Affairs March 2026

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31.03.26

Prescient Healthcare Group has acquired London-based pricing and market access consultancy Dolon, strengthening its ability to support global biopharma companies navigating increasingly complex and interconnected clinical, commercial and market access environments. Following the acquisition of healthcare consultancy Uptake Strategies earlier this year, the addition of Dolon represents the next step in Prescient’s rapid growth journey, significantly enhancing the breadth of Prescient’s offer to the market. Dolon will retain its specialist focus, joining as a dedicated value, pricing and access practice working alongside Prescient’s established teams. For clients, the partnership will deliver seamless, comprehensive support for complex challenges, ensuring vital strategic pricing and market access insights inform pivotal decisions earlier and further across the product lifecycle.

Provation, which provides clinical productivity software, has launched Provation Mira Documentation Assist, a voice-driven documentation capability within its cloud-based GI procedure platform, Provation Apex, enabling real-time structured documentation during procedures. This hands-free technology allows clinicians to document in real-time by simply speaking, reducing the need for manual data entry and post-procedure recall. The company's executive medical director, Lukasz Kowalczyk, MD, observed, “Mira brings documentation directly into the procedure flow. By capturing key elements in real-time, it reduces the need for physicians to recall and reconstruct details after the case.”

30.03.26

Pearson and Tata Consultancy Services have formed a multi-year integrated partnership to help enterprises build future-ready workforces with AI-powered learning and assessment. Through this collaboration, Pearson will bring its enterprise learning and assessment expertise together with TCS' leadership in contextual AI and the TCS iON digital learning and assessment platforms. Together, the companies expect to empower enterprises to build a perpetually adaptive workforce, leveraging AI-driven insights to bridge skill gaps and drive measurable business innovation.

IQM Finland Oy, a which operates in full-stack superconducting quantum computers, has secured a €50 million financing package from funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. This facility is expected support acceleration of IQM’s technology roadmap, fuel R&D, support entry into additional markets, and advance IQM’s leadership in quantum computing.

Arc XP, a content platform and operating system built for ambitious media companies, has established a new integration with TollBit, a platform that helps publishers and creators monitor, manage and monetise AI usage of their content. The integration gives Arc XP publishers a turnkey path to understand and generate revenue from AI bots and agents that access their content, powered by TollBit.

29.03.26

The AR Alliance, a division of SPIE that is focused on augmented reality (AR), has added Ainstec, ams-Osram, Fraunhofer ISIT, Hong Kong Highpower International Co., Infineon, Kyocera Corporation, Morphotonics, Moveon Technologies, Murata Manufacturing Co., Seagate, Sunny Optical Technology, and Ushio to its membership. SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics. Members of the AR Alliance reflect the global diversity and strength of the AR hardware development ecosystem, bringing expertise across foundational research, advanced optics, display technologies, intuitive user interfaces and spatial computing platforms. The AR Alliance provides a supportive and neutral environment for organizations of all sizes to take an active role in advancing and strengthening the augmented reality hardware development ecosystem.

Oracle has launched Fusion Agentic Applications, a new class of enterprise applications powered by coordinated teams of specialised AI agents that are outcome-driven, proactive and reasoning based, and engineered for enterprise execution. Built into Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, Fusion Agentic Applications can make and execute decisions within business processes by securely accessing unified enterprise data, workflows, policies, approval hierarchies, permissions, and transactional context. Unlike copilots, AI assistants, or other AI add-ons, being native to the transactional system enables Fusion Agentic Applications to execute in real time, at enterprise scale, with full governance. "The way work gets done no longer matches the speed, complexity, or expectations of modern business as too much time is spent managing processes instead of driving outcomes," said Steve Miranda, executive vice president of Applications Development, Oracle. "With Fusion Agentic Applications, we are moving enterprise software beyond passive systems of record and providing our customers with applications that can reason, decide, and act in pursuit of defined business objectives. This is a huge step forward for the industry and will help our customers achieve faster outcomes, focus their valuable time on strategic activities, and redefine how work works."

28.03.26

TotalEnergies chairman and CEO Patrick Pouyanné and EDF chairman and CEO Bernard Fontana have signed a Nuclear Production Allocation Contract (Contrat d’Allocation de Production Nucléaire – CAPN) for a duration of 12 years, starting on 1st January, 2028. Under this agreement, EDF will allocate to TotalEnergies a share of the output of its operating nuclear fleet. This allocation will enable TotalEnergies to cover around 60% of the electricity needs of its refining and chemicals sites in France, estimated at 400 MW.

