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Author: Marie Jones

  • Bixin Ventures Announces $100M Proprietary Capital Fund to Support Global Blockchain Ecosystem

    Bixin Ventures Announces $100M Proprietary Capital Fund to Support Global Blockchain Ecosystem

    Bixin Ventures has launched a $100 million proprietary capital fund to support the global blockchain ecosystem and infrastructure necessary for the future of open finance through a permissionless and decentralized network.

    Bixin Ventures participated as co-lead investor in a strategic round for O(1) Labs, the team incubating Mina Protocol, contributing US$ 2M to the raise, and has invested in projects including Microbit, xDai, Algorand, Nervos, Arweave, Conflux, Certik, and Marlin.

    Earlier in 2020, Bixin Ventures announced a $66 million proprietary fund of funds enabling hedge funds and liquidity providers to strengthen the global liquidity framework in Bitcoin markets, with qualifying fund recipients satisfying fully denominated BTC criteria.

    “One of our primary priorities is to help make the ecosystem truly global. Our investment team is working alongside the founders to provide guidance and expertise for growth in Asia,” said Wang Xi, partner at Bixin Ventures.

    Bixin mining operations are currently operating at 300 megawatt-hour capacity, boasting ~3,000 peta hash per second (PH/s) of computing power, which accounts for roughly 2% of the global Bitcoin network. Bixin Wallet has over 1 million retail users and has been one of the incumbent crypto wallets available in Asia.

    Bixin has presence around the world with primary offices located in Hong Kong. Bixin aims to solve long standing issues, create long term value and provide long term support for the Bitcoin ecosystem. Please visit the official websites at https://bixin.com/ and https://bixinvc.com to learn more.

    Media Contact
    invest@bixin.com

  • Buick Electra Electric Crossover Concept Glides at Global Premiere

    Buick Electra Electric Crossover Concept Glides at Global Premiere

    The Buick Electra concept vehicle enjoyed it’s global premiere in Shanghai. The all-electric crossover offers a sneak peek at Buick’s vision for a new intelligent electric future.

    “Today, Buick’s innovative thinking and imagination of future intelligent mobility have reached the next level with the Electra,” said Sam Basile, executive vice president of SAIC-GM. “I am confident that the aesthetics and technology innovations reflected on the Electra will ultimately help reset consumers’ expectations, just as all previous Buick concepts have done.”

    Adopting the new “potential energy” design language, the Electra emphasizes clean and bold styling with seamless integrated technology. It comes with a new-generation electric propulsion system and the advanced Ultium battery, along with a variety of connected and intelligent driving technologies, demonstrating Buick’s ongoing evolution toward the future of personal mobility.

    “Building on Buick’s proven leadership in electrification, the Electra represents the brand’s ambition to bring together beautiful styling and intelligent connectivity in the new era of zero emissions,” said Molly Peck, executive director of Buick Sales and Marketing at SAIC-GM.

    “The advanced Ultium battery unlocks the exciting new possibilities for what future EVs will look like. The Electra fully leverages state-of-the-art technology to set a new standard for future EV design and personal mobility.”

    The Electra is the latest global concept vehicle developed by GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) automotive engineering and design joint venture in Shanghai, backed by GM’s global resources. It is named after an iconic Buick flagship model that originally represented one of the three shields in the brand’s logo.

    Forward-looking design inspired by a space capsule

    Combining the athletic look of a four-seat crossover with Gran Turismo aesthetics, the Electra previews Buick’s next-generation design language for electric vehicles.

    Adopting a pure design philosophy, the Electra has clean and minimalist styling inspired by a space capsule. The evolving sculptural beauty is distinguished by a spacious glass interior pod situated in an aerodynamic wing-form bodyshell. The glass canopy extends from near the front of the hood to the rear.

    The Electra’s innovative “potential energy” design language is characterized by sculptural surfaces in front, along the sides, and in its wheels and lamps. It reinforces the elegant overall shape while emphasizing the dynamic stance like an arrow being released. This “moving tension” is also reflected through its gradient light silver exterior tone in the front end that progressively transitions to dark silver in back.

    The illuminated Buick badge integrates a flow-through design. Along with 23-inch wheels featuring an optimal design, it helps enhance aerodynamics while contributing to the Electra’s futuristic look.

    Its “breathing” front and rear Matrix LED lamps feature parametrical mathematic lighting strings with a three-dimensional effect. They are complemented by a full LED-illuminated grille and rear screen nameplate to provide dramatic digital lighting interaction.

    The Electra’s butterfly wing doors support facial recognition and provide a robust opening for convenient access. There is also a hidden floating skateboard integrated with the stoplight under the rear bumper to expand users’ personal mobility options.

    Zero-gravity environment with seamless technology integration

    The Electra’s four-seat interior takes full advantage of the all-new electric vehicle architecture developed by GM, with an optimized battery layout. Together with the lack of traditional A/B pillars, the result is a maximum extension of the cabin with a longer wheelbase, a more efficient package and a more spacious, open interior.

    The Electra interior has a sculptural spaceship-like cradle, without a traditional instrument panel. The large curved display is a central feature. A retractable steering wheel and suspended seats, supported by an all-new light-weighted armature structure, creates a visual effect of zero gravity inside the cabin.

