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Lee Kum Kee Sauce Creates Summer Internship Experience for Local Secondary School Students

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Advertorial Desk
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Participating in the CMA’s “Business-School Partnership Programme” and FHKI & HKSTP’s “Innopreneur Experience Journey”


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – This month, Lee Kum Kee Sauce (“Lee Kum Kee”), the century-old sauce brand, partnered with The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong’s (CMA) “Business-School Partnership Programme” and the “Innopreneur Experience Journey” — co-organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) – to provide a summer internship experience for four local senior secondary students. Hosted at Lee Kum Kee’s headquarters in Hong Kong, the programme was an opportunity to experience the company’s heritage and day-to-day operations first-hand, with guidance from employee mentors. The students gained insights into such aspects of the business as sauce manufacturing, research, quality assurance, brand promotion and sustainability, while also exploring future career possibilities.

Student interns participate in a variety of routine operations, such as going on site for a brand promotion event and restoring documents in the Sauce Archives.
Student interns participate in a variety of routine operations, such as going on site for a brand promotion event and restoring documents in the Sauce Archives.

The internship focused on three major experiences. First, students stepped into the Sauce Archives to assist with the restoration and preservation of historical documents, gaining a close appreciation of the brand’s history. Then, in the Testing Laboratory and Quality Assurance Laboratory, they undertook field observations and simulated testing under the supervision of technicians to understand how Lee Kum Kee maintains quality control at every stage from raw materials to finished products. During their innovation and technology experience session, students learned about the operation of Lee Kum Kee’s Oyster Sauce Smart Production Line and robotic arm, and tried their hand at 3D model sketching. Through these hands-on activities, they discovered how innovation and technology bring momentum and enhanced operational efficiency to traditional manufacturing.

Field visits and hands-on experience help students gain a deeper understanding of the workplace environment, sauce manufacturing processes, and technological applications.
Field visits and hands-on experience help students gain a deeper understanding of the workplace environment, sauce manufacturing processes, and technological applications.


Reflecting on the experience, the students expressed that seeing smart manufacturing and innovation applications in the sauce industry first-hand gave them a fresh perspective on Hong Kong’s manufacturing industry. Their most memorable moment was when they participated in actual operations in the company’s laboratories and archives. The students were grateful for the guidance given by Lee Kum Kee staff, which helped them to understand why every single role and working step is crucial, as how the brand’s heritage has been shaped by an unwavering commitment to quality.

Dodie Hung, Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs at Lee Kum Kee Sauce, stated: “Lee Kum Kee’s value of ‘Si Li Ji Ren’ (Considering Others’ Interests) means that we have always been committed to creating diverse learning and growth opportunities for youth. We are active in industry-academic collaboration, and hope that the internship experience will help students broaden their horizons and discover their own interests and future aspirations. As Hong Kong advances new industrialisation and innovation-driven development, the integration of traditional manufacturing and innovation has become a general trend, and we hope programmes like this can help nurture future talent for Hong Kong.”Hashtag: #LeeKumKee

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

About Lee Kum Kee Sauce

Lee Kum Kee Sauce is the global gateway to Asian culinary culture, dedicated to promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide. Since 1888, it has brought people together over joyful reunions, shared traditions, and memorable meals. Beloved by consumers and chefs alike, Lee Kum Kee Sauce’s range of more than 300 sauces and condiments sparks creativity in kitchens everywhere, inspiring professional and home chefs to experiment, create and delight. Headquartered in Hong Kong, China and serving over 100 countries and regions, Lee Kum Kee Sauce’s rich heritage, unwavering commitment to quality, sustainable practices and “Constant Entrepreneurship” combine to enable superior experiences through Asian cuisine for people worldwide. For more information, please visit .

About The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong’s Business-School Partnership Programme

Established in 1934, The Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA) is a non-profit-making industrial organisation. With some 3,000 member companies, the CMA is committed to promoting Hong Kong’s industrial and commercial development. Since 2009, CMA has launched the “Business-School Partnership Programme”, offering diverse career exploration and work experience opportunities to students from its two secondary schools during every summer holiday, while helping member enterprises fulfill corporate social responsibility. The programme aims to help S4 and S5 students understand the actual operations of different industries and experience the daily work of various roles through authentic workplace experiences, thereby discovering their own interests and career potential, enhancing transferable skills, and preparing them for higher education and entering society. For more details, please visit .

