Malaysian startup HOMA2u raises US$1.5mil in pre-series A from Asia Fund X

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  • seeks to collaborate with local consultants to analyze the carbon footprint of the supply chain.
  • Says it&nbsp, has &nbsp, repurposed US$ 4.2mil&nbsp, in excess inventories to 8, 000 houses

The HOMA2u team together with ecosystem partners

HOMA2u has raised US$ 1.5 million ( RM7 million ) in its Pre- Series A round. This money will be crucial to the company’s graphite decrease tracking initiatives and its growth beyond its home market, according to a statement from the market for restoration and interior design materials.

Committed to conservation as a primary business drivers, HOMA2u is reinforcing its economic commitment to achieve significant, tangible results. The company will work with regional qualified economic consultants to assess the carbon footprint caused by recycling overstock materials throughout the supply chain. &nbsp,

Importantly, each sale of excess tiles saves about 16.42 pounds of CO2 per m², preventing removal and reducing the need for fresh tile production. According to the company, its coal decline is properly calculated using market standards and best practices. Also, it maintains a thorough and truthful accounting of its carbon footprint, establishes new industry standards, and grants natural certificates to the businesses it collaborates with.

HOMA2u claims that to date, it has repurposed over US$ 4.2 million ( RM20 million ) worth of overstock inventories to more than 8, 000 homes. It set out a goal to keep 7.5 million kg of carbon by the end of the year at the start of 2024.

Pennie Lim, i- founder and CEO of HOMA2u, said,” As HOMA2u commemorates its seven- month journey, it stands at the ledge of a fresh time, driven by innovation and sustainability. Our goal as a business is to reinvent the built environment’s business environment, but we are also aware of the positive influence we bring to the table. She continued,” The company is committed to expanding its offerings into high-growth regions like Taiwan and Japan, where attitudes toward ESG design are remarkably similar.”

She further stated that the company is committed to expanding its offerings beyond Malaysia and Singapore, particularly into high-growth markets like Taiwan and Japan, where attitudes toward Sustainable development are remarkably related.

Through its core online-to-offline marketplace offering of excess and financial renovation and building materials, as well as modern initiatives like its Yellowish Boxes, HOMA2u continues to advance with its local expansion plans. It has begun providing services to the Singapore market from its Johor Bahru department and plans to launch a physical presence there with the launch of its network of jobs and collaborations with well-known gamers in the built environment sector.

Quintessential to its growth strategy has been the create- up of the Pro habitat. With over 1000 inside designers, architects, suppliers, contractors, corporates and several other business players, Pro serves as the program for the community to mingle and profit from HOMA2u’s customized perks and value- adding services centred around its own marketplace offerings.

James Yeoh, co-founder and chief strategy officer of HOMA2u, emphasized the significance of the fundamental technical level generating the price creation, noting that HOMA2U is working on improving its corresponding and recommendation systems based on customer needs and wants. &nbsp,Malaysian startup HOMA2u raises US$1.5mil in pre-series A from Asia Fund X

As we lead the charge of turning waste into valuable resources, he said,” This gives us information about our customers ‘ profiles, allowing us to further refine our value propositions to them.”

HOMA2u claims that it is well positioned as a first adopter to capitalize on growing consumer scrutiny of green building and renovation practices. Round economy mindsets have gained cadence naturally, ahead of regulator attention or duress, so, the company aims to consolidate the new ESG- focused landscape by agglomerating its industry networks, accumulated expertise, tech, and consumer trust.

HOMA2u has continued to advance into traditional industries known as monopolistically competitive or isolated oligopolies, according to Jeffrey Seah ( pic ), general partner at AFX. Sustainability is not merely a competitive advantage, but part of wider industry trends towards a circular economy” .&nbsp,

He added that the success of the business reflects both Lim and Yeoh’s mature business acumen and the size of the present market opportunity. &nbsp,

The company’s true competitive advantage is derived from its foundations, which are synergized with AI-powered data analytics, which are the quintessential characteristics of the digital economy revolution. We look to both co- founders to scale HOMA2u across the region, bolstered by the wider business world’s maturing awareness of ESG”, Seah said.

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Reducing carbon footprint in Malaysia: The potential of green-tech startups

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  • Essential for M’sia to identify efficient- technology startups dedicated to sustainability&nbsp,
  • Collaboration between multiple stakeholders is essential in addressing weather issues.

Reducing carbon footprint in Malaysia: The potential of green-tech startups

Malaysia, with its huge forested area of 18.27 million acres, or 55.3 % of the total land area, is navigating the subtleties of carbon pollution. In 2021, the government’s CO2 emissions were nearly 298.5 million metric tons, mainly attributed to power production and consumption. The country has seen a constant increase in coal power over the past ten years, increasing by approximately 1.3 % annually.

