DocuCentre SC2020 Makes Color Printing Accessible

SINGAPORE, May 28, 2014 –( ASIA TODAY )- Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd announced the launch of DocuCentre SC2020, an A3 color multifunction device targeting small-office-home-offices (SOHO) and small-and medium-sized businesses (SMB), especially current users of monochrome products. Affordable yet equipped with Fuji Xerox’s longstanding color printing technologies, this product is available across the Asia-Pacific regions including China (excluding Japan).

DocuCentre SC2020 is an A3 color multifunction device developed specifically for the SOHO/SMB markets with color print/copy speed of 20 pages per minute (ppm)*1. By equipping it with features that meet the needs of these markets and the capability to make high-resolution color prints, Fuji Xerox aims to expand its line-up of products for the growing A3 low-end color printing markets across the Asia Pacific (excluding Japan).

DocuCentre SC2020, while being compact in size to fit easily into SOHO/SMB offices, produces high-resolution prints at 1,200 x 2,400 dots per inch (dpi), creating smooth black lines and character outlines.

To realize this high print quality, DocuCentre SC2020 features a new light emitting diode (LED) print head equipped with the newly-developed self-scanning light emitting device—the Current Confinement Self-Scanning Light Emitting Device—which incorporates Fuji Xerox’s proprietary laser scanning technology, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL). With the Current Confinement Self-Scanning Light Emitting Device, the volume of light it emits is efficiently increased by controlling and confining the light current’s pathways, which enables the LED print head to effectively emit light equivalent to the higher models, thereby contributing to high-resolution prints, yet saving energy. Furthermore, DocuCentre SC2020’s LED print head size has been reduced by incorporating the downsizing technology used in Fuji Xerox’s small A4 printers.

The product also helps users achieve improved screen-to-print accuracy with digitally-processed 2,400 dpi high-resolution data enabled by the Image Registration Control Technology (IReCT).

　
DocuCentre SC2020 has selected features that are convenient for the SOHO/SMB users, on top of basic copying, printing, faxing*2 and scanning.

– Both sides of an ID card or a two-page document can be printed out side by side on a single side of paper to save paper and for easy reference.
– Fax process is streamlined, whereby users can send files by fax directly from their computers and configure the device to upload received faxes to a server or send them to registered email addresses, thereby reducing paper wastage.
– With its simple user interface, DocuCentre SC2020 helps users perform desired functions without hassle or confusion. The 4.3-inch color touch screen panel leads users through operations, such as copying double-sided ID cards or removing paper jams, with step-by-step directions.

DocuCentre SC2020 provides direct printing from iOS or Android*3 mobile devices for those users who wish to print web pages or photographs without having to print through a personal computer. The user can also export documents scanned by DocuCentre SC2020 to smart mobile devices via wireless local area network.

The scanned documents can also be easily uploaded from PCs to the Working Folder and accessed anytime, anywhere or shared amongst co-workers; or viewed and edited on the DocuWorks as paper documents.

DocuCentre SC2020 helps boost business productivity with its print/copy speeds of 20 ppm for both monochrome and color, and scan speeds*4 of 24 ppm for monochrome and 19 ppm for color. In addition, DocuCentre SC2020 features continuous printing capabilities of up to 999 pages per job and efficient scanning with the 110-page Duplex Automatic Document Feeder (DADF)*5 to meet the requirements of heavy-duty users.

DocuCentre SC2020 enables users to reduce toner consumption*6, calibrating toner density in three settings of Light, Lighter and Lightest, based on individual print requirements. Furthermore, the product has a low typical electricity consumption (TEC)*7 of 1.2 kilowatt-hour (kWh) and consumes 1.4 watts in sleep mode, which is the state that printers spend most of their time in.
According to Fuji Xerox’s study, the projected market growth of 11-20 ppm A3 color multifunction devices from 2012 to 2015 is approximately 10 percent for the Asia-Pacific markets and more than 10 percent for the China market. With DocuCentre SC2020, Fuji Xerox aims to capture this market growth opportunity and contribute to the business efficiency of its SOHO/SMB customers.

*1 With A4 long edge fed paper (LEF). The speed may be reduced due to image quality adjustment and print performance can be varied depending on the type of paper used.
*2 Optional.
*3 Print Utility for iOS and Print Utility for Android can be downloaded from App Store and Google Play, respectively.
*4 With Fuji Xerox standard paper (A4 LEF) at 200dpi. Scanning speed varies depending on the documents.
*5 DADF has the capacity to be loaded with up to 110 sheets of 80 grams per square meter (gsm) paper.
*6 Toner reduction varies depending on data being printed.
*7 Typical Electricity Consumption: Energy Conservation Center's standard compliant with the International ENERGY STAR Program, representing the amount of electricity consumed in a conceptual week (five days of operation and sleep/off repeated, plus two days of sleep/off).

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Xerox, Xerox and Design, as well as Fuji Xerox and Design are registered trademarks or trademarks of Xerox Corporation in Japan and/or other countries.

IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.
The App Store is a service, offered by Apple Inc., which allows download of application software made for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Android is the trademark of Google Inc.
Google Play is the trademark of Google Inc.
High-res image available via: 　http://news.fujixerox.com/image_library/detail/_imgid_000265/

About Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. is a 75-25 joint venture between FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation and Xerox Corporation (U.S.A.) that develops, manufactures and markets world-class office and publishing equipment/systems, digital color/monochrome multifunction devices, as well as document management software, solutions and services in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region including China. It also manufactures digital copiers, multifunction devices and printers for worldwide distribution.

Founded in 1962, the company currently employs approximately 45,000 people globally, and has more than 80 domestic and overseas affiliates and sales subsidiaries. More information of Fuji Xerox is available at www.fujixerox.com

Media Enquiries:
Yvonne Tan
Communication & Promotion Manager
Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
DID: 65 6239 2739
Email: Yvonne.Tan@fujixerox.com

Jeslyn Pua
Senior Associate
The Right Spin Pte Ltd
DID: 65 6325 5929
Email: jeslyn@therightspin.com.sg

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

CHICAGO -( ASIA TODAY )- Another year of strong growth for both attendee and exhibitor numbers at the NRA Show. The event offered everything needed to achieve success in the foodservice industry. From knowledge to hands-on implementation, to quantity to quality, from variety to value, from innovation to traditional well-proven solutions, the NRA Show had it all.

Spanning three Halls at McCormick Place, the NRA Show floor featured more than 2,900 established and emerging supplier brands showcasing more than 900 product categories. In the show floor it was evident the high energy created by the new exhibitors, which included 102 new tech and entertainment brands, 134 food producers, and 135 equipment manufacturers.

A quick glance at the exhibitor listings would guide you to booths that represent cuisines from Brazilian to Italian, Chinese to Middle Eastern. An international focus was one approach to the abundant input available in the exhibition halls—moving across borders without a passport. From the exhibitors showcasing their brands, innovations and new products, 45% of international brands were from Asia, representing the most important group of international exhibitors. Exhibiting companies from Asia included but were not limited to Ajinomoto North America INC., Autec INC., Kikkoman Sales USA INC, Suzumo Machinery CO. LTD., Beijing Zhonglian International Exhibition Co. Ltd., Guangdong Xingxing Refrigeration Equipment Co. Ltd., Guangzhou Elaboratex Western Kitchen Equipments Co. Ltd, Ningbo Chaoshun Eletric Appliance CO. LTD., Shandong Jedesen Commercial Kitchenware Co. Ltd, Shanghai Myle's International CO. LTD, Zhejiang Meisda Refrigeration Technology CO. LTD., Tangshan Burak Hotel Supplies Co. Ltd, Woosung Enterprise Co. Ltd., BARSKOREA and Takerng Pineapple Industrial.

NRA Show also made it easy for buyers and sellers of products and services to find one another through focused areas of the Show floor. These Pavilions were destinations showcasing suppliers and manufacturers addressing today’s key trends and interests. Prominent areas included:

• Alternative Bitestyle - dedicated to products operators need to address special dietary needs on their menus such as gluten-free, allergy-focused, low-sodium, vegetarian, low-sugar and beyond.

• Conserve Solutions Center - which showcased sustainability-related products and services that increase customer attraction and retention by reducing carbon footprints and demonstrating environmental responsibility.

• The Organic & Natural Pavilion - provided a central, dedicated exhibit area that helped buyers easily find certified organic and natural products.

Besides an impressive selection of exhibitors and specialty areas, NRA Show 2014 also showcased other key events that highlighted trends happening in our industry:

• Foodamental Studio- A brand new area of the show floor which translated into a hands-on, crash-course workshop where you could try out the processes and techniques behind the most talked-about culinary trends of the year! On May 17, for example, Malaysia’s Food Ambassador to the U.S. Christina Arokiasamy shared her personal story and demonstrated how spices and aromatics such as turmeric and tamarind qualify as “What’s Hot”.

• World Culinary Showcase – where world-class chefs demonstrated recipes, tips and techniques live on-stage. On May 18, live and in person, you could have watched how gluten sensitivity affects international cuisine and how celebrity chefs Maneet Chauhan, Jehangir Mehta & Maxime Bilet handled the challenge.

• McCormick Place Rooftop Garden Tour – where participants experienced a sustainability wonder first-hand. This event highlighted a prime example of urban agriculture at work with a visit to Midwest’s largest rooftop garden.

