Baltic Deep Tech Report 2024 May 2024 “Deep Tech can play an important role in solving complex economic and societal problems, but itʼs a long and bumpy road to positive impact. Our promise at Startup Estonia is to support Deep Tech startups in making a notable dent by providing a well-connected ecosystem and accessible resources. By the numbers, the Estonian DeepTech ecosystem is off to a promising start. Startup turnover growth in Q1 2024 showed a 38% increase over Q1 2023 whereas economic growth elsewher ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - AI adoption is accelerating, but initial use cases focus on optimization and internal efficiencies rather than revolutionary AI-enabled products and services [1][2] - The telecom sector is leading in AI adoption, with 38% of companies using AI for over six months, while only 3.8% of US businesses utilize AI for goods and services [3][4] - AI has the potential to disrupt business models significantly, similar to the impact of digital transformation over the past two decades [5][6] - Companies are encouraged to adopt an entrepreneurial approach to AI, balancing short-term efficiency gains with long-term strategic investments [27][28] Summary by Sections Current State of AI - AI has been around since the 1950s, but recent advancements in generative AI (GenAI) have led to a rapid increase in adoption [2] - Despite the hype, many companies are still in the early stages of AI implementation, primarily focusing on internal productivity [3][15] Industry-Specific Insights - Telecom and media, retail, consumer goods, healthcare, energy, and financial services are among the first industries to benefit from AI [16] - Manufacturing industries require more advanced AI capabilities to fully leverage its potential [16] Case Studies - Klarna's AI assistant has improved client support and reduced operational costs by $40 million, showcasing significant productivity gains [12] - GitHub's AI Copilot has increased coding speed by 55%, demonstrating the potential for AI to enhance developer productivity [12] Future Trends - The report anticipates that AI will lead to new business models and revenue streams, particularly as companies integrate AI into their existing operations [5][19] - Industries like healthcare are expected to see transformative applications, such as AI-driven drug discovery and personalized health services [23] Strategic Recommendations - Companies should develop an AI maturity heat map to identify strengths and weaknesses in their AI capabilities [12][14] - Investment in foundational capabilities, such as data governance and talent acquisition, is crucial for long-term success in AI [14][27]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a combined brand value of the top 150 French brands at €507 billion, reflecting a 7% increase from the previous year, although this growth is slower compared to global peers [19][20][21]. Core Insights - Strong brands are historically a factor of reassurance, growth, and resilience, especially in uncertain contexts [5]. - The average brand strength index for the top 150 French brands has decreased, indicating a decline in competitiveness compared to global counterparts [19][34]. - The apparel sector remains the most valued, accounting for 22% of the total brand value in the report [19][38]. Summary by Sections Brand Value and Growth - The total brand value of the top 150 French brands increased by €33 billion, reaching €507 billion, with a growth rate of 7% compared to 17% in the previous year [19][20]. - The average brand strength index for these brands has regressed, growing 12 times slower over the last four years than the global top 500 brands [19][20]. Sector Performance - The apparel sector leads with a 16% increase in brand value, while the automotive sector also shows significant growth [19][38]. - The telecommunications sector, represented by Orange, has shown resilience with a 6.7% increase in brand value, while TotalEnergies has seen a decline [23][25]. Top Brands - Louis Vuitton remains the most valued French brand at €30.1 billion, with a growth of 19%, followed by Chanel at €24.3 billion, which grew by 30% [21][22]. - Chanel has become the strongest French brand with a score of 88.8, reflecting a significant increase in brand strength [34]. Brand Strength Metrics - The average brand strength score for the top 150 brands is 70.7, equivalent to a AA+ rating, which has slightly declined compared to previous years [34]. - Chanel's brand strength has increased significantly, while other brands like TotalEnergies have experienced a decline in brand strength metrics [25][34]. Sustainability Perception - Louis Vuitton has the highest sustainability perception value at €3.6 billion, indicating strong consumer engagement in sustainability practices [42][44]. - The report highlights the importance of sustainability in consumer decision-making, particularly for luxury brands [43][44].