Tech-enabled homecare: a sustainable future for Europe’s ageing population

Europe’s ageing population is straining healthcare systems. David Chadima explores how tech-enabled homecare can empower professionals, support independent living, and build a more sustainable model, with lessons from the ACE project. An unprecedented demographic shift is testing the limits of European healthcare. Demand for care is growing substantially, with the proportion of people aged over […]

Implementing Digital Health solutions: why emotions matter as much as innovation

Healthcare Innovation Team Lead Núria Vàzquez Salat explores how pharmaceutical companies are approaching digital transformation and why understanding end-user emotions is essential for meaningful adoption. Reason cannot defeat emotion, an emotion can only be displaced or overcome by a stronger emotion. – Baruch Spinoza The global digital health market is expanding rapidly, and this growth […]

Sex, gender, and cardiovascular disease: empowering patients for better heart health

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and Vaccines Europe (VE) recently published a position paper supporting the development of a robust EU Cardiovascular Health Plan. Yet, across its 17 pages, the words “female” and “gender” appeared only once each. This highlights a broader issue: while cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause […]

Exoskeletons: Supporting Europe’s healthcare workforce by reducing injuries

Exoskeletons are emerging as a promising solution to support Europe’s healthcare workforce. Working with the EU-funded MSD-CARE project, Bax developed a sustainability roadmap and translated research results into practical outputs for healthcare teams and industry partners. These tools and insights demonstrate how wearable supports could protect staff, reduce strain and injuries, and help future-proof healthcare. […]

Why urban biowaste is the circular economy’s next big challenge

The HOOP project demonstrates how urban biowaste can drive the EU’s circular economy. Mafalda Di Palma reveals key policy and investment steps for real impact. According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, every EU citizen produces around 300 kilograms of biowaste each year. A substantial amount, equivalent to four average-sized washing machines. It’s one […]

Unlocking digital health: a new path for Europe’s innovators

Europe’s digital health innovators face a maze of reimbursement barriers. David Chadima explores how to turn breakthroughs into patient impact. Imagine creating a piece of technology that could help a diabetic manage their insulin, allow a stroke patient to do their physiotherapy from home, or predict a life-threatening fall in an elderly person. Now, imagine […]

AI in Healthcare: Escaping the pilot trap for true adoption

AI promises to revolutionise healthcare, but adoption often stalls at the pilot stage. Núria Vàzquez explores the promises of AI for the sector, the barriers to real-world deployment, and how to unlock its full potential. As healthcare data shifts from more structured to increasingly complex and diverse formats, AI holds genuine promise to unlock the […]

New EU Batteries Regulation explained: what producers need to know about EPR

Yesterday, on 18 August 2025, the EU’s new Batteries Regulation officially replaced the former Batteries Directive. Bax consultant Melis Kucukoglu explains what this milestone means for battery producers, the challenges of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and due diligence, and why early preparation is key to staying ahead in a circular battery economy. From directive to […]

Renewables are the future – now is not the time to slow down

Bax Circular Industry expert Johanna Reiland shares her perspective on why now is the time to double down on the energy transition – and how circular strategies can make it more resilient, efficient, and future-proof. The transition to clean energy is not only a climate imperative – it’s a strategic and economic one. – Johanna […]

One Health in cities: what we’ve learned (and what comes next)

Written by Sofia Aivalioti for URBACT One Health is not new, but its implementation in planning and designing cities is both innovative and necessary. Most cities promote health through some often-disconnected angles: by mitigating adverse impacts of climate change, tackling biodiversity loss, or designing public space for active and healthy mobility. However, coordinated actions that […]

Bax strengthens Dutch presence with senior hire and expanded services

Bax is strengthening its Dutch operations with the appointment of Tom Meijerink, who joins the Utrecht office in April 2025. In his new role, Tom will co-lead the management of Bax Netherlands alongside Kees Joosten, while continuing his position as chairman of Branchevereniging Bodemenergie. This expansion broadens Bax Netherlands’ expertise in innovation strategy, collaborative R&D, […]

Green axes: where urban greenery meets active mobility

Written by Dennis Martínez In the face of climate change and urbanisation pressures, cities worldwide are rethinking their relationship with nature and wellbeing. However, this is no easy path, as they must tackle the complex challenge of redistributing limited public space to prioritise nature and healthy lifestyles. One urban planning instrument gaining traction is the […]

The rise of the ‘sharing city’ model

Written by Nienke de Jong for the Progress Playbook Cities are at the forefront of the global sustainability challenge. Covering just 3% of the earth’s landmass, they generate 70% of global CO2 emissions and consume 75% of the world’s energy. With 84% of Europeans projected to live in cities by 2050, urban areas must rethink […]

The case for healthier cities: How urban design shapes wellbeing

Written by Amy McCready for the Progress Playbook With more than two-thirds of the global population projected to live in cities by 2050, the design of urban environments is increasingly recognised as a critical factor influencing public health. From the placement of parks to the layout of neighbourhoods, urban planning decisions have far-reaching implications for […]

Advancing Regenerative Agriculture: Insights from the EIT Food Workshop in Parma

Regenerative agriculture is more than a farming method—it’s a path toward restoring ecosystems, enhancing soil health, and building resilient food systems. As climate challenges intensify, adopting regenerative practices has become crucial for ensuring sustainable agriculture and thriving rural communities. Against this backdrop, stakeholders across Italy convened at a transformative workshop in Parma to chart a […]

Beneath our feet: why soil deserves the spotlight

Soil is more than dirt—it’s the lifeblood of ecosystems, agriculture, and climate resilience. On this World Soil Day, we explore why protecting this vital resource is essential for a sustainable future. “Soil is home to more than one-quarter of our planet’s biodiversity. Yet, we know only 1% of this universe,” (FAO). Beneath our feet lies […]