    The Electra’s color palette, including copper gold trim surrounding the cabin and dark trim on the exterior frame, replicates the atmosphere of outer space. The interior seamlessly integrates technologies such as a concealed air-conditioning system, ambient lighting and an electronic rearview mirror. The Electra provides functionality and convenience with features available when the user needs them.

    Intuitive and immersive user experience

    The Electra offers an intuitive and immersive user experience that rewards all the senses. Buick’s next-generation eConnect connectivity system runs on the distinctively large retina display with industry-leading freeform curved screen technology, expanding the viewing area for the driver with an immersive visual experience.

    The advanced eConnect system supports remote over-the-air (OTA) updates and enables a connected experience by providing on-demand driving information, advanced driver assistant system details and infotainment control. The introduction of a large augmented reality-enhanced head-up display with advanced live-view navigation adds to the Electra’s intuitive multi-screen interactive user interface.

    The Electra is also equipped with the next generation of Buick’s intelligent AI Voice Assistant. Users can fully manage the vehicle’s functions with smooth and precise human-machine voice interaction, such as controlling the air-conditioning, accessing home devices and adjusting the driving mode.

    Advanced electrification technology and smart mobility

    Leveraging GM’s global EV expertise, the Electra is supported by its new-generation high-performance modular electric propulsion system. Utilizing the advanced Ultium battery, the Electra has a range of more than 660 kilometers on a single charge, making it ideal for daily commutes as well as family trips.

    Thanks to the industry-leading wireless battery management system, the Ultium battery reduces wires within the battery by 90%. It also helps balance chemistry within the individual battery cell groups and conduct real-time battery pack checks to safeguard battery health.

    The Electra’s Ultium drive unit has high-performance motors in both the front and the rear to ensure optimized power output. It has maximum power of 435 kW, enabling 0-100 kilometer per hour acceleration of just 4.3 seconds.

    Additional vehicle highlights for future mobility include GM’s next-generation intelligent driving technology with door to-door smart mobility solutions, as well as V2X technologies, to offer a safe and intelligent ride with peace of mind.

    Buick has found success offering premium SUVs and cars with sculptural designs, refined performance, modern interiors and thoughtful personal technologies. Buick’s award-winning customer service and sales experience, along with the Avenir trim, the highest expression of Buick luxury, are attracting new buyers to experience Buick’s unique approach to attainable luxury in North America and China. Buick has sold over 10 million vehicles in China since its introduction by SAIC-GM in 1998. More information about Buick vehicles in China, its largest market, is available at www.Buick.com.cn.

    SAIC-GM Buick
    Yu Qian
    Qian2_Yu@SAIC-GM.com

  • Lvji Technology Listed in Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion 2020

    Lvji Technology Listed in Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion 2020

    China’s leading online tour guide provider Lvji Technology Holding Inc. (“Lvji Technology” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”, stock code: 1745.HK) listed in Forbes Asia’s Best Under A Billion 2020. The list spotlights 200 publicly listed small and midsized companies in the Asia-Pacific region with sales under $1 billion. And 56 Chinese companies are on the list, including Lvji Technology, WuXi Biologics (2269.HK), China Education Group (839.HK), and iKang Medical (1789.HK).

    The companies on this list have scored above their peers in a composite ranking that includes sales and profit growth, low debt levels and robust governance. The criteria also ensured a geographic diversity of companies from across the region. By using metrics both quantitative and qualitative, the final list of 200 is truly a select group.

    Lvji Technology is based on the core business of selling online tour guides and technology, combines with cutting-edge technologies such as GPS positioning and cloud computing. The Group provides hand- drawn maps of tourist destinations, multilingual editorial contents and voice-over commentaries, tour route recommendation, one-click navigation and other functions to provide a comprehensive travel experience. As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s online tour guides covered 22,044 tourist attractions in the PRC. As of the same date, the Company’s online tour guides covered 278 AAAAA tourist attractions and 2,170 AAAA tourist attractions.

    As the global epidemic prevention and control situation becomes normal, the company, as the China’s leading online tour guide provider, will give full play to the safe and non-contact attributes of its online tour guide, VR technology, smart tourist destinations management service system and other products, serving the purposes of improving operational efficiency of tourist attractions, and of helping China’s tourism industry to recover.

    About Lvji Technology Holdings Inc.

    Lvji Technology Holding Inc. was founded in December 2013, it focuses on the research and development of electronic tour guide software, global tour guide system and tourism related supporting business. Based on Lvji Technology, the intelligent tourism industry has formed multiple main businesses, such as intelligent tour guide, future scenic spot-SaaS, a mobile phone tour and scenic spot sharing facilities. Business-supported tourism ecosphere is a world-renowned intelligent tourism industry solutions expert. Lvji Technology accounts for an 86.2% market share in the online tour guide service market in terms of GMV in 2018, according to F&S. As of June 30, 2020, the Company’s online tour guides covered 22,044 tourist attractions in the PRC. As of the same date, the Company’s online tour guides covered 278 AAAAA tourist attractions and 2,170 AAAA tourist attractions.