• More than 80 FREE education sessions – which brought together trending topics and industry leaders for the ultimate experience in education. On May 17 you could have learned how Chefs are changing the World or you could have also learned more about “Supply Chain Challenges”. On May 18 you could have gotten more knowledgeable about which “Restaurateurs to Watch”, a panel with leaders such as Nick Kokonas co-owner of Alinea, Next and the Aviary.

The show was also an unprecedented success in terms of attendance, with more visitors coming from abroad to connect with high-powered buyers and influencers interested in anything from ingredients and beverage to technology solutions and products. There were a lot of ways to extract useful, actionable information from the variety of experiences the NRA Show offered—maybe the cleverest was just to use the Show as a surrogate for world travel. NRA Show 2015 will be held May 16-19 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Save the date!!

# # # #

Media Contact

Tatiana Vieira Green
Managing Director
ADapt International
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1420
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 836-1047
Mobile: 617 930-5786

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

CHICAGO -( ASIA TODAY )- The 7th annual International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB), recently held at Chicago’s McCormick Place on May 17-20, posted positive growth in both attendee and exhibitor numbers for the third year in a row. Due to the growth in exhibitors, IWSB was bigger and better than ever, being transferred to a larger area of McCormick Place, in Lakeside Ballroom.

IWSB 2014 attendees were able to explore two new pavilions this year – Craftique, featuring limited-production craft and boutique wines, spirits and beers, and Bar Necessities, showcasing products ancillary to, but critical for a successful bar program, including mixers, glassware and ice.

Featured sessions at IWSB 2014 included the highly anticipated “The Great Martini Debate” with The Modern Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim and “Hot Trends for Increased Beverage Sales” featuring representatives from MarkeTeam, Inc, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Inc., and Royal Caribbean International.

The interactive demo lounges were also a great attraction where attendees trained with experts to gain practical, hands-on experience using the newest products and techniques. Participants interested in learning more about menu pairing could learn and get inspired at the Restaurant Menu Paring Program available where attendees could sampled the perfect marriages of food and drink throughout the floor to learn what's possible when they truly work together.

In terms of alcoholic beverage trends spotted on the show floor, cork-free wine, dark spirits, Asian flavored beer and Mexican imports were just a few.

The biggest trend was certainly the many different ways to store wine. In the show floor wine makers used bags, cans and even kegs to store and serve wine. Bonfire Wines, for example, sells wine in a pouch. The wine stays fresh for a month, take half the time to chill, is quick for servers to open, and won’t go bad due to a dry cork, says Eric Steigelman, Bonfire’s founder. The company was one of the winners of NRA’s FABI award.

In contrast with the consumption demand that started in the 90s, tastes for liquor are moving away from clear spirits. At the show floor the popularity of whiskey was evident. Vermont’s Whistle Pig distillery was present, showcasing their American-made whiskey. Whistle Pig helped start the rye whiskey movement and continues to profit from it.

Asian flavors, including spices and ingredients like ginger were a big trend both in food and beverage. While Kooksoondang Brewery offered samples of its Rice Wine, rimming sugars and salts from Twang Partners included lemon ginger sugar and tamarind margarita salt. But the bigger winner was anything ginger, both in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Crabbies, for example, claims to be the first alcoholic ginger beer. However, competition will be spicy.

For many beer fans, the bitter, the better. India Pale Ales, which lead the pack in the craft brew segment, experienced a 35 percent growth in 2013. But more beer trends could be seen at IWSB. Several breweries started to use barrels to store their product. At the show floor, New Holland Brewing Company offered tastes of its Dragons Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout. Hard cider production has more than tripled since 2011 and is expected to become one of the top craft styles soon. At IWSB, suppliers were introducing innovative takes on traditional ciders, such as hopped cider.

As for Mexican imports, Americans are increasingly interested in drinking tequila and mezcal. Since 2002, U.S. imports of Tequila have grown 83 percent. Both high-end and cheaper brands are flooding the market, translating into more options to patrons and even more appealing creative combinations elaborated by Mixologists.

# # # #

Media Contact

Tatiana Vieira Green
Managing Director
ADapt International
500 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1420
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312 836-1047
Mobile: 617 930-5786

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Singapore, May 29, 2014 – A fast and cost-effective genetic test to determine the correct dosage of blood thinning drugs for the treatment of stroke, heart problems and deep vein thrombosis has been developed by researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN). Using gold nanoprobes, this new technology offers personalized healthcare based on the genetic profile of the patients.

IBN Executive Director Professor Jackie Y. Ying said, “Diseases caused by blood clots can be potentially fatal. Genetic testing can improve the treatment of such medical conditions. By combining our expertise in molecular diagnostics and nanotechnology, we have developed a new genetic test that can determine the appropriate drug dosage to be administered for each patient.”

Blood thinning drugs or anticoagulant medication prevent clots from forming in the blood. They are used to treat stroke, irregular heartbeat and deep vein thrombosis.

Warfarin is the most widely prescribed oral anticoagulant drug. But the dosage for each individual is highly variable, and the wrong dosage can cause an adverse reaction. Doctors currently determine the right dosage by monitoring the patients’ reactions and adjusting the dosage accordingly.

Studies have shown that the variability in warfarin dosage is linked to genes. Knowing a patient’s genetic profile can therefore help doctors to decide the correct dosage for the patient. This minimizes side effects and improves treatment outcomes.

But current genetic tests are slow and expensive, often requiring over several days to generate results. This means that the initial dosage, which is the most important part of the treatment, may not be the optimal dosage.

Prof Ying and her group member, Principal Research Scientist Dr Yanbing Zu, have developed a faster and more cost-effective genetic test. By using gold nanoprobes, IBN’s test kit can recognize three of the most common genetic variations, or single-nucleotide polymorphisms, associated with warfarin response.

In the test, DNA is extracted from blood or saliva of patients. After the DNA is amplified, it is then added to a pink solution of gold nanoparticles. If any of the three genetic variations is present, the solution will remain pink. But if none of the variations is present, the solution will turn colorless. The color change takes place within 10 minutes. This test can be done using standard laboratory equipment.

IBN’s test has been validated by the National Cancer Centre Singapore, the National University Cancer Institute Singapore, and the Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Taiwan.

Prof Ying added, “This nanoprobe technology is highly flexible and can be extended to detect other genetic variations. By making molecular diagnostics information more readily available, doctors will be able to provide personalized treatment that is safer and more effective.”

This finding was reported recently in the leading nanoscience and nanotechnology journal Nano Today.

IBN’s nanoprobe technology is currently on trial at Singapore’s KK Women's and Children's Hospital in relation to carbamazepine, a different drug that is used for epilepsy treatment.
END

Reference:

1. Y. Zu, M. H. Tan, B. Chowbay, S. C. Lee, H. Yap, M. T. M. Lee, L-S. Lu, C-P. Chang and J. Y. Ying, “Nanoprobe-based Genetic Testing,” Nano Today, (2014) DOI: See article

Images Available on Request:

The IBN team, Dr Yanbing Zu, Prof Jackie Y. Ying and Dr Min-Han Tan (from right), which established the new genetic test to help doctors to determine the correct drug dosage for patients. (Refer to PDF)

The before and after images of the gold nanoprobe technology developed by IBN. The pink solution turned colorless within 10 minutes, when none of the genetic variations was present in the patient’s DNA sample. (Refer to PDF)

Media Contacts:

Elena Tan
Phone: +65 6824 7032
Email: elenatan@ibn.a-star.edu.sg

Nidyah Sani
Phone: +65 6824 7005
Email: nidyah@ibn.a-star.edu.sg

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Researchers from A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute (BII) have developed the first mobile application for Android phones that analyses ab1[1] DNA sequencing files, which enables science professionals and amateur enthusiasts to engage in scientific analysis on the go, from the convenience of their mobile phones.

DNA sequencing is a commonly used technique which has advanced many areas of biological research, from the understanding of genetic information to the causes and treatment of human diseases. However, analysis of DNA sequencing files used to be carried out only on computers. This frustrated Dr Samuel KE Gan, molecular cell biologist and team leader of Antibody & Product Development (APD) Laboratory, when he wanted to work when travelling. He presented the challenge to his computer science research officer Mr Nguyen Phi Vu, to find a better way to read data on the move. What resulted was the “DNAApp”, developed in just three months, which allowed him to read and analyse DNA sequencing files on his mobile phone.

Dr Gan’s team published the app freely on Google Play store and Apple app store for scientists worldwide so that they too can improve their efficiency and productivity. Since its launch in early April, “DNAApp” has been downloaded more than 300 times by users from more than 11 different countries.

“DNAApp” enables the visualisation and analysis of DNA sequencing files simply with the use of any iOS or Android mobile device. The application lets users assess the quality of DNA sequences and carries out commonly used functions of DNA sequencing analysis, such as reverse complementation, translation, and the ability to search for specific sequences. The latter function is important for researchers who want to locate specific segments in their sequences to identify regions of biological relevance.

Also available for the iOS platform, this native application[2] is faster and more efficient, tapping on the convenience of mobile devices to raise productivity in the lab. The “DNAApp” can work without internet access, and is designed to adapt to the smaller sizes and sensitivity of touch-screen devices. “DNAApp” has features that aid analysis such as the ability to search, swipe or “jump to” a specific section of a sequence and the incorporation of fast and end-scrolling icons. These allow the application to complement existing web-based bioinformatics tools for deeper analysis.

“We are excited to see that ‘DNAApp’ has proven to be a useful tool for the busy scientist. As the use of mobile devices and their applications become increasingly widespread, we hope to continue to be at the forefront of technology – creating new bioinformatics tools for the advancement of scientific knowledge and making science accessible.”, said Dr Gan.

