The last coal mine in Wałbrzych, Poland closed in the 1990s, leaving a region that had long relied on mining facing severe economic disruption. Unemployment soared, local businesses suffered, and an entire way of life built around the coal industry seemed to disappear overnight. By 2000, only one-tenth of the jobs lost in the mining […]
The global space sector is evolving rapidly. No longer limited to scientific missions and Cold War rivalries, it has become a critical arena for commercial innovation, military strategy and geopolitical influence. Satellite launch costs have tumbled, significantly expanding the scope for new space-related applications. This Blueprint assesses the state of Europe’s space sector, the challenges […]
The prosperity and economic transformation of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) hinge on making energy reliable and affordable for all. Across the region, many countries are prioritizing energy efficiency and renewable energy as part of their development strategies —not only to strengthen energy security, but also to create jobs, foster innovation, and lower costs. Renewables […]
Three forces have always shaped globalisation – technology, policies, and geopolitics. What distinguishes the current moment is that all three are accelerating simultaneously but in different directions. This column introduces a new eBook showing how this divergent acceleration creates transformation rather than retreat from globalisation. But it also generates acute tension between rapidly changing economic […]
At a workshop in Marimauta Village, Zimbabwe, business is booming. Local entrepreneurs drop by to commission bespoke machinery. A solar-powered maize processing machine serves farmers across the region. Young apprentices learn new technical and digital skills. The scene contrasts sharply with 2019 when Cyclone Idai ripped through the area, tearing down power lines and shuttering […]
