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HKSTP Leads Delegation to Germany and Austria

Forging new Hong Kong–Europe pathways in AI, New Industralisation and smart city innovation with German Industry and Commerce and ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 September 2026 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), in partnership with German Industry and Commerce (GIC) and ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, and supported by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, InvestHK and HKETO Berlin, led a delegation of eight Hong Kong Science Park companies to Germany and Austria from 21 to 25 September 2026 for a focused programme of business matching, ecosystem exchange and institutional engagement across Munich, Vienna and Graz. Bringing together government, industry, academia and innovation ecosystem partners, the mission deepened engagement with leading stakeholders, created new opportunities for cross-border collaboration and commercialisation in artificial intelligence (AI), new industralisation, and smart city, and reinforced Hong Kong’s role as a preferred platform for innovation exchange between Europe and Asia.

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivered a speech at the Applied Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 (AAIC) in Vienna, Austria. He had an exchange with the HKSTP delegation to learn about their innovative solutions.
Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivered a speech at the Applied Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 (AAIC) in Vienna, Austria. He had an exchange with the HKSTP delegation to learn about their innovative solutions.

The delegation marked a major step forward in HKSTP’s growing engagement in Central Europe. As HKSTP’s first market-focused mission to Germany, Europe’s largest AI market and a leading enterprise technology hub, it built on earlier collaboration with ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, including GO AUSTRIA Spring 2025 and 2026 and the renowned ViennaUP Festival, as well as more recent joint efforts with partners in Germany and Austria under Global Connect and the Global Innovation Exchange. The ongoing efforts created practical pathways for Hong Kong companies to explore partnerships, validate demand and expand into key European markets.

A key highlight was HKSTP’s participation in the Applied Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 (AAIC) in Vienna, Austria, to connect with key industry partners and investors for potential business collaboration. Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, delivered a speech titled “AAIC-Talk: Applied AI in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area: Innovation, Industrial Transformation and Opportunities for Collaboration with Austria”at theAustria’s flagship international AI business conference.He shared Hong Kong has elevated AI into a core industry and is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic innovation and technology (I&T) centres. He also invited Austria to partner in shaping AI’s next chapter, and highlighting opportunities for collaboration between Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and Austria. During the Conference, Professor Sun had a brief exchange with park companies from the delegation participating in the Conference to learn about their innovative solutions.

Mr Eric Or, Chief Ecosystem Development Officer of HKSTP, said, “HKSTP is committed to helping innovators scale beyond borders. Our inaugural delegation to Germany and the continuous connection with Austria highlights the value of strategic international engagement in opening doors for park companies to connect with leading industry, academic and investors in Europe. It also reflects Hong Kong’s unique role as a gateway for cross-border collaboration, underpinned by its distinct strengths as a super-connector and super value-adder. As HKSTP continues to expand its global outreach to further strengthen Hong Kong’s innovation links with global markets, and reinforce the city’s position as an international innovation and technology hub.”

The delegation began in Munich, focusing on Germany’s industrial AI and enterprise innovation ecosystem, and engaging institutions including Chamber of commerce and industry for Munich and upper Bavaria (IHK), Siemens AI Lab, and the European Union’s top Technical University of Munich (TUM). Discussions centred on industrial AI, advanced manufacturing, technology translation and cross-border collaboration. The high potential tech firms continued the week-long journey in Vienna and Graz, connected with leading Austrian research, industry and innovation organisations, including the leading Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), Austrian Institute of Technology and more.

Highlighted innovations from the delegation:

  • GenAI-Powered Marketing – Amber International Holding Limited introduced MIA, its new agentic AI marketing platform designed to monitor markets, generate on-brand content and support distribution workflows with human approval.
  • Let AI run enterprises. Let AI do business – Echronos AI Group, a China-based innovator in industrial-grade AI Agentic OS, leverages the HKSTP ecosystem and Hong Kong’s global connectivity as a gateway for international expansion. The company introduced its flagship JovaAI platform to European industry leaders. Powered by proprietary semantic and multi-agent orchestration technologies, JovaAI coordinates complex enterprise workflows, from inquiry-to-quote orchestration and cross-border customs planning to dynamic production rescheduling.
  • End-to-end AI Talent Solution – Neufast offers corporate AI strategy consulting and technical implementation for an agentic AI platform covering candidate sourcing, performance appraisals, and leadership development. It is expanding in Europe through partnerships with SAP SuccessFactors for enterprise business transformation and TÜV Rheinland for ISO27001 certification, with the support of the Austrian government’s Go Austria Plus programme by the Global Incubator Network Austria (GIN) and Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

Together, these engagements in Germany and Austria deepened HKSTP’s ties with the regions’ innovation ecosystem and opened new opportunities for collaboration in applied AI, robotics, smart production and commercialisation between Hong Kong and Europe.