Besides the research on antibodies and viral mutations, the laboratory plans to continue developing mobile applications that aid analysis in molecular and microbiology. Like the “DNAApp”, these applications will raise productivity in the laboratories and have the added potential to be used as educational tools.

Dr Frank Eisenhaber, Executive Director at BII, said “Thanks to the initiative of Dr. Samuel Gan, the new DNAApp software developed for smart-phones adds an exciting new dimension in the DNA sequence analysis software field. For the first time, a mobile phone application is productive for certain aspects of sequencing data studies. At BII, we will continue to develop creative ideas for useful and efficient tools and techniques in computational biology for applications in the life science field.”

[1] ab1 files are data files belonging to the Applied Biosystems Genetic Analysis data file format, and are specific to DNA sequencing. Such files require specific programs that understand their raw data and can represent it as a chromatogram, or visual representation of a sequenced DNA sample.

[2] Native applications are applications that are developed for use on a particular platform. In this case, two versions of DNAApp were created – for the Android and IOS platforms.

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:

Vanessa Loh
Senior Officer, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6826 6395
Email: vanessa_loh@a-star.edu.sg

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Are you considering criminal justice as your college major? According to a recent Georgetown University Study, “Criminal justice majors can expect higher salaries and lower unemployment than those who studied agriculture, education, liberal arts, social sciences, communications/journalism and some business subjects.”

Of course, the real motivator isn’t the money. People are drawn to criminal justice careers because they desire to serve and protect. It takes a special kind of person, a hero, to work in this field. Criminal justice degree holders have gone on to work as police patrol officers, investigators, social workers, intelligence analysts, loss prevention specialists, and a wealth of other civil servant positions.

If you believe you’re strong enough to answer the call of justice, then a criminal justice degree is your first step toward success. The following tips will help you successfully earn your degree, and go on to working in a field that truly benefits all of society.

Types Criminal Justice Degrees
• Associate Degree in Criminal Justice
• Basic Police Academy Training
• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice

Keep in mind: Most police academies require their recruits have a minimum of 60 college credit hours before attending the police academy.

The first question you should ask yourself is, “What career do I want?” Do you want to be a police patrol officer, or do you see yourself as a detective, or even the chief of police? In order to rise to a higher position, you will need a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Cadet Cpl. Jerry Ploskon began his career by studying criminal justice at Gwynedd Mercy, and then went on to graduate the Montgomery County Police Academy. Because of his degree, Ploskon is eligible to rise in his department’s ranks, and could someday find himself sitting in the chief’s chair. If he’d stopped with a two-year associate’s degree, he may not have the same career options, or he would have to attend college (again) later in life.

Classroom Tips

Before you register for college, be certain you’re ready to make the time commitment. You’re going to have to manage homework, and balance your course work with your home life and job. If you’re certain you can handle the responsibility, then get yourself registered and follow these classroom tips, to ensure you meet your goals.

1. Be dedicated and self-motivated.

In college, no one is going to remind you when a term paper is due. It’s up to you to stay dedicated, and be self-motivated. Keep a calendar, and use it to write down important due dates. Also, make sure to show up to class because attendance is a large part of your grade.

2. Ask Questions.

If you’re confused about something, ask for clarification. Your instructor isn’t going to know you need help unless you make that clear. Don’t be shy – raise your hand, and talk to your instructors.

3. Participate in class.

Remember– In a criminal justice career, you’re going to be required to put in a huge amount of effort. Start practicing for the real world by participating in class discussions, getting involved in extra-curricular activities, and generally staying focused and involved.

4. Study often.

Let’s face it – the law is complicated. Criminal justice coursework is going to include learning the law, as well as learning about the criminal justice system. You’re going to be required to maintain a passing grade, but if you study often this won’t be too difficult.

The criminal justice curriculum is demanding, but with the right amount of perseverance, you will graduate. Graduates go on to rewarding careers in public safety, which makes all graduates heroes.

Hong Kong, 29 May 2014 – China Telecom Corporation Limited (“China Telecom” or “the Company”; HKEx: 00728; NYSE: CHA) is pleased to
announce that the Company has been voted again by institutional investors and analysts for four consecutive years as “Overall Best Managed Company in Asia” in FinanceAsia’s 14th annual poll of Asia’s top performing companies. This award was another remarkable accolade by the capital market for the Company’s management excellence, following the honour of “Asia’s No.1 Best Managed Company” awarded by Euromoney, another international reputable financial magazine, earlier this year.

In addition, Mr. Wang Xiaochu, Chairman and CEO of China Telecom, was named the “Best CEO in China”, and Madam Wu Andi, Executive Vice President and CFO of the Company, was titled the “Best CFO in China”. China Telecom was further accredited by FinanceAsia with the following awards:

TAIPEI -( ASIA TODAY )- The four-day 11th Taipei Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 (MTduo) and 13th Taipei International Woodworking Machinery and Supplies Show 2014 (Interwood Taipei), co-organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), drew to a close on May 11.

It was attended by about 300 domestic and international exhibitors using 1,100 booths. The total number of international and domestic visitors was up to 15,000, an increase of 7%, including up to 1,000 international buyers. Most of the buyers came from China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and USA. The event received a large crowd and the venue was bustling with activities.

The exhibitors this year in MTduo 2014 and Interwood Taipei 2014 exhibited a serious intelligent automation manufacturing technologies and equipment, including a long list of well-known manufacturers, such as SIEMEN, FATEK, C-DOUBLE, DMG MORI, CHMER, DAHLIH, KAO MING, SUN FIRM, RONGFU, POLY GIM, WEXTEN, CHAIN HEADWAY, FENGEI, BLASER, DKSH, KUKA LUREN, ROAD AHEAD, PROJECT, BES MACHINERY, PIONEER MAGAZINE, KINGSLIDE, SHARE WORKSHOP and HAO YU. This year, not only the Swiss Pavilion but also the German Pavilion attended the event to showcase a series of high performance and advanced manufacturing equipment.

According to second time MTduo participant Yi-Jie Lin, CEO of RONGFU Industrial, many buyers not only from Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand, but also from South Africa, the Netherlands and India had placed orders onsite. Participation in the event produced better results than expected. Rong-You Lin, CEO of BES MACHINERY, exhibiting the crane-type five axis machining center, claimed the company's reason for participating in MTduo was to reach customers from different fields and to expand business. Shi-Duan Chen, CEO of LUREN, exhibiting the universal gear tool grinding machine also felt the crowd was larger than previous event, which brought better business opportunity. Ji-Sheng Wang, CEO of DMG Mori Seiki, also said there were a large number of buyers at the venue and the sales were promising, which was about EUR$ 3 millions in total onsite and the company was satisfied.

Intelligent automation machines shine the show.

Among the large number of machinery manufacturers that participated in this event, the leading industry brands and winners of the “Taiwan Machine Tools Industry Award 2013 for Excellence in Research and Innovation” and “Taiwan Excellence Awards 2014” showcased sophisticated, multifunctional machinery and equipment, including the Q4025L High Precision Linear Drive Wire Cut EDM from CHMER, who’s technology of the machine is as good as that of German machines. Moreover, LUREN exhibited the LUG-3040 CNC universal gear tool grinding machine with world-class patents; DAHLIH exhibited the DMX-320 5-Axis Vertical Machining Center and DMG MORI exhibited the latest five axis high-speed machining center. All of these machines caught the eyes of buyers.

Business opportunities up to US$ 60 million.

The exhibitors in the shows were numerous. Besides, the joint procurement meeting of MTduo and Interwood Taipei created business up to US$ 23 million. Furthermore, there are many more coming business contracts in future. Totally, the two shows combined creates a business up to US$ 60 million.

Professional seminars capturing latest industrial trend

The organizers of MTduo and Interwood Taipei held many professional seminars during the show, including the participation of experts from Precision Machinery Research & Development Center, which share subjects including “Development of the machine tool industry and servitization of manufacturing”, “Development and recent trends of design and manufacturing in CNC machine tools” and “Development and analysis of intelligent machine tools” and more. There were lots of attendees in seminars, ready to find out more future developmental possibilities for the machinery industry. In addition, “3D printing 2.0”, held by ROAD AHEAD TECHNOLOGIES used new materials to print 3D objects by the state-of-the-art German 3D scanner, which attracted one hundred attendees.

The 4-day event drew to a perfect close with a constant stream of visitors, demonstrating the latest skills and strength of Taiwan's machinery industry. The next MTduo is scheduled on May 2016 which will once again gather all well-known machine manufacturers to show the most innovative technology, while offering the same premium services and draw immense business opportunities for all participants.

Contact
Interwood Taipei
interwood@taitra.org.tw

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Indonesia will begin construction next month of its long-delayed $1.6-billion Sarulla project, the world’s biggest geothermal power plant, the country’s chief economic minister said on May 28.

Southeast Asia’s largest economy, home to the world’s largest geothermal resources, is racing to meet power demand growth of more than 7 per cent a year, with plans to add 60 gigawatts of capacity to its existing grid by 2022.

But the sector has struggled to attract investment because of complex regulations and difficulties securing project finance. A government plan to derive 12 per cent of the country’s energy mix from geothermal power by 2025 seems unrealistic.

“The Sarulla groundbreaking will be very soon,” Coordinating Economic Minister Chairul Tanjung told reporters, adding that the project had reached financial closing and the government expected construction to begin next month. He declined to give further details.

