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Innovate to Benefit Society: Clarivate validates PolyU’s research excellence–achieving outstanding growth in research output and global leadership in engineering and AI-medical research

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 January 2026 – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) yesterday unveiled the PolyU Research Excellence Report at a high-profile forum co-hosted with Clarivate, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence. The landmark report provides a comprehensive evaluation of PolyU research achievements and impact, reaffirming the University’s position as a global innovation powerhouse. The event, “Research Excellence Report Launch cum Impact Forum: Innovating for Global Impact”, drew around 100 distinguished attendees, including academic leaders from other tertiary institutions in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, industry partners and policymakers. According to Clarivate, PolyU achieved a remarkable 65% surge in high-impact research output and a 55% rise in highly cited papers from 2020 to 2024, and led all University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions in research publications in 2024, underscoring its position at the forefront of Hong Kong’s academic excellence.

The event was officiated by Prof. Timothy TONG, Chairman of the Research Grants Council (RGC); Mr Osher GILINSKY, Vice President for Asia Pacific, Academia and Government, Clarivate; and Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, who delivered opening remarks.

Celebrating PolyU’s exceptional research achievements and their far-reaching impacts on society, the Nation and the world, Prof. Tong stated, “The PolyU Research Excellence Report vividly demonstrates its commitment to sustainable development, reflecting the dedication and innovation of its faculty, researchers and students.” Prof. Tong commended PolyU for its effective use of research resources, noting the significant advancements in AI-driven medical breakthroughs, climate solutions and sustainability. He further emphasised the RGC’s ongoing commitment to supporting research that addresses major societal challenges, exemplified by initiatives such as the Research Impact Fund. Additionally, he reaffirmed the RGC’s partnership with universities in strengthening Hong Kong’s status as a global knowledge hub.

Recognising PolyU’s outstanding global research performance, Mr Gilinsky elaborated, “In recent years, PolyU has demonstrated high research productivity in high quality, driving for high impact for the society. PolyU was granted 1,020 patents between 2020 and 2024, the second highest among UGC-funded universities. To enhance research translation, PolyU has formed partnerships with companies including NVIDIA, Huawei and Alibaba. These achievements illustrate PolyU’s international connectivity, diverse disciplinary strengths and strong culture of research translation. Leveraging its strength with the Chinese Mainland resources, PolyU is also accelerating knowledge transfer and identifying emerging areas for discovery, particularly in AI-powered healthcare, sustainable engineering, advanced manufacturing and smart city development—fields where it aims for global leadership.”

Prof. Chao emphasised, “The report is a testament to years of dedicated effort, groundbreaking innovation and the unwavering commitment of the PolyU academic community. In 2025, we are proud to have 21 PolyU scholars named Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate, while 428 rank among Stanford University’s World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists—placing PolyU second among Hong Kong tertiary institutions. Our Strategic Plan 2025/26 – 2030/31, themed ‘Unite to Meet Challenges, Innovate to Benefit Society,’ will further empower PolyU to deliver even more transformative contributions to society.”

Clarivate has been forging continuous collaborations with numerous institutions, including co-authoring the report series The impact of research undertaken by universities in Hong Kong with UGC in 2022. Produced by Clarivate using authoritative data from the Web of Science, the PolyU Research Excellence Report delivers a comprehensive assessment of the University’s overall research performance and achievements, highlighting PolyU’s global leadership in engineering, advancements in powering medical research with emerging AI technologies, and unique contributions to the hospitality, fashion and textile, design and art disciplines that distinguish the University on the global stage.

PolyU’s strengths are exemplified by its leadership in Hong Kong’s research output growth, achieving the highest number of publications among UGC‑funded universities in 2024. Nearly 40% of its outputs are internationally co-authored, while 27% involve QS Top 50 university partners. The quality and impact of the University’s research output are further evidenced by its strong disciplinary performance. In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, seven PolyU disciplines rank in the global Top 30, while, overall, 26 disciplines are listed among the world’s Top 100, underscoring the breadth and depth of the University’s academic excellence across multiple fields.