Appendix: List of park companies in the HKSTP’s delegation

  1. Amber International Holding Limited
  2. Cogniser Infotech Ltd
  3. Echronos AI Group
  4. Haircosys Limited
  5. IGRAPH TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
  6. Neufast Limited
  7. Robocore Technology Limited
  8. Westwell Technology (Hong Kong) Limited

Hashtag: #HKSTP

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 and has built a proven foundation as Hong Kong’s leading innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. Established for 25 years, HKSTP is supporting 14 unicorns, has nurtured more than 17,000 research professionals and built a community of over 2,600 technology companies from 26 countries and regions across four strategic pillars: Life and Health Technology, AI and Robotics, Microelectronics and Advanced Manufacturing, and GreenTech and New Energy.

As an ecosystem orchestrator, HKSTP provides end-to-end support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate commercialisation and help technology ventures scale. Its innovation infrastructure spans over 240 hectares covering Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long, and InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong, advancing Hong Kong’s vision for new industrialisation and smart manufacturing.

Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, strengthens cross-border collaboration by connecting Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and global innovation networks and propels Chinese innovators onto the world stage, while also delivering comprehensive GBA landing support to accelerate cross-border success for local and international ventures.

As HKSTP enters its next chapter with strong foundations, it continues to deepen impact, elevate quality and create value for innovators. As an ecosystem built to lead change, HKSTP is empowering Hong Kong to define what comes next in innovation, growth and opportunity.

More information about HKSTP is available at .

Hisense at the 17th FutureChina Global Forum: Deepening ASEAN Roots with “Local for Local,” Charting a New Path for Chinese Brands Going Global


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 September 2026 – The 17th FutureChina Global Forum recently convened in Singapore. As the annual flagship event of Business China, the forum brought together business and political leaders from China and Southeast Asia for dialogue on shifting consumption structures, China’s manufacturing capabilities, and the evolving regional competitive landscape. Ms. Clara Chang, President of Hisense ASEAN, was invited to attend and, drawing on Hisense’s 57-year history and three decades of overseas expansion, shared her observations on China’s changing consumer landscape, manufacturing upgrades, and paths to globalization for Chinese enterprises.

Hisense at the 17th FutureChina Global Forum: Deepening ASEAN Roots with

From “Buying Products” to “Buying Lifestyles”: The Logic of Consumption Is Being Rewritten

Ms. Chang noted that the underlying logic of home appliance consumption is shifting from “purchasing home appliance bundles and choosing features based on price” to “making targeted upgrades, addressing specific pain points, and paying for genuine experiences.” What has changed is not what consumers buy but why they buy—and what value they expect appliances to create. This shift is pushing competition beyond end-product manufacturing toward long-term competition in core technologies and cross-scenario system solutions. Hisense believes that the home, automotive, energy, health, and office sectors together form a single integrated living system—and that corporate boundaries will inevitably expand from “product boundaries” to “consumer lifestyle boundaries.” This is the underlying logic behind Hisense’s expansion from traditional home appliances into semiconductors and automotive electronics.

Service as Growth: Products Are No Longer the Endpoint but the Entry Point

Addressing the idea of “making service itself a growth engine,” she explained that this means redefining products not as “one-time hardware deliveries” but as entry points into “long-term user relationships that can be continually nurtured and sustained.” Products are no longer the endpoint of a transaction—they are the entry point for service. In the past, products were defined by the question, “What technology do we have?” In the future, they must be defined by the question, “What problems and needs do consumers have?” Once a user purchases a Hisense product, that product becomes an ongoing point of connection: software upgrades, maintenance, and trade-in services are all available through Hisense. In ASEAN, Hisense has built its brand around three core lifestyle scenarios: Technology, Health, and Art. Technology enhances efficiency; Health improves quality of life; and Art meets aesthetic needs. Together, they correspond to consumers’ progression from “getting by” to “living well” to “living life on their own terms.”

Technology Benefits People; Industry Benefits People: The “Two-Way Journey” of Manufacturing and Consumption Upgrading

The story of Hisense Laser TV exemplifies the value of long-term technological investment. Hisense began investing in laser display technology in 2007 and became a global leader in the field over the next 17 years. By 2024, Hisense Laser TV accounted for 65.8% of global shipments, ranking No. 1 worldwide for six consecutive years. At CES 2025, Hisense unveiled RGB-Mini LED technology, advancing RGB technology toward industrialization and mass production. Hisense believes that Chinese manufacturing and Chinese consumption are forming a new symbiotic relationship—a “two-way journey”: consumption determines why we innovate; manufacturing determines how far we can innovate; and true innovation, in turn, creates new forms of consumption. The two reinforce each other in a spiraling process.

