#OnlyWayForward 

HONG KONG, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Looking to make an even greater impact on Hong Kong’s sustainability scene, the sixth edition of ReThink HK is set to welcome over 10,000 attendees on 11-12 September 2025 at Hall 1 of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Featuring 300+ sustainable innovations and 150+ sessions across 9 theatres and stages, this flagship event brings together top industry leaders, corporations, social enterprises, and NGOs to collaborate and accelerate Hong Kong’s journey toward a climate-smart and greener future.

With cross-sector collaboration at its core, ReThink HK has cultivated a partnership-centric event model designed to strategically unite Hong Kong to forge meaningful, interdisciplinary connections. The 2025 edition elevates this collaborative ethos, underscoring the founders’ dedication to curating a distinct and impactful conference experience.

This year’s event proudly features collaboration with industry-leading Theatre and Programme Sponsors, including Amazon Web Services, ERM Hong Kong Limited, Ernst & Young Group Limited, Hang Lung Properties, Hong Kong Productivity Council, JPMorgan Chase, MTR Corporation Limited, and OCBC together with other innovative partners driving Hong Kong’s sustainability transformation.

“Global net-zero and ecosystem restoration need collective action. At ReThink HK, we unite the top leaders and partners to co-create this movement. Our sessions inspire thousands and build Hong Kong’s sustainable economic future. As more organisations see that environmental responsibility and business success go hand in hand, our goal is clear: we must unite to turn challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth,” said Mr Chris Brown, Founder & CEO of ReThink HK.

Powering Progress Through Partnerships: ReThink HK Announces Continued Partnership with Business Environment Council & Join Forces with HK Green Week

As the exclusive co-organiser, Business Environment Council (“BEC”) will again partner with ReThink HK to present a new vision of future strategy planning with climate and nature as a core pillar. “This sixth year of partnership with ReThink HK highlights our ongoing commitment to transforming Hong Kong’s business landscape towards a net-zero economy. Together, we have demonstrated that strategic collaboration can turn sustainability commitments into tangible actions,” said Mr Simon Ng, Chief Executive Officer of BEC.

Their 2-day BEC Climate and Nature Theatre will take place with more than 60 business leaders and expert sustainability practitioners. They will be discussing the intersection between climate and nature, the latest insights for climate science relevant to Hong Kong will also be discussed.

These critical discussions gain even greater relevance as ReThink HK joins forces with HK Green Week 2025. ReThink HK is partnered with the second edition of HK Green Week launched by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and this will serve as a flagship event under the theme of “Forging a Sustainable Future Together.”

Gain exclusive access to cutting-edge decision-making trends, skills, and best practices

This year’s forum introduces several new dedicated stages including the Circularity & Waste Theatre, Supply Chain & Logistics Stage, and ConTech & PropTech Stage. These joins returning flagship programs such as the Net Zero Innovation Theatre and BEC Climate & Nature Theatre, creating a holistic platform spanning environmental, social and governance dimensions of sustainability.

A highlight of this year’s event is the CFO Breakfast Roundtable, presented in partnership with Accounting for Sustainability (A4S), which will address the growing role of financial leaders in sustainability transitions. The new Roundtable Workshop series will provide practical forums on next generation building materials, AI applications, and leadership development for sustainability professionals.

Our sixth edition will feature speakers from various companies, including International Union for Conservation of Nature, Circular Australia, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development. They will be exploring trends, pressing challenges, and transformative opportunities – equipping attendees with insights and valuable connections to catalyse meaningful progress within their organisations and sectors.

Industry-Leading Sustainability Innovators

More than 300 pioneering startups and companies will showcase their sustainable solutions. The exhibition features transformative innovations in waste management, energy efficiency, climate tech, sustainability consulting, and much more to come.

This year, ReThink HK introduces two major sectors. Smart Mobility & Transportation sector, partnered with CLP Power & eMobility Network, will showcase low-carbon fuels and net-zero transport solutions. Meanwhile, the new Sustainable Buildings & Infrastructure Hub, developed with the Construction Industry Council and Hong Kong Green Building Council, will highlight green construction tech and energy-efficient designs to transform Hong Kong’s built environment. These expansions demonstrate ReThink HK’s commitment to practical solutions for the city’s most pressing sustainability challenges.

