London-based start-up building a digital safety network that helps banks protect people from scams before payments happen

FALKIN uses AI to detect scams before money moves, analysing manipulation and deception across urgent messages, items for sale, payment requests and investment opportunities

Its digital safety tools are embedded directly into banking platforms, protecting customers inside the experiences they already use and trust.
FALKIN is launching Safety Labs to help community banks deploy scam prevention tools

Already tested by banks and tens of thousands of users across the US and UK – 78% say FALKIN makes them more confident online.

FALKIN’s $2 million pre-seed funding round was led by TriplePoint Ventures, with Notion Capital, BackFuture Ventures, Aviva/Founders Factory, Haatch, Found Capital, and Founders Capital. Leading fintech and cyber investors have also invested in the company.

LONDON, TUES 11 NOV 2025, 8AM GMT – FALKIN, a digital safety company that helps people stop scams before payments happen, has today announced it has secured $2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by TriplePoint Ventures, with participation from Notion Capital, BackFuture Ventures, Aviva/Founders Factory, Haatch, Found Capital, and Founders Capital. The round also included leading fintech and cyber investors such as Pierre Decote, Group Chief Risk Officer at Revolut and Ben Enckevort, CTO and Co-Founder of Metomic. The investment comes amid rising regulatory and consumer pressure for proactive scam-prevention measures as AI-powered fraud grows globally.

The funding will be used to accelerate hiring, product development, and integrations with financial institutions while supporting the launch of Safety Labs, which gives community banks and credit unions a structured way to easily deploy and evaluate customer-facing scam-prevention tools with minimal lift.

The company is also expanding its integration ecosystem, enabling financial institutions to embed FALKIN’s protection layer directly into digital-banking journeys and communication systems.

FALKIN has already been used by bank innovation teams and tens of thousands of consumers across the US and UK. 78% of users said FALKIN’s tools made them feel more confident engaging online, and more than half said prevention is more valuable than reimbursement. The results show that prevention-first tools that engage consumers before they make payments, significantly reduce risk and strengthen trust.

The company uses a range of AI digital safety tools that analyse manipulation techniques and signs of deception across various communication channels. These tools are embedded directly inside the popular digital tools people already trust, from mobile-banking apps to customer-service portals, so customers are protected before money leaves their account.

AI Scams: The New Frontier of Financial Fraud

Scams have become the defining financial threat of the AI era. Deloitte estimates U.S. losses from authorised push payment fraud could reach $15 billion by 2028, up from $8.3 billion in 2024. In the U.K., over seven million people were affected by scams last year, yet 71% of victims never report them. With prosecution rates below 1%, financial institutions are fighting an invisible enemy with incomplete data and no deterrent.

Despite billions spent annually on fraud and scam detection, most systems activate when money moves – missing the emotional manipulation and deception that causes scams in the first place. The institutional cost is staggering: the true cost of each fraud incident exceeds four times the stolen amount when legal fees, fines, remediation, and staff time are included.

AI has fundamentally changed the threat landscape. Scammers now deploy voice cloning, deepfake video, and sophisticated copywriting tools to create hyper-realistic impersonations at scale – making it nearly impossible for consumers to distinguish legitimate communications from fraud. What once required skilled social engineering can now be executed by anyone with an internet connection.

“AI has blurred the line between what’s real and what’s fake, and traditional systems aren’t built for that reality,” said Sam Stone of TriplePoint Ventures. “FALKIN’s vision to make proactive safety universal has the potential to redefine digital trust. We’re proud to back the team as they work to embed digital safety at the heart of modern finance.”

“The new battlefield isn’t payments – it’s persuasion,” said Boaz Valkin, Co-Founder of FALKIN. “Protection has to move earlier, to the moment before someone clicks, replies, or transfers. We’re turning AI from a weapon of deception into a tool for defense.”