30 Years of Going Global: True Globalization Must Be Localized

At the forum, Ms. Chang shared three layers of experience from Hisense’s 30-year overseas journey. The first layer is “Take root first, then bloom.” Hisense entered the South African market in 1996—30 years ago. Today, Hisense operates 32 R&D centers, 41 industrial parks and manufacturing bases, and 65 overseas companies and offices, forming a “7+1” regional network with integrated R&D, manufacturing, and sales. Since 2018, Hisense has helped more than 40 supply chain partners expand overseas. The second layer encompasses 20 years of building its own brand. Hisense adheres to “Local for Local,” establishing regional headquarters, factories, and local teams in ASEAN. Hisense broke ground on the Thailand HHA Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park—its largest overseas industrial park—in September 2025. The third layer concerns the present and the future: ASEAN serves as a testing ground for brand globalization. Major projects involving commercial displays for the Indonesian government and Kelin Electric have been successfully implemented in ASEAN, marking B2B as Hisense’s second growth curve and driving its evolution from a home appliance brand to a technology group.

Globalization Upgraded: From “Made in China” to “Created for the World”

She noted that the underlying logic has shifted from exporting products and capacity to exporting technological value and localized scenario solutions. The narrative has evolved from “affordable Chinese manufacturing” to “a global brand that takes root locally and solves local users’ problems.” Today’s globalization harnesses global resources, innovation, and manufacturing to serve consumers worldwide. Hisense’s experience in ASEAN reinforces one conviction: the best approach to globalization is not to replicate the Chinese model but to use China’s technology, manufacturing, and brand capabilities to respond to the real needs of each local market and grow alongside local partners. As Ms. Chang concluded: “Quality is character; quality is morality; quality is values. Enterprises that hold fast to conscience amid the noise are the foundation and future of China’s high-quality development.” Looking ahead, guided by confidence, determination, a commitment to its original aspirations, and craftsmanship, Hisense will continue to uphold its “user-centric” philosophy as it deepens its roots in ASEAN, expands its global reach, and shares its experience, channels, and localization resources with more Chinese brands. Together, they will help Chinese brands move from “going global” to “becoming truly global.”Hashtag: #hisense

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Hisense

Founded in 1969, Hisense is a global technology group operating in 160+ countries, with a strong portfolio across TVs, home appliances, air-conditioning and commercial solutions. Recognised as one of the Top 2 TV brands worldwide, Hisense continues to strengthen its global presence through innovation, quality manufacturing and major international partnerships, including its role as an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™

Banyan Group Residences Unveils Ultra-Exclusive Banyan Tree Beach Residences Nerea at Laguna Phuket

A rare collection of just six three-bedroom duplex residences brings yacht-inspired design, private pools and exceptional resort living steps from Bang Tao Beach.


PHUKET, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 September 2026 – Banyan Group Residences has unveiled Banyan Tree Beach Residences Nerea, an exclusive collection of just six three-bedroom duplex residences occupying an exceptional setting between the lagoons of Laguna Phuket and Bang Tao Beach. Conceived as one of the resort’s rarest residential offerings, Nerea combines yacht-inspired architecture, private pools and expansive indoor-outdoor living with the services and privileges of Banyan Tree ownership.

BTBR Nerea Exterior Pool
BTBR Nerea Exterior Pool

“Nerea is a rare opportunity to own a highly limited Banyan Tree branded residence in one of Laguna Phuket’s most desirable locations. With only six residences, we’ve created a truly intimate, private ownership experience,” said Stuart Reading, Managing Director, Banyan Group Residences.

“We continue to see strong demand from luxury buyers for high-quality lifestyle assets in Phuket, particularly those combining a recognised brand and professional management,” added Reading.

The six residences are arranged across three adjacent buildings between one of Laguna Phuket’s lagoons and the Andaman Sea. Upper duplex penthouses include a rooftop terrace with a private pool and roof garden, while the lower duplex residences have a private garden at ground level and a pool on the living terrace.

Each duplex draws on the design of a luxury yacht, with an expansive open-plan living area on the upper floor finished in timber decking and enclosed by full-height glass panels framing lagoon and sea views. The interiors use stone, timber and detailing drawn from Oriental design traditions, creating a refined contemporary aesthetic with subtle Asian influences.

