Offshore energy, whether oil, gas or wind, faces a tightening regime of restrictions. In Germany, for example, the German Federal Bureau of Maritime Traffic and Hydrography (BSH) recently updated its standards for offshore wind energy units, offshore converter and inverter stations, and subsea high-power transfer cables. But regardless of the unclear political environment, the offshore industry continues to expand, a fact reflected in the order books of shipyards.

Some recent achievements include: The Norwegian Fjellstrand shipyard in Oma completed the construction of "Siem Moxie", a so-called "Infield Support Vessel". Maersk ordered a new cable-laying vessel from the Dutch Damen shipbuilding group. The ship will be a "Damen Offshore Carrier DOC 8500" type. Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) likewise received an order from the offshore segment: Two identical ships designed specifically for oil production installations will be built for the Norwegian company Siem Offshore. A ship expected to revolutionise the offshore market is the "High Glow Installation Vessel" (HF 4). This specialised construction vessel developed jointly by the British engineering firm Mojo Maritime and the Hamburg-based ship-owner Hammonia Reederei is designed for Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations in currents as strong as ten knots.

The offshore market is obviously in good health. But what does the industry need, and which shipyards are able to benefit? What does this mean for suppliers of marine equipment? Answering these and other questions will be the purpose of the Offshore Dialogue on 11 September, the designated "Offshore Day" of SMM 2014, the leading international maritime trade fair. More than 500 experts will discuss the synergies, development potential and challenges of the offshore segment. As in previous years, this year's SMM Offshore Dialogue will be supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economy and Energy.

SMM is the foremost event of the maritime industry. This year it will take place from 9 to 12 September. For the first time, each day of the fair will be highlighting one specific topic. "This concept allows us to focus on the truly important issues of our industry, and cover them in-depth. In our conferences and workshops highly distinguished experts from around the world will introduce the audience to the most recent trends in each of the featured fields of expertise," says Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH. Apart from Offshore, the five featured topics at SMM will include Finance, Maritime Environmental Protection, Recruiting as well as Security and Defence.

The search for talent
Another urgent topic challenging the industry is the severe shortage of skilled staff for the shipbuilding and supply industries. According to a recent survey conducted by the German Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Association (VCSM), the German maritime industry needs around 140 new shipbuilding engineers per year. However, Germany's six maritime engineering schools produce no more than 90 graduates annually. Qualified engineers can count on successful careers at shipyards or in the shipbuilding supply chain, which includes classification societies, ship model testing facilities and ship-owning companies. Applicants not only need a solid technical and scientific background. Increasingly employers are looking for skills such as foreign languages, project management and logistics expertise, along with so-called soft skills, from communication and presentation skills through to mobility and an intercultural mindset. Therefore education and professional training programmes offered by universities and naval academies are high on the agenda.

SMM's Recruiting Day on 12 September will join trainers, employers and applicants, providing a job service platform to help human resources executives from the industry attract job seekers and provide information about industry-specific education and training programmes offered by employers. Companies and institutes will present themselves on the "Maritime Career Market". As a special service, secondary school and university-level students will be admitted to the fair free of charge on 12 September.

SMM, the leading international maritime trade fair hamburg, will take place at the Hamburg fair site from 9 to 12 September 2014. For further information please visit: 　www.smm-hamburg.com.

Press contact:
Esther Scholz, telephone: +49 (0)40 3569-2453,
E-mail: esther.scholz@hamburg-messe.de

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Brings World-Class Water & Wastewater Management Solutions To The Asian Market

Bangkok, Thailand, June 11, 2014 – Veolia Water Technologies exhibits today at the 22nd edition of ProPak Asia 2014. From 11 – 14 June at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Veolia will be showcasing cutting-edge water technologies that meet the needs of Food & Beverage (F&B) industry players across the region.

Water & Wastewater Solutions for the F&B industry
At ProPak Asia 2014, Veolia will showcase three water and wastewater management solutions for F&B manufacturers. They are:

• Biobed® Advanced Technology, a patented anaerobic wastewater reactor that integrates two existing reactor systems – the Biothane Upflow Anaerobic Sludge (UASB) and Biobed® Expended Granular Sludge Bed (EGSB). Combining the capabilities of both the Biothane UASB and Biobed® EGSB, the Biobed® Advanced Technology is the choice anaerobic reactor for performing wastewater treatment processes at an affordable price.

• AnoxKaldnes™ Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR), is a biological solution that implements Veolia’s biofilm principle. The biofilm grows within specially engineered plastic carriers, and these carriers are then suspended and mixed in a reactor throughout the water phase. With a relatively small footprint, the AnoxKaldnes MBBR is able to achieve between 60 - 70% of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) removal and handle extremely high loading conditions without clogging problems.

• Actiflo®, a high-speed clarifier that utilises microsand (Actisand™) and polymer in a Turbomix® draft tube. This system is suitable for a wide range of applications, and can be used to treat both process water and wastewater.

Kai Uwe-Richter, Regional Market Manager, Food & Beverage, shares, “Veolia has developed dedicated water solutions for F&B manufacturers. Out of our many solutions, Veolia’s Actiflo® technology has been popular across industries, and is widely used to prevent corrosion and scaling in boilers and cooling systems. With over 25 years of experience in South East Asia, Veolia has the expertise to provide complete water and wastewater treatments for the F&B industry. This is Veolia’s sixth participation at ProPak, and we look forward to sharing our water solutions with trade visitors.”

...

Veolia is the global leader in optimized resource management. With over 200,000 employees* worldwide, the company designs and provides water, waste and energy management solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of communities and industries. Through its three complementary business activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, preserve available resources, and to replenish them.
Veolia Water Technologies specializes in technological solutions and design and build projects for water and wastewater treatment, serving industrial and municipal clients.
In 2013, Veolia supplied 94 million people with drinking water and 62 million people with wastewater service, produced 86 million megawatt hours of energy and converted 38 million metric tons of waste into new materials and energy. Veolia (Paris Euronext: VIE and NYSE: VE) recorded revenue of €22.3 billion* in 2013.
(*) Excluding Transdev employees and revenue currently under divestment

May 2014 saw improved solar powered aviation and Europe-USA leadership in electric aircraft with Sunseeker Duo - the first solar powered airplane that can carry two people. Irena and Eric Raymond, the husband and wife team responsible for the new airplane, took off together from the Solar Flight test facility near Milan, Italy. The company run by Americans and Europeans has many companies supporting its technologies.

"Flying the Duo, skimming white fluffy clouds from above and playing on the sky, I feel like a bird. No limitations, a pure freedom." Said Irena from Slovenia, adding, "It's so quiet! Compared to a normal airplane, it's like night and day. You need very good headset in other powered airplanes, but in the Duo you can speak normally even when the motor is running full power, no headset needed. It is unbelievable."

The Sunseeker Duo is claimed to be the most advanced solar powered airplane in the world and the first that is suitable for production. It has a wingspan of 22 meters, an empty weight of 280 kg, and 1510 solar cells with 23% efficiency. The motor has a maximum output of 25kW. The airplane takes off like a normal airplane using energy, harvested from the solar cells which line its wings and tail surfaces, stored in a battery pack in the fuselage. It is then able to cruise directly on solar power. With two people on board, the Duo is capable of flights in excess of 12 hours.

The world leader in pure electric motorised sailplanes is Pipistrel in Slovenia. It is developing an Extremely Short Takeoff and Landing (ESTOL) pure electric aircraft.