“Modern scams are sophisticated, and no single red flag tells the whole story,” said Joel Frisch, co-founder and COO, FALKIN. “The key is to analyze all the signals that reveal deception to build a complete picture. When we embed that intelligence where trust already lives – inside the banking apps people use every day – protection becomes effortless.”

Pioneering zero-emission vessel named and launch date set for March 2025
New vessel increases crossing capacity, enabling over 150,000 passengers to cross every week

In a groundbreaking advancement for sustainable river transport, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has announced that the UK’s first fully electric zero-emission cross-river passenger ferry, Orbit Clipper will launch in March 2025. Currently under construction at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, this innovative vessel will provide an accessible, green and fast route across the Thames seven days a week, enabling over 20,000 Londoners and visitors to travel every weekday.

Orbit Clipper will operate between London’s Canary Wharf on the north side of the Thames and Rotherhithe on the south, offering an efficient and eco-friendly service for cross-river transport. The vessel will cross the river every 10 minutes from each side on weekdays and every 15 minutes at weekends. The 150-passenger ferry, with capacity for 100 bicycles, features a roll-on/roll-off design that enables automated docking on both sides. This innovation enhances accessibility, reduces journey times, and increases capacity for both foot and cycle passengers.

A commitment to a greener future

This zero-emission vessel is part of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ broader sustainable innovation initiative. Following the recent addition of three hybrid high-speed vessels to its main fleet of River Buses, each cutting emissions by up to 90%, Orbit Clipper underlines the business’s commitment to creating green transport solutions for London’s commuters and leisure travellers. The project is a significant step towards Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ ambitious target of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2035 and achieving net-zero by 2050.

Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, said, “It’s a real British success story. All of our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest green technology at Wight Shipyard Co on the Isle of Wight. This new vessel will launch within our 25^th year of operation and it reaffirms our investment in both the local Isle of Wight economy and in London.

“This zero-emission solution also comes after the recent launch of our third hybrid boat – Mars Clipper – into our main River Bus fleet and is the next step on our journey to advancing sustainable maritime technology. The Thames is the lifeblood of our great capital and it’s our ambition to continue to push for further progression along the river – we’re calling upon London’s maritime businesses and government bodies to collaborate and ensure a greener future for all.”

Toby Mumford, CEO, Wight Shipyard, said: “At Wight Shipyard we’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers by building its first zero-emission vessel. This was our first build accessing the Innovate UK grant funding in partnership with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, Beckett Rankine and Aqua superPower. Having already delivered six vessels, of which three are hybrid boats, for the fleet, this milestone represents not only a significant step forward for sustainable maritime innovation in the UK but also highlights the international potential for British-built electric vessels. We hope and expect that it is the first of many.

“It’s an honour to contribute to Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ 25-year legacy, and we’re proud that our work here on the Isle of Wight supports both the local economy and the evolution of cleaner, greener transport solutions for London and beyond.”

Tim Beckett, Director, Beckett Rankine, said: “It’s now five years since Beckett Rankine and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers came up with the concept for a zero-emission roll-on/roll-off ferry at Rotherhithe, as an alternative to the then proposed bridge. I am delighted that this vision is now being realised, with the aid of Wight Shipyard building the vessel and Aqua Superpower providing the shore power connections.

“Orbit Clipper is a groundbreaking vessel in many respects, not least in that it is a double-ended, self-docking, auto-mooring ferry. This has, in turn, required the design of a novel new pier for Rotherhithe and a pier extension for Canary Wharf. The new pier is designed with a gentle gradient to make the ferries accessible for cyclists and people with restricted mobility. Improved cycle access supports wider plans for e-cargo bike river crossings. Beckett Rankine is proud to have been responsible for the design and consenting of these pier works, on which construction is due to commence in January. As London extends eastward, there is an increasing need for cross-river pedestrian and cycle links across the Thames, so Orbit Clipper couldn’t be launching at a better time.”