About “Innopreneur Experience Journey” Co-organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Co-organised by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries (FHKI) and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), the “Innopreneur Experience Journey” was launched in 2022. This year’s programme brings together 22 companies from AI, electronics, Life and Health Technology and other sectors to mentor 59 students from 28 secondary schools through a series of I&T and new industry-related activities, including work experience opportunities, company visits, and networking and exchange programmes. The initiative aims to help students gain early exposure to the latest developments and opportunities in innovation and technology as well as Hong Kong’s industrial sector, gain first-hand exposure to real workplace environments and required skill sets, and inspire their interests and aspirations while broadening their perspectives for future career planning. For more details, please visit and .

2026 ALUXE Unveils the New Disney Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary Wedding Ring Collection

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Advertorial Desk
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The Honey Halo Collection Captures a Heart-Stirring Journey of Love Through Two-Tone Diamonds and Honeycomb-Inspired Design


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – The year 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of A. A. Milne’s original Winnie-the-Pooh, first published in 1926. Over the past century, the honey-loving bear’s gentle humour and sincere friendships have become a cherished symbol of companionship for generations. To celebrate this milestone, ALUXE introduces the new Disney Winnie the Pooh “Honey Halo” wedding ring collection, featuring an engagement ring and a pair of wedding bands. Inspired by honey, the collection transforms the geometric order of the honeycomb and the softness of flowing curves into a harmonious design language shared across all three pieces.

ALUXE Disney Winnie the Pooh

A Honey-Inspired Halo Illuminating a Love Made to Last

In the Hundred Acre Wood, honey is always a source of anticipation. Yet its appeal lies not only in its sweetness, but also in the friends who are always there along the way. The Honey Halo Collection begins with this sentiment. Centred on the idea of a “Honey Halo,” yellow and white diamonds intertwine in layers reminiscent of sunlight passing through golden honey. Love does not exist only in its brightest moment; it gradually takes shape as two people draw closer, understand one another and learn to embrace their differences. Just as honey deepens in flavour with time, a relationship becomes all the more precious through enduring companionship.

The engagement ring features a wreath of yellow and white diamonds encircling the centre stone and is presented in a Disney Winnie the Pooh velvet ring box. RSDW_06


Disney Winnie the Pooh Engagement Ring | A Golden Halo Embraces the Centre Diamond, Elevating Life’s Most Meaningful Promise

The Honey Halo engagement ring gathers an abundance of sweetness around its centre stone. A brilliant diamond sits at the heart of the design, surrounded by a layered wreath of yellow and white diamonds, like bees drawn towards the light and fragrance of a honeycomb. Yellow diamonds bring a warm, honeyed glow, while white diamonds capture and reflect the light, allowing golden tones to blend naturally into their brilliance—much like two distinct personalities finding their perfect place within a relationship over time. Pavé diamonds extend along the intersecting lines of the band. Viewed from the side, the elevated setting gently lifts the centre stone, as though preserving a single precious drop of honey. The promise it represents is given a tangible form: carefully held, and lovingly kept.

The women's wedding band sets a single diamond within a hexagonal setting, with yellow and white pavé diamonds extending along the angled facets of the band. RGDW006


Disney Winnie the Pooh Women’s Wedding Band | Honeycomb Geometry and Flowing Light Portray a Quiet Love That Endures Through Time

The Honey Halo women’s wedding band continues the story with understated elegance. A single diamond rests within a hexagonal setting, translating the structure of a honeycomb into a crisp yet delicate detail. Yellow and white pavé diamonds extend along the angled facets on both sides of the band, resembling honey flowing gently along the edge of a vessel. The hexagonal form creates a defined silhouette, while the diamond lines bring a soft rhythm. Refined and subtle in everyday wear, the ring reveals delicate flashes of brilliance with every movement of the hand.

If the engagement ring captures the moment two people choose to make a lifelong promise, the women’s wedding band represents every day that follows—not just a fleeting intimacy, but a steady and lasting sweetness built through the ordinary moments of life.

The men's wedding band reflects the fluid form of honey through softly rounded lines, contrasting matte and polished finishes, and a single central diamond. RBDW006


Disney Winnie the Pooh Men’s Wedding Band | Strength and Softness Come Together, Allowing Two Distinct Rings to Complete One Another

The Honey Halo men’s wedding band echoes the fluid form of honey through softly rounded lines. Its clean, grounded silhouette brings together a fine matte finish contrasted with polished surfaces, allowing light to shift across contrasting textures. A single central diamond appears like a point of light held in place, adding a refined detail to the understated design.

Placed side by side, the two wedding bands become a reflection of a relationship. The women’s ring draws on the structured geometry of the honeycomb, while the men’s ring follows the rounded fluidity of honey. One offers structure; the other preserves softness. They form a pair not because they are identical, but because each retains its own character while making the other feel more complete.

