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interop.io Launches io.Intelligence to Accelerate Secure Enterprise Deployment of AI Copilots

Anchored by interoperability, the new initiative provides secure, human-guided AI copilots that integrate seamlessly with existing applications

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — interop.io, a leading provider of desktop interoperability, today launched io.Intelligence to enable practical, production-ready AI deployment. Designed for the demands of global enterprises and leading financial services firms, io.Intelligence delivers AI copilots that integrate seamlessly into interop-enabled desktops, accelerating workflows and unlocking immediate business impact.

Global financial institutions already trust interop.io to connect mission-critical tools, improve user experiences, and modernize application development practices. io.Intelligence extends that foundation, enabling enterprises to scale AI copilots responsibly, with humans in the loop. With io.Intelligence, clients can deploy copilots that enhance efficiency by connecting to existing applications, data, and workflows while operating within approved permissions and governance frameworks. From day one, organizations gain rapid deployment, strong security, and auditability.

According to Gartner, by 2028, 33% of enterprise applications will integrate agentic AI, handling up to 15% of everyday decisions autonomously. io.Intelligence aims to provide a safe path to deployment today, with interop.io clients already seeing the value of enhancing their AI copilots with interoperability.

“Interoperability has the potential to become the foundation of our clients’ AI strategies,” said Leslie Spiro, CEO of interop.io. “With io.Intelligence, enterprises can bring AI copilots into production that coordinate tasks across systems, complete workflows end-to-end, and operate within existing governance. What makes this different is that these copilots fit seamlessly into how enterprises already work — dissolving boundaries between systems.”

The initiative is led by Bob Myers, Head of io.Intelligence, who will drive R&D and product development to support a variety of client use cases, with a focus on delivering business outcomes. Andy Menzies joins as Commercial Director, bringing decades of AI and ML experience to guide go-to-market strategy and partnerships.

“io.Intelligence improves the outcome of AI copilot adoption for today’s business needs, while preparing organizations for broader use of agent-based systems as the technology matures,” said Myers. “Our clients are deploying actionable copilots in weeks, not months, within current applications and user permissions. This incremental path is what leads to long-term AI success.”

io.Intelligence aims to drive tangible business impact for enterprises by making use of three core aspects:

  • Cross-application copilots – Production-ready copilots that take action across multiple applications, completing end-to-end workflows and automating routine tasks to accelerate results.
  • Secure, auditable, and rapid AI deployment – Deployed within existing applications and permissions, copilots are safer to deliver into production since they maintain compliance, visibility, and accountability.
  • AI advisory and implementation – Dedicated product, engineering, and consulting teams working side-by-side with clients to ensure oversight and continuous improvement of AI initiatives.

Additional resources are available to learn more about io.Intelligence. Visit the webpage or register for the upcoming webinar here

To learn more about interop.io and how it enables seamless cross-application communication, visit interop.io.

About interop.io
interop.io provides desktop interoperability solutions that enable seamless application integration and workflow automation. The company’s platform serves banks, buy-sides, insurers, and technology vendors worldwide, facilitating secure, governed interactions between desktop applications. With io.Intelligence, interop.io leverages its proven interoperability expertise to deliver secure, human-guided AI through actionable copilots across enterprise environments. Learn more at interop.io | LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Anna Shearer
media-contact@interop.io

Aurzen Launches Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube, the World’s First Projector with Built-in Roku OS

Built-in Roku TV. 330 ANSI lumens. Up to 150″ picture. Effortless setup.

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Aurzen today unveiled the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube, the world’s first projector with Roku OS built in, delivering the familiar Roku TV experience without external dongles. D1R Cube pairs effortless streaming with bright, 1080p home cinema in a compact design.


The D1R Cube’s seamless integration of Roku OS puts a world of entertainment at users’ fingertips. Right out of the box, users can access thousands of streaming channels, including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and YouTube, through Roku’s famously simple and intuitive interface. The included Roku TV remote makes navigation and content discovery effortless.

Despite its accessible price point, the Aurzen D1R Cube does not compromise on performance. It delivers a bright and vibrant picture with 330 ANSI lumens and a crisp native 1080p resolution, projecting an impressive screen size from 40 to 150 inches. This ensures a stunning, immersive viewing experience for movies, sports, and gaming in a variety of lighting conditions.