Matt Holland, chief project engineer, Aqua superPower, said: “Aqua superPower is proud to contribute its marine fast-charging expertise to this pioneering project, which sets a benchmark for future initiatives. The launch of Orbit Clipper marks a significant step in decarbonising diesel ferries on the Thames, playing a vital role in London’s clean mobility efforts. Our involvement highlights Aqua’s commitment to marine electrification and cutting-edge infrastructure, and we are excited to collaborate with fellow industry leaders to drive this transformation forward.”

Orbit Clipper (designed by Aus Ships Group) will replace the current cross-river ferry service, continuing to serve the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Rotherhithe and meeting the demands of Canary Wharf’s growing employment centre and burgeoning residential neighbourhoods on both sides of the river. A new step free pontoon is being built on the south side as part of the project, and the existing pier at Canary Wharf will be modified to accommodate the new fully electric ferry berth. This initiative has been made possible through partial sponsorship from the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3 (funded by the Department for Transport with Innovate UK), and with project partners high-speed aluminium ship builder, Wight Shipyard Company; maritime civil engineering consultants, Beckett Rankine; and electric infrastructure specialists, Aqua superPower.

For over 25 years, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers has spearheaded innovations in the marine sector, consistently supporting the Thames’ role in Greater London’s sustainable transport future. As part of this mission, the business has also been exploring advanced fuel options, including compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen, and methanol.

For more information about Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and its sustainability initiatives, please visit uberboatbythamesclippers.com.

The brief

The Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT) accelerates government innovations into the market to drive growth and support new products and services for citizens.GOTT commissioned us to lead a public sector brand development project to evolve its visual identity into something clearer, more accessible and more adaptable — and to ensure it reflected the organisation’s innovative role and authority. Key requirements included preserving recognition, ensuring AA accessibility, and keeping the brand practical and ownable within DSIT.

Insights and approach

We structured our work into three phases: immersion, creation and delivery. As a brand development agency working regularly on public sector branding, we began with a detailed brand audit — laying out every asset on a virtual board to identify patterns, inconsistencies and opportunities for improvement.

To understand usability challenges, we spoke directly with core brand users inside GOTT, gathering clear insights into what worked, what didn’t and what needed simplifying.From there, we developed an iterative set of design refinements, ensuring the visual language balanced continuity with much-needed clarity. Once approved, we delivered a hands-on training session, including a live “build-your-own-slide-deck” exercise. This allowed the team to trial the refreshed brand in real time and gain confidence using it with our technical support on hand.

Results

The original identity relied on complex, layered graphics to express three pillars — collaboration, innovation and acceleration. While the themes of movement and transfer were clear, the deeper meaning was often difficult for users to interpret or apply.We retained the strongest elements of the previous design and simplified the visual system so it conveyed movement without needing to represent specific concepts. The result is a brand that teams can deploy quickly and consistently, meeting accessibility requirements and improving day-to-day usability, while staying true to the original spirit of the identity.

We’re at the cusp of a whole bunch of awards celebrations and we have plenty to celebrate! We’re thrilled to have been shortlisted for multiple awards for our innovative communications solutions. Of course, the pride and glory of awards are always enjoyable, but more than anything, we’re pleased with what this recognition says about our work.

Having judged many awards ourselves, we know that creativity, innovation and impact are what’s needed to make an award entry stand out from the crowd. At Barley, we blend strategy, creativity, expertise and passion into social purpose communications that deliver real impact for our clients.

Here’s a snapshot of the work we’ve been shortlisted for:

Rebranding a charity for ETP

To mark a new era for ETP, we designed a bold visual identity that unifies perspectives, clarifies the organisation’s message and charts a course for the future. We developed a new website that’s been shortlisted for Best Website or App at the Memcom Excellence Awards and Best Marketing Initiative or Project at the Association Excellence Awards.

Membership organisation, EACTS

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) – a 4,000+ membership organisation for the cardiothoracic surgical community that aims to improve outcomes for heart and lung patients around the world – has been shortlisted for Best In-Person Event of the Year at the Memcom Excellence Awards.

