AGP Executive Report

EU Tech & Mobility: At the UN in New York, Andorra’s FM Constantinos Kombos and Imma Tor Faus discussed EU ties, including how association agreements give both Andorra and San Marino access to a “homogenous extended internal market” and phased entry to EU financial services. Border Tech Delays: The EU has let at least nine Schengen countries pause full rollout of the Entry/Exit System (EES) while facial and fingerprint tech is brought up to speed, after earlier queues and travel disruption. Patent Tools for Startups: The European Patent Office announced CodeFest 2026 winners in Warsaw, a competition aimed at building tools that help businesses spot valuable patents and make smarter funding decisions. Health & Research Policy: Ireland’s Martin Heydon pushed One Health priorities at FAO, stressing plant health funding and keeping antimicrobial resistance financing aligned with a cross-border threat. Aviation Finance: FALCON Aerospace says stronger Cape Town Convention implementation in Nigeria is boosting confidence for aircraft financiers and lessors, including for foreign registration.

EU–San Marino Deal Update: Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos met Andorra’s Imma Tor Faus at the UN in New York, highlighting progress on EU association agreements that open “a homogenous extended internal market” and expand access to financial services. Health & Food Security: Martin Heydon represented Ireland at the FAO One Health conference in Rome, pushing more funding for plant health and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and backing a One Health knowledge and intelligence hub. Patent Tech in Europe: The EPO announced CodeFest 2026 winners in Warsaw, selecting tools meant to help startups and investors spot valuable patents faster, with women participation rising to 21% in 2026. Aviation Finance Rules: FALCON Aerospace says stronger Cape Town Convention implementation in Nigeria is improving aircraft financing and leasing confidence, while still calling for clearer rules and faster certification. Border Tech Delays: The EU allowed at least nine Schengen countries to pause full rollout of the entry/exit system (EES) while facial and fingerprint scan tech is brought up to standard.

EU Relations: San Marino’s EU association talks got a boost after gaps were bridged, with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos meeting Andorra’s Imma Tor Faus at the UN in New York to discuss progress on EU ties and internal-market access. Biosecurity & Food Systems: Martin Heydon addressed the FAO One Health conference in Rome, pushing for stronger plant-health funding and antimicrobial resistance financing that matches a cross-border threat. Border Tech Rollout: The EU allowed at least nine Schengen countries to pause full entry-exit system (EES) rollout into 2026 while facial and fingerprint scan tech is brought up to speed. Patent Tech: The European Patent Office named CodeFest 2026 winners at PATLIB in Warsaw, challenging teams to build tools that help businesses spot valuable patents. Aviation Finance: A private aviation operator said Nigeria’s Cape Town Convention implementation is improving aircraft financing and leasing confidence, including for lessors.

One Health & Plant Health: Ireland’s Minister Martin Heydon urged FAO action on One Health at the Rome conference, calling for plant health to be funded as a core pillar and for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) financing to match a cross-border threat. Border Tech Delays: The EU let nine Schengen countries pause full enforcement of the Entry/Exit System (EES) after biometric rollout problems caused long queues and travel disruption, with the Commission pushing for remaining operational fixes by year-end. Aviation Finance Rules: A private aviation operator says stronger Cape Town Convention implementation in Nigeria is boosting confidence for aircraft financiers and lessors, while urging clearer rules and faster certification. Helmet Protection Tech: AGV’s Pista GP R3 adds a micro-sphere “Sphera” system aimed at reducing head rotation in oblique impacts, targeting lower concussion risk. Patent Analytics Hackathon: EPO’s CodeFest 2026 winners were announced in Warsaw, challenging teams to build tools that help businesses assess patent value using data and AI. San Marino in the Data: A global arable-land map ranks San Marino among countries with the highest share of arable land as a portion of total land area.

Biometric Borders: Nine Schengen countries, including France, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland, can pause full enforcement of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) as they work through facial and fingerprint scan issues that have caused long queues and missed flights. Aviation Finance: Nigeria’s aviation sector is seeing more aircraft financing and leasing momentum after steps to strengthen the Cape Town Convention, though the CEO calls for clearer rules and faster certification to reduce reliance on foreign aircraft registration. Helmet Tech: AGV’s Pista GP R3 adds a “Sphera” micro-sphere protection system aimed at reducing head rotation in oblique impacts, targeting lower concussion risk. Patent Tools: The European Patent Office’s CodeFest 2026 in Warsaw crowned winners for software that helps businesses assess patent value, with more women participating than in prior years. Health Research: A new global analysis highlights the heavy and rising burden of ischemic heart disease in women aged 55+—a reminder that prevention and treatment gaps remain.

