It is reported that yesterday theEuropean Space Agency (ESA) websitewas compromised by a hacker, opening up sensitive project logs and exposing hundreds of email addresses and passwords associated with some of Europe’s top science institutes. The hacker, known by the alias TinKode, posted a full disclosure of the attackon his website, highlighting FTP accounts, database users, hashed passwords as well as SHA1-hashed server root password. Perhaps a little more worrying for the ESA was that fact the attacker was also able to access some of the agency’s space projects including satellite activities, calibration sources and environmental details....

As wereportedyesterday, a major initiative to boost the American economy by promoting entrepreneurship has been announced with a wide range of partners including Facebook, IBM and Intel. It won’t just be US citizens that will benefit fromStartup America, though. Three European accelerator schemes have signed up to join a network that will give them better access to the American startup scene. The UK’sSpringboard,Propellerfrom Ireland’s Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship, andStartup Bootcamp, which has bases in Spain and Denmark, have all joined theTechStars Network....

It’s that time of year where it seems like everyone is in Austin, Texas forSXSWi(I write, jealously, from a sofa in the north of England). Plenty of startups are looking to make their mark at the festival, and many European companies have flown across the Atlantic hoping to get noticed. If you’re lucky enough to be there, here are three European startups aiming to help you make the most of SXSW....

While theNEXT Conferencein Berlin, Germany is traditionally all about “Data Love,” because “data is what electricity has been for the industrial age,” innovation and fresh ideas have always been at the heart of the NEXT Community. This year, NEXT has created a new platform for ideas, giving founders the opportunity to pitch before investors and opinion leaders as well as socialize. 12 days left until NEXT 2011, taking place on May 17 and 18 in Berlin and here we present you with the 12 finalists of the NEXT Elevator Pitch, the conference’s first startup competition....

The Dublin Web Summit, taking place later this month, is shaping up to be a major fixture on the season’s conference circuit, with high-profile speakers from the likes of Youtube, LinkedIn, Amazon and the New York Times. What’s more, a newly announced scheme will get three European startups to the event free of charge. AStartup Fellowshipbeing run by the Summit organisers will see three startups selected to attend and exhibit at the event at no cost, and one of the three will be invited to pitch from the main stage....