As the IDTechEx report, "Electric Aircraft 2014-2024: Trends, Projects, Forecasts"　www.idtechex.com/manned explains, manned electric aircraft serve the need for reduced noise, air and ground pollution and reduced global warming. They will employ new electrical components and systems - printed electronics, smart skin, fuel cells, micro turbine and rotary combustion range extenders. Structural supercapacitors may replace or partly replace batteries, there are new power components and electric motors and multiple energy harvesting - all explained in this unique report.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research and Events services, helping you profit from emerging technologies. We provide independent research, business intelligence and advice to companies across the value chain based on our core research activities and methodologies providing data sought by business leaders, strategists and emerging technology scouts to aid their business decisions.

Media Contact

Cara Harrington
Event & Marketing
Manager +1 617 577 7890
c.harrington@IDTechEx.com

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On August 13 -( ASIA TODAY )- Formex will award the Nova Design Award – Nordic Designer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. The award will go to a young designer working in the Nordic region who has been selected by an expert jury. The nominees this year are:

Line Depping/Denmark
Line Depping has run her own design studio in Copenhagen since 2007. Her work takes into account both function and use. The expression is simple and the emphasis on function also allows for disorder in the order so as to be able include the more messy aspects of life. The shapes are natural and well-proportioned. Line Depping focuses particularly on material. She primarily works with wood, but often includes other materials for contrast. 　http://linedepping.dk/

Motivation: Line Depping has been nominated for the Nova Award 2014 for her self-explanatory and esthetically assured design. Her design is minimalistic and clearly rooted in a classic Scandinavian tradition; and while the same can be said of many other contemporary Nordic designers, very few of them achieve the same mastery as Line. At first glance her pieces may seem simple, but the more you get acquainted with them the more expressive and intriguing they grow. To quote modernist Mies van der Rohe: “Less is more”.

Iina Vourivirta/Finland
Iina Vourivirta has been living in Stockholm for the past six years and is currently working on her Master's degree at the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design. In her work, the presence of the process always takes the lead role. She believes in unique esthetics and the emotional charge that only the human hand and brain can give to an object. She combines these elements with purity and simplicity to bring out the small details and stories. Her inspiration comes from nature - she wants to bring the tranquility and purity that she finds there into her work. 　http://www.iinav.com/

Motivation: Iina Vourivirta has been nominated for the Nova Award 2014 for her emotional and well thought-out style. Her design isn’t just beautiful: ingenious solutions and clever features give her pieces additional dimensions without feeling the least bit forced. Artistic objects brought alive by interesting ideas.

Vera & Kyte/Norway
The Vera & Kyte design studio was founded in 2012 in Bergen by Vera K. Kleppe and Åshild Kyte. They always work together, regardless of the assignment, and believe that the positive force generated by their collaboration is a driving force in and of itself. Their design is strongly influenced by the Nordic landscape, and the Scandinavian design heritage is deeply rooted in their work. It provides them with a starting point for their work, so they can freely investigate and develop their own style and stretch the borders to what is considered to be the esthetics of Nordic design. 　http://vera-kyte.com/

Motivation: Vera & Kyte have been nominated for the Nova Award 2014 for their self-assured and optimistic design culture. They have mastered the art of balancing shape, color and material. Their colorful furniture flirts with the Italian Memphis group, but Vera & Kyte don’t create exclusive exhibition objects – they create attractive furniture intended for modern homes.

Brynjar Siguroarson/Iceland
Brynjar Siguroarson will be moving to Berlin this summer where he will start a freelance studio. In his work he attempts to approach everything with honesty – regardless of whether it is a material, an experience or a company. He often produces something that is natural and/or unexpected in some materials and methods. He believes it is important to maintain a flow between different expressions, and in addition to design he dabbles in music, drawing, film-making and photography. 　http://biano.is/

Motivation: Brynjar Siguroarson has been nominated for the Nova Award 2014 for his exciting interpretation of Icelandic folklore, something that has attracted well-deserved international attention. His exploration of Icelandic handicrafts and Icelandic culture reveals an interesting relationship between handicraft traditions in different parts of the world. His design is unexpected and fascinating.

Hanna Dalrot/Sweden
Hanna Dalrot is based out of Stockholm and has run the Viltra Designstudio for the past four years. Viltra produces textile products and designs. The connection to nature is a common thread in her creations and designs, which can be described as graphical and modern with influences from craftsmanship. The palette often draws from the colors of nature. 　http://www.hannadalrot.se/

Motivation: Hanna Dalrot has been nominated for the Nova Award 2014 for her many-faceted and eloquent creations. Many of us fell in love with her graduation project from Beckmans College of Design – her textile print “Textile Landscapes”. Her portfolio shows how she takes on a variety of different materials in a purposeful and talented way. A new design star is poised to capture the Swedish design arena.

The jury consists of Pascale Cottard-Olsson, producer and gallery owner, Lotta Lewenhaupt, journalist and author, Kerstin Wickman, Professor of the History of Design, Louisa Hammarbäck, Editor-in-Chief, Plaza Interiör, and Christina Olsson, Event Manager for Formex. The guest jury member is designer Petrus Palmér.

Previous winners of the Formex Nova Design Award include Hanna Hedman and Simon Klenell from Sweden in 2011, Mari Isopahkala from Finland in 2012 and Mattias Stenberg from Sweden in 2013.

The Nova Design Award is organized in collaboration with interior design magazine Plaza Interiör and Gallery Pascale. The award is presented in conjunction with Formex's design mingle at MOOD Stockholm on the night of Wednesday, August 13.

To find out more, please visit 　www.formex.se or contact:
Christina Olsson,+46 8 749 44 28, christina.olsson@stockholmsmassan.se,
Lotta Signeul, +46 8 749 43 36, lotta.signeul@stockholmsmassan.se

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Madrid, Spain -( ASIA TODAY )- The world's leading atherosclerosis specialists gathered in Madrid from 31 May to 3 June for the 82nd Congress of the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), where they discussed the latest treatments for and research on the prevention and treatment of this disease. It is the first time that this event has been staged in the Spanish capital.

More than 1000 scientific papers were presented over the four intensive days of this prestigious congress hosted by the European Atherosclerosis Society, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year and whose Honorary Committee is chaired by Her Majesty Queen Sofia. It was to mark this 50th anniversary that the Society arranged a celebration on the evening-night of 2 June in the Palacio de Cibeles (Galería de Cristal), which was made available by Madrid City Council.

For over half a century the EAS has been conducting research into the prevention and cure of atherosclerosis, a disease with an increasing incidence in contemporary society. According to the president of the EAS, Professor Albérico L. Catapano of Milan University: "The EAS has become a leading player in atherosclerosis research and in training in this area of medicine in Europe." Over the last half century the EAS has been in the vanguard of basic research into the mechanisms that underly the disease and of clinical initiatives focused on the discovery of new treatments and optimisation of the treatment of dyslipidemia. In 2014 recent findings in genetics and pharmacology hastened the development of new therapies for atherosclerosis, marking a milestone in research into and clinical practice for this disease.

All these topics were debated in Madrid at this prestigious congress, where some 2,000 researchers and experts from 76 countries gathered to exchange experiences and know-how. This event, which takes place annually in a different European city, helps the European Atherosclerosis Society to fulfil its aim of advancing and exchanging knowledge concerning the causes, natural history, treatment and prevention of the disease.