    This press release is issued by Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group for and on behalf of Lvji Technology Holdings Inc.. For further information, please contact:

    Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group

    Terence Wong +852 3150 6786 terence.wong@pordahavas.com
    Ivy Lu +852 3150 6788 ivy.lu@pordahavas.com
    Hera Wong +852 3150 6772 hera.wong@pordahavas.com
    Louise Liu +8621 3397 8796 louise.liu@pordahavas.com
    Claudia Lam +852 3150 6742 claudia.lam@pordahavas.com
    Fax: +852 3150 6728

  • The Babylon Project concludes with developers from 65 Countries

    The Babylon Project concludes with developers from 65 Countries

    The Babylon Project, a hackathon initiative committed to democratizing access to global innovation and fostering the inclusion of minority backgrounds in tech, kicked off on Friday, October 9th, 2020 with 1000 active participants on its virtual Discord server.

    The virtual hackathon had renowned international speakers calling in from different parts of the world. Pavel Cherkashin, the Managing Partner of Mindrock Capital; Miko Matsumura, General Partner of Gumi Ventures; and Naomi Freeman, Leadership Fellow at Women Who Code, along with an exceptional and diverse group of panelists, who shared industry knowledge, startup advice, and technical expertise with the participants.

    Additionally, a variety of technical workshops were also conducted by several blockchain companies, most notably Aave, Polkadot, BTCU, and Suku. A virtual yoga session, intended to instruct participants on rejuvenating wellness exercises, was provided by Kirin Power, a yoga & meditation teacher from San Francisco and a director and partner at Outdoor Yoga SF.

    Along with the grand prize, corporate partners issued their own pre-determined challenges to hackers and awarded the best projects. 20 teams made it to the semifinals, from which 6 projects were chosen to participate in the final round. After a rigorous judging process, the top three teams emerged:

    1. Kotani Pay – A USSD-Crypto Payment infrastructure startup that aims to onboard more Africans into the digital economy by enabling easy access to a range of financial services including lending and payouts by non-profit organizations.

    2. Skill Wallet – A startup that is focused on the 4th United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education. Skill Wallet aims to increase access to verifiable skill portfolios. By providing verifiable certificates to all participants of the hackathon, the newly formed team is getting ready to soft launch their beta.

    3. Blockdrop – A blockchain agnostic NoCode platform for smart-contracts.

    Yao Marian Tong, a Venture Partner at Aves Lair, awarded Kotani Pay admission into their $100k startup acceleration program to begin early 2021. However, there were many after-hackathon opportunities for participants; other teams have been approached by similar accelerator programs, and the hackathon’s recruiting partner, Hired, is also committed to connecting participants to tech employers via https://hired.com/babylonproject.

    “The Babylon Project is an international sandbox for the advancement of innovative, easy to use, and user-centric blockchain applications,” says Gideon Nweze, founder of The Babylon Project & a Cofounder @Village. “Special thanks to all mentors, judges, partners and participants that worked tirelessly to make this a success. The force is strong in the community.”

    Contact: Anastasiia Ilicheva
    Anastily@worldblockchainhackathon.com
    http://worldblockchainhackathon.com/

  • Leading U.S. Government-Accredited Lab Confirms Path-Away(R) Natural Active Ingredient Can Kill Actual COVID-19 Virus Within Two Minutes, First In The World

    A leading laboratory accredited with U.S. Government agencies has released test results which confirm that Path-Away® – a plant-based active ingredient that contains no chemicals or alcohol – can kill the actual virus that causes COVID-19 within two minutes, the global distributor of Path-Away® announced today.

    Holista Colltech Limited (ASX: HCT, or Holista), the Malaysian-based global distributor, and Global Infection Control Consultants, LLC (GICC LLC), the developer of Path-Away®, said they believe the tests confirm the active ingredient to be the world’s first totally natural and safe organic disinfectant to meet the U.S. testing standard.

    The independent tests of the Path-Away® Anti Pathogenic Aerosol Solution on SARS-CoV-2, the actual virus that causes COVID-19, were undertaken by Microbac Laboratories, Inc. (Microbac) in the United States. With over 50 years’ experience, Microbac is accredited under the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) and Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP).

    The Microbac tests were conducted using the direct inoculation method and follow successful tests in an approved laboratory in the United Kingdom (completed in April 2020) of the efficacy of Path-Away® against the feline coronavirus which is a recognised surrogate of SARS-CoV-2. Path-Away® has also proven to be effective against a broad spectrum of microbes including the SARS and the H1N1 viruses.

    Listed on the Australia Securities Exchange (ASX), Holista distributes Path-Away® under its own NatShield™ and Protectene™ brands. Apart from a hand sanitiser, Holista and GICC LLC are also co-developing a NatShield™ nasal balm that will include Path-Away®. This balm is expected to be launched before the end of 2020.

    The latest test results will significanly accelerate efforts to roll out the M3 System®, also developed by GICC LLC, which can disinfect large buildings by dispensing Path-Away® through heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) systems to treat harmful pathogens, including airborne viruses.

    GICC LLC, based in Bluffton, South Carolina, has recently secured a 36-month contract with the U.S. Government to manufacture and install up to 10 million units of its M3 System® in large buildings. The system measures, monitors and contains airborne (aerosol) viruses, pathogens and other biological contaminants.

