28.1 C
Vientiane
Thursday, September 18, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 2

Terra Oleo Emerges from Stealth with US$3.1M in Funding and Breakthrough Energy Fellow Selection to Reinvent Fats and Oils

SINGAPORE, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Terra Oleo, a Singapore-based biotechnology company, today announced its emergence from stealth with US$3.1 million in funding from a group of investors, and support from Breakthrough Energy’s prestigious Fellows Program. As part of this highly selective global initiative, Terra Oleo is advancing microbial technology to create sustainable alternatives to palm oil derivatives and cocoa butter for use in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food.

Terra Oleo’s portfolio of customized, microbial-derived lipids includes bioequivalents of cocoa butter and oleochemicals for sectors such as personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. Backed by deep microbial strain engineering expertise, Terra Oleo’s platform produces ingredients that meet customer specifications while eliminating energy-intensive refining steps and the toxic byproducts of conventional processes.
Terra Oleo’s portfolio of customized, microbial-derived lipids includes bioequivalents of cocoa butter and oleochemicals for sectors such as personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. Backed by deep microbial strain engineering expertise, Terra Oleo’s platform produces ingredients that meet customer specifications while eliminating energy-intensive refining steps and the toxic byproducts of conventional processes.

Palm oil and cocoa supply chains are under strain from climate instability, regulatory pressures, and limited land. In 2024, cocoa’s end-of-season stocks fell 26% and futures prices reached record highs, while global palm oil exports dropped 5.83% year-over-year amid rising demand and production constraints. These pressures are driving up costs and supply volatility, leaving producers and consumer goods companies in urgent need of alternatives. Terra Oleo’s technology meets this need by reinventing how lipid ingredients are produced.

Terra Oleo’s tunable platform harnesses precision fermentation to transform agro-industrial waste into sustainable palm oil ingredients and cocoa butter alternatives. Backed by deep synthetic biology and microbial engineering expertise, the platform delivers tailored lipid profiles for high-value palm and cocoa applications, while eliminating energy-intensive refining steps and toxic byproducts of conventional processes. This approach overcomes the limits of natural microbes, delivering superior unit economics and faster market adoption than other solutions.  

With strong process economics and deep market networks built alongside the conventional palm industry, Terra Oleo is uniquely positioned to deliver scalable, high-performance alternatives. At full scale, its technology could eliminate up to 900 million tons of CO₂ annually from palm oil and cocoa supply chains, accelerating decarbonization across personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food.

The company has already signed product testing agreements with several global and regional leaders in oleochemicals, food, personal care, and cosmetics. With validation underway and demand accelerating, Terra Oleo is preparing to scale from lab to market with products designed to match or surpass conventional performance.

To date, Terra Oleo has raised US$3.1 million from ADB Ventures, The Radical Fund, Elev8.vc, Better Bite Ventures, a strategic corporate investor from the palm oil industry, and other investors. Terra Oleo was co-founded by Shen Ming Lee, Boon Uranukul, PhD, and Min Hao Wong, PhD, who together bring complementary strengths in science, industry, and strategy to advance the company’s mission to decarbonize palm oil and cocoa.

“We founded Terra Oleo to reinvent how we produce the fats and oils that power our everyday lives,” said Shen Ming Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of Terra Oleo. “With support from the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program and our incredible investors, we are deeply honored and excited to bring sustainable, scalable alternatives to market and collaborate with partners to decarbonize palm oil and cocoa.”

Terra Oleo was selected to join Breakthrough Energy’s 2025 Fellows Program, which supports early-stage innovators developing technologies with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at gigaton scale. Fellows are selected through a rigorous process to ensure their technologies can reduce emissions at scale. With this support, Terra Oleo will scale from lab to pilot while advancing customer formulation testing and validation.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to work with talented founders who are tackling the most difficult climate and energy challenges around the world,” said Ashley Gross, vice president of Breakthrough Energy.