The shortlist for EACTS is for the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting which took place in Vienna in 2023 – and we’re proud to support EACTS to deliver the flagship event. At Barley, our work includes managing organic and paid social media to drive over 5,000 participants to the event, publishing a daily newspaper over the four-day event and working with Go Forth Films to produce a daily highlights video. Barley is again supporting EACTS with this year’s Annual Meeting, which is being held in Lisbon from 9-12 October.

Environmental behaviour change campaign for Keep Britain Tidy

Based on eye-opening data about people’s buying habits, we created and delivered a topical campaign across digital and social platforms, setting our audience the task of buying nothing new for a month. This one is up for Behaviour Change Campaign of the Year at the Global Glood Awards and the Education, Training and Communication Award at the National Sustainability Awards.

Charity communications for Nordoff and Robbins

We’re shortlisted for PR Team of the Year at the Charity Times Awards for our strategic approach to media relations for the inaugural Northern Music Awards – helping Nordoff and Robbins raise their profile, raise funds and demonstrate the impact of their life-changing work as the UK largest provider of music therapy.

Local authority communications for Suffolk Waste Partnership

Our #ShakeItOut campaign to reduce recycling contamination has made a lasting impact, resonating with Suffolk households through eye-catching creative across multiple communications channels. This standout campaign of this year’s awards has so far been shortlisted a whopping eight times.

And there’s more! In addition to our client work, Barley has also been shortlisted for several agency awards, including the Women in Green Business Awards and the Association Excellence Awards.

This recognition is true testament to the dedication, imagination and enthusiasm our team brings to every project. And we’re ever appreciative of our marvellous clients for choosing Barley to deliver across a wide range of their communications needs.

Bring on the celebrations!

All three hybrid River Buses now in service on the Thames

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ brand new hybrid passenger ferry Mars Clipper has joined its fellow hybrid vessels Earth Clipper and Celestial Clipper to form an iconic trio – bringing sustainable river transport to more commuters and leisure travellers than ever before.

The capital’s first ever hybrid passenger ferry, Earth Clipper, was launched in September 2023 and was then joined by Celestial Clipper in March 2024. Mars Clipper will be Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ third hybrid vessel to carry passengers in Central London on journeys with zero tailpipe emissions.

Built at the Isle of Wight’s Wight Shipyard, the three vessels’ innovative design delivers an almost 90 per cent reduction in CO2e compared to journeys taken solely using conventional marine diesel. Operating only on electric power in Central London – i.e. between Tower and Battersea Power Station piers – the hybrid boats recharge while using biofuelled power on the rest of their journey. This hybrid system results in an emissions reduction of 16.5 per cent per boat when compared with running on biofuel alone throughout all parts of the route.

Mars Clipper is the 20th high-speed catamaran to join the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers fleet, and the three hybrid vessels increase the River Bus’s total capacity by just under 700 passengers. More Londoners and visitors than ever will be able to travel to work or see the sights in style – sitting comfortably in a cabin that boasts a fully licensed café-bar, offering a range of Barista crafted coffees, soft and alcoholic drinks, as well as snacks. Plentiful seating and large windows offer unique views of London’s most iconic riverside sites, while a spacious, open back deck provides an impressive panoramic vantage point. Tickets can be purchased online, on the Thames Clippers Tickets and Uber apps, and at piers.

Sean Collins, Uber Boat by Thames Clippers co-founder and CEO said: “We want to make London’s river travel the best and most sustainable transport option in the world. We are immensely proud of being able to launch our third hybrid vessel in less than 12 months. Seeing these wonderful boats sail the Thames together is a momentous day for Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and this symbolises our commitment to achieve a net zero status by 2040. Going forward, all of our new vessels will use our hybrid system and where possible, fully electrified or zero emission technology. The design of the catamaran can also be made even greener in the future, when technology allows.”

“We are currently working to introduce London’s first fully electric Zero Emission Cross River Ferry between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe by the spring of 2025 – the first of its kind in the UK.

