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Digital Version Jean-Christophe Lambert: Pioneering Sustainable Aviation with Ascendance In the dynamic realm of aerospace and aviation, few names shine as brightly as Jean-Christophe Lambert. As the visionary co-founder and CEO of Ascendance, Lambert has dedicated his life to exploring innovative possibilities within the aviation sector since his youth. After his involvement with the Airbus E-Fan project, he established Ascendance, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to transforming civil aviation. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Lambert discusses his insights on the future of aviation, the challenges of innovation, and how Ascendance is paving the way for a greener and more efficient future in air travel. The aviation industry is at a crossroads. We have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint while ensuring that air travel remains accessible and economical. The Genesis of Ascendance: A Vision for Sustainable Aviation   For Jean-Christophe Lambert, the drive to co-found Ascendance came from a deep love for aviation and an urgent need to tackle the industry’s environmental challenges. “The aviation industry is at a crossroads,” Lambert states. “We have a duty to lower our carbon footprint while keeping air travel affordable and within reach.”   Lambert’s involvement with Airbus’ E-Fan project, which centered on electric propulsion, marked a significant turning point in his career. While the project demonstrated the possibilities of electric aviation, it also revealed the drawbacks of fully electric solutions, especially regarding range, weight, and efficiency. This insight prompted Lambert to investigate hybrid-electric propulsion as a more feasible and immediate approach to decarbonizing air transport.   Ascendance emerged from this vision. The company’s leading technologies, the STERNA hybrid-electric propulsion system and the ATEA aircraft, aim to cut fuel consumption and emissions by up to 50% and 80%, respectively. “Our aim is not just to create new technologies,” Lambert stresses, “but to transform how people and goods are transported, making air travel more sustainable and accessible.” The Future of Aviation: Key Trends and Innovations The aviation industry is experiencing a major transformation, fueled by technological progress and a pressing need for sustainability. Lambert highlights several important trends that are set to reshape the industry in the near future. “Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) are on the rise,” he points out, “with EU and UK airports mandated to achieve a 2% SAF blend by 2025. This is a vital step in reducing the industry’s carbon emissions.”  Hybrid-electric propulsion technology, as demonstrated by Ascendance’s STERNA system, is another significant development. “Our technology speeds up the use of SAF while overcoming the range limitations of battery-only options,” Lambert states. The emergence of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, like Ascendance’s ATEA, is poised to transform regional air travel, creating new opportunities for passenger transport, medical services, and cargo delivery.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation are also anticipated to significantly enhance efficiency in various areas of aviation operations, from flight planning to predictive maintenance. “Advancements in sustainable aircraft design, including aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion systems, will lead to more fuel-efficient planes,” Lambert adds. “These trends are guiding the aviation sector toward a more sustainable, efficient, and accessible future.” Our goal is not just to develop new technologies, but to reshape how people and goods move, making air travel more sustainable and accessible. Overcoming Challenges: The Path to Innovation   Developing groundbreaking aviation technologies comes with its share of obstacles. Lambert openly shares the difficulties Ascendance has encountered and how the company has navigated them. “The aviation industry is highly regulated, which means new technologies must go through extensive certification processes,” he explains. “To tackle this, we’ve made it a priority to engage with regulatory bodies early and frequently, ensuring our designs meet or exceed safety standards from the very beginning.”   Another major challenge has been the technical complexity involved. “Integrating hybrid-electric systems into aircraft is quite a challenge,” Lambert acknowledges. “We’ve tackled this by bringing together a team of seasoned aerospace engineers and nurturing a culture of innovation.” Infrastructure limitations, especially the scarcity of charging facilities at airports, have also created hurdles. Nevertheless, Ascendance’s hybrid approach with STERNA provides greater flexibility, allowing operations even at locations without charging infrastructure.   