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VinFuture foundation hosts public dialogue about “Renewable energy & new materials for the future” with Nobel-Winning professor

VinFuture Foundation will hold its Online Science Dialogue series’ second installment discussing “Renewable energy and new materials for the future” on November 12th, 2021. The Dialogue will see the attendance of world-class scientists, most notably Professor Konstantin (Kostya) Sergeevich Novoselov, a Nobel Prize laureate in Physics. The event is aimed at bringing science and technology closer to the general public with solutions that have high real-world applicability.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach – 8 November 2021 – This November, VinFuture‘s Dialogue is titled “Renewable energy and new materials for the future” and centers around foundational knowledge and applications of new energy and materials in humanity’s response to the global energy crisis. As part of the program, young scientists will also have chances to converse with world-leading scientists, and to discuss the opportunities and challenges they encounter in their start-ups, thereby bringing research projects into industrial production and out into the world.

Participants in VinFuture’s Dialogue on “Renewable energy and new materials for the future”

Most notably, leading the discussion on “Future materials” will be the Nobel Prize laureate in Physics – Professor Konstantin (Kostya) Sergeevich Novoselov. As the youngest scientist to have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics since 1973, Prof. Novoselov has a global influence in condensed matter physics and nanotechnology. His achievements with graphene – the strongest ultra-thin material in human knowledge – promise to deeply change the fields of Science and Technology, Industry, and Medicine. Prof. Novoselov is currently a Fellow of the Royal Society, a member of the US National Academy of Science, as well as the National University of Singapore’s Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor and Director of the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials. Since 2014, Prof. Kostya Novoselov has always been featured as one of the most cited scientists globally and as part of the world’s top 0.01% in the field of Science and Nanotechnology (PLOS, 2021).

Professor Nguyen Thuc Quyen, Director for Polymers and Organic Solids, Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), will speak at the Dialogue on the topic of solar energy. With more than 418 research projects and 24 patents on renewable energy, electronic – organic devices, solar cells and photovoltaics, etc., Prof. Thuc Quyen was one of the world’s most influential scientific minds and Top 1% Highly Cited Researchers in Materials Science according to Thomson Reuters and Clarivate Analytics for 5 consecutive years, from 2015 to 2019.

Dr. Corey Hoven, Founder and CTO of Next Energy Technologies, will bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application. His company has successfully commercialized smart windows that can generate electricity for high-rise buildings using solar energy.

VinFuture’s Science Dialogue series aims to provide a space for open dialogue with the public, spreading the values of “science at the service of humanity” and contributing to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Dialogue gives special attention to undergraduates, postgraduates, scientists, and young technology entrepreneurs in Vietnam and around the world. They will have the opportunity to share new perspectives, discuss breakthrough ideas, and raise their concerns about research topics or start-up projects and innovations in order to be discussed and addressed by the guest speakers.

Dr. Le Mai Lan, Vice Chairman of Vingroup and Representative of VinFuture Foundation, shared: “Through the public dialogue series, we hope that leading scientists and researchers around the world can share their great contributions to the public in easy-to-understand language, turning science into a familiar and inseparable part of people’s lives. At the same time, we would like to inspire youth to take on responsibility for pressing global issues, thereby encouraging them to pursue scientific research to find solutions.” 

Previously, in September 2021, the first dialogue titled “How Science is Changing Global Health?” was successfully organized by VinFuture Foundation with the participation of world-leading scientists in the field of health management, such as Prof. Ezekiel Emanuel (Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, USA), Professor Alta Schutte (Principal Theme Lead of Cardiac, Vascular and Metabolic Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia),…


All VinFuture webinars will be open to the public free-of-charge via Zoom and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VinFuturePrize/ (Language: English). Register to participate in the event here.

About VinFuture Foundation

VinFuture Foundation is an independent and non-profit foundation operating in Vietnam. It was founded with the vision of creating meaningful changes in people’s daily lives through the celebration of global technological innovations. The Foundation’s core activity is awarding the annual VinFuture Prize for breakthrough scientific and technological innovations that have made or have the potential to create meaningful changes in people’s lives. In addition, the Foundation will conduct many activities to accomplish its mission, such as funding research projects, collaborating in academic development, and promoting STEMM education.

https://www.facebook.com/VinFuturePrize/

#VinFuture

Transition To Primary School Made Easy With Singapore’s First Live Multi-Subject Online Platform, EDOOVO

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 8 November 2021 – EDOOVO sets itself up as the first sole proprietary online learning platform in Singapore that offers live interactive enrichment classes of all three core preschool subjects – English, Chinese, and Maths. Compared to single subject packages often provided by other e-learning portals, this approach allows EDOOVO to make the transition to primary school smoother for learners aged three to eight.

 

First Founded For Parents

 

The surge in class uptake at EDOOVO reflects the high parental demand for purposeful ways to facilitate their child’s learning during the pandemic. It also points to the reliance on innovative technologies to better prepare them for primary school.

 

“We noticed a gap in the market as there was a lack of real-time online classes with two-way communication focusing on the three core subjects of every preschool. EDOOVO was thus founded for local parents, while addressing the needs of international students with a world-class educational framework,” stated Xiaobing Bai, founder of EDOOVO.

 

Students are given the choice to attend one or all three subjects, with classes assigned based on their learning levels. Building a strong foundation for a seamless transition into primary school, the curriculum adapted from the MOE framework is designed by qualified specialists and taught by experienced educators who receive specialised in-house training.

