With global electricity demand on the rise, the need for reliable power is becoming increasingly critical. Nuclear power is fast emerging as a critical part of this future infrastructure, with small modular reactors, or SMRs, gaining particular attention.

Scalable, flexible and able to provide consistently high load factors, SMRs are emerging as an important technology for a reliable, low-carbon energy system.

In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott speaks to Jacob Stedman, CEO of Blykalla, and Elova Ryegard, Nuclear Expert, Energy Industries at ABB. Together they discuss what a low-carbon future might look like, how SMRs can complement both renewable and conventional nuclear energy sources and why they’re increasingly seen as a practical pathway to expanding low-carbon energy capacity.

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Digitalization is transforming the shipping industry - but its true power lies in supporting human expertise.

Technology helps crews when navigating routes - it enables them to make smarter, safer, and more effective decisions. But how can digital tools empower human talent without overshadowing it?

In this episode of Industry Optimized, host Fran Scott sits down with Jesper Lögdström, CEO of Oversea Fleet Support, to explore real-world examples where digital platforms and expert insight work hand-in-hand in the maritime industry.

Discover how shore-based experts and vessel crews collaborate, act on data, and drive safer, more efficient shipping - proving that technology is at its best when it supports human judgment, not substitutes it.

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Autonomous industrial operations might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie: a factory running in the dark, machines quietly humming and everything ticking along without a single person on the floor.

But in reality, autonomy isn’t about replacing people. On the contrary: it’s about amplifying human expertise.

In this episode, host Fran Scott sits down with Peter Terwiesch, President of Automation at ABB, and Dayan Rodriguez, Corporate Vice President for Global Manufacturing and Mobility at Microsoft, to take a closer look at what the journey towards autonomous industrial operations means in practice. This conversation is not about the hype, but rather about what’s real today and what’s coming next.

Listen to or watch Industry Optimized from ABB on your favourite podcast platform, including Youtube and Spotify.

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