Major environmental effects have been caused by Malaysia’s rising carbon emissions. The nation is becoming more prone to climate change, with more frequent wildfires and rising sea levels, which pose significant risks to its southern provinces.

Another pressing problem is forest. About 133, 000 hectares of healthy forest were lost in Malaysia in 2023, leading to the loss of biodiversity and causing significant amounts of atmospheric carbon to be released, intensifying climate change.

These environmental changes have serious economic implications, with climate change potentially shrinking Malaysia’s GDP by 20 % by 2050. This puts vital industries such as agriculture, hospitality, and fisheries at hazard, along with possible impacts on public health and work production.

But, Southeast Asia also has major opportunities to address climate change. According to a study conducted by BCG and Fairatmos,” Climate Technology in Southeast Asia: Key to Unlocking the World’s Carbon Sink” ( Climate Technology in Southeast Asia: Key to Unlocking the World’s Carbon Sink ), nature-based solutions ( NbS ) could account for roughly 30 % of the global carbon offset by 2030, despite Southeast Asia containing less than 1 % of the world’s total landmass. Important sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and fish can grow by focusing on sustainable practices while enhancing human health and work production.

To effectively harness nature- based solutions, collaboration between various stakeholders is needed, particularly in technological advancement, personal- public partnerships, and green investment. Although advances like the Internet of Things ( IoT), artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and quantum computing play a significant role in NbS implementation, more green investment and political will are required to overcome obstacles to NbS adoption.

The development of NbS is already being impacted in Indonesia with assistance for Fairatmos, a nonprofit that works on high-quality coal offset projects across Southeast Asia. &nbsp,

Fairatmos founder and CEO Natalia Rialucky said,” Indonesia hosts 15 % of the world’s ability character- based carbon falls. Fairatmos aims to make the process simpler, allowing everyone, regardless of size, to start nature-based tasks that reduce greenhouse gas emissions without paying a premium. Everyone should be able to participate in the restoration of the atmosphere by overriding obstacles like restricted technical expertise, extended certification procedures, and high costs.

Fairatmos has received assistance for its solution, Atmoswatch, from ANGIN, an first- level investment platform and development consulting consulting company in Indonesia, through its Product Market Fit Programme powered by Official Development Assistance. This program aims to develop businesses ‘ products to better match business needs by providing money, tailored coaching, and networking opportunities.

Ursula Toding, ANGIN business development senior associate, said,” We were impressed by Fairatmos ‘ alignment with government priorities, especially in carbon offset initiatives amid Indonesia’s focus on carbon regulation. Startups like Fairatmos must make the most of their business to address environmental issues, balancing impact with business viability. Through the organisation, we can become more strategic in our approach, achieving both meaningful impact and sustainable growth”.

Additionally, Fairatmos received funding from regional venture capital firm Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India ( VVSEAI ). VVSEAI’s partner, Puiyan Leung, said,” Innovators like Fairatmos play a vital role in supporting these efforts. In order to reduce the impact of the climate crisis in a creative and creative way, we sincerely hope there will be similar projects throughout Southeast Asia. In the same way that Fairatmos does, it also helps to reduce emissions as well as offer economic and social benefits to local communities and help them in their efforts to adapt to climate change.

To replicate this model in Malaysia, identifying green- tech startups dedicated to sustainability is essential. Venture capital firms, such as VVSEAI, can provide support through funding, mentorship, and networking, while the Malaysian government and stakeholders foster conducive environments for sustainable investments.

The partnership between Fairatmos and key ecosystem players serves as a successful model for green-tech startups, investment platforms, and venture capital firms. This partnership demonstrates how these organizations can work together to reduce carbon footprints and speed up Southeast Asia’s transition to a low-carbon economy, significantly advancing sustainability initiatives. This collaborative model provides a framework for Malaysia that can be applied to other countries, demonstrating the viability of combating climate change through strategic alliances with businesses.

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Commentary: Is back-to-office push a boon or bane for the environment?

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ECO- Welcoming Offices

A well-managed return to the office can benefit from green practices, despite the fact that flexible work has environmental benefits.

Companies may possibly reduce their carbon footprint by incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels, real-time power monitoring, and automated office lighting and heat controls, or by incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels.

Companies may identify specific days for in-office hours in order to synchronize employee schedules, reducing energy usage during off-peak hours.

Encourage people to use public transportation, commute, or pattern to work is another factor. Offering vehicle parking and showers might enhance these options.

It’s important to discuss whether the demand from some businesses for more employees to work from home will only make the climate crisis worse, particularly as 2024 approaches to meet or surpass 2023 as the hottest year on record.

Organizations are beginning to pay more attention to their social and environmental impacts as conservation occupies a new position in the global business environment. Companies are increasingly asking their companies to show commitment to sustainable practices, as well.