Setting up the perfect picture is a breeze thanks to intelligent Auto Focus and Auto Keystone correction, which automatically adjust for a sharp, perfectly rectangular image without frustrating manual tweaks. The projector is also equipped with powerful dual 5W speakers for rich, room-filling sound, and features a low-noise fan operating at ≤32db to ensure the audio is always the star of the show.

Key specifications

  • Operating system: Roku OS (Roku TV)
  • Brightness: 330 ANSI lumens
  • Resolution: 1080p Full HD
  • Projection size: 40–150 in (typical throw 3 ft 7 in to 10 ft 10 in)
  • Smart features: Auto Focus, Auto Keystone
  • Audio: Dual 5W speakers
  • Connectivity: WiFi 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.2, HDMI, USB, 3.5 mm audio out
  • Noise: ≤32 dB
  • In the box: Projector, power adapter, Roku TV remote, quick start guide

Pricing & availability

D1R Cube is available starting today on Amazon and Aurzen.com at an MSRP of $249.99.

About Aurzen

Aurzen is a global innovator in smart projection technology, dedicated to creating high-value, user-friendly entertainment solutions for modern lifestyles. By combining advanced optical engineering with intuitive software and user-focused design, Aurzen delivers products that bring big-screen experiences to any space. The company pioneered the world’s first Tri-Fold Truly Portable Projector, ZIP, and its designs have been recognized with multiple international awards, including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, G-Mark Award, and IDEA Award.

Media Contact
media@aurzen.com

Trademarks & notes: Roku and the Roku logo are trademarks of Roku, Inc. Channel availability varies by country.

Innovation in the Island Nation: Bybit Collaborates with Tether to Empower Authentic Content Creation in Sri Lanka

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is excited to activate another local initiative with Ceylon Cash in Sri Lanka. In collaboration with Tether, the largest company in the digital asset industry, The Voices of the Island event empowers Sri Lankan creators and crypto enthusiasts to amplify their stories across social media platforms.

The challenge will feature top community leaders and influencers with a connection to Sri Lanka, but is open to all content creators. Prizes totaling over 1.5 million LKR, with a Sony PlayStation 5 as the grand prize, will be awarded at the event. Offering a global platform for dreamers and builders in Sri Lanka, Voices of the Island is an experiment in authenticity and personal experiences in the age of change. Everyone can become a creator by sharing original content about the role of everyday digital assets, such as Tether’s USDT, the increasing ease of access to crypto, how it changes daily lives, and crypto-native digital payment solutions such as the Bybit Card

This initiative aligns with Tether’s broader mission of advancing financial inclusion and empowering communities through education, creativity, and access to digital assets. By supporting local creators in Sri Lanka, Tether underscores how USDT can serve as a practical tool in everyday life, enabling individuals to share their stories, participate in the digital economy, and explore new opportunities for growth.

How It Works

The event accommodates a wide range of content formats, including blogs, reels, memes, threads, and generic posts, across X, TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, Medium, and LinkedIn.

All it takes is access to social media platforms and a creative mind. Creators can join by:

  • Creating a Bybit account and registering for the event to generate a creator-specific link
  • Producing original content around relevant themes, including Bybit in Sri Lanka, Tether, and daily life, crypto exchange reviews, Bybit Card experiences, and crypto education in Sinhala or English
  • Sharing content across social platforms with hashtags #CryptoArk, #TetherLKA, #usdt and #Tether while tagging @BybitSriLanka
  • Participants will be able to track their progress on a Telegram leaderboard provided they use the link and hashtags correctly

Results of the following prize pools will be announced weekly:

  • Content Pool (valued at about 500,000 LKR): Quality and engagement-based rewards
  • Participation Pool (valued at about 500,000 LKR): 5-20 USDT airdrops for approved submissions
  • Performance Pool (valued at about 500,000 LKR): Reserved for the top 10 creators driving new user signups with deposits

In addition, content featuring the Bybit Card in real-world applications will receive special recognition, and the grand prize of a Sony PlayStation 5 will be awarded at the end of the event. 