Following the report launch, the Impact Forum featured a high-level panel discussion on “Innovations and Challenges in Research Evaluation”. The discussion facilitated insightful exchanges between the panel and attendees on evolving approaches to research assessment, the importance of measuring societal impact and strategies for fostering cross-institutional collaboration.

The PolyU Research Excellence Report is now available on the PolyU website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/ipao/institutional-performance/research-excellence-report/

Highlights from the report:

  • Engineering Leadership: Ranked 6th globally in Engineering and 2nd in Civil Engineering (Subject Rankings of U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Rankings 2025-2026), with research supporting Hong Kong’s Cross Bay Link project and national space missions. PolyU engineering publications grew by 68% between 2020-2024, with 38% of Hong Kong’s engineering publications affiliated with the University in 2024.
  • AI-driven Medical Innovations: 261 patents in Computing and Control solutions, including LungRT Pro (a radiotherapy support system), Scolioscan® (radiation-free scoliosis diagnosis) and STARS (a smartphone-based vision screening tool for children). These life‑changing innovations demonstrate PolyU’s strong interdisciplinary integration across computer science, optometry, biomedical engineering, rehabilitation sciences and nursing.
  • Unique Disciplines: Global top rankings in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Textile Science and Engineering (1st and 5th respectively in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2025), as well as Art and Design (22nd in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025). Groundbreaking work includes smart wearables for stroke patients, AI-powered tourism demand forecasting platforms and sustainable community design projects.
  • Collaborative Impact: Over 600 international collaboration agreements with 390+ institutions across 45 countries and regions, and 3,100+ collaborative projects in the Chinese Mainland. Between 2020 and 2024, nearly 40% of its high-quality research publications were co-authored with international institutions. PolyU Unicorn startups have created over 5,000 international job opportunities and generated significant economic value.

Hashtag: #PolyU #Clarivate #ResearchOutput #AIMedical #Engineering #HongKong

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

Saudi Arabia Unveils Ambitious New Privatization Strategy to Expand Public-Private Partnerships

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  • Strategy sets out 220+ new public-private partnerships contracts by 2030
  • Targets initial $64 billion (SAR 240 billion) in direct capex investment
  • Broadens private sector participation across new and existing projects
  • National Privatization Strategy accelerates realization of Saudi Vision 2030 economic diversification goals

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a new National Privatization Strategy to significantly expand the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in delivering and operating large-scale projects and advancing economic diversification of in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Led by the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), the Strategy provides unprecedented opportunities for long-term foreign direct investment in initiatives to enhance the quality and efficiency of infrastructure and public services in the Kingdom, strengthen the role of the private sector in sustainable economic development, enable the government to focus on its legislative, regulatory and oversight roles, and enhance fiscal sustainability.

Saudi Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Board of the NCP, His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, stated:
“In the Kingdom, we strive to establish future-ready infrastructure with high quality and efficiency, ensuring that public services delivered to citizens, residents, and visitors are among the best in the world, while strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global reference in public-private partnerships.”

The National Privatization Strategy aims to increase resident and visitor satisfaction with public services across 18 targeted sectors, create tens of thousands of high-quality jobs, sign more than 220 PPP contracts by 2030, and mobilize over $64 billion (SAR 240 billion) in private capital investments by 2030.

The launch of the Strategy marks the transition from the foundational phase – successfully completed under the 2018 Privatization Program – to a new phase focused on execution and accelerating delivery. The Strategy will open up new sectors for private sector investment locally and internationally, including transport and logistics, water, health and education infrastructure and real estate, enable participation in larger and more complex projects, increase financing opportunities, as well as accelerate new partnerships and reinvestment in mature projects.

The government will seek partners for projects including the Saudi Landbridge linking east and west coasts through Riyadh, several education infrastructure projects, water desalination, treatment and strategic reservoir, as well as international airports.

