Thursday, September 30, 2021

Next-Generation Arize Element® L1000 Enables Efficient Growth at an Industrial Scale

 Proudly assembled in the USA, the next-gen Arize Element® L1000 is more powerful, more efficient and more flexible than its predecessor. 

 

CLEVELAND -Thursday 30 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

GE Current, a Daintree company, today introduced the next generation of the Arize Element L1000, a top light for commercial greenhouses and indoor farms. The next generation features three models with expanded spectral options, a high photon flux of up to 2,350 μmol/s, high efficacy levels of up to 3.6 µmol/J and is proudly assembled in the heart of Appalachia.

“We set out to engineer the world’s most rugged and durable light fixture for commercial agriculture, thanks to our 20-plus years of LED fixture design experience combined with over 65 years of manufacturing excellence and scale in Hendersonville, North Carolina.” said Mike Doss, Current’s VP of Specialty. “We’ve improved the Element in every possible way, from light intensity to efficacy, and now it is proudly assembled in the Appalachians.”

The Element family now features eight spectral options in three all-new models:

  • L1000: The L1000 is a flexible, all-purpose fixture, with a PPF of up to 1900 µmol/s at 3.3 µmol/J.
  • L1000 HE: The L1000 HE (high efficiency) emits 1900 µmol/s at 3.6 µmol/J, for large-scale commercial greenhouses.
  • L1000 HO: The L1000 HO (high output) offers the best of both worlds: PPF levels of up to 2350 µmol/s at 3.4 µmol/J.

The Element family features Current’s proprietary XW Optic, which precisely targets light dispersion, resulting in wider coverage in low headspace applications. It reduces the number of fixtures needed by 10 to 15% without sacrificing uniformity or crop quality, lowering capital investment. The mounting options have also been simplified, with the fixture and power supply sharing common mounting hardware.

Powering Opportunities in Appalachia

Proudly assembled in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the new Arize Element L1000 has been selected by AppHarvest (NASDAQ: APPH) for its new Morehead, Kentucky, farm, slated to open later this year.

“As a grower, we have to consider several factors to maximize crop production and yield. One factor we pay close attention to is the management of light,” said Jose “Pepe” Calderon, Head Grower, AppHarvest. “With the Current LED grow lights, we have found several advantages such as dimmable intensities and energy efficiency, giving us the benefits for higher production, plant development, earlier crops, better climate control and energy savings.”

Learn more about Current’s newest top lighting solution at www.gecurrent.com/horticulture.

About GE Current, a Daintree company:
Current enhances commercial, industrial, city and specialty applications with advanced lighting and intelligent controls. Working with our partners, we deliver the best possible outcomes for our customers. See why Current is always on at www.gecurrent.com.


Contacts

Jim Benson
james.benson@gecurrent.com

216-534-4155

 

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/next-generation-arize-elementreg-l1000-enables-efficient-growth-at-an-industrial-scale/en

 

 

GWI Revolutionizes Market Research With Brand-new Platform, Democratizing Access to Impactful Audience Insights

  The new platform powers market research that enables every business to know its audience



LONDON-Thursday 9 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GWI, the leading target audience insight company, today launches its brand-new platform that challenges the status quo in market research. The multi-million dollar investment into the new platform provides access to transformational insights, in a meaningful and visual way. Arming employees with one, consistent in-depth view of their global or local audience, the new capabilities power strategic decisions and enable deep understanding of diverse and evolving audiences.

The new platform makes it easy to be an expert on your audience with smart tools that make it simple to explore available datasets. Users are now able to rapidly access deep insights, answering the questions that matter most to make key business decisions based on facts they can trust. It aids businesses to be truly data-driven by putting accessible insights and bespoke dashboards into the hands of everyone across the organization - from decision makers in the C-suite to data analysts, researchers and marketers.

Tom Smith, CEO and Founder at GWI comments, “The new platform enables a new dawn for the future of marketing research, ensuring it is suited for today's environment which consists of rapid change of pace for business and consumers. Our data shows that 72%* of professionals globally agree that being able to adapt quickly is critical to their company’s long term success. Yet, the traditional market research industry has utterly failed the needs of its customers in today's global marketplace - a world where almost 5 billion people are permanently connected online. Uncovering really transformative insight isn’t easy, nor is it always ‘on time’. Traditional research often takes several months, and can be delayed throughout the process. Despite heavy investment, the insights can therefore quickly become outdated, whilst putting market research out of reach for nearly every single organisation.

“With our new platform combined with our tried and tested methodology, you can secure insights and answers in an instant versus a drawn out process, at a fraction of the traditional market research cost. At the same time, you can ensure organizational alignment, meaning everyone is working from a single source of truth - to tell the same story, inform the decisions that matter and deliver impactful results.”

The intuitive new platform provides access to the world’s largest harmonized ongoing study on digital consumers, representing 2 billion people globally. Users of the flagship survey, GWI Core, alone can gather insights from over 40,000 data points, from over 800,000 interviews. The new platform will foster smarter business decisions and outcomes using hyper-targeted insights into any consumer group, in local and global markets.

To learn more about the new platform including new features and capabilities or to book a demo please visit here.

ENDS

About GWI

GWI is the leading supplier of target audience insight to the global marketing industry.

Trusted by the world’s biggest brands, media organizations, and agencies on a daily basis to get closer to their audiences, the company’s flagship survey represents over 2 billion people globally. Using the subscription-based platform, clients like Twitter, Google, Spotify, WPP, IPG, and Omnicom Group gather in-depth insights into behaviors, attitudes, and interests in seconds through a combination of survey data and analytics.

Among a range of leading data products available alongside its flagship survey are:

    GWI USA is a deep dive into the habits, behaviors and attitudes of 240m internet users in the USA.
    GWI Gaming delves into the actions and attitudes of gamers across 15 markets.
    GWI Sports investigates sports fandom and participation across 15 markets.
    GWI Kids gets to the heart of how kids actually think, so you can be sure to kid-proof your ideas and concepts from here on.
    GWI Work gives a detailed view of the lives of business professionals across 10 markets.
    GWI Zeitgeist, included with our core survey, is fielded monthly and zeroes in on the stuff that matters. It’s topical, timely, and relevant.

Those looking for even more bespoke research solutions can enrich GWI data with a range of services like hyper-targeted custom surveys, brand trackers, and recontact studies.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210908005955/en/

Contacts

Media contact:
Liam Rawson
Hotwire Global
gwi@hotwireglobal.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/gwi-revolutionizes-market-research-with-brand-new-platform-democratizing-access-to-impactful-audience-insights/en

Lineage W Takes Off Across the Globe on November 4

 PANGYO, South Korea -Thursday 30 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


The 2nd live streaming event today unveiled the release date

The game launches simultaneously in 13 countries and regions, including Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East

The release date is set for November 4, Character name reservation begins today

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NCSOFT (KRX:036570), a global premier game developer and publisher, announced that the company’s upcoming multi-platform MMORPG, ‘Lineage W,’ launches simultaneously in 13 countries and regions on November 4.


Lineage W today hosted the 2nd online showcase titled ‘Lineage W 2nd Showcase : Answer’ to unveil the release date and service plans.


NCSOFT addressed players’ questions submitted on the official website to introduce the game’s detailed content. The showcase provides English, Japanese, and Chinese subtitles for global players. Additional information on four classes --Prince, Knight, Elf, and Mage-- is also available on the official website.


Lineage W launches at midnight of November 4 (UTC/GMT+9) in 13 countries and regions, including Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Lineage W will expand service regions afterward to North America, South America, and Europe as well.


Character name reservation for preferred server begins at 11 am September 30 (UTC/GMT+9) on the event page. The global pre-registration for Lineage W, which crossed 10 million marks, is in progress on the official website, Google Play, and App Store.


More information is available on the official website.


Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/52499446/en


Contacts

NCSOFT

Ryan Chae

hwchae@ncsoft.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/lineage-w-takes-off-across-the-globe-on-november-4/en


Creative Artists Agency to Acquire ICM Partners

 Combination to Create New Opportunities for Clients Across the Globe

LOS ANGELES-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) announced today the execution of a definitive agreement to acquire ICM Partners (ICM), one of the world’s premier entertainment and sports agencies, to drive broader and more inclusive representation as their clients, their work, and their brands shape culture.


“Today’s storytellers, athletes, thought-leaders, and trend-setters who can move, inspire, and attract large, global audiences have unprecedented opportunity and ability to achieve their goals and aspirations,” said CAA’s Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, and Richard Lovett. “The strategic combination of CAA and ICM bolsters our collective resources, expertise, and relationships to deliver even more opportunities for our world-class clients to build their careers and their brands across multiple disciplines and platforms in an evolving marketplace. Our strong financial position enables us to continue to expand and diversify our businesses, with service and representation remaining central to what we do and who we are. We’re fortunate to have a partner in ICM who shares our commitment to the widest and most inclusive vision possible for what our clients and company can accomplish together.”