    Holista and GICC LLC concurrently announced that they will form a 51:49 joint-venture company in Singapore which will have the rights to manufacture the M3 System® outside the United States. Holista is exclusive global distributor of the M3 System® excluding the United States, China and the Gulf states.

    Apart from global distribution rights of Path-Away® for use as a sanitiser under the NatShield™ and Protectene™ brands, Holista also has rights to distribute Path-Away® for use in aerosolised disinfection of buildings using a high-pressure fogger.

    Dr Arthur V Martin, the president of GICC LLC, commented: “To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time a completely natural, all-organic compound has been successfully proven to kill the actual virus causing COVID-19, to 99.9% within two minutes. We are excited because this will allow us to speed up the formal U.S. Government process of listing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “N-List”. EPA expects the products on “List N” to kill SARS-CoV-2 within two minutes. This will also allow for a wider use of this all-natural disinfectant for human use. The findings by Microbac confirm what we have known about the effectiveness of Path-Away® on other coronaviruses. The results are also particularly pleasing in light of recent research that showed that COVID-19 can survive on surfaces far longer than scientists had originally calculated.”

    Dr. Roscoe Moore Jr., D.V.M., Ph.D., D.Sc., Former Assistant U.S. Surgeon and member of the Global Virus Network and its International COVID-19 Taskforce, said “There is a big need for natural and human friendly disinfectants that can be used frequently and safely without long term health side effects and while being environmentally safe. The recent tests from Microbac are most welcome as the public is looking for an agent that acts specifically against COVID-19”. Dr Moore also chairs Holista’s Scientific Advisory Board.

    Dr Rajen Manicka, Chief Executive Officer of Holista, commented: “This product will address the significant untapped global market for all-natural disinfectants that are safe to be used on hands and faces. The results from Microbac will give our customers a greater level of confidence that NatShield™ and Protectene™ can be effective on skin, surfaces and as an aerosol, against the highly contagious COVID-19 causing virus. We have fielded enquiries from large organisations which need to disinfect buildings and facilities with sizeable human traffic. We are also preparing a submission to the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for approval to label our Natshield™ and Protectene™ range of sanitizing and disinfectant products, as well as to have Natshield approved for aerosol delivery through fogging units and through buildings’ HVAC systems in Australia.”

    Information of Path-Away® and Microbac Test Results

    How Path-Away® Works

    Path-Away® attaches itself to the virus and inhibits its ability to take up amino acids – their basic building block. This forces the viruses to clump together, in the process killing themselves, almost instantly. The compound is environmentally safe with very low toxicity and does not harm humans and pets.

    Details of Results of Tests Conducted By Microbac

    – Cells containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus were seeded in 24-well plates and 2.0 mL (millilitres) of Path-Away® was added to the (live frozen samples – thawed out) dried virus inoculum and held for the contact time of 2 minutes at 21 degrees C with 53% relative humidity (RH). For the test to be deemed successful, Path-Away® must demonstrate a ≥ 3 Log10 reduction on each test carrier in the presence or absence of cytotoxicity.

    – Path-Away® achieved this benchmark in each of the 24 instances (100% success rate). All controls met the criteria for a valid test and Microbac’s conclusions are based on observed data.

    – Log Reduction stands for a 10-fold (one decimal) or 90% reduction in numbers of live bacteria. A 3-Log Reduction equates to a 99.9% reduction – greater than 1,000 time reduction in potentially harmful microorganisms.

    – Path-Away®, killed 99.9% (≥ 3 Log10) of the COVID-19 causing virus on a hard surface after being exposed to Path-Away®.

    – The full test report and process will be featured on the Holista website at https://www.holistaco.com/

    About Holista Colltech Limited

    Holista Colltech Ltd (“Holista”) is a natural wellness company with the following divisions:
    – Dietary supplements
    – Food Ingredients
    – Ovine collagen
    – Infection Control Solutions

    Holista has a global collaboration with Global Infection Control Consultants LLC to use Path-Away®, a plant-based solution that is proven to kill a broad spectrum of microbes. The all-natural alcohol-free active ingredient is used in Holista’s range of disinfectant products under the NatShield™ brand.

    For further information, please contact:
    Corporate Matters: investor@holistaco.com
    General Enquiries: enquiries@holistaco.com

    Global Investor relations and media enquiries:
    WeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd
    E: holista@wer1.net
    T: +65 673 74 844

  • Pacific Green Acquires Battery Energy Storage System Design Company Innoergy Limited

    Pacific Green Technologies, Inc. (the “Company” or “PGTK”, (OTCQB:PGTK)) announces that it has acquired Innoergy Limited, a designer of battery energy storage systems whose clients include Osaka Gas Co. Ltd, in Japan, and Limejump Limited (“Limejump”), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc. The acquisition marks PGTK’s entry into the battery energy storage system market in conjunction with PGTK’s joint venture partner, PowerChina SPEM.

    Innoergy was founded in April 2019 by James Gratton and Gareth Dauley with supplemental seed capital provided by Ning Zhang, a co-founder of Limejump, the world’s first developer of virtual power platforms optimizing energy generation and storage. James Gratton was formerly Head of Engineering at Limejump and Gareth served as a Director of Limejump for two years having formerly worked at Honeywell on its battery energy storage systems and virtual power platforms in the UK. Innoergy is currently in negotiations to design and develop over 450MW of battery energy storage systems in Europe.