The Strategy establishes five core programs related to planning, regulation, human capital, awareness and prioritization, to enable and advance the privatization ecosystem. These are supported by 42 executive initiatives to achieve its objectives and contribute to Vision 2030 privatization targets. It also includes an executive program dedicated to identifying and prioritizing privatization opportunities, with more than 145 priority opportunities identified—representing attractive investment prospects for the private sector.

The 2018 Privatization Program has achieved several key milestones, most notably the establishment of the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), the approval of more than 200 projects with estimated total investments of approximately $213 billion, and the signing of nearly 90 contracts, including asset sale and PPP contracts across multiple sectors.

The Program also contributed to strengthening private sector participation, enhancing the operational efficiency of government assets, and advancing the legislative and regulatory environment that supports investment – thereby supporting economic diversification goals and improving the Kingdom’s competitiveness regionally and globally.

For more information contact: James Drewer, Ways, James@ways-sa.com

About the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP)

The National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) is the driving force behind Saudi Arabia’s Private Sector Participation (PSP) ecosystem. Established in 2017, NCP reports directly to the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and plays a vital role in developing world-class infrastructure and public services, contributing to the Kingdom’s sustainable development goals in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

NCP brings together public and private stakeholders, as well as government decision makers to unlock the full potential of the private sector to participate in privatization and public-private partnership (PPP) projects. This collaborative approach leverages private sector expertise and innovation to successfully deliver impactful PPP projects.

Find out more about the NCP here
https://www.ncp.gov.sa/en  and
https://www.ncp.gov.sa/en/NationalStrategy/Pages/default.aspx

About Vision 2030

Saudi Vision 2030, launched in 2016 by the Saudi Government under the leadership of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is the Kingdom’s roadmap to modernize its society, economy, and government. It seeks to diversify the economy reducing dependence on oil exports and develop other industries including tourism, mining and finance.

The vision rests on three main pillars: positioning Saudi Arabia the “heart of the Arab and Islamic world”, becoming a global investment powerhouse, and transforming the country into a hub connecting Africa and Eurasia.

 

MicuRx Announces FDA Clearance of IND Application to Proceed to Phase 2a Trial of MRX-5 in Patients with Mycobacterium abscessus Pulmonary Disease

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FOSTER CITY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“MicuRx”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel anti-infective therapies for drug-resistant bacterial infections, recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for MRX-5, enabling the company to initiate a Phase 2a clinical trial in patients with Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease.

M. abscessus pulmonary disease is a serious and prevalent non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection associated with high morbidity, prolonged treatment regimens, and limited effective therapeutic options. Current treatments often require multi-drug combinations over extended periods and are frequently complicated by poor tolerability and suboptimal outcomes.

MRX-5 is a novel oral antibacterial agent designed to target NTM. In preclinical studies, MRX-5 demonstrated potent activity against clinical isolates of M. abscessus, including strains resistant to existing standard-of-care therapies. The compound has also shown favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles in nonclinical and clinical studies.

“The FDA’s clearance of our IND for MRX-5 represents an important milestone for MicuRx and for patients suffering from M. abscessus pulmonary disease,” said President of MicuRx Jerry (Zhiyue) Li “This approval allows us to advance MRX-5 into a Phase 2a clinical trial,  which aim to assess its safety, and efficacy in patients with M. abscessus pulmonary disease.”

The Phase 2a trial is a multicenter study in the United States designed to evaluate MRX-5 in adults with confirmed M. abscessus pulmonary disease. The trial is expected to generate important clinical data to inform subsequent development  milestones.

This IND clearance further expands MicuRx’s clinical pipeline of anti-infective drugs, reinforcing the company’s commitment to addressing global challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.

About MRX-5

MRX-5 is a next-generation antibacterial agent being developed by MicuRx for the treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections, including M. abscessus. The compound is designed for oral administration and aims to provide a more effective and tolerable treatment option.

FDA granted orphan drug designation to MRX-5 for the treatment of NTM infections in 2024.