In the end, bringing people back to the office does take into account both environmental concerns and business needs. Businesses can demonstrate their commitment to both individual well-being and environmental management by adopting flexible function arrangements and adopting eco-friendly practices.

Bhupinder Singh is President, Asia- Pacific and Middle East, Vodafone Business. He was a guest speaker at Greentech Festival Singapore and the Asia Green Tech Summit as well as a member of the Forbes Business Council.

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Australia wants to become a renewable energy superpower. Can it?

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1 minute ago

Hannah Ritchie,BBC News, Sydney

BBC Maia Schweizer BBC

A vast facility housing a scientific breakthrough is hidden among heavy bushland in the southern suburbs of Sydney.

The Asian company SunDrive Solar uses a brand-new, top-secret method to claim to have solved” a very high value problem” in this area.

Its huge development? Finding a way to change solar cells ‘ silver with metal, which was originally believed to be difficult.

” Gold is expensive, scarce and socially disastrous, and it limits how many solar can be rolled out around the globe”, explains chief commercial officer Maia Schweizer.

” Brass is also highly in demand, but it’s 1, 000 days more numerous, and 100 days lower value”.

The start-up is one of the beneficiaries of the government’s Coming Made in Australia program, a collection of policies that invest in local alternative industries to make the nation a “renewable energy superpower.”

But some experts question whether the$ A22.7bn ($ 15bn, £11.8bn ) package, which comprises tax incentives, loans, and kick- starter grants- is enough to meet those lofty ambitions.

And according to climate scientists, Australia must cease selling fossil fuels if it wants to be a significant participant in the net-zero change.

Australia’s market has long been powered by its natural sources, such as coal, oil and iron ore.

However, its essential minerals are exported raw and refined abroad, most of which are used to support important lower emissions technologies.

Australia has earned a reputation as the world’s rock thanks to its dig-and-ship model of trade, which has also resulted in significant loss of significant change farther up the supply chain.

One indication of lithium-based batteries that store solar energy and power electric cars is used.

Despite being responsible for more than half of the world’s supply, Australia captures just 0.5% of the global $57bn lithium battery market, according to the country’s national science agency.

The Coming Made in Australia plan, which was officially announced in April, aims to change that by providing tax breaks and money to businesses that process crucial minerals at home.

Doing so, the state argues, is a national surveillance concern, as countries examine their business dependence on Beijing, and seem to protect themselves against supply chain shocks.

” This is not old- made isolationism or protectionism – it is the new opposition”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, when announcing the program.

” We need to aim higher, be strong, and create large, to match the size of the option in front of us”.

Alpha HPA Rob Williamson at work at Alpha HPAAlpha HPA

Alpha HPA, based in Queensland, is one of the businesses that the government has chosen to carry out its perspective.

Similar to SunDrive, it sees itself as a industry because it can produce high-quality aluminum items that are used in applications like semiconductors and iPhones with less carbon footprint than their outside competitors.

One of the largest aluminium factories in the world is being built close to the coastal town of Gladstone, thanks to a$ 400 million federal loan, according to the company’s claim that it will result in hundreds of local jobs.

According to Alpha HPA’s chief operating officer Rob Williamson, there is still skepticism about whether Australia may produce goods, given that the company has historically outsourced its manufacturing to China.

” Anybody that puts forward the case that we do n’t have people in this country to do]this work ] is just not trying”, he adds.

SunDrive is on a similar trip.

Without government aid, Ms Schweizer says, the firm might have moved abroad.

Rather, it wants to turn one of the nation’s oldest coal power plants into a large solar panel manufacturing gateway.

Currently, one in three Australian households have solar panels, the highest rate in the world, and yet only 1% are made locally – with China responsible for more than 80% of global production.

” Every one material that you need to create a solar panel, we’ve got one of the best three resources in the world”, Ms Schweizer explains.

” Then there’s the possibility of the finish- to- finish value chain coming inland in Australia for the first time, which is very, very exciting”.

The Made in Australia pledge has won the support of the country’s biggest renewable energy industry trade bodies, who say the investments could be “game changing”.

” It’s a great option for us to be an exporter of climate solutions to the world instead of climate issues”, John Grimes, who heads the Smart Energy Council, says.

But some climate experts warn it is being “severely undermined” by the government’s recent decision to champion gas until 2050 and beyond despite global calls to rapidly phase out fossil fuels.

” We’re sending a genuinely mixed information to traders”, says Polly Hemming, the chairman of the Australia Institute’s environment and energy project.

Alpha HPA Alpha HPA production facility Alpha HPA

” This state has continued to review fresh gas and coal projects- it’s flown to Japan, India, Korea, and Vietnam to secure long- word markets for gas and coal.

” If we really wanted to be a green energy superpower, we would n’t be relentlessly pursuing customers for our fossil fuels,” she says.

