By Market & Region

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – September 09, 2026 -- UST has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Italdesign from Audi Group, combining nearly six decades of automotive design and engineering heritage with UST's artificial intelligence and software-defined vehicle capabilities.

UST Targets Software-Defined Vehicle Complexity With Italdesign Deal

The transaction pairs Italdesign's design and engineering legacy with UST's expertise in automotive engineering, AI, and digital ecosystem design. The companies said the alliance is intended to help manufacturers manage rising complexity in next-generation mobility and speed development from concept to production as the automotive industry shifts toward connected, AI-enabled, software-defined vehicles.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- The TÜV Association has warned that the AfD's strong showing in the Saxony-Anhalt state election threatens Germany's evidence-based approach to climate, energy and digital policy.

TÜV Association ties technical certification standards to scientific fact-finding

Dr. Joachim Bühler, managing director of the TÜV Association, said the TÜV inspection industry has always guided technological progress based on scientific findings and verified facts. He argued this same principle must now apply to politics following the AfD's election success in Saxony-Anhalt.

Association cites reliance on foreign skilled workers and EU integration

Bühler stated that TÜV organizations require skilled workers from both domestic and international labor markets and benefit directly from a unified Europe. He described the sector as standing for openness and international cooperation.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- The German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DKOU) 2026 has published its full program and opened registration, with the four-day event set to run October 20-23, 2026 at CityCube Berlin.

DGOOC president frames congress as a hub for continuing education amid staff shortages

In a video interview released as part of a three-part series under the motto "Neue Wege gehen" (Taking New Paths), Dr. Jörn Dohle, president of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Orthopaedic Surgery (DGOOC), described DKOU as a "market of possibilities" combining specialized clinical content, interdisciplinary exchange and cross-sector dialogue. Dohle pointed to workforce shortages as a central challenge for the field, noting that while digital tools can support parts of patient care, recruiting young physicians and providing structured learning and exchange formats remains critical.

Yantai – September 09, 2026 -- CelluPro has become the first Chinese cell culture media supplier to receive EXCiPACTTM GMP Certification for Pharmaceutical Auxiliary Materials, adding an internationally recognized quality benchmark to its biomanufacturing supply chain.

EXCiPACT Certification Validates Manufacturing Controls and Traceability

The EXCiPACTTM scheme sets GMP requirements for materials used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, assessing quality management, manufacturing controls, traceability, and supply chain practices. CelluPro's certification adds to an existing compliance portfolio that includes ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and ISO 22301, covering quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, and business continuity.

Raamsdonksveer, Netherlands – September 09, 2026 -- Dutch company PAL-V has obtained European Production Organisation Approval (POA), becoming the first company in the FlyDrive segment of Advanced Air Mobility to hold both automotive and aviation production approvals for industrial-scale manufacturing.

PAL-V now holds dual approval to manufacture aviation products under EASA regulations

The POA authorizes PAL-V to build airworthy products under EASA rules, following a "No Technical Objection" issued by EASA in 2025. The company states its production system now meets EASA's stringent requirements for airworthy manufacturing, a milestone it describes as the result of nearly two decades of certification and regulatory development.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- Pudu Robotics is showcasing its complete commercial robotics portfolio at IFA 2026 in Berlin, marking the company's first appearance at the trade show and the European debut of its semi-humanoid PUDU D7.

PUDU D7 wins IFA Innovation Award in emerging tech category

The PUDU D7 took home the IFA Innovation Award in the IFA NEXT & Emerging Tech category ahead of its European premiere. At the Pudu booth, visitors can interact with the robot directly as it takes photos, captures self-view selfies, responds with a hand-heart gesture and picks up objects on request.

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- Dahua Technology unveiled an expanded AIoT product portfolio spanning wireless video surveillance, intrusion alarms, video intercoms, display screens and fire safety systems at IFA Berlin 2026, running September 4-8 at stand H1.2-173.