About MicuRx

MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative therapies to treat serious and drug-resistant bacterial infections. Leveraging deep expertise in medicinal chemistry and anti-infective drug development, MicuRx aims to deliver differentiated therapies to address significant unmet medical needs worldwide.

 

XtalPi Convenes Global Experts to Shape the Future of Molecular Glue Drug Discovery: From Serendipity to Precision

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  • Global thought leaders presented cutting-edge research at the 2026 International Symposium on Molecular Glue Drug Discovery.
  • XtalPi unveils the AI-driven XGlue™ platform to enable rapid, closed-loop molecular glue drug discovery.
  • Cross-sector discussions emphasized the need for bridging gaps between academic research, industrial development, and clinical applications.

SHANGHAI, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, XtalPi, a global leader in AI- and robotics-powered drug discovery, successfully concluded its 2026 International Symposium on Molecular Glue Drug Discovery. The event convened leading scientists, biopharma innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the world to explore how emerging technologies are redefining strategies for historically “undruggable” protein targets.

XtalPi successfully concluded its 2026 International Symposium on Molecular Glue Drug Discovery
XtalPi successfully concluded its 2026 International Symposium on Molecular Glue Drug Discovery

Molecular glue discovery has long relied on serendipity. In his opening remarks, XtalPi Co-founder and CEO Dr. Jian Ma emphasized the need for a fundamental paradigm shift—moving from chance-based discoveries toward a systematic, technology-driven approach enabled by AI, robotics, and global collaboration.

Anchoring this transition, XtalPi Vice President Dr. Yang Xie introduced the company’s proprietary XGlue™ platform. XGlue™ integrates physics-based AI modeling to interrogate complex protein–protein interactions with an agentic AI–controlled autonomous synthesis workflow. This closed-loop design–make–test system enables rapid iteration and significantly expands the addressable target space for molecular glue therapeutics, positioning XtalPi at the forefront of next-generation protein degradation.

The symposium featured a series of scientific presentations highlighting the evolution of the field. Prof. Nathanael S. Gray (Stanford University) and Prof. Bruno Correia (EPFL) discussed leveraging chemically induced proximity and computational de novo design to uncover functional interactions beyond the reach of traditional drug discovery. Prof. Ke Ding (Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Dr. Yong Cang (ShanghaiTech University) presented compelling examples of rationally discovered and designed molecular glues addressing critical diseases with significant unmet medical need. Dr. Jianwei Che (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Dr. Liqiang Fu (GluBio) further highlighted how AI-driven methodologies and enabling technologies are improving target selectivity, enhancing molecular potency, and strengthening the safety profile of glue-based therapeutics. From an investment and commercialization perspective, Mr. Peter Zhang (YAFO Capital) outlined strategic pathways for scaling molecular glue therapies across global markets.

The symposium concluded with a cross-sector roundtable on building a sustainable innovation ecosystem for protein degradation. Moderated by Dr. Yang Xie, the discussion brought together leaders from Sanofi, Betta Pharma, GluBio, and other organizations to address the critical gaps between academic discovery, industrial development, and clinical translation. A shared consensus emerged: sustained progress in protein degradation will require deep integration across science, industry, and capital.

As molecular glue therapeutics continue to gain momentum, the convergence of predictive AI and high-throughput automation is accelerating a shift toward logic-driven drug discovery—transforming once-intractable biological targets into viable therapeutic opportunities.

About XtalPi

XtalPi Holdings Limited (XtalPi, 2228.HK) was founded in 2015 by three physicists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It is an innovative R&D platform powered by quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and robotics. By integrating first-principles calculations, AI algorithms, high-performance cloud computing, and standardized automation systems, XtalPi provides digital and intelligent R&D solutions for companies in the pharmaceutical, materials science, agricultural technology, energy, new chemicals, and cosmetics industries.