One of the nation’s leading climate scientists agrees.

According to Prof. Bill Hare, chief executive of Climate Analytics and author of numerous UN climate change reports,” there is a very deep contradiction at the heart of the two policies.”

” The Future Made in Australia]plan ] is playing second fiddle to the government’s gas strategy.”

To understand how, Ms Hemming says you need to” follow the money”.

According to an analysis from her thinktank, last year alone, state and federal governments spent A$ 14.5bn subsidising fossil fuel use across Australia, and that sum is only expected to balloon, according to budget estimates.

By contrast, she says the A$13.7bn set aside to process critical minerals and incubate Australia’s nascent green hydrogen industry “isn’t real money”.

That’s because it will take the form of tax breaks over the course of a decade, which can only be cashed in on production starting from 2027 – a model which policymakers say will ensure taxpayers’ money is not wasted.

However, none of the green hydrogen projects are finished, many of which are being led by the nation’s largest mining and energy companies. If there is a change in the government, the incentives could be eliminated before they become effective.

It’s like I have a healthy eating and junk food policy in place at the same time in my house and tell my kids,” You can have$ 10 a week now if you keep eating junk food,” she says.

” Or,’ I’ll give you$ 2 in 2027 if you switch to broccoli’. What do you think they are going to prioritise?”

Given that the green hydrogen industry is still in its early stages and full of unknowns, some energy experts have also doubted the business justification for it.

Others worry that it will slow down climate action and derail investment away from renewable energy sources that have already proven their worth.

However, Mr. Grimes claims that green hydrogen will play a crucial role in” sliming emissions” from Australia’s carbon-intensive mining sector as businesses look for cheap green fuel to keep running their businesses.

And bigger picture, he argues that the government’s new green investments should be assessed as” a milestone first step “rather than an end point.

The government is aware that Australia could become the Kodak economy of the future: a big deal one day and completely irrelevant the next if it does n’t move beyond its coal, gas, and iron ore exports soon.

Getty Images Iron ore being loaded at a mine in Western AustraliaGetty Images

Not just Australia is trying to be the engine room of the new green economy, but it is also looking to.

Dozens of nations are putting forward ambitious proposals, such as the European Union’s Green Deal or America’s gargantuan Inflation Reduction Act.

According to the International Energy Agency, policymakers have invested over A$ 2tn in clean energy initiatives globally since 2020.

But Australia has some compelling natural advantages, such as enviable wind and solar capabilities, stores of critical minerals and rare earths, and a strong mining infrastructure network that can be repurposed.

All the experts the BBC spoke with agreed that if used correctly, it has every chance of securing its position as a crucial green trading partner among allies.

Getting there though, they say, will require even greater investment – particularly in research and development, which is currently at 30-year lows.

And they’ve warned that the government ca n’t afford to stutter on a topic that Mr. Albanese himself has addressed head on.

” We have to get cracking. We have unlimited potential, but we do not have unlimited time.

” If we do n’t seize this moment, it will pass. If we do n’t take this chance, we wo n’t get another. If we do n’t act to shape the future, the future will shape us”.

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Digital Edge partners Donghwa ES to develop innovative energy storage technology for data center redundancy

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  • A future-proof alternative to conventional chargers was developed in partnership by both companies.
  • Established solutions for improved data center security, environmental sustainability

Digital Edge partners Donghwa ES to develop innovative energy storage technology for data center redundancy

Digital Edge ( Singapore ) Holdings Pte. A next-generation energy storage system developed by Donghwa ES, a South Korean-based engineer of next-generation energy solutions for hyperscale facilities, has been collaborated with Ltd., one of Asia’s fastest-growing data middle platforms, to create a system that redefines data center redundancy and conservation. The company stated in a statement that the Hybrid Super Capacitor Energy Storage System offers a viable alternative to conventional batteries and has the potential to transform data centre ancillary power generation for upcoming AI and hyperscale loads.

The data centre business today depends on lithium-ion batteries or lead-acid batteries for backup generators and Uninterruptible Power Supplies, the essential tools that enable operators to keep availability in the event of a strength failure to the grid. The data centre market is under increasing pressure to improve energy efficiency and decrease the firm’s carbon footprint as demand for higher energy density deployments rises, fueled by the rapid increase of AI and cloud providers.

Both businesses have collaborated to develop a future-proof alternative to traditional batteries in search of more dependable and responsible energy storage. They do so by combining Digital Edge’s data centre operations experience with Donghwa’s energy storage system engineering and design skills. The two organizations have collaborated to create the HSC Energy Storage System systems. Preliminary testing has been successful, and Digital Edge has confirmed its intention to use this technology in a number of newly constructed data centers.