The Breakthrough Energy 2025 Fellows announcement can be found here.

As Terra Oleo enters its next phase, the company welcomes engagement with potential partners in the oleochemicals and specialty fats sector to sample its ingredients or co-develop customized lipids that are sustainable without compromising performance.

For more information, please visit www.terraoleo.com.

About Terra Oleo:
Terra Oleo is a Singapore-based biotechnology company pioneering microbial technology to produce sustainable alternatives to palm oil derivatives and cocoa butter for applications in personal care, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food. Leveraging deep expertise in microbial strain engineering, Terra Oleo delivers clean, cost-effective, and scalable alternatives to conventional fats and oils.

About Breakthrough Energy Discovery:
Breakthrough Energy Discovery is the pre-venture innovation arm of Breakthrough Energy, focusing on advancing emerging climate technologies at the earliest stages. Through its three core programs—Workshops, Ecosystem Grants, and the global Fellows program—BE Discovery provides philanthropic funding, tailored support, and connections to help innovators turn bold ideas into scalable solutions.

Media Kit

Media Contact:

Terra Oleo
Name: Shen Ming Lee
Email: shen@terraoleo.com 

Twelve Rising Talents from Germany Complete Five-Day Visit to Hong Kong and Shenzhen Experiencing the Region’s Vibrant Innovation and Technology Ecosystem

The visit showcased Hong Kong’s appeal as a launchpad for global talent and startups to the winners of a pitch competition hosted by Hong Kong Talent Engage in partnership with Germany’s Young Founders Network


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 September 2025 – Twelve outstanding young innovation and technology (I&T) talents and six organisers from Germany completed an intensive five-day trip to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, co-organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) and Germany’s Young Founders Network (YFN). The visit aimed to provide the young I&T talents with an in-depth exploration of the twin city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, industry support and I&T opportunities in innovation and technology, following the successful pitch competition held earlier this year in Munich, Germany in June this year.

12 talents from Germany completed an extensive Hong Kong visit, hosted by Hong Kong Talent Engage, to deep dive into Hong Kong and Shenzhen's dynamic startup and innovation hub.
12 talents from Germany completed an extensive Hong Kong visit, hosted by Hong Kong Talent Engage, to deep dive into Hong Kong and Shenzhen’s dynamic startup and innovation hub.

Mr Chris SUN, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region said, “Talent and technology are the key engines driving high-quality economic and social development. The Government will continue to promote complementarity and synergy between Hong Kong and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as well as facilitate the integration of technology and talent with a view to fostering the economic development of Hong Kong and contributing to the impetus of national development.”

SUN added that Hong Kong leapt to fourth place globally and first in Asia in the World Talent Ranking 2025, and that the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster was ranked first globally by the World Intellectual Property Organization, reflecting the high international recognition of Hong Kong’s appeal to talent and the GBA’s innovation capacity.

A closer look at the Hong Kong potential

The 18-member delegation visited the Hong Kong Science Park, the Shatin Communications and Technology Centre of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Center as well as the Qianhai International Talent Innovation and Exchange Centre in Shenzhen, and exchanged views with representatives from the Government’s investment promotion agency, technology enterprises and start-ups from Hong Kong and Mainland China. The delegation also toured various landmarks in Hong Kong to experience the unique charm of Asia’s world city.

“Hong Kong and Shenzhen have completely changed my perception of what’s possible in Asia,” said Sophie Defauw, Co-Founder and CEO of AthleteIQ, which is tackling sports injuries with a patent-pending device that predicts muscle overuse injuries minutes in advance. “The level of innovation here, combined with its access to the Greater Bay Area and Southeast Asia, makes it a very attractive development hub, especially for my startup to explore business expansion, validate product-market fit in Asia, and connect with hardware accelerators.”