Disney Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary Wedding Ring Collection | Carrying the Warmth of a Century-Old Story into Everyday Life

For one hundred years, Winnie the Pooh has offered comfort in the simplest way: by reminding us to slow down and cherish the people beside us. Happiness does not always come from grand gestures. Sometimes, it is simply someone remembering what you love, or quietly staying close when you need them most.

From the honey-inspired halo of the engagement ring and the two-tone brilliance of the women’s band to the gentle curves of the men’s ring, the Honey Halo Collection transforms the warmth of companionship into three jewellery designs made to be worn and treasured for years to come.

Disney Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary Collection | Limited-Time Gift


Limited-Time Gift with the Disney Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary Collection

To celebrate the launch of the Disney Winnie the Pooh 100th Anniversary Collection, customers who purchase selected pieces during the promotional period will receive a Winnie the Pooh jewellery box. Designed for both display and storage, it offers a gentle, dedicated place to protect every treasured piece. The collection is now available at ALUXE boutiques across Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Explore the Honey Halo Collection https://www.aluxe.com/sg-en/news/WinniethePooh_sg_2026/
Book a Boutique Appointment https://www.aluxe.com/sg-en/
Hashtag: #ALUXE



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

ALUXE

Founded in Taiwan, ALUXE specialises in bridal jewellery and operates 19 boutiques across Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Guided by its brand philosophy, “Crafted for Love,” ALUXE offers GIA-certified diamonds, transparent pricing and personalised services, accompanying every couple through life’s most meaningful milestones. © Disney. Based on the “Winnie the Pooh” works by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard.

Press Contact | ALUXE

Lala Yan, Brand Marketing | ✉️ lala.yan@aluxe.com

Laos Inflation Reaches 7.7% in August, Remains Above Target

By
Soutthida Sinbandith
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This photo is used for representational purpose only.

Laos’ inflation rate reached 7.7 percent in August, a slight increase from 7.6 percent in July, while average inflation for the first eight months of the year stood at 7.9 percent.

Housing, water supply, electricity and cooking fuel recorded the largest increase, rising 30.2 percent from the same period last year.

Prices for other goods and services increased 18.1 percent, while healthcare costs, including pharmaceuticals and hospital services, rose 12.4 percent. Education costs increased 12 percent, including school fees, uniforms and school supplies.

Transportation and communication prices rose 11.4 percent, followed by alcohol and tobacco at 9.5 percent. Hotel and restaurant services increased 8.8 percent, while clothing and footwear prices rose 7.4 percent.

Inflation Remains Above Government Target

Laos’ inflation rate rose slightly to 7.6 percent in July from 7.4 percent in June, after falling from 10.2 percent in April to 9 percent in May. The decline was partly driven by easing fuel prices and more stable exchange rate conditions.

The July increase was largely driven by electricity prices, which jumped 91.5 percent year-on-year.

The government has continued to prioritize price stability, domestic production, revenue collection and fuel supplies as it works to maintain macroeconomic stability.

At its 24–25 August meeting, the Cabinet reported that state revenue collection had reached 72 percent of its annual target, while government spending stood at 48 percent of the yearly plan. Officials also reviewed the impact of floods and landslides in eight provinces, adding pressure to an economy already facing rising household costs.

The economic outlook remains mixed.

The government reported five percent economic growth in the first half of 2026 and is targeting six percent growth for the full year, driven by tourism, services and industry.

The Asian Development Bank, however, forecasts growth of four percent this year and expects inflation to average 9.8 percent, citing higher energy costs and global economic pressures. The World Bank has forecast growth of 3.8 percent.

Taiwan outpaces asia average in workplace AI adoption: 96% of professionals use AI at work, skills confidence ranks highest across 10 markets

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Advertorial Desk
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Nearly 8 in 10 professionals see AI as a career opportunity, not a threat

  • 96% of professionals in Taiwan are already using AI at work, above the Asia average of 93%; 79% believe AI will have a positive impact on their future career opportunities, compared with 75% across Asia.
  • 73% of Taiwan professionals are confident in their ability to keep their skills up to date as roles evolve, the highest level among the 10 Asian markets surveyed.
  • Predictive analytics and decision support (62%) is the most common AI use case among professionals in Taiwan, suggesting AI adoption is moving beyond content generation into analysis and decision-making.
  • 76% of Taiwan employers identify critical thinking and fact-checking as a key capability in an AI-driven workplace, compared with 64% across Asia.
  • The top AI concerns among Taiwan professionals are data misuse and confidentiality (54%) and accountability for AI-driven decisions (51%) — both the highest levels recorded across the 10 markets.
  • 53% of Taiwan employers expect at least a quarter of their workforce to require reskilling or upskilling over the next five years, highlighting the scale of workforce transformation ahead.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – AI has quickly become part of everyday working life across Asia. According to The Jobs of Tomorrow: How AI is Reshaping Work Across Asia, the latest research from Robert Walters, the world’s most trusted talent solutions business, 93% of professionals across 10 Asian markets are actively using AI at work, while 58% of employers have formally introduced AI into the workplace.