"We’re thrilled to partner and combine forces with the talented CAA team," said ICM’s Chris Silbermann, who will join CAA’s shareholder board. “Together, we will build upon our accomplishments and entrepreneurial spirit, and continue to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the best interests of our clients, as well as empowering new, diverse voices within the industry.”


The complementary combination of CAA and ICM will create deeper, broader, and more competitive opportunities for clients in the ever-evolving entertainment, media, and sports landscapes. ICM brings to CAA a global roster of artists in film, television, music, comedy, theater, games, politics, and podcasting. ICM’s industry-leading books division superbly complements CAA’s content-driven motion pictures, television, and podcasting businesses, in addition to its speakers arm, and other divisions. Further, ICM’s London-based ICM Stellar Sports, serves more than 800 clients around the globe and maintains offices in 10 countries.


CAA is a leading entertainment, media, and sports enterprise, with global expertise in motion pictures, television, music, sports, theater, digital media, publishing, endorsements, media finance, consumer investing, fashion, podcasting, speaking, games, and philanthropy. Led by a world-class management team and distinguished by its culture of collaboration and exceptional client service, CAA’s diverse workforce identifies and innovates opportunities for the people and organizations that shape culture and inspire the world. CAA was the first entertainment talent agency to build a sports business, create an investment bank, launch a venture fund, found technology start-up companies, and establish a business in China, among other industry innovations. A subsidiary of CAA, Entertainment Benefits Group (EBG) is a leader in corporate entertainment and travel, with more than 40,000 clients and 60 million users. Founded in 1975, CAA is headquartered in Los Angeles, and has a significant presence in New York, Nashville, London, Beijing, and Shanghai, as well as offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Geneva, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Memphis, Miami, Munich, Orlando, Stockholm, and Toronto, among other locations globally. For more information, please visit www.caa.com.


ICM is one of the world’s premier entertainment, media, sports agencies, dedicated to the global representation of artists, content creators, broadcasters, authors, artisans, journalists, and athletes in film, television, sports, publishing, theater, music, live performance, podcasting, branding, endorsements, product placements, sponsorship, commercials, broadcasting, speaking, and politics. Originally founded in 1975 as International Creative Management, then rebranded as ICM Partners in 2012, ICM has the expertise and influence of a legacy agency, and an entrepreneurial innovative spirit dedicated to serving its clients across the globe with passion and distinction. ICM has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., and London, and strategic partnerships in Europe, Asia, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.icmpartners.com.


The transaction is expected to close later this year, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.


Advisors


Allen & Company LLC served as financial advisor for CAA, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal advisor.


Lazard served as financial advisor for ICM, with Sheppard Mullin and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as legal advisors.


Contacts

Michael Mand/Beth McClinton, CAA, 424.288.2000, mmand@caa.com, beth.mcclinton@caa.com

For entertainment industry media: Brad Turell, ICM, 818.269.3048, brad.turell@icmpartners.com

For all other ICM media inquiries: Bryce Tom, Rubenstein, 917.733.9494, btom@rubenstein.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/creative-artists-agency-to-acquire-icm-partners/en


Best's Market Segment Report: Significant Growth Potential for Sub-Saharan Africa’s Reinsurers Despite Challenging Operating Conditions

LONDON-Thursday 30 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For several years, the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reinsurance market, though limited in scale by global standards, has provided reinsurers with an opportunity for diversification and profitable growth. However, according to an AM Best report, increasing economic volatility and elevated competition have led to a gradual deterioration in performance.


In a new Best’s Market Segment Report, “Sub-Saharan Africa Reinsurance: Significant Growth Potential, Despite Challenging Operating Conditions”, AM Best points to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local economies, volatility in global oil prices, and in some countries by high inflation rates and local currency depreciation as contributing to the difficult operating environment for domestic and international reinsurers.


The report also notes that levels of inequality across the region have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, in some cases resulting in local pockets of social unrest ‒ including widespread rioting in South Africa, the region’s largest insurance market. This is expected to result in significant losses for the reinsurance industry.


Despite the challenges, AM Best believes the growth potential for the SSA reinsurance segment remains substantial. The region has considerable and untapped reserves of natural resources, solid long-term projected economic growth rates, and increasing underlying insurance penetration.


To access a complimentary copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=313049.


AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.


Copyright © 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210929005816/en/


Contacts

Ben Diaz-Clegg

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0293

ben.diaz-clegg@ambest.com


Tim Prince

Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0320

timothy.prince@ambest.com


Richard Banks

Director, Industry Research – EMEA

+44 20 7397 0322

richard.banks@ambest.com


Edem Kuenyehia

Director, Market Development & Communications

+44 20 7397 0280

edem.kuenyehia@ambest.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/best39s-market-segment-report-significant-growth-potential-for-sub-saharan-africarsquos-reinsurers-despite-challenging-operating-conditions/en


Velodyne Lidar’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution Selected for Major Deployment in University of California, Irvine Smart Cities Initiative

 Velodyne’s Lidar-based Traffic Monitoring Solution to be Used at 25 Intersections as Part of $6 Million Road Network Project in Irvine, Calif.


SAN JOSE, Calif.-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Velodyne Lidar, Inc. (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) today announced its Intelligent Infrastructure Solution has been selected by the HORIBA Institute for Mobility and Connectivity2 (HIMaC2) in the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Samueli School of Engineering. HIMaC2 plans to equip 25 intersections at UCI and the adjacent City of Irvine with Velodyne’s lidar-based Intelligent Infrastructure Solution as part of a major study on improving traffic and energy efficiency, road safety and air quality.


The Intelligent Infrastructure Solution deployment is supported by a $6 million grant recently awarded to HIMaC2 by the Vehicle Technology Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). HIMaC2 will create a Public Road Network Platform for the development, evaluation and deployment of emerging and future connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies. The Intelligent Infrastructure Solution combines Velodyne’s award-winning lidar sensors with powerful AI software to monitor traffic networks and public spaces.


Also included in the project are Bluecity, Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), the UCI Institute of Transportation Studies, Toyota Motor of North America, Pony.ai and Hyundai Mobis. Research shows traffic coordination of intersections and CAVs based on reliable data and analytics can reduce congestion between 20-to-30 percent and emissions between 5-to-15 percent while also improving safety.


“The program looks to advance connected and autonomous transportation and show how they can contribute to smarter, safer infrastructure for our communities,” said UCI Engineering Professor Scott Samuelsen, Principal Investigator in the HIMaC2 program. “By deploying Velodyne’s automated monitoring and control in an intersection network, backbone data can be generated and utilized to demonstrate improved safety, energy efficiency and traffic flow to which cities aspire. With its deployment at 25 intersections, this initiative will be the largest lidar-based traffic monitoring solution in the world.”


HIMaC2 will study how traffic coordination can be improved based on reliable data and analytics generated by the Intelligent Infrastructure Solution. By implementing advanced infrastructure monitoring as a V2X (vehicle to everything) solution, the HIMaC2 program will look to generate critical data needed to improve traffic and crowd flow, path planning, and protect vulnerable road users in all weather and lighting conditions. Distinct advantages of the Intelligent Infrastructure Solution include its ability to leverage as few as one unit per intersection which supports scalability. Additionally, lidar sensors do not identify individuals’ facial characteristics, an important privacy factor for civic applications.


“The HIMaC2 program is tackling one of the most challenging and pervasive infrastructure problems that cities face — how to improve traffic flows and safeguard road users,” said Jon Barad, Vice President of Business Development, Velodyne Lidar. “Velodyne believes that smart infrastructure integrated with connected and autonomous vehicles have the potential to deliver game-changing improvements in roadway efficiency and safety. We look forward to working with the HIMaC2 team to explore how to create a more sustainable, safer future for our transportation infrastructure.”


Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution


Velodyne’s Intelligent Infrastructure Solution creates a real-time 3D map of roads and intersections, providing precise traffic monitoring and analytics that is not possible with other types of sensors like cameras or radar. It reliably collects data in any lighting or weather condition, supporting year-round operation, while also protecting people's privacy. The solution advances safety through multimodal analytics that detect various road users including vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. It can predict, diagnose, and address road safety challenges, helping municipalities and other customers make informed decisions to take corrective action. For more information on the Intelligent Infrastructure Solution, contact Velodyne Sales: 669.275.2526, sales@velodyne.com.