WITHS wireless line targets faster, cable-free security deployment

Dahua's WITHS range, built around a "Simple, Smart, Secure" concept, supports Wi-Fi, 4G and app-based control via DMSS, cutting cabling requirements for small installations while NVR management handles larger deployments. The system includes person, pet and vehicle detection, automatic tracking, gesture and facial recognition, AOV/AOR recording, WizColor imaging and two-way communication, with solar-powered and high-capacity battery options for outdoor or off-grid use.

Ningbo, China – September 09, 2026 -- EVE Energy has cut its maritime transit time to Hamburg by nearly 50% after becoming one of the first Chinese battery manufacturers to deploy the Northern Sea Route for lithium product exports.

Battery cargo departs Ningbo aboard MV Dubai Tower for 20-day Arctic transit

The shipment left Ningbo Zhoushan Port on August 15 aboard the MV Dubai Tower and is scheduled to reach Hamburg in approximately 20 days, cutting nearly half the voyage time required by traditional China-Europe maritime routes. The batteries were manufactured at EVE Energy's production bases in Huizhou and Jingmen before being consolidated for ocean shipment.

Mainz – September 09, 2026 -- German public broadcaster ZDF has shortlisted five debut novels for its 48th annual "aspekte" Literature Prize, a €10,000 award recognized as a launchpad for major literary careers since 1979.

Five debut novels advance to the final round

The finalists are Valeria Gordeev's "Die Zikade entschlüpft ihrer goldglänzenden Hülle" (S. Fischer), Clara Leinemann's "Gelbe Monster" (Suhrkamp), Martin Piekar's "Vom Fällen eines Stammbaums" (Rowohlt), Lilli Tollkien's "Mit beiden Händen den Himmel stützen" (Aufbau), and David Vajda's "Diamanten" (Hanser). Each title represents a different major German-language publishing house, underscoring the prize's reach across the industry's leading imprints.

Penzberg – September 09, 2026 -- The digital vocational-training platform Ausbildungskompass received the "Excellent" rating in the special category "Digital Administration: Benefits for Citizens and Businesses" at the Best of Technology Award 2026, presented on September 3, 2026 in Düsseldorf.

The award, given annually by WirtschaftsWoche in cooperation with Handelsblatt Media Group, consulting firm Capgemini, scientific partner Fraunhofer ISI and knowledge partner Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), recognizes IT applications and future technologies that simplify processes and create measurable value for business, government and society.

Sharjah – September 09, 2026 -- Sharjah has opened submissions for the 13th edition of its Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA), introducing a dedicated category for the "Best Use of AI in Government and Institutional Communication" for the first time.

Global entrants have until September 22, 2026 to submit projects

Organizations and individuals worldwide can submit communication initiatives before the deadline. The award will distribute more than 35 prizes across categories covering governments, international organizations, the private sector, individual achievement, innovative communication approaches, and jury and partner awards.

Stockholm and Oslo – September 09, 2026 -- Multiconsult ASA and Rejlers AB have agreed to merge into a combined pan-Nordic consultancy group with close to 8,000 employees and a market capitalisation of nearly SEK 8 billion.

Boards approve merger of equals with 54-46 ownership split

Under the joint cross-border merger plan adopted by both boards, each Multiconsult shareholder will receive 0.9725 Rejlers class B shares per share held, giving Multiconsult shareholders 54% and Rejlers shareholders 46% of the new entity. The combined company will be named Multiconsult Rejlers and will be dual listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and Euronext Oslo Børs.

Hong Kong – September 09, 2026 -- Fosun International Limited (HKEX: 00656) has had its Hang Seng Sustainability Rating upgraded from AA- to AA+, a record high for the Group, following the 2026 ratings review by Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited that took effect the same day.

Rating upgrade breaks three-year plateau at AA-

Fosun had held the AA- rating for three consecutive years before this year's jump to AA+. The Hang Seng Sustainability Rating covers approximately 500 Hong Kong-listed companies within the Hang Seng Composite Index and more than 1,300 A-share companies in the Hang Seng China A (Investable) Index, based on a framework developed by the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency assessing seven core indicators including corporate governance, environment and fair operating practices.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – September 09, 2026 -- SEDCO Capital and Wahed Inc have agreed to launch a publicly offered, Shariah-compliant real estate investment suite targeting Makkah and Madinah, opening institutional-grade access to the Two Holy Cities' property market for retail investors worldwide.