In contrast to other systems, the HSC technology uses a hybrid power store technique that combines activated carbon from an electrical double-layer battery with coal from a lithium-ion power to create a option that lessens the bad electrode’s degeneration. The HSC’s ability to operate for a longer period of time, with the projected replacement cycle lasting nearly 15 years, or nearly 2.5 times more than additional battery products, is significant savings for the overall cost of ownership.

Critically, the HSC is designed to withstand many higher temperatures than conventional chargers up to 65°C, preventing users from saving energy by not needing to cool the products. This position makes the HSC well-suited to support energy-intensive AI and high power density deployments that necessitate difficult liquid cooling as well as help wider conservation initiatives across the data center industry to gradually raise operating temperatures and reduce carbon emissions.

Additionally, the HSC can be quickly recharged, allowing it to effectively deal with numerous consecutive power outages in a data center. In addition, it does not utilize metal oxide, meaning the risk of fire due to thermal runaway is fundamentally eliminated, thereby significantly reducing potential fire hazards.

According to Jay Park, chief construction and development officer for Digital Edge,” We want to be more than just a data center operator; we want to be a leader that continues to innovate and establish new standards that will elevate the entire industry.” Our customers value redundancy, so we set out to find ways to improve the technology that is currently at the heart of this. The HSC Energy Storage System, which we are proud to have developed in partnership with Donghwa, will help to improve the reliability and safety of the data center industry while also supporting our environmental goals, he said.

Meanwhile, Ji- Won Suh, CEO, Donghwa ES said,” Donghwa ES designs and manufactures next- generation energy storage systems and power solutions for hyperscale data centers. Power-intensive data centers are expanding rapidly as a result of AI’s rapid advancement. In the increasingly power-intensive data center industry, our goal is to guarantee complete protection from potential incidents caused by thermal runaway. We hope to establish a new energy storage system standard for the global data center industry through our partnership with Digital Edge. In particular, we intend to work together to install energy storage systems in the Asia-Pacific region, which is experiencing the fastest growth in the world, to create hyperscale data centers, he said.

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Alibaba Cloud announces new availability zones and global investment to fuel AI innovation

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  • New funding aims to strengthen cloud, AI item suite
  • collaborates with international institutions to give the next generation Artificial training

Selina Yuan, president of International Business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, announced Alibaba Cloud will Launch New Availability Z

Alibaba Cloud, the modern technology and knowledge foundation of Alibaba Group, announced its plan to launch its first sky region in Mexico, and to create additional data centers in its essential markets including Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and South Korea within the next three years. &nbsp,

The company stated in a statement that the new investment to create cloud and AI infrastructure across key global markets aims to strengthen the cloud and AI product suite for its international customers while fostering global partnerships and AI talent development to foster future modern expertise.

At the Alibaba Cloud Global Summit in Paris, Selina Yuan, president of international business, said,” We are reinforcing our commitment to expanding our AI infrastructure and enhancing our cloud capacities globally.” ” Meanwhile, our digital talent initiatives, in collaboration with global universities and local partners in our key markets, will further equip the upcoming generation with the requisite AI skills”, she added.

Model Studio for International AI Development

Alibaba Cloud’s top generative AI development platform, Model Studio, will soon be accessible to international customers via its Availability Zones in Singapore to better enable enterprises and developers to develop AI models and applications.

Customers can use Model Studio to access Alibaba Cloud’s large language model Qwen family, which includes both closed-source and open-source models with multimodal capabilities and sizes that range from 0. 5 billion to several hundred billion parameters, to help develop custom generative AI applications. In the second half of the year, additional model fine-tuning and inferencing tools and services will be available, enabling the creation of more sophisticated AI tasks with greater cost-efficiency.

Enhanced Partnerships to Elevate Customer Experience

Alibaba Cloud announced it has strengthened its partnership with SAP in order to introduce a one-stop enterprise solution for small and medium-sized enterprises in Asia that will enable rapid deployment and on-demand expansion capabilities.

This integrated cloud-based business management solution is poised to give SMEs in Asia a powerful, scalable enterprise resource planning ( ERP ) system on the cloud without the need for significant initial investment in IT infrastructure by combining SAP Business One’s holistic business management capabilities with Alibaba Cloud’s scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud infrastructure.

The new solution makes it easier for SAP Business One partners to quickly deploy the solution for their customers on the cloud by using Alibaba Cloud’s compute nest technology, which facilitates seamless integration of SAP Business One services with Alibaba Cloud. This synergy, it said, will empower SMEs to navigate market fluctuations with agility, optimize operational efficiency, and seize growth opportunities.

Alibaba Cloud announced it is developing a Salesforce on Alibaba Cloud training course in China in response to the growing interest and demand from multinational companies operating in the country. The exclusive course is designed for multinational corporations, focusing on how to use and master Salesforce CRM, as well as its integrated and localized features, and products that Alibaba Cloud supports and supports globally. Salesforce has helped multinational brands meet the distinct needs of the Chinese market while maintaining consistency for its global Salesforce products, including Salesforce Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and Salesforce Platform, since Alibaba Cloud is exclusive access to Salesforce in China starting at the end of 2023.

