🍃 Benin Has the Most Polluted Ocean. UK Research Grants Get More Funding. Chinese Private AI Investment Down 70%.

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Career communications expands AI training in STEM city. Michigan awards $25M in grants to strengthen worker training programs. $35.8M grant to boost advanced manufacturing workforce through apprenticeships. Therapia Lane green retrofit creates net‑zero training opportunities for apprentices.

zSpace, a US-based AR/VR technology company, acquired BlocksCAD to integrate its immersive project-based learning STEM education services. Sibme, a US-based professional development provider, has acquired My Learning Hub, a UK-based corporate learning management system, to expand its workforce training offerings. Ambitio, an Indian AI-powered admissions platform, secured $2M to support its goal of providing 500K students access to global education. Storypark, an Australian early childhood online communication platform, acquired Kinder M8 to integrate its childcare management software into Storpark’s communication solution.

Today's Topics

💵 Funding. Further funding for NC3Rs research grant holders in the UK
🍃 Green Skills. Benin recorded the lowest score for clean ocean waters globally🤖 Artificial Intelligence. Chinese private AI investment declined by nearly 70%

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💵 Further Funding for NC3Rs Research Grant Holders in the UK

NC3Rs research grant holders secured additional funding in 2024, with the majority receiving awards between £10,001-£100,000 and £100,001-£1,000,000, demonstrating sustained confidence in established research programmes. This concentration reflects patterns where successful initial grants frequently attract expanded support. The trend aligns with UKRI's multi-year investment approach, where most funding commitments extend beyond single-year awards to enable substantial programme development. The government's record £20.4B R&D investment announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 reinforces this emphasis on sustained research excellence.

🍃 Benin Recorded the Lowest Score for Clean Ocean Waters Globally

Benin recorded the lowest clean ocean waters score globally in 2022 at 15.24, with Tanzania ranking highest among the lowest-performing nations at 41.79, revealing severe marine pollution challenges across developing coastal states. The concentration of African and Asian nations in this ranking highlights the intersection of rapid coastal urbanisation, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and industrial discharge in emerging economies. This aligns with growing concerns about marine ecosystem degradation threatening coastal livelihoods and biodiversity. The UN Ocean Decade 2021-2030 framework addresses these challenges, with UNEP coordinating international efforts to strengthen wastewater treatment and coastal protection in vulnerable nations.

🤖 Chinese Private AI Investment Declined by Nearly 70%

Chinese private AI investment peaked at $24B in 2021-2022 before declining sharply to approximately $8B by 2024, reflecting a 70% contraction over three years. This downturn follows China's tech sector crackdown and shifting regulatory priorities that cooled venture capital enthusiasm. The decline contrasts with sustained AI investment growth in the US and Europe, as geopolitical tensions and export controls on advanced chips constrain China's AI development capabilities. China's New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, launched by the State Council in 2017, continues guiding national AI strategy despite private sector retrenchment, with state-backed funding increasingly filling the investment gap.

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