Partnership pairs SAR 50 billion asset manager with New York fintech serving 500,000 investors

SEDCO Capital, a Jeddah-headquartered Shariah-compliant and ESG-led asset manager with more than SAR 50 billion in assets under management, will supply local real estate sourcing and asset-management expertise. Wahed, a global Islamic fintech licensed in nine countries with over $2 billion in assets under management and a 500,000-client base, will provide the digital distribution platform.

Paris – September 09, 2026 -- Segway Powersports has equipped former enduro world champion Mathias Bellino with its Super Villain SX20T off-road vehicle, marking his entry into the powersports brand's roster of riders.

Bellino brings a decorated enduro record to the partnership

Bellino won the World Junior Enduro Championship in 2012 and the E3 World Enduro Championship in 2015. He was also part of French teams that captured the ISDE Junior World Trophy three consecutive years, from 2011 to 2013.

A 2018 rally crash ended his professional riding career

In August 2018, during his first off-road rally, the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina, Bellino suffered a serious spinal injury while training for a planned Dakar Rally bid. The accident ended his career as a professional rider.

Hamburg – September 09, 2026 -- Germany's Faktenkontor agency group has rebranded as PER Group, restructuring its five subsidiaries around client-outcome delivery rather than traditional agency disciplines such as PR, data or technology.

PER Group replaces discipline-based units with client-outcome "Impact Architectures"

The group, ranked 12th in the Pfeffer-Ranking of German PR agencies, will no longer organize services by function. Instead, each client engagement starts with a defined business outcome -- visibility, trust, acceptance or growth -- before communication, data, insights and technology are combined into what the group calls an individual "Impact Architecture."

Berlin – September 09, 2026 -- Germany's TÜV testing organizations are building a joint certification framework for artificial intelligence systems, with market rollout targeted for late 2026, as new survey data shows 79 percent of German citizens fear uncalculable risks from AI.

Survey shows trust gap even among active AI users

According to the TÜV Association's 2025 AI study, a representative survey conducted around October 26, 2025, 79 percent of German citizens fear unpredictable AI risks. Among people who actively use AI applications, only 53 percent trust that the results and answers produced are correct.

Munich – September 09, 2026 -- Sky Labs presented new clinical data at ESC Congress 2026 showing its ring-shaped blood pressure monitor, CART, achieves an approximately 80% data-usability rate in continuous 24-hour monitoring of patients with atrial fibrillation, addressing a measurement gap left by traditional cuff-based devices in patients with irregular pulse or severe blood pressure fluctuations.

Chonnam University trial confirms 24-hour monitoring feasibility in atrial fibrillation patients

Professor Ki-Hong Lee of Chonnam National University Hospital reported that CART enabled precise observation of nocturnal blood pressure dipping patterns in atrial fibrillation patients, with a data-usability rate near 80% across continuous 24-hour recordings.

Bristol, England – September 09, 2026 -- Zellis, the UK and Ireland's leading provider of HR, Workforce Management, Payroll and benefits solutions, has confirmed futurist and bestselling author Ravin Jesuthasan, CFA, FRSA, as headline speaker for its flagship Zellis Connect 2026 event, set for 23 September 2026 at Kings Place, London.

Jesuthasan will map a practical roadmap for AI-driven workforce change

Jesuthasan, global leader of Mercer's Transformation Services business, will address HR, workforce and pay professionals on the operating models replacing traditional organisational structures, the rise of future skills, and the governance needed to integrate AI and digital agents into daily operations. Zellis frames the session as action-oriented, aimed at giving attendees concrete steps against a backdrop of rising labour costs and accelerating workplace AI adoption.

Sharjah – September 09, 2026 -- The Sharjah Government has opened global applications for the 13th edition of the Sharjah Government Communication Award, with a submission deadline of September 22, 2026, and a new focus on artificial intelligence in public messaging.

Award expands to more than 35 categories spanning public and private sectors

The program, run by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, covers entries from government bodies, international organizations and private companies, alongside individual achievement and smart communication competitions. Jury and partner awards round out the more than 35 categories on offer this cycle.