Key topics in the plenary sessions aimed at disseminating knowledge of how to reduce cardiovascular diseases included a potential vaccine against atherosclerosis; reducing residual risk once a standard treatment has been established; the role of immunity in vascular diseases; dyslipidemia in diabetes and new drugs to increase hypocholesterolemic potency (PCSK9 protein inhibitors).

The Congress also hosted the award of the Anitschkow Prize, the Society's most prestigious award, to Professor John Kastelein of the University of Amsterdam for his outstanding track record in the field of dyslipidemia research. A total of 15 prizes and acknowledgements were also conferred for the best works presented while the Society's annual research awards went to Doctor Ana Catarina Alves of Portugal for her work on the molecular diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia, and to Doctor James Soh of the US for his work on the use of Micro-RNA in the control of hyperlipidaemia.

Media Contact
Pilar Serrano
pilars@ifema.es

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Hong Kong, 12 June 2014 - Wuzhou International Holdings Limited (“Wuzhou International,” together with its subsidiaries the “Group,” stock code: 01369), a leading developer and operator of trade logistics centres and multi-functional commercial complexes in China, today announced that the Group has entered into a cooperation framework agreement with Global Logistic Properties Investment Management (China) Co., Ltd. (“GLP China”) to a wide-ranging scope of cooperation including developing and operating commercial logistics parks.

Pursuant to the framework agreement, Wuzhou International plans to cooperate with GLP China in the following scope: i) joint investments to create logistics and storage platforms in close proximity to the sites of the Group’s developed projects or projects to be developed in the future which could create synergistic benefits to both parties; ii) utilising GLP China’s existing logistics storage facility network and logistic customer resources to provide Wuzhou International’s commercial logistics parks with ancillary logistics facilities and introduce logistics storage partners; iii) create synergies to extend Wuzhou International’s existing business chain and accelerate the upgrade of its commercial and trading platform; and iv) seize potential cooperating opportunities in the areas of O2O, distribution system and supply chain finance, in order to provide all-around value-added services to the commercial logistics parks of Wuzhou International.

Mr. SHU Cecheng, Executive Director and Chairman of Wuzhou International said, “The cooperation with GLP China is the optimal combination of commercial property together with logistics and storage. We are strong in the development and operation of commercial and trading markets, while GLP China owns an extensive network of dedicated logistics facilities, as well as offering outstanding capabilities in the development, construction and operation of logistics parks. The resources of both parties can create synergies to extend our existing business chain and accelerate the upgrade of its
commercial and trading platform thus complementing our current strengths. A strong presence in the E-commerce and logistics business is our long-term development goal.

Capitalising on our strong momentum, we hope to use the e-commerce and logistic platform to consolidate our business advantages, and combine the strategies, systems and industry chain to achieve integrated and comprehensive development.”

-End-

Wuzhou International Holding Limited
Starting in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province in 2004, Wuzhou International is a developer and operator of trade logistics centres and multi-functional commercial complexes with 35 projects covering ten provinces and cities across China. The Group’s “Wuzhou International” brand was named “2013 Chinese commercial real estate brand value Top 10”, by Development Research Center of the State Council. As at the end of 2013, Wuzhou International is No. 1 in the no. of trade logistics center, No. 1 in the no. of partial completed and trade logistics center in operation, and No. 1 in the coverage of provinces and cities, according to Savills.

Global Logistic Properties Investment Management (China) Co., Ltd.
GLP China is one of the group companies of Global Logistic Properties Limited, a company listed in the Singapore Stock Exchange and a leading provider of modern logistics facilities, with particular focus in its warehousing expertise. It has a market-leading position in China, Japan and Brazil. GLP China owns and manages 148 logistics parks spread across 34 cities in China, forming an efficient logistics network with properties strategically located in key
logistics hubs, industrial zones and urban distribution centres. Their presence in China covers eastern, southern and mid-western cities.

Media Enquiries
Strategic Financial Relations (China) Limited
Ms. Anita Cheung Tel: (852) 2864 4827 Email: anita.cheung@sprg.com.hk
Ms. Serine Li Tel: (852) 2864 4835 Email: serine.li@sprg.com.hk
Ms. Ada Leung Tel: (852) 2114 4967 Email: ada.leung@sprg.com.hk
Ms. Melody Jin Tel: (852) 2114 4963 Email: melody.jin@sprg.com.hk
Ms. Ivory Xu Tel: (852) 2864 4846 Email: ivory.xu@sprg.com.hk

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Mr. Paul Kanjanapas, Managing Director of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd., which manages and operates IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani, said that in addition to integrated facilities and excellent services, unrestricted means of communication is also an essential factor to be at the forefront in today’s competitive business environment. The internet has become part of everyone’s daily life, regardless of gender, age and profession, as it allows easy and quick access to information.

Realizing the importance of the internet, IMPACT has therefore invested over 30 million Baht to provide Free Wi-Fi service to customers, and is the very first venue to provide such an Internet connection free of charge. IMPACT has partnered with True Internet to set up Wi-Fi system which covers three main buildings including IMPACT Challenger, IMPACT Forum and IMPACT Arena (except Exhibition Hall as IMPACT is still under contract with another provider). The service, however, has already been provided for customers for a trial during crowded events such as Motor Expo and Motor Show.

Visitors can connect their mobile devices to IMPACT’s free Wi-Fi by simply choosing the network “@IMPACT free Wi-Fi”. After that, log into the page that requires a username and password registered with data and identification number. Then, it is working right away. Usage is limited to one hour per day per person with a maximum speed of 4 Mbps.

In addition, IMPACT “True Wi-Fi Maximum” prepaid internet card offering speed up to 12 Mbps is also available at Business Center for visitors who require higher speed Internet. There are three choices available - 1-day package costs 50 Baht, 7-day package costs 90 Baht, and 1-moth package costs 150 Baht. The visitor can also find this True Internet card at any True Service provider which is even more convenient.

IMPACT free Wi-Fi and IMPACT True Wi-Fi Maximum are now available while IMPACT Premium Wi-Fi with a maximum speed of 200 Mbps will soon be available to meet the need of every customer and visitor.

SOURCE IMPACT Exhibition Management Co.,Ltd

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TAIPEI -( ASIA TODAY )- Taiwan Hardware Show (THS) in Asia will be held at Greater Taichung International Expo Center between October 21 and 23, 2014. By organizing the exhibition once again in the industry hub of Taichung this year, Taiwan’s highly integrated industry supply chain advantage can be presented in its entirety, and global buyers will be introduced to the Taiwanese hardware industry cluster, thereby fostering market opportunities.

2013 THS was well received, attracting participation by nearly 300 outstanding manufacturers and 21,636 professionals from 58 countries. The scale of 2014 THS has been further upgraded. Thanks to enthusiastic support from the manufacturers, all exhibition booths have already been booked, and over 320 manufacturers will partake in the exhibition. With innovative quality products they will demonstrate the capabilities and international competitiveness of the Taiwanese hardware sector.

Products from numerous premium labels will be presented at THS, including iF and reddot design award winners such as Yih Cheng, E-Make, Proxene, Nusharp, Hanlix, Lucky Brand and Jaco etc. to enrich the exhibition content. In addition, prominent global manufacturers that have entered the exhibition for the first time include: Rotar, Yuan Mei, Lee Yong, Force Shyang Yun Tools, Compass and Mighty Seven; together, they have infused new energy to THS, in turn creating the most professional and competitive procurement platform in Asia.