About the HORIBA Institute for Mobility and Connectivity2 (HIMaC2)


Located at the UCI Samueli School of Engineering “Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP),” HIMaC2 focuses on the electrochemical powerplants (batteries and fuel cells) powering zero-emission vehicles, the integration of the energy and transportation sectors through electricity and hydrogen under a renewable energy paradigm, and the future of emerging connected and autonomous vehicle. The facilities encompass a Vehicle Evolution Laboratory, a Grid Evolution Laboratory, a Connected and Autonomous Mobility Laboratory, and an Analytic Laboratory.


About Velodyne Lidar


Velodyne Lidar (Nasdaq: VLDR, VLDRW) ushered in a new era of autonomous technology with the invention of real-time surround view lidar sensors. Velodyne, the global leader in lidar, is known for its broad portfolio of breakthrough lidar technologies. Velodyne’s revolutionary sensor and software solutions provide flexibility, quality and performance to meet the needs of a wide range of industries, including autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), smart cities and security. Through continuous innovation, Velodyne strives to transform lives and communities by advancing safer mobility for all. For more information, visit www.velodynelidar.com.


Forward Looking Statements


This press release contains “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, all statements other than historical fact and include, without limitation, statements regarding Velodyne’s target markets, new products, development efforts, and competition. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “can,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside Velodyne’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include uncertainties regarding government regulation and adoption of lidar, the uncertain impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Velodyne’s and its customers’ businesses; Velodyne’s ability to manage growth; Velodyne’s ability to execute its business plan; uncertainties related to the ability of Velodyne’s customers to commercialize their products and the ultimate market acceptance of these products; the rate and degree of market acceptance of Velodyne’s products; the success of other competing lidar and sensor-related products and services that exist or may become available; uncertainties related to Velodyne’s current litigation and potential litigation involving Velodyne or the validity or enforceability of Velodyne’s intellectual property; and general economic and market conditions impacting demand for Velodyne’s products and services. For more information about risks and uncertainties associated with Velodyne’s business, please refer to the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections of Velodyne’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Velodyne as of the date hereof, Velodyne undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.


Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/52499328/en


Contacts

Velodyne Investor Relations

InvestorRelations@velodyne.com


Velodyne Media

Codeword

Liv Allen

velodyne@codewordagency.com


HIMaC2 Media

William Gary

949-824-7302, Ext. 11131

wmg@apep.uci.edu


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/velodyne-lidarrsquos-intelligent-infrastructure-solution-selected-for-major-deployment-in-university-of-california-irvine-smart-cities-initiative/en


RESTYLANE®, the Original Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid Filler, Celebrates 25 Years of Unmatched Achievement

 The unsurpassed NASHA™ technology, which is still used today as the benchmark for fillers, was pioneered by Galderma



LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Thursday 30 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Galderma, the world’s largest independent dermatology company, today marks the 25th anniversary of RESTYLANE®. The original non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid filler restores, enhances and refreshes the youthful-looking appearance of the skin. Since launching in Europe in 1996, RESTYLANE has celebrated many milestones across the globe. This includes the first approval for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 and in China by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), (formerly China Food and Drug Administration or CFDA) in 2008.1,2


Now, in its 25th year, the RESTYLANE portfolio continues to grow and expand. Earlier this month, RESTYLANE EYELIGHT launched as a targeted treatment solution to combat under-eye shadows.* In February 2021, the FDA approved RESTYLANE DEFYNE for the augmentation and correction of mild to moderate chin retrusion for adults over the age of 21.3 These approvals mark major successes for the industry-standard filler.


The RESTYLANE portfolio offers the world’s most diverse range of fillers by using two complementary gel technologies, the non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid (NASHA™) process and Optimal Balance Technology™ (OBT™).4 These technologies provide personalized, natural-looking results which deliver long-term satisfaction and leave individuals filled with confidence.5,6,7 Evidence shows that 99% of people would recommend a treatment with RESTYLANE to a friend.8 Beyond high treatment satisfaction, RESTYLANE has become a trusted brand among health care professionals, with 50 million administered treatments and counting.9


“The depth of experience from RESTYLANE over the last 25 years has enabled us to build upon our expertise to innovate and develop new formulations and treatments. With over 30 ongoing pipeline projects in aesthetics alone, we will continue to enhance our diverse and broad portfolio of sophisticated brands to advance dermatology for every skin story.” Flemming Ørnskov, M.D., MPH, Chief Executive Officer, Galderma.


About Galderma


Galderma is the world’s largest independent dermatology company, present in approximately 100 countries. Since our inception in 1981, we have been driven by a complete dedication to dermatology. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of sophisticated brands and services across Aesthetics, Consumer Care and Prescription Medicine. Focused on the needs of consumers and patients, we work in partnership with health care professionals to ensure superior outcomes. Because we understand that the skin we’re in shapes our life stories, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. For more information: www.galderma.com.


About Galderma’s RESTYLANE portfolio


RESTYLANE is the original non-animal stabilized hyaluronic acid filler with over 25 years of achievement and over 50 million treatments worldwide. NASHA™ and OBT™ technologies make RESTYLANE the world’s most diverse range of fillers to deliver truly individualized results.4,10


The RESTYLANE portfolio of products includes RESTYLANE, RESTYLANE LYFT, RESTYLANE KYSSE, RESTYLANE VOLYME, RESTYLANE DEFYNE, RESTYLANE REFYNE, RESTYLANE EYELIGHT and RESTYLANE SKINBOOSTERS.


Beyond developing new products to meet the needs of consumers, we offer a premium training program to ensure health care practitioners know how to use Galderma products in the most secure and efficient way. The Galderma Aesthetic Injector Network (GAIN) connects an international faculty of aesthetic experts and injectors across the globe. GAIN is one of the world’s leading platforms for extensive training, knowledge sharing and expertise for health care practitioners supporting them in their practice.


* In September 2021, BeNeLux, France, Germany, the Nordics, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland launched RESTYLANE EYELIGHT


References


1 FDA. Summary of safety and effectiveness data. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf2/P020023b.pdf Last accessed September 2021

2 Restylane SFDA certificate. 2008.

3 Restylane DEFYNE. Instructions for Use. Fort Worth, TX: Galderma Laboratories, L.P., 2021.

4 Data on file (MA-33939).

5 Philipp-Dormston WG, et al. Evaluating Perceived Naturalness of Facial Expression After Fillers to the Nasolabial Folds and Lower Face With Standardized Video and Photography. Dermatol Surg. 2018 Jun; 44(6):826-832.

6 Talarico S et al. High Patient Satisfaction of a Hyaluronic Acid FillerProducing Enduring Full-Facial Volume Restoration: An18-Month Open Multicenter Study. Dermatol Surg. 2015 Dec; 41(12):1361-9.

7 Cartier H et al. Perioral rejuvenation with a range of customized hyaluronic acid fillers: efficacy and safety over six months with a specific focus on the lips. J Drugs Dermatol 2012; 11(1 Suppl):s17–26

8 Andriopoulos B et al. Poster presented at AMWC 2019.

9 Data on file (MA-39680).

10 Öhrlund A. Poster presented at AMWC 2019.


Job code: GL-RES- 2100254

Date of preparation: September 2021


Contacts

Lauren Starr

Head of Franchise Communications

Email: lauren.starr@galderma.com

Phone: +41 79 771 52 45


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/restylanereg-the-original-stabilized-hyaluronic-acid-filler-celebrates-25-years-of-unmatched-achievement/en


SES Joins Forces with SoftBank Corp. to Deliver Live Sporting Events Into Japan

 SES to use its global satellite and terrestrial infrastructure to aggregate and deliver sports events live to SoftBank so that millions across Japan can enjoy shared viewing experiences


LUXEMBOURG-Thursday 30 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Japanese sports fans will be able to enjoy more premium sports content as SoftBank Corp. (SoftBank), a leading telecom carrier in Japan, has partnered with SES for the aggregation and delivery of live sporting events to its corporate customers, such as TV stations and video distribution companies, SES announced today.


Under the new agreement, SES, via its diverse global infrastructure of multi-orbit satellite fleets and fibre network, will aggregate content and deliver it directly to SoftBank. In providing this service, SES will use more than 300 downlink antennas located around the world, including those in its new Stockley Park facility in London, as well as its own fibre network with connections to other major fibre hubs. In addition, SES will establish a new link to SoftBank's fibre network.


“Whether viewed on mobile devices or broadcast TV, tennis, football, golf, and other live sports are some of our most popular content that we see a growing demand for,” said Norioki Sekiguchi, Vice President, Global Business Division at SoftBank Corp. “With its diverse global infrastructure and access to a variety of sports content, SES is in a unique position to help us deliver a wide range of sports content in very high quality to our corporate customers in Japan.”