The training program offers customized offline training to teach essential competencies and skills needed for an administrator position on the Salesforce platform and the Alibaba Cloud platform. The course, which is designed to be beginner-friendly, aims to help participants learn how to use the system and its localized features using Alibaba Cloud’s reputable cloud infrastructure. It improves participants ‘ ability to migrate and integrate seamlessly into the Salesforce ecosystem, resulting in better synergy and coordination in a global work environment. By the end of 2025, the program aims to provide over 10,000 participants with the necessary skills to master the Salesforce platform in China through a gradual rollout.

Digital Training with Global Education Institutes

A leading European corporate training provider, Demos Group, and Alibaba Cloud today announced a new partnership. The two parties will launch a suite of Alibaba Cloud online courses, focusing on cloud computing, data analytics, and AI, aimed at enhancing the digital competencies of Demos ‘ corporate clients ‘ workforce. Additionally, Alaba Cloud and OxValue are working together. AI, a deep- tech venture from the University of Oxford, to broaden the suite of Alibaba Cloud capabilities provided to end customers, including AI- driven valuation services.

Moreover, Alibaba Cloud is initiating collaborations with several international universities— University of Reading, Singapore University of Social Sciences, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Arovy University, University Saint Thomas Mozambique—to introduce cloud computing and AI courses with the aim to cultivate a new generation of AI experts.

Developing Effective Collaboration to Serve Global Customers

A growing number of international customers have chosen Alibaba Cloud for its reliable cloud computing capabilities and proven AI technologies, which are essential for their rapid digital transformation journey and the pursuit of AI innovation:

• Alibaba Group, the world leader in high-quality goods, and LVMH Group, the world leader in high-quality goods, announced an extended partnership to advance the level of luxury experience in China through the use of Alibaba’s cloud technologies through Tmall’s AI-powered innovations in the retail and online. In its pursuit of relentless innovation, LVMH has begun integrating Alibaba Cloud’s generative AI capabilities, including Qwen, Alibaba’s proprietary large language model, and Model Studio. This integration has made it possible to develop novel applications and services that demonstrate the luxury Maison’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation, utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance its luxury offerings for global consumers, and encouraging innovation-led growth within its global retail businesses.

• Alibaba Cloud’s infrastructure was used by FathomX, a digital health AI company that is emerging from the National University of Singapore, to support its AI-driven breast cancer detection system. The partnership has resulted in a 27.6 % annual cost savings of infrastructure. This improvement in efficiency allows FathomX to expand its operations and provide cutting-edge healthcare solutions worldwide.

Since signing a strategic partnership last year, Alibaba Cloud has been assisting the International Canoe Federation in finding ways to measure and improve the sustainability of its events around the world. The ICF will expand the strategic partnership by looking into the potential of using Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven ESG solutions to lessen the impact and carbon footprint at its events and coordinate sustainable activities to promote collaborative efforts.

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AstraZeneca invests $1.5bn in Singapore facility for next-generation cancer drugs | FinanceAsia

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AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical company, has stated plans to build a$ 1.5 billion manufacturing facility in Singapore for antibody drug conjugates ( ADCs ), in order to increase the global supply of its ADC portfolio, according to a May 20 media release.

ADCs are the newest treatments that use a targeted antibody to deliver cancer-killing agents instantly to cancer cells. The production of ADCs is a multiple- step process that includes antibodies manufacturing, production of chemotherapy drug and linker, conjugation of drug- linker to the antibody, and filling of the completed ADC substance.

AstraZeneca wants to start building the manufacturing service by the end of 2024, with a goal of functional preparation starting in 2029. AstraZeneca added that it will collaborate with the government of Singapore and other parties to develop efficient solutions for the ADC service. The service will be constructed to produce no coal from its first time of operation.

The planned new service is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board ( EDB), and it will be AstraZeneca’s second “end- to- end” ADC manufacturing site.

EDB’s president Png Cheong said in the discharge:” We welcome AstraZeneca’s decision to establish a manufacturing appearance in Singapore for the first time. AstraZeneca will also have a first in the world by having an end-to-end manufacturing facility for book antibodies drug conjugates that enable precise cancer treatments.

Cheong continued,” This new purchase is a powerful show of confidence in Singapore’s biotech production capabilities and talent, strengthens our ecosystem in supporting the development and manufacturing of precision medicines, and creates important jobs and economic opportunities for Singapore. We look forward to a successful relationship with AstraZeneca”.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive officer, AstraZeneca, said:” Singapore is one of the country’s most beautiful countries for funding given its reputation for excellence in difficult production, and I’m excited for AstraZeneca to find our$ 1.5 billion ADC production facility in the country”.