    Scott Poulter, PGTK’s Chief Executive commented: “We believe that the battery energy storage system market has tremendous potential for growth as renewable energy continues to gain momentum. The team at Innoergy provide us with the expertise to build our energy storage platform in conjunction with PowerChina, and together we have the manufacturing capacity to rival the global leaders in the market as designers and manufacturers.”

    James Gratton, co-founder of Innoergy commented: “After my time as Head of Engineering at Limejump, we are excited to be part of a new chapter in the development of battery energy storage systems. With the support of Pacific Green and their relationship with PowerChina we believe that we are now in an excellent position to become market leaders in the design and manufacture of battery energy storage systems.”

    Gareth Dauley, co-founder of Innoergy commented: “We are delighted to be joining Pacific Green. Having spent a decade working in the developmental years of this exciting new industry with Honeywell and Limejump, with our combined capabilities we expect to witness the rapid acceleration of Pacific Green’s entry into the market due to its unrivalled connections with China’s leading energy storage technology, software and hardware companies.”

    PGTK has continued to expand its technologies through its acquisition of ENGIN in December 2019 so that its portfolio now includes Concentrated Solar Power, Flue Gas Emmission Control Systems, Water Desalination and Battery Energy Storage Systems. PGTK continues to actively seek complementary technologies to add to its Cleantech portfolio.

    Scott added: “Pacific Green is now targeting specific industries and sectors where its technology enhances the growing industry of Cleantech solutions. As well as having the capability and resources to carry out whole large scale projects, Pacific Green will continue to develop and produce new cutting edge products as we expand into new sectors.”

    PGTK’s joint venture with PowerChina SPEM, one of the world’s largest engineering, procurement and construction companies with annual revenues of around $50 billion, combines elite technical expertise with unrivalled production capabilities in China ensuring PGTK can scale efficiently in each industry sector.

    PGTK will continue to adhere to a high-quality development strategy, implement improved processes in all disciplines, and provide state of the art professional and efficient products and services for its customers.

    About Pacific Green Technologies, Inc.
    Pacific Green Technologies Inc. is focused on addressing the world’s need for cleaner and more sustainable energy. The Company’s strategy is to build through organic development and acquisition, a portfolio of patented competitive cutting edge technologies designed to meet increasingly stringent environmental standards. For more information, visit PGTK’s website: www.pacificgreentechnologies.com

    About POWERCHINA SPEM Co. Ltd
    POWERCHINA SPEM is a subsidiary of POWERCHINA, the largest power equipment manufacturer in the PRC. With abundant resources, expertise, strong manufacturing capacity, domestic sales channels and rich experience, POWERCHINA SPEM is in a strong position to deploy PGTK technology throughout the PRC.

    Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the ongoing effects of the pandemic on delays and orders regarding Pacific Green’s technologies, potential business developments around the world and future interest in our green technologies.

    Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, general economic and political conditions, the continuation of the JV with POWERCHINA SPEM, and the ongoing impact of the pandemic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Contact:
    Scott Poulter, Chairman & CEO
    Pacific Green Technologies
    T: +1 (302) 601-4659

    SOURCE: Pacific Green Technologies, Inc.

  • The Executive Centre launches the “Welcome Back to The Office” campaign

    The Executive Centre launches the “Welcome Back to The Office” campaign

    The COVID-19 outbreak has led to businesses and employees re-evaluating what the workplace means to them. Today, The Executive Centre (TEC), the leading premium flexible workspace provider across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, launches the “Welcome Back to The Office” video campaign, where characters find ways to adapt to the new working environment.

    The campaign is a take on the work-from-home phenomenon, and while the characters in the videos are fictional, their triumphs and struggles are drawn from real experiences of TEC’s 1000+ global team.

    What’s clear is that while homeworking arrangements are becoming normalised and people are enjoying less commuting, not having to dress to impress and spending more time with their families; on the flip side, there are also irreplaceable benefits of working in an office such as proper coffee in a proper coffee cup, chatting to colleagues and collaborating on projects, IT that works, comfortable ergonomic furniture, admin support, and a highly-productive environment that boosts concentration and minimises distractions.

    “After an extended period of time working from home, we are inspired to explore how the typical workday has changed, and is continuing to change,” said Paul Salnikow, TEC Founder and CEO. “We believe the future of the workplace hinges on its relationship with the people who truly make it work. As the pandemic has accelerated the shift to flexible workspaces, we are certain that the office, rather than becoming obsolete, will become an increasingly valuable asset facilitating collaboration and driving business growth. Our clients are telling us that their offices of the future will need solutions that are tailored to their success, limit current challenges, give their staff maximum flexibility and provide the best office environment that they can find.”

    Welcome Back to the Office – Good to leave, even better to come back.

    The videos can be viewed here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGzLjfneslE&list=PLfHtsCPeKvS_hVeEC_AUxLGDvlLWzFhTB

    For more details, please visit https://www.backtotheoffice.executivecentre.com

    About The Executive Centre
    The Executive Centre (TEC) opened its doors in Hong Kong in 1994 and today boasts over 135+ Centres in 32 cities and 14 countries.