The project was originally initiated in 1990 but ground to a halt during the Asian financial crisis in 1997. Its first phase is expected to begin operation in 2016, with the next two phases to follow within 18 months of the first phase.

The 330-MW Sarulla project is envisioned to provide clean power to an Indonesian grid dominated by fossil-fuel energy. Sarulla is expected to reduce 1.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year when completed in 2018. The financing of the project has been heralded as a breakthrough for Indonesia’s largely undeveloped 29 gigawatts of geothermal potential.

The banks involved in the financing are the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Asian Development Bank along with Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, ING Bank, Societe Generale, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corportation, Mizuho Bank Ltd and National Australia Bank Ltd.

The project is sponsored by Itochu Corporation (25 per cent), Kyushu Electric Power Company (25 per cent), PT Medco Power Indonesia (37.5 per cent), a unit of Medco Energi Internasional, and Ormat International, a unit of Ormat Technologies Inc (12.5 per cent).

The Sarulla plant’s recent financial close makes it Indonesia’s first geothermal project to gain financing since Star Energy’s 227-MW Wayang Windu plant commenced in 1997.

by ARNO MAIERBRUGGER

Consumers bought 130,000 more media tablets this year

MANILA, 30 May 2014 – In a relatively ‘young’ and developing market like the Philippines, it is not surprising that new and innovative technologies are readily being adopted by local consumers. One of the latest gadgets which has been gaining widespread acceptance is media tablets, which registered nearly two-fold (95%) increase in sales volume in the first quarter of 2014 compared with the same period last year.

According to GfK retail audit report, tech savvy consumers in the country spent around US$65.8 million on 270,000 units of media tablets in the first three month of 2014 as compared to only USD49 million in the same timeframe last year.

“The fact that three-quarters of the population fall below 40 years of age is a strong driver for the development of technical products as younger consumers are much more open to the adoption of new technology,” highlighted Benny Villanueva, Managing Director for GfK in the Philippines.

Another growth driver of the buoyant media tablet sector is the wide array of product brands and models that are available to consumers. This year, 22 new local and international players jumped onto the bandwagon to introduce a total of 150 models into the market, offering media tablets for as low as USD42 to as high as USD1,012.

“Competition in the media tablet market got even more exciting with the entry of relatively big global names such as Sony, LG, Lenovo, Skyworth and Cloudfone,“ noted Villanueva. “While major international brands have consistently played in the higher price brackets, local and Chinese brands have successfully developed the low price segment which brought down the average cost and made the device even more affordable.”

GfK reported the average price of media tablets dropping by around 31 percent from last year’s USD356 to USD246 for the first quarter of 2014. In spite of the lower prices, total market value for media tablets still managed to rise by 35 percent attributed to the strong sales volume of the product.

“Its greater portability, on top of similar basic functionalities with netbooks and laptops make media tablets a very much sought-after option for buyers seeking portable computing devices,” said Villanueva.

Meanwhile, basic Wi-Fi only models represent the best selling segment in the country as they are more affordable, averaging at around USD42. Its popularity is also attributed to the fact that majority of commercial establishments are now providing free Wi-Fi connectivity to their customers, thereby making those that are equipped with the more costly 3G feature less of a necessity.

“These days, it is common to see young children using media tablets as a form of entertainment-on-the-go, proving that the product is now spanning a wider market to reach those even below 10 years old,” said Villanueva. “With its broad ranging target market, we are anticipating the media tablet business in the Philippines to continually enjoy double digit growth for the next 3 years,” concluded Villanueva.

About GfK
GfK is the trusted source of relevant market and consumer information that enables its clients to make smarter decisions. More than 13,000 market research experts combine their passion with GfK’s 80 years of data science experience. This allows GfK to deliver vital global insights matched with local market intelligence from more than 100 countries. By using innovative technologies and data sciences, GfK turns big data into smart data, enabling its clients to improve their competitive edge and enrich consumers’ experiences and choices.
For more information, please visit 　www.GfK.com or follow GfK on Twitter: 　https://twitter.com/GfK_en

Notes:
- Survey comparison period: Jan – Mar 2014 versus Jan- Mar 2013
- The reported figures cover national retail sales from electrical specialists, telecom retailers, IT shops and hypermarkets in all regions except ARMM or Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

______________________________

Seraphina Wee
Manager, PR & Communications
GfK | One George Street #22-02 | Singapore 049145
T +65 6826 8622 | M: +65 9385 0222

The brand new series features bizhub PRESS C1070 and C1060

SINGAPORE --Media OutReach-- 30 May 2014 -- It is time to re-think and redefine digital printing with Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia's launch of bizhub PRESS C1070 and C1060.

The new series is a powerful and flexible colour digital printing system that complements offset business perfectly. Designed to meet demanding job requirements in short turnaround time, they are also versatile enough to handle a wide range of print applications with improved media handling and come packed with capabilities. With Konica Minolta's new proprietary Simitri® High DefinitionE (HDE) toner and Screen-Enhancing Active Digital IV (S.E.A.D IV) image processing system, near offset print quality can be achieved.
"For customers who are looking for the ability to scale, perform and deliver on demand across diverse needs in a faster turnaround time while maintaining superior colour reproduction, the new intuitive and intelligent bizhub PRESS C1070 / C1060 offers the perfect solution," said Mr. Jonathan Yeo, General Manager, Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia.

The bizhub PRESS C1070/C1060 series includes advanced paper handling technologies for smooth print runs with the enhanced air-assisted Paper Feeder options (PF-602, LU-202) to eliminate paper jams. Konica Minolta exclusive IC-602 helps to streamline workflow management, and provide powerful print queue control and intuitive on-screen job editing capabilities to simplify work and speed output. The easy integration into existing offset workflows and the comprehensive range of in-line finishing options enable customers to meet complex demand and fast turnaround.

Engineered with the most advanced office solutions technology and built with utmost care and intelligence, the new Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS range effectively raises the bar for digital printing, presenting a powerful option to digital print providers, who want to save cost and time without compromising on the quality of their prints. Backed by a dedicated team who are ready to render the best service to help customers optimize their office environments, the new Konica Minolta bizhub PRESS range undoubtedly is the choice for the digital print providers who want it all.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia

Konica Minolta Business Solutions, a leading company in advanced document management technologies and Managed IT Services for the desktop to the print shop, brings together unparalleled advances in security, print quality and network integration via its award-winning line of bizhub® multi-function products (MFPs); bizhub PRESS® and bizhub PRO® production print systems; magicolor® color printers; and pagepro® monochrome printers. Konica Minolta also offers software solutions and optimised print services to reduce document output cost, improve productivity and optimise office environment, backed by impeccable service and support team.

Konica Minolta adopts a proactive effort in reducing global environmental impact through its green product lifecycle.
In line with its core message “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta endeavours to respond to its customers’ needs across the world with relentless creativity, innovation and advance technology.

Konica Minolta is a registered trademark of Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc. bizhub is a registered trademark of Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

Konica Minolta, the logo, and other trademarks are trademarks of Konica Minolta and may not be used without permission.

CONTACTS:
Konica Minolta Business Solutions Asia Pte. Ltd.
Celine Long
celine.long@konicaminolta.sg

PR Communications Pte Ltd
How Hwee Yin
Hweeyin@prcomm.com.sg
6227 2135

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Last month, China passed sweeping revisions to its Environmental Protection Law that aim to take a tough stance against industrial polluters, imposing much stiffer fines and even allowing violators to be detained. It also permits civil society organizations to initiate public interest lawsuits on behalf of citizens. The new law, revised for the first time since it was issued in 1989 and set to take effect at the start of 2015, went through a decade-plus process of research, drafting, public consultation, and revision. It encapsulates China’s existing regulations on information disclosure and public participation, promoting increased transparency by requiring companies to disclose pollution data and holding government agencies responsible for disseminating information publicly.

These measures build on earlier requirements set by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), which issued trial measures in 2008 authorizing public access to environmental information, and requiring local environmental agencies along with businesses to disclose information about environmental protection plans, environmental conditions, and environmental investigation results. Moreover, in 2013, the MEP issued additional requirements asking local environmental protection offices to take primary responsibility for actively disclosing environmental information through online platforms such as government websites or other government channels.

The Chinese government has initiated these actions as part of a wide range of protective regulations aimed at tackling the county’s severe environmental degradation brought on by its rapid economic growth over the last 30 years. The severity of the country’s air, water, and soil pollution prompted Prime Minister Li Keqiang to say in March that it was time for China to “declare war” against pollution. The new environmental law and these other environmental measures are major signs that the country is serious about addressing its pollution issues.

While these national-level regulations are encouraging, successful implementation and enforcement at the provincial and municipal levels have been more limited. Local environmental protection bureaus (EPBs) have themselves exhibited varying degrees of capacity and commitment. For example, in 2012, 55 out of 113 cities monitored by the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) in China failed to disclose pollutant emission data to the public as required by the 2008 measures. Still, EPBs are facing growing pressure to implement the regulations and to protect the environment generally, in part because of broader governance reforms on how officials are evaluated, promoted, or sanctioned in China. Environmental issues – not just economic development – are increasingly reflected in the performance evaluation for local officials as mandated under the “green requirements” adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC (Communist Party of China) Central Committee in November 2013. Their overall evaluation also includes how well they meet new carbon emission targets that came into effect in March 2011.

