Science and technology strategy
The EU has adopted amendments to the Horizon Europe 2023-2024 work plan
According to the European Union on April 17, the European Union adopted amendments to the "Horizon Europe" 2023-2024 work plan. The amendment increases the 2024 budget of the Horizon Europe program by 1.4 billion euros to a total of 7.3 billion euros. Among them, 648 million euros will be invested to support the EU's research and innovation activities in related fields, such as climate change, river ecology, etc.; The Bauhaus (NEB) Fund will further channel green innovation investments for sustainable development in Europe with an additional €20 million for the NEB, €20 million for laboratories and €20 million for talent development for European laboratory clusters, and €50 million for the European Partnership for Epidemic Preparedness (EPP) for pandemic preparedness.
The U.S. House of Representatives Governing Committee introduced 5 guardrails for the internal use of artificial intelligence
According to NextGov/FCW on April 17, the U.S. House of Representatives Management Committee (CHA) released the "April 2024 Artificial Intelligence Express" on Wednesday, developing five formal artificial intelligence guardrails to promote the responsible use of artificial intelligence technology by the House of Representatives and other legislative branches. The five guardrails include: incorporating human oversight and decision-making, implementing clear and comprehensive policies, robust testing and evaluation, transparency and disclosure protocols, and improving the education and skills of legislators. In addition, the report summarizes a number of actions taken by CHA over the past three months and details the committee's next agenda items and their focus areas, including a study of how the federal procurement process can help promote the safe use of AI.
The U.S. Army announces the results of the Small Business Innovation Research Program investment
According to the U.S. Army on April 15, the U.S. Army announced the investment results of the "Small Business Innovation Research Program" in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. During the first batch of project consultations, technical proposals were received from 39 non-traditional defense suppliers, and 26 small businesses were selected for a total value of approximately $50 million. It is reported that the program began in December 2020 and aims to develop new artificial intelligence technologies to solve combat capabilities in key areas.
Information
The U.S. government awarded Micron Technology $6.1 billion in chip subsidies
According to Reuters on April 17, the U.S. Department of Commerce plans to provide a $6.1 billion subsidy to Micron Technology to support its production of chips in New York and Idaho. Micron plans to invest $15 billion in a chip factory in Idaho and four in New York State. In addition, Micron Technology plans to invest $100 billion in New York State over 20 years. Earlier, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the U.S. government plans to subsidize $28 billion for cutting-edge projects and prioritize projects that can be brought into production by 2030.
Meta released the open-source model Llama 3, with the highest parameters or 400 billion
According to Meta's official website on April 19, Meta released an open-source large model Llama 3 with the highest parameters or 400 billion. At present, Llama 3 has opened two small parameter versions, 8 billion (8B) and 70 billion (70B), with a context window of 8k. In the future, Meta will launch a larger-parameter version of Llama 3, which will have more than 400 billion parameters. In the future, Meta will introduce new features such as multimodality, longer context windows, and Llama 3 research papers for Llama 3. Meta says Llama 3 aims to be able to build an open-source model that rivals today's best proprietary models.
creature
The Tsinghua University team has discovered bacteria that can block viral infection and transmission
According to the official account of the biological world on April 19, the research team of Tsinghua University found a key environmental symbiotic bacteria Rosenbergiella_YN46 that can determine the susceptibility of mosquitoes to viruses in Yunnan Province. This bacteria, which is widely found in plant pollen, has long colonized the gut of Aedes mosquitoes and is able to help fight mosquito infections and spread viruses. Rosenbergiella bacteria are expected to be used as a low-cost biological control strategy to control the spread and epidemic of flaviviruses in mosquitoes, including dengue virus, and provide a new solution for the prevention and control of important mosquito-borne infectious diseases.
Chinese researchers have developed AI models that predict the origin of tumors with accuracy comparable to that of medical experts
According to the news on the official account of the biological world on April 18, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital has developed an AI model TORCH based on deep learning, which is used to predict the main system origin of malignant cells in pleural fluid and ascites. The AI model can be a valuable tool to distinguish between malignant tumors and benign diseases, locate tumor origin, and assist in clinical decision-making in patients with cancers of unknown primary origin, and has achieved robust diagnostic and predictive results in 5 test sets, which are comparable to or even surpass human pathologists.
The Center for a New American Security recommends public-private partnerships to advance U.S. biotech leadership
According to the news on the official website of CNAS on April 18, the Center for New American Security (CNAS) released "Public-Private Coordination in Biotechnology: Three Revolutions, Three Problems, and Three Prescriptions", suggesting public-private cooperation to promote the leadership of biotechnology in the United States. Reflecting on lessons learned from the development and deployment of a U.S. coronavirus vaccine, the article calls for an industrial policy that better leverages public-private partnerships to advance U.S. biotech leadership in times of crisis.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are deploying $1 billion in emergency food assistance
According to the official website of the USDA on April 18, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development announced that the two agencies will deploy $1 billion in commodity credit company funds to purchase goods grown in the United States and provide emergency food assistance to people in need around the world. The first $950 million or so will be used to support the procurement, transportation and distribution of wheat, rice, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dried peas, vegetable oils, corn meal, kidney beans, pinto beans and kidney beans, as well as a separate pilot project of $50 million to assist food insecure populations using U.S. commodities that are not traditionally part of the International Food Assistance Program.