Helmet Tech (MotoGP): AGV’s new Pista GP R3 uses a “Sphera” system with microscopic spherical elements and a release-layer design aimed at reducing head rotation in oblique impacts—positioned as a major step for concussion risk reduction. EU Border Tech (EES): Nine Schengen countries have been allowed to pause full Entry/Exit System enforcement through 2026 as biometric scan tech and operations catch up, after reports of long queues and missed flights. Aviation Finance (Cape Town Convention): A private aviation operator says stronger Cape Town Convention implementation in Nigeria is boosting confidence for aircraft financiers and lessors, though it calls for clearer rules around ownership vs charter and faster certification. Patent Tools (CodeFest 2026): The European Patent Office announced CodeFest 2026 winners at PATLIB in Warsaw, challenging teams to build tools that help businesses spot valuable patents and connect inventions to funding. Health Research (IHD in Women): A new systematic analysis highlights the ongoing global burden of ischemic heart disease in women aged 55+ and the widening disparities in outcomes and care.

Schengen Border Tech: The EU has let nine Schengen countries pause full enforcement of the Entry/Exit System (EES) until end-2026, citing ongoing fixes needed for facial and fingerprint checks after months of long queues and missed flights. Aviation Finance & Regulation: Falcon Aerospace says Nigeria’s stronger Cape Town Convention implementation is boosting confidence for aircraft financiers and lessors, while still calling for clearer rules and faster certification to reduce reliance on foreign aircraft registration. IP & Coding for Patents: The European Patent Office announced CodeFest 2026 winners at PATLIB in Warsaw, challenging teams to build tools that help businesses spot valuable patents and make smarter funding decisions. Agriculture Data: A new global map ranks countries by arable land share, with San Marino listed at 33.1% of total land classified as arable. Health Research: A major review highlights why ischemic heart disease remains the top global killer and how women aged 55+ face rising burden and worse outcomes without better recognition and treatment.

EU Border Tech: Nine Schengen countries—including France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland—can pause full rollout of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) until end-2026, citing ongoing issues with biometric facial and fingerprint scans that have caused multi-hour queues and missed flights. Aviation Finance & Law: Nigeria’s aviation sector is seeing more aircraft financing and leasing as the Cape Town Convention is strengthened, with a private operator praising a 2024 practice direction—while calling for clearer rules on ownership vs charter operations and faster certification. Patent Tech: The European Patent Office named CodeFest 2026 winners at PATLIB in Warsaw, challenging developers and data scientists to build tools that help businesses assess patent value, with women participation rising to 21% this year. Health Research: A new global analysis highlights the heavy and rising burden of ischemic heart disease in women aged 55+ and the gaps in recognition and secondary prevention.

Patent Tech in Europe: CodeFest 2026 winners were announced at the PATLIB conference in Warsaw, with the European Patent Office highlighting new tools that help businesses spot valuable inventions and make smarter funding decisions. Border Tech Rollout: The EU allowed nine Schengen countries to delay full enforcement of its Entry/Exit System (EES) after biometric border issues caused long queues and travel disruption. Health Research: A new global analysis underscores how ischemic heart disease remains the top cause of death and disability worldwide, with women aged 55+ facing rising burden after menopause. Agriculture Data: A World Bank-based map ranks countries by arable land share, with Bangladesh leading at 60.6% and San Marino listed at 33.1%. STEM & Community Events: PATLIB-linked innovation and developer participation drew attention to growing women’s involvement in patent-focused tech competitions.

Arable Land Map: A new World Bank-based visualization ranks countries by the share of land classified as arable, with Bangladesh (60.6%) leading and San Marino (33.1%) also highlighted among the top entries. Health Research: A global analysis reiterates that ischemic heart disease remains the top cause of death and disability, with a focus on how the burden in women 55+ has risen alongside aging and cardiometabolic risk factors. Patent Tech & AI for IP: The European Patent Office announced CodeFest 2026 winners at PATLIB in Warsaw, challenging teams to build tools that help businesses spot valuable patents—showing growing participation by women (up to 21% this year). Border Tech Rollout: The EU is letting nine Schengen countries delay full enforcement of the Entry/Exit System (EES) after operational issues caused long queues at borders.

F1 Tech & Industry: Mercedes and Ferrari are tied at the top for the most Formula 1 power unit wins (251 each), with Kimi Antonelli’s 2026 Spanish GP win keeping Mercedes in the spotlight. Patent Innovation in Europe: The European Patent Office announced CodeFest 2026 winners at the PATLIB conference in Warsaw, tasking developers and data scientists with tools to help businesses spot valuable patents; 23 proposals from 12 countries produced six finalists. Border Tech Rollout: The EU has let nine Schengen countries delay full enforcement of the Entry/Exit System (EES) due to operational and technical issues causing long queues and travel disruption, as the biometric system ramps up. Cell Therapy Research: A look at the CMC decisions that can make or break cell therapy success, from manufacturing choices to quality-focused planning. Community & Recovery via Art: L.A. wildfire survivors are being supported through international artist residencies in Sweden, using creative community-building to aid recovery after major fires.