“We are delighted to join forces with SoftBank, the first provider we are interconnecting and partnering with in Japan, with a common goal to bring engaging content to sports fans across the country,” said Ed Cox, Vice President, Sales North America and Sports & Events at SES. “Providing content feeds solely using fibre networks is great testament to SES’s ability to adapt and leverage our hybrid distribution services in the most effective way possible to meet our partner’s needs.”


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About SES


SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world’s leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES’s video network carries over 8,650 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.


About SoftBank Corp.


Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) combines telecommunications services with cutting-edge technologies to create and operate new businesses. SoftBank Corp. serves more than 45 million mobile consumer and enterprise subscribers in Japan, and as part of its “Beyond Carrier” strategy, it is redefining industries by leveraging its unique strengths as a network operator to fully harness the power of 5G, big data, AI, IoT, robotics and other key technologies. To learn more, please visit www.softbank.jp/en/.


Contacts

For further information please contact:


Suzanne Ong

External Communications

Tel. +352 710 725 500

suzanne.ong@ses.com



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ABB Launches the World’s Fastest Electric Car Charger

 • Can deliver 100km of range in less than three minutes


• Only charger designed explicitly to charge up to four vehicles at once


• Ideal for refueling stations, urban charging stations, retail parking and fleet applications


ZURICH-Thursday 30 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- ABB is today launching an innovative all-in-one Electric Vehicle (EV) charger, which provides the fastest charging experience on the market.


ABB’s new Terra 360 is a modular charger which can simultaneously charge up to four vehicles with dynamic power distribution. This means that drivers will not have to wait if somebody else is already charging ahead of them. They simply pull up to another plug. The new charger has a maximum output of 360 kW and is capable of fully charging any electric car in 15 minutes or less, meeting the needs of a variety of EV users, whether they need a fast charge or to top their battery up while grocery shopping.


“With governments around the world writing public policy that favors electric vehicles and charging networks to combat climate change, the demand for EV charging infrastructure, especially charging stations that are fast, convenient and easy to operate is higher than ever,” said Frank Muehlon, President of ABB’s E-mobility Division. “The Terra 360, with charging options that fit a variety of needs, is the key to fulfilling that demand and accelerating e-mobility adoption globally.”


“It’s an exciting day for ABB, who as the global leader in electric vehicle fast charging, is playing a key role in enabling a low carbon society,” said Theodor Swedjemark, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer at ABB. “With road transport accounting for nearly a fifth of global CO2 emissions, e-mobility is critical to achieving the Paris climate goal. We will also lead by example by switching our entire fleet of more than 10,000 vehicles to non-emitting vehicles.”


Available in Europe from the end of 2021, and in the USA, Latin America and Asia Pacific regions in 2022, Terra 360 is designed with the daily needs and expectations of EV drivers in mind. Leveraging the rich field experience gained by ABB E-mobility’s large installed base, the Terra 360 delivers speed and convenience along with comfort, ease-of-use and a sense of familiarity.


Its innovative lighting system guides the user through the charging process and shows the State of Charge (SoC) of the EV battery and the residual time before the end of an optimal charge session. The world’s fastest EV charger is also wheelchair accessible and features an ergonomic cable management system that helps drivers plug in quickly with minimal effort.


As well as serving the needs of private EV drivers at fueling stations, convenience stores and retail locations, Terra 360 chargers can also be installed on an organization’s commercial premises to charge electric fleet cars, vans and trucks. This gives owners the flexibility to charge up to four vehicles overnight or to give a quick refill to their EVs in the day. Because Terra 360 chargers have a small footprint, they can be installed in small depots or parking lots where space is at a premium.


Terra 360 chargers are fully customizable. To personalize the appearance, customers can ‘brand’ the chargers by using different foiling or changing the color of the LED light strips. There is also the option to include an integrated 27” advertisement screen to play video and pictures.


ABB is a world leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, offering the full range of charging and electrification solutions for electric cars, electric and hybrid buses, vans, trucks, ships and railways. ABB entered the e-mobility market back in 2010, and today has sold more than 460,000 electric vehicle chargers across more than 88 markets; over 21,000 DC fast chargers and 440,000 AC chargers, including those sold through Chargedot.


ABB high-power chargers are already being deployed around the world through the company’s partnerships with international charging operators such as IONITY and Electrify America.


To explore ABB’s electric vehicle charging technology, visit www.abb.com/ev-charging.


ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com


Contacts

ABB Ltd

Affolternstrasse 44

8050 Zurich

Switzerland


Media Relations

Phone: +41 43 317 71 11

Email: media.relations@ch.abb.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/abb-launches-the-worldrsquos-fastest-electric-car-charger/en


Galderma Presents New Nemolizumab Data at EADV Reinforcing Rapid Onset of Action and Consistent Relief of Symptoms for People With Prurigo Nodularis and Atopic Dermatitis

 • Six abstracts; including new phase 2 data for nemolizumab across PN and AD and new real-world evidence highlighting the PN disease burden being presented

• Prurigo nodularis: Rapid onset of action with over three times greater itch reduction versus placebo within 48 hours of the first dose and a four times greater improvement in sleep versus placebo as early as Day 4

• Atopic dermatitis: Improvement of the clinical signs indicated by SCORAD components apparent at week 1 and increased through week 16



LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Galderma today announced the presentation of new phase 2 data supporting the efficacy of its investigational monoclonal antibody, nemolizumab, at the virtual 30th EADV congress, taking place between 28 September and 2 October 2021.

Results from two key trials of nemolizumab given every 4 weeks, demonstrate rapid onset of action and significant reduction in symptoms for patients with prurigo nodularis (PN) and atopic dermatitis (AD), and new real-world evidence highlight the PN disease burden.

 
    

"We are delighted to share new analyses and clinical trial data which reinforce nemolizumab’s therapeutic potential and comprehensive benefits across prurigo nodularis and atopic dermatitis. The scientific evidence for the critical role that the IL-31 pathway plays in the inflammatory process is growing and we are committed to continuing our work diligently to bring nemolizumab to patients living with these debilitating skin conditions.”

 

BALDO SCASSELLATI SFORZOLINI, M.D., PH.D., GLOBAL HEAD OF R&D, GALDERMA

Nemolizumab significantly reduces itch within 48 hours in PN
Findings from a secondary analysis of a phase 2 trial evaluating the onset of action in pruritus and sleep disturbance in patients with moderate-to-severe PN were the subject of abstract #465. Within 48 hours, nemolizumab significantly reduced severe itch over three times more effectively than placebo (-19.5% vs -5.8%, respectively, p=0.014), a rapid and significant decrease in itch which was maintained for the duration of the study. At Day 4, approximately a quarter of patients were already demonstrating strong reduction in severe itch responses to treatment with nemolizumab, compared to no responses for the placebo group (23.5% vs 0%, p<0.001). At study completion (12 weeks), over 50% of PN patients demonstrated a response to nemolizumab treatment (52.9% vs. 8.3%).

At Day 4, nemolizumab led to a four times greater improvement in sleep disturbance versus placebo (-19.8% vs -4.3%, p=0.012), with benefits significantly increased through week 4.

 
    

"Prurigo nodularis is associated with a markedly impaired quality of life and frequent sleep deprivation. This analysis highlights nemolizumab’s rapid onset of action bringing itch reduction within 48 hours of the first dose, and a significant improvement in sleep as early as Day 4 for moderately to severely affected patients. This symptomatic relief translates into a meaningful improvement in day-to-day life for these patients.”

 

PROFESSOR SONJA STÄNDER LEAD INVESTIGATOR, PROFESSOR FOR DERMATOLOGY, UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL MUENSTER, MUENSTER, GERMANY
    

 

Direct anti-inflammatory effect suggested for nemolizumab leading to early improvement in AD
New and consistent findings for nemolizumab in AD were also presented in abstract #1200, a secondary post-hoc analysis of the phase 2b data in adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). From the first week of treatment, nemolizumab showed a significant improvement in the clinical signs and symptoms of AD, as indicated by SCORAD, increasing through week 16. This included early improvement of erythema and excoriation suggests a direct anti-inflammatory effect, whereas improved skin dryness vs placebo could be a consequence of a beneficial effect of nemolizumab on the skin barrier.

 
    

"This analysis is important as it points to the direct anti-inflammatory effect of nemolizumab and builds our understanding of its mechanism of action bringing rapid and profound reduction in itch sensations and skin lesions for patients living with atopic dermatitis.”

 

PROFESSOR JEAN-DAVID BOUAZIZ LEAD INVESTIGATOR, DEPARTMENT OF DERMATOLOGY, SAINT-LOUIS HOSPITAL, PARIS, FRANCE
    

 

Marked improvements in signs and symptoms of AD also demonstrated in adolescent patients
A third abstract, #976, considered the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety and efficacy during nemolizumab treatment of AD in adolescents. AD is problematic in this age group as many activities in a teenager’s daily routine, such as sports and extracurricular events result in increased body temperature and sweating. Furthermore, as academic and social pressures increase during adolescence, anxieties and stress levels rise, worsening symptoms of AD. In patients aged 12-17 with moderate-to-severe pruritus, nemolizumab demonstrated a marked improvement in rash, itch, sleep and quality of life (QoL) and biomarkers.

About atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disruptive and debilitating inflammatory skin disease, characterized by diffuse skin lesions and constant disruptive itch.1,2 Reported prevalence of AD varies greatly, ranging from 1% to 25% of the population depending on the geography and age range.3 This severe and chronic skin disease can have a profound impact on patients’ quality of life, leading to sleep difficulties and causing secondary skin infections.4

About prurigo nodularis
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a rare, potentially debilitating, chronic skin condition with thick skin nodules covering large body areas and associated intense unrelenting itch.5 While PN can occur at any age, it is most likely to affect people between the ages of 40 and 69, frequently leading to severe impairment in quality of life.4
The global prevalence of PN is unknown as there are no studies describing the epidemiology of the condition. In the U.S., the latest estimate is that PN affects 52.9 people in every 100,000.4 In the European context, rates of between 0.65 and 11.1 per 10,000 population have been reported. In addition to natural variation, this relatively wide range of estimates is partly due to differences in case definition and the representativeness of the study populations.6

About nemolizumab
Nemolizumab is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-31 receptor alpha that blocks signaling from neuroimmune cytokine IL-31.7 IL-31 plays a key role in multiple disease mechanisms in both atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis. With its unique role in directly stimulating sensory neurons related to itch and contributing to inflammation and barrier dysfunction, IL-31 is a central mediator that serves as the bridge between the immune and nervous systems while directly acting on structural cells in the skin. Nemolizumab, initially developed by Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., was subsequently licensed to Galderma in 2016 – worldwide except Japan and Taiwan. Nemolizumab is an investigational agent under clinical development for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority. Nemolizumab was granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2019 for the treatment of pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis.

About Galderma
Galderma, the world's largest independent global dermatology company, was created in 1981 and is now present in over 100 countries with an extensive product portfolio of prescription medicines, aesthetics solutions and consumer care products. The company partners with health care practitioners around the world to meet the skin health needs of people throughout their lifetime. Galderma is a leader in research and development of scientifically-defined and medically-proven solutions for the skin. For more information, please visit www.galderma.com

References

1 Langan S. et al. Atopic dermatitis. The Lancet. 2020;396(10247):345-360. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31286-1
2 Weidinger S. et al. Atopic dermatis. Nature Reviews. 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41572-018-0001-z
3 Silverberg, J, I. Public Health Burden and Epidemiology of Atopic Dermatitis.283-289. 2017.
4 Atopic Eczema – Symptoms. NHS. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema/symptoms/ Accessed: March 2021
5 Galderma. Data on File.
6 Morgan LI. Christopher. Epidemiology of prurigo nodularis in England. 2021.
7 Saleem M. et al. Interleukin-31 pathway and its role in atopic dermatitis: a systematic review. J Dermatolog Treat. 2017;28(7):591-599. DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2017.1290205

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210928006071/en/

Contacts

Investor and Media Relations
Christian Marcoux, M.Sc.
Chief Communications Officer
christian.marcoux@galderma.com
+41-76-315-26-50

Media Contact
Lauren Starr
Head of Franchise Communications
media@galderma.com
+41-79-771-52-45


 
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Dulsco Gears Up for Expo 2020 Dubai as the Official Waste Management Partner

 

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES.-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

    Front of House stand at the Opportunity District
    Central Waste Facility (CWF) built onsite
    Animated character, Birdy, will lead public awareness campaigns

Dulsco, an integrated solutions provider and the Official Waste Management Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, is all set to deliver the most sustainable Expo ever by diverting 85% of the waste away from landfill using different bespoke treatment and solutions.

David Stockton, CEO of Dulsco said: “We are committed to helping Expo 2020 Dubai deliver its sustainability goals and showcase the UAE’s unwavering efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future for all whist showcasing and maximizing our new technologies.”

As part of Dulsco’s Waste2Resource initiative for Expo 2020 Dubai, waste will be recycled and reused in the event, conserving valuable resources in the process, in line with the Expo’s subtheme of Sustainability and the UAE’s move towards achieving a circular economy. Dulsco trucks powered by biofuel will collect all the waste collected from the Expo 2020 Dubai site and transported to the Central Waste Facility (CWF) built onsite specially for the event to ensure a streamline efficient recycling and recovery process.

Once sorted, the recyclables will be transferred to the larger  Dulsco facilities located in UAE, such as the state-of-the-art Material Recovery Facility, which is capable of sorting  multiple waste streams per day; Paper Pulp plant, where waste paper is converted into quality  molded products such as trays and cupholders; as well as our Glass Upcycling initiative which turns glass collected from various waste streams into prized ornaments, in partnership with SMEs to recycle glass into memorabilia; plastic recycled into retail items such as t-shirts, caps, etc; and used cooking oil into biofuel to power our waste vehicles at the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

Organic waste from the Expo 2020 Dubai will also be converted to compost that fertilises the grounds of the existing site. Even construction waste from the site was recycled at Dulsco’s Construction and Demolition Waste facility and returned to help construct the Waste 2 Resource facility.

Other recyclables such as metal spares and consumable parts will be repurposed and recycled through its upcycling concept store initiative, The New Old & Reloved, which transforms waste into imaginative and stylish home décor.

“All these efforts bring the concept of the circular economy to life which the UAE has been aggressively pursuing as part of its sustainability agenda,” continued Stockton.

In addition, Dulsco will be actively participating in Expo 2020 Dubai with its own interactive platform, its very own Front of House stand at the Opportunity District which will showcase its various sustainability initiatives as a leading provider of environmental solutions and increase awareness around sustainability in the region. It will feature a highly entertaining and educational activity that will test Expo visitors’ knowledge of the 4R’s of waste management – reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle – while highlighting its waste management solutions and how its sustainability efforts are powering better and safer communities.

Prior to Expo 2020 Dubai’s opening, Dulsco launched an animated character, Birdy, that will lead its public awareness campaign in the 4R’s which is aimed at generating widespread support not just for the event but also for conservation efforts aimed at protecting and preserving the environment.

With the opening of the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region, Dulsco is working hand-in-hand with Expo 2020 Dubai team to ensure that the millions of visitors who are expected to come will have a sustainable and memorable event experience.

Contacts

 

Noor Hafez

Account Manager

+97143298996  


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/dulsco-gears-up-for-expo-2020-dubai-as-the-official-waste-management-partner/en

Woven Planet Holdings, a Subsidiary of Toyota, Acquires Vehicle Operating System Developer Renovo Motors

 Acquisition to Provide Additional Resources to Power World-Class Technology and Build the Safest Mobility in the World




TOKYO & CAMPBELL, Calif.-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Woven Planet Holdings, Inc. (“Woven Planet”), a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”), announced the acquisition of Renovo Motors, Inc. (“Renovo”), a pioneering Silicon Valley-based automotive operating system developer. Renovo develops specialized software, which will advance Woven Planet’s mission to enable the most programmable vehicles on the planet with Arene and realize the broader vision of “Mobility to Love, Safety to Live.”

The acquisition will add depth to Woven Planet’s resources, particularly for Arene, Woven Planet’s open vehicle development platform, by:

bolstering their elite team with top-tier engineers who have deep expertise in building a complete software-defined vehicle infrastructure stack

providing a platform and software that are proven to work across multiple original equipment manufacturer (OEM) platforms, well-aligned with the goal of establishing a hardware-agnostic operating system

bringing a robust, established technology ecosystem of industry partners

Following on the heels of recent acquisitions made this year, Renovo complements Woven Planet’s strategy to bring together world-class talent and expertise in automated driving technology, next-generation mapping, and vehicle operating systems, ensuring that Woven Planet can power the future of mobility.

Comment from Nikos Michalakis, Senior Vice President of Software Platform,
Woven Planet Holdings:
“The acquisition of Renovo supports Woven Planet's work in transforming worldwide mobility. A key part in delivering our ‘Mobility to Love, Safety to Live’ vision is to enable the most programmable vehicles on the planet – opening vehicle programming to everyone by simplifying vehicle software development and increasing deployment frequency without compromising safety and security. With Renovo having deep roots in the space, we immediately recognized the opportunity and inherent value of the company. The technical and cultural fit could not have been better and all of us are excited to bring our expertise and technology together to power a new era of automotive technology.”