“It’s a real British success story – our new boats are proudly built in the UK using the latest technology to create a comfortable and environmentally friendly way to get around our fantastic capital city.”

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers is committed to using the most advanced technology to meet its ambitious climate targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, before achieving net zero by 2040.

All the hybrid vessels were built at Wight Shipyard Co in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ investment has continued to be significant for the local economy on the Isle of Wight, with 65 people building the boats over the past year and 14 apprentices involved.

Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers services that run as far east as Barking Riverside and out to Putney in the west. The business is celebrating 25 years of operation in 2024, and in 2023 alone, carried just below 5 million commuters and visitors through London on the river Thames.

For more information and to book, visit www.uberboatbythamesclippers.com.

Fund established to drive innovation in cardiothoracic surgery

International experts from Europe, the US and Asia convened in Paris on 19th and 20th of April for the second EACTS Innovation Summit.

EACTS, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic (CT) Surgery, launched a brand-new Innovation Hub at the summit, which will champion investment in innovation to support the development of cardiothoracic surgical treatments and improve outcomes for patients. This reflects the fact that innovation and opportunities for improving patient care by implementing upcoming disruptive techniques in CT surgery are of central importance to EACTS.

At the Innovation Summit, engineers, chemists, molecular biologists, AI and robotics specialists, surgeons, industry leaders and policy makers discussed new technologies, pioneering treatment pathways and future surgical developments. Participants heard some of the very latest disruptive ideas in cardiothoracic surgery, including how AI and immersive technology are changing and will continue to change the entire field of CT surgery, including cardiac ultrastructure imaging, the future of robotic surgery and the engineering and distribution of Super-Organs.

Global specialists were also able to discuss other priority topics, including:

Principles of innovation
Leveraging ChatGPT4 in Cardiac Surgery
Heart valve of the future
Extracorporeal circulation (CPB, ECMO, ECLS, hibernation, hypothermia and organ repair)
Artificial Intelligence for CT surgery
Lymphatics in CT surgery.

Speaking at the Innovation Summit, past EACTS President (2022) and Co-Chair of the summit,Friedhelm Beyersdorf,said: “Emerging technologies and artificial intelligence are changing cardiothoracic surgery. We know that innovation often takes place at the borders between specialties and that is why we brought together delegates from across disciplines. Our second Innovation Summit with clear action from the discussion groups alongside the creation of our new Innovation Hub provide a clear message that EACTS is serious about innovation.”

As part of the new Innovation Hub, launched at the summit, EACTS members will be able to apply for grant funding to stimulate research and advance innovation in cardiothoracic surgery. Grants will be awarded from a fund that EACTS has recently established. The grants will be available to EACTS members only, through a competitive process over a five-year period. EACTS will be particularly interested to see applications that focus on the priority topics from the Innovation Summit and that are likely to create real-life opportunities to improve patient outcomes. The grant application process is set to launch in October 2024.

The grants will be overseen by EACTS’ new Innovation Committee made up of research, academic and industry experts. Past EACTS Presidents Friedhelm Beyersdorf and Mark Hazekamp have been appointed Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. Recruitment for additional members is underway.

Past EACTS President (2021) and Co-Chair of the Innovation Summit,Mark Hazekamp, said: “The Innovation Hub will stimulate new concepts and support inventors and creators to bring their ideas to clinical use. Using, implementing and further developing these upcoming opportunities is a priority for us at EACTS in order to further improve outcomes for patients with heart and lung conditions now and in the years ahead.”

Interest in innovation is high with EACTS members submitting 55 high quality abstracts for presentation at the Innovation Summit. Fourteen abstracts were selected alongside four exciting ‘wild card’ submissions.

Due to the number of high quality submissions, a further ten of the highest rated abstracts will be shared with delegates during one of two innovation sessions at the 38^th EACTS Annual Meeting, taking place in Lisbon, Portugal this October. Four keynote presentations specially selected from this year’s summit as the most innovative and thought-provoking will be presented in a second innovation session.