Taiwan stands above the Asia average not only in AI adoption, but also in career optimism and confidence in adapting to changing skill requirements. 96% of Taiwan professionals already use AI at work, while 79% believe it will positively impact their future career opportunities. Most notably, 73% are confident they can keep their skills relevant as roles evolve — the highest level across all 10 markets surveyed.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in workflows, Taiwan’s workplace is moving beyond the question of whether to use AI towards how to use it effectively and responsibly — from applying AI to analysis and decision-making, to validating outputs and establishing clearer accountability. Robert Walters Taiwan notes that the most immediate impact is not widespread job elimination, but a reconfiguration of work: routine execution is increasingly supported by technology, while human contribution moves towards judgement, oversight and accountability for outcomes.

Taiwan professionals show Asia’s highest confidence in keeping skills up to date

While AI usage is consistently high across Asia, professionals differ significantly in how confident they feel about adapting their skills as work evolves.

For Taiwan professionals, continuous skills development is becoming increasingly important as AI reshapes job requirements. 53% of Taiwan employers expect at least a quarter of their workforce to require reskilling or upskilling within the next five years, while 18% expect this to apply to more than half of employees.

At the same time, 73% of Taiwan professionals are confident in their ability to continue learning and keeping their skills up to date, compared with 51–59% across the other Asian markets surveyed. This suggests that while the scale of skills transformation will be significant, Taiwan professionals are relatively confident in their ability to adapt.

John Winter, Country Manager of Robert Walters Taiwan, said: “As AI continues to reshape the way we work, knowing how to use AI is quickly becoming a baseline capability. What will differentiate professionals in the future is their ability to continuously evolve their skills and turn technology into meaningful business outcomes.”.

Beyond content generation: 62% of Taiwan professionals use AI for predictive analytics and decision support

Across Asia, the most common applications of AI at work are content creation (47%), data analysis and insights (40%) and research (38%), reflecting AI’s growing role as a first layer for drafting, information gathering, data processing and baseline analysis.

Taiwan appears to be more focused on analytical and decision-support activities. Predictive analytics and decision support (62%) is the most common application of AI among Taiwan professionals, followed by content creation (58%) and data analysis and insights (40%).

The findings suggest that Taiwan’s workplace AI adoption is not only above the Asia average in scale, but is also moving beyond productivity support into analysis, insight generation and decision-making.

Commenting on the shift, John Winter said: “As AI moves from content generation into analysis and decision support, the value professionals bring will also change. The real differentiator is not how quickly someone can get an answer from AI, but whether they can validate the information, apply business context and turn those insights into better decisions and outcomes.”

Taiwan professionals are less concerned about job loss — and more focused on data, trust and accountability

The impact of AI on jobs remains a major topic of discussion. In Taiwan, employers identify Administration & Business Support (45%), Accounting & Finance (28%), and IT & Digital Transformation (22%) as the functions most exposed to change as AI becomes more integrated into the workplace.

Even as AI reshapes roles, Taiwan professionals remain broadly optimistic about its impact on their careers. 79% believe AI will have a positive impact on their career opportunities. While one in five professionals in neighbouring Hong Kong believe AI will negatively affect their career opportunities, concerns in Taiwan are less focused on whether AI will replace jobs and more on whether it can be used safely and responsibly. 54% of Taiwan professionals are concerned about data misuse and confidentiality, while 51% are concerned about accountability for AI-driven decisions. Both are the highest levels recorded across the 10 Asian markets surveyed.

In parallel, employers are placing greater emphasis on the human capabilities needed to work effectively alongside AI. 76% of Taiwan employers identify critical thinking and fact-checking as one of the most important skills in an AI-driven workplace, highlighting the growing importance of human judgement. As AI becomes faster at providing information and answers, professional value is increasingly shifting from simply finding information to validating it, applying the right context and knowing when to challenge an AI-generated response.

AI is reshaping today’s workplace as the “jobs of tomorrow” begin to take shape

As AI adoption deepens, demand is growing for professionals who can combine technology understanding, data capabilities and commercial judgement. Robert Walters identifies three key areas of growth:

  • AI-adjacent and hybrid roles that bridge technical teams and business needs, such as AI Product Managers and AI Business Analysts.
  • Data, insights and transformation roles that turn AI-generated insights into measurable business outcomes, such as Data Analysts and Business Intelligence professionals.
  • Governance, ethics and trust-related roles that support responsible AI adoption, including AI Governance or Risk Managers, Responsible AI Leads and Data Privacy Officers.