How a circular approach to wind turbine blades can make green energy truly regenerative

Wind turbines are symbols of clean energy, yet the looming issue of blade waste threatens to undermine their green reputation. Can a circular approach make wind energy truly regenerative?  From waste to renewal Wind energy plays a vital role in the transition to a low-carbon future, supported by global treaties like the Paris Agreement. However, […]

Restoration for Resilience: Advancing Europe’s Ecosystem Recovery by 2050

Written by Jamie Coles Europe faces a critical environmental crisis: over 80% of its natural habitats are degraded, threatening wildlife, human well-being, economic stability, and the future of generations to come. Our societies and economies fundamentally rely on healthy ecosystems for services like clean air, water, food production, and climate regulation. The degradation of these […]

Future-proofing homecare for Europe’s ageing population

Written by David Chadima As Europe’s population continues to age, the need for innovative homecare solutions is becoming increasingly urgent. The ACE project is stepping up to meet this challenge, conducting a series of workshops in late 2023 to uncover key insights and drive meaningful change. These workshops revealed crucial factors influencing the adoption of […]

United for zero-emissions: Europe’s collaborative push in EV innovation

As Europe drives towards a zero-emission future, the automotive industry lies at the heart of this transition. With ambitious targets set by the European Commission, manufacturers, research institutes, and policymakers are working together to develop sustainable electric vehicles (EVs) that meet stringent CO² reduction standards. This article explores how collaboration is essential to overcoming challenges […]

Urban Health: How cities influence chronic disease risk

We’re identifying and measuring the association between urban environment features and Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the HORUS project. How does the urban environment influence our health? Many factors related to our urban surroundings have an impact on our lifestyle choices, and therefore on our health. Studies show that up to 89% of our health is […]

Bax positions itself at the forefront of challenge-driven urban innovation with DUT partnership

Bax recently confirmed its commitment to progressing Europe’s sustainable urban future with the launch of a four-year collaboration with the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership. The DUT Partnership is an intergovernmental research and innovation programme supporting much-needed urban transformation processes across Europe. It aims to strengthen capacities and tools to make urban change happen and […]

European Network for Urban Sharing Launches: Introducing Digital Kiosks

The Digital Kiosks Network has officially launched, promising to transform the sharing and rental economy.  Led by Bax, the new European network facilitates the sustainable implementation of sharing stations by working with more than 30 public authorities, housing providers, sharing station providers, brand manufacturers, researchers and sharing economy practitioners. “The Digital Kiosks network aims to […]

Revitalising Barcelona’s industrial Besòs district through healthy urban planning

Barcelona City Council has awarded Bax the opportunity to create an urban redevelopment strategy for one of the city’s biggest industrial districts. The neighbourhood surrounding the industrial zone is one of Barcelona’s most deprived areas, with a life expectancy 12 years below more affluent parts of the city. Our strategy imagines an Innovation District that […]

Human-centric urban design and active mobility create liveable cities

Written by Jamie Coles Imagine a city. What do you see? Tower blocks, perhaps, cutting through the sky. Perhaps a grid of tarmac—streets choked with the droning of car traffic. But consider the spaces between these blocks—the parks that soak up rainwater to prevent floods, shaded paths that cool the air, mitigating urban heat islands. […]

Developing Spain’s first cobalt-free lithium battery for electric vehicles

In a major advancement for electric mobility, our partners in COBRA have developed Spain’s first large-format cobalt-free lithium-ion battery prototype for electric vehicles. This development marks a crucial stride towards producing batteries that are not only environmentally friendlier, but ready to compete in the global market. Why cobalt-free batteries? Cobalt makes batteries work with greater durability and […]

Healthy Cities team win research award at international Healthy City Design Congress

Bax’s Healthy Cities team were invited to present at the Healthy City Design International Congress, showcasing their work on healthy city planning for more than 500 urban practitioners. The team’s work on the Healthy Cities Generator was awarded Best Research Paper of the Congress. Celebrating human-centred urban design The 2023 Healthy City Design International Congress […]

SCAPE: Pioneering sustainable mobility with next-gen electric vehicles

In the pursuit of a greener and more sustainable future, the European Union is backing a ground-breaking project that aims to reshape the landscape of electric vehicles (EVs). SCAPE (Switching-Cell-Array-based Power Electronics conversion for future electric vehicles) brings together a dynamic consortium of nine partners, of which Bax is proud to participate, to embark on […]

Why Europe’s towns and cities need a long-term roadmap for automated public mobility

Chronic bus driver shortages across Europe are threatening to push mobility transition goals off the road. Recent leaps in automated mobility technology could lead the way to low-marginal cost, high-frequency demand-responsive solutions. But where does this automation fit in a city’s mobility strategy and practical planning? Over the past six years, consultants of Bax spin-off […]

How we deployed autonomous vehicles across Europe in 2022

2022 was the year that Bax spin-off Pendel’s autonomous mobility service hit the road and showed public authorities and site operators what autonomous vehicles can really do. On a sunny morning in May 2022, a bus drove its passengers from the car park of the Port of Barcelona’s headquarters to the doors of the offices.  It […]

Wind energy: addressing the challenges of tomorrow, today

In this edition of our Beyond Bax interview series, we return to the topic of wind energy. Speaking to Philippe Spring, structural design engineer at TPI Composites — the largest US-based independent manufacturer of composite wind blades — we cover the main challenges regarding the wind industry’s waste, and ways to address them using available […]