophole to buy hundreds of advanced lithography systems, including many from ASML. Women’s Health Regulation: The European Medicines Agency held an Amsterdam workshop to set a regulatory roadmap aimed at closing long-standing gaps in women’s medicine research and development. Maritime Safety: High-tech Dutch salvors are working to stabilize the WWII-era SS Richard Montgomery wreck near Kent, where thousands of tons of munitions still pose a risk. Netherlands Tech Industry: ACCO Brands completes its acquisition of Dutch peripherals maker Trust, expanding its keyboards, headsets and smart home accessory portfolio.

Smart Glasses Privacy Clash: Dutch eyewear chain Hans Anders suspends Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses sales in the Netherlands and Belgium, joining wider European scrutiny over covert recording and privacy safeguards. Cybersecurity: Jordan confirms the arrest of a suspected ShinyHunters hacker (“Rey”), reportedly cooperating with the FBI after a major data-theft claim. Dutch Colonial Reckoning: A study commissioned by King Willem-Alexander says the House of Orange-Nassau helped Dutch colonialism and slavery survive, likely reigniting reparations debate. AI & Driving Regulation: Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised) faces delays as an EU committee meeting in October continues discussions rather than voting, pushing any bloc-wide decision toward December. Climate & Farming Innovation: Dutch researchers test rice cultivation to help address sinking peatlands, while floating solar farms in the Netherlands raise new questions about long-term water impacts. Energy Transition: A look at biomass conversion highlights how organic waste could power ships and industry as carbon-neutral alternatives. Elections Tech in Bosnia: Bosnia and Herzegovina begins voting with biometric checks, ballot scanning, and video surveillance at thousands of polling sites.