“We’re especially interested in high-end manufacturing, construction, and mobility industries with the efficient supply chain in Hong Kong and Shenzhen,” said Isa Taflan, Co-Founder and CFO, Fibclick, who is revolutionising composite manufacturing through an end-to-end automated tool design system, combining AI, simulation, and augmented reality. “The innovation clusters and regional access offer great collaboration potential and this programme with HKTE was eye-opening.”

Leveraging an abundance of resources and more

In June this year, HKTE visited Munich, Germany, and co-organised a pitch competition on I&T and entrepreneurship with the local youth entrepreneurship organisation. Twelve winning I&T talents were invited to visit Hong Kong and Shenzhen together with representatives from the organisation and judges of the event.

HKTE has completed about 70 outreach visits and hosted more than 170 talent promotional programmes on Mainland China and overseas. The office will enhance its external promotion to recruit more global talent with diverse backgrounds, and provide comprehensive support services to assist incoming talent in integrating into Hong Kong, building the city into an international hub for high-calibre talent.

Learn more about Hong Kong’s dynamic opportunities, vibrant lifestyle, and welcoming environment here: https://www.hkengage.gov.hk/en/.

Hashtag: #HongKongTalentEngage #HKTE

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

About Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE)

HKTE, an office under the Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is committed to promoting Hong Kong’s advantages, opportunities, and various talent admission schemes in different global markets while providing comprehensive one-stop support services for incoming talents to facilitate their settlement and integration into Hong Kong for long-term development.

VIVOTEK Hosts Global Partner Summit, driving AI and Growth

Built on Trust: Boosting the Security Ecosystem for the AI Era

TAIPEI, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — VIVOTEK (3454-TW), the leading global security solution provider, celebrated its 25th anniversary by hosting the Global Partner Summit from July 3 to 5 in Taiwan. The event welcomed a hundred strategic partners from the U.S., Europe, Oceania, and Latin America to experience the latest advancements in AI and cloud-based security. During the summit, senior executives from across the group also took part, showcasing the Group’s forward-looking strategy and strengths in AI and sustainability. Through technology demonstrations and exchange forums, VIVOTEK further strengthened long-term collaboration with its international partners, and at the same time, it helps boost business performance and strengthen global expansion. At this critical moment of AI-driven industry transformation, VIVOTEK is leveraging 25 years of security expertise as the foundation to usher in a new era of intelligent security together with its global partners.

VIVOTEK hosted the Global Partner Summit, bringing hundreds of strategic partners to Taiwan to experience AI cloud security solutions and strengthen collaboration.
VIVOTEK hosted the Global Partner Summit, bringing hundreds of strategic partners to Taiwan to experience AI cloud security solutions and strengthen collaboration.

Security Market Growing at 7% CAGR: VIVOTEK Accelerates Expansion to Capture Rising Demand

According to research1, the global security market is expected to reach USD 258.6 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of about 7% from 2025 to 2033, highlighting significant opportunities ahead. “VIVOTEK started in Taiwan and has grown into a global leader in intelligent security. From a hardware-focused company, we have successfully transformed into an AI-driven security solutions provider. This journey was not achieved alone, but through the trust and support of more than 200 distributors and thousands of system integrators worldwide. With the momentum of AI, we are scaling new heights with our global partners, accelerating market expansion through AI and cloud innovation, and addressing the essential demand for security across smart cities, smart factories, smart transportation, and smart retail – ultimately building a safer, smarter world,” said Alex Liao, President of VIVOTEK.

Showcasing Strength in Software, Hardware, and Cloud R&D for Advanced Security

During the summit, VIVOTEK showcased its R&D capabilities across software, hardware, and cloud solutions. On the software side, it introduced the VIVOTEK Premium Partner Portal, designed exclusively for global partners. This one-stop platform enables real-time monitoring of customer systems, empowering partners to deliver smarter solutions and strengthening customer loyalty. On the hardware front, VIVOTEK unveiled its newly developed low lux camera. Featuring a large sensor, wide-aperture lens, and AI technology, it delivers brighter, sharper images even in ultra-low-light environments, enhancing night-time clarity to protect facilities around the clock.

