Our Scans · (LF.9) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• [New] The Scottish Government is working in partnership with industry, regulators, local authorities, and delivery partners to design and deliver the infrastructure that will serve Scotland for decades to come. UKAuthority
• [New] Global natural diamond production is forecast to remain in the range of approximately 100 million carats in 2026, down from over 150 million carats less than a decade ago, reflecting the depletion of legacy mines, limited new discoveries, and the suspension or closure of several mines industry-wide. News Powered by Cision
• [New] Together with several additional frontier markets currently under development, Firebird is targeting two gigawatts of AI infrastructure capacity by the end of 2028, establishing itself as one of the world's fastest-growing AI infrastructure networks. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Firebird's global AI infrastructure pipeline is expected to reach 2 gigawatts by year end 2028 across Armenia, Kazakhstan, and additional frontier markets. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] NVIDIA's investment will accelerate Firebird's expansion of AI infrastructure across emerging markets. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Fund II will prioritise sectors aligned with the UK government's Industrial Strategy, with a preference for digital and technology, and professional and business services. The Fintech Times
• [New] China's strong electronics and machinery exports, combined with industrial input imports, suggested that AI and electrification will drive global manufacturing. The Guardian
• [New] Without action to reduce water use and build new supply infrastructure, England's taps could run dry. The Guardian
• [New] China's automotive industry has been very clearly taking the lead in developing all-electric and range-extended electric vehicle technology, and it looks like campers might be next. New Atlas
• [New] Climate change is driving more severe weather and increasing flood risks in urban areas, where a majority of people live worldwide, making an understanding of how storm type and city infrastructure intersect even more relevant. Scientific American
• [New] Given expanding population growth driving increased demand for electricity, coupled with infrastructure projects around the world, especially in developing countries, coal will continue to be a key resource component in the advancement of the global community. Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• [New] Extended supply chain disruptions risk hindering innovation cycles, delaying critical advancements needed to meet the rapidly expanding global demand for data storage. Persistence Market Research
• [New] By 2029, over 30% of large enterprises and service providers globally will upgrade their ADC hardware infrastructure to address data and AI sovereignty requirements. F5, Inc.
• [New] The manufacturing process planning segment is projected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 36.5% during 2026-2034, supported by the rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, industrial automation, and smart factory initiatives. Straits Research
• [New] The system segment is projected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 37.4% during 2026-2034, supported by rising adoption of smart factories, intelligent infrastructure, and enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives. Straits Research
• [New] Central is the consolidation of more than A$ 460 million in existing AI-related government funding into a single industrial strategy aimed at growing a world-class AI ecosystem, intended to capture economic opportunities arising from the implementation of AI applications. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The Big Five will spend more on AI infrastructure in 2026 than the GDP of Switzerland per Axis Intelligence. AI Business Weekly
• Vanuatu has established important digital foundations, including the National ID system, Microsoft 365, cybersecurity capabilities, connectivity infrastructure and emerging digital innovation opportunities. Abt Global
• Blockbuster results from Microsoft Corp. helped lift investor expectations that the buildout of AI infrastructure and related productivity gains will keep pushing stocks higher. financialpost
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) builds on 25% growth in 2025, with a predicted 29.3% bump to $287 billion in 2026. IT Pro
• Gartner has revised its IT spending forecast upwards due to an expected surge in AI-related infrastructure investment. IT Pro
• Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta are expected to spend more than $700bn on AI infrastructure in 2026, while Britain is competing to attract new data centers and computing capacity. City AM
• Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Meta and Oracle are projected to spend $750 billion in 2026 on data centers, chips and other A.I. infrastructure, up from roughly $400 billion last year. / USA The New York Times

Last updated: 10 August 2026