Putting industrial policy in its place 

Reading Time: 4 minutesAfter years in economic exile, industrial policies are back in a big way. Industrial policy interventions increased 20-fold in the past decade, as governments seek to rebuild competitiveness, support emerging technologies and shore up supply chains. This is true in OECD countries, but also in developing countries which use it more intensively. Many of these are adopting a place-based approach: between 2019-22, regional industrial policy support rose by over 50% as a share of GDP in 11 OECD countries. But why?

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How a small boost can lead to big dreams: microfinance success stories

Reading Time: 5 minutesAt just 16 years old, while working in a bakery in Paraguay, Vanessa realised she had found her calling. While others continued their studies, she chose a different path, staying close to the work that inspired her most: serving customers with care, leading a team and delivering quality products while supporting local producers. While young entrepreneurs remain largely underrepresented across Europe, how was Vanessa able to turn her vision into a reality?

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“How many hours, how many pages?” The hidden cost of cybersecurity for SMEs

Reading Time: 4 minutesFor large companies serving millions of customers, cyber threats are an unfortunate reality. They operate complex digital infrastructures, handle vast amounts of sensitive data, and usually have dedicated cybersecurity teams and resources to manage these risks. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), however, face a very different reality. Many handle sensitive customer information but cannot afford a dedicated cybersecurity specialist. As cyber threats grow more frequent and sophisticated, how can SMEs protect their data without the resources of large companies? 

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When unemployment rises, people reach for entrepreneurship: how can governments help them? 

Reading Time: 4 minutesAs the UK labour market adjusts to a new economic reality, recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows unemployment rising to around 5.2%, its highest level since 2021. This shift reflects broader global patterns, where hiring is slowing and many traditional roles are being reshaped by automation and artificial intelligence. While numbers alone do not always capture the real picture, history tells us that periods of disruption have often acted as catalysts for reinvention. That is also true of what we are experiencing now.

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The weight of the cloud: the cost of AI for water

Reading Time: 3 minutesWhen people talk about “the cloud”, it sounds weightless, something almost magical floating in the sky. Except that it isn’t. It lives on the ground, in data centres filled with servers that store, process and move staggering amounts of information every second. These data centres consume energy, occupy land, use metals and minerals from global supply chains – and they need vast amounts of water for cooling.

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More than movies: Can film drive regional development?

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen fans travel to Northern Ireland to experience landscapes made famous by Game of Thrones, they are doing more than chasing a fantasy, they are fuelling a regional economy. Although the television series concluded in 2019, it still draws around 350 000 visitors each year, representing around one in six visitors from outside Northern Ireland. How can more regions reel in the benefits of movie stardom? 

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Repensar las realidades rurales: cuáles son los desafíos y dónde se encuentran las oportunidades

Reading Time: 6 minutesEn el imaginario colectivo, las regiones rurales suelen evocar imágenes de abandono y decadencia. Sin embargo, esto está lejos de reflejar la realidad. Las zonas rurales albergan al 30% de la población de la OCDE y, en algunos casos, están creciendo más rápido que las ciudades en términos de desarrollo, productividad e innovación. Entonces, ¿por qué las narrativas obsoletas sobre el declive rural siguen eclipsando sus contribuciones? Ha llegado el momento de desmontar los mitos que frenan a estas regiones.

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De la informalidad a la inclusión: Compartiendo los recursos rurales de América Latina

Reading Time: 4 minutesLas comunidades rurales de América Latina producen gran parte de los alimentos, energía y minerales de los que depende el mundo. Sin embargo, para la mayoría de los habitantes rurales, la promesa de una prosperidad duradera sigue siendo inalcanzable porque a: pesar de esta riqueza, el trabajo informal e inseguro sigue presente, debilitando los medios de vida, servicios y oportunidades a largo plazo.

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