The company also presented its AI-Powered cloud surveillance platform, VORTEX. The latest AI-Hub applications include Think Search powered by vision-language models, Event Insight, and Case Vault, enabling users to quickly locate targets, detect anomalies, and streamline results – driving greater efficiency in security operations. In addition, the summit featured multiple strategy and innovation sessions to help partners stay ahead of future AI and cloud market trends.

Bringing Global Partners Together on Family Day to Shape the Future of Intelligent Security

Over the past 25 years, VIVOTEK has cultivated deep expertise in the security industry and built a wide network of trusted partners and allies worldwide.

“We’ve worked together for more than a decade. VIVOTEK’s investment in AI innovation, particularly in human and vehicle recognition, effectively addresses the security pain points faced by customers, creating safer and more reassuring living environments,” said Christopher, CEO of ADISES, VIVOTEK’s distributor in Latin America.

“We emphasized that VIVOTEK stands out not only for its product quality and AI technology, but also for its genuine care and unwavering support for partners, consistently addressing their needs and helping to ensure project success,” said Yui, CEO of TSOLUTIONS, VIVOTEK’s distributor in Thailand for nearly 20 years.

This spirit of partnership and care extended to VIVOTEK’s first-ever Family Day at the Taipei Dome, which coincided with the retirement series of Lin Chih-Sheng, Taiwan’s all-time home run leader. Global partners, employees, and their families joined in celebration, experiencing firsthand the vitality and cohesion of VIVOTEK’s corporate culture. Looking ahead to the next 25 years, VIVOTEK will continue to deepen global collaboration and, together with its partners, lead the industry into a new AI-powered era of intelligent security.

 

GIGABYTE Announces the Availability of its AI-enhanced AORUS X870E X3D Series Motherboards for AMD Ryzen™ X3D Processors

TAIPEI, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GIGABYTE, the world’s leading computer brand, announces that the AORUS X870E X3D series motherboards are now officially available. First unveiled at COMPUTEX 2025, the AORUS X870E X3D lineup is the world’s first motherboard platform purpose-built for AMD X3D processors, delivering X3D Turbo Mode 2.0 for uncompromising gaming and productivity, industry-leading DDR5 speeds of up to 9000+ MT/s, and a smarter user experience through innovative thermal solutions, EZ-DIY features, and DriverBIOS technology.

GIGABYTE Announces the Availability of its AI-enhanced AORUS X870E X3D Series Motherboards for AMD Ryzen™ X3D Processors
GIGABYTE Announces the Availability of its AI-enhanced AORUS X870E X3D Series Motherboards for AMD Ryzen™ X3D Processors

At the core of the AORUS X870E X3D series is X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, a dynamic AI overclocking model trained on big data, tailored for per-chip optimization and resulting in a custom tuning profile with optimal results. This breakthrough enables users to achieve the optimal balance without compromise, improving 25% gaming performance and 14% multi-tasking productivity over default settings. By intelligently finetuning frequency, power, and thermal behavior, X3D Turbo Mode 2.0 unleashes the true potential of AMD Ryzen X3D processors.

Inherent D5 Bionic Corsa technology from the previous generation, the AORUS X870E X3D series sets a new benchmark for DDR5 memory speeds, supporting up to 9000+ MT/s across the entire lineup to meet the demands of gaming, content creation, and AI workloads. Through GIGABYTE’s proprietary tuning and AI-driven enhancements, users can count on consistent, stable performance at record-breaking speeds.

Beyond performance, GIGABYTE offers a smarter user experience with advanced thermal management that leverages superior 6mm direct-touch heatpipe at VRM and PCB Thermal Plate for 14% enhanced heat dissipating efficiency, EZ-DIY features such as M.2 EZ-Flex and PCIe EZ-Latch+ Duo for tool-free installation, and the DriverBIOS feature for simplified setup and instant WiFi connectivity. Together, these innovations make the PC build more accessible, efficient, and reliable.