Motorsport Tech: Mercedes and Ferrari keep trading the top spot in F1 power-unit wins, with Mercedes tied at 251 victories after Kimi Antonelli’s win at the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix, highlighting how engine makers’ long-term performance still shapes the sport. Patent Innovation: The European Patent Office announced CodeFest 2026 winners at the PATLIB conference in Warsaw, tasking developers and data scientists with tools to help businesses spot valuable patents—23 proposals from 12 countries, with women participation rising to 21% in 2026. Border Tech Rollout: The EU let nine Schengen countries delay full enforcement of its Entry/Exit System (EES) due to technical and operational issues causing border congestion, as biometric processing ramps up across participating states. Cell Therapy Research: A look at the key CMC decisions that can make or break cell therapy success, from manufacturing choices to how products are prepared for patients. STEM & Community Events: CodeFest’s patent-focused push and the broader push for practical innovation show up alongside local science-and-tech programming, including a focus on resilience and real-world impacts.

Patent Tech & AI: CodeFest 2026 winners were announced at the PATLIB conference in Warsaw, with teams building tools to help businesses understand patent value—highlighting rising women participation (21% in 2026). EU Border Tech: The EU allowed nine Schengen countries to delay full enforcement of its Entry/Exit System (EES) after rollout problems caused long queues and travel disruption. Health & Society: A much-loved wife and nanny, Carolyn Angela Pryer, died suddenly at Royal Cornwall Hospital, prompting new funeral notice coverage. STEM in Practice (Cell Therapy): A piece on the CMC decisions that shape cell therapy success points to how manufacturing choices can make or break outcomes. Community Resilience: Research and planning for resilience in fire-prone neighborhoods in L.A. focuses on what scientists and fire professionals learned after major wildfires. Local Tech Culture: A culinary innovation award went to Adam Hrebiniak (Gallaher Signature Living) for a hospitality-driven, locally sourced dining program.

EU Border Tech Update: Nine Schengen countries are getting more flexibility on the Entry/Exit System (EES) after technical and operational problems triggered long queues and travel disruption, as the EU’s biometric border rollout continues. Climate & Resilience: A Los Angeles urban forestry discussion at Angeles National Forest headquarters focused on what scientists and fire professionals learned from the Eaton and Palisades fires and how tree health research can help fire-prone neighborhoods. Local Community Tech/Arts: A new residency effort for wildfire survivors is using art and community-building as a recovery tool, sending Eaton and Malibu artists to a retreat in the Stockholm Archipelago to reconnect and rebuild. STEM/Policy Debate: A commentary argues universities can’t “defend democracy from nowhere,” saying democratic responsibility must be grounded in local institutions and communities. Sports Tech/Events (San Marino tie-in): TV schedules highlight the MotoGP San Marino Grand Prix at Misano Adriatico, keeping motorsport tech and engineering fans in the loop.

Urban Resilience & Forestry: Scientists and fire professionals met in Arcadia to share what they’ve learned from the Eaton and Palisades fires and how urban trees and plants can better protect neighborhoods. EU Border Tech: The EU is letting nine Schengen countries delay full enforcement of its Entry/Exit System (EES) after biometric rollout problems caused major border congestion and travel disruption. EU-Canada Tech/Policy Diplomacy: Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to pitch deeper Canada–EU ties in the European Parliament, with “associate membership” still unclear and full EU membership ruled out. Biotech/Healthcare Research: A look at the key decisions that can make or break cell therapy outcomes, focusing on what drives success in real-world development. Community Recovery via Arts: After the Eaton fire, L.A. wildfire survivors are being supported through artist residencies in Sweden, blending recovery with community-building. Timekeeping & Systems: The UK’s end of British Summer Time (clocks back Oct. 25, 2am to 1am) is a reminder of how large-scale scheduling changes ripple through daily life.

EU Border Tech Update: The EU is letting nine Schengen countries delay full enforcement of its Entry/Exit System (EES) after technical and operational problems sparked long queues and travel disruption, with France, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland among those requesting flexibility. Local Tech & Policy Context: The EES is the EU’s biometric border system for non-EU short stays, using passport data plus facial images and fingerprints to track entries and exits—meant to improve border efficiency and flag overstayers and identity fraud. San Marino Spotlight: Pope Leo XIV’s pastoral visit included a stop at Rimini Expo Centre and remarks to young people and a large Communion and Liberation gathering, tying “friendship among peoples” to peace and community.