Spectrum Dynamics Medical Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Veritas.AI™, Its AI-Powered Noise Reduction Platform for VERITON-CT

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SARASOTA, Fla., Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Spectrum Dynamics Medical, a global leader in digital nuclear medicine imaging solutions, today announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for Veritas.AI™ Noise Reduction, its advanced artificial intelligence platform designed to significantly enhance image quality, diagnostic confidence, and operational efficiency on the VERITON-CT® digital SPECT/CT system.

Veritas.AI represents a major advancement in molecular imaging, leveraging a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) to intelligently reduce image noise while preserving the highest spatial resolution and quantitative accuracy. The technology is clinically validated across multiple applications and tracers, including bone imaging, Lu-177 theranostics, and I-123 MIBG, addressing some of the most demanding imaging scenarios in nuclear medicine.

Veritas.AI decreases the scanning times by up to 50% and improves image quality in low-count and high-noise conditions. Veritas.AI enables clinicians to maintain diagnostic accuracy while improving patient comfort and increasing department throughput. Unlike conventional denoising techniques, Veritas.AI performs seamlessly across a wide range of imaging conditions, from routine diagnostic scans to delayed post-therapy imaging.

The Veritas.AI Noise Reduction suite includes dedicated applications optimized for specific clinical needs:

  • Bone-IQ.AI, enabling up to 50% reduction in scan time for whole-body bone imaging while maintaining image quality and enabling throughput of 2–3 patients per hour.
  • Thera-IQ.AI, purpose-built for Lu-177 theranostics, improving post-treatment image quantitative accuracy, and harmonizing noise across time points, which may enhance the accuracy of dosimetry and improve lesion detectability.
  • MIBG-IQ.AI, designed for I-123 MIBG imaging, enabling up to 50% reduction in scan time, delivering safer, faster, and more comfortable exams for children.

When combined with the VERITON-CT’s 360° CZT digital detector architecture, wide-bore design, and quantitation-ready workflows, Veritas.AI further strengthens Spectrum Dynamics’ leadership in digital SPECT/CT imaging—supporting routine clinical practice, advanced theranostics, and clinical research.

“Receiving FDA clearance for Veritas.AI is a significant milestone for Spectrum Dynamics and for the nuclear medicine community,” said Tomer Gabay, Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum Dynamics Medical. “As innovation leaders, we are incredibly excited to bring this powerful AI innovation solution to our customers. Veritas.AI strengthens our commitment to precision imaging by delivering clearer images, greater clinical confidence, and more efficient workflows, while helping hospitals prepare for the rapid growth of theranostics and quantitative SPECT/CT.”

This FDA clearance underscores Spectrum Dynamics’ continued investment in AI-driven innovation, setting a new standard for clarity, confidence, and clinical value in nuclear medicine.

About Spectrum Dynamics Medical

Spectrum Dynamics is spearheading the transformation of SPECT imaging systems from analog to digital detection technology, enabling hospitals and clinicians to provide healthcare services with improved image quality, efficiency and access to advanced clinical applications. Spectrum Dynamics launched the world first digital cardiac SPECT system, the D-SPECT CARDIO – in 2007. Since then, the D-SPECT has become the system of choice for functional cardiac imaging with hundreds of systems sold worldwide. In 2018, Spectrum Dynamics launched its multipurpose SPECT and SPECT-CT systems – the VERITON® and the VERITON-CT® SPECT/CT, first ring-shaped gantry 360 CZT digital SPECT/CT scanner.

For more information, visit www.spectrum-dynamics.com

Papablic Launches SafeguardPlus™ Baby Bottle Washer, the World’s First with built-in Water Purification to Remove Lead and Soften Water

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NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Papablic, a brand trusted by over 4.5 million parents worldwide, announced the launch of the SafeguardPlus™ Baby Feeding Essentials Cleaning System, the industry’s first and only feeding cleaning system with a built-in water purification system designed to remove lead and soften tap water before cleaning begins.