The AORUS X870E X3D series offers a diverse range of models to suit gamers, creators, and AI enthusiasts. The lineup includes XTREME AI TOP, MASTER ICE, PRO ICE, ELITE, ELITE ICE, and a special AERO wood-inspired edition to complement custom builds. For more details, please visit official GIGABYTE website and check availability with local retailers and e-tailers.

Policy Address by Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive John Lee: Deepening Reforms and Leveraging Strengths for a Brighter Future


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 September 2025 – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, today (September 17) announced his fourth Policy Address, unveiling a range of initiatives to strengthen both established and emerging industries, attract overseas investment and talent, support Mainland China enterprises to “go global” and improve people’s livelihood.

Hong Kong SAR's Chief Executive John Lee's fourth Policy Address is themed
Hong Kong SAR’s Chief Executive John Lee’s fourth Policy Address is themed “Deepening Reforms for Our People Leveraging Our Strengths for a Brighter Future”.

“The well-being of our people is intimately linked to the health of our economy, making economic growth the key driver of livelihood improvement,” Mr Lee said.

Entitled “Deepening Reforms for Our People Leveraging Our Strengths for a Brighter Future”, the Policy Address initiatives are well aligned with the city’s competitive advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, Mr Lee said.

“With an ever‑expanding influence internationally, Hong Kong is rated the world’s freest economy, as well as an advanced and business‑friendly city. These fully demonstrate the notable institutional strengths and great vitality of ‘One Country, Two Systems’,” he added.

The Chief Executive said the development of the Northern Metropolis, an area that borders the Mainland and accounts for about one-third of Hong Kong’s total area and population, was a “new engine for Hong Kong’s economic development and holds immense potential.”

To accelerate its development, a new Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis will be set up, chaired by the Chief Executive, with a view to raising the level of decision-making. Administrative workflows will be streamlined, while unnecessary barriers and restrictions will be removed. Additionally, dedicated legislation will be introduced to empower the Government to devise simplified statutory procedures for accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis.

On industry development, Mr Lee said that artificial intelligence (AI) was “a key driving force”.

“With our advantages in scientific research, capital, data and talent, together with abundant use cases, Hong Kong is poised to become a global hub for AI development,” Mr Lee said.

The Government has launched the HK$3 billion (about US$386 million) Frontier Technology Research Support Scheme to help funded universities attract international top‑notch scientific researchers in AI and other fields to Hong Kong to spearhead basic research in frontier technologies, Mr Lee added.

Hong Kong has an advantage in internationalisation and possesses strong scientific research capabilities, with various universities participating in national aerospace projects. This, coupled with financing advantages, allows Hong Kong to promote the development of aerospace science and technology, supporting the space economy.

To attract more investment from the Mainland and overseas, Mr Lee announced that the Government would formulate preferential policy packages, that would include incentives such as land grants, land premiums, financial subsidies, and tax incentives, to attract high value‑added industries and high‑potential enterprises to set up in Hong Kong.

New industrialisation-related industries, such as aircraft recycling and new energy, will also be attracted and developed. The Government will foster the development of the life and health technology industry and set up the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation, helping pharmaceutical companies bring innovative drugs to the market.

To consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international hub and integrate into overall national development, the Policy Address proposed a range of initiatives to support development of core industries.

Regarding financial services, the Government will expedite the building of a premier international gold trading market by supporting more institutions to establish gold storage facilities in Hong Kong, with a target gold storing capacity of over 2 000 tonnes in three years, propelling Hong Kong into a regional gold reserve hub. The Government will also encourage gold traders to set up or expand refineries in Hong Kong, establish a central clearing system for gold in Hong Kong, and offer a greater variety of gold investment vehicles.