About ReThink HK  

ReThink HK is a unique annual event that helps organisations align sustainable business practices at every stage of their value chain, showcases innovation and solutions accelerating sustainable transformation. ReThink unites the ecosystem so all stakeholders and communities can contribute to and look forward to a climate-smart and equitable city, for everyone. All delegate fees contribute to funding local impact projects with Hong Kong charities. 

For ReThink HK 2025 Event Programme, please visit: https://rethink-event.com/conference/ 

For more event information, please visit ReThink HK’s website: https://rethink-event.com/. 

For enquiries, please contact: 

About ReThink Foundation 

The ReThink Foundation serves as a platform for rethinking how Hong Kong’s NGOs can harness partnerships to maximize collective social impact. Through their leading initiative, the ReThink NGOs Program, the foundation empowers NGOs to leverage strategic partnerships, offering a funding and fellowship programme for chosen highly-impactful partnership-focused NGO projects. All proceeds generated from the ReThink HK 2025 delegate pass sales will contribute to support and fund the ReThink NGOs Program. From their flagship event, ReThink HK, to the foundation’s ReThink NGOs program, the ethos of collaboration lies in the heart of all initiatives. 

For more details, please visit ReThink Foundation’s website https://rethink-foundation.org/.

PR Newswire is one of the official media partners of ReThink HK 2025.

Companies aim to merge AI accelerators, quantum computers, and high-performance computing to help solve a wide range of the world’s most difficult problems 

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. and AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) announced plans to develop next-generation computing architectures based on the combination of quantum computers and high-performance computing, known as quantum-centric supercomputing. AMD and IBM are collaborating to develop scalable, open-source platforms that could redefine the future of computing, leveraging IBM’s leadership in developing the world’s most performant quantum computers and software, and AMD’s leadership in high-performance computing and AI accelerators.

IBM Quantum System Two

Quantum computing is a completely different way to represent and process information. While classical computers use bits that can only be either a zero or one, quantum computers’ qubits represent information according to the quantum mechanical laws of nature. These properties enable a much richer computational space to explore solutions to complex problems beyond the reach of classical computing alone, including in fields such as drug discovery, materials discovery, optimization, and logistics.

“Quantum computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in an entirely new way,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM. “By exploring how quantum computers from IBM and the advanced high-performance compute technologies of AMD can work together, we will build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing.”

“High-performance computing is the foundation for solving the world’s most important challenges,” said Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD. “As we partner with IBM to explore the convergence of high-performance computing and quantum technologies, we see tremendous opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation.”

In a quantum-centric supercomputing architecture, quantum computers work in tandem with powerful high-performance computing and AI infrastructure, which are typically supported by CPUs, GPUs and other compute engines. In this hybrid approach, different components of a problem are tackled by the paradigm best suited to solve them. For example, in the future, quantum computers could simulate the behavior of atoms and molecules, while classical supercomputers powered by AI could handle massive data analysis. Together, these technologies could tackle real-world problems at unprecedented speed and scale.

AMD and IBM are exploring how to integrate AMD CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs with IBM quantum computers to efficiently accelerate a new class of emerging algorithms, which are outside the current reach of either paradigm working independently. The proposed effort could also help progress IBM’s vision to deliver fault-tolerant quantum computers by the end of this decade. AMD technologies offer promise for providing real-time error correction capabilities, a key element of fault-tolerant quantum computing.

The teams are planning an initial demonstration later this year to show how IBM quantum computers can work in tandem with AMD technologies to deploy hybrid quantum-classical workflows. The companies also plan to explore how open-source ecosystems, such as Qiskit, could catalyze the development and adoption of new algorithms that leverage quantum-centric supercomputing.