AstraZeneca has a broad portfolio of in- house ADCs, including six wholly owned ADCs, and “many more” in preclinical development, the release said.

¬ Haymarket Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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The insect farmers turning to AI to help lower costs

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Felix CollinsFull Circle
By MaryLou Costa
Business columnist

Felix Collins ‘ work would not be appropriate for anyone who is sceptical about flies.

The founder and boss of a company called Full CircleBiotechnology, he is in charge of 20 million black soldier fly larvae.

Based at a smaller, indoor center on the fringes of Bangkok, the strong rears the beetles to produce dog supply for the government’s shrimp and animal farms.

The eggs, which live in a dark, warm and humid setting, pull on fruit and vegetable spend sourced from food and drink companies, before being harvested and combined with microbial bacteria and fungi.

Mr. Collins claims that the item is a more environmentally conscious alternative to the market’s monopoly on soybean-based pet feeds. These latter have been frequently linked to South American forest.

He also asserts that the insect-based serve produced by the company has a” 100 times lower carbon footprint than soymeal.”

Studies show that insect-based supply typically has a lower carbon footprints, but only if the eggs have been fed organic food waste. According to one document, soybean-based supply produces less carbon if the bugs have been given a processed food supply.
Mr Collins adds that the supply made by Full Circle, contains up to 70 % protein, compared with soya, which has less than 50 % protein- making the beetle serve more filling and healthy.

Black soldier fly larvae

Getty Images

Founded in 2019, Full Circlenow employs 14 people, and supplies 49 farms across Thailand. It wants to increase this, but faces a hurdle – soybean-based feed is currently substantially cheaper.

Soybean feed is presently around 460 euros ($ 490, £400 ) per tonne, compared with €1, 400 for insect- based, according to one European comparison earlier this year.

To try to reduce the price of its feed, Full Circleis now turning to AI to help maximise production at a lower cost. To do this it is training an AI system to study all available past and present data on insect farming to determine and then continuously fine tune the best methods.

This may range from heat to food number, the ideal location for the eggs to quickly and accurately count hundreds of flies, and whether to offer new strains or species.

” AI can help us speed up the process of trial and error, helping us overcome obstacles, and develop a thorough enough understanding of insect production, to be reasonably confident that our production is optimised”, says Mr Collins.

” AI can assist us in processing, recording, and understanding every insect farming attempt to date, and make sure that each successive crop we grow has the potential to produce a larger and healthier crop.”

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Some 5, 000 miles away in Lithuania, insect farm software provider Cogastro is also working on an AI- based system. The AI upgrade will allow the monitoring system to learn, adapt, and make changes within an insect farm for itself. It currently sells monitoring software that automatically gathers data for users to analyze.

Cogastro claims it is not rushing the development of the AI, but rather that it intends to do so in the next three years.

Mante Sidlauskaite, the organization’s founder and CEO, says she is cautious of companies in the field who claim to have AI systems in place. We have been here for five years, and we know from our example how long it takes to create a layer of software.

Mante Sidlauskaite

Cogastro

It has taken us time to collaborate with as many businesses as possible on a global scale to learn about the differences and similarities of their processes so that we could standardize our data models to address their overlapping needs. So we now have a foundation on which to build AI solutions.

” But when start-ups emerge just yesterday and then announce that they have something in the pipeline, they cannot have an accurate AI model before they begin training it, and you need some data, and to have data you need to have some customers first,” he said.

She continues by expressing her concern about the excessive use of the buzzword” AI” without companies explaining how their AI supposedly functions.

Black soldier flies

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It is working with a Singapore-based expert in the field, Simon Christofides, to develop its AI system back at Full Circle.

According to Mr. Collins, there is still much to learn, and that the use of AI can quickly speed up this process because black soldier fly larvae have only been farmed commercially over the past ten and a half.

” Rice farmers are still trying to create the perfect crop after 13, 500 years of passed down generational learning”, he says. ” Black soldier fly larvae have been farmed for 0.1 % of the time rice has been grown, and that’s reflected in our current understanding”.

Mr. Collins goes on to say that the firm’s strategy will be to use AI to use data points from millions of data points to crunch insights that no human could ever obtain.

He continues,” Sometimes you just need to leave the flies to get on with things on their own,” he continues. similar to the breeding process, where mature flies mat on green ribbons laid out to reflect their territorial preferences.

” You need to consider their social and behavioural dynamics as animals”, says Mr Collins.

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TTM Technologies celebrates grand opening of its first manufacturing facility  in Penang 

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  • Aims to create 1, 000 work for local skills by 2025
  • New flower expected to generate around US$ 180 million by 2025.