Hong Kong is expected to become the world’s largest cross-boundary wealth management centre in the next few years. The Government will enhance the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme to attract more investors by lowering the transaction price threshold for residential properties from HK$50 million (about US$6.43 million) to HK$30 million (about US$3.86 million).

To propel Hong Kong towards becoming an international hub for post-secondary education and high-calibre talents, the Government will construct the Northern Metropolis University Town and establish the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.

Hong Kong is among the world’s top three art trading centres. The Government will step up efforts to build Hong Kong into a global premium arts trading hub by developing an arts ecosystem at the Airport City, deepening collaboration with Art Basel, and engaging the industry to carry out studies on taxation, financing, talent, and related areas of art trading.

2025 Policy Address

Mr Lee concluded, “Hong Kong faces challenges and is also presented with continuing opportunities amid the changing world. Our country, the world’s second-largest economy, is our staunchest supporter and the source of our biggest opportunities. Combined with Hong Kong’s international prospects, our opportunities far outweigh the challenges. By working together, innovating, and embracing reform, we will turn our beloved Hong Kong into an even better home for everyone. The Pearl of the Orient will keep shining brighter than ever before.”

Hashtag: #hongkong #brandhongkong #policyaddress #reform #strength





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

Agentic ITSM platform Atomicwork announces strategic investment from Okta Ventures

The partnership accelerates secure, seamless, and context-rich IT support for the AI era

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Atomicwork, the agentic service management platform built for the AI era, today announced a strategic investment from Okta Ventures. This investment strengthens Atomicwork’s mission to reinvent enterprise IT. By combining Agentic AI with modern identity security, IT teams can unlock faster, safer employee productivity without compromising on experience. The result: Quick resolutions, fewer tickets in the flow of work, and secure-by-design workflows.

Okta Ventures invests in Atomicwork
Okta Ventures invests in Atomicwork

Through this partnership, Atomicwork and Okta will build integrations that embed identity, access intelligence, and IGA into everyday service delivery.

For example, when an employee can’t access Workday, they simply message Atom (Atomicwork’s Universal AI Agent) in Teams, Slack, or the browser: “I can’t get into Workday.”

Atom validates their identity via Okta—role, group membership, and device data—to determine the right access policy and intelligently assigns access instantly. If it detects security concerns, like an unusual login location, Atom escalates to IT with the full identity context attached.

The result is no ticket, no wait time, and complete confidence that the entire process was secure, compliant, and fully auditable without requiring a manual workflow.

Together, Atomicwork and Okta will enable IT teams to deliver personalized, proactive support across every business app, channel, and device, making enterprise IT both seamless and secure.

Atomicwork’s AI-native Universal Agent already reduces ticket volumes by up to 60% for IT and service teams with omnichannel and multimodal Agentic AI, while improving end-user satisfaction by more than 25%. By embedding identity into these agentic workflows, Atomicwork ensures that every interaction is not just faster, but also trusted and compliant, meeting the needs of today’s global, distributed enterprises.

“Legacy ITSM tools were built to manage tickets. We’re building Atomicwork to eliminate them,” said Vijay Rayapati, Co-founder and CEO of Atomicwork. “Okta Ventures shares our belief that identity is the foundation of trust in the enterprise. With their backing, we’ll accelerate our vision of giving modern IT teams the power of AI-native service management and enterprise identity controls in one unified platform, so employees can get instant, secure help wherever they work.”

“Identity is at the core of secure, modern enterprise infrastructure,” said Austin Arensberg, Senior Director, Okta Ventures. “Atomicwork is redefining how IT service management works in an AI-first world, and we’re excited to support their vision of bringing identity-driven automation and agentic AI to enterprises everywhere.”

Atomicwork has raised over $40M across its seed and Series A rounds so far.

For more information or to request a demo, visit www.atomicwork.com.

About Atomicwork
Atomicwork is a modern service management platform, built for the AI era. With agentic AI and identity at the core, it automates routine IT tasks, unifies internal workflows, and delivers instant, contextual ITSM and ESM across Slack, Teams, and the browser—empowering IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives that drive business growth. Headquartered in San Francisco, Atomicwork serves global enterprises with offices in India and Singapore.