Together, these roles reflect a broader shift in talent demand, moving beyond pure AI engineering expertise towards professionals who can combine technology, data, commercial judgement and governance capabilities.

John Winter added: “AI is already widely embedded in the way professionals in Taiwan work, and people are confident in their ability to keep learning as skills evolve. For organisations, the next step is not simply to introduce more AI tools, but to rethink job design, workforce capabilities and how AI is used responsibly. AI can improve efficiency, but sound judgement and the ability to turn technology into real business value remain fundamentally human.”

Note to editor:

About The Jobs of Tomorrow: How AI is Reshaping Work Across Asia

Robert Walters surveyed close to 5,000 professionals and companies across 10 Asian markets — Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam — during the fourth quarter of 2025.

The research examines how AI is reshaping job content, skills requirements and career pathways across Asia, as well as the capabilities organisations and professionals will need to remain competitive as AI adoption accelerates.

To access the full report, please visit: https://reurl.cc/be9MDo

Hashtag: #RobertWaltersTaiwan

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

About Robert Walters

Robert Walters is the world’s most trusted talent solutions business. Across the globe, we deliver recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing and advisory services for businesses of all shapes and sizes, opening doors for people with diverse skills, ambitions, and backgrounds. We help organisations find the skills and solutions to reach their goals and assist talented professionals to power their unique potential.

The Taipei office specialises in placing candidates in the following specialities: accounting & finance, electronics & industrial, healthcare, human resources, IT & digital transformation, marketing, manufacturing, sales, semiconductors, software, supply chain, logistics & procurement.

Arclin to Showcase Kevlar® and Nomex® Protection Solutions at Oil & Gas Asia 2026

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Advertorial Desk
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Company marks its first major regional exhibition since acquiring the Kevlar® and Nomex® businesses, reinforcing its commitment to protecting workers across ASEAN’s oil, gas, and petrochemical industries

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Arclin, a leading materials science company, today announced it will exhibit at Oil & Gas Asia (OGA) 2026, taking place September 2-4 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in booth #1901. The show marks Arclin’s first major industry exhibition in the ASEAN region since completing its acquisition of the Kevlar® and Nomex® businesses from DuPont in April 2026 and its formal introduction to oil, gas, and petrochemical customers across Southeast Asia.

Arclin to Showcase Kevlar® and Nomex® Protection Solutions at Oil & Gas Asia 2026
Arclin to Showcase Kevlar® and Nomex® Protection Solutions at Oil & Gas Asia 2026

Arclin will showcase its Kevlar® and Nomex® personal protection portfolio, engineered to help protect workers from flash fire, arc flash, extreme heat, and static electricity hazards common on oil, gas, and petrochemical job sites. Arclin’s participation builds on nearly six decades of Kevlar® and Nomex® protection, now carried forward under the Arclin name alongside continued investment in performance, comfort, and durability.

“Workers don’t get to choose when conditions turn dangerous, so their gear has to perform every time,” said Kenny Chen (Zhengyan), Arclin Regional Sales Leader for the Asia Pacific. “Kevlar® and Nomex® have a long history of protecting people in oil, gas, and petrochemical operations. As an integral part of Arclin’s portfolio, we can keep pushing that protection forward with lighter fabrics, better stretch, and more comfort in extreme heat, without giving up performance. OGA is our chance to sit down with the people in the ASEAN region who specify and buy this equipment and introduce them to what’s next.”

Visit Booth #1901 to Learn About:

  • Nomex® Comfort: A lightweight, breathable, quick-drying fabric that delivers Nomex®‘s proven protection against flash fire, arc flash, and extreme heat without the added weight and heat buildup of heavier gear.
  • Nomex® Essential Arc: A durable, lightweight fabric engineered to provide reliable arc flash protection and give workers valuable escape time from flash fire and extreme heat, resisting tears and abrasion through years of continuous use.
  • Kevlar®-based cut and heat protection: Fiber technology built into gloves and protective apparel to guard against multiple hazards at once, reinforcing the trend toward thinner, more flexible designs without sacrificing protection.
  • Customized protection solutions: Arclin works directly with garment manufacturers, channel partners, and end users to help match fabric weight, hazard rating, and comfort to specific job site requirements.

Arclin’s team will be available throughout OGA 2026 to discuss Kevlar® and Nomex® solutions for industrial protective apparel, innovations in flame-resistant protection, industry trends and safety applications, and customized solutions for individual business needs.