IBM has already initiated the first steps towards a vision in which quantum and classical computing are seamlessly integrated, including a recent partnership with RIKEN to deploy and directly connect IBM’s modular quantum computer, IBM Quantum System Two, with Fugaku, one of the world’s fastest classical supercomputers; as well as work with industry leaders such as Cleveland Clinic, the Basque Government, and Lockheed Martin to demonstrate how combining quantum and classical resources could return valuable results for difficult problems, beyond what classical computers can do on their own.

AMD CPUs and GPUs power Frontier at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory—the first supercomputer in history to officially break the exascale barrier. Today, AMD EPYC™ CPUs and AMD Instinct™ GPU technology also drive El Capitan at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, giving AMD the distinction of powering the two fastest supercomputers in the world, according to the TOP500 list. Beyond high-performance computing, AMD CPUs, GPUs and open-source software also power numerous generative AI solutions for leading enterprises and cloud providers around the world.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit ibm.com for more information.

About AMD
For more than 55 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics and visualization technologies. Billions of people, leading Fortune 500 businesses and cutting-edge scientific research institutions around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook and X pages.

Media Contacts:

IBM

Brittany Forgione, IBM Communications
Brittany.forgione@ibm.com

AMD

Aaron Grabein, AMD Communications
Aaron.Grabein@amd.com

IBM Quantum System Two (interior render) is the company’s first modular quantum computerBM Quantum System Two (interior render) is the company’s first modular quantum computer and cornerstone of IBM’s quantum-centric supercomputing architecture. Credit: IBM

• Series A co-led by Xora Innovation and Capricorn marks OpenLight’s transition from a Synopsys subsidiary to a high-velocity, venture-backed company
• Covered by more than 360 patents, OpenLight’s PDK gives customers access to a library of passive and active components
• Foundry-validated PDK accelerates time-to-market and enables scaled manufacturing of heterogeneously integrated III-V photonics

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OpenLight, a leader in custom Photonic Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (PASIC) chip design and manufacturing based on heterogeneous integration, today announced the close of its oversubscribed $34M Series A. The round is co-led by Xora Innovation and Capricorn Investment Group. Other participants include Mayfield; Juniper Networks, now part of HPE; Lam Capital, the corporate venture arm of Lam Research Corporation; New Legacy Ventures; and K2 Access.

This round of financing completes OpenLight’s transition from a Synopsys subsidiary to a high-velocity, venture-backed company positioned to address the growing demand for faster and more energy-efficient data movement in AI data center networks. As the shift from electrical to optical interconnects accelerates to support AI-scale workloads, integrated photonics is emerging as a core enabler of next-generation data center infrastructure. Additional applications for OpenLight’s technology include telecom, automotive and industrial sensing, IoT sensing, healthcare and quantum computing.

OpenLight’s Process Design Kit (PDK), based on the heterogeneous integration of indium phosphide and silicon photonics, gives customers access to a library of passive and active components covering integrated lasers, modulators, amplifiers and detectors. This PDK has been validated at the leading photonics foundry, Tower Semiconductor, ensuring designs are production-ready from day one. This enables customers to create custom PASICs using proven building blocks, simplifying advanced chip development and accelerating time-to-market. OpenLight currently holds more than 360 patents covering its PDK and the manufacturing of heterogeneously integrated III-V photonics. The OpenLight PDK is already being used by over 20 companies to design and fabricate PASICs across a wide spectrum of applications.

With the new capital injection, OpenLight will expand its PDK library of active and passive photonics components, including its leading-edge 400Gb/s modulator and indium phosphide heterogeneously integrated on-chip laser technology. OpenLight will also ramp up its standard-based reference PICs at 1.6Tb/s and 3.2Tb/s to provide customers with the most flexible and leading-edge component design library available in the market. In addition, the company will scale its team to support customers as they transition to volume production over the next 12 months.

“As we enter this next phase of our company’s growth, we are excited to be adding such strong investors with deep roots and expertise in the semiconductor and photonics industry,” said Dr. Adam Carter, CEO of OpenLight. “With this strong syndicate of investors, we can push the boundaries of innovation and deliver transformative solutions to our customers. This funding will allow us to scale our operations, deepen our R&D efforts and bring our groundbreaking products to market faster. We believe heterogeneous integrated silicon photonics will transform the way data is processed and transmitted, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this revolution.”