Transitioning from prototypes to large-scale manufacturing has presented its own set of challenges. “We’ve addressed this by collaborating with industry leaders like Capgemini and Daher to tap into their expertise in industrialization and scaling operations,” Lambert notes. “Convincing both the industry and the public of the feasibility of new aviation technologies can be tough. We’ve concentrated on showcasing the real benefits of our technology through thorough testing and clear communication of our advancements.” By 2030, we envision a future where hybrid-electric aircraft are commonplace, transforming regional air mobility and significantly reducing the industry’s environmental impact. Differentiating Ascendance in a Competitive Market In the expanding market of hybrid and electric aircraft, Ascendance distinguishes itself through several key factors. “Unlike many companies that concentrate solely on aircraft or propulsion systems, we develop both,” Lambert explains. “Our STERNA propulsion technology and ATEA aircraft are designed to work together seamlessly, enhancing performance and efficiency.” The modular and scalable design of the STERNA system allows for application across various aircraft sizes and types, positioning Ascendance to make an impact in multiple segments of the aviation market. “While many competitors are focused on long-term, fully electric solutions, our hybrid approach provides significant environmental benefits that can be realized quickly,” Lambert states. “This enables us to make an immediate impact.” Ascendance’s comprehensive sustainability strategy goes beyond merely reducing emissions. “We tackle fuel consumption, noise pollution, and aim to decrease operating costs,” Lambert points out. “Our strong industry partnerships, including those with Capgemini, Daher, and Delair, bolster our ability to scale and industrialize our innovations effectively.” Driving Widespread Adoption of Hybrid-Electric Aircraft Several key factors are set to drive the widespread adoption of hybrid-electric aircraft, and Ascendance is strategically positioned to take advantage of these trends. Lambert explains, “Environmental regulations are becoming increasingly stringent, pushing the industry towards cleaner technologies. Our STERNA technology, which can significantly reduce emissions and fuel consumption, is well-suited to meet these evolving requirements.”  Economic viability will

Digital Version Groundbreaking Sustainable Cities: Sepideh Azizi's Plan for Urban Resilience and Fairness Urban planning has begun to change as cities around the world face two big problems: fast city growth and climate change. Sepideh Azizi, who studies and teaches at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, leads this new direction. Azizi’s work aims to create sustainable cities. She connects research based on facts with real-life uses. This offers new ways to solve some of today’s biggest environmental and social issues. Sustainability isn’t just a concept—it’s a responsibility. Cities must be built for both resilience and fairness, ensuring no community is left behind. A Journey Grounded in Inquisitiveness and Toughness Sepideh Azizi’s path to sustainable urban planning started with keen interest in city operations and a wish to tackle the environmental issues she saw while growing up in Iran. “I witnessed how extreme heat, water scarcity, and other climate-related problems had an impact on communities,” she remembers. “This early exposure pushed me to study urban planning with a heavy emphasis on sustainability.” Her academic and work experience has led her through various settings, from examining urban heat islands in major U.S. cities to evaluating flood risks and farm changes in Iran. Now, her studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign center on climate toughness clean energy shifts, and disaster prevention. “I’m drawn to how data, policy, and social fairness connect,” she says. “This is where I find the most meaning and satisfaction in my work.” The Developments of Sustainability in Urban Planning No longer an ideal, but increasingly a necessity, Azizi adds that cities must heed the integration of sustainable planning to tackle climate change, improve environmental justice and bolster quality of life, all the while finding that actualisation of these objectives is fraught with hurdles.  “One of the major obstacles is that sustainability needs to be equitable,” she says. “More often than not, green things-carrying renewable energy projects or even urban greening-benefit wealthier areas and leave lower income communities behind.” She adds that strong, political and financial barriers generally slow down the adoption of those sustainable policy initiatives. “Many cities have developed these robust, ambitious climate goals, but then don’t have the funding or political will to implement them at scale,” she adds. But to actually deal with these kinds of challenges, Azizi has really taken it up a notch and made use of very cutting-edge technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and deep learning models. “These tools allow us to provide cities with data-driven insights that make sustainability planning more targeted and effective,” she says. Fair and just sustainability efforts will address climate change and make life more livable as well. Innovative Strategies for the Environmentally Friendly Cities Azizi keeps a very optimistic outlook on the future of sustainable cities by harnessing new technologies and nature-based solutions. “Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transformative forces,” she emphasizes. “They allow us to predict environmental hazards and optimize energy use and urban design all based on real-time data.”  She also indicates how GIS and remote sensing play a critical role in tracking changes in land use, pollution, and green cover. More than technology in urban sustainability, Azizi describes green roofs, pocket parks, and urban farms as nature-based solutions. “These methods not only make cities more resilient but also enhance the life of their inhabitants,” she adds.  