Innovate to Set a Higher Bar on Baby Feeding Hygiene and Safety

The Papablic SafeguardPlus™ Cleaning System marks a major breakthrough in baby feeding hygiene and safety. Unlike conventional solutions that rely on untreated tap water, Papablic’s newest innovation addresses an often-overlooked risk in baby feeding: water quality itself.

Parents do everything right to keep baby feeding clean. However, analysis of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead testing data shows that systems serving about 81% of the U.S. population have detected lead at or above 1 part per billion (the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended level for children), and 23.5% of systems have recorded health-based lead violations.

Lead exposure is particularly harmful to infants and children under six because their developing bodies are highly sensitive. Even low levels of lead exposure can cause slowed growth and development mentally and physically.

Papablic SafeguardPlus™ Cleaning System removes avoidable risks at the source by purifying water before cleaning begins.

Deep Clean—From What You See to What You Can’t.

With its pioneering PurifyClean™ Technology, Papablic is redefining what “deep clean” truly means—eliminating visible milk residues and invisible harmful contaminants like lead. Unlike traditional solutions that focus on mechanical cleaning alone, SafeguardPlus™ is designed as a complete feeding hygiene system— addresses both visible and invisible risks from the very first step.

“For SafeguardPlus™ Cleaning System, we didn’t just optimize the cleaning performance—we addressed the part that no one else was controlling : the water itself,” said a Papablic spokesperson. “Our goal is simple — to do it right and take no risks when it comes to baby feeding safety and health. That’s how we safeguard babies and support parents in feeding with greater confidence and ease, by knowing every step is safer by design.”

Key Benefits of Papablic SafeguardPlus™ Cleaning System：

  • Built-in Water Purification System: Removes pontentially harmful contaminants such as lead and softens water within one minute for safer, residue-free cleaning. No distilled or bottled water needed.
  • 8-Bottle Capacity: Cleans up to 8 bottles and other feeding accessories in a single cycle, designed for the multiple daily feeds of newborn and multi-child families.
  • 360° Deep Clean with Faster Cycle: A 5-in-1 automated system that filters, washes, sterilizes, dries, and stores feeding essentials, reducing daily cleaning time up to 30% compared with other solutions.
  • Helps Reduce Up to 99.999% Harmful Germs: Reduce harmful germs and prevent cross-infection while remaining safe for feeding essentials.
  • 100% Baby Safe: Made with certified baby-safe, BPA-free materials.

With the launch of SafeguardPlus™ Cleaning System, Papablic establishes a new benchmark in baby feeding hygiene and safety—where real deep clean starts with safer water, safeguarding every feed from the very first sip.

About Papablic

Founded in 2017, Papablic was born from a vision to create better possibilities for modern parenting. Since day one, Papablic has been dedicated to developing innovative and reliable products that support every parent in their daily feeding routines. Known for its best-selling sterilizer and bottle washer, Papablic prioritizes safety and delivers reliable solutions designed to help parents reclaim time, confidence, and freedom. Loved by over 4.5 million families, Papablic’s parent-centric products have been featured in popular media outlets such as Babylist, The Bump, and Parents. Originally founded by a papa, Papablic aims to help all parents and caregivers enjoy better parenthood with safer and simpler solutions.

For more information, visit https://papablic.com.

New Launch Event Page：https://papablic.com/products/papablic-safeguardplus%E2%84%A2-baby-bottle-washer-system

Autozi Signs Cooperation Agreement with the Suizhou Special Purpose Vehicle Chamber of Commerce, Targeting US$2 Billion and Forging Another Major Milestone in the Company’s Development History.

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BEIJING, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Autozi (Stock ticker: AZI), a leading operator of automotive industry supply chain cloud platforms in China, signed a strategic cooperation agreement today with the Hubei Suizhou Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Chamber of Commerce, which is renowned as the “Capital of China’s SPV Manufacturing”. With capital restructuring, digital upgrading, and international expansion as the three core drivers, the two parties will jointly promote the comprehensive transformation of Suizhou SPV industrial base into a “Global Intelligent Manufacturing Capital of New Energy SPVs”, and anchor a five-year development goal: to help 10 selected SPV manufacturers within the base (with a total current annual sales volume of approximately $500 million) achieve an overall scale exceeding $2 billion, and significantly enhance their global market competitiveness and brand influence.