Despite increasing attention about information disclosure and growing regulations requiring it, information transparency remains at a fledgling stage in most Chinese cities. Local EPBs have expressed concern about the social impact of disclosing sensitive environmental information, while companies frequently say they withhold environmental information as a way to protect business interests and reputation. In addition, most local cities face the challenge of limited personnel, technical, and financial support as obstacles. Their situation is not the exception, according to recent research on local implementation of China’s environmental information disclosure policy. In general, there has been very limited guidance to local environmental officials on environmental information disclosure procedures, resulting in difficulties such as inadequate leadership attention to the issue, limited information sharing internally, lack of experience in dealing with public participation and supervision, and little incentive for local EPBs to promote information transparency. There are also some key differences by region and industry regarding information disclosure. More developed regions have done better in this regard.

One example is Taizhou in coastal Jiangsu Province, which is located in one of China’s most developed areas. The city government has become increasingly open to the concept of environmental information disclosure, and in 2010 participated in a World Bank “green watch” program, which aimed to improve companies’ environmental performance and reduce discharge of pollutants by publicly rating them. After witnessing the positive effect of public rankings on corporate environmental behavior, the city was motivated to increase its environmental transparency programs. The city’s website features information regarding environmental protection policies and regulations though there is limited disclosure about emissions data. For example, Taizhou does not publicize data on enterprises’ waste gas/water emissions. However, Taizhou officials say they are now ready and willing to take the next step of adopting systematic mechanisms such as a comprehensive online platform to disclose and publicize environmental information (including ratings) to further improve environmental performance.

Meanwhile, Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou province in southwestern China, is in a less developed region but has witnessed more and more factories moving into the area because of China’s “Go West” national strategy designed to develop the western part of the country. The local government is actively working on improving its environmental information disclosure system in order to protect the environment. In July 2013, city officials detailed what information should be publicized along with disclosure procedures. Environment-related information such as policies, regulations, and the Air Quality Index is regularly updated on the local government’s website. The city government is also working on developing an online platform for nationally monitored enterprises to publicize pollutant information. However, despite these promising actions, environmental information disclosure by businesses in Guiyang is still insufficient. Information about companies’ internal environmental protection policies or pollutant discharge data is usually unavailable.

The Asia Foundation is currently working with some Chinese cities on a pilot project aimed at improving the awareness and understanding of local environmental bureaus and businesses about legal regulations on disclosure of key environmental data. The project also works to foster more constructive collaboration between the government, civil society organizations, and businesses to engage the public in environmental protection.

Although the national focus on environmental protection is promising, more could be done at the local level, such as learning from best-practice EPBs, encouraging NGO engagement, and enhancing cooperation among environmental protection bureaus. China’s moves to strengthen its environmental protection laws and regulations are ambitious and necessary, but effective implementation and enforcement at the local level will be key to making substantive changes.

Huang Zhen is The Asia Foundation’s environment program officer in Beijing. She can be reached at huangzhen@asiafound.org. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and not those of The Asia Foundation.

SOURCE http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2014/05/28/chinas-environmental-protec...

A team of students from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) trekked to Antarctica on an art and science research expedition to find new ways to understand climate change. They transformed data that was collected during the expedition into new media artworks.

Opening on 23 May, an exhibition titled “Freeze Frame” showcased the students’ projects.

The 13 installations, which span the academic spectrum, use emerging technologies such as immersive 3D, robotics and game applications to show the endangered continent from a new perspective. Even the emails sent by the students are included in the exhibition, interpreted by LED displays climbing each balcony in the Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, the iconic architectural landmark building at CityU.

The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr Herman Hu Shao-ming, CityU’s Council Chairman, Professor Way Kuo, University President, and Professor Roderick Wong Sue-cheun, Vice-President (Development and External Relations).

“The show acts as a marker for CityU’s focus on education that extends beyond the classroom and creates exciting contexts for moments of discovery,” explained Mr Herman Hu.

“In English, ‘Freeze Frame’ means to stop a movie at an exact moment to study it in detail. Here too, the students have paused the global changes occurring in Antarctica to observe and learn from the details,” he said.

The Extreme Environments programme began in 2012 with an expedition to the Mojave Desert in California. The acclaimed exhibition that showcased the outcomes of the programme provided many subsequent opportunities for the participating students and validation from the academic community.

Organised by the School of Creative Media, the groundbreaking Extreme Environments programme encourages interdisciplinary student teams of engineers and scientists to partner up with artists and designers. The Antarctica expedition was open to students from any field of study and the projects on display were selected by a team of scientists, artists and engineers.

Professor Kuo said at the opening ceremony that new ideas came from mixing fields of study. “Some of the most interesting questions in research today defy traditional discipline classifications, and demand expertise from across the spectrum of academic fields,” he said.

The team travelled to Argentina backpacker-style, and canoed and hiked through the ecosystem in Tierra del Fuego. They spent 12 days on Akademik Ioffe, a Russian science vessel that has been important in polar research for 25 years, examining multiple sites in Antarctica. The students, working with veteran scientists, conducted a series of zero-impact research studies, collecting over 30,000 pages of datasets and 70,000 photographs.

Professor Arthur Ellis, CityU’s Provost said the programme was a good fit with the University’s Discovery-enriched Curriculum (DEC).

“The DEC enables students to master existing knowledge and learn what it means to create new knowledge by being partners in the process of discovering, innovating and creating,” he said. “We believe that this approach gives our students a better understanding of what it means to explore the unknown.”

The students’ hybrid art and science projects are a surprising mix of important environmental information and a playful use of new technologies. Free from the grip of dry numbers, the students artistically explored the data they had collected.

For example, global warming’s effect on baby penguins is explained through a mobile application that borrows its style from retro Hong Kong newspapers. Microorganisms in the Antarctic waters are displayed on an overhead dome and their DNA interpreted into music. Air pollution is revealed through a towering fabric and light installation.

Because the projects encourage creative expression of the science, the data became personalised and more Hong Kong influenced. In a 3D, 360-degree movie, Antarctica’s total lack of artificial light is contrasted with the world’s location with the most, i.e. Tsim Sha Tsui. A dramatic kite-surfing performance in Antarctica was directed by a film student using seven cameras and two sensors to inspire an animation about Hong Kong’s wind-blocking “canyon effect”.

Where possible, the students sourced recycled or sustainable materials for their projects, and every piece will be recycled at the closing of the exhibition.

The programme has proven to be an effective outreach tool for environmental awareness. The students have 10,000+ social network followers and the media coverage has been extensive. The team even arranged and sang a song about the experience and produced an MTV video. SCM is organising tours for secondary students and concerned organisations, too.

The expedition has received funding from sponsors and donors, and the participating students also bore part of the expenses. The students organised an online crowdsourcing campaign and even landed major donors in Kaspersky Software and Lush Cosmetics. The Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation and Jay Chou-backed Ucann.com also financially supported the programme. Eco-tourism leaders One Ocean provided the extra resources needed to assist with the student research onsite and acted as the liaison between the students and the scientists.

SOURCE City University of Hong Kong

In recent years, salary and fringe benefits have no longer been considered as the most enticing advantages for job seekers. Hong Kong employees tend to be more and more conscious in pursuing work-life balance and a positive sense of well-being. In an attempt to encourage HR executives to retain capable employees in an optimal and efficient way, jobsDB arranged a seminar focusing on optimizing talent retention on 21 May 2014.

The event attracted over 50 employers and HR executives from a variety of organizations. At the beginning of the seminar, Jonathan Pok, Key Account Manager of jobsDB Hong Kong, shared some significant findings from the jobsDB Q1 2014 Hiring Index.

Our speaker, Charlie Lang from Progress-U Ltd., also shared with us his recent findings related to staff turnover trends. Being an expert in corporate culture development and well-known for his innovative approaches to talent development and retention, he recommended participants some proven ways to optimize retention of key talents in the organization.

Main Learning Objectives:How to be aware of the most essential factors for talents leaving the company?

Big companies in Greater China are entering a new stage of competition and cooperation, transitioning from a regional to a global vision. This transformation is clearly reflected by economic trends.

Victor Tsan, the director-general of the Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute (MIC) under Taiwan's Institute for Information Industry, says that in 2013 alone, 110 Chinese companies listed on overseas markets, mostly in Hong Kong. But for some heavyweight Chinese corporations, including 7 percent of the 110 companies that went public overseas last year, United States markets were their top choice. The titans listing in the U.S. since 2000 include not only well-known Internet portals Baidu, Inc. and Sohu.com Inc. but also China's biggest travel website Ctrip.com International, Ltd., education group New Oriental Education & Tech. Group Inc., and solar cell leader Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd.

Taiwanese may not be familiar with Ctrip, New Oriental Education or Yingli, but they represent rising sectors – e-commerce, new energy and domestic consumption –that could be at the forefront of industry trends over the next 10-20 years.

In contrast to state-run giants such as PetroChina Co. Ltd. and the country's four major banks, which have flourished for many years under policies benefitting state-owned enterprises at the expense of the private sector, these privately owned enterprises have grown bigger by moving forward into new markets.

The solar energy sector, for example, has suffered its share of volatility over the past five years, forcing several European players out of the market. But Chinese companies bucked the difficult environment and listed on U.S. markets despite sustaining major losses and not performing nearly as well as their Taiwanese rivals. Taking advantage of their public listing to raise capital and strengthen their name recognition and visibility, they have quickly expanded their scale of operations to the point that China now accounts for 70 percent of the global solar panel market.