Comment from Christopher Heiser, CEO, Renovo Motors:
“We are in awe with what the Woven Planet team has been building – and are thrilled to join them in creating holistic mobility solutions that will truly benefit humankind. We are united around a singular goal to connect the most ubiquitous software and automotive technology in the industry. In Woven Planet and Toyota, we've found partners committed to doing exactly what we have always wanted to do on a global scale, and that’s a great feeling.”

About Woven Planet Holdings
Woven Planet Group represents a carefully curated blend of expertise and resources dedicated to bringing the vision of “Mobility to Love, Safety to Live” to life. Through innovations and investments in automated driving, robotics, smart cities, and more, we are transforming how humankind lives, works, and moves. We exist to design, build, and deliver secure, connected, and sustainable mobility solutions that benefit all people worldwide. Founded in 2018 as Toyota Research Institute - Advanced Development (“TRI-AD”), Woven Planet is composed of four complementary companies: Woven Planet Holdings, Woven Core, Woven Alpha, and Woven Capital.

For more information, please visit: https://www.woven-planet.global/

About Renovo Motors
Renovo is an award-winning automotive software company and creator of the first commercially available data-management platform that enables automakers to continuously learn from their production vehicles. Renovo’s “Complete Loop” approach allows those automakers to delight their customers with vehicles that get smarter, become safer, increase in performance, and grow in reliability through every day of ownership. From ADAS and infotainment feature improvements to resolving critical safety and potential warranty issues, Renovo makes every mile a vehicle drives 10X more valuable as every mile is used to make the product, your organization, and its teams better.

For more information, please visit: www.renovo.auto

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/52499699/en

Contacts
Woven Planet Holdings, Inc.
Public Relations
pr@woven-planet.global

Renovo Motors, Inc.
media@renovo.auto





Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/woven-planet-holdings-a-subsidiary-of-toyota-acquires-vehicle-operating-system-developer-renovo-motors/en

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

VFMCRP announces approval for TAVNEOS® (avacopan) for the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis in Japan

 • First orally administered therapy for the treatment of two types of ANCA-associated vasculitis approved in Japan

• Partner Kissei to market TAVNEOS® in Japan, with launch expected as soon as possible following National Health Insurance (NHI) price listing


ST. GALLEN, Switzerland-Tuesday 28 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (VFMCRP) today announced that Japan’s Ministry of Health and Labor Welfare (MHLW) has granted its partner, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., marketing authorization approval for TAVNEOS® for the treatment of patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), the two main types of ANCA-associated vasculitis, a rare and severe autoimmune renal disease with high unmet medical need.


“We are delighted that TAVNEOS® has been approved in Japan, the first market worldwide, and congratulate our partner Kissei for this significant milestone,” said Abbas Hussain, CEO of Vifor Pharma Group. “ANCA-associated vasculitis is officially designated an intractable disease in Japan, indicating a rare disease without any effective treatment but for which long-term treatment is required. There is significant unmet medical need of over 10,000 patients in Japan, and we believe in the potential of TAVNEOS® for treating it. We are confident that Kissei will fully focus on bringing this breakthrough treatment to this patient population, helping them lead better, healthier lives.”


The approval is based on the marketing authorization application filing by Kissei which was supported by positive clinical data from the pivotal phase-III trial ADVOCATE in a total of 331 patients with MPA and GPA in 18 countries and regions, including Japan. TAVNEOS® demonstrated superiority over standard of care at week 52 based on Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS).


VFMCRP holds the rights to commercialize TAVNEOS® outside the U.S.. In June 2017, VFMCRP granted Kissei the exclusive right to develop and commercialize TAVNEOS® in Japan. Kissei expects to begin to market TAVNEOS® as soon as possible following NHI price listing. Outside Japan, TAVNEOS is currently in regulatory review with various agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.


About Vifor Pharma Group


Vifor Pharma Group is a global pharmaceuticals company. It aims to become the global leader in iron deficiency, nephrology and cardio-renal therapies. The company is a partner of choice for pharmaceuticals and innovative patient-focused solutions. Vifor Pharma Group strives to help patients around the world with severe and chronic diseases lead better, healthier lives. The company develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products for precision patient care. Vifor Pharma Group holds a leading position in all its core business activities and consists of the following companies: Vifor Pharma and Vifor Fresenius Medical Care Renal Pharma (a joint company with Fresenius Medical Care). Vifor Pharma Group is headquartered in Switzerland, and listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX Swiss Exchange, VIFN, ISIN: CH0364749348).


For more information, please visit viforpharma.com.


About Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.


Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a Japanese pharmaceutical company with approximately 70 years of history. Based on its management philosophy, “contributing to society through high-quality, innovative pharmaceutical products” and “serving society through our employees”, Kissei is concentrating on providing innovative pharmaceuticals to patients worldwide as a strongly R&D-oriented corporation. Kissei is engaged in R&D and licensing activities in the field of nephrology/dialysis, urology, and unmet medical needs in other disease areas. Kissei has an established collaboration with VFMCRP for sucroferric oxyhydroxide which Kissei fully developed in Japan as P-TOL® (known as Velphoro® in Europe/US) for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia. Since the launch in 2015, the market share of P-TOL® has been steadily expanding in Japan. For more information about Kissei Pharmaceutical, please visit www.kissei.co.jp.


About ChemoCentryx Inc.


ChemoCentryx is a biopharmaceutical company developing new medications for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and cancer. ChemoCentryx targets the chemokine and chemoattractant systems to discover, develop and commercialize orally-administered therapies. Besides ChemoCentryx’s lead drug candidate, avacopan, ChemoCentryx also has early stage drug candidates that target chemoattractant receptors in other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and in cancer.


About ANCA-associated vasculitis


ANCA-associated vasculitis is a systemic disease in which over-activation of the complement pathway further activates neutrophils, leading to inflammation and destruction of small blood vessels. This results in organ damage and failure, with the kidney as the major target, and is fatal if not treated. Currently, treatment for ANCA-associated vasculitis consists of courses of non-specific immuno-suppressants (cyclophosphamide or rituximab), combined with the administration of daily glucocorticoids (steroids) for prolonged periods of time, which can be associated with significant clinical risk including death from infection.


About TAVNEOS® (avacopan)


Avacopan is an orally-administered small molecule that is a selective inhibitor of the complement C5a receptor C5aR1. By precisely blocking the receptor (the C5aR) for the pro-inflammatory complement system fragment, C5a on destructive inflammatory cells such as blood neutrophils, avacopan arrests the ability of those cells to do damage in response to C5a activation, which is known to be the driver of inflammation. Moreover, avacopan’s selective inhibition of only the C5aR1 leaves the beneficial C5a l pathway through the C5L2 receptor functioning normally.


ChemoCentryx is also developing avacopan for the treatment of patients with C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted avacopan orphan-drug designation for ANCA-associated vasculitis, C3G and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. The European Commission has granted orphan medicinal product designation for avacopan for the treatment of two forms of ANCA vasculitis: microscopic polyangiitis and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis), as well as for C3G. In October 2020, European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted to review the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for avacopan for the treatment of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)). 

Contacts


Media Relations

Nathalie Ponnier

Global Head Corporate Communications

+41 79 957 96 73

media@viforpharma.com


Investor Relations

Julien Vignot

Head of Investor Relations

+41 58 851 66 90

investors@viforpharma.com

Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/vfmcrp-announces-approval-for-tavneosregnbspavacopan-for-the-treatment-of-anca-associated-vasculitis-in-japan/en

Tigo Energy to Reveal New Solutions for Solar Fleet Management and Fire Safety at Intersolar Europe

 The Tigo Energy Intelligence monitoring platform and Tigo TS4-A-2F for rapid shutdown on commercial installations will be showcased at Intersolar Europe, 2021.


MONTEVARCHI, Italy-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Tigo Energy, Inc., the solar industry’s worldwide leader in Flex MLPE (Module Level Power Electronics), confirms the Company’s presence at the upcoming Intersolar Europe in Munich, Germany. Tigo representatives will showcase the entire family of Tigo TS4 Flex MLPE devices, including the recently introduced TS4-A-2F and the Tigo Energy Intelligence software platform. Together, these Tigo products make up the most cost-effective and advanced solution for rapid shutdown on large-scale solar projects.


Tigo Energy has led solar innovation with its Tigo TS4 Flex MLPE by providing the freedom for customers to choose the features and components for their solar installations. Over the past 12 months, Tigo released key updates and innovations to its Flex MLPE product line to address the growing demand for high-power solar modules and energy projects that call for a diversified set of fire safety, monitoring, management, and power optimization features.


“The Tigo TS4 is a fixture in the systems we deploy because they provide a level of utility and value simply not found elsewhere,” said Ines Zion, Head of Business Development at Energy Rockstars GmbH & Co.KG. “The TS4 units are quick and easy to install, and the module-level monitoring they enable through the Tigo EI app gives us an outstanding overview of the installed components. The system reporting offered by Tigo also helps us quickly understand system performance and manage maintenance, both of which our customers value.”