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry. Core Insights - The voluntary procurement of clean energy by corporations has significantly driven renewable energy development, with over 70 gigawatts of renewable energy contracts signed in the U.S. since 2014 [7] - The urgency of the climate crisis is leading large energy consumers to assess the impact of their actions on grid decarbonization and reliability, utilizing consequential emissions impact analysis [7][8] - The ZEROgrid initiative aims to clarify the consensus on consequential emissions impact analysis and its implications for corporate actors [8] Summary by Sections Areas of Consensus - The true impact of any voluntary corporate action is defined as the difference in total emissions between a scenario where the action is taken and one where it is not [9] - The impact comprises several contributing effects, including short-run operations of power plants and long-term structural changes [9][12] - There is a lack of a universally accepted method to empirically verify estimates of structural change, leading to significant uncertainty in total impact measurements [10] Components of Impact - Emissions impact can occur through changes in power supply or demand, costs of power plants, and the rate of renewable energy project interconnections [12] - The total emissions from power plants are calculated based on capacity, utilization, and emissions factors, with companies able to influence these variables to reduce emissions [13] - The distinction between short-run and long-run impacts is crucial, as utilization changes quickly while capacity adjustments take longer [15] Additionality - Additionality refers to the additive nature of an intervention's emissions reductions, which can be influenced by direct impacts on grid emissions and overall structural changes [20] - An action may be considered non-additional if it does not impact capacity, utilization, or emissions factors, or if it induces equal and opposite changes [20] Estimates Versus True Values - The practice of consequential emissions impact analysis faces challenges in validating estimates due to the inability to observe both scenarios (with and without the action) simultaneously [21] - Various models exist to estimate impacts, including capacity expansion models and regression models, each with different levels of uncertainty [22][24] Conclusions and Future Research - The report emphasizes the need for continued exploration of how to compare model outputs and improve understanding of consequential impact assessments [25] - Future research will focus on identifying consistently high-impact actions and bounding uncertainties in estimates to inform policymakers [25]

Atradius Payment Practices Barometer 2024 B2B payment practices trends France Bad debt surge sparks heightened cash flow concerns About the Atradius Payment Practices Barometer The Atradius Payment Practices Barometer is an annual survey of business-to-business (B2B) payment practices in markets across the world. Our survey provides us with the opportunity to hear directly from companies polled about how they are coping with the impact of the current challenging economic and trading environment on payment b ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report highlights a trend of relaxed payment terms among Finnish companies, leading to potential liquidity gaps [7][9][22] - There is a significant concern regarding the domestic economy and cybersecurity risks affecting B2B payment practices [22][24] Summary by Sections B2B Payment Practices Trends - An average of 46% of B2B sales in Finland are made on credit, with variations across sectors: 60% in electronics/ICT, 45% in steel/metals, and 37% in consumer durables [7][9] - Nearly 40% of businesses are offering longer payment terms, averaging over two months from invoicing, with the steel/metals sector leading at 70 days [8][9] - Late payments affect 51% of all B2B sales on credit, with bad debts averaging 8% [9][13] Looking Ahead - Companies express widespread concern about the domestic economy and cybersecurity risks, particularly in the consumer durables and electronics/ICT sectors [22][24] - There is a mixed outlook for B2B customer payment behavior, with more companies expecting a negative trend, especially in the steel/metals industry [28][31] - 40% of companies anticipate no major shifts in Days-Sales-Outstanding (DSO), but pessimism is prevalent in the steel/metals sector regarding collection efficiency [29][32]