"Many people only focus on the subsidies and support provided by the Chinese government, but they overlook the fact that Chinese companies are becoming increasingly familiar with the rules of the game of Western capitalism," says Wang Meng-chieh, an analyst with the Industrial Technology Research Institute's Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center.

This trend explains why CommonWealth Magazine has expanded its Greater China Top 1000 Survey this year to U.S. equity markets, which have become a key piece of the puzzle in understanding the competitiveness of regional companies. (See Tables of Top 50 Companies in Greater China)

E-commerce: The Backbone of China's Private Sector

The strength of China's private sector is most evident in e-commerce. Aside from Tencent Holdings Ltd., which is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange, the other members of China's "big eight" Internet giants have gravitated to American capital markets.

These dedicated Internet enterprises all appear in this year's Greater China Top 1000, from Vipshop Holdings Ltd. and Dangdang Inc. in the B2C sector to major Internet portals Baidu, Sohu and Netease Inc., e-travel site Ctrip, and Tencent, which does pretty much everything.(See Table)

In early May, the best known of China's e-commerce stars –Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. – confirmed its interest in listing in the U.S. by filing for what may end up as the largest initial public offering ever in the U.S. and possibly the world.

But the question remains why if these companies do most of their business in China are they so determined to list in markets so distant from their home bases?

"The Internet is inherently about globalization. Going overseas to list shows that thought is being given to where potential customers will be in the future," says Brian Shiu, a director of Hong Kong-based GCA Professional Services Group Ltd.

Compared with the 16.4 percent sales growth averaged by this year's Greater China Top 1000, only Netease posted below average growth among the big eight Internet firms.

Vipshop, on the other hand, which specializes in selling discounted brand name goods in 2nd- and 3rd-tier cities, saw its sales more than double, continuing a meteoric rise that helped it go public in the U.S. in 2012 just a few years after opening for business in 2008.

Coping with the Size Barrier

The number of Taiwanese companies making their way into the Top 1000 continued to decline this year. After falling below 200 (185) for the first time last year, the Taiwanese contingent plummeted to 158 enterprises this year. The slide would have continued even if the U.S.-listed Chinese companies included in the survey for the first time were excluded from the ranking.

"It's not a surprise," says Peter Fan, a certified public accountant with Deloitte Taiwan, because as long as Chinese-invested companies with higher revenues than Taiwanese enterprises continue to go public, they will gobble up Taiwan's footholds in the Top 1000 list.

A total of 17 Chinese-invested companies in the new Top 1000 went public over the past year, and 14 made their debut inside the top 700. Meanwhile, 27 Taiwanese companies ranked below the top 700 last year were knocked out of the elite ranking this year.

"Taiwanese companies that simply depend on organic growth will have a hard time sticking with Chinese-invested companies," says James Wang, chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young Taiwan. Because of huge disparity in the size of the economies across the Taiwan Strait, Wang says Taiwanese enterprises must devise more diverse growth strategies to combat the inevitable widening of the gap over time and the unfavorable impact it will have.

Long Yongxiong, a consumption and transportation industry expert at Deloitte China, makes a point of the size of China's travel market when discussing the prospects for online travel agent Ctrip (ranked 1,000th in this year's survey). An estimated 3.3 billion trips will be taken domestically in China next year, he says, highlighting the advantage Chinese companies get from their massive home market.

Fan of Deloitte Taiwan and Wang of Ernst & Young both agree that faced with this mountain of a challenge, Taiwanese companies must get on the merger-and-acquisition bandwagon if they hope to break through their competitiveness bottleneck.

To most Taiwanese companies, acquiring other enterprises represents an overly aggressive option. But the Top 1000 list contains several Taiwanese companies that used mergers to generate growth, from the high-tech Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. (5th overall), TSMC (54th), WPG Holdings Ltd. (87th) and MediaTek Inc. (268th) to the old economy Taiwan Cement Corp. (307th) and Asia Cement Corp. (455th) and financial services stalwarts Fubon Financial Holding Co. (99th) and CTBC Financial Holding Co. (282nd).

Of greater concern to Fan is that while Chinese companies continue to go public to raise capital and build up treasure chests to help conquer new territories, many Taiwanese listed companies have engaged in capital reductions, returning funds to shareholders. This may prove to be the hidden danger of the unambitious desire for "small but reliable happiness" among many in Taiwan, Fan worries.

Opportunities, Problems with Scale

Of course, scale of operations does not represent competitiveness. Complementing outstanding management with the necessary operating scale is another challenge altogether and the reason why Financial Supervisory Commission Chairman Tseng Ming-chung is encouraging Taiwan's financial sector to strive for a dominant presence in the Asian region as a whole.

In the most recent Greater China Top 1000 list, 18 Taiwanese financial services firms made the grade, including Fubon Financial Holdings, CTBC Financial Holdings, Yuanta Financial Holding Co., E.Sun Financial Holding Co., Taishin Financial Holding Co., Taiwan Cooperative Financial Holding Co., SinoPac Financial Holdings Co., and Mega Financial Holding Co.

Their presence among the elite indicates that Taiwanese banks, whether privately or publicly controlled, have relatively strong management structures, and all that these domestically oriented institutions lack to improve their position is the ability to move into regional markets.

"To reach out overseas, consolidating the domestic industry is very important," Fan says, giving the nod to Tseng's initiative.

If, however, an industry has already successfully developed international management capabilities and scale advantages, then what challenges does it face? That's the story of Taiwan's "Big Five" contract electronics makers – Hon Hai, Pegatron Corp, Quanta Computer Inc., Compal Electronics Inc. and Wistron Corp – who so dominate the sector that any global electronics contracting opportunities almost inevitably flow their way.

Yet aside from Pegatron, which saw sales growth of 7.8 percent in 2013, Hon Hai and Compal posted relatively flat revenues while Quanta's sales fell 14 percent and Wistron's sales slid 5 percent. The companies' profitability was not much better, with Pegatron, Wistron and Compal all running profit margins of less than 2 percent.

The slim margins have sounded the alarm that these contractors have maximized the benefits they can squeeze from their economies of scale and may need to transform their business models.

Just as a chair needs at least three legs to be stable, companies need a third pillar beyond scale and management: innovation. That's why Hon Hai leader Terry Gou declared in March: "Show Hon Hai you have an offer from Google, and we'll triple the salary."

Three Pillars of Success

According to CommonWealth Magazine data, R&D spending as a percentage of revenues is relatively low at the big five contractors, ranging from Hon Hai's 1.18 percent to Wistron's 2.08 percent.

Such anemic R&D spending is common among Taiwanese companies. Of the local enterprises that cracked the top 300 in the latest rankings, only five spent more than 5 percent of their revenues on R&D: MediaTek (ranked 268th, R&D spending 18.7 percent), United Microelectronics Corp. (291st, 10.1 percent), TSMC (54th, 8.1 percent), Delta Electronics Inc. (201st, 6.8 percent) and HTC Corp. (182nd, 6.2 percent).

A closer analysis reveals that aside from HTC, the other four companies in that group all had double-digit profit margins. Though Delta Electronics had sales growth of only 3 percent and, much like the big five contractors, operates in a mature industry that has become saturated, it still relied on its relatively high R&D spending to generate a 10 percent margin.

Taiwanese R&D leader MediaTek makes a particularly strong case for innovation. The nearly NT$120 billion the IC design company has spent on R&D over the past five years exceeded its 2012 consolidated revenues of NT$99.3 billion, enabling MediaTek to rebound strongly after sales slumped dramatically in 2011.

Consumer Services: Taiwan's Cash Cow

Looking to the future, some are wondering if Taiwan's flourishing consumer services sector could become the country's next catalyst of economic competitiveness as it extends its reach abroad.

Studying some of the new faces on this year's Top 1000 list, such as Ctrip and New Oriental Education (923rd), Deloitte China's Long believes, "This indicates that travel, health care, education, and elderly care all offer new opportunities as China promotes urbanization amid its general economic slowdown."

Leong Wai Ho, a senior economist for Asia with Barclays PLC, agrees. "After the 12th five-year economic plan, China's key consumption trends will no longer be seen through increases of total consumption but through greater per capita spending power and an upgrade in what they consume," Leong says.

GCA Professional Services' Shiu stresses: "There will always be opportunities in China's services sector. Chinese consumers are becoming more demanding when it comes to food safety and are more trusting of overseas food products."

Chinese consumers' mad rush to buy medicines and food items in Hong Kong leave no doubt about their growing desire for products they can trust, lending credence to the notion that opportunities exist for Taiwanese service companies.

Translated from the Chinese by Luke Sabatier

Singapore, 1 June 2014 –( ASIA TODAY )– NEC Asia Pacific, a leading infocomm technology provider, today announced the completion of Singapore’s first Safe City Test Bed initiative spearheaded by the Safety and Security Industry Programme Office (SSIPO), a strategic alliance between the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The year-long Safe City Test Bed initiative with Orchard Road as the test bed location, has successfully tested innovative solutions and developed patent-pending technologies which include highly accurate facial recognition video analytics, NEC’s Media Analytics Platform, cross-site monitoring capabilities, authentication and digital signatures for video streams, as well as NEC’s Pervasive Display Network, amongst others.

The Safe City Test Bed technologies tested and developed include:

Media Analytics Platform
The Media Analytics Platform enables multiple analytics engines to be plugged in, providing multiple sources of analytics and sensor data to identify, comprehend and anticipate an incident. Analytics engines can monitor visuals, sound, smell as well as temperature to identify abnormalities, so as to trigger alerts to ensure public safety. Applications for this technology include using it for flood monitoring, rubbish monitoring or ensuring safety at a public event.