Tracker maps announcements, investment decisions and operations of net-zero-aligned projects across critical industrial sectors globally
The pipeline is growing, but rapid acceleration is needed as almost 600 decarbonised plants must break ground in the coming years to meet 2030 net-zero targets
MPP urges collective action by governments, companies, and financial institutions to unlock investment barriers and fast-track progress

April 17^th 2024 Washington, D.C.; London: Mission Possible Partnership (MPP) launches its Global Project Tracker today, shedding new light on the state of transition in seven heavy industry and transport sectors, which account for 30% of global carbon emissions. It reveals a growing pipeline of net-zero-aligned projects across the ‘harder-to-abate’ sectors. However, it warns that rapid acceleration is needed to bring almost 600 decarbonised plants under construction in the coming years to meet deployment goals for a 1.5^oC aligned trajectory.

The Tracker shows that 68 commercial-scale net-zero-aligned plants are currently operational, and 42 are at Final Investment Decision (FID). More than 700 must be up and running by 2030, according to MPP’s industry-backed milestones for decarbonising key sectors in line with the Paris-aligned ambition. To meet these deadlines, FID must be reached within three years to enable construction this decade. Bridging the current gap and scaling near-zero solutions adequately requires an almost seven-fold increase in the number of plants that have achieved FID to date.

The encouraging news is that companies have issued a wave of project announcements in the past 12 months, indicating growing industry ambition and a shift towards more favourable conditions emerging in some locations. Plans to build 473 commercial-scale decarbonisation plants are identified on the Tracker, which, if brought to FID, would reduce the gap by 80%.

However, analysis by MPP indicates that many projects struggle to get from announcement to FID, which means that the current pace of progress is too slow. Various economic and policy barriers can be identified that stall projects. 595 plants must now be brought to FID across aluminium, cement, chemicals, steel, aviation, and shipping – within three years to meet 2030 deployment goals. The trucking target measures zero-emission trucks on the road, and millions more need to be operational this decade.

No sector is currently on target, and time is running out to get on course. Most progress is seen in aviation, with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blending mandates and subsidy schemes driving projects to operation in Europe and the US. 15% of the target has passed FID.

There has been a marked increase in the green ammonia pipeline, with announcements now exceeding the 2030 target, supported by demand signals from the shipping and fertiliser sectors. The question is how quickly these plans can reach commercial scale.

MPP’s Tracker uses aggregated data to chart investment progress into net-zero-aligned projects, with updates every three months to reflect changes during this critical period. It is the first publicly available tool to combine all seven sectors and visually depicts a progress pipeline indicating a project’s status ranging from announced to FID and operational.

Today’s flagship projects prove that technologies are maturing, and announced projects show the opportunity to create critical mass and realise new markets for clean industrial products. However, the economic and policy barriers must rapidly be tackled to create widespread bankability for announced projects whilst encouraging the development of many more.

Evidence is emerging on the interventions that can be taken to accelerate the pipeline. Tracker analysis shows key levers of progress across sectors and regions, which can inspire further action:

Government policies can create demand and bridge the green premium: Regions that have introduced robust sectoral targets and policies have seen a surge in pipeline activity.
- E.g., SAF blending mandates in the EU and IRA subsidies and DoE grants in the US are increasing industry confidence and reducing the green premium.
Support for clean technology deployment can de-risk investment: Nascent technologies with higher green premiums must be supported at the early demonstration stage, and upscaling provided at the industry and government level.
- E.g., Canadian public-private partnership to develop new inert anode technology for aluminium has led to regional announcements.
Co-location of projects and enabling infrastructure brings synergies: Conjoined vision and a systems approach across green industrial hubs can unlock shared benefits with midstream infrastructure and community-based organisations.
- E.g., The Transatlantic Clean Hydrogen Trade Coalition shipping route from Houston to Rotterdam is being established to enable green import and export infrastructure. Green hydrogen hubs are emerging globally, such as one at the Port of Pecém in Ceará, Brazil.