Mount Saint Mary’s University, the only women’s university in Los Angeles, in the USA, has released the 15th annual Report on the Status of Women and Girls. The report, 'The Future of Work for Women: Representation, Innovation and Access', offers a data-driven look at California’s post-pandemic workforce and the industries shaping the state’s economic future. The findings highlight areas where women are driving growth and innovation, while identifying persistent barriers and disparities across industries and leadership spaces that limit professional advancement and investment.

Customer relationship management (CRM) software plays an increasingly central role in enterprises, enhancing customer engagement to maximize growth and profitability, according to new research from global AI-centred technology research and advisory firm Information Services Group (ISG); the 2026 ISG Buyers Guides for Customer Relationship Management provide the rankings and ratings of 52 software providers and their products for the structured management of customer and prospect information. The series includes guides to providers of sales engagement, digital commerce and partner relationship management software, plus emerging CRM players. The research finds that CRM has expanded beyond record-keeping and sales force automation, becoming an AI-enhanced foundation for revenue operations, customer experience strategy and performance management.

27.03.26

The Global Market Strategy team at New York Life Investment Management, has released its annual geopolitical risk report for 2026, 'Geopolitical risk in a shifting world order', finding that a fundamental transformation in the global system is reshaping markets and challenging how investors build portfolios. The report argues that geopolitics is no longer a periodic source of volatility, but a structural force driving economic outcomes, market behaviour, and asset allocation decisions. As the era of U.S.-led globalisation gives way to one defined by great power competition, economic nationalism, and strategic state intervention, investors are operating in a world where the old playbook no longer applies. “The resurgence of great power politics is reshaping the relationship between geopolitics and economies,” said Michael LoGalbo, global market strategist, New York Life Investment Management. “For investors, the message is clear: yesterday’s tools won’t manage today’s risks.”

Veritone, Inc. has signed a multi-year agreement with Oracle to migrate its AI solutions to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). By adopting OCI as a preferred cloud and infrastructure provider, Veritone will enhance the scalability, security, and performance of its AI offerings, including its aiWARE platform, Veritone Data Refinery (VDR) and Veritone Data Marketplace (VDM).

GetHealthy, an infrastructure platform powering practitioner-led health commerce, has launched GetHealthy Script, an AI-enabled clinical scripting platform designed to help practitioners deliver complete health protocols - not just supplements. While traditional dispensaries limit practitioners to single-category supplement recommendations, GetHealthy Script enables multi-category protocols spanning doctor-grade supplements, nutrition, clean home health, personal care, equipment, pet health, and diagnostic testing, all within a streamlined scripting experience designed to integrate seamlessly into practice workflows.

26.03.26

European financial technology provider payabl. has launched Tap to Pay, allowing businesses to accept contactless card payments directly from their smartphones without the need for dedicated card terminal hardware. The SoftPOS solution enables payabl. merchants to turn NFC-enabled Android devices into fully secure payment terminals. Designed with micro and SME businesses in mind, merchants can immediately start using mobile devices to accept payments anywhere and anytime - whether that is at events, temporary retail locations or on the move, including delivery services and drivers.

A  consumer survey conducted by Rithum examines how shoppers are using LLMs and how AI search is influencing their behaviour. Rithum's report, The New Discovery Engine, reveals that 70% of respondents have used an AI tool for shopping-related activities in the past three months, and 36% say they regularly use AI to discover new brands or products, with 43% comparing more options as a direct result of using AI. However, the technology is still primarily used during the research stage rather than the transaction itself, with fewer than 15% of shoppers reporting they have completed a purchase directly through an AI tool. The survey of 1,046 online shoppers across the U.S. and U.K. also finds that while AI is becoming a common tool for product discovery, errors in AI-generated recommendations can directly impact brand trust. Nearly six in ten shoppers (58%) say they blame the retailer or brand when an AI recommendation contains incorrect product information, and 16% say they would avoid purchasing the product entirely after a bad recommendation. 

Programmatic media partner MiQ has signed an agreement to acquire the Latin America business of digital advertising provider Adsmovil. The combined company will form the region’s largest independent programmatic solution for brands and agencies.

25.03.26

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, working in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University in Germany, has developed a technology that uses a digital twin to correct machine-tool errors in real time on machine tools equipped with computer numerical control (CNC1). Tests showed that the technology can reduce errors caused by slight deformation of machined parts due to the force of a cutting tool by up to 50 per cent. This results in fewer mistakes during the cutting process, thereby lowering the number of defective parts for improved productivity and reduced environmental impact.