Three bedrooms occupy the lower level of each residence, opening onto private terraces or garden courtyards. Each is equipped with premium appliances and a dedicated home gym, with floor plans from 392 sqm.

Laguna Phuket: An Integrated Resort Setting

Nerea forms part of the Banyan Tree Beach Residences collection within Laguna Phuket, which spans over 1,000 acres of parkland, lagoons and five kilometres of coastline. Homeowners have access to the resort’s facilities, including Laguna Golf Phuket, its spas, diverse dining outlets and the new RAVA Beach Club, with Phuket International Airport around 30 minutes away.

Ownership Privileges & Lifestyle

Owners benefit from 24-hour concierge and property management, plus privileges through The Sanctuary Club and membership of RAVA Beach Club – the largest beach club in Thailand – offering VIP access to facilities, dining privileges, invitations to select events, and complimentary marine sports and workout sessions. Laguna Golf Phuket membership is also included, while the Laguna Advantage programme includes one year of complimentary professional property management, discounts on preschool enrolment, and exclusive medical and wellness benefits.

Owners are automatically enrolled in Banyan Living, Banyan Group’s rental platform covering property care, guest servicing and rental distribution, with full flexibility over residence use.
Hashtag: #BanyanGroupResidences #BanyanTreeBeachResidencesNerea #LagunaPhuket

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Banyan Group Residences

Banyan Group Residences is the property development arm of Banyan Group, a hospitality and sustainable development company operating for over 35 years. It has developed residential projects across Thailand and other markets, combining contemporary design with local architectural influences.

Ownership privileges, memberships and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions, availability, programme rules and change from time to time. Rental participation is optional and no rental return is guaranteed.

About Laguna Phuket

Laguna Phuket is an integrated resort destination on Phuket’s Andaman coast. Spanning over 1,000 acres, the resort comprises six hotels, an 18-hole golf course, dining outlets, spas, and branded residences.

Guests have access to shuttle services, a cashless payment system, and recreational and wellness facilities. The property division offers residences, apartments, and villas for both residential and investment use.

Kigen Automotive eSIM first to achieve GSMA eSA certification, bringing latest SGP.32 security to connected vehicle OEMs for long-life fleets

With the industry’s first eSA-certified eSIMs supporting the latest SGP.32 v1.3, Kigen delivers automotive-grade security, giving OEMs a common architecture for developing connected fleets – plus an implementation and tools to prepare for PQC readiness


CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 September 2026 – Kigen, a global leader in eSIM and iSIM technology, has achieved GSMA eUICC Security Assurance (eSA) certification for its new Automotive eSIMs, the industry’s first eSA-certified eSIM supporting SGP.32 v1.3, GSMA’s latest IoT eSIM (eUICC) specification. The certification combines Kigen’s eSIM OS with Infineon’s TEGRION™ SLI22 automotive security controller, giving connected-vehicle OEMs and Tier-1s a secure, standards-current platform built for fleets that must stay secure for a decade-plus.

Kigen Automotive eSIM is the first ever eSA-certified to support GSMA SGP.32 version 1.3 bringing emergency profile support for connected cars, simpler integration for Telematics Control Units and a common architecture across different types of connected vehicles, and enhancing security for OEMs and Tier-1s to prepare for Post-Quantum era threats
Kigen Automotive eSIM is the first ever eSA-certified to support GSMA SGP.32 version 1.3 bringing emergency profile support for connected cars, simpler integration for Telematics Control Units and a common architecture across different types of connected vehicles, and enhancing security for OEMs and Tier-1s to prepare for Post-Quantum era threats

As cars and two-wheeled vehicles rapidly transition to highly intelligent, regulated, and software-defined mobility assets, the new Kigen Automotive eSIM is certified across the TEGRION™ SLx22 chip family, creating a three-product portfolio spanning Automotive (SLI22), Consumer (SLC22, supporting latest SGP.22 v2.7), and Industrial IoT (SLM22, supporting SGP.32 v1.3). All three share the same OS and hardware platform, development tools, and management stack, helping automotive manufacturers use the same security platform across infotainment, telematics, and headless vehicle systems. This reduces fragmentation, speeds development, and makes it easier for the same OEM to expand across multiple connected cars, passenger transport, and industrial vehicle fleets.

Kigen’s implementation supports SGP.32 v1.3 enhancements, published in May 2026, including direct and indirect profile downloads, digital activation codes, and emergency profile handling relevant to connected vehicles. Early visibility into the latest enhancements to eSIM standards reduces the risk of architectural obsolescence for OEMs and operators, allowing architectures qualified today to remain relevant over long program timelines.