About Arclin
Arclin is a leading materials science company and manufacturer of polymer technologies, engineered products, and specialized materials for the construction, agriculture, transportation infrastructure, weather & fire protection, pharmaceutical, nutrition, electronics, design, and other industries. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Arclin has offices and manufacturing facilities across North & South America, Europe, and Asia, and serves customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.arclin.com.

Arclin Media Contact
Jana Wright
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
inquiries@arclin.com

Kevlar® and Nomex® are registered trademarks of Arclin. 

Data4Life and Monash Health Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Clinical Research

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Advertorial Desk
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Data4Life and Monash Health have partnered to optimize clinical trial design and execution, complemented by educational workshops and professional training programs, with a shared commitment to improving patient outcomes.

– Picture is available at AP –

MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Monash Health, the largest public health service in Victoria, Australia, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Data4Life, an international nonprofit digital health organization funded by the Hasso Plattner Foundation. The announcement was made by Associate Professor Tam C. Nguyen, Director of Research & Innovation, Monash Health and Tim Walz, Chief of Staff, Data4Life, at the Launch of the Monash Health Global Relations Office, with Monash Health Chief Executive Prof. Eugine Yafele and Global Victoria CEO, Danni Jarrett in attendance.

The Global Relations Office is a new site launched at Monash Health to strengthen international health partnerships, building alliances with leading international hospitals, universities, and health organisations for research, training, and knowledge exchange.

Under the MoU, Monash Health will support the alliance’s clinical trials through optimized trial timelines and patient enrolment, helping to achieve fast and effective subject recruitment. Data4Life will streamline clinical trial processes, collaborate on patient recruitment activities, and support the secondary use and standardisation of health data through open science and common data models, alongside professional training in Good Clinical Practice (GCP), study conduct, and other areas of clinical research.

Monash Health provides care for 1.2 million residents through 250 integrated services delivered across more than 40 locations and communities in southeast Melbourne, including statewide tertiary support for complex women’s, neonatal, and paediatric care. Its research portfolio comprises 1,600 active studies, including 600 FIH and phase 2 trials and observational studies. Monash Health also operates two paediatric and two adult clinical trial centres, supported by two ethics committees/IRBs covering both paediatric and adult studies.

”Monash Health is an institution that brings exceptional clinical depth. With over 175 years of experience and decades of longitudinal records, it is a world-leading partner for such a collaboration. Data4Life is committed to providing Monash Health’s teams with the tools and expertise required to perform federated studies, cross-border comparisons, and reproducible real-world evidence as efficiently as possible.”- Dr. Ben M.W. Illigens, CEO, Data4Life

The collaboration brings together Monash Health’s clinical research expertise with Data4Life’s scientific and technical expertise and open-source software platforms, D4L Collect and Data2Evidence, built on HL7® FHIR® and the OMOP Common Data Model, respectively.

D4L Collect is a platform for collecting prospective, multimodal health data in clinical and epidemiological studies through a secure researcher workspace and participant mobile app. It supports patient-reported outcomes (PROs), questionnaires, wearable and sensor data, and other health data in HL7® FHIR® format. D4L Collect workflows are designed to support decentralized data collection, conforming with GCP and ICH E6(R3) requirements.

Data2Evidence is an integrated Real-World Data (RWD) platform, designed for standardization and analysis of healthcare data, and reproducible Real-World Evidence (RWE) generation. It combines ETL mapping, quality assessment, cohort definition, OHDSI analytics, secure governance, and supporting federated studies in one platform, reducing manual processes and time to evidence.

Beyond clinical trials, both organizations will expand their collaboration through knowledge exchange, workshops, training programmes, and other joint initiatives. Tim Walz has been invited to Monash Health’s Research and Innovation Week 2026 (7–11 September), where he will discuss the collaboration’s progress to date and the strategy ahead.

About Data4Life

Data4Life develops open-source clinical research software built on internationally recognized standards, including FHIR and OMOP CDM. Funded by the Hasso Plattner Foundation, we operate under nonprofit governance, serving researchers, healthcare organizations, life sciences companies, and regulators with the digital tools required for fit-for-purpose real-world data and real-world evidence generation.

Designed to support multicenter studies and decentralized data collection, our integrated software ecosystem streamlines the secondary use of health data, from prospective multimodal data collection and standardization to reproducible data quality assessment and data analysis.

Our federated approach enables collaboration across distributed data sources while preserving patient privacy and data sovereignty as well as supporting security, governance, and regulatory requirements across jurisdictions.

We’re headquartered in Potsdam, with offices in Berlin and Singapore, and partner with leading academic and healthcare institutions including Mount Sinai, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the Hasso Plattner Institute.