THS has developed the global market for the past 14 years, and it is the only professional boutique hardware exhibition in Asia. Organizer KAIGO has assisted the outstanding manufacturers to conduct integrated marketing with its wealth of experience in organizing international, professional boutique exhibitions, thereby offering the participants, buyers and professionals a complete platform for observing product technology as well as conducting procurement and negotiations.

The exhibition is divided into eight major areas: Tools & Accessories, Locks & Fittings, Fasteners & Fittings, Building Supplies, Garden & Outdoor Equipment, Automotive Supplies & Accessories, Machines & Plant Equipment and Safety Equipment & Products to highlight the rich diversity of Taiwan’s premium quality hardware. At the same time, industry forums, procurement conferences, new product launches and factory visits are organized to foster the exchange of international industry experiences, thereby ensuring the optimal benefit of global market development.

Contact Person: Stephan Ungewiss
Email: ths@kaigo.com.tw
Telephone: 88622595421713
Organization: Kaigo Co.,Ltd.

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- See more at: http://asiatoday.com/pressrelease/2014-taiwan-hardware-show-booths-sold-...

An organisation in the US has gotten the green light to establish a non-profit university in Ho Chi Minh City, the first of its kind in Vietnam.

The Trust for University Innovation in Vietnam (TUIV) had its proposal to establish Fulbright University Vietnam approved in principle by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, the Saigon Times reported on June 4.

Vu Thanh Tu Anh, director of research at the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP) in Vietnam, was quoted as saying that the university would initially focus on master’s degree courses that will be designed in accordance with FETP.

Later it will expand its scope to undergraduate and doctorate courses.

FETP was founded in 1994 as a partnership between Ho Chi Minh City’s University of Economics and the US’s Harvard Kennedy School.

The Fulbright University Vietnam project was first mentioned in a co-statement by President Truong Tan Sang and his UScounterpart Barack Obama in July of last year, and again during US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Vietnam in December.

TUIV is headquartered in Cambridge with Thomas Vallely, former director of the Vietnam Program at Harvard University as its chairman, Anh said.

by ARNO MAIERBRUGGER

SOURCE Investvine

Korean companies seek co-development opportunities with local research and healthcare institutes

Singapore—Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Korean Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) celebrated the opening of the KHIDI-A*STAR Medtech Development Centre in Biopolis today. The Centre will promote the co-development of medical technologies and pharmaceuticals between Singapore and South Korea, and is a key milestone of the A*STAR-KHIDI Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement signed in December 2013.

The Centre will facilitate South Korean biomedical companies seeking to conduct biomedical technology innovation, first-in-human trials, registration and commercialisation of products in Singapore. Seven Korean SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) have expressed interest to co-develop products with Singapore partners in the research and healthcare space. The list of companies is in Annex A.

The companies and their local partners will be able to tap on a US$5 million A*STAR-KHIDI Joint Research Fund. The fund was set up as part of the MOU to help finance joint projects between Korean and Singapore entities to register and manufacture products in Singapore, as well as market them to the region from here. Successful recipients of the fund will base part of their operations in Singapore, which will create high-value jobs.

Another aim of the MOU is to conduct talent exchanges between the two countries. The first group of Korean exchange students comprised of 20 post- graduates and staff from South Korea’s Dongguk University were in Singapore

last January, to take part in the Singapore-Stanford Biodesign programme (SSB) co-organised by A*STAR, the Economic Development Board and Stanford University. The programme taught the participants about SSB’s unique Biodesign process and organised visits to local medtech manufacturing facilities. Singaporean fellows are expected to learn about South Korea’s medtech ecosystem when they embark on a study trip to Seoul next year.

Mr Lim Chuan Poh, Chairman of A*STAR said “Within six months of signing the A*STAR-KHIDI MOU, we have seen meaningful progress in our collaboration. Singapore and the Republic of Korea share complementary strategies in the biomedical space. Korean companies want to regionalise and internationalise their operations through Singapore while Singapore want to attract more biomedical companies to build a critical mass of such companies here. The first talent exchange was successfully conducted early this year to bring the two communities closer together. Today, the opening of the Biomedical Sciences Development Centre will bring about a more institutionalised approach to fostering collaborations between the Korean biomedical companies and research partners in Singapore.”

Dr Jung Kee-Taig, President of KHIDI stated, “Singapore plays a key role in realising President Park Geun-hye’s roadmap to creating a Creative Economy in the Republic of Korea. Singapore’s excellence in scientific research, product development, intellectual property protection and pro-business climate offers our SMEs the necessary tools to commercialise their biomedical products to other markets. The opening of the Centre sends a strong signal of South Korea’s intention to forge closer ties with Singapore and confidence in Singapore’s biomedical scene.”

For media queries and clarifications, please contact:

Hiroshi Limmell
Assistant Head, Corporate Communications Agency for Science, Technology and Research Tel: +65 6826 6145
HP: +65 9474 1738
Email: hiroshi_limmell@a-star.edu.sg

Ms Becky Kim
Manager
Korea Health Industry Development Institute - ASEAN (Singapore) Tel: +65 9371 1246
Email: becky.kim@khidi.or.kr

About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that fosters world-class scientific research and talent to drive economic growth and transform Singapore into a vibrant knowledge-based and innovation driven economy.

In line with its mission-oriented mandate, A*STAR spearheads research and development in fields that are essential to growing Singapore’s manufacturing sector and catalysing new growth industries. A*STAR supports these economic clusters by providing intellectual, human and industrial capital to its partners in industry.

A*STAR oversees 18 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research entities, located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis, as well as their vicinity. These two R&D hubs house a bustling and diverse community of local and international research scientists and engineers from A*STAR’s research entities as well as a growing number of corporate laboratories.

For more information on A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg

About the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI)

The Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) is Korea’s only public organisation set up in 1999 with sights on promoting and developing the health industry in Korea, while promoting national healthcare services. Since its establishment, KHIDI has played a major role in the development of the nation’s health industry. Apart from its primary function in Health Technology R&D, KHIDI has also taken the initiative in increasing competitiveness in different areas of the health industry, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, food and beauty & cosmetics.

For more information, visit www.khidi.or.kr/eng/index.jsp

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11 June 2014, Rome – Countries took a major step forward in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing today as they endorsed a set of international guidelines that will hold states more accountable for the activities of fishing vessels flying their flags.

The FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Flag State Performance spell out a range of actions that countries can take to ensure that vessels registered under their flags do not conduct IUU fishing, one of the greatest threats to sustainable fisheries and related livelihoods.

Although the guidelines are voluntary, their endorsement by members of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI), currently meeting in Rome, is a public signal by countries of their intent to adhere to a shared set of standards for flag state performance. Worked out over several years of negotiations, the guidelines now enjoy broad levels of international buy-in and support.

Precise numbers are hard to come by, but it is believed that IUU fishing has escalated over the past 20 years, especially in the high seas, and is now estimated to amount to 11-26 million tonnes of fish harvested illicitly each year, worth between $10 and $23 billion.

“Today’s decision represents a massive breakthrough in combating IUU fishing, which not only puts marine ecosystems at risk but undermines any effort undertaken at the national, regional or international level to manage fisheries in a sustainable manner,” said Árni M. Mathiesen, FAO Assistant Director-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture.

“Taken together with FAO’s 2009 Agreement on Port State Measures, which works to prevent entry into ports by IUU fishing vessels and therefore block the flow of IUU-caught fish into national and international markets, these guidelines will provide a potent tool to combat IUU fishing in the coming decades,” he added.