Atradius Payment Practices Barometer 2024 B2B payment practices trends Western Europe Strategic credit management crucial as bad debts and DSO worsen About the Atradius Payment Practices Barometer The Atradius Payment Practices Barometer is an annual survey of business-to-business (B2B) payment practices in markets across the world. Our survey provides us with the opportunity to hear directly from companies polled about how they are coping with the impact of the current challenging economic and trading envi ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The report highlights a cautious approach to customer credit risk among companies in Denmark, with a notable decline in B2B sales transacted on credit, now averaging 43% of all sales [6][8] - There is a significant increase in bad debts, which now account for 8% of all B2B sales, up from 3% the previous year, indicating complexities in managing customer credit risk [7][8] - Companies express concerns about the domestic economy, with high household debt constraining consumer spending and impacting B2B trade [18][20] Summary by Sections B2B Payment Practices Trends - A downward trend in B2B sales on credit is evident, with 43% of sales now on credit, reflecting a cautious approach to minimize credit risks [6][8] - The electronics/ICT sector shows the most caution, while chemicals and machines sectors are more open to credit transactions [6] - Payment terms vary significantly, with chemicals offering shorter terms of one month, while machines and electronics/ICT sectors offer longer terms of 58 days and 36 days respectively [6][8] Key Figures and Charts - Late payments affect 49% of all B2B credit sales, down from 54% the previous year, while bad debts have surged to 8% [8][15] - Days-Sales-Outstanding (DSO) is stable, averaging 43 days for machines and 66 days for electronics/ICT, indicating improved credit management efforts [11][13] Looking Ahead - Companies express rising fears about insolvency risks due to the domestic economy's state, with 65% anticipating increased insolvency risk for their customers in the next 12 months [18][30] - Short-term concerns include geopolitical tensions, insufficient production capacity, and operational challenges, particularly in the chemicals sector [20][31] - Long-term worries focus on regulatory compliance and sustainability issues, especially in the chemicals industry [19][21] Survey Findings - A consensus exists that B2B payment practices will change significantly in the next 12 months, with many expecting a positive trend but a growing number anticipating deterioration, particularly in the electronics/ICT sector [24][25] - 51% of companies expect no significant change in DSO, while 32% anticipate improvement [28][26]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The survey indicates a significant trend of Belgian companies reducing bank borrowing and increasing reliance on trade credit due to rising interest rates, with 50% of businesses reporting this shift [6][7] - The construction sector shows a notable increase in B2B sales transacted on credit, now averaging 54%, while the steel/metals industry averages 46% [7][10] - Concerns about worsening Days-Sales-Outstanding (DSO) and workforce shortages are prevalent, with 24% of businesses anticipating a deterioration in B2B customer payment behavior [20][21] Summary by Sections B2B Payment Practices Trends - Companies in Belgium are increasingly relying on trade credit as a source of short-term finance, particularly in the construction and machinery sectors [6][7] - The construction sector has seen 54% of B2B sales transacted on credit, while the steel/metals industry has 46% [6][7] - Machinery companies are cautious in extending trade credit due to a rise in bad debts, with only 20% of sales conducted on credit [6][10] Key Figures and Charts - 50% of surveyed businesses report increased reliance on trade credit [7] - Average payment terms for machinery and steel/metals sectors are nearly 70 days, while construction averages 41 days [9][11] - Bad debts account for an average of 11% of total B2B sales in Belgium, higher than the Western European average of 8% [10][12] Looking Ahead - 24% of businesses expect a deterioration in B2B customer payment behavior, with 40% of construction companies sharing this sentiment [20][22] - Concerns about DSO are rising, with 26% of businesses anticipating a decline in debt collection efficiency [21][23] - A significant short-term concern is the shortage of skilled workers, affecting nearly one-third of companies [25][27]

Atradius Payment Practices Barometer 2024 B2B payment practices trends Spain Customer credit risk landscape affected by persistent economic headwinds About the Atradius Payment Practices Barometer The Atradius Payment Practices Barometer is an annual survey of business-to-business (B2B) payment practices in markets across the world. Our survey provides us with the opportunity to hear directly from companies polled about how they are coping with the impact of the current challenging economic and trading envi ...