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is increasingly important for connected vehicles, where long service lives make hardware replacement impractical. Although PQC is not yet part of the GSMA specifications, Kigen can support OEMs having implemented hybrid key encapsulation that combines classical and quantum-safe algorithms on the same platform. OEMs can test end-to-end PQC-resistant communications using Kigen’s C-SDK development suite and test eSIM samples to prepare for long-term security against emerging quantum threats.

The certification builds on Kigen’s established eSA-certified IoT eSIMs and Consumer eSIMs that introduced eSIM OS secure updates for compliance to EU Cybersecurity Resilience Act (EU CRA), certified six months prior.

“Vehicles are becoming long-lived software platforms, so their connectivity trust anchor must remain secure and manageable long after production,” said Vincent Korstanje, CEO, Kigen. “Kigen’s new eSA-certified Automotive eSIMs give car manufacturers a secure path from factory provisioning to global fleet operation while preserving freedom to evolve connectivity throughout the vehicle lifetime. Given the market maturity of our eIM, the time to achieve this certification demonstrates the deep collaboration of Kigen’s product, engineering, certification, and operations teams with technology and ecosystem partners.”

“Kigen has played a key role in shaping the evolution of eSIM for IoT, including through Dr Saïd Gharout’s leadership of the GSMA eSIM Technical Working Group,” said Gloria Trujillo, eSIM Technical Director, GSMA. “This latest achievement, with the industry’s first eSA-certified eSIMs supporting SGP.32 v1.3, is an important step in translating GSMA eSIM IoT specifications into secure, interoperable technology for the next generation of connected IoT and vehicle fleets.”

“Congratulations to Kigen on the industry’s first GSMA eSA certification to the latest SGP.32 enhanced specifications for automotive eSIMs,” said Katherine Diao, Head of IoT and Automotive Industry, China Mobile International. “China Mobile International is pleased to partner with Kigen to introduce SGP.32-based security solutions to Chinese automakers, supporting global deployment, CRA-aligned processes, and reliable connectivity for vehicles designed for long service life.”

Kigen’s full eSIM stack assurance spans GSMA SAS-UP (manufacturing) and SAS-SM (subscription management) certification, plus hosted Kigen eIM remote management. Kigen Automotive eSIMs interoperate with 20+ network providers that are ready for digital activation, with 60+ “Secure with Kigen” IoT modules, and are supported by global connectivity partnerships, including China Mobile International, helping OEMs simplify deployment across international vehicle markets. Kigen will join GSMA interoperability testing in October with its certified IoT eSIMs and eIM solution.

Kigen Automotive eSIMs will be available for OEM sampling in the ETSI MFF2 package from October 2026. Request samples and the Kigen IoT eSIM Starter Kit at https://kigen.com/contact/
Hashtag: #GSMA #CMI #Infineon #eSIM #Automotive #V2X #CRA #SGP32 #eSA #PQC




Wechat: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/86eH-yVdwhS0dv2m9U60cw

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Kigen

Kigen is the forerunner in GSMA-certified eSIM and Remote SIM Provisioning security solutions, empowering networks and manufacturers, including top 10% in industrial critical sectors, to scale cellular IoT and achieve compliance for new cybersecurity mandates. Our award-winning eSIM technology delivers intelligence on the SIM, supporting AI-era network functionality, with proven interoperability across leading chipsets and modules for faster time to market. Backed by Arm, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and SBI Group, Kigen is consistently recognized for innovation and earned a spot on the coveted The Sunday Times 100Tech – UK’s fastest growing private tech companies list.
Learn more at

Portable Solar Desalination Delivers Water Security to Remote Tongan Islands

SYDNEY, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Two remote communities in Tonga’s Vava’u island group have gained a reliable source of safe drinking water following the installation of Elemental Water Makers solar-powered desalination systems on Hunga and Matamaka.

Bluemont solar-powered water desalination unit on the coast of a Tongan island
Bluemont solar-powered water desalination unit on the coast of a Tongan island

Delivered by Australian water-solutions company Bluemont Pty Ltd in partnership with Dutch technology provider Elemental Water Makers, the project converts seawater into fresh water using reverse osmosis powered entirely by the sun. Each unit can produce up to 4,300 litres of WHO-standard drinking water a day, giving the two communities a combined capacity of up to 8,600 litres.

For residents traditionally depending on rainwater harvesting, the installations provide vital protection against drought and unpredictable rainfall. When tanks run dry, remote island communities can face water rationing or the high cost and logistical difficulty of bringing bottled water in by boat. Local production helps keep money within the communities while supporting better health, sanitation, education and everyday wellbeing.