The Tigo Energy Intelligence (EI) solution, a comprehensive digital platform, is designed to optimize the installer experience around commissioning, monitoring, and maintaining fleets of solar installations. Tigo EI also delivers the tools to decrease operation and maintenance costs, increase system performance and revenue, and improve the user experience for installers and customers. The platform also simplifies the commissioning process by providing greater system visibility and information to end installers and EPCs.


“The Tigo Energy Intelligence platform takes the installer experience to the next level, and we look forward to showing our installer partners exactly what Tigo EI can perform for them,” said Mirko Bindi, Vice President EMEA Sales and MD Europe at Tigo Energy. “The data granularity and analytics provided by the Tigo EI platform enables deep insights into systems that allow EPCs and installers to speed up commissioning, reduce operations and maintenance costs, maximizing system performance and revenue.”


To learn more about Tigo Flex MLPE solutions and the Tigo Energy Intelligence monitoring platform, please visit Tigo Energy at Intersolar Europe (Messe München, Pavilion B5, Booth 150) from October 6-8, 2021.


About Tigo Energy


Tigo Energy is the worldwide leader in Flex MLPE (Module Level Power Electronics) with innovative solutions that increase solar energy production, decrease operating costs, and significantly enhance safety of solar energy systems. The Tigo TS4 platform maximizes the benefit of solar and provides customers with the most scalable, versatile, and reliable MLPE solution available. Tigo was founded in Silicon Valley in 2007 to accelerate the adoption of solar energy worldwide. Tigo systems operate on seven continents and produce gigawatt hours of reliable, clean, affordable, and safe solar energy daily. With a global team, Tigo Energy is dedicated to making the best MLPE on earth so more people can enjoy the benefits of solar. Find us online at www.tigoenergy.com.


Contacts

John Lerch

marketing@tigoenergy.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/tigo-energy-to-reveal-new-solutions-for-solar-fleet-management-and-fire-safety-at-intersolar-europe/en


PMI Calls for Science-Based Discourse on Smoke-Free Alternatives

 New international survey reveals misinformation is leading to confusion about smoke-free products



LAUSANNE, Switzerland-Tuesday 28 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Misinformation threatens progress toward a smoke-free future, reveals a new international survey released today by Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM). Well-funded groups continue to promote false narratives and spread confusion even as societal support increases for smoke-free alternatives that are scientifically substantiated to be a better choice for adults than continued smoking.

The survey—fielded among nearly 30,000 adults in 26 countries by independent research firm Povaddo and commissioned by PMI—reveals that too many adult smokers remain unaware that better alternatives to cigarettes exist, are unable to access them, or are confused by false or misleading information that prevents them from making an informed choice.

There is clear public demand for a collective review of the facts and science about smoke-free products. Nearly eight in 10 respondents (79%) agree that adult smokers who would otherwise continue using cigarettes should have access to and accurate information about smoke-free alternatives. This view is shared by 87% of current adult smokers.

“People expect public health bodies and regulators to reach a scientific consensus around innovative smoke-free alternatives and provide adults who smoke with evidence-based information about these products,” said Grégoire Verdeaux, Senior Vice President, External Affairs at PMI. “Misinformation about smoke-free alternatives—often based on opinion—is a persistent issue that is having real-world consequences. Embracing facts, innovative technologies, and science is the shared responsibility of industry, health authorities, and government, and it’s the least we can do to drive positive change for the world. At Philip Morris International, we prioritize transparency as we transform our business to deliver a smoke-free future—inviting policymakers, the scientific community, and NGOs to review and verify our scientific findings. By providing adult smokers science-based information about better alternatives, we can accelerate the decline in smoking rates, helping to end the use of cigarettes once and for all.”

The survey also shows the extent of public confusion surrounding smoke-free products.

Nearly half the adults surveyed wrongly believe that e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are more harmful than or equally harmful as cigarettes (45% and 46%, respectively, for each product category).

Asked why they have not considered switching to a better alternative, around a third of smokers surveyed cited lack of information about how these products differ from cigarettes (33%), uncertainty about the science (35%), or having easier access to cigarettes (32%), the most harmful form of tobacco consumption.

Promisingly, the survey findings also demonstrate how accurate information about better alternatives can help smokers to move away from cigarettes.

The vast majority (91%) of adult smokers who have switched to a better alternative and stopped smoking confirmed that having accurate information about how these products differ from cigarettes was an important factor in their decision.

Of adults who smoke, 63% would be more likely to switch to a better alternative (such as e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products) if they had clarity on how these products differ from cigarettes and the science behind them.

The survey also explores public attitudes toward scientific studies conducted by manufacturers of smoke-free products. A majority of adults surveyed (82%) believe their governments have a responsibility to objectively review and consider scientific evidence about smoke-free alternative products coming from manufacturers such as PMI. Additionally, nearly three quarters (72%) support tobacco companies working with governments, regulators, and public health experts to ensure that smokers have access to and accurate information about smoke-free alternatives.

To review the complete survey findings, visit PMI.com/informedchoice

Povaddo Survey Methodology

Povaddo conducted this online survey on behalf of PMI between July 19 and August 3, 2021. The survey was fielded among 29,484 legal-aged adult respondents, drawn from the general population and aged 21 or older, in 26 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company, its shareholders, and its other stakeholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities, and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI’s smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of June 30, 2021, PMI’s smoke-free products are available for sale in 67 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14.7 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

Contacts
Philip Morris International
David Fraser
Philip Morris International
T. +41 (0)79 843 8603
E. David.Fraser@pmi.com




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Andersen Global Expands Footprint in Asia; Adds Presence in Four Countries

 SAN FRANCISCO-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Andersen Global extends its global platform’s eastern coverage through a Collaboration Agreement with tax advisory firm BoardRoom Business Solutions Pte. Ltd., adding 14 locations across Singapore, Malaysia, China and Hong Kong.


Founded in 1968, BoardRoom offers a full suite of tax, finance, payroll and corporate secretarial services, providing business solutions and corporate advisory to clients including Fortune 500 multinationals, public companies and privately-owned enterprises. The firm is led by Group CEO Kim Teo and Managing Director of BBS Chester Leong, and operates with 19 Partners and over 800 professionals.


“We are pleased to be collaborating with like-minded professionals who invest in their people and promote stewardship to ensure clients receive best-in-class solutions,” Kim said. “Our combined expertise and synergy afford us the opportunity to deliver integrated, independent services in a seamless manner globally.”


“BoardRoom provides broad coverage and establishes a strong foothold in the region,” Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO Mark Vorsatz added. “Their extensive experience and knowledge will be invaluable to our clients with local and regional interest. Kim and his team demonstrate the highest professional standards, and we look forward to working together as we continue to expand the capabilities of our group in this important region.”


Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 8,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 315 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.


Contacts

Megan Tsuei

Andersen Global

415-764-2700


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/andersen-global-expands-footprint-in-asia-adds-presence-in-four-countries/en


CGTN Channels to Switch to HD in SES and Globecast Renewal Agreement

 For the first time, three CGTN channels will be broadcast in HD via SES’s prime neighbourhood of ASTRA 19.2 degrees East

LUXEMBOURG-Wednesday 29 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Audiences across Europe are now able to watch China Global Television Network (CGTN) channels in high-definition (HD) due to a new capacity agreement, SES announced today. Globecast, the global solutions provider for media, has extended its partnership with SES to deliver three CGTN channels in HD using Globecast’s media services and SES’s satellites at 19.2 degrees East. These channels continue to be available in SD quality.


Under the multi-year agreement, Globecast will lease additional capacity on SES's prime neighbourhood to deliver CGTN News, CGTN Documentary and CGTN French, and will manage the uplinking and contribution services for these channels. After a simulcast period, all three Chinese public broadcaster’s channels will broadcast exclusively in HD by the end of the year.


“As premium broadcast service provider in the European region, when CGTN approached us with their plans to move to HD, our obvious choice was to work with our long-term partner, SES, to identify key positions. It’s a pleasure to start a new transponder on Astra 19.2 location with 24/7 channel monitoring services to reach large audiences for key public broadcaster like CGTN,” said Shakunt Malhotra, Managing Director-Asia of Globecast.


“Over the past 18 months we have seen multiple public broadcasters renew and expand contracts with SES and our partners because they recognise that satellite is the easiest and most reliable way to reach the widest possible audiences. In addition, they also want to broadcast in HD as TV viewers today expect crystal-clear images when they turn on their TV screens,” said Deepak Mathur, Executive Vice President of Global Sales at SES Video. “Together with our long-term partner Globecast, we continue to provide broadcasters and content owners with the largest audience reach they are seeking for their content.”