U.S. researchers use genetically engineered skin bacteria to fight cancer
According to the news on April 17, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine in the United States genetically engineered Staphylococcus epidermidis to produce a tumor antigen and used this live bacterium on the fur of mice with cancer. The resulting immune response can even kill an aggressive metastatic skin cancer without causing inflammation. The research results were published in the journal Science.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has developed AI tools for single-cell RNA sequencing that may be able to more precisely match cancer drugs to patients
According to the official website of the NIH on April 18, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed an AI tool to predict the response of cancer to specific drugs based on single-cell data inside the tumor. Using this method on cell line data from large-scale drug screening, the researchers built AI models for 44 FDA-approved cancer drugs, which can accurately predict the response of individual cells to single drugs and drug combinations and the development of drug resistance, which is expected to more accurately match effective drugs to cancer patients. In addition, the researchers have established dedicated research stations, datasets, and usage guidelines called Tumor Treatment Planning Based on Personalized Single Cell Expression (PERCEPTION).
energy
The U.S. Department of Defense allocated $14.4 million to maintain and strengthen the supply chain of solar cells for defense and commercial satellites
According to the dual carbon intelligence on April 19, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it will allocate $14.4 million to semiconductor manufacturer 5N Plus through the "Defense Production Act (DPAI) Investment Program" to maintain and expand the production capacity of germanium substrates required for solar cells used in defense and commercial satellites. The grant supports the country's Defence Industry Strategy 2024 to sustain and expand support for domestic production activities in resilient supply chain strategic priority areas. The grant helps boost manufacturing capacity for space-grade germanium wafers, which are critical for solar cells used in commercial and national security satellites, and involves upgrading and expanding production facilities and tools while minimizing variability or volatility in the production process, the U.S. Department of Defense said. In addition, the program will address process integration issues in response to the changing needs and standards of solar cell producers for germanium substrates. This work also includes improving germanium's procurement, recycling and refining processes, as well as supporting product diversification to ensure the sustainability of 5N Plus' commercial operations as a supplier. Work on the process side will take place at 5N Plus' facility in St. George, Utah, and is scheduled to last four years.
ocean
South Korean shipbuilding giant has announced that it will build its own large LNG carriers powered by 100% ammonia fuel
According to the international shipping network on April 16, South Korea's Hanwha Marine announced the establishment of the "world's first" environmentally friendly shipping company, which will build its own large LNG ship powered by 100% ammonia fuel. Hanwha Marine is currently developing a zero-carbon gas turbine that will be operated on a 174,000 cubic meter LNG vessel using 100% liquid ammonia. In addition, Hanwha Marine plans to equip the LNG ship with a hydrogen fuel cell and energy storage system (ESS) to achieve zero-carbon electrification, as well as an ammonia cracker for the production of hydrogen needed for hydrogen fuel cells on board, making it the world's first carbon-free LNG ship.
The ultra-large unmanned underwater vehicle developed by an American company for Australia was unveiled
According to the Navy News Network on April 19, the prototype of the "Ghost Shark" (Ghost Shark) super-large unmanned underwater vehicle developed by Anduril for the Royal Australian Navy was unveiled, and it was announced that the "Ghost Shark" plan was completed ahead of schedule and on budget. According to reports, Anduriel previously signed a contract worth $140 million with the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Defence Technology Group to develop three "ghost sharks" for it. The submersible has a displacement of 2.8 tons, a length of 5.8 meters, a maximum diving time of 10 days, and is capable of autonomously completing its mission at a water depth of 6,000 meters.
Australia is investing more in maritime capacity
According to the Navy News Network on April 19, the Australian Minister of Defense recently announced the "2024 National Defense Strategy" (NDS) and the "2024 Integrated Investment Plan" (IIP). The two documents project that Australia's defence spending will reach $765 billion over the next decade, with 38% of the money going to the maritime sector. The "2024 Comprehensive Investment Plan" document lists that 76 billion Australian dollars will be invested in the field of underwater warfare in the next ten years, of which 530~63 billion Australian dollars will be used to purchase nuclear-powered submarines and related infrastructure, including 3 "Virginia" class nuclear submarines purchased from the United States and the "SSN-AUKUS" nuclear submarines newly built by the United States and the United Kingdom.
aviation
For the first time, Taiwan, China, successfully test-fired a land-based version of the "Land-launched Sword"-2 surface-to-air missile
According to the Janes website on April 16, Taiwan, China, successfully test-fired the self-developed land-based version of the "Land-launched Sword"-2 surface-to-air missile for the first time. During the test, the Taiwanese army launched four Land-launched Sword-2 missiles and successfully hit a drone target at a range of 10 kilometers. The missile is a modification of the Taiwan Air Force's "Tianjian"-2 radar-guided medium-range air-to-air missile, with a range of 15 kilometers, which can carry out all-round reconnaissance and surveillance with the help of ground vehicles, and provide support for countering strikes by rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles.