About Okta Ventures
Okta Ventures (www.okta.com/okta-ventures) invests in and supports companies building cutting-edge technologies in identity, security, and privacy. As part of the leading identity cloud, Okta Ventures provides access to Okta’s APIs, technologies, and engineering expertise, while supporting portfolio companies’ go-to-market and brand growth.

Dornier MedTech America launches Hoover™ and AXIS® II SLIM, raising the bar in kidney stone treatment

KENNESAW, Ga., Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dornier MedTech America (DMTA) has announced the full U.S. commercial launch of its Dornier Hoover Flexible and Navigable Suction Ureteral Access Sheath (FANS) and Dornier Axis II Slim single-use ureteroscope with a 5.6Fr. distal tip.


 

Dornier Hoover Optivision
Dornier Hoover Optivision

Already FDA-cleared and proven in limited release, both single use devices are now available nationwide.

When paired with Dornier’s Thulio® pulsed Thulium: YAG laser with RealPulse® technology, the Dornier Hoover and Dornier Axis II Slim is designed to be the ultimate trio to provide a fully integrated set-up for dusting, fragment retrieval,  irrigation, and suction control in flexible ureteroscopy (fURS), allowing urologists to see, break, and remove kidney stones in one seamless procedure.

How it works together

The Dornier Hoover FANS Ureteral Access Sheath provides a stable working environment that enables continuous irrigation, suction, and instrument exchange through this sheath, the Axis II Slim ureteroscope is advanced to the kidney, where it delivers clear visualization of the stone, facilitating precise laser lithotripsy.

During laser stone disintegration (fragmenting or dusting) the Hoover allows for immediate removal of dust and fragments, maintaining clear visibility, and ensuring efficient evacuation of stone material.

Together, the three devices streamline the procedure by combining effective stone treatment with rapid, controlled clearance.

Best-in-Class Performance, Proven in In-Vitro Testing

Two pivotal mechanical factors determine the optimal use of Dornier Hoover FANS Ureteral Access Sheaths in flexible ureteroscopy (fURS) procedures; they are suction performance and deflection ability.

Recent peer-reviewed in-vitro studies published in the World Journal of Urology[1][2] found that the Dornier Hoover (Manufacturer: Innovex Medical Co. Ltd.) outperformed other tested devices of the same size in suction performance and delivered superior deflection for improved navigation.

These two parameters are critical for achieving high intraoperative efficiency in stone fragment clearance and for ensuring reliable access to challenging regions of the pelvicalyceal system, particularly the lower pole calyces of the kidneys.

Key competitive advantages of the Dornier Hoover and Dornier Axis II Slim include:

  • Best-in-class suction performance of the sheath for faster fragment removal compared to competing devices of the same size.[1]
  • Best-in-class deflection for navigating difficult calyces, even with laser fiber or basket in place.[2]
  • 5.6 Fr. tip scope provides the ideal combination of tight ureteral access and maneuverability for reliable lower pole access.

Executive Perspective

“Dornier MedTech America has a deep understanding of urological workflows and urologists’ needs. The Dornier Hoover delivers best-in-class suction performance and Dornier Axis II Slim offers best-in-class deflection—giving urologists a proven competitive edge in the operating theater,” said Brock Faulkner, CEO, Dornier MedTech America.

“With the 5.6 Fr. tip, the Dornier Axis II Slim sets a new benchmark for ureteroscope access, and together with Dornier Thulio, these devices form the ultimate 3-in-1 integrated urology solution for advanced stone procedures.”

Availability

Dornier Hoover and Dornier Axis II Slim are now available in the United States.
Visit www.dornier.com/americas/ for more information.