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About SES


SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world’s leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES’s video network carries over 8,650 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.


About Globecast


Globecast helps customers to manage content and to deliver it wherever, however and whenever required. The company provides agile and seamless content acquisition, management and distribution services globally, constantly innovating and investing in new technologies to create customer-centric new services. It delivers any type of video service and supplies Content Aggregation and Distribution services to over 250 networks.


www.globecast.com | LinkedIn | Twitter


Contacts

Suzanne Ong

External Communications

+352 710 725 500

suzanne.ong@ses.com


Bazeli Mbo

Head of external communication

+33 1 5595 2604

bazeli.mbo@globecast.com

Globecast.com


Permalink : https://www.aetoswire.com/news/cgtn-channels-to-switch-to-hd-in-ses-and-globecast-renewal-agreement/en


Zayed Sustainability Prize Announces 30 Finalists during Jury Meeting

 10 Winners to be announced at Awards Ceremony this January


Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.-Tuesday 28 September 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]


The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering award for recognising sustainable solutions and humanitarianism, held its Jury meeting to elect winners for its current 2022 cycle, who will be announced during the Prize’s Awards Ceremony at the 2022 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), this January.


A total of 30 finalists were confirmed and are now vying for 10 awards, across the five categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, and Global High Schools. This year, the Prize received a remarkable 4,000 applications, marking a significant 68.5% increase in entries compared to the previous cycle, while attracting submissions from a record 151 countries, representing over three quarters of the world’s nations.


The Prize Jury, comprising former heads of state, government ministers and international business figures, convened through a virtual meeting to review shortlisted submissions identified by the Prize’s Selection Committee in August.


In his remarks, H.E. Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, highlighted how the Prize continues to act as an enabler and accelerator for global impact, from life-saving health solutions to food security enhancements, and from vital renewable energy to clean water, adding: “The Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to further the legacy and values of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and in particular his vision for humanitarian and  sustainable progress throughout the world”.


The Prize’s Director General went on to say: “As the UAE celebrates its Jubilee this year, the Prize aligns perfectly with the “Principles of the Fifty”, the blueprint for progress that our wise leadership announced earlier this month to expand the country’s positive economic impact globally. The Prize has already improved the lives of millions around the world and will continue to expand as a force for good that contributes to a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable world, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals”. He added that the extensive participation level from knowledge-based economies and emerging markets alike, reflects the current direction towards greater social inclusivity as the world gears up for COP26 and expediated climate action resiliency in the evolving context of post-pandemic recovery.


This year, finalists effectively addressed and proposed solutions for a spectrum of global challenges, often presenting solutions that are integrated and can benefit communities in more than one area, such as power and water synergies. Most entries focused on ecosystems’ resilience and affordability of solutions, underscoring a clear case for the economic benefits of sustainability innovation, while many of those solutions leverage next generation technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to drive impact.


The Chair of the Jury and former President of the Republic of Iceland, H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, added: “The innovation and diversity demonstrated in this year’s applications, including inspiring projects envisioned by the youth, is a testament to the Prize’s ongoing ability to engage sustainability pioneers, worldwide, while offering a platform and steppingstone for transformation and added human impact”.


H.E. Grimsson noted that the cycle postponement last year was a necessary step to protect the Prize’s global participants with the advent of COVID-19, however, it enabled the Prize to attract and capture the inspiring concepts developed by forward-thinking organisations in response to one of the world’s most unprecedented crises.


Health finalists focused notably on reinforcing affordable access to healthcare for remote, vulnerable communities and easier and better ways of delivery care, particularly during the pandemic, such as telemedicine. Health entries also focused on the development of technological platforms through automation and data and reporting enhancement and accuracy to safeguard communities from preventable diseases.


The ‘Health’ category finalists are:


Mamotest (Argentina), an SME that has an innovative approach to medical imagery through the use of teleradiology centres in underserved areas.

Medic Mobile (United States of America), an NPO that combines R&D and technical design to capture health data for primary healthcare.

Project Andiamo Ltd (United Kingdom), an SME that ensures scalable and transportable solutions by combing innovative 3D printing with advances in machine learning to automise processes for custom medical devices.

This year’s Food finalists notably focused on supporting the circular economy through key undertakings such as food waste reduction and waste-to-energy, while also tackling climate change by promoting local inclusion and reducing pollution. More broadly, food security was also top of mind this year with finalists highlighting ways of enhancing argi-tech and improving rural and farmer livelihoods through innovative solutions to sustainably strengthen supply chains, mitigate production challenges, and overcome logistical hurdles.


The ‘Food’ finalists are:


Safi Organics (Kenya), a fertiliser production SME working to tackle the challenges of rural farmers having to contend with expensive or inappropriate fertilisers that lead soil acidification and yield loss.

S4S Technologies (India), an SME that is committed to empowering rural women and harnessing new technology to reduce food waste and improve income for farmers.

Tecnologías AgriBest, S.A. DE C.V. (Mexico), an SME that deploys biotechnology to improve farmer crop yield and facilitate cost savings.

Meanwhile, Energy category contenders presented a diverse array of technical solutions to improve energy access and efficiency. This ranged from energy storage and solar home systems to electrical grids and water solutions generated by the sun, addressing the rapidly growing power needs of various communities, from urban to rural.


The ‘Energy’ category finalists are:


ME SOLshare Ltd. (Bangladesh), an SME that created an interconnected microgrid for peer-to-peer energy exchange to enable a more efficient distribution of electricity across rural communities.

Planet Ark Power (Australia), an SME that utilises AI and IoT through the first fully two-way electrical grid to reduce energy costs.

Tongwei New Energy (China), an SME that integrates smart aquaculture and solar photovoltaics to enhance food security through an innovative business model.

On their part, Water category finalists presented a range of added value innovations that leverage modern technology to achieve ‘clean water for all’ and reduce waterborne diseases and deaths for communities around the world. 


The ‘Water’ category finalists are:


Boreal Light GmbH (Germany), a designer and manufacturer SME that creates affordable solar water desalination systems for off-grid communities in Africa.

OffGridBox, Inc (United States of America), an SME that deploys microfiltration and UV sterilisation for water purification and desalination through solar.

Wateroam (Singapore), an SME committed to tackling the global challenge of contaminated water through portable water filters to serve disaster-hit and rural communities.

The Global High Schools’ finalists presented project-based, student-led sustainability solutions, with finalists divided into 6 regions. The regional finalists include:


The Americas: Iniciativas Ecológicas (Venezuela), Instituto Iberia (Dominican Republic), and Liceo Arturo Alessandri Palma (Chile).


Europe & Central Asia: JU Gimnazija “Biha” (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Liceo Europeo (Spain), and Romain-Rolland-Gymnasium (Germany).


Middle East & North Africa: Eastern Mediterranean International School (Israel), Gifted Students School (Iraq), and Umm Al Arab (United Arab Emirates).


Sub-Saharan Africa: Daddies Firm Foundation School (Ghana), Lighthouse Primary and Secondary School (Mauritius), and Sharia Assembly of Uganda (Uganda). 


South Asia: The BlinkNow Foundation (Nepal), Hira School (Maldives), and Man Kuwari Hansa Higher Secondary School Barela (India).


East Asia & Pacific: Bohol Wisdom School (The Philippines), International School of Asia, Karuizawa (UWC ISAK) (Japan), and Shanghai World Foreign Language Academy (China).


In the Health, Food, Energy, and Water categories, each winner receives USD600,000. The Global High Schools category has six winners, representing six world regions, with each winner receiving up to USD100,000. Since its launch in 2008, the US$3 million Prize has, directly and indirectly, transformed the lives of over 352 million people across 150 countries. Today, the Prize remains a catalyst for addressing the world’s most pressing issues as it continues to drive and deliver long-term impact to various communities around the world.


About the Zayed Sustainability Prize


Established by the UAE leadershi, in 2008, to honour the legacy of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAE’s pioneering global award for recognising sustainability and humanitarian solutions around the world.


The Zayed Sustainability Prize acknowledges and rewards global pioneers and innovators who are committed to accelerating impactful sustainable solutions.


Over the past 13 years, the Prize has awarded 86 winners. Collectively, they have directly and indirectly, positively impacted the lives of over 352 million people around the world. The Zayed Sustainability Prize categories are: Health, Food, Energy, Water and Global High Schools.


For more information, please visit www.ZayedSustainabilityPrize.com or go to our social media platforms on, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.


Contacts

Medhat Juma


Hill+Knowlton Strategies


T: +971 561399482


Medhat.Juma@hkstrategies.com


Erika Spagakou


Hill+Knowlton Strategies


T: +971 551398765


Erika.Spagakou@hkstrategies.com


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