An end to flag hopping

A flag state refers to any country – whether coastal or landlocked – that registers a fishing vessel and authorizes it to fly its flag.

Flag states are already required to maintain a record of their registered vessels together with information on their authorization to fish, such as the species they may fish for and the type of gear they may use.

However, many fishing vessels engaged in illegal activities circumvent such control measures by "flag hopping"– repeatedly registering with new flag States to dodge detection, which undermines anti-IUU efforts.

The Voluntary Guidelines aim to crack down on this practice, among other things, by promoting greater cooperation and information exchange between countries, so that flag states are in a position to refuse to register vessels that have previously been reported for IUU fishing, or that are already registered with another flag state.

The guidelines also provide recommendations on how countries could encourage compliance and take action against non-compliance by vessels, as well as on how to enhance international cooperation to assist developing countries to fulfill their flag state responsibilities.

The guidelines draw on existing international maritime law as well as international instruments such as the 1993 FAO Compliance Agreement, 1995 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries,the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU fishing.

Committee on Fisheries

COFI is the only global inter-governmental forum except for the UN General Assembly where international fisheries and aquaculture problems and issues are periodically examined and where recommendations for action by governments, regional fishery bodies, NGOs, fish workers, FAO and the international community are made.

Member countries are meeting for the 31st session of COFI at FAO headquarters in Rome until the end of the week.

SOURCE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Hong Kong, 16 June 2014 -( ASIA TODAY )- Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management) Ltd (“HML”) is pleased to announce that the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (“HKCEC”) was the venue for 76 events in May, ranging from major international conferences, exhibitions and concerts to corporate annual dinners, wedding banquets and seminars which together drew a total of 428,000 visitors from all over the world. Even though Hong Kong’s provisional statistics of Hong Kong’s retail sales for April were reported to have dropped about 10% over the previous year, no related trends could be discerned from the international conferences and exhibitions held at the HKCEC. Throughout the month, everyday the HKCEC was utilised for hosting or move-in for one event or another and there was not a single idle day.

Monica Lee-Müller, Managing Director of HML, said, “The exhibitions and conferences in May covered such diverse themes as horse racing, trademarks, building technology, lighting and security, as well as art, antiques and wines. We had to hire additional manpower to the tune of 121,300 work-hours for our Chinese and Western kitchens, food and beverages services, as well as cleaning and maintenance teams, on top of HML’s 930 permanent full time staff, in order to uphold our service standards in the face of high-spending visitors.”

“Just considering Art Basel in Hong Kong and Vinexpo Asia Pacific, the total visitor number rose markedly by 9.4%. The high-spending visitors of these two exhibitions came from around the world. The HML catering team designed and prepared specialty menus and set up a special vegetarian restaurant and a high-end seafood bar for these sophisticated exhibitors of visitors. Their outlay on food and beverages in the HKCEC increased by 21.6% over previous editions of these two events. This again affirms that the convention and exhibition industries are the mainstay of Hong Kong’s business travel industry and underlines HKCEC’s leading role in bringing economic benefits to Hong Kong through its convention and exhibition events,” Ms Lee-Müller continued.

She pointed out, “HKCEC’s exhibition space during the traditional peak trade fair seasons of April and October has already reached saturation point a few years ago. HML is now offering venue rental discounts through the Low Season Scheme in six months of every year (February, May, June, July, August and December) to attract organisers in running events during non-peak seasons. The fact that May schedules in recent years have consistently been full testifies the success of our strategy. Now we are able to make full use of non-peak season schedules and can also bring a host of diversified international events into Hong Kong and the HKCEC. The exciting and dynamic events this May are precisely the results of the efforts of the entire HML team.”

The HKCEC saw an exciting range of events in May, including:

Muscat, Oman, 16 June 2014—Leveraging the encouraging response and support to the 2013 Oman Health Exhibition and Conference from the business, government and public sectors, organizer Omanexpo is preparing to hold a much-bigger show this year.

The fourth edition will be held from September 9 to 11 at the Oman International Exhibition Center.

The 2013 edition saw the rewarding results of a year’s effort by Omanexpo to provide a well-structured and strategic exhibition and conference platform that will assure a worthwhile return of investment for its exhibitors and stakeholders, ensure proper representation of all the key sectors within the health and medical industry, and offer a new and diversified range of relevant products, services and technologies.

It brought in over 100 local and international companies and international healthcare centers from the US, Korea, Japan, Italy, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey and the UAE, attracted more than 300 senior healthcare specialists representing the private and public sectors, and more than 4,000 high-level trade visitors.

With the positive feedback received from participating companies, visitors and the government sector about the last edition, Oman Health Exhibition and Conference is well on its way to present a better show this year.

To date, it has already enlisted the support of the Ministry of Health, Oman Medical Association, Oman Disaster and Emergency Association, Al Nahda Hospital, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and German Industry and Commerce.

The Conference will cover two tracks that will focus on Emergency Medicine and Investments and Oncology. The emergency Medicine program, designed to improve emergency medicine health services in Oman by improving the skills and knowledge of emergency medicine staff, will tackle topics such as diagnosis and management, pediatric emergency, and training and education and will include workshops on disaster response and management and research.

The program, endorsed by the International Federation for Emergency Medicine, is governed by a scientific committee composed of industry experts responsible for the formulation of scientific strategies, program development and direction, and evaluation of papers.

Investments and Oncology will address healthcare issues in Oman and discuss tangible solutions to these issues. The topics that are relevant to this program include “Investment Opportunities within Oman’s Health Sector,” Surgical Oncology, Imaging and Radiotherapy, and Cancer Control.

Oman Health’s exhibition manager, Ahmed Sayed, says “We are working closely with the Ministry of Health in order to provide proper and relevant information about health and medical issues in Oman that are aligned with the government’s initiatives and long-term plan.”

With the increasing number of Oman requiring needing healthcare and specialized treatment, there is an equal need to increase the number of healthcare clinics and hospitals, and this is what is currently happening. The two huge medical city projects—Sultan Qaboos Medical City and International Medical City—are proof that Oman could potentially be a destination for medical tourism,” he concludes.

###

Contact: Melissa Daleja
T: +968 24660122 : F: +968 24660125/126
Mobile: +968 99471704
Email: melissa.daleja@omanexpo.com

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

Philippines -- (ACN Newswire) -- The Universities and Councils Network on Innovation for Inclusive Development in Southeast Asia (UNIID-SEA) is launching a research program designed to create innovative solutions to poverty-related or social-exclusion issues faced by poor and marginalized communities in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Called the Innovation for Inclusive Development (IID) Challenge, this pioneering small grants program helps to reduce the internal development gap among ASEAN Member States by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and innovations that address common development issues in the region. This is supportive of the collaborative efforts of UNIID-SEA and the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs, through its Office of ASEAN Affairs, to push for the integration of inclusive development in the ASEAN agenda.

What is innovation for inclusive development?

Inclusive innovation is at the heart of innovation for inclusive development, which is broadly defined as "innovation that aims to reduce poverty, and enables as many groups of people, especially the poor and marginalized, to participate in decision-making, create and actualize opportunities, and share the benefits of development."

Program sponsors and objectives

Initiated by UNIID-SEA - in partnership with the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Dewan Riset Nasional (DRN) of Indonesia, and National Council for Science and Technology Policy of Vietnam (NCSTP) - the IID Challenge envisions research as a dynamic process, with communities being regarded not just as mere recipients of, but also as partners in, grassroots empowerment.