“Xora has conviction that the field of photonics is going to see exponential growth in the coming years, and III-V heterogeneous integration is one of the foundational capabilities that will enable this growth,” said Phil Inagaki, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer, Xora. “We see OpenLight not only as a technology leader in this field, but also as a company positioned to quickly scale manufacturing with foundry partners. One of the critical challenges for the photonics industry in the back half of this decade will be achieving scale, and we see OpenLight’s PDK as an important part of the solution.”

“Optical connectivity in data centers has become critical for next-generation scale-up and scale-out AI architectures. OpenLight’s heterogeneous integration delivers on all three axes of performance, reliability and cost, which will enable the explosive growth of optical IO,” said Dipender Saluja, Managing Partner at Capricorn’s Technology Impact Funds. “With the industry’s leading team, open PDKs, strong foundry and customer relationships, OpenLight is best positioned to meet the scale of demand that is needed for next-generation AI hardware.” 

About OpenLight
OpenLight is the world leader in custom PASIC design. OpenLight’s PASIC technology integrates all the components of silicon photonics devices, both active and passive components, into one chip. Our executive and engineering teams deliver the world’s first open silicon photonics platform with integrated lasers, modulators, amplifiers and detectors to improve the performance, power efficiency and reliability of designs for datacom, AI, high-performance computing, telecom, automotive and industrial sensing, IoT sensing, healthcare and quantum computing applications. With over 360 patents, OpenLight is bringing optical solutions to places it has never been before and enabling technologies and innovation that weren’t previously possible. The company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, with offices in Silicon Valley. Read more at www.openlightphotonics.com.

About Xora Innovation
Xora provides capital and commitment to exceptional entrepreneurs transforming essential industries and powering the AI revolution. The firm invests across three key sectors: Compute & Communications, Energy and AI in Physical Industries. Xora supports its portfolio companies for the long term through its expertise and by leveraging the extensive network of its anchor LP, Temasek. For more information, visit xora.vc.

About Capricorn’s Technology Impact Fund
The Technology Impact Fund (TIF) is a venture capital partnership that invests in companies developing and scaling novel engineering-based solutions to global challenges. TIF’s investment process is grounded in comprehensive perspectives on long-term, global trends in technology, transportation, power, storage, efficiency, semiconductors, aerospace, sensors, earth data and analytics. TIF is an early investor in iconic companies including Tesla, Joby Aviation, SpaceX, QuantumScape, Redwood, Planet Labs, Saildrone, Helion, Nuvia, Innovium, and Raxium.

Capricorn Investment Group is an investment firm founded to demonstrate that it is possible to invest profitably while driving sustainable positive change. Capricorn manages about $12B in assets for investors who strive for extraordinary investment results by leveraging market forces to accelerate large scale impact.
Learn more at www.capricornllc.com 

About Mayfield 
Mayfield partners with founders from day zero who see limitless possibilities where others see constraints. Drawing on our 55-year legacy of company building and people-first philosophy, we bring founder-to-founder expertise because we’ve built and scaled companies ourselves. We don’t just write checks — founders say our unwavering commitment sets us apart. We’ve celebrated over 120 IPOs and 225+ acquisitions, including breakthrough companies like HashiCorp, Lyft, Mammoth Biosciences, Marketo, Nuvia, Poshmark, ServiceMax and SolarCity. From our Silicon Valley home, with $3 billion in assets under management, Mayfield is more excited than ever to back founders building the AI future where potential knows no bounds. Join us at mayfield.com.

About HPE
HPE (NYSE: HPE) is a leader in essential enterprise technology, bringing together the power of AI, cloud and networking to help organizations achieve more. As pioneers of possibility, our innovation and expertise advance the way people live and work. We empower our customers across industries to optimize operational performance, transform data into foresight and maximize their impact. Unlock your boldest ambitions with HPE. Discover more at www.hpe.com.