    The Executive Centre caters to ambitious professionals and industry leaders looking for more than just an office space – they are looking for a place for their organisation to thrive. TEC has cultivated an environment designed for success with a global network spanning Greater China, Southeast Asia, North Asia, India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, and Australia, with sights to go further and grow faster. Each Executive Centre offers a prestigious address with the advanced infrastructure to pre-empt, meet, and exceed the needs of its Members. Walking with Members through every milestone and achievement, The Executive Centre empowers ambitious professionals and organisations to succeed.

    Privately owned and headquartered in Hong Kong, TEC provides first class Private and Shared Workspaces, Business Concierge Services, and Meeting & Conference facilities to suit any business’ needs.

    For more information please visit www.executivecentre.com

    Press Enquiries

    Finsbury
    Sheena Shah / Crystal Chow
    Sheena.Shah@Finsbury.com / +852 3166 9855
    Crystal.Chow@Finsbury.com / +852 3166 9838

  • Olympus to Support Endoscopic AI Diagnosis Education for Doctors in India and to Launch AI Diagnostic Support Application

    Olympus to Support Endoscopic AI Diagnosis Education for Doctors in India and to Launch AI Diagnostic Support Application

    Participating in Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications project: “Survey Study for International Expansion of AI Diagnosis Support System Using Ultra-High Magnifying Endoscopes in India”

    Olympus Corporation took part in a ground-breaking project as a business promoter, in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), entitled, “Survey Study for International Expansion of AI Diagnosis Support System Using Ultra-High Magnifying Endoscopes in India.” The project aims to develop advanced endoscopy diagnostics in India, where there are relatively few endoscopists.

    In collaboration with CYBERNET SYSTEMS CO,. LTD., Olympus has established an AI diagnostic support system at a major medical institution, the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) based in Hyderabad, India. Specialist lecturers and physicians from Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital provided expert guidance to AIG doctors. In addition to training AIG doctors in techniques for detecting diseases and differential diagnosis by colonoscope, they also trained the doctors on how to instruct the next generation of endoscopists.

    The project started on October 12. At the kick-off meeting, Satoshi Hemmi, Deputy Director-General of the Information and Communications Bureau, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications commented, “We hope to contribute to the spread of AI endoscopy systems and the development of medical care in India through training future leaders in AI endoscopy systems in India. We also hope that the cooperation between India and Japan in the field of healthcare ICT will continue to develop.”

    In addition to the ultra-magnifying scope Endocyto(*1) released last year, Olympus will release endoscopic diagnostic support software equipped with AI in India from December. The endoscopic diagnostic support software EndoBRAIN(*2) and EndoBRAIN-EYE(*3) will be utilized for physician training in India. Olympus intends to assist in the development of physicians and promote the use of endoscopic diagnostics.

    (*1) An endoscope that enables observation at the cellular level in real time with up to 520 times optical magnification.
    (*2) AI real-time in-vivo analysis of colon lesions taken with ultra-high magnifying endoscopes, numerically indicating the possibility of neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps to assist physicians in the differentiation and detection of polyps through figures.
    (*3) AI endoscopic diagnostic imaging support software that assists physicians in diagnosing lesions by alerting if a polyp or other lesion is detected using regular colonoscope images.

    Background of Olympus’ Participation

    In India, the rate of cancer morbidity is expected to increase as the economy grows. On the other hand, there is a severe shortage of doctors who can conduct precision diagnostics with endoscopes, which are essential for early detection and treatment of cancer. Olympus participated in this project to support trained AIG specialists to train doctors in India and neighboring countries and to contribute to the popularization and development of endoscope diagnostics using the latest AI technology.

    Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Project

    – Purpose:
    The MIC aims to realize the sustainable development goal and SDG pledges to ensure “no one will be left behind.” To this end, the MIC aims to realize a model that contributes to SDG through digitization and to disseminate and promote an SDG + ICT model domestically and overseas between both public and private sectors. This project aims to contribute to the introduction and dissemination of Japan’s endoscopic AI diagnostic support system to India and neighboring countries in response to the social issue of increasing cancer prevalence in India.

    – Projects:
    1) Survey on the Current Status of Policies in the Medical Health Sector in India and the Current Status of the Introduction of Medical ICT in India:
    Collecting information from major medical institutions and external research institutions and investigating the spread of medical systems, including endoscopic systems.

    2) Verification through proof-of-concept tests in India:
    Physicians from the Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital will train AIG physicians, from the detection of disease utilizing a colonoscope to discriminatory diagnosis, and train them as lecturers to train instructors. MIC provided equipment and training courses.

    For questions or additional information, please contact:
    Yuka Horimoto
    +81-90-2490-1071
    yuka.horimoto@olympus.com

  • WIMI’s Dr. Guo Songrui: Holographic technology and light fields

    WIMI’s Dr. Guo Songrui: Holographic technology and light fields

    Holography comes from the Latin vocabulary, and its meaning is: all, compound. According to the current common knowledge in mainstream technology filed, holography specifically refers to “holographic technology”, which is a technology for reproducing diffracted light emitted by objects. Holographic technology uses the principle of interference to record the light wave messages of the object, and uses the principle of diffraction to reproduce the light wave messages of the object, helping users to store all the light information of the object. Thus, the observer can observe the different positions of the object in all directions, and the stored light information records all the light distribution in the three-dimensional space. Therefore, holographic technology is also a kind of optical storage and reproduction technology.