“It was life changing for me as well as the villagers who now have a reliable source of clean drinking water for the first time ever. With the declaration of the ‘Super El Nino’ this work could not be more important,” Paul Hart, Director of Bluemont Pty. Ltd.

Emphasizing local ownership, the project trained ten community members per island—with at least five participants from each community being women—alongside a Tonga Water Board representative to operate and maintain the systems. Designed for 15 years of service, these low-maintenance, solar-powered installations strengthen climate resilience in isolated communities without fossil fuels.

Bluemont led the planning, transport, installation and commissioning effort, working with Elemental Water Makers, Pacific Technologies New Zealand, Tonga Water Board Poate Vai ‘O Tonga and the people of Hunga and Matamaka. The project also received grant support through Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO).

Bluemont is now discussing a proposal with the Tongan Government that could seek Asian Development Bank support for solar desalination across a further 23 remote communities. While that expansion is not yet confirmed, Hunga and Matamaka already offer a model for locally operated, inclusive and sustainable water security across the Pacific.

For more on solar water desalination, visit:

About Bluemont

Bluemont delivers sustainable solutions for managing water, erosion, fire, and flood risks in remote and emergency situations. Contact info@bluemont.com.au for details.

MRI Software Launches Co-Funded Offer to Enable Greater Efficiency and Scalability Across Property Management Agencies in Australia

Co-funded offer will provide eligible agencies with complimentary access to an expanded suite of property management technology, along with onboarding and enablement support.

SYDNEY, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MRI Software today announced a targeted offer giving a select cohort of eligible CommBank and MRI Property Tree clients in Australia the chance to receive access to an expanded Pro AI bundle subscription designed to optimise day‑to‑day property management, improve productivity and support business growth. The offer is available for a limited time and at no additional cost, and remains open until 30 June 2027, subject to funding availability.

The offer combines financial investment from CommBank with subscription waivers and onboarding, enablement and activation support from MRI to provide participating agencies with a complimentary 12-month upgrade to the Property Tree Pro AI Bundle.

Built around MRI Property Tree, MRI’s property management software for residential agencies in Australia, the bundle brings together tools spanning maintenance, invoicing, inspections, business insights and tenant support. Participating agencies will have access to:

  • MRI Maintenance Plus: Streamlines maintenance management by bringing requests, communications and property information together with AI-powered automated maintenance workflows, helping property managers coordinate work efficiently with tenants, owners and service providers.
  • MRI Key Automate and MRI Invoice Automate: Simplify two common administrative processes by providing greater visibility and control over key management while reducing manual work through AI invoice processing.
  • MRI Inspection Manager: Digitises property inspections with mobile, paperless condition reports, AI-driven comment automation and image recognition, advanced 360 inspection tools and tenant-assisted inspections, helping teams simplify the inspection process.
  • MRI AI Assistant for Tenants: Provides always-on support for routine tenant questions and maintenance enquiries, helping agencies respond faster while reducing the volume of repetitive enquiries handled by property managers.
  • MRI Business Insights and Analytics: Brings agency data together through ready-to-use reports, benchmarking and custom dashboards, giving property managers greater visibility into business performance and the information they need to make informed decisions.

Together, these capabilities can help agencies reduce administrative work across core property management processes, improve visibility into their operations and give their teams more time to focus on clients, tenants and business growth.

“We know that adopting new technology can be challenging for businesses, particularly in a rapidly evolving space like AI,” said Kerryn Saward, CommBank Executive General Manager, Specialist Sales and Client Solutions.

“By focusing this investment on a targeted group of property management agencies, we’re helping demonstrate how AI can deliver immediate and practical benefits, from reducing manual work to improving business performance.”

David Bowie, Executive Managing Director APAC, MRI Software, said the initiative reflects a shared commitment to helping property management agencies get more from the technology they use every day.

“Property managers have an enormous number of responsibilities competing for their time, from maintenance and inspections to invoicing, communication and business performance,” said Bowie. “Together with CommBank, we’re giving participating agencies access to a broader set of AI-powered tools that can take some of that administrative work off their teams and help them operate more efficiently. Ultimately, it’s about giving property managers more time to focus on their customers, tenants and growing their businesses.”

Participating clients will also receive onboarding, enablement and activation support throughout the 12-month offer to help them integrate the technology into their day-to-day operations and realise tangible business and productivity benefits.

The initiative builds on the strategic relationship between CommBank and MRI Software, including the Smart Real Estate Payments solution, which integrates digital payment capabilities directly into property management workflows to help agencies streamline operations and improve accuracy.