About New Legacy Ventures
New Legacy Ventures is the venture arm of New Legacy Group, a multifaceted investment firm spanning direct investments, public equities, wealth advisory and fund allocation. The firm invests across industries and stages, focusing on founders who see uncommon opportunity and pursue it with purpose. For more information, please visit www.newlegacy.com.

About K2 Access
The K2 Access Fund invests in early-stage startups, primarily alongside Tier-1 venture firms, and provides hands-on support with product-market fit, customer acceleration and strategic growth. With a focus on high-growth sectors including AI, cybersecurity, cloud and advanced enterprise technologies, the fund helps startups scale faster, build market traction and position for long-term success.

Mayfield

GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BBL Asset Management (BBLAM), one of the largest asset managers in Thailand, will launch the Bualuang China Next Economy Fund (B-CNNEXT) on August 26. The fund-of-funds (FOF) will invest via QFII channels in equity funds managed by E Fund Management (E Fund), the largest mutual fund manager in China, helping Thai investors capture opportunities in China’s economic transformation.

During the past years, Thailand has witnessed a growing interest for foreign investment opportunities, especially in China. “We’ve been observing the Chinese market very closely, in Thailand China-related strategies make up a significant portion of the offshore offerings for Thai investors. The return discrepancies between global and onshore managers in mainland China have been huge. Recently, BBLAM has obtained its QFII licenses to take full advantage of assessing the best strategies in mainland China,” said Khun Anak Kittivat, Global Investment Management at BBLAM. “The partnership with E Fund shows our commitment to growing our China strategy franchise in Thailand. We believe that the structural investment themes of China remain strong in areas such as AI, renewable energy, robotics, and healthcare, all of which look very promising.”

The launch builds on BBLAM’s strategic collaboration with E Fund, its first Chinese partner, following a MOU signed in March 2024. This partnership was further strengthened in December 2024, when BBLAM’s Bualuang China Equity Fund invested in the E Fund Ruiheng Hybrid Fund. The upcoming launch of this new FOF product, marks another milestone, underscoring the deepening cooperation between the two firms. Against the backdrop of China’s progressive capital market opening, E Fund is advancing its globalization strategy through overseas subsidiaries and strategic partnership with leading global asset managers. These efforts position E Fund as a bridge for global investors allocating to China, offering greater accessibility and enhanced service.

About E Fund

Established in 2001, E Fund is a leading comprehensive mutual fund manager in China with over RMB 3.6 trillion (US$ 512 billion) under management as of 30 June 2025. It offers investment solutions to onshore and offshore clients, helping clients achieve long-term sustainable investment performances. E Fund’s clients include both individuals and institutions, ranging from central banks, sovereign wealth funds, social security funds, pension funds, insurance and reinsurance companies, to corporates and banks. Long-term oriented, it has been focusing on the investment management business since inception and believes in the power of in-depth research and time in investing. It is a pioneer and leading practitioner in responsible investments in China and is widely recognized as one of the most trusted and outstanding Chinese asset managers.

About BBLAM

BBL Asset Management Company Limited (BBLAM) is a broadly diversified investment management company committed to offering investors superior performance. Founded in March 1992, the company has built its funds under management to approximately 768,832 million baht or 24 billion USD as of December 2024.

BBLAM offers and manages various types of funds across equity, fixed income, asset allocation strategies and real estate for institutional and retail clients, in addition to the REITS & Infrastructure private and provident funds business.

PASAY CITY, Philippines, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM group recently reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energy as a long-term growth driver, broadening its sources of clean power to help future-proof its businesses and the communities it serves.

At the company’s first-half results briefing, President and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio underscored the group’s focus on expanding its renewable energy initiatives through its energy arm, Philippine Geothermal Production Company, Inc. (PGPC).

“We are focused on geothermal energy production, which is baseload and runs 24/7. Production has been doing well, and with a new rig in place, we are building capacity to develop more sites,” DyBuncio said.