Dick Benschop, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Mission Possible Partnership, said: “We have a new level of insight into the decarbonisation trajectory for heavy industry and transport – and the rising ambition of industry is clear. But with the planet’s future hanging in the balance, there is no hiding from the challenges ahead. We need to rapidly unlock the barriers that can transform plans into plants. MPP is committed to addressing the collective action needed, and we urge all stakeholders to contribute.”

Christiana Figueres, Co-Founder of Global Optimism, said: “Realising the Paris Agreement means the so-called ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors ‘have-to-abate’. MPP’s Global Project Tracker demonstrates that they already can and – in many cases – ‘want-to-abate’. Exponential transformation is now within reach across heavy industry, shipping, aviation and trucking. But, while the MPP project pipeline provides a clear pathway for progress, success is not inevitable. Policymakers and investors must show courageous leadership at this crucial crossroads and make decisions that enable the have-to-abate sectors to move at the pace and scale required.”

Rob van Riet, Interim Head of the First Movers Coalition, World Economic Forum, said: “Gaining increasingly granular insights into where net-zero aligned projects are globally emerging is critical to accelerating and scaling collaborative action between offtakers, suppliers, financiers and policymakers towards industry decarbonization. That’s certainly true for the almost 100 companies that have signed onto the First Movers Coalition, thereby committing to purchase near-zero emission products in heavy emitting sectors. The tracker thus serves a key role in informing committed companies on where they may find the supply and partners needed to implement their commitments. FMC is looking forward to continued and deepened collaboration with MPP, including through leveraging the synergies between MPP’s Global Project Tracker and FMC’s First Suppliers Hub.”

Rachel Jetel, Co-Director, Systems Change Lab, World Resources Institute, said: “The MPP Global Project Tracker offers a real-time dashboard of progress against a clear roadmap that the industry sector can follow to tackle the climate crisis. Systems Change Lab finds that current efforts to decarbonize the industry sector are well off track — and in some cases heading in the wrong direction. This tracker helps identify where the bright spots are and where action is needed most to share learnings for how to accelerate climate action.”

Jacob Susman, Chief Executive Officer of Ambient Fuels, said: “There is so much work to do to decarbonize heavy industry, and it’s encouraging to see the numerous project announcements in the marketplace designed to support that goal. However, it’s very difficult for market participants to gauge how likely these announcements are to progress into real projects reaching a final investment decision and moving into construction to create real decarbonization. MPP’s independent, data-driven approach to this can provide valuable insights to the market and policymakers so we can better measure how we as an industry are meeting climate goals, and where more work is needed to increase deployment. We commend this work and look forward to supporting MPP in this endeavour.”

The Global Project Tracker is now live at tracker.missionpossiblepartnership.org and maps the location and status globally of net-zero-aligned assets across seven sectors. It enables industry groups to identify potential partners or green hubs, financial institutions to see potential investment options, and policymakers to track progress in their regions and inform decision-making. With quarterly updates, MPP will continue to chart the levers that can unlock progress in bringing a critical mass of projects to realisation this decade.

The brief

Each year, Barley supports the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) to promote its flagship Annual Meeting — one of the most significant gatherings in the cardiothoracic calendar.

EACTS tasked Barley with creating attractive branding – developing a fresh, distinctive brand identity for each year’s event — one that captures the character of the host city while maintaining strong visual continuity and recognition among its global professional audience.

Insights and approach

Our creative process begins with in-depth research into the cultural, historical and scientific character of each location — uncovering insights that shape the design, colour palette, typography and strapline.

For example, Vienna’s 2023 identity, “Raising the bar”, reflected the city’s musical heritage, weaving subtle treble and bass motifs into the event logo. In 2022, Milan’s “Learning together” branding drew inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, symbolising precision and shared learning. The previous year’s “Reconnecting” in Barcelona echoed the spirit of renewal after COVID-19, using Gaudí-inspired mosaic textures.Barley’s designs are applied across every touchpoint — from the EACTS website and social media to venue signage, flags, exhibition materials and delegate lanyards — creating a seamless experience that unites online and in-person engagement.