About MRI Software

MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate solutions and industry data that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI’s connected, intelligent platform empowers owners, operators, agents and occupiers in commercial and residential property organisations to stay ahead in rapidly changing markets. A trailblazer in the Proptech industry, MRI serves more than six million users worldwide, including the social and affordable housing sector. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to realise their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, please visit https://www.mrisoftware.com.

Offer T&Cs

 This offer is available to select eligible CommBank and MRI Software clients who hold an active MRI Property Tree subscription during the offer period. Eligible clients will receive a complimentary upgrade to the MRI Property Tree Pro AI bundle for a 12-month period from the date MRI confirms the upgrade. The offer covers the difference between the client’s current MRI Property Tree subscription fee and the Pro AI bundle upgrade fee only; it does not cover the client’s existing subscription fees to MRI Property Tree or other MRI subscriptions. MRI will also waive any applicable onboarding and activation fees associated with the upgrade during the 12 months. Subscriptions will be automatically renewed at the end of the 12-month period at the full cost of the MRI Property Tree Pro AI bundle applicable fees. Clients are able to opt-out of automatic renewal with written request as outlined in the client’s current terms and conditions.

The client’s existing MRI Property Tree subscription will continue in accordance with their existing agreement.

Accessing the Offer

MRI sales representatives may contact eligible clients regarding access to this limited-time offer, available until 30 June 2027 subject to funding availability.

CommBank does not issue, manage or administer the MRI platform or MRI subscriptions. This offer is subject to eligibility, availability, change or withdrawal, and MRI’s terms and conditions, available at https://www.mrisoftware.com/au/

Media Contact

Ryan Short
Director of Marketing, MRI Software (APAC)
Ryan.short@mrisoftware.com

ProHance Launches a Unified Platform for Actionable insights on Contingent Teams

An industry first governance layer that unifies cost, delivery and output for contingent teams

SYDNEY, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ProHance, the AI-led Productivity Control Room platform for enterprises, today announced the launch of a unified platform for measuring and improving performance for outsourced and contingent teams.

ProHance Launches a Unified Platform for Actionable insights on Contingent Teams
ProHance Launches a Unified Platform for Actionable insights on Contingent Teams

Enterprises now will get a governance layer that provides independent unified proof of what their contingent workforce actually delivers, providing a single source of truth to finance, delivery and vendor management teams.

Now Enterprises can reallocate idle capacity, validate invoices, negotiate renewals based on evidence, flag delivery risk before it materializes, and provide audit teams with a defensible record.

Contingent workforce management has evolved from a function focused on vendor onboarding, contracts and compliance into a strategic capability contributing to over 20% of the workforce. However the technology to manage performance of this workforce has not been able to control cost leakage as it can only provide evidence that work occurred.

ProHance built the platform around three measures that determine contingent workforce performance:

  • CostLeakage— Clear governance of what is being spent against what is delivered
  • SLA Adherence — Improving predictability of delivery within time-and-materials engagements
  • Output — optimizing the value the workforce creates, in addition to utilization

The platform tracks all three in one place, giving Finance, Delivery and Vendor Management the same data instead of each team working from its own tool moving from fragmented ownership to joint governance.

ProHance is launching this after deploying it across Fortune 100 companies, where it has been tested and validated to give the right insights.

“Every system an enterprise runs today can tell it what it bought. None of them can tell it what it got,” said Ankur Dhingra, CEO, ProHance. “With this platform, we’re building a single source of truth for contingent teams — the same defensible number for Finance, Delivery and Vendor Management to act on, measured from the work itself instead of what the vendor reports. That’s the gap we built this to close, starting with outsourced and contingent teams, where existing tools go blind.”

About ProHance

ProHance is an AI-led Productivity Control Room platform giving enterprises real-time visibility into productivity, operations and workforce performance. Trusted by more than 450,000 users across 55+ countries, ProHance was named Star Performer in the Everest Group PEAK Matrix® 2026. Visit www.prohance.ai.

 

Reeracoen Group Survey Offers Country-by-Country Guide to Six Distinct ASEAN Talent Markets for Japanese Companies and Professionals

New regional findings highlight market-specific implications for Japanese companies planning ASEAN expansion and Japanese professionals across the region

TOKYO, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Japanese companies continue looking to Southeast Asia for growth and Japanese professionals increasingly consider careers across the region, new data shows that a one-size-fits-all strategy cannot be applied across the ASEAN region.