For the first time, the DARPA "Air Combat Evolution" project has implemented air tests based on artificial intelligence algorithms
According to the DARPA website on April 17, the DARPA "Air Combat Evolution" (ACE) project has realized the first air test based on artificial intelligence algorithms. During the test, DARPA and the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School team engaged the X-62A Variable Flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) trainer test aircraft and the F-16 aircraft piloted by human pilots, demonstrating the possibility of safely using non-deterministic AI in aviation. DARPA said that the algorithm can enable unmanned fighters to fly autonomously with human-piloted fighters in line-of-sight combat scenarios, providing combat support for scenarios such as aerial dogfights in future wars.
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded Loma a $17.7 billion contract to advance the development of the "next-generation interceptor missile."
According to the TheDefensePost website on April 18, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency awarded Loma a contract worth $17.7 billion to promote the research and development of the "Next Generation Interceptor Missile" (NGI) system. According to the contract, the company will develop key modules of NGI systems such as radar and anti-ballistic missiles, and conduct relevant demonstration verification. The NGI R&D project aims to develop a new land-based interceptor missile for the U.S. military's land-based midcourse defense system, which can carry multi-target weapons of destruction through a new booster to support the improvement of U.S. homeland defense capabilities. According to the plan, the first NGI will be delivered in 2028.
space flight
SpaceX launched the 156th batch of 23 micro-version "Starlink" v2.0 satellites
According to the news on the Space website on April 18, the United States SpaceX successfully launched the 156th batch of 23 micro-version "Starlink" v2.0 satellites at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida using the "Falcon"-9 rocket. After this launch, the number of SpaceX's "Starlink" satellites launched reached 6,235, including 1,498 micro-versions of "Starlink" v2.0 satellites. Currently, there are about 5,830 Starlink in orbit. According to statistics, this launch is SpaceX's 39th launch mission in 2024 and the 68th launch of the micro-version of the "Starlink" v2.0 satellite.
SpaceX launched the 157th batch of 23 micro-version "Starlink" v2.0 satellites
According to the news on the Space website on April 19, the American company SpaceX used the "Falcon"-9 rocket to successfully launch the 157th batch of 23 micro-version of the "Starlink" v2.0 satellites at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. After this launch, the number of SpaceX's "Starlink" satellites launched reached 6,258, including 1,521 micro-version of "Starlink" v2.0 satellites. Currently, there are about 5,852 Starlink in orbit. According to statistics, this launch is SpaceX's 40th launch mission in 2024 and the 69th launch of the micro-version of the "Starlink" v2.0 satellite.
Materials
Russian scientists have discovered new materials for efficient hydrogen storage, which may help commercialize hydrogen energy
According to the TechXplore website on April 17, scientists from Russia's Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) and research centers from Russia, China, Japan and Italy jointly discovered a new type of chemical hydrogen storage material. The material, which includes cesium heptahydride (CsH7) and rubidium nonahydride (RbH9), is capable of storing up to seven and nine hydrogen atoms, respectively, and is capable of storing four times the amount of hydrogen currently available as leading materials, making it the most hydrogen-rich material currently known. Efficient storage of hydrogen is essential for the integration of this potential energy carrier into the sustainable economic system of the future. The new materials are expected to be used in high-temperature industrial processes, transportation, and grid supply and demand balancing. The study has been published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials. The researchers look forward to further verifying whether these compounds can remain stable at atmospheric pressure to advance the commercialization of hydrogen energy.
Advanced manufacturing
Researchers at Stanford University in the United States have designed spider-like robots, or for exploring Martian caves
According to the TechXPLore website on April 18, a team of roboticists and mechanical aeronautical engineers at Stanford University in the United States has developed a spider-like robot that may be used to explore caves on Mars. In a paper published in the journal Scientific Robotics, the team describes the reasons for developing the new robot, the inspiration for its design, and how it will perform in real-world environments. The robot, called ReachBot, has several extendable legs for walking, and the robot's built-in processor evaluates and plans the best placement of the feet as it explores the terrain. Test results have shown that the robot is able to walk on walls and ceilings, and is able to explore lava tubes near the Pisgar crater in the Mojave Desert, with the potential to explore otherwise inaccessible locations.
-END-
Consolidated by the International Institute of Technical Economics
Please indicate
About the Institute
Founded in November 1985, the International Institute of Technology and Economics (IITE) is a non-profit research institute affiliated to the Development Research Center of the State Council, whose main functions are to study major policy, strategic and forward-looking issues in the economic, scientific and technological and social development of the mainland, track and analyze the development trend of the world's science and technology and economic development, and provide decision-making consulting services for the central government and relevant ministries and commissions. The "Global Technology Map" is the official WeChat account of the International Institute of Technology and Economics, which is dedicated to conveying cutting-edge technology information and technological innovation insights to the public.
Address: Block A, Building 20, Xiaonanzhuang, Haidian District, Beijing
Phone: 010-82635522
WeChat: iite_er