Clinical Healthcare Analytics (CHA) has signed a formal partnership agreement with St. Vincent’s International, a healthcare advisory and solutions organisation. Through its group companies - St. Vincent’s Consulting, St. Vincent’s Resourcing, and Universal Solutions - and its Pulse platform for healthcare solutions, St. Vincent’s International strategic advisory services, digital health expertise, specialised workforce support and technology-enabled solutions to healthcare providers across the United Kingdom, North America, the Middle East and other international markets.

Clinical research organisation ICON plc  and research technology provider Advarra have entered a definitive partnership agreement to introduce a new ‘research-ready,’ connected site network model for clinical trials. The partnership will integrate ICON’s global clinical trial solutions and services with Advarra’s site CTMSs, eISF, and eSource systems, which are already used by more than 50,000 investigators worldwide, including researchers at 90 of the top 125 academic medical centres.

24.03.26

Risk intelligence and response solutions provider AlertMedia has selected Healix as its global travel assistance partner. The partnership incorporates direct access to Healix’s medical, travel, and security response services within the AlertMedia platform, creating a single path from alert to action when travellers need help. Through the partnership, AlertMedia customers can benefit from a fully connected travel risk and response solution that empowers organisations to identify, assess, and respond to threats impacting their global workforces faster and more effectively.

One Equity Partners has acquired Kitwave Group plc, a wholesale distributor providing food, drinks and other consumables to foodservice and retail customers in the U.K.  According to Steve Lunau, partner at One Equity Partners, Kitwave “has built a strong track record of completing and integrating acquisitions in a highly fragmented sector", and One Equity expects Kitwave's experience to provide "a solid foundation for future M&A‑driven growth".

Investment and insurance organisation Starr has completed its acquisition of IQUW Group, creating a broader, more diversified specialty (re)insurance platform with enhanced capabilities across the London market, Bermuda and UK retail motor. The combined Starr business now serves more clients and brokers in more specialist classes and market segments globally. With IQUW Group, Starr has strengthened its position in the London market and established its managing agency as the ninth-largest at Lloyd’s.

23.06.26

CampusESP, a platform for family engagement in higher education, has launched a new solution designed to help colleges and universities guide students through orientation milestones and the transition to campus. Dave Becker, CEO and co-founder of CampusESP, said: “Our partners consistently told us they wanted a more connected experience for both students and families during the transition to college. CampusESP for Student Orientation extends the engagement strategies institutions already trust us for, helping campuses guide students through critical onboarding milestones while keeping families informed and supportive along the way.”

Paw Prosper, an animal health and wellness platform dedicated to helping pets stay healthy, recover quickly, and age gracefully, has acquired Onlinepethealth, a continuing education community and professional development resource in the field of veterinary rehabilitation. “This partnership creates exciting opportunities for the rehabilitation community,” said Dr. Megan Kelly, founder of Onlinepethealth. “Our mission has always been to empower rehabilitation professionals through education, collaboration, and shared knowledge. Joining Paw Prosper allows us to expand that impact while continuing to serve and grow the incredible community that has developed around Onlinepethealth.”

KnowBe4, a platform that addresses human and agentic AI risk management, has launched AIDA Orchestration, the eighth AI-powered agent in KnowBe4’s suite of AI agents for human risk management known as AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Defence Agents). The AIDA Orchestration agent is an autonomous, AI-powered system for human risk management. It independently creates, schedules and manages personalised phishing security tests (PSTs) and security awareness training (SAT) at a user level that dynamically adapts to each person’s risk profile. This eliminates manual campaigns, reduces administrative burden and efficiently lowers organisational risk.

22.03.26

Curi Bio, which specialises in human-relevant 3D tissue technology, and Battelle, an independent nonprofit research and development organisation, have formed a strategic partnership to commercialise next-generation Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) assay technology. This collaboration combines Curi Bio’s innovative microphysiological systems with Battelle’s extensive GLP-ready infrastructure to offer a transformative, human-relevant alternative to traditional pharmacology methodologies.

Intelligent power management company Eaton has been acknowledged as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 15th time by Ethisphere, which defines and advances the standards of ethical business practices. One of 13 honorees in the industrial manufacturing category, Eaton embeds ethics into decision-making-driving reliable outcomes for the customers and communities it serves.

pSemi, which works in capacitor switching power architectures, has launche two major products - the PE26100 multi-level buck converter for direct charging applications and the PE25304 advanced integrated charge pump switching-capacitor power module - which promise to revolutionisethe mobile battery charging industry and enable high-efficiency power conversion to humanoid robotic, dexterous-hand power applications.