Kosuke Soejima, Managing Director, Reeracoen Japan
Kosuke Soejima, Managing Director, Reeracoen Japan

The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026, published by Reeracoen Group, a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, in partnership with Rakuten Insight, surveyed 3,630 consumers and business leaders across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in June 2026. The findings show leadership across several of the region’s key workforce and business indicators split between different markets: Vietnam leads on consumer optimism, Indonesia on business confidence and career mobility, Thailand on business investment growth, and Singapore on AI and technology investment — with no single market leading on every measure.

  • Indonesia: Highest business confidence at 66% and highest career mobility, with 29% considering a career change.
  • Malaysia: Strongest domestic-market orientation, with 75% of businesses identifying their home market as their top growth opportunity.
  • The Philippines: Strong business confidence at 65%, highlighting continued business optimism and opportunities in a resilient market.
  • Singapore: Leads the six markets in AI and technology investment intent at 33%.
  • Thailand: Leads the six markets in business investment growth, with 28% of businesses increasing investment.
  • Vietnam: Leads on consumer optimism at 48%, while 16% of businesses are expanding headcount and 46% report improving revenue.

Hiring strategies evolve across ASEAN

Across the six markets, businesses are taking a more targeted approach to workforce growth, with selective hiring cited by 32% to 47% of businesses, while 7% to 16% are actively expanding headcount. Vietnam records the highest hiring-expansion rate at 16%.

Beyond hiring, operational efficiency is the most cited growth opportunity across all six markets, ranging from 35% to 43%, while technology and AI rank among the top three at 24% to 33%.

For Japanese businesses operating or expanding across ASEAN, these differences highlight opportunities across markets while reinforcing the importance of market-specific hiring strategies and a strong understanding of local talent needs.

Technology and income priorities shape talent decisions

In Vietnam, 39% of consumers considering a career change cite AI and automation as their primary motivator, ahead of income growth and work-life balance. It is the only market surveyed where AI and automation rank first among career-change drivers. AI also features prominently among career-change motivations in Singapore at 32% and Indonesia at 30%.

Income diversification is another notable trend, with 71% of consumers in Indonesia and 70% in the Philippines actively seeking additional income—the leading financial response to economic pressure in both markets.

Kosuke Soejima, Managing Director, Reeracoen Japan, said:

“For Japanese companies expanding into Southeast Asia, the biggest risk is treating ASEAN as a single market. This data shows six markets evolving in very different ways—on hiring, on investment, on what workers want from an employer. Understanding those differences market by market is exactly the kind of intelligence we aim to bring to our clients and candidates as they build careers and businesses across the region.”

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight, said:

“The findings highlight how differently consumers and businesses are responding across ASEAN. For Japanese companies and professionals looking at the region, understanding these market-level differences is increasingly important when assessing opportunities, workforce needs and future growth.”

For the full six-market findings, including country-by-country profiles and a Leadership Playbook of eight strategic priorities for regional expansion, download The Great Restructuring: ASEAN Consumer & Business Pulse Survey 2026.

  • Download the report at:

https://www.reeracoen.co.jp/en/events/ra-asean-not-one-market-2026-japanese-companies-need-to-know?utm_source=jp_pr&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=asean_whitepaper_2026_japan

About Reeracoen Group

Reeracoen is a leading Asia-based recruitment and HR solutions group, connecting talent with forward-thinking organisations across the region. With 9 offices across 6 major Asian markets, Reeracoen combines deep local market expertise with cross-border recruitment capabilities to support sustainable business growth.

Beyond recruitment, Reeracoen provides market intelligence, workforce insights, salary research, and employer advisory services, helping organisations make informed talent and business decisions in an evolving regional economy.

Reeracoen’s commitment to service excellence has been recognised through multiple industry awards, including Best Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2025, 2026), Client Service Excellence Award (2026), Best International Recruitment & Talent Acquisition Agency (2024), and Best Executive Recruitment Agency (2024).

For more information, visit https://www.reeracoen.co.jp/.

About Rakuten Insight Singapore

Rakuten Insight Singapore is the Southeast Asia hub of Rakuten Insight, Inc., a wholly-owned online market research subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc. Established in 1997 as AIP Corporation and integrated into the Rakuten Group in 2014, Rakuten Insight operates a research panel focused on 12 major Asian markets, with a panel network spanning 60 countries and regions.

With offices in 11 countries and regions, the company provides market research for more than 500 leading companies worldwide. Rakuten Insight Singapore serves as a regional hub providing multi-lingual and multi-functional operational support for clients across Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit https://insight.rakuten.com.

Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight
Cheryl Ng, Country Director, Singapore, Rakuten Insight