Specifically, the grants program will:

- introduce IID as a strategy for innovation research to achieve national development goals and targets for inclusive development; and
- involve a team - consisting of a community partner, research partner and intermediary partner (e.g. local government agencies, private sector, academe and civil society organizations) - in order to increase the project's usability, acceptability to the community and ownership by the community.

IID and action research

The IID Challenge is accepting proposals until June 30, 2014 for action research in the following areas: 1) food security; 2) access to clean and low-cost energy and water; 3) health and sanitation; 4) natural resource management and climate change adaptation; and 5) human security and development.

Recent examples of successful IID initiatives include:

- a stand-alone water purifying system developed for floating communities in Vietnam. Fitted to a typical boathouse, the bicycle-driven system can filter 300 litres of water per hour.
- an Indonesian project that developed a single diagnostic test kit for malaria, typhoid and leptospirosis;
- removing hazardous pesticides from drinking water in Thailand using locally made activated carbon
- a project in the Philippines that resulted in the production and distribution of emergency food reserves based on cassava flour, a locally available, abundant, affordable and ready-to-use food ingredient; and
- a Cambodia-based project that resulted in the successful design, construction and trial of the world's first community-based floating human waste treatment barge;

For more information, see:
- Pathways out of poverty: Innovating with the BoP in Southeast Asia 　http://bit.ly/1dr0wvw
- Research "by the people": Making it possible http://bit.ly/1ptXlNy

Images (available for download) http://bit.ly/1qdtmcS
(Photo credit to Ateneo School of Government for all images)
- Images 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d: A researcher on the bicycle powering the water purifying system in Vietnam, samples of purified water compared to unpurified water and a houseboat where the system is being used.
- Images 2a and 2b: The diagnostic kit for malaria, typhoid and leptospirosis developed in Indonesia and officers being trained to use it.
- Images 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d: Model of the latrine at the waste treatment project in Cambodia as well as members of the community which benefitted from the project including Mr Sok Sueng and the Phat Sanday School.

About UNIID-SEA

The Universities and Councils Network for Innovation for Inclusive Development in Southeast Asia (UNIID-SEA) is a project of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), in collaboration with the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). UNIID-SEA works with universities and research councils in Southeast Asia to promote action research and facilitate the development of programs that support innovation for inclusive development. UNIID-SEA is supported by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

For more information about the IID Challenge Grants Program and UNIID-SEA, see:
- IID Challenge Call for Proposals 　http://uniid-sea.net/iidchallenge
- Universities and Councils Network on Innovation for Inclusive Development in Southeast Asia (UNIID-SEA) 　http://uniid-sea.net/about-uniid-sea/

For articles relating inclusive development to the ASEAN integration agenda, see:
- Overcoming the roadblocks to ASEAN Integration http://bit.ly/1uqDgWj
- Rethinking the Development Gap: ASEAN's Inclusive Growth Imperative 　http://bit.ly/1xXsGdV

CONTACT INFORMATION

Media Contact:
Dana de Guzman
Communications Associate
Tel: +632 426 6001 loc.4639
Fax: +632 929 7035
　Info.iidchallenge@gmail.com

General contact:
UNIID-SEA
Ateneo School of Government
Pacifico Ortiz Hall, Fr. Arrupe Road,
Social Development Complex,
Ateneo De Manila University,
Loyola Heights, Quezon City,
Philippines 1108

Tel: +63 2 426 6001 locals 4646, 4639
Telefax: +63 2 929 7035
Email: 　info@uniid-sea.net
Website: 　www.uniid-sea.net

BEIJING -( ASIA TODAY )- Hosted in the world’s biggest machine tool market: China, CIMES is not only Asia’s leading machine tool exhibition for metal cutting tools and CNC machine trade, it also showcases the very latest high-end metalworking and industrial automation technology. In 2014, will showcase the world’s top industry giants and international pavilions from key manufacturing countries.

In order to maximize the ROI for exhibitors and buyers at this Industrial automation exhibition, the organizers will invite an unprecedented array of VIP buyers from key Asian application industries including aerospace and aviation, medical equipment, shipbuilding and new energy. Accurate product segmentation and highly efficient marketing solutions will allow facilitate the establishment of powerful, direct connections with matching business partners.

Some stats about the 2014 event:

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is ramping up its efforts to transform into one of the most environmentally friendly university campuses in the world.

Under the newly launched EcoCampus initiative, NTU aims to achieve a bold 35 per cent reduction in its energy and water usage, carbon footprint and waste output by year 2020.

In partnership with Singapore’s Economic Development Board (EDB) and JTC Corporation, the EcoCampus initiative will transform NTU’s 200-hectare campus into a super test bed for research projects in cutting-edge green technologies. They range from smart building systems and renewable energy, to electric transportation and water conservation technologies, complementing the vibrant sustainability R&D community in the adjoining 50-hectare CleanTech Park developed by JTC Corporation.

EcoCampus will commence with 12 key research projects. Companies, organisations and entrepreneurs are invited to submit and test bed their innovative green ideas at the NTU campus or JTC’s CleanTech Park. The $20 million initiative will be funded by a combination of EDB’s Living Lab programme, research grants and contributions from industry partners, JTC and NTU.

NTU’s EcoCampus initiative was launched this morning in a ceremony graced by Mr S. Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry.

At the ceremony, NTU Provost Professor Freddy Boey, JTC’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Png Cheong Boon and EDB’s Managing Director Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, witnessed the signing and unveiling of three plaques representing the three core values of the initiative: Research, Living Lab and Industry Participation.

Professor Boey said it is only natural for NTU to champion the new EcoCampus effort, as the university is a recognised leader for sustainability research, having attracted more than $1.2 billion in competitive research funding in the area.

“The EcoCampus initiative is a bold step forward by NTU and a demonstration of our goal to help keep Singapore “future ready” through the use of sustainable technologies. Through this initiative to be implemented campus-wide at NTU, we seek to increase the liveability and inclusivity of Singaporean communities by researching, testbedding and implementing the latest sustainable technologies,” said Prof Boey.

“We believe that this EcoCampus initiative has great potential to act as a viable model for sustainability, to be mirrored by other business parks and campuses around Singapore, and together, we can spark a “green campus revolution”.”

World leading multinational companies keen to be part of this ground-breaking effort include Siemens, 3M, Murata, GDF-Suez, Holcim, as well as local firms such as Joule-Air, Alfa Tech and Wifinity.

NTU, together with EDB and JTC, will also work with other national agencies including Building Construction Authority (BCA), Energy Market Authority (EMA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), to develop practical solutions that will put Singapore in the forefront of research on energy efficiency and sustainable development in the region.

“We are pleased with the strong interest from many international and local companies in the EcoCampus, the first project of its kind in Asia that enables the integration of R&D, demonstration and deployment of sustainability solutions in one location,” said Mr Yeoh Keat Chuan, EDB’s Managing Director.

“As a national-level Living Lab, the EcoCampus will provide a strategic platform for companies and NTU to co-develop and commercialise novel solutions for adoption in Singapore and beyond. We look forward to many new exciting partnerships between industry and NTU, which has strong technical expertise in sustainability and energy management,” Mr Yeoh added.

Mr Png Cheong Boon, CEO of JTC Corporation, said, “We are delighted with the launch of the EcoCampus initiative, and to have NTU as a strategic partner in our journey towards sustainability. The EcoCampus initiative will expand the opportunities for businesses to generate and test-bed new green ideas at the NTU campus and JTC’s CleanTech Park. We look forward to the collaborations with NTU and the industry as we strive to push the boundaries of green innovation.”