PGPC currently operates the geothermal steam fields in Tiwi, Albay and MakBan in Laguna and Batangas. It is also advancing five new concession areas, including Mt. Malinao in Albay, where three wells have already been drilled.

SM’s clean energy commitment also extends across its other businesses. Carmen Copper Corporation, a unit of Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp., recently commissioned the country’s first megawatt-scale floating solar facility in Toledo City, Cebu. Covering three hectares on the Malubog Reservoir, the installation generates 4.99 MW of renewable power, meeting about 10% of the copper mine’s energy needs.

The group is likewise exploring wind energy opportunities.

SM Prime, the group’s integrated property developer, has installed solar photovoltaic systems across 48 malls with a combined 77.6 MW capacity. Its most recent installation is the country’s largest rooftop solar PV system at SM City Fairview in Quezon City, spanning 4.3 hectares with an annual output of 5,960 MWh, equivalent to 11% of the mall’s power use. By end-2025, SM Prime targets 63 malls with 100 MW total capacity.

SM Retail is also advancing clean energy adoption. The SM Store in Cubao now sources 3.8% of its power from rooftop solar, while the SM Retail Headquarters in Pasay City has been running fully on renewable energy since November 2024.

In logistics, 2GO Group, Inc. has shifted to renewable energy for its warehouses in Asinan and Elisco, with its Elisco site deploying 42 electric forklifts that cut 50 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

SM’s sustainability efforts are further supported by BDO Unibank, Inc., which has financed 63 renewable energy projects with a total portfolio of PHP1 trillion and installed capacity of 2,679 MW.

“We’re only given one planet,” DyBuncio said. “At SM, we see renewable energy as both a responsibility and an opportunity to support the country’s energy transition while building more resilient and sustainable businesses and communities.”

About SM Investments Corporation

SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.

For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com

Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya challenge youth to reimagine the future through STEM-powered solutions

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Samsung Malaysia Electronics (“Samsung Malaysia”) is thrilled to kick off the seventh edition of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2025. This nationwide competition continues to empower young minds to harness the power of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to address real-world challenges in their communities. With the theme ‘Start with Can’, Malaysian students aged 13 to 15 are invited to turn bold ideas into STEM-driven solutions for local issues, from sustainability to wellbeing. Winners stand a chance to take home Samsung products worth up to RM117,000, along with the opportunity to showcase their ideas on a national stage.

In collaboration with Universiti Malaya, SFT 2025 is part of Samsung’s global youth education and innovation campaign. It encourages Malaysian students to apply STEM knowledge and creative problem-solving skills to address the pressing issues in their communities. This year’s competition invites participants to explore one of the four key themes, including environmental sustainability through technology, social change via sport and tech, health and wellbeing or education and learning. The campaign comes at a crucial time, as the country faces a growing talent outflow, with over 1.8 million Malaysians seeking better opportunities abroad.^[1] By nurturing homegrown innovation and digital literacy, Samsung SFT 2025 supports the national agenda outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP). The plan positions technology and artificial intelligence as key drivers of future growth.^[2]

Elaine Soh, Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, shared, “Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow has always been about encouraging young Malaysians to think creatively and apply what they have learned in the classroom in meaningful ways. We are proud to support students as they explore practical solutions to real challenges regardless of within their communities or beyond. Through this year’s installment of Solve for Tomorrow, we hope to nurture essential skills and inspire a mindset of innovation that will benefit Malaysia’s future.”

“We believe Malaysian youth are vital pillars of our nation’s future. Their creativity knows no bounds, and we are confident that these young minds have the potential to change the world,” said Associate Professor Ir. Dr. Mas Sahidayana Mohktar, Director of Universiti Malaya STEM Centre. “As educators, we always encourage them to think beyond the ordinary, embrace challenges, and stay resilient. Collaborating with Samsung for the sixth consecutive year, this initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing early-stage STEM education, a crucial step in building the talent pool that will drive Malaysia’s economic growth.”