Results

Over three consecutive years, EACTS’ Annual Meeting branding has become instantly recognisable for its creativity and relevance to each city’s story. Each visual identity has strengthened audience recognition, enhanced event visibility, and reinforced EACTS’s reputation for excellence and innovation in global cardiac and thoracic surgery.The upcoming 2024 branding for Lisbon continues this legacy with the theme “Navigating new horizons”, symbolising progress and exploration in the field.

The brief

The Eurekas is an annual physics competition for students aged 11–16 across the UK and Ireland. It forms part of the Institute of Physics’ (IOP) Limit Less campaign, which aims to diversify the young people who continue with physics after 16 and to encourage students to see physics differently.Following the successful 2022 launch, IOP reappointed Barley to promote the 2023 competition. Our objectives were to reach more of the campaign’s diverse target audiences and increase the number of submissions from the previous year.

Insights and approach

Our campaign focused on parents and teachers who would support students entering the competition, while also directly engaging young people aged 11–16 — particularly those from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in physics.

To keep the competition inclusive and open to a wide range of interests, we developed the 2023 theme: how does physics power your passion?

Using insights from the 2022 evaluation, we refined our strategy. This included bringing in influencers to extend reach and credibility. Charismatic teacher Bobby Seagull encouraged his students to think differently about physics, while engineer and mother Dr Samira Ahmed created warm, engaging videos that introduced her audience to the competition.To reinforce scientific credibility, we secured physics communicator Alom Shaha and Eurekas ambassador Shivani Dave as judges, alongside campaign creator Ray Mitchell.

Results

We doubled the number of submissions from 2022 and increased participation from students and schools by around half.

Our organic social campaign generated strong engagement, achieving half a million impressions and 10,000 interactions. Paid social activity reached 200,000 people.

Influencer activity performed well too, with 19 posts generating 50,000 video views, 112,000 impressions and 2,000 engagements.Local media outreach amplified the winner announcement in Leicester, securing interviews on BBC Radio Leicester and Capital FM Leicestershire, broadcast coverage on ITV News Central, and an article in the Leicester Times.

The brief

The 37th EACTS Annual Meeting — held in Vienna — is the most important date in the cardiothoracic calendar, bringing together nearly 5,000 professionals from 103 countries. EACTS asked Barley to drive attendance, enhance engagement, and ensure delegates were informed and inspired throughout the event. The goal was to showcase the world-leading science and global collaboration shaping the future of cardiothoracic surgery.

Insights and approach

Barley worked closely with EACTS and its global community of cardiothoracic surgeons to deliver an integrated communications strategy that supported every stage of the event — before, during and after the meeting.

Our multi-channel approach combined content creation, on-site coordination, and digital storytelling to enhance engagement and amplify the event’s impact. Highlights included:

Producing three editions of Daily News, capturing standout moments from each day
Managing communications through the EACTS App to help delegates navigate the Austria Center Vienna
Promoting key research from EACTS journals linked to the event sessions
Driving live engagement through EACTS ambassadors across LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Facebook
Partnering with Distant Future to create a pre-event campaign video
Working with GoForth to produce post-event highlight films for YouTube
Running a targeted email marketing campaign celebrating the event’s world-class science

Results

Barley’s communications helped make the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting one of the most successful to date — reaching a global audience of clinicians, researchers and industry partners.

The #EACTS2023 campaign generated over 10,900 engagements, 2,650 social posts, and more than 15,000 video views. Across platforms, the event achieved 17,000+ social media engagements and 435,000 impressions, reinforcing EACTS’ position at the heart of global cardiothoracic innovation.

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The brief

Insights and approach

Results

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4,950

17k+

435k

15k+