The EcoCampus initiative will focus on buildings and campus-level sustainability solutions that can be adopted in upcoming developments. The effort will be centred on six key areas: Information Management, Green Buildings, Renewable Energy, Transportation, Waste & Water, and User Behaviour for Energy Efficiency. It will also focus on research and development of technologies that can be demonstrated and potentially commercialised in near future.

EcoCampus has two phases. Phase One is to build innovative demonstration projects, which are then benchmarked and analysed. If the technologies are found to deliver high-impact energy efficiency and sustainability, large-scale implementation will be done in Phase Two.

Professor Alexander Zehnder, Chair of NTU’s Sustainable Earth Office, said the EcoCampus initiative will bring many benefits to both the private and government sector.

“NTU is taking the first step in the journey to become the most sustainable and energy-efficient campus in Singapore, and also strives to be among the best worldwide,” said Prof Zehnder, who is also a member of NTU’s Board of Trustees. “The research results and experiences gained from the initiative will be shared with the various ministries, agencies and industries, and they will hold great potential economic opportunities for Singapore.”

***END***

Media contact:

Nur Amin Shah (Mr)
Assistant Manager (Media Relations)
Corporate Communications Office
Nanyang Technological University
Tel: (65) 6790-4714
Email: aminshah@ntu.edu.sg

About Nanyang Technological University

A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has 33,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the colleges of Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and its Interdisciplinary Graduate School. It has a new medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London.

NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes – the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre on Environmental Life Sciences Engineering – and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI), Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the Institute on Asian Consumer Insight (ACI).

A fast-growing university with an international outlook, NTU is putting its global stamp on Five Peaks of Excellence: Sustainable Earth, Future Healthcare, New Media, New Silk Road, and Innovation Asia.

Besides the main Yunnan Garden campus, NTU also has a satellite campus in Singapore’s science and tech hub, one-north, and a third campus in Novena, Singapore’s medical district.

For more information, visit http://www.ntu.edu.sg

Singapore, 18 June 2014 – The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore Management University (SMU) will establish a Centre for Technology and Social-Behavioural Insights (CTSBI) to tap on high performance computing technology, big data analytics and behavioural sciences to study people-centric issues and human behaviour including how people think, feel and act in different settings. Such information can be used to enhance planning and address issues in different areas such as retail, logistics, urban planning, education and community development.

About the Centre for Technology and Social-Behavioural Insights (CTSBI)

The new centre will conduct studies and develop technologies to better understand human behaviour such as relationships or interactions between consumers and businesses, employees and employers, or citizens and public service providers. These social and behavioural insights will be examined and applied in specific social and economic contexts to identify critical issues more accurately and propose more effective solutions.

The technologies and research findings could be useful in giving a more accurate and real time understanding of people’s attitudes and behaviours such as consumer preferences and purchasing patterns to help improve businesses and customer experiences. For example, it would be possible to trawl millions of websites online to find out popular fashion trends or customers’ affinity for certain designs, and analyse and filter this information in real-time to allow retailers to customise their marketing strategies accordingly. The Centre could also be used to study crowd movements to facilitate urban planning or feedback to enhance the delivery of public services.

The Centre leverages the advanced computational modelling and data analytics expertise of A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), the integrative information technology capabilities of A*STAR’s Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) and the in-depth scientific expertise on human behaviours of SMU’s Behavioural Sciences Institute (BSI).

The Centre, which will be officially operational from 1 July 2014, is funded by A*STAR’s Joint Council Office (JCO), which supports R&D that brings together multidisciplinary capabilities. SMU will also contribute manpower and other research resources. The Centre will be helmed by two co-directors, Dr Victor Tong from A*STAR and Professor David Chan from SMU.

Dr Victor Tong, who is Director of the Social & Cognitive Computing Department at A*STAR’s IHPC, said, “In today’s connected world, everyone can express views and offer information about events in real time and at a rapid pace. This creates a large volume of dynamic data that is potentially very useful, but it is often difficult to figure out the critical ideas embedded in the data. One of the goals of our collaboration is to develop better ways to extract meaning and value from the large amounts of data collected from social software such as internet forums and blogs, and their related technologies. This can be effectively accomplished by bringing together the relevant top expertise in both social computing and behavioural sciences.”

Professor David Chan, Lee Kuan Yew Fellow and Professor of Psychology and Director of SMU’s BSI, said, “There has been increasing interest in academia, government and businesses to use big data and behavioural sciences to address important economic and social issues. Our approach in this new centre will combine the data-driven sense-making methods in social technologies with the hypothesis-driven approaches in behavioural sciences. To do this, we will integrate the diverse but complementary expertise from the institutes in A*STAR, SMU and other existing resources in Singapore. The research findings from this integrative approach will generate people-centric solutions that can better address critical issues in Singapore and elsewhere.”

Professor Raj Thampuran, Managing Director of A*STAR, said, “This initiative will bring together information technology and social sciences to help businesses and other organisations gain deep insight of consumer sentiments. This will raise service delivery levels and is a competitive advantage for companies. “

Professor Arnoud De Meyer. President of SMU, said, “SMU is very glad with and fully committed to this research partnership with A*STAR. The CTSBI can make important positive differences to the Singapore economy and society. This partnership is an exemplar of bringing together complementary research capabilities, from not only different disciplines but also different institutes in Singapore, to address practical issues relevant to both business and societal needs.”
_____________________________________________________________
For media queries and clarifications, please contact:

Mr Eugene Low
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research
Tel: +65 6874 8491
Email: loweom@scei.a-star.edu.sg

Ms Foo Lyn Lee
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
Office of Corporate Communications & Marketing
Singapore Management University
DID: +65 6828 5238
Email: llfoo@smu.edu.sg

Seoul, Korea -- (ACN Newswire) -- Suprema, Inc., a leading global provider of technology in biometrics, security and ID Solutions, today announced its biometric scanner products are certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Suprema is the first to receive the certification in the biometric access control and time attendance segment in association with its local partner in India, A-ID Systems.

Under the Electronics and Information Technology Goods Order issued by the Indian Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEIT), 15 electronic and information & technology products are required to comply with the applicable Indian safety standards and mandatory registration before they are imported to, distributed, or sold in India.

The certification extends from Suprema's corporate brand and its products for biometric scanners for access control and time & attendance, which include FaceStation, a next generation intelligent face recognition terminal as well as various fingerprint terminals such as BioLite Net, BioEntry W, BioEntry Plus and BioStation.

"It is very meaningful to receive the first BIS registration grant in the access control and time attendance market and industry," said Young S. Moon, Vice President of Suprema Inc. "As demand for our products has been steadily increasing in the Indian market, we have endeavored to comply with these strict and critical procedures in the shortest order. Suprema hopes that the prompt application and certification will accelerate our business in the marketplace."

"BIS Certification is a great milestone for us to offer quality solutions to our customers by eliminating cheep and harmful products from our market." Mr. Sandeep Shetty, CEO of A-ID Systems India commented on this good achievement for Suprema.

According to a market research*, the access control portion of the Indian electronic security system industry is around 24%, with a market size reaching USD 120 million and a projection of 25% CAGR, the second-largest following the CCTV industry.

About Suprema Inc.