As co-lead of OHDSI Germany, Data4Life contributes open-source software and technical expertise, supports OMOP CDM adoption, and participates in network studies and collaborative research across borders.

Data4Life will co-host the OHDSI Europe Symposium 2028 in Germany with our OHDSI Germany partners, bringing together researchers, healthcare organizations, regulators, and industry from across the globe for three days of scientific exchange in observational health research.

www.data4life.care

Press Contact:
Aishani Rajarai
Marketing & Communications
Email: media@data4life.care

ARDEX Calls for Greater Local Compliance Testing as Australia Accelerates Modular Housing

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Advertorial Desk
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Global prefab construction leader says Australian standards, local certification and factory-ready systems will be critical to the success of NSW’s modular housing

SYDNEY, Aug. 31, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ARDEX Australia has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of a new Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Innovation Facility, describing it as a step towards addressing housing supply challenges through faster, smarter and more scalable building methods. See: https://ardexaustralia.com/products_category/prefab-modular-offsite/

As governments turn to modular and prefabricated construction to boost housing delivery, ARDEX believes the priority is ensuring modular components and bathroom pods, whether manufactured locally or offshore, can be integrated into Australian projects with confidence through compliant systems, testing and certification.

According to Tobias Schäfer, ARDEX Global Head of Prefab, local investment in modular manufacturing presents opportunities for the Australian construction industry.

“There is strong government support for modular builders to expand factory capacity in Australia, and we can support that growth with proven systems and global expertise developed specifically for modular construction environments,” said Schäfer.

Schäfer noted that modular construction is increasingly global, with bathroom pods, wall systems and volumetric modules often manufactured in one country and installed in another.

“The globalisation of modular construction creates enormous opportunities to accelerate housing delivery, but it also highlights the need to ensure products and systems meet Australian performance requirements and building standards.

Manufacturers need confidence that the products specified within those modules have been tested, validated and supported for the Australian market before they arrive on site. That is where ARDEX has been working extensively across Asia, particularly China and Vietnam, to help deliver certainty of compliance.”

ARDEX’s global prefab program supports modular manufacturers across Europe, Asia, North America and Oceania, providing system solutions designed for factory-based production. By combining local technical expertise with international knowledge and experience, ARDEX helps manufacturers improve productivity, consistency and compliance outcomes.

About ARDEX

ARDEX is a global leader in construction solutions, with 67 subsidiaries, more than 50 production facilities, 4,000 employees and operations in over 100 countries. Since entering Australia in 2001, ARDEX has expanded through acquisitions including ABA, Vibro, Dunlop, DTA, Nexus, WEDI, Loba, Wakol, Cemix and Drymix, delivering world-class system solutions for projects worldwide.

Global Times: How Chinese NEVs gain ground in global markets, providing greener, smarter mobility

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Advertorial Desk
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BEIJING, Aug. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — This year, the 47th Bangkok International Motor Show was held at the IMPACT Arena, Exhibition and Convention Center. BYD’s booth was packed, with crowds lining up to check out the vehicles on display. Increasingly, Chinese new-energy vehicles (NEVs) are winning over consumers around the world.

In Southeast Asia, consumers are willing to wait in long lines to buy popular Chinese NEV models. In Europe, five Chinese automakers sold a combined 138,000 vehicles across 31 countries in May, up 64 percent year-on-year. For the first time, Chinese automakers surpassed Japanese carmakers in monthly new vehicle registrations in Europe. In South America, Brazil has become the largest destination for China’s NEV exports. In July, BYD’s plant in Brazil rolled its 100,000th vehicle off the production line.

These developments illustrate how China’s auto industry is embracing a new development pattern: strengthening domestic production cycle while promoting better interaction between domestic and international markets, with the two markets always reinforcing each other.

Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that China exported 977,300 and 7.098 million vehicles in 2013 and 2025, respectively, marking an increase of more than sixfold in 12 years. From 2021 to 2025, China’s vehicle exports saw explosive growth, increasing by about 1 million units annually. And, in the first seven months of this year, China’s vehicle exports reached 6.14 million units, surging 66.8 percent year-on-year.

The strong growth of NEVs has played a major role in propelling China to become the world’s largest automobile exporter.

From 2020 to 2025, China’s NEV exports rose from 69,000 units to 2.615 million units, an increase of more than 36-fold in five years. In June of this year, China’s monthly automobile exports exceeded 1 million units for the first time, up 75.1 percent year-on-year. Of the total, NEV exports reached 523,000 units, up 160 percent year-on-year and accounting for more than 50 percent.

