Good morning, this is Zelda bringing you the latest tech news, and looking into 2021 with hope.

We'll reflect on the way to cyber peace after an increase of cyber attacks in 2020 in the midst of the Covid crisis, and we'll see how the new year opens up to a golden decade for cleantech start-ups.

Stay tuned for more innovation in 2021.

Zelda Chauvet

06.01.2021

Today’s reason for hope

Illustration: Davide Bonazzi/Salzman art. Source: Science.

Open access takes flight. A radical initiative that makes scientific works funded by public grants free to access came into effect at the start of 2021. Nevertheless, Plan S, which is supported by research funders including the World Health Organization, leaves researchers and institutions grappling with the trade-offs of making scientific publications free for all.

Science (EN)

Technology News

Swiss cleantechs develop in high-tech niches such as Agrofly in precision agriculture. Source: Agrofly.

A golden decade opens up for environmental start-ups. The third edition of the Cleantech Report shows a strong increase of investments in Swiss start-ups developing technologies related to environmental protection.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Paving the way to cyber peace. Cyberattacks on healthcare reached another level in the midst of the pandemic with companies key to the Covid-19 vaccine supply chain becoming the latest target and raising new concerns for cyber peace.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

These cybersecurity tactics will help businesses survive 2021. Security professionals take three steps: threat detection, immediate action and long-term defence. All companies should look to do the same, no matter their industry.

WIRED (EN)

Here's what else is happening

Tunisia pushes for UN monitors for Libya’s frail ceasefire to be adopted as soon as possible.
Euractiv (EN)
UN envoy plans trip to Yemen and Saudi Arabia following an attack on Aden airport last week.
Reuters (EN)
Malian ex-prime minister Boubou Cissé, overthrown by the army in August 2020 and hunted by the military defends himself.
Le Temps (FR)
How Artificial Intelligence can power climate change strategy. When AI technology helps solve a problem, problem-solving can be done quicker.
Forbes (EN)
Circular trailblazers: Scale-ups leading the way towards a more circular economy.
WEF (EN)
When satellite monitoring helps reduce deforestation in several African countries.
Heidi.news (FR)
WHO ‘disappointed’ at Chinese delays letting experts in to examine origins of COVID-19.
AP News (FR)
Central African Republic: Respect final results of the election, UN and partners urge.
UN News (EN)

Image of the day

Twitter: @WHOAFRO/WHO African Region.

SCAM ALERT. The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alarm this week over a scam message offering €500 ($615) in benefits to people who answer three questions. The message is circulating widely on WhatsApp in several African countries, including Angola, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

Twitter (EN)

Spotlight

Source: ICRC.

🎧 Science and technology serving humanitarian aid. Following the partnership between ICRC, EPFL and ETHZ, the discussion touches upon concrete projects where technology becomes a useful tool to humanitarian aid.

RTS (FR)

Next on the agenda

13-15 January | Multiple legalities. The conference will take stock of the current debate around conflict and entanglement in the global legal order.

The Graduate Institute (EN)

28 January | AI in care. This third session of the AI & Policy talks organised by the Digital Law Center will cover laws and ethics and algorithmic bias in healthcare.

University of Geneva (EN)

26 January | Ten years after the Arab Spring. This presentation focuses economic, security and geostrategic challenges facing the Middle East.

INGE (FR)

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Have a good day!

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