 

Seamless Interactivity Without Privacy Concerns

 

Held on their sole proprietary platform, games and activity sheets steer clear of dull rote learning. Unlike Zoom or pre-recorded lessons conducted on other platforms, privacy infringement risks are eliminated and lesson delivery is more communicative and controlled in this safe space.

 

“We’ve seen an increase in parents signing up for our free trial and registering for our classes since March, 2020 – and most parents have shared with us that interactive live online learning is just as effective, if not better, given the changing regulations due to the pandemic,” adds Mr Bai.

 

With more parents and children getting comfortable with remote learning, EDOOVO taps into their interest in digital experiences and inspires engagement through live teaching and virtual in-class rewards. Beyond the unlimited playback accessible 24 hours after lessons, the emotional connection created even through the screens, offers a unique learning experience for a strong start.

 

Supported by teacher-student interactions in small classes of four to six students, EDOOVO maximises the attention of children who learn better with continuous engagement.

 

About EDOOVO Singapore:

EDOOVO is an established online enrichment learning platform in Singapore. Focusing on the future of learning, the interactive platform harnesses edtech and real-time teaching to unlock every child’s curiosity, supplement their school curriculum and stretch learning. Since its inception in 2019, EDOOVO’s innovations have reached thousands of students from all over the world and attained accolades like the ‘Best Online Enrichment Platform in 2021’. Changing the way kids learn, EDOOVO and its progressive curriculum model set itself up as a trendsetter in the online education industry. For more information, please visit: www.edoovo.com.

#EDOOVO

National Assembly Members Ask Government to Reassess Fuel Price Structure

Government losing money from dodgy fuel transactions.
Lao government losing money from dodgy fuel transactions (Photo: Lao Economic Daily).

 

Members of the National Assembly and People’s Provincial Assemblies have asked the government to reassess the structure of fuel pricing.

Social Enterprise Summit 2021 Brought to a Successful Close

Concluded with Delegates’ Visions to a Regenerative Future

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 7 November 2021 – The 14th Social Enterprise Summit (“SES”) has brought to a successful close today, Thousands of local and overseas delegates participated online and offline. Themed “Building Blocks of a Regenerative Future”, the four-day SES 2021 curated a series of exciting events on topics covering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Net Zero Emissions, Social Procurement, Data for Good and Entrepreneurship Exchange. It aimed at synergising the collective efforts from the civic sector, businesses, academia and government to contribute to the wellbeing of our society and planet.

 

Mrs. Rebecca CHOY YUNG, Chair of Social Enterprise Summit Organising Committee expressed at the Concluding Session, “SES has been dedicated to advancing the development of social innovation and entrepreneurship. We are glad to have engaged stakeholders from different sectors to co-create innovative schemes and strategies for achieving a “Regenerative Future”.

 

The four-day Summit consisted of 14 discussion panels, 3 social innovation visits and 2 interactive workshops, with the participation and engagement of over 70 leaders from over 13 countries and locations. The three-themed tracks covered topics included: co-creating an open knowledge hub on social innovation; building alliances for regional collective impact; and examining strategies for effective resource channelling to bring sustainable growth to social enterprises.

 

The need to tackle climate change is more pressing than ever with extreme weather affecting every region across the globe. Many countries have made commitments to achieve carbon neutrality, or “net zero” emissions within the next few decades. Under the track of “Bridging Purpose with Actions”, the “Achieving Net Zero: Unlocking Private Capital and Mobilising Resources for Success” session invited Mr Anthony CHEUNG, Board Governor and Convenor of Green Finance of Friends of the Earth (HK); Prof Christine LOH, Chief Development Strategist of Institute for the Environment of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Ms Cheuk Wan FAN, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer Asia of HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth; Ms Grace HUI, Head of Green and Sustainable Finance of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX); and Mr Samuel TANG, Advisor of World Green Organization to explore how cross-sector collaboration among private investments, governments and civil society could transform pledges into plans to accelerate the success of reaching net zero targets by 2050.

 

Tech-driven social innovation has become the focal point of social entrepreneurs as an effective solution to respond to social issues these days. The “Data for Good” session under the track of “Co-Creating an Open Knowledge Hub for Ecosystem Development” featured Mr Leong CHEUNG, Executive Director, Charities & Community, The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Mr Yue Chun CHAN, Head of Spatial Data Office, Development Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and Mr Kenny SHUI, Assistant Research Director and Head of Economic Development Research, Our Hong Kong Foundation. They had a dialogue on how data-driven social innovation projects have made a breakthrough in solving complicated social challenges.

 

Today, Asian cities have significantly adopted innovative approach in response to social issues and crises. In particular, topics surrounding environment and technology, community empowerment, and mental health and wellbeing have drawn attention among Asian cities with the provision of increased opportunities for knowledge and experience exchange with one another. The “Asia Youth Entrepreneurship Exchange” session under the track of “Building Alliances for Regional Collective Impact” brought together young social entrepreneurs and changemakers across Asia to showcase their innovation solutions to address today’s social issues. Mr Roy DAHILDAHIL, Co-founder of #MentalHealthPH, Philippines; Ms Hyeonjin KIM, Founder and CEO of KAYD, South Korea; Ms Passawee KODAKA, Founder of Folkcharm, Thailand; Ms Hazel KWEH, Founder and CEO of Bloomback Pte Ltd, Singapore; Ms Ellen LEE, COO of PackAge+, Taiwan; Mr Raymond MAK, Co-founder and CEO of Farmacy Hong Kong, Mr Paddy ROBERTSON, CEO of Smart Air, China and Ms Ovy SABRINA, Co-founder and  COO of Rebricks, Indonesia exchanged their entrepreneurial stories and explored ways to drive regional impact with delegates.

The Summit’