    The earliest holographic technology was discovered by Denise Gabor (1900-1979), a Hungarian physicist, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971. However, this technology was first used in electron microscopes to record and display electronic holograms. The earliest use in the field of optics was after the invention of laser technology in 1960.

    The holographic recording is different from ordinary photography. An ordinary camera only records the intensity of the object’s light field. The hologram records the intensity of the reference light and the object light after interference. When it needs to be reproduced, it is only necessary to use the reference light to show the amplitude of the object light that fully characterizes the object information.

    The hologram production process uses a laser. The laser beam is strictly split 1:1 by a beam splitter. One beam of light shines on the surface of the object to be photographed, and the other beam directly shines on the photosensitive film (holographic dry plate). Moreover, this light is also called the reference beam. When the object beam is reflected by the object, its reflected beam is also irradiated on the film, completing the hologram shooting process.

    There are several major characteristics of holograms: 1. Omni-directional information recording. The holographic picture records the omnidirectional and comprehensive illumination information of the object, so that the object can be observed from different angles during observation. 2. Learning the whole picture from the parts. When part of the holographic picture is damaged, the whole picture of the object can still be seen from the remaining part. 3. The amount of stored information is huge, and multiple holographic photos can be recorded hierarchically on the holographic film. Moreover, they will not interfere with each other when displaying the picture.

    Based on the characteristics of holograms mentioned above, the application prospects of holograms are quite broad, but it is not an easy task to collect light fields to form a hologram in the early stage of technological development. Early technical methods were either expensive, such as using the aforementioned laser to irradiate objects, or using camera arrays; or collecting information was limited and inefficient, for example, the light field acquisition systems based on a fixed turntable. After 2000, with the development of digital camera shooting technology and light field shooting technology gradually attracted the attention of researchers, the light field collection technology of the single camera came into being. Until now, the light field collection technology has truly reached the civilian level.

    The common light field shooting techniques are divided into two categories: integral imaging and aperture coding imaging.

    Integral imaging is achieved by adding a microlens array or a micromirror array in front of the sensor to realize the collection of images of the light field viewpoints in different directions. There are more well-known integral imaging devices, including the lens array lens launched by Adobe, the Pelican lens array camera on the mobile phone, the Lytro light field camera, the R series light field camera of Raytrix, and so on.

    The shooting based on the compressed light field is to add an optical mask between the camera lens and the sensor to achieve compression encoding of the light entering the camera aperture. The more well-known equipment is the prototype of the light field camera developed by Babacan et al. They proposed to use the method of encoding mask and programmed aperture to capture light field viewpoints in different directions, which can obtain light field with high spatial resolution.

    The microlens array has the advantages of low cost and small size, but its disadvantage is that the image resolution loss is serious. The coding imaging technology has the advantages of small size, no loss of resolution, but its advantages are low signal-to-noise ratio and low light field quality.

    From the perspective of the development of light field cameras, encoding-based light field acquisition equipment breaks the mutual restriction between angular resolution and viewpoint image resolution. The redundant information in the light field can be removed through machine learning, and the light field can be restored from a small amount of information. In the future 4K era, the advantage of not losing resolution will be the focus of this technology.

    In the near future, when light field acquisition equipment develops to a sufficiently high resolution, as well as has fast enough acquisition speed, and cheap, the light field data, as a kind of rich media data, is stored in a large amount of non-overlapping data that can be passed through a single point. The complete picture of data information will become a new data treasure house for data scientists to research and mine. In particular, unexpected achievements may be obtained in many fields, such as holographic recognition, holographic payment, holographic authentication, and so on.

    Guo Songrui:
    Doctor of Computer Science and Technology Engineering from Hunan University, studied mixed reality and augmented reality technology at the State Key Laboratory of Scientific Computing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and participated in the research and development of multiple key projects.

    About WIMI Hologram Cloud Inc.
    WiMi Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI), whose commercial operations began in 2015, operates an integrated holographic AR application platform in China and has built a comprehensive and diversified holographic AR content library among all holographic AR solution providers in China. Its extensive portfolio includes 4,654 AR holographic contents. The company has also achieved a speed of image processing that is 80 percent faster than the industry average. While most peer companies may identify and capture 40 to 50 blocks of image data within a specific space unit, WiMi collects 500 to 550 data blocks. For more information, please visit http://ir.wimiar.com/.

    WIMI Hologram Cloud Inc.
    Name: Tim Wong
    E-mail: pr@wimiar.com
    Tele: +86 10 89913328

  • Indosat Ooredoo, Smart Axiata, PLDT Global and over 50 mobile operators from the region gather to shape the future of intelligent connectivity in Asia

    SINGAPORE, Oct 19, 2020 – (ACN Newswire) – Asia’s fastest-growing telco event, Telecoms World Asia, will take place virtually on 27-29 October with a focus on intelligent connectivity in Asia. Look forward to 6 channels of targeted content covering 5G, Network Virtualisation, Telco 4.0, Intelligent Connectivity and Carriers World Asia, with presentations addressing the key topics disrupting and re- shaping the telecoms industry in the region.