Disclaimer 

This announcement may contain general information about products and services. Availability, approved indications, and labelling of such product or services may vary and are subject to local regulatory approval in each respective market, and clinical performance and patient outcomes may differ across care settings and patient profiles. This announcement may also contain market position and forward-looking statements based on the current views and assumptions of the issuing entity. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors — many of which are beyond our control — that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, if any. These statements are provided on an “as-is” basis and are not guarantees of future performance. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them. No obligation is assumed to update any information in this announcement, except where mandated by applicable law. 

About Dornier MedTech

Dornier MedTech is a global MedTech innovator in minimally invasive urology, with a proud legacy rooted in aerospace engineering and precision German manufacturing. A wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced MedTech Holdings (AMTH) and headquartered in Germany, Dornier pioneered extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and continues to lead the urological field as a global innovator in laser technology, supported by digital tools and AI.

Driven by clinical integrity and a focused innovation pipeline, Dornier empowers healthcare professionals across the globe to deliver intelligent, precision-driven care that improves patient outcomes and enhances operational efficiency. Its flagship technologies include the Thulio® laser, and UroGPT™, the world’s first AI tool dedicated to kidney stone management for patients.

 

CisionOne Expands AI-Powered Platform with Enhanced Instant Insights and Social Intelligence

Innovative upgrades unify traditional, social and media release distribution—giving PR teams faster, smarter ways to cut through the noise, respond in real time, and prove impact.

CHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cision, a global leader in consumer and media intelligence solutions, today announced two major upgrades to its CisionOne platform: enhanced Instant Insights dashboards and expanded CisionOne Social intelligence.  Together, these innovations deliver a more unified, AI-powered solution for PR teams to monitor conversations, manage reputation, distribute media releases, and demonstrate impact—all from one place.


For years, PR teams have struggled with fragmented tools, siloed data, and platforms built for marketers rather than communicators. The result: disconnected views of social, traditional, and media release distribution, slower crisis response times, and an ongoing struggle to prove ROI.  

CisionOne, the industry’s only end-to-end AI-powered communications platform, directly addresses these challenges with:

  • Advanced Filtering and Customization – Instantly apply powerful filters and tailor dashboards with flexible options to zero in on the coverage that matters most.
  • Granular Analysis – Drill into charts and metrics to uncover the story behind the numbers.
  • Insights Hub – Build, organize, and share media coverage in one central place, making collaboration easier than ever.
  • Shareable Interactive Dashboards – Seamless collaboration with interactive dashboards for stakeholders, even those without CisionOne access.
  • Traditional, Social, and Distribution in One View – Access a unified dashboard that combines traditional coverage, social conversations, and media release performance for a complete, real-time picture.
  • Enhanced Social Capabilities – New integrations with Instagram and LinkedIn (with a TikTok API coming soon), plus deeper workflows for listening, publishing and engagement.

“PR teams have unique challenges that marketing-first tools don’t solve — from managing crises to measuring the true value of earned media,” said Jim Daxner, Chief Product Officer at Cision. “With these AI-powered innovations, we’ve built the only communications platform that brings together traditional media, social intelligence, and media release distribution— enabling our customers to move faster, prove impact, and protect their reputations in real time.”

CisionOne now stands apart as the only end-to-end communications platform where social intelligence, traditional media insights, and journalist outreach & distribution live together — streamlining workflows and enabling smarter, more impactful strategies.

For more information, visit https://www.cision.com/lp/next-level-pr-strategy/.

About Cision

Cision is the global leader in consumer and media intelligence, engagement, and communication solutions. We equip PR and corporate communications, marketing, and social media professionals with the tools they need to excel in today’s data-driven world. Our deep expertise, exclusive data partnerships, and award-winning products, including CisionOneBrandwatch, and PR Newswire, enable over 75,000 companies and organizations, including 84% of the Fortune 500, to see and be seen, understand and be understood by the audiences that matter most to them.

Contact Information:
For media inquiries, please contact:
Cision Public Relations 
CisionPR@cision.com