Samsung SFT 2025 invites secondary school students across Malaysia to submit an 800-word proposal showcasing innovative solutions to real-world challenges. Students must base their ideas on one of the four key themes: environmental sustainability through technology, social change via sport and tech, health and wellbeing, or education and learning. Submissions will be evaluated by Samsung Malaysia and Universiti Malaya based on key criteria including issue relevance, creativity, feasibility, STEM application and overall presentation.

The top 10 teams will advance to the next stage, where they will further develop and present their ideas. Shortlisted entries will be notified via email and feature on the program’s official website in October 2025. The 10 teams will then be introduced to their mentors in the Design to Win Workshop, where they will receive guidance and support throughout the competition to help refine their concepts and build working prototypes.

The winners will be determined through a competitive pitching process in December 2025. Prizes include:

• First Prize: Samsung Products worth up to RM44,000^[3]
• Second Prize: Samsung Products worth up to RM30,000^[4]
• Third Prize Samsung: Products worth up to RM23,000^[5]
• Fourth Prize: Samsung Products worth up to RM12,000^[6]
• Fifth Prize: Samsung Products worth up to RM8,000^[7]

Registration is now open and participants have until 15 September 2025 to submit their entries.

Stay updated by following Samsung Malaysia on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. You can also revisit last year’s winning presentations at SFT – Winners | Samsung Malaysia.

For more information about SFT 2025, please visit https://www.samsung.com/my/solvefortomorrow/2025/

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, digital signage, smartphones, wearables, tablets, home appliances and network systems, as well as memory, system LSI and foundry. Samsung is also advancing medical imaging technologies, HVAC solutions and robotics, while creating innovative automotive and audio products through Harman. With its SmartThings ecosystem, open collaboration with partners, and integration of AI across its portfolio, Samsung delivers a seamless and intelligent connected experience. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.

“Samsung Malaysia Electronics (SME) Sdn Bhd [Company No. 200301026766(629186-D)]”.

Magnetic, ultra-slim, portable headphone amplifier delivering desktop-grade Hi-Fi sound

NEW YORK, Aug. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — When was the last time you truly listened to a song? At Khadas, we believe sound quality and portability should never be a trade-off. That’s why we created Tea Pro — a magnetic, ultra-slim portable DAC & headphone amplifier as small as a credit card, yet delivering desktop-grade high-fidelity sound.

Tea Pro continues the Tea series’ signature magnetic card-style design, with 19 built-in magnets that snap it securely onto iPhones. Android or pre-12 iPhones can also use a magnetic ring for the same magnetic attachment. The upgraded leather back offers a gentler, noise-free snap. At only 8mm thin and 96g in weight, it’s effortless to carry anywhere. Inside, the flagship USB DAC XMOS XU316-1024 supports PCM 768kHz / DSD512, paired with ESS ES9039Q2M DAC, Qualcomm QCC5181 Bluetooth, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive and LDAC codec support, and a 100fs femtosecond clock — ensuring clean, detailed, studio-grade sound.

For broader compatibility, Tea Pro adds a 4.4mm balanced output alongside the 3.5mm jack, precisely driving anything from entry-level IEMs to high-impedance headphones. It’s fully cross-platform with MFi-certified iOS support, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux.

User experience is enhanced with a 0.95-inch AMOLED display for quick info access and easy adjustments—covering audio format, gain, battery, and volume—no need to unlock your phone.

The Khadas Audio App offers EQ presets, filter selection, 10-band EQ, and gain control, giving music lovers both listening and tuning freedom.

Powered by a 2100mAh battery, Tea Pro delivers up to 8 hours of playback in USB mode and 11 hours in Wireless. It even supports USB-C charging from audio input devices such as phones, so your music never run out of energy.

Tea Pro isn’t about flashy specs — it’s about being a quiet companion for every moment you want to truly hear your music. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking sonic precision or someone who values quality and ease, Tea Pro brings sound closer to you.

Khadas Tea Pro officially launches on August 26th, 2025. We invite you to be among the first to experience this magnetic, ultra-portable DAC and headphone amplifier — hear the passion, and let the sound come closer.