“The event gives us an opportunity to showcase the real ways people are using crypto in their everyday lives in Sri Lanka,” said Nazar Tymoshchuk, Regional Manager at Bybit. “Across the world, we are witnessing major breakthroughs in the accessibility, use cases, and infrastructure for a blockchain-powered economy, and South Asia is one of the most exciting places to be right now.”

“When creators share their genuine experiences—whether it’s paying bills with the Bybit Card or using USDT to grow a nest egg—it helps others see how accessible and practical crypto can be. Through the memes, reels, and blog posts, we are celebrating the people behind the stories,” said Sheranga Maneesha (ManiyaWeb3), BD at Ceylon Cash.

Innovation in the Island Nation: Bybit  Collaborates with Tether to Empower Authentic  Content Creation in Sri Lanka
Innovation in the Island Nation: Bybit Collaborates with Tether to Empower Authentic Content Creation in Sri Lanka

Through the collaboration with Tether and Ceylon Cash—the driving force behind Web3Ceylon, Sri Lanka’s largest community-led blockchain education and adoption program, the event showcase  original content and seeks to document crypto’s transformative power for ordinary people, small businesses, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The event is open to eligible participants in Sri Lanka only. Terms and conditions apply. For the detailed rules and requirements, users may visit:  [Bybit x Tether] Voices of the Island: Share your story and win rewards!

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk  

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

Rain and Lithic Forge Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Global Growth of Stablecoin-Powered Payments

Collaboration makes it faster and easier for fintechs, platforms, and enterprises to launch customizable, stablecoin-powered card programs at scale

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rain, the enterprise-grade infrastructure for stablecoin-powered payments, today announced a strategic partnership with Lithic designed to accelerate both companies’ growth, expand global distribution, and give partners more technology choices as they build and launch scaled card programs.

Rain has become the most experienced and scaled provider of stablecoin-powered card infrastructure—with more than 150 partners and millions of transactions processed in over 150 countries. Through this partnership with Lithic, Rain will dramatically expand its reach, making its ground-breaking stablecoin technology available to even more fintechs, platforms, and enterprises worldwide. By pairing Rain’s stablecoin-native card issuance and payments platform with Lithic’s expertise and issuing processing capabilities, the two companies will make it faster and easier for businesses to launch, integrate, and scale global card programs.

The partnership also gives Rain’s partners more choice in how they power their card programs through the integration of Lithic’s modern, developer-friendly processing platform known for its speed, scalability, and global resilience. With Lithic’s global issuer processor certification, the partnership enables the processing of stablecoin-powered transactions across the 150+ countries where Rain-issued cards are accepted. This ensures Rain partners have a best-in-class option for powering programs at scale, with advanced fraud prevention and real-time authorization capabilities.

“This partnership marks an important step forward for Rain. By combining our stablecoin infrastructure with Lithic’s reach and processing technology, we’re making it easier than ever for partners to launch, scale, and shape programs that fit their needs,” said Farooq Malik, CEO & Co-founder of Rain. “Together, we’re shaping the next chapter of programmable payments.”

“Stablecoin-powered cards are a major growth frontier in payments, and Rain is at the forefront of making them work at scale,” said Bo Jiang, CEO & Co-founder of Lithic. “This partnership allows Lithic to bring our advanced processing platform into this fast-growing category and to support fintechs and card programs around the world. It’s an exciting opportunity to help our shared partners innovate faster.”

This collaboration highlights Rain’s mission to deliver the most flexible, powerful, and globally available infrastructure for stablecoin-powered payments — helping customers launch faster, scale globally, and unlock new revenue streams.

About Rain: Rain is the global stablecoin infrastructure platform for enterprises, neobanks, platforms, and developers. Our technology allows partners to move, store, and use stablecoins instantly and compliantly through global payment cards, on/off-ramps, wallets, and cross-border rails. As a Visa Principal Member, Rain issues cards that work anywhere Visa is accepted, powering millions of purchases in over 150 countries. Built natively for stablecoins and trusted by more than 100 organizations worldwide, Rain delivers secure, scalable infrastructure that makes money move freely and instantly around the world. Learn more at https://www.rain.xyz/.