    On Day 1 of the virtual conference, Rahul Atri, Managing Director, Rakuten Mobile Singapore and Head of Product and Engineering, Rakuten Mobile will open the morning plenary with his keynote on “The world’s first end to end cloud native networks.” Following that, leaders from EVOS Esports, Garena, ONE Esports, Singtel International Group, United States Esports Federations, and Thailand Esports Federation will debate “The growth of digital content: Esports case study.” Donald Tan, CEO, China Telecom Global will also be delivering a presentation followed by a fireside chat.

    On Day 2, the focus shifts towards 5G and Intelligent Connectivity with Su Ann Lim, Industry Head Telco & Technology, Google addressing “New technologies, new opportunities of going digital”. Vikram Sinha, COO, Director of Indosat Ooredoo, Katrina Luna-Abelarde, CEO of PLDT Global and Thomas Hundt, CEO of Smart Axiata will then take the LIVE stage to evaluate Asia’s 5G future in the Boardroom session moderated by Ajay Sunder of SC-NEX. Tom Varghese, Head of Connectivity & Access Policy, APAC of Facebook and Dhanant Subhadrabandhu, PhD., Senior Executive Vice President, Marketing and Service of CAT Telecom will then continue the discussions on “Digital Platform Transformation: Bringing more people online to a faster internet” and “The Next Steps of Thailand’s Digital Outlook.”

    Rounding up the Day 3 keynotes, Tanapong Ittisakulchai, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS) will explore 5G & Digital Ecosystems for Businesses in Thailand while Richard Fung, CEO, China Broadband Communications shares his perspectives on “The telco transformation for everything cloud”.

    Telecoms World Asia will bring together over 50 senior decision-maker speakers and over 1500 leaders and professionals from mobile operators, government regulators, development banks, consultants, global suppliers, and solution providers, who are leading the future of intelligent connectivity in Asia. Some confirmed speakers include:

    – Sandra De Zoysa, Group Chief Customer Officer, Axiata
    – Yaw Yeo, General Manager, International Product & Business, Alibaba Group
    – Anik Dhar, Head of Digital, Banglalink
    – Praveen Agarwal, VP & Business Head, APAC, China, India & SAARC, Bharti Airtel
    – Natasak Rodjanapiches, Vice Chairman, Creative Digital Economy, Board of Trade Thailand
    – Myo Ohn, CEO, Campana Group
    – Ming Yow, Chief Customer Officer, China Broadband Communications
    – Mya Han, CEO, Fortune Telecom
    – Raden Kurnia Supriadi, VP, Head of Core Planning & Engineering Indosat Ooredoo
    – Piyawat Jriyasetapong, Chief Commercial Officer, Lao Telecommunication Company
    – Pichet Rerkpreecha, CEO, LINE Corp (Thailand)
    – Nathan Bell, Chief Digital Officer, M1
    – Idermunkh Tsogbadrakh, CEO, MobiCom Networks
    – Binh Vu, CEO, NetNam
    – Mel Velarde, CEO, NOW Telecom Corporation
    – Satoshi Nagata, Vice Chairman, 3GPP TSG-RAN & Manager, NTT Docomo
    – Bharath Rathinam, Head, RCP Uplift & Orchestration, Rakuten Mobile
    – Saad Sheikh, Chief Architect, Saudi Telecom Company
    – Rangarajan Kalyanasundaram, CEO Enterprise Business, Smartfren Telecom
    – Swe Thu Han, Digitization Solution Department, SCSK Myanmar, Sumitomo Corporation
    – Edi Siswanto, Vice President, Infrastructure Planning & Development, Telkom Indonesia International
    – Maxime Carpentier, VP IoT Operations, True Digital Group
    – Mandeshpal Singh Banvet, Head of Cybersecurity & Network Product, Asia, Verizon
    – Jaime Diez, CTO, APAC, Vodafone Business

    Leading solution partners Advanced Info Services (AIS), CAT Telecom, Servicenow, Metaswitch, MSIG, EnableX, Atmail, CDNetworks, China Mobile International, China Telecom, CSG, IEEE, Netrounds, Marveltec, PCCW Global, R3, SQREAM, Turkcell, Zinier, Vertiv, FNT, Canopus Networks and more will be showcasing their latest solutions via TECH Demos on 26th October and in the virtual exhibition hall.

    About Telecoms World Asia 2020
    27-29 October 2020
    9:00 am – 7:00 pm LIVE ONLINE
    https://www.terrapinn.com/virtual/telecoms-world-asia/index.stm
    Mobile operators can attend the full event for free.
    Content-only Conference Passes are available free for all who register.

    About Terrapinn
    Terrapinn is a business media company. Its products are trade exhibitions, conferences, training solutions and electronic and print publications. For more information, please visit www.terrapinn.com.

    Note: Press registration for the conference is compulsory and advance scheduling for speaker/sponsor interviews is recommended. Press passes are strictly reserved for reporters, journalists, editors only. Final issuance of press passes is subject to Terrapinn’s discretion.

    For your complimentary press pass, please contact:
    Emma Riddington-Bates, Terrapinn Pte Ltd
    email: emma.riddingtonbates@terrapinn.com