Cross-Site Monitoring and Identification Capabilities
Facial recognition video analytics used in combination with location-aware analytics can enable cross-site monitoring capabilities. The first such innovation of its kind, the technology can be used to monitor, identify and track targeted persons across different cameras at different times through the correlation of data. With the ability to correlate data and incidents, fewer cameras are needed to track a person within a city.

e-Evidence Technology
The e-Evidence technology creates a digital hash to authenticate video streams and signs a digital signature based on a certificate-based algorithm, which can be embedded in cameras. Under Singapore’s Evidence Act, the technology can ensure data non-repudiation, and can be used to add weight to evidence, to prove that content presented in court has not been tampered with.

Pervasive Display Network
The Pervasive Display Network enables agencies to tap into unconnected digital displays from different owners to display a centrally controlled and consistent public emergency message in the event of a crisis. Use cases for this include fire, flood, traffic jams and accident alerts.

“We deeply appreciate this opportunity from EDB and MHA to test bed our technologies in a live environment. Having tested and gained live feedback on the technologies, we have developed new operational capabilities to improve response time in assessing critical situations, as well as to better enable inter-agency collaboration. We are committed to investing and developing innovations to build safer and more livable cities for governments and citizens in Singapore, as well as globally,” said Mr. Tan Boon Chin, Managing Director, Global Safety Division, NEC Corporation.

Central Research Laboratories (Japan), NEC Laboratories Europe and NEC Laboratories Singapore had contributed to creating the test-bed of safe cities technologies.

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________________________________________

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at 　http://www.nec.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2014 NEC Corporation.

About NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Singapore-based NEC Asia Pacific is the regional headquarters for NEC Corporation (HQ: Japan) in the Asia Pacific region (South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania). As a leading infocomm technology provider and systems integrator offering regional sales and services support and consultancy, NEC APAC develops solutions on carrier network, global identity, RFID, enterprise server, unified communications, multimedia display, and contact centre, as well as provide outsourcing and managed services.

To leverage on its technological expertise, NEC APAC has established regional competency centres for public safety and display solutions to expand its capabilities and expertise to support businesses in the Asia Pacific region.

In line with the NEC Group Vision to realize an information society friendly to humans and the earth, NEC embarks on corporate social responsibilities initiatives to support the Nature (environment), Education and Community. For more information, please visit 　www.nec.com.sg.

PRESS CONTACTS:

NEC Asia Pacific
Masako Hirano
+65 6379 2570
+65 9018 6652
M-hirano@nec.com.sg

NEC Asia Pacific
Cherie Ho
+65 6379 2571
+65 9615 7590
cherieho@nec.com.sg

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 1, 2014 -( ASIA TODAY )- Dubai Health Authority announced today, during a press conference at the DHA headquarters that Dubai will host the 1st Regional Health Regulation Conference.

The congress will be organized by INDEX Conferences & Exhibitions and will take place on the 22nd and 23rd October 2014, at the Conrad Hotel

HE Engineer Essa Al Maidoor, Director-General of the DHA, said: “ Health regulation is one of the fundamental pillars to achieve sustained growth and ensure patient safety. As Dubai strives to further develop and expand the health sector, regulation of facilities and healthcare professionals will become even more important in our race for excellence. Quality players and competition leads to organic growth of medical tourism as well, it becomes a natural extension of health delivery; and health regulation sets the platform for achieving this. This conference provides an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss the latest advances in the field and facilitates knowledge exchange.”

Dr Ramadan Ibrahim, Director of Health Regulation at the DHA, said: “This conference shall discuss the latest advances in regulation. In parallel we will hold a medical tourism exhibition showcasing the excellent medical tourism facilities that Dubai’s private and public sector have to offer. Members of the Dubai Medical Tourism Club will take part in this exhibition. The members of the club are those hospitals that have been given platinum, gold or silver membership based on their capability to provide medical tourism services.”

In terms of regulation, Ibrahim added: “This conference will focus on the latest advances in the field of regulation. Dubai offers one of the most advanced regulatory standards. We are keen to share our experience as well as gain knowledge from experts in the region and abroad.”

Ibrahim said the conference will discuss pertinent topics such as regulation as a benchmark to ensure quality and patient safety, regulation as a parameter to promote organic growth of medical tourism and other important topics such as malpractice and quality assurance.

Eng. Anas Al Madani, Vice- Chairman and CEO of INDEX Holding, said: “We, as Index Conferences & Exhibitions, will strive to offer all the needed facilities and services to make the event a success. This will happen through providing the ideal networking platform, the best venue for doing business and end-to-end services to enhance the participants and visitors experience in this prestigious event, which I believe will witness a continuous success.”

Dubai has over 2,579 health facilities in Dubai both in the public and private sectors. These facilities employ more than 27,261 healthcare professionals. Dubai has more than 7000 physicians speaking more than 60 languages and has amongst the best tourism infrastructure in the world.

Ibrahim said all healthcare professionals and facilities in Dubai adhere to advanced health regulation criterions set by the authority to ensure high-quality healthcare and patient-safety.

The conference is supported by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, Department of Commerce and Tourism Marketing, Dubai Sports Council, General Directorate of Residence and Foreigners Affairs, Emirates Airlines as well as several private health facilities such as Mediclinic, Saudi German Hospitals, Tarabichi’s Centre of Joint Surgery, Burjeel Hospital, Aster Medical, Al Garhoud Private Hospital, Iranian Hospital, Julphar, to name a few.

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About the Dubai Health Authority:

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) was created, in June 2007, by Law 13 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with an expanded vision to include strategic oversight for the complete health sector in Dubai and enhance private sector engagement. His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance is the President of the Dubai Health Authority and His Excellency Engineer Essa Al Maidoor is the Director-General of the DHA.

The DHA’s aim in Dubai is to provide an accessible, effective and integrated healthcare system, protect public health and improve the quality of life within the Emirate. This is a direct translation of the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Keeping the strategic plan in mind, the DHA’s mission is to ensure access to health services, maintain and improve the quality of these services, improve the health status of nationals, residents and visitors and oversee a dynamic, efficient and innovative health sector.

In addition to overseeing the health sector for the Emirate of Dubai, the DHA also focuses on providing services through DHA healthcare facilities including hospitals (Latifa, Dubai, Rashid and Hatta), specialty centres (e.g. the Dubai Diabetes Center) and DHA primary health centres spread throughout the Emirate of Dubai.

The main pillars of service delivery at DHA health facilities are quality, efficiency, patients and staff. It is our aim to maintain and improve the quality and efficiency of DHA health services. An important aspect of the service delivery strategy is to focus on patients, their needs and satisfaction as well as attract, retain, nurture and support outstanding staff.

Prior to the establishment of the DHA, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), which was established in 1973, was the functioning authority that almost exclusively focused on health service delivery.

Index Conferences and Exhibitions:
Index Conferences and Exhibitions – Member of Index Holding always plays the big role since 1990 to raise the national economy of the UAE by organising more than 22 international exhibitions & conferences, which cover all sectors from medical to education, commercials, technologies, entertainments and many others.

Contact

Suzan Mounzer
Tel: +971 43624717
E-mail: suzan.mounzer@index.ae

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

In today’s global, interconnected environment, a holistic risk management approach is needed for organisations to optimise the level of risk they are exposed to so as to derive sustainable future growth and profitability.

Singapore, [2 Jun 2014] –( ASIA TODAY )– In a challenging and changing risk environment, the bar on what constitutes effective risk management is constantly being raised. Faced with a myriad of risks including but not limited to fraud, compliance, data security and reputational risks, organisations need to act quickly to avoid leaving themselves exposed to costly and brand-damaging breaches that shake the confidence of consumers, shareholders and employees.

As in the words of Ms Penelope Lepeudry, Kroll’s Managing Director, Financial Investigations for Southeast Asia, “with strong business and growth opportunities in Asia, organizations continue to invest here by way of new set-ups or entering into local partnerships. It is well acknowledged that doing business in Asia carries unique risks with it. Throughout the region, organisations are increasingly seeking an integrated, methodical and rigorous solution to understand the risks they face and devise mechanisms to assess and mitigate them.”

“Outside finance-related industries, ERM in Asia is still in its infancy. We are lucky to have drivers for change coming from the Anglo-Saxon world where it has been part of business practices for a long time now,” adds Mr Lenny-Baptiste Conil, Veolia’s Risk & Business Continuity Manager.

For Singapore specifically, “with the revised Code of Corporate Governance launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2012, the importance of risk management is given even more emphasis in Singapore. Added to the impetus, companies in Singapore are facing a growing plethora of threats (such as the Haze and Cyber attacks) in recent times. These are creating pressures for local companies to adopt effective risk management practices,” says Mr Daniel Tan, MediaCorp’s Assistant Vice-President, ERM Office.

Organisations in Hong Kong too, are facing increasing pressure to keep up with their enterprise risk management. As in the words of Mr Francis Lee, The Link REIT’s Head of Risk Management, “the Stock Exchange is recently having a consultation on the review of the internal control sections of the Corporate Governance Code. In particular, one of the proposals is to incorporate risk management as an essential part of a company’s internal control system processes. Hence, to align the corporate governance codes and rules with those of the international peers, the Hong Kong Stock Exchanging proposes to place greater emphasis on effective risk management, rather than just internal control.”