21.03.26

In a telecommunications industry first, Elve has demonstrated a full-duplex, bi-directional wireless radio transmission at E-band using its Vermillion TWTA technology with Nokia Wavence UBT-m point-to-point radios. The initial transmission test results show more than ten times the transmit power of the most powerful mmWave backhaul radios on the market today, while maintaining a data rate of 10 Gbps.

Kraft Heinz Canada has committed US$250 million to modernise its Mont Royal factory in Montreal. This investment reinforces the company’s commitment to Canadian manufacturing and the homegrown production of its iconic brands. These funds will be directed toward upgrading and modernising key plant systems at the facility – which employs over 1,000 employees – to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and innovation.

TotalEnergies and Holcim have inaugurated a floating solar power plant with a capacity of 31 MW, located in Obourg, Belgium, on a former chalk quarry site that has been rehabilitated into a lake. The solar power plant produces 30 GWh per year of renewable electricity, which is self-consumed by Holcim’s industrial facilities, making it the largest floating solar power plant in Europe dedicated to self-consumption. To maximise landscape integration, more than 700 metres of horizontal directional drilling were carried out to connect the panels to the electrical substation.

20.03.26

The World Gold Council (WGC) has co-authored a White paper titled Digital Gold: The Case for a Shared Infrastructure with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which explores “Gold as a Service” – a new platform to support the issuance and operation of scalable, interoperable digital gold products. Gold as a Service would act as an open platform, connecting the physical custody of gold with the digital systems used to issue and manage gold-backed products. By standardising essential market processes such as custody coordination, reconciliation, compliance and redemption, the model aims to reduce operational complexity, improve access and enable greater consistency across digital gold products.

GitLab Inc., an intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps, has released a new iteration of GitLab to make it easier and more affordable to use agentic AI capabilities across the entire software development lifecycle. As AI-assisted coding has made it faster than ever to write code, the bottleneck has shifted to the hundreds of software engineering tasks that must happen afterward. GitLab 18.10 helps make it easier for GitLab customers to meet the challenge with simpler adoption, at lower costs and with a higher degree of trust.

Amerequip has implemented CADDi Drawer to centralise engineering data and improve how teams search and reuse historical design information. Since 1920, Amerequip has designed and manufactured custom equipment and solutions for brands such as John Deere, Caterpillar and Oshkosh Corporation. Through the CADDi Drawer platform, engineers can now search drawings, part numbers and keywords simultaneously, surfacing relevant drawings alongside cross-referenced internal numbers embedded within the documents.

19.03.26

According to Klarna, a digital bank and payments provider, its Klarna Card has reached five million active customers globally, underscoring rapid adoption as consumers shift towards new forms of payment which provide more control over day-to-day money management. The card draws from the customer's own funds for everyday spending, with the option to spread the cost of a specific purchase, like a large appliance or a flight, when it makes sense to do so. The result is a card that offers spending control without the long-term debt obligations that come with traditional credit cards.

Advisors dominate 70 per cent of conversation time in first prospect meetings and ask factual or closed-ended questions more than 90 per cent of the time, according to new research from Horsesmouth's Discovery Lab. The five-year study, one of the largest qualitative analyses of advisor-prospect conversations in the industry, reviewed over 100 recorded first meetings and found a consistent pattern: what advisors call "discovery" is functionally an intake meeting. The findings help explain a widespread challenge highlighted by a separate Horsesmouth survey, which found that more than half of advisors never received formal training on how to run a discovery meeting - meaning prospects stay surface-level and prospects don’t reveal their true situation, with many prospects hesitating to move forward or walking away entirely.

BZI, a steel and construction company, has achieved three proprietary construction breakthroughs - ExoClip, ExoWall and EntroDeck, which are now available for architects and engineers to incorporate into building designs from the earliest planning stages. The new suite of innovations spans substructural seismic protection, unitised wall systems, and prefabricated structural panels - each designed to bring measurable improvements in safety, speed, and build quality. 

Pyth Network, a provider of institutional market data, has launched Pyth Pro X, market data designed exclusively for exchanges operating multi-asset markets. Pyth Pro X delivers the data required to price everything from crypto to equities, supporting live markets, new product launches, and complex risk frameworks without the overhead of traditional market data licensing. Leading trading venues including Bitget, BitMEX, Coinbase, Crypto.com, DreamCash, LMAX, and TradeXYZ are among the exchanges already using Pyth Pro X to power their operations.

Airrived has launched AetherClaw, a new capability on its Agentic AI platform. According to Anurag Gurtu, co-founder and CEO of Airrived: "Early frameworks enabled agentic execution and proved the concept. What enterprises needed next was a platform that could govern it - with fine-grained access control, policy enforcement, human oversight, and a complete audit trail built in from the start. That is what AetherClaw delivers."