Racing into global markets

Chery, BYD and SAIC, among the earliest Chinese automakers to expand into overseas markets, have emerged as the frontrunners in the global push. Now, Geely, Chang’an and Great Wall Motor are accelerating globalization, expanding their overseas market footprints.

And, emerging electric vehicle makers including NIO, XPeng and Leapmotor are leveraging their strengths in smart technological innovation to make inroads into premium overseas markets.

Behind the surge in export volume is the significant leap in vehicle production quality. In terms of product mix, the vehicles exported are primarily middle to high-end car models that have been tested in China’s highly competitive domestic market.

On July 16, XPeng held the global launch of its MONA L03 in Munich, Germany, with the model launched simultaneously in China and Europe. And, in terms of retail prices, they generally sell at higher prices overseas than in the domestic market. BYD’s ATTO 3, known as the Yuan PLUS in China, sells at around 120,000 yuan in China, while its price in Europe exceeds 300,000 yuan.

Regarding brand reputation, Chinese NEVs have become synonymous with premium quality and high-end products in the global market. As Chinese NEVs gain ground abroad, they are helping reshape the global brand value of “Made in China.”

Over these years, China’s NEV expansion overseas has undergone three major shifts: from vehicle exports to the globalization of the industrial chain, and then to the globalization of the broader ecosystem. 

For example, SAIC has set up localized R&D, operations and after-sales teams overseas. “We adhere to the principle of ‘global thinking, local action,’ developing tailored strategies for different markets based on local regulations, road conditions and consumer preferences,” a SAIC executive said.

BYD has established an extensive presence in Brazil, covering R&D, production, sales, services and supply chains. Its operations include manufacturing of electric bus and truck chassis, as well as integrated production capabilities such as lithium iron phosphate battery material processing.

In markets like Europe and the US, many multinational companies are proactively adopting and adapting Chinese technologies. Stellantis has partnered with Leapmotor on electric powertrains. In July, CATL and Octopus Energy, the UK’s largest energy supplier, announced the establishment of a joint venture to introduce China’s Qiji battery-swapping technology to Europe and jointly develop battery-swapping hubs there.

Overcoming challenges

Going global has never been an easy journey, as the overseas policy environment has become increasingly volatile in recent years.

In 2023, Turkey imposed an additional 40 percent tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. In 2024, the EU imposed countervailing duties of up to 35.3 percent on Chinese EVs, while the US imposed a 100-percent tariff on China-made EVs. In 2026, Mexico imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on passenger vehicles from countries with which it does not have free trade agreements.

“Chinese companies face different challenges in different regions. This is an inevitable stage in their global expansion, a comprehensive test as well as an opportunity to gain experience,” said Luo Hao, assistant to the general manager of BYD’s branding and public relations department.

Chinese automakers have managed to achieve impressive growth despite headwinds in the global market. For instance, Geely has invested in Malaysian national carmaker Proton, providing support in technology, management and supply chain resources.

The going-global of China’s NEV industry has followed an inclusive approach to economic globalization, providing consumers around the world, particularly in Global South countries, with high-quality, cost-effective vehicles that suit local economic conditions, everyday needs and purchasing power.

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, office worker Lucas used to buy second-hand cars. Now, after switching to a Chinese NEV, he finds its compact and agile design well suited to the narrow streets of the city’s older neighborhoods, while its low charging costs have significantly eased his living expenses.

In South Africa, Shane, a local resident who runs a roadside assistance business and relies heavily on his vehicle, previously struggled with frequent breakdowns of his older cars. After switching to a Chinese NEV, its reliable quality and stable performance resolved his transportation problems, helping him keep his business running smoothly.

Forging ahead at full speed

At the end of 2025, China’s auto industry reached some major milestones: FAW-Volkswagen rolled its 30 millionth vehicle off the assembly line, Chang’an Automobile produced its 30 millionth Chinese brand vehicle, and in 2025, China’s annual auto production and sales both surpassed 31 million units.

“We need to establish spare parts centers, service centers, and call centers to build up our service system and take root in the local market,” said Jia Lishan, vice president of Chang’an Automobile. And, Chang’an plans to establish more than 1,000 sales and service outlets in Europe by 2030.

In 2025, BYD overtook Tesla to become the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles. On June 9 this year, BYD founder, chairman and president Wang Chuanfu reiterated at the company’s shareholders’ meeting his ambition to make BYD truly “No. 1 globally” in terms of scale within five years. Notably, BYD plans to set up 6,000 flash-charging stations overseas by March 2027.

As more NEVs take to roads around the world, and smarter mobility benefits more people in the world, the global expansion of China’s NEVs represents not only an achievement of industrial development, but also a vivid illustration of the green low-carbon development and the concept of ecological civilization.

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