Another area close to her heart is the transition to sustainable energy. Azizi is examining solar energy policy in Chicago, focusing on the equity and accessibility of renewable energy programs. “It’s important that the transition to clean energy benefits low-income and marginalized communities,” she states. Integrating Sustainability in Teaching and Research As a graduate research and teaching assistant Azizi applies the concepts of sustainability in her research and her teaching pursuits. The topics covered by her research include: from the study of urban heat island effects in a few U.S. cities such as Chicago, San Francisco and Phoenix, through research on drought severity and management of water resources in Iran. Currently, she heads a campus-wide survey on transportation at the University of Illinois to assess preference for modes of travel alongside issues of spatial justice. “Indeed, this research is critical in understanding how we can make mobility more sustainable and equitable,” she adds. Azizi also insists on data-driven and critical-thinking techniques in her teaching. “In my GIS for Planners course, I introduce students to spatial analysis techniques and their applications in urban sustainability mapping,” she says. “These are the skills needed to ensure the next generation of urban planners is prepared to confront looming challenges in sustainability.”  Geared to Students for Careers in Sustainable Urban Planning  She asserts that to be successful, one needs to blend technicalities and the art of creative problem-solving. With this, she says, “I stress GIS and spatial analysis, data-driven decision making and critical thinking” in my classroom. In teaching the students to understand how to evaluate real urban issues and demonstrate what they have learned in developing sustainable solutions, she engages them in real hands-on class projects that have them do census data extraction, demographic mapping, and site design to allow for their learnings to be evaluated in practice.  She familiarized students with the major urban planning paradigms today such as Smart Growth and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD). “These frameworks spawn holistic avenues for sustainability,” she explains. “They prepare students to understand how to make cities not only environmentally friendly, but also socially and economically vibrant.” Collaboration Between Academia and Industry She stresses that academia and industry must work together toward the larger goal of sustainable urban development. “Universities provide data-driven insights, policy analysis, and emerging technologies, and the industry provides resources, infrastructure, and scalability,” she says.  An interesting aspect of collaborations is living labs, pilot projects, and public-private partnerships. “These initiatives allow us to test and refine sustainable urban solutions in real-world settings,” she says. Internships, collaborative research initiatives, and advisory boards also allow students and faculty to directly grapple with industry challenges, fostering innovation and workforce

Digital Version Dr. Mark Eccleston: Leading ValiRx PLC into the Future of Biotech Innovation In the ever-evolving world of biotechnology, few leaders have the vision, experience, and passion to drive transformative change. Dr. Mark Eccleston, CEO of ValiRx PLC, is one such individual. With a career spanning academia, entrepreneurship, and corporate leadership, Dr. Eccleston has dedicated his life to advancing science and improving patient outcomes. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, collaboration, and innovation in shaping the future of medicine. Believe in yourself, work hard, and go for it. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. A Journey Rooted in Passion and Purpose Dr. Eccleston’s journey into the biotech industry was inspired by an enduring passion for science. “My love for chemistry and its potential to solve real-world problems led me to pursue a degree in the field, followed by a PhD in polymer chemistry with a specialization in drug delivery,” he recalls. Funded by SmithKline Beecham, his doctoral research was deeply collaborative and industry-oriented, sparking his interest in translational research—the process of turning scientific discoveries into practical medical solutions. After completing his doctorate, Dr. Eccleston embarked on a traditional postdoctoral path but continued to engage extensively with industry partners. This early exposure to the intersection of academia and industry laid the foundation for his future endeavors. He co-founded two startup companies focused on drug delivery and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) applications, gaining invaluable experience in entrepreneurship and innovation. His career took a significant turn when he became one of the first four English academics to receive an Enterprise Fellowship with the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which funded his MBA. This marked the beginning of his transition from academia to the corporate world. Dr. Eccleston first joined ValiRx, where he was responsible for the pre-clinical development of one of its assets. After two years, he then established his consultancy company, OncoLytika. and co-founded VolitionRx—a biomarker company that originated as a management buyout from ValiRx.  