About Lithic: Lithic is the leading card issuing technology company built for high growth technology companies. Lithic’s APIs and operational enablement services enable businesses to move money, build card programs, and issue debit, credit, and prepaid cards to consumers and businesses with unparalleled ease and flexibility. With a focus on empowering businesses to scale globally, Lithic is committed to providing innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the financial services industry. For more information, visit www.lithic.com.

Media Contacts:
Rain
Lucas Piazza
Marketing Lead, Rain
lucas@rain.xyz 

Lithic
press@lithic.com 

SK Networks successfully hosts “SK Networks AI WAVE 2025” as part of its ongoing commitment to expanding the AI Ecosystem

– Under the theme Pitch the Future and Connect the Dots, the event brought together leading AI startups and investors
– The event showcased SK Networks’ key AI portfolio companies, including Upstage and PhnyX Lab
– A panel discussion on the future of Sovereign AI featured SK Networks’ President & COO, Sunghwan Choi, and Upstage CEO, Sung Kim.
– “SK Networks will continue to play a pivotal role in expanding the AI ecosystem and driving business innovation.

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On September 17th, SK Networks (CEO: Hojung Lee) successfully hosted the ‘SK Networks AI WAVE 2025’ at Wavehill, Walkerhill Hotel & Resort in Seoul, where it introduced its key global AI investment portfolio and held panel discussions on the future of the AI industry and Sovereign AI. SK Networks AI WAVE aims to foster connections and exchanges between leading AI startups and investors, with its inaugural event held in 2023.

This year’s event was co-sponsored by HF0 (Hacker Fellowship Zero), a fund invested in by SK Networks and renowned for its highly selective AI startup residency program in Silicon Valley. Over 100 participants, including investors, founders, and industry leaders, attended the event, featuring Upstage, the only startup selected for the government-led ‘Independent AI Foundation Model’ project.

In his keynote speech, SK Networks’ President & COO Sunghwan Choi stated, “In a rapidly changing world driven by technology, it is crucial to secure growth opportunities through active information exchange among innovative startups, industry leaders and prominent investors.” He also added, “Through this event, we aim to present our AI investment portfolio that we have built since 2020 and to expand the ecosystem where technology, capital, and vision are interconnected.”

The event featured company presentations and Q&A sessions from SK Networks’ portfolio companies, led by Sang Eun Shin, Head of AI Growth at SK Networks, and HF0 portfolio companies by Dan Morse, Head of IR at HF0. Technologies showcased included platforms that automate advertising and animation production using AI and AI-based lending platforms designed to facilitate more efficient transactions between consumers and capital providers, which received positive feedback from participants. Companies included Upstage, which supports enterprise clients in building AI models and systems based on its competitive LLM technology, and PhnyX Lab, which launched Korea’s first generative AI solution specialized in the pharmaceutical industry and is expanding globally.

Dan Morse, along with Sang Eun Shin, Minseok Bae, PhnyX Lab Founder & CEO, and Raven Gao, Pix AI Co-founder & CEO discussed  ‘The Future of AI and Smart Investment Strategies’ offering different perspectives based on their background as corporate executive, investor, and founders.

The highlight of the event was the panel discussion between SK Networks’ President & COO Sunghwan Choi and Upstage CEO Sung Kim. Under the theme ‘The Future of Sovereign AI’, they exchanged views on the importance of Sovereign AI, the latest trends, and potential strategies to enhance the competitiveness.

Mr. Choi emphasized, “Sovereign AI is a key strategy for securing digital sovereignty and advancing future industries. Korea must build its own AI ecosystem through bold government-led investments and public-private cooperation models, ensure alignment with global standards, and expand the technological ecosystem through domestic and international partnerships”. He added, “Tailored models optimized for Korean cultural background, and industrial environment will differentiate Sovereign AI from generic global big tech models”.

Mr. Kim stated, “The key is to secure Korea’s technological leadership by leveraging globally recognized technological expertise and execution capabilities to lead the LLM field and enhance the sophistication of the latest frontier models.” He continued, “As part of the K-AI team, we will develop highly practical, industry-specific specialized models and expand a sustainable, independent AI ecosystem, enabling Korea to strengthen its global industrial and AI competitiveness in this new era.”

