ASSA ABLOY announced that it supplied access control solutions for several stadiums during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and delivered 1.6 million tickets for the event. The project included ticketing system integration, equipment installation across multiple entrances, and on-site support throughout the tournament.

According to company representatives, ASSA ABLOY’s solutions contributed to safer, more efficient, and seamless access for millions of fans from around the world. Participating in the organization of one of the world’s largest sporting events represents a significant achievement for ASSA ABLOY and further highlights the growing importance of advanced access control and visitor management systems at major international events.

Johnson Controls has reached an agreement to sell its UK residential security business, ADT, to Intelligent Monitoring Group (IMG) for a total consideration of £180 million. The transaction, announced by IMG on July 2, includes £155 million in cash and an additional £25 million in IMG shares that will be transferred to Johnson Controls. According to the buyer, ADT Residential Security generated £87 million in revenue in the 12 months ending in July 2025.

This marks the third divestment of an ADT business in the past three years, following the sale of operations in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 and in Mexico in 2025. According to an analysis by Memoori, the latest move is part of Johnson Controls’ broader strategy to restructure its fire and security portfolio. Recent reports also suggest that the company is testing buyer interest in its access control and intrusion detection divisions, which could be valued at up to $4.5 billion. Analysts believe that Johnson Controls is increasingly focusing on HVAC systems and data center operations while streamlining its presence in the smart buildings sector.

Startups developing technologies for smart buildings are once again attracting investors’ attention, according to a new study by Memoori. During the first half of 2026, Memoori recorded 169 funding rounds worth more than $5.6 billion, representing an 80 percent increase compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the number of deals grew by 34 percent, signaling a market recovery after several years of more cautious investment.

According to the analysts, capital is increasingly flowing toward companies with AI-driven solutions, solid business models, and clear market positioning. Among the largest investments in the first half of the year was Germany-based Cloover, whose renewable energy platform raised $1.2 billion. Meanwhile, major industry players such as ABB, Carrier, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, and Siemens are increasingly investing in young technology companies or forming partnerships with them.

Memoori recorded 46 acquisitions of startups in the smart buildings sector, confirming the continued consolidation of the market.

The largest transaction was Autodesk’s $3.6 billion acquisition of MaintainX. Analysts conclude that the smart buildings market has entered a new phase of development in which the key question is no longer whether digital technologies will transform the design and operation of buildings, but who will control the platforms driving that transformation.

Teledyne FLIR has introduced the new FLIR A40 Research & Development Kit, designed for universities, research centers, and academic laboratories. The new solution brings radiometric thermal imaging capabilities to a broader audience at a more accessible price point, making thermal analysis more readily available to students and researchers. The kit is intended for teaching laboratories, shared facilities, and applied research projects across a wide range of disciplines.

Alongside the FLIR A50 and FLIR A70 models, the new kit provides precise temperature measurements across thousands of points, helping simplify electronics testing and accelerate product development. The cameras offer resolutions of 320 × 240, 464 × 348, and 640 × 480 pixels, with thermal sensitivity below 50 mK and a frame rate of 30 Hz. Equipped with uncooled microbolometer detectors, they support temperature ranges from -20°C to 1,000°C, depending on the model.

Users can view, record, analyze, and share thermal data using the included FLIR Research Studio software, while support for industry-standard interfaces enables integration into custom applications. The new solutions are aimed at engineers and technicians seeking a deeper understanding of their systems’ thermal characteristics and reliable data to support product development and optimization.

The global video surveillance as a service (VSaaS) market is expected to reach $12.01 billion by 2032, up from $5.88 billion in 2026, according to analysts at MarketsandMarkets. Their report forecasts that the market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.4% over the period. The increasing adoption of cloud-based video surveillance across sectors such as retail, healthcare, education, manufacturing, transportation, government, and critical infrastructure is cited as the main driver behind this growth.

Researchers note that organizations are increasingly deploying VSaaS solutions to enhance security, enable remote monitoring, and improve operational efficiency. Additional momentum is being generated by the integration of AI-powered video analytics, Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, edge computing, and real-time event detection systems. Hybrid VSaaS models, which combine on-premises infrastructure with cloud-based video storage and management, are expected to experience particularly strong growth thanks to their flexibility and ability to meet regulatory requirements.

Within the AI video analytics segment, object detection and recognition solutions continue to hold the largest market share due to their widespread use in commercial buildings, transportation, industrial facilities, and smart city projects.

These technologies enable the real-time identification of people, vehicles, and suspicious activities, improving security and incident response capabilities. According to the MarketsandMarkets report, the Asia-Pacific region will lead the global market, with China maintaining its dominant position through substantial investments in smart cities, artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and intelligent surveillance systems. Among the leading companies in the VSaaS market, analysts highlight Verkada, Cisco Systems, Motorola Solutions, Securitas, Mobotix, Alarm.com, Axis Communications, Brivo, Genetec, and Hanwha Vision.

Aikom Technology has announced that the RUT361 industrial router from Teltonika Networks is now available through the AikomGo platform. The LTE Cat 6 device is designed for industrial, IoT, and M2M applications and supports data transfer speeds of up to 300 Mbps thanks to carrier aggregation technology. The router features 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity with 2×2 MIMO technology, as well as two Ethernet ports (WAN and LAN).

The device supports digital input/output, a 9–30V DC power supply, and optional passive PoE. It runs on the RutOS operating system, which provides VPN functionality, WAN failover, hotspot capabilities, and remote management via the RMS platform. Housed in a rugged IP30 aluminum enclosure, the RUT361 operates in temperatures ranging from -40°C to +75°C, making it suitable for demanding industrial environments.

More information about the device is available on the AikomGo platform.