To equip practitioners with thought-provoking insights and practical strategies to identify, prioritise, mitigate and optimise risks on an enterprise-wide level, Pacific Conferences has organised a 2-Day conference dubbed as Best Practices in Enterprise Risk Management, happening from 21 – 22 July 2014 in Singapore & 24 - 25 July 2014 in Hong Kong. Case-studies and insights on setting risk appetite, fostering risk-intelligent organisational culture, improving ERM through data analytics & more will be shared.

The roster of experts sharing their risk management experience include Steven Howard from Sony Mobile Communications, Lenny-Baptiste Conil from Veolia, Tan Shuh Lin from InterContinental Hotels Group, Sam Chow from PayPal, Cecilia Cheng from MTR Corporation, Francis Lee from The Link REIT, Daniel Tan from MediaCorp, Dorothy Chan from Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mohit Tandon from Eastspring Investments, Dennis Lee from Nomura International, Penelope Lepeudry from Kroll and many others.

As summed up beautifully by Mr Conil, “A lot of response to risks comes from best practices and experience sharing. It is always more efficient to think outside the box as a group.”

Conference Details:

Title: Best Practices in Enterprise Risk Management
Date & Venue:
21 – 22 July 2014, Sheraton Towers, Singapore
24 – 25 July 2014, Regal Hongkong Hotel, Hong Kong
Organiser: Pacific Conferences
Contact Person: Daphne Poon (Ms)
Tel: (65) 6592 7366
Email: daphne@conferences.com.sg

Full programme can also be found at: http://www.conferences.com.sg/conf-erm.htm
Registered and existing subscribers of Asia Today can quote “ATERM” for 10% off when they register.

About Pacific Conferences

Pacific Conferences (www.conferences.com.sg) specialises in organising business conferences aimed at providing interactive, insightful information and analysis about issues facing businesses in Asia-Pacific. Catered to middle and upper level executives, its events are case studies driven with emphasis on providing in-depth and unbiased practical knowledge.

Media Contact

Charmaine Neo
Conference Marketing Executive
Pacific Conferences Pte Ltd
T: +65 6592 7352
F: +65 6338 6702

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Cultivating Online and Offline Win-Win Relationships with the Media

Singapore, [June 2, 2014] –( ASIA TODAY )– Not long ago, traditional media was the only avenue to disseminate your message and journalists the ones whom decide the coverage. Now, the floodgates have been opened and media terrain morphed. Media has become so diffused that it's difficult to achieve the reach of the net with the same credibility as traditional media. Alvin Lim, former Social Media Manager, SEA & Japan, News Corp, pointed out that “Digital and social media are changing the PR, media and advertising landscapes, increasingly blurring the lines between functions.” It is now imperative to engage journalists and influencers through a successful hybrid of new and traditional media in order to amplify core message and enhance positive coverage in today's multimedia environment.

Frazer Neo Macken, Vice President, Communications & Digital, Electrolux Asia Pacific, mentioned that “With new media, key stakeholders' engagement has taken on a new meaning too. How we influence and manage the perceptions of opinion leaders who are important to our business requires more than the traditional ways of engagement.” Companies are well aware that they should engage influencers, but often do not know what positive impact they will bring. Grace Tan, Award-Winning Business & Lifestyle Blogger, substantiated this by commenting that “one little known fact about blogger engagement is that when journalists from the mainstream media fail to turn up at an important business event, such as a launch, because of an even more important world news event, bloggers can help ensure the word about your business still goes out.”

To equip media relations professionals with a strategic approach to media engagement and outreach, Pacific Conferences is organising a 2-day “New Media Relations” conference, to be held on 14 – 15 July 2014 at the Sheraton Towers Singapore and on 17 – 18 July 2014 at the Regal Hongkong Hotel, during which case studies and insights on media integration, social media newsroom, crisis and issues management, content creation, thought leadership and more will be shared.

Hear from expert speakers including Stephanie Huf from Ericsson, Frazer Neo Macken from Electrolux, Azwar Kamarudin from Pfizer, Greg Brutus from AT&T, Bruce Blakeman from Cargill, Christian Madera from BASF, Nicholas Smith from WWF, Jake Lee from Wall Street Journal, George Joseph from Singapore Press Holdings and George Chen from South China Morning Post among many others.

Participants will get to learn from case studies of World Health Organization, Deacons, Airline, Automotive/tyre, Consumer, Garment manufacturing, Healthcare and Technology among others, on how they can be equipped with effective approaches to media relations in the new age.

Conference Details:

Title: New Media Relations Conference
Date & Venue:
14 – 15 July 2014, Sheraton Towers, Singapore
17 – 18 July 2014, Regal Hongkong Hotel, Hong Kong
Organiser: Pacific Conferences
Contact Person: Elicia Foo (Ms)
Tel: (65) 6592 7355
Email: elicia@conferences.com.sg

Full programme can also be found at: http://conferences.com.sg/S1445-SMR13-B.pdf
Registered and existing subscribers of Asia Today can quote “ATSMR13” for 10% off when they register.

About Pacific Conferences

Pacific Conferences (www.conferences.com.sg) specialises in organising business conferences aimed at providing interactive, insightful information and analysis about issues facing businesses in Asia-Pacific. Catered to middle and upper level executives, its events are usually case studies driven with emphasis on providing in-depth and unbiased practical knowledge.

Media Contact

Charmaine Neo
Conference Marketing Executive
Pacific Conferences Pte Ltd
T: +65 6592 7352
F: +65 6338 6702

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Tokyo, June 2, 2014 -( ASIA TODAY )- NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) today announced the global launch of MAG1C™ (Multi AGencies, 1 Concert) solutions for analyzing information from sources that include SNS, video and voice, as well as data from temperature, humidity and scent sensors in order to detect the signs of unusual activity.

The solutions are designed to strengthen the sharing of information between local government ministries, offices and related organizations as part of promoting NEC’s Safer Cities strategy for its public safety business. These solutions utilize a wide variety of sensors in order to provide services that include the identification of altered videos or the detection of smoke. The solutions are compatible with a broad range of data analysis engines, enabling them to provide advanced analysis of big data, such as automatic data analysis, relevant analysis between incidents, and risk-prediction functions.

“NEC has provided numerous safety solutions by integrating advanced technologies such as the world’s top* biometrics-matching technology, highly functional, high-performance sensor technology, technologies to predict and analyze unusual signs using big data, as well as next-generation network technology that includes SDN/OpenFlow,” said Tan Boon Chin, Managing Director, Regional Competency Centre, Public Safety, NEC Corporation. “In addition to these solutions, NEC strives to develop common solution models while strengthening local system integration capabilities and customer bases in order to accelerate global business.”

MAG1C solutions are available from June 2, 2014 and consist of the following seven functions, Access control, Terminal verification (data), Terminal verification (software), Shared digital signage, Large media analysis, Integrated data analysis, GUI (refer to annex).

For further information on NEC’s MAG1C™ solutions, please contact:
safety@gsd.jp.nec.com

Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group is working towards the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. NEC aims to develop solutions for a wide range of issues as a company that creates value through the promotion of its “Solutions for Society” which provide advanced social infrastructure utilizing ICT.

***

Note:
*NEC ranked first in an accuracy evaluation conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for a range of areas including fingerprint authentication and authentication through facial recognition.

ANNEX

NEC MAG1C™ (Multi AGencies, 1 Concert) Solutions Overview
Functions Features
Access control Control of overall integrated systems, user authentication, access control
Terminal verification (data) Verification of reliability of video data (digital signatures), detection of altered videos
Terminal verification (software) Verification of the reliability of devices (e.g., surveillance cameras), replacement detection
Shared digital signage Multipurpose digital signage (e.g., notifications in the event of an emergency, display of evacuation routes)
Sharing of display resources among multiple organizations, multiple display control using a single controller
Large media analysis A platform for connecting video and voice analysis engines made by NEC and other companies
Responding to tens of thousands of surveillance cameras, adjustment of server loads
Integrated data analysis Integrated analysis of multiple data sources (videos, voice, scents), analysis between events, prediction of events that may occur in the future, and risks
GUI Information display using geographical space information, video, 3D data, highly operable map applications

About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company’s experience and global resources, NEC’s advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at 　http://www.nec.com.

NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2014 NEC Corporation.

About NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd

Singapore-based NEC Asia Pacific is the regional headquarters for NEC Corporation (HQ: Japan) in the Asia Pacific region (South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania). As a leading infocomm technology provider and systems integrator offering regional sales and services support and consultancy, NEC APAC develops solutions on carrier network, global identity, RFID, enterprise server, unified communications, multimedia display, and contact centre, as well as provide outsourcing and managed services.

To leverage on its technological expertise, NEC APAC has established regional competency centres for public safety and display solutions to expand its capabilities and expertise to support businesses in the Asia Pacific region. In line with the NEC Group Vision to realize an information society friendly to humans and the earth, NEC embarks on corporate social responsibilities initiatives to support the Nature (environment), Education and Community.

Press Contacts

NEC Corporation
Seiichiro Toda
s-toda@cj.jp.nec.com
+81-3-3798-6511

Joseph Jasper
j-jasper@ax.jp.nec.com
+81-3-3798-6511

NEC Asia Pacific
Masako Hirano
m-hirano@nec.com.sg
+65-6379-2570
+65-9018-6652 Cherie Ho

Cherie_ho@nec.com.sg
+65-6379-2571
+65-9615-7590

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com