After 15 years of diverse roles in the biotech industry, Dr. Eccleston returned to ValiRx as CEO, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a clear vision for the company’s future. “This journey has been rich in learning experiences,” he says. “It has taught me how to navigate challenges, identify potential pitfalls, and build a team that shares my commitment to innovation and excellence.” The success of ValiRx is built on the passion, dedication, and creativity of our team. Addressing the Biggest Challenge in Biotech One of the most significant challenges facing the biotech industry today is the identification and progression of promising assets to the point where they can be licensed or partnered for clinical studies. “The success rate of getting assets to the clinic is typically 1 in 10,000,” Dr. Eccleston explains. “This is where ValiRx is positioned—constantly surveilling academic tech transfer and other biotech/pharma companies for early-stage assets.” ValiRx’s approach is designed to minimize risks at this early stage. The company prioritizes high-quality science in areas of high unmet need, aligning its efforts with commercial opportunities in partnership with larger pharmaceutical companies. “We build strong relationships with our partners and work collaboratively to develop assets in our evaluation programs,” Dr. Eccleston notes. Even when assets are returned to their institutions, the data generated during the evaluation phase provides valuable insights, creating a win-win scenario for all parties involved. Pioneering Innovative Approaches to Medicine ValiRx is pioneering an innovative evaluation model to assess potential assets. The company commits to spending around £100,000 and up to 12 months to develop or confirm critical data before deciding to in-license an asset. This allows ValiRx to screen multiple orthogonal assets across a range of modalities, from small molecules to peptides, with a focus on women’s health and cancer. One of ValiRx’s flagship programs is CLX-001, a cytolytic peptide being developed for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive and hard-to-treat form of breast cancer. “CLX-001 has ‘pan-cancer’ potential, meaning it can be applied to a range of cancers,” Dr. Eccleston explains. “We are also exploring its potential to stimulate the host immune response by releasing ‘neoantigens,’ which could amplify both the magnitude and duration of the response to treatment.” Improving Patient Outcomes Through Innovation ValiRx’s work is directly contributing to improving patient outcomes, particularly in areas where there are currently limited or no effective treatment options. “Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer are two examples of highly lethal, metastatic diseases with no effective long-term treatments,” Dr. Eccleston says. “Our goal is to develop novel therapeutics that can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients facing these devastating conditions.” Collaboration as a Cornerstone of Growth Collaboration is at the heart of ValiRx’s success. Under Dr. Eccleston’s leadership, the company has initiated several partnering agreements to expand its capabilities and market reach. “We have multiple evaluation and co-marketing agreements in place with lab-on-a-chip and organoid testing companies, as well as in-vivo screening companies,” he shares. These collaborations not only enhance ValiRx’s internal drug development programs but also create new revenue streams through sales of its Patient Derived Cell (PDC) models. Recent Breakthroughs and Future Prospects ValiRx has achieved several key milestones recently, particularly in the formulation development of its Cytolytix program. “These breakthroughs bring flexibility for applications and streamlined preclinical testing options, which could reduce program costs and lead to new intellectual property,” Dr. Eccleston explains. Looking ahead, he is excited about emerging trends in cell therapy, immunotherapy, and Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs). “We have built capabilities within our translational Research Organization (tCRO™), Inaphaea, to service these exciting areas and leverage our cytolytic peptide assets.” Sustainability and Ethical Innovation Sustainability and ethical innovation are core principles at ValiRx. The company employs high-content imaging techniques and real-time kinetic monitoring using label-free platforms to maximize data density per experiment and minimize consumables and plasticware requirements. “We have also developed partnerships to advance ex-vivo drug testing, including 2D and 3D spheroid testing under hypoxia, as well as lab-on-a-chip and organoid platforms,”

Digital Version Pioneering Climate Action Through Sustainable Food Innovation: The Journey of Eugene Wang and Sophie’s BioNutrients With climate change and food security now considered pressing global threats, Eugene Wang stands out as a pioneer in the sustainable food industry. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Sophie’s BioNutrients and has spent his entire career searching for solutions to the pressing issues of food sustainability, environmental impact, and nutrition. His journey into the world of food innovation came from a painful family experience that motivated him to set the course toward a revolution of plant-based proteins from microalgae. Improving the current food systems will only bring incremental small improvements, which will not be sufficient to solve the real challenges. Instead, we must drive radical innovation to build a truly sustainable future. An Inspiration from Inside Inspiring an Effort Outside The fire of food innovation was born in him when his daughter Sophie developed allergic reactions to shellfish. Eager to find an alternative, in 2010, starting with a world first-a plant-based seafood company called Sophie’s Kitchen. This business venture allowed him to pry deeper into food technology, ultimately steering him towards the