Suprema Inc. is a leading global provider of technologies in biometrics and security. The company's range of products includes biometric access control systems, fingerprint modules, e-passport readers and live-scanners. Suprema has worldwide sales network in over 125 countries and also a listed company in stock exchange in South Korea (KOSDAQ). For further information, visit 　www.supremainc.com

Contact:
David Kim (PAN HEE)
Manager, PR & MARCOM
Management and Planning, Suprema Inc
O: +82 31 710 5619
F: +82 31 783 4503
M: +82 10 5585 1810
Press@supremainc.com

HONG KONG, CHINA --Media OutReach--Jun 18, 2014-- Artesyn Embedded Technologies, formerly Emerson Network Power's Embedded Computing & Power business, today announced the industry's most powerful AdvancedTCA® (ATCA®) system, the Centellis 8000 series. With power and cooling for up to 600 watts per blade, Artesyn's Centellis 8000 series can easily accommodate a full payload of today's highest performance ATCA blades and offers a future-proof platform for higher powered processors.

Artesyn has pre-certified a range of application-ready configurations of the Centellis 8000 series for NEBS Level 3 to save customers development time and cost. The new ATCA systems can be deployed in existing networks as well as emerging Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) deployments. A wide variety of payload blades and software enable it to be deployed in a range of applications such as session border controllers, content optimization and security appliances. AC and DC versions make the platform suitable for telecom central office, network data center and enterprise data center deployments.

Todd Wynia, vice president for communication products, Artesyn Embedded Technologies, said: "Successive generations of server class processors have required up to 21 percent more power and the latest generation ATCA blades are already drawing the equivalent of 300 watts in cooling requirements. As we integrate blades with even higher performance processors, more memory capacity and throughput, hardware accelerators and increased IO bandwidth the thermal performance of an ATCA system becomes a critical factor in network deployments. Most other large (14-slot) ATCA systems claim support for a maximum of 300 watts per slot with some claiming up to 450 watts, but Artesyn's Centellis 8000 series is the first to be able to accommodate up to 600 watts per slot."

The Centellis 8000 series supports the company's recently announced System Services Framework (SSF) software, a centralized management software suite to configure and monitor software and hardware components in a single shelf or complex system of multiple ATCA shelves. Artesyn believes that SSF could save up to 40 percent of customers' time-to-market. The Centellis 8000 series also supports Artesyn's FlowPilot software for advanced load balancing and packet classification, directing traffic flow to individual payload processors for further processing.

A Centellis 8000 system is 18U (798mm) high and designed for standard 19 inch rack mounting. It features a 40GbE dual-star fabric interface and 14 blade slots, including two switching slots into which Artesyn's leading 40G combined switching and system management blade (ATCA-F140) can be integrated. The ATCA-F140 can be customized thanks to an AMC site, hard drive bay and optional telecom clocking module as well as numerous factory build and customer-field-configurable options.

Media Contact:
Artesyn Embedded Technologies
Alice Hui
+852 2176 3548
Alice.Hui@Artesyn.com

- Published & Distributed via AsiaToday.com

From online retailers to internationally renowned brands, more and more independent European fashion companies are choosing to set up shop in Hong Kong. They’re drawn by the proximity to factories on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong’s expertise in garment manufacturing and the lure of big mainland spenders.

While some expatriate entrepreneurs, including Ariane Zagury, founder of French fashion retailer Rue Madame, has found success distributing French labels such as Sandro, Maje, American Vintage and Claudie Pierlot, others are building their own brands in the city.

Gaining a Retail Foothold

Among them is French label Marie France Van Damme, which opened its first boutique at ifc last September. Its line of high-end resort wear has been selling in major international department stores, including Harrods and Selfridges in the United Kingdom, and Bergdorf Goodman, Sak’s and Neiman Marcus in the United States. Ms Van Damme worked in garment manufacturing when she arrived in Hong Kong more than 25 years ago, and was among the first Europeans to open a garment factory on the mainland.
After more than 20 years designing for high-street brands, including Marks & Spencer, she decided it was time for a change. “It became so competitive; buyers were looking for better prices every day, and I wanted to do something different and very glamorous.” She first presented her collection to Harrods, which immediately placed an order. Ms Van Damme has since partnered with such luxury resorts as One & Only and Amanresorts, which are among the 100 outlets in 35 countries that carry the brand.

Her neutral colour palette ­– black and white, gold and bronze – has become something of a signature and, from a 15-piece collection, the range has extended to include 150 garments. Ms Van Damme decided to open her own store, which allows her to feature a greater range. “I have worked with Lane Crawford, but they only took three of my bathing suits. That was great because the brand was only six months old, but I wanted shoppers to see more of my collection.”

Ms Van Damme plans to open a second store, in Bangkok, next month at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, and will also open a boutique in London later this year. Brand partnerships with other luxury resorts are also in the works to complement existing collaborations.

Reaching out to Bloggers

Another new Hong Kong apparel brand is Ro&Mo, which was set up by Portuguese-born friends Rosario Cunha and Monica Pinto Coelho, who is based in Hong Kong. The collections are mostly crafted from eco-friendly material, including 100 per cent natural linen, organic cotton, vegetal leather, and colourful and original fabrics, such as the African capulanas, a type of sarong worn primarily in Mozambique.

“The main challenge is the production,” says Ms Coelho. “We want to produce everything in Portugal and Spain, because we believe in their textile tradition and quality. Sometimes they don’t offer the flexibility in terms of creativeness, models and fabrics, so you have to find the right partners.”

Available online, Ro&Mo has received support from bloggers. “We did a photo shoot with three fashion bloggers, and slowly we are starting to be well-known in Hong Kong,” says Ms Coelho, who noted that attending art and design festivals has helped raise the company’s profile.

Parisian Spirit

Designer Tiffany Yan has transported her love of Paris to Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Street, where she opened her first boutique, Le 16 Aout, in March. After completing her studies at École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, Ms Yan worked with Prada, Louis Vuitton and Alexander McQueen in Paris, before setting up her label in the French capital. Ms Yan says she chose to open her first store, in Hong Kong, after witnessing the development of the fashion and art industries here. “I wanted to bring my Parisian life to Hong Kong, and display vintage finds and exotic gifts I find on my travels. All the items in the boutique represent a Parisian lifestyle,” says Ms Yan, who stocks other brands, including Linda Farrow sunglasses in her boutique.

Designed to enhance a woman’s femininity and curves, the latest collection from Le 16 Aout incorporates French lace, Italian prints and Italian jacquard textiles. “It’s about bringing baroque style into contemporary fashion,” says the designer. Following the successful opening of her Hong Kong outlet, which she views as a showcase for art, style and design, Ms Yan is considering opening a boutique in Sydney.

Building a Brand Online

Despite some cultural resistance to second-hand clothing in Hong Kong, French brand Mademoiselle Chic, which has a showroom in Stanley, has carved a niche offering established and up-and-coming designers at affordable prices. Founder Heloise Mendes knew little about the vintage design market in the city until she set up her business in 2010. “Second-hand clothing is becoming more and more popular, not only for economic reasons, but also because it offers a more sustainable shopping option. People in Hong Kong travel a lot, and many appreciate the quality of second-hand shops abroad.”
Word of Mouth

While her husband has been her main investor, Ms Mendes has built the brand through client recommendations. “The power of word-of-mouth in Hong Kong is unbelievable, both in local and foreign communities,” she says. “At first, I naturally developed an expat, mostly French clientele. But the potential to connect with young local shoppers is huge.”

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