TechCapsules

EMD Electronics, the North American arm of Merck KGaA, opened a 38,000‑square‑foot research and development center in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin. The new facility houses eight purpose‑built laboratories covering discovery, development, qualification, and packaging, and integrates synthesis, scale‑up, and technology transfer functions. It aims to accelerate advanced materials for next‑generation semiconductors, support AI‑driven device complexity, and reduce environmental impact with renewable energy and a target LEED Gold certification. The project is part of a $200 million U.S. expansion under [...]

The Brookings Podcast “The Beijing Brief” features Ryan Hass interviewing experts Kyle Chan and R. David Edelman to examine how the United States and China pursue artificial intelligence. The discussion highlights the Trump administration’s framing of AI as a race, citing statements from Secretary Bessent and Secretary Burgum that the U.S. must maintain its lead over China. The hosts contrast the U.S. strategy of deregulation and massive investment with China’s state‑led, coordinated approach, and explore the differing national‑security implications of each country’s AI [...]

Metrosert, Estonia’s Applied Research Centre, is launching QEst Hack 2026, a three‑day quantum‑computing competition in Tallinn from November 11‑13. Five Estonian and Nordic companies will present real business challenges and data, while teams of students, researchers, and industry experts will test quantum algorithms for potential solutions. Applications close on October 11; participation is free and includes guidance from international mentors. The event aims to accelerate Estonia’s quantum‑technology expertise and help companies assess quantum viability for complex optimisation [...]

Citigroup’s digital payment service, Citi Token Services, enables Taiwanese firms with overseas operations to transfer funds between eligible Citi accounts worldwide at any time, including weekends and holidays. The blockchain‑based platform, already active in the US, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Ireland, Japan, and the UAE, supports US dollar and euro transactions. Taiwanese clients can use the service through existing Citi accounts, facilitating near‑instant liquidity for cross‑border operations. Daily tokenized deposits reach roughly US$1 billion, and the service is [...]

Senator Bernie Sanders (D‑VT) introduced the Ban Flock Act on Friday, seeking to prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license‑plate readers (ALPRs) or accessing data from local police and private operators such as Flock Safety. The legislation, though named after the company, applies to all ALPR systems and permits exceptions only for toll collection and future congressional authorizations that would limit data retention to 48 hours. Non‑compliant state and local governments would lose federal grant funding from [...]

Meta’s Muse AI assistant has become the fastest‑growing AI app on mobile, reaching 5 million downloads in just three weeks after its launch. The milestone, reported by analytics firm Sensor Tower on Wednesday, puts Muse ahead of established rivals such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT (56 days), Anthropic’s Claude (103 days) and Elon Musk’s Grok (492 days). The rapid uptake propelled Muse to the #1 spot on both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, eclipsing other popular titles in the same period. [...]

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the concluding entry of Square Enix’s remake trilogy, launches on April 8 with a physical disc that contains only the game’s opening segment. Players must connect online to download the remainder, making the disc a “key” rather than a complete copy. Director Naoki Hamaguchi, who grew up collecting physical games, fought internally to secure any disc release, arguing that physical media still holds value despite industry trends toward disc‑less distribution. He acknowledges that the decision on [...]

Global Power Solutions Corp. (TSXV: PWER, FSE: NJA) announced plans to purchase its first equipment for the development and testing of a modular hydrogen power system. The acquisition, valued at roughly $300,000, will secure a driver unit that performs the power‑generation function within the pilot system. The purchase moves the project from conceptual design to physical assembly, integration, and validation. The company previously signed a joint development and licence agreement to build and demonstrate a hydrogen‑based pilot [...]