potential of microalgae as a sustainable protein source. In 2017, Wang co-launched Sophie’s BioNutrients in Singapore, focusing on innovative development on a new plant-based protein derived from microalgae. Microalgae can thus provide a paradigm shift in protein alternatives, as they are nutrient-rich and climate-resilient. To that end, Sophie’s BioNutrients uses an innovative strain of microalgae, which grows exclusively in fermentation containers, consumes industrial food waste as feedstock, and can be harvested in three days. Containing over 60 percent in protein and possessing superior essential amino acid building blocks that are above the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, this innovation can reshape the future of food production. To Reduce Food Production’s Environmental Footprint People have consumed animal afro protein, soy, and protein from different sources that usually take a lot of land, water, and energy to be produced. The microalgae-based protein technology developed by Sophie’s BioNutrients makes such use significantly unsustainable, thus paving the way for food production that conserves its environment. Wang outlined various features that are environmentally favorable: Very low land uses make deforestation unnecessary Over 90 percent of the water used in production is recyclable Short production cycles of 3 to 10 days compared to soy (45 to 65 days) and beef (over 18 months) Production systems friendly to urban areas provide reductions in transportation emissions No use of fertilizers, herbicides, antibiotics, or growth hormones All these aspects contribute to a more resilient and ecological nature of food systems that enable microalgae to play a major role in combating agriculture’s impact on climate change. With all nine essential amino acids, multiple B vitamins, iron, and dietary fibers, our microalgae protein is not only plant-based and sustainable but also allergen-free. Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future The heart of Sophie’s BioNutrients is to bring change for food systems: climate-conscious. Wang thinks a time when food production becomes urbanized to reduce the pressure of traditional agriculture and therefore helps to lower carbon footings with food transport. By means of fermentation technology, Sophie’s BioNutrients greatly minimises large-scale land usage to save forests from being cut and to prevent further anthropogenic-induced greenhouse gas emissions. The life cycle assessments directed within the company for an environmental footprint assessment continue with such innovations as they align with a larger perspective: a circular economy system in food production. Meeting the Immediate Climate Woes of the Food Sector These climate-related concerns include deforestation, high dependence on chemicals, and unsustainable supply chains, combine to create a leading-edge set of problems for the global food industry. Wang stresses the need for bold and innovative solutions in addressing these challenges rather than mild enhancements of existing systems. As he puts it, “the present agricultural model is no longer sustainable” and “unless companies develop some radical new methodologies, real change will become impossible”. “Improvements in the present food systems would be so small, and would not be able to address the real issues at stake. Instead, we must promote radical new systems, just like the one we are working on, to be able to actually address those issues.” A Tenuous Balance Between Profit and Climate Responsibility Sustainability efforts in the food industry usually require a balancing act to perform between environmental propriety and economic viability. Sophie’s BioNutrients has engineered fermentation technology with efficiency and scalability. By limiting space and resources devoted to food production, the company lessens overall environmental impact while remaining profitable within a larger time frame. As the company grows, it expects increased efficiency in production, thereby allowing it to achieve its ambitious project of waste zero and carbon-negative company. Importance of Collaboration in Halting Progress Towards Sustainable Food Solutions With meaningful climate action requires collaboration among governments, research institutions, and industry leaders. They have engaged in partnerships to promote sustainable solutions. A notable example of this cooperation is represented by the ongoing microalgae fermentation experiments by the company in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Funded through ESA by the DLR, this groundbreaking project aims to study the impacts of gravity on the growth of microalgae. The project combines contributions from Yuri GmbH, Danish Technological Institute, SpaceX, and NASA and has become a shining example of just how much collaboration across industries is integral in bringing global issues to heal. Regulatory Barriers: Call for Government Reform Despite food innovations being marked by climate-consciousness, regulatory structures take a while to catch up on the specifics. Wang asserts that because of extremely tight regulations around food, especially in Western Europe, it can stifle growth in sustainable food startups. He sits in the middle; he wants governments to regulate carefully without choking innovative strides. He emphasized that if the regulatory burden on novel food technologies were to be lessened, companies would then focus on consumer engagement and product development. By shrinking the space footprint and resources needed in our technology, we can greatly minimize our environmental