This cooperation is a crucial step for Autozi to deepen its overseas strategy in the SPV sector, as well as an important measure for Suizhou to promote the high-end, green, and intelligent upgrading of its SPV industry. It will realize the in-depth integration of industrial resources and platform capabilities, ushering in a new chapter for the high-quality development of China SPV industrial clusters.

Two-Phase Promotion of Strategic Implementation to Build a New Ecosystem of Industrial Collaboration

To ensure the orderly achievement of strategic goals, the two parties plan to advance the implementation of cooperation in phases, forming a development path of “laying the foundation through vertical integration and improving efficiency through horizontal empowerment”.

The first phase focuses on vertical integration and capital operation. The two parties will select SPV manufacturers with 10 advantageous vehicle models from Suizhou and promote capital mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and merger restructuring of high-quality enterprises in the same category in batches by vehicle type, promoting the concentration of resources to leading enterprises, expanding enterprise scale, strengthening R&D investment, and optimizing management systems. After the completion of integration, ten professional special purpose vehicle groups will be established, among which those with core competitiveness will launch independent spin-off listing plans to accelerate development with the help of capital strength. This model draws on the successful experience of capital integration in the international commercial vehicle field and solves the pain points of scattered operation and weak competitiveness of traditional small and medium-sized enterprises through precise M&A and resource aggregation.

The second phase focuses on horizontal collaboration and full-chain empowerment. On the basis laid by vertical integration, Autozi will rely on its three core advantages of “platform, data, and finance” accumulated over the years to provide all-dimensional empowerment services for the ten groups: including upstream supplier integration, cross-enterprise collaborative procurement to reduce costs, global integrated marketing and channel expansion, joint construction of a standardized after-sales service system, and deployment of a supply chain digital cloud platform to realize the “online integration of order flow, capital flow, and logistics”, building an efficient and collaborative industrial ecological closed loop.

Profound Industrial Heritage in Suizhou Provides Solid Support for Transformation

As a core agglomeration area of China’s special purpose vehicle industry, Suizhou SPV base has formed a complete industrial ecosystem, providing a solid foundation for this strategic cooperation. Currently, the annual output value of the base exceeds $9.6 billion, with products covering almost all key categories such as environmental sanitation, logistics, engineering, and emergency response. The industry consensus that “at least 1 out of every 10 SPVs on the road is produced in Suizhou” confirms its market position.

Relying on the industrial agglomeration effect of the 30-kilometer “Special Automobile Corridor”, the supporting rate of Suizhou SPVs industrial chain exceeds 90%, and the market share of multiple vehicle models has long remained among the top three in China. In recent years, Suizhou has been accelerating its transformation into new energy. From January to July 2025, the output of new energy special purpose vehicles surged by 60.6% year-on-year, forming a dual breakthrough pattern of pure electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Leading enterprises such as Chengli Group and Hubei Xinchufeng have realized industrial application in fields such as new energy environmental sanitation vehicles and 1,000-kilometer range hydrogen energy heavy trucks, laying a solid industrial foundation for building the “Global Intelligent Manufacturing Capital of New Energy SPVs”.

Autozi’s Platform Empowerment Activates Global Development Momentum

Since its establishment in 2010, Autozi has grown into a leading cloud platform enterprise in China’s automotive industry chain. In November 2025, the company released its new fiscal year overseas strategy, clearly focusing on the SPV sector, as well as after-sales service training and parts supply. With M&A integration as the core, it provides three major services: “capital integration, digital upgrading, and global expansion”.

