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Deep & Emerging Tech·October 28, 2026·1 min read

UK considering forcing data centers to invest in local communities as part of AI “covenant” — and it shows getting angry at developers can massively benefit working people

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A proposed UK “AI covenant” tying data center approvals to local investment formalizes what Slough and others are already demanding—tangible benefits in exchange for land, power, and noise. If you’re siting facilities, budget for mandated community spend as part of your unit economics, not as optional CSR.

Deep & Emerging Tech

Qarakal Quantum And Quantum Elements Receive BIRD Foundation Grant For Quantum Computing Innovation With a $2.4 Million Budget

A $2.4M BIRD-backed effort to build quantum simulation for chemical reactions is another data point that early quantum ROI will show up first in materials and chemistry. If your roadmap depends on novel catalysts, batteries, or process chemistry, start tracking which quantum partners are actually building domain-specific tools, not just hardware.