SK Networks plans to continue hosting events such as SK Networks’ AI WAVE to share insights on technological and industrial trends with AI startups and investment partners, fostering mutual growth and innovation. The company also aims to accelerate its transformation into an AI enterprise by advancing its business model and strengthening investment collaborations.

Sang Eun Shin stated, “SK Networks AI WAVE 2025 was designed not merely as a corporate briefing or forum, but as a genuine platform for exchange and to strengthen connections among industry stakeholders. As an AI-focused business holding company, we will strengthen our internal capabilities and expand our global tech network to further enhance our business portfolio and drive innovation-led outcomes”.

SK Networks' President & COO Sunghwan Choi delivering the keynote speech at ‘SK Networks AI WAVE 2025’ held in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.
SK Networks’ President & COO Sunghwan Choi delivering the keynote speech at ‘SK Networks AI WAVE 2025’ held in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.

 

SK Networks' President & COO Sunghwan Choi and Upstage CEO Sung Kim engaging in a dialogue on ‘The Future of Sovereign AI.’
SK Networks’ President & COO Sunghwan Choi and Upstage CEO Sung Kim engaging in a dialogue on ‘The Future of Sovereign AI.’

 

Venue view of the ‘SK Networks AI WAVE 2025’ event.
Venue view of the ‘SK Networks AI WAVE 2025’ event.

[Reference: Participating Startups]

Category

Company Name

Location

Sector

Overview

SK Networks
Investment

 

PhnyX Lab

USA

Pharmaceuticals
& Bio

Developer of Cheiron, a workflow
platform specialized in the
pharmaceutical and bio industry

Upstage

Korea

AI Solutions

Developer of proprietary frontier
language model Solar; supports
enterprise AI model and system
development

Outstanding

USA

Fintech

AI-based consumer lending platform
offering lower rates to consumers and
higher returns to capital providers

LinusBio

USA

Healthcare

Analyzes hair to support early disease
diagnosis, patient monitoring, and drug
development

HF0
Investment

 

AdsGency AI

USA

AI AdTech

All-in-one platform automating the entire
advertising process using AI

Pix AI

USA

AI Image
Generation

Platform for real-time creation, editing,
and sharing of high-quality anime/comic-
style AI images

Aquaria

USA

Climate Tech

Produces clean drinking water by
condensing atmospheric moisture and
purifying it via filtration and UV
sterilization

iKHOR Labs

USA

AI Animation
Production

Provides AI tools that automate
repetitive and labor-intensive animation
tasks

 

 

EPWK Launches Global Platform, Sets Sights on Becoming a Creative Services Infrastructure Company

XIAMEN, China, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EPWK (NASDAQ: EPWK), the first Chinese AI-powered creative services platform to go public in the U.S., has officially launched its international site intl.epwk.com, opening a new chapter in its global expansion strategy. With this launch, EPWK aims to become a central hub for creative resource allocation—what CEO and founder Huang Guohua calls a “global router for creative talent.”

From Domestic Platform to Global Engine

Founded in 2011 in Xiamen by former journalist and serial entrepreneur Huang Guohua, EPWK has grown into one of China’s most recognized digital creative marketplaces. As of June 2024, the platform has served over 8.7 million buyers and 16.9 million sellers, completing more than 4.6 million projects with a total GMV exceeding $1.67 billion.

With the launch of the English-language international version in June 2025, EPWK is now actively building a global ecosystem that connects enterprises with creative professionals—regardless of geography.

“Whether you’re in rural Yunnan or downtown Manhattan, we want you to be able to find the right talent or the right project on EPWK,” said Huang.

AI-Powered Infrastructure at the Core

EPWK’s global strategy is anchored in technology. In March 2025, the company integrated DeepSeek’s large language model to launch its AI-powered assistant, designed to help employers clarify project briefs, generate templates, and automatically match tasks with suitable providers.

Other intelligent features include a personalised task recommendation engine, a smart pricing assistant, and backend protections like escrow, trust scoring, and copyright safeguards. These innovations aim to increase transaction efficiency while reducing friction in the hiring process.