Officiating the Grand Opening Ceremony of TTM Technologies Malaysia Facility (from left to right) Mr. Douglas Soder, Executive Vice President and President of Commercial Sector, TTM Technologies, Inc.; Teik Ming Ng, vice president and general manager, TTM Technologies Malaysia Sdn Bhd; Najihah Abas, executive director, Investment Promotion of MIDA; Chow Kon Yeow, chief minister of Penang; Loo Lee Lian, CEO, InvestPenang; Thomas Edman, president, and CEO, TTM Technologies, Inc., and Philip Titterton, executive vice president and chief operating officer, TTM Technologies, Inc.

TTM Technologies, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of technology solutions including mission systems, radio frequency ( RF ) components and RF microwave/microelectronic assemblies, and quick- turn and technologically advanced printed circuit boards (PCBs ), has officially opened its first manufacturing plant in Penang, Malaysia with an investment of US$ 200 million ( RM958 million ).

Built on 27 acres in Penang Science Park, the firm’s condition- of- the- art facility boasts extremely impressive and integrated PCB manufacturing capabilities. The near collaboration between TTM and its customers has led to this job, which seeks to address the growing need for Circuit supply chain resilience and physical producing diversity. &nbsp,

TTM added that the herb is customised to help large production requirements in various business finish markets, including network, data centre computing, medical, professional, and instrumentation.

The chief minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow, stated,” Penang is proud to be the place where TTM’s first large-scale, highly automated, and modern Board manufacturing plant is set up in Southeast Asia. This also indicates the assurance that foreign traders have placed in the state.”

He continued,” Penang has the abilities and capabilities to meet the needs of professional players in next-generation technologies and development strategies. It is frequently praised for its well-developed technological ecosystem. I’m confident that TTM’s activity in Penang, the Silicon Valley of the East, may have a number of advantages.

Chow Kon Yeow, Pn., presided over the standard opening ceremony for TTM’s Penang flower. Najihah Abas, executive director, Investment Promotion of Malaysian Investment Development Authority ( MIDA ), Loo Lee Lian, CEO, InvestPenang, Thomas Edman, president, and CEO, TTM Technologies, Inc., Philip Titterton, executive vice president and chief operating officer, TTM Technologies, Inc., senior government officials, and TTM’s senior management.

By 2025, TTM’s Penang plant will enable the creation of about 1, 000 job opportunities for local talent in a variety of industries. The expansion will support cultivate the skills of native professional talent in cutting-edge PCB technology solutions and may lead to significant opportunities for TTM’s local suppliers.

TTM anticipates that the fresh plant may produce full move level income of about US$ 180 million ( RM855 million ) by 2025. However, the plant is built to help a Step two rise that could result in a 25 cent increase. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, CEO, MIDA emphasised,” It brings me great pleasure to underscore the significant benefits TTM Technologies ‘ investment brings to Malaysia’s electrical and electronics ( E&amp, E) industry, especially within the semiconductor sector. Malaysia is now a significant player in the global semiconductor supply ring thanks to TTM’s skills in high-tech options and advanced printed circuit boards.

He added that TTM’s center in Penang improves Malaysia’s E& E industry’s capacity for growth and endurance as well as its ability to compete with other countries for the next generation of Circuit manufacturing.

This growth, which focuses on strengthening the silicon habitat, perfectly corresponds with the strategic priorities outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030. It opens avenues for skill enhancement and information sharing among native talents, reinforcing Malaysia’s stature on the world stage as a dynamic, technologically advanced nation”, Sikh Shamsul said.TTM Technologies celebrates grand opening of its first manufacturing facility  in Penang 

Meanwhile, Thomas Edman ( pic ) commented,” The opening of our flagship plant in Penang marks a significant milestone for TTM. With a state-of-the-art facility that underscores our commitment to providing our customers with specialized advanced technology PCB solutions on a global scale, we are thrilled to begin this expansion plan.

He added,” As we step into this new era of innovation and expansion, we are committed to elevating industry standards, meeting customer needs, and propelling TTM’s growth as a new contributor to the Malaysian economy”.

” Penang’s strong industrial eco-system, position as the hub for electrical and electronic equipment, strong talent pool, and conducive business environment have made it a preferred location for TTM,” said Penang. Only two years after our initial ground-breaking, TTM is now entering our production ramp due to the outstanding support of the government and the efforts of our employees. As TTM builds our presence in Penang, we eagerly anticipate a longstanding relationship and mutually rewarding partnership with the Malaysian government, our customers, and our critical vendors”, Edman said.

Besides contributing to the industry’s needs, TTM is strongly committed to protecting its staff, community, customers, and the environment. The new facility’s goal is to advance its sustainability efforts by reducing the amount of energy and water used while still adhering to stringent environmental operational requirements. It will also reduce the carbon footprint by 60 % when compared to a traditional PCB plant.

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