This cooperation with the Suizhou SPV Chamber of Commerce is the concrete implementation of Autozi’s overseas strategy. By exporting its core capabilities in supply chain digitalization, cross-border platform construction, and online financial services, Autozi will help Suizhou’s SPV enterprises break through geographical restrictions and development bottlenecks, connect with global market resources, and at the same time, rely on Suizhou’s industrial foundation to improve its global supply chain layout in the SPV sector, achieving a win-win pattern of “platform empowering the industry and the industry feeding back the platform”.

In the next five years, taking this strategic cooperation as the starting point, the two parties will deeply integrate industrial resources and platform advantages, accelerate the transformation of Suizhou’s special purpose vehicle industry towards high-end, intelligent, and global development, and help China’s special purpose vehicle industry seize opportunities and set benchmarks in the global new energy wave.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company’s proposed offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

Vincom Retail Launches Vincom Collection – A Next Generation Multi-Experience Commercial Town Model

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HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 January 2026 – Vincom Retail Joint Stock Company officially introduces Vincom Collection, a curated commercial town brand line developed as a next generation multi-experience model, located within Vinhomes’ mega urban developments and key tourism destinations nationwide. Backed by Vietnam’s leading retail real estate developer, Vincom Collection not only pioneers contemporary trends in consumption, shopping and entertainment, but also creates distinctive landmarks that reinforces the status of each location on the national map.

Distinctive experiential spaces at Vincom Collection developments (ilustrative images).
Distinctive experiential spaces at Vincom Collection developments (ilustrative images).

Vincom Collection brings together commercial towns managed by Vincom Retail, developed through a systematic investment approach in architecture, spatial design, master planning, and operational standards. Each development within the Vincom Collection portfolio contributes to the creation of a distinctive commercial destination, defined by a carefully curated mix of brands and sectors, and positioned as a signature experience of each mega urban area and renowned tourism destination.

In its initial phase, Vincom Collection is set to develop a total commercial and service land bank of nearly 300 hectares, distributed across major locations such as Ocean City, Vinhomes Global Gate, Vinhomes The Gallery, Vinhomes Green Paradise, and Vinpearl Harbour, alongside a series of upcoming projects featuring diverse architectural styles and product formats.

For each commercial town, Vincom Retail will establish a dedicated thematic concept aligned with local lifestyles and cultural characteristics. These include commercial towns, culinary villages, themed markets, night streets, integrated entertainment, sports, and golf complexes, as well as wellness, spa, and healthcare models. The unique value proposition of Vincom Collection compared to conventional commercial towns lies in its open and inspiring spatial model, seamlessly interwoven with continuously updated cultural and contemporary creative experiences, delivering some of the most compelling and refreshing experiences for both residents and visitors.

Alongside its mass market commercial destination portfolio, Vincom Retail is also developing Vincom Collection Premium, a product line tailored to affluent and high end customer segments, with elevated standards in architectural design, landscape planning, and a strong emphasis on uniqueness and differentiation.

With the launch of Vincom Collection as its fifth product line, alongside Vincom Mega Mall, Vincom Center, Vincom Plaza, and Vincom Plus, Vincom Retail continues to reinforce its position as Vietnam’s leading retail real estate developer. The new brand line underscores Vincom Retail’s pioneering role in shaping next generation experiential trends while contributing to the overall growth and transformation of the domestic retail market. Through Vincom Collection, both domestic and international brands will have opportunities to expand and scale across vibrant destinations, extending beyond traditional retail and food and beverage to include operators in entertainment, sports, healthcare, culture, and education. Partnership models are designed to be flexible, ranging from leasing to joint operations or investment-led development, with the aim of optimizing operational efficiency and enabling the implementation of business concepts with depth and long term potential.

According to the plan, Vincom Collection projects will be rolled out in phases, with initial openings expected from 2026 and continued expansion through to 2030 across multiple key provinces and cities. The launch of Vincom Collection marks a strategic breakthrough by Vincom Retail in developing a modern commercial town model closely integrated with experience-driven consumption and urban lifestyles, in response to the increasingly diverse demands for shopping and leisure.

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