Going Global: Strategy and Vision

EPWK’s international site is initially focused on North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with multilingual support planned in future iterations. Huang sees internationalisation not just as a commercial expansion, but as an opportunity to serve both sides of the marketplace:

  • For Chinese freelancers and studios, EPWK offers a digital gateway to global clients.
  • For international businesses, it provides access to vetted creative talent, particularly useful for localisation, design, and marketing support as more Chinese brands expand overseas.

“The creative economy is going global—and remote. We want to be the infrastructure layer enabling that shift,” Huang said.

He also acknowledges the challenges ahead: cross-cultural operations, timezone differences, regulatory complexity, and strong international competition. But Huang views these as barriers worth solving—ones that, once overcome, could position EPWK as a category leader.

Looking Ahead

EPWK’s long-term vision is to become a globally recognised internet platform company with a market cap exceeding $10 billion. As of 2023, the platform’s GMV reached $350 million, with over 25.6 million registered users.

The company continues to invest in AI, data infrastructure, and cross-border services, while also working to standardise creative work delivery globally. Notably, EPWK led the drafting of China’s first group standard for creative knowledge-sharing platforms.

In Huang’s words: “IPO was just the beginning. The real story is how we scale talent, creativity, and trust across borders.”

Facilitating Cross-border Payments for Chinese and Cambodian Residents: UnionPay-powered Wallets Achieve Significant Transaction Growth in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Under the joint guidance of the People’s Bank of China and the National Bank of Cambodia, UnionPay International has further enhanced QR payment connectivity between the two countries, with positive results increasingly apparent. The value of transactions made in Cambodia by Chinese UnionPay-powered wallets from January to July 2025 nearly tripled year-on-year, demonstrating the strong vitality of the bilateral payment cooperation.

In November 2023, the central banks of China and Cambodia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation, paving the way for QR payment linkage. In December of the same year, Cambodia’s national QR standard KHQR became interoperable with over 200 UnionPay-powered wallets around the world, including the UnionPay App and mobile banking apps of major Chinese commercial banks. Starting from March 2025, users of the Bakong App, owned by Cambodia’s national payment system Bakong, can make QR payments at merchants in UnionPay’s QR network worldwide and in WeChat Pay’s QR network in China’s mainland, marking UnionPay’s achievement of two-way QR linkage with a counterpart in Southeast Asia for the first time.

Notably, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have increased with the launch of the “China-Cambodia Tourism Year 2025”. Data shows that there were about 587,000 visits from China to Cambodia in the first half of 2025, up by 51% year-on-year. Almost all merchant POS terminals and 80% of the ATMs in Cambodia accept UnionPay card payments and cash withdrawals. With QR connectivity initiatives like this one, scan-to-pay, which is familiar to Chinese nationals, becomes available to them in other countries as well, ensuring better payment experience when they travel abroad.

Currently, the QR payment linkage is increasingly embedded in the retail ecosystems of China and Cambodia. With KHQR—the development of which was led by the National Bank of Cambodia—adopted by almost all QR merchants in the country, UnionPay QR payments are increasingly popular in places ranging from Phnom Penh International Airport to Angkor Wat. At the same time, a growing number of Cambodians visiting China are using the Bakong App to make convenient purchases at UnionPay merchants in China’s mainland, including department stores, food and beverage, etc.

UnionPay has launched or is working on QR payment linkage with the local switches of 19 countries and regions outside China’s mainland. As a result, tens of millions of merchants overseas will accept UnionPay QR payments. Looking ahead, UnionPay will strengthen cooperation with local partners to advance two-way interoperability projects in order to benefit consumers.

Dr. Carl June and Dr. Michel Sadelain are being awarded the Broermann Medical Innovation Award 2025

  • With prize money of one million euros, it is one of the most highly endowed medical awards in the world
  • Awarded for groundbreaking pioneering work in cancer therapy using CAR-T cells
  • Award Ceremony with Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein

GIESSEN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 18 September 2025. The jury of the Broermann Medical Innovation Award (BMIA) is honoring Dr. Carl June (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Michel Sadelain (Columbia University) for their groundbreaking research in the field of CAR-T cell therapy. The Broermann Medical Innovation Award is being presented for the first time this year. With prize money of one million euros, it is among the most highly endowed awards for medical research worldwide.

A Revolution in Cancer Therapy

Dr. Carl June and Dr. Michel Sadelain are recognized for their pioneering roles in the genetic modification of T-cells, which enable these cells to identify, attack, and destroy cancer cells. They use synthetic receptors, so-called chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), which enable T cells to see and kill cancer cells. CAR-T cells achieve remarkable success rates in cancers such as leukemia, lymphomas, and myelomas; for other cancers, this new approach is still in the experimental phase.

Dr. Carl June (Foto: Asklepios)
Dr. Carl June (Foto: Asklepios)

Dr. Carl June, the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, says: “I am deeply honored to receive the inaugural Broermann Medical Innovation Award together with my esteemed colleague Michel Sadelain. This award not only recognizes our decades of research but above all the transformative potential of CAR-T cell therapy for cancer patients worldwide.”

Dr. Michel Sadelain (Foto: Asklepios)

Dr. Michel Sadelain (Foto: Asklepios)

Dr. Michel Sadelain, Director of the Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET), says: “Receiving the Broermann Medical Innovation Award is an extraordinary honor for me and a recognition of the revolutionary power of CAR-T cell therapy. Together with Carl June, we have worked to turn the immune system into a precise weapon against cancer. Our work precisely symbolizes what the Broermann Award stands for: medical breakthroughs that fundamentally change patients’ lives. It fills me with profound gratitude to know that our research helps usher in a new era of cancer treatment and create hope for patients who were once considered incurable.”

CAR-T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success rates in treating cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Through their visionary research, Sadelain and June have ushered in a completely new era in cancer treatment.

Selection process by the renowned jury

The laureates of the Broermann Medical Innovation Award are selected by an outstanding scientific jury consisting of nine senior members of renowned institutes: Prof. Dr. Werner Seeger (Chair of the Broermann Medical Innovation Award), Prof. Dr. Karsten Krüger (Member of the Executive Board of Justus Liebig University Giessen), Prof. Dr. Isabelle Bekeredjian-Ding (Director Center of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity, University of Marburg), Prof. Dr. Britta Siegmund (Vice President of the German Research Foundation), Prof. Dr. Stefan Offermanns (Director of the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research), Prof. Dr. Otmar Wiestler (President of the Helmholtz Association), Prof. Dr. Dr. Gerd Geißlinger (Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Clinical Pharmacology), Prof. Dr. Martina Brockmeier (President of the Leibniz Association), and Dr. Jan Liersch (Managing Director of Broermann Holding GmbH). Supported by a group of international reviewers, the committee evaluates all nominations in a multi-stage process that ensures the highest scientific quality and independence. The decision is based on strict selection criteria.

About the laureates

Dr. Carl June was born in Denver, USA, in 1953. He received his MD from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and his postdoctoral training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Following a research career in the US Navy, June founded the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies (CCI) at the University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and established a leading interdisciplinary research initiative for cellular immunotherapies. In 2012, he received the prestigious Richard W. Vague Professorship.

Dr. Michel Sadelain was born in Paris, France, in 1960 and received his medical degree from the University of Paris in 1984 and his PhD from the University of Alberta, Canada in 1989, before conducting postdoctoral research at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1994, he joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Sadelain now serves as director of the Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET) center in New York, established in 2024, where he leads innovative cell therapy research.

Both scientists have received numerous scientific prizes for their pioneering contributions to cancer therapy.






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

About the Broermann Medical Innovation Award

The Broermann Medical Innovation Award was established in 2024 by Dr. Bernard große Broermann, namesake and founder of the Asklepios Kliniken Group. Even during his lifetime, Dr. große Broermann was guided by the vision of creating an innovative

healthcare company that delivers real value to people. Under his leadership, Asklepios set new standards in medical innovation, making targeted investments in cutting-edge medical technology and digital solutions, thereby advancing patient care — values that also form the foundation of the Broermann Medical Innovation Award. The award carries forward his vision and continues to highlight the commitment of his foundation beyond his lifetime. With a record prize of one million euros, the award is presented in a formal ceremony at the Hessian State Chancellery in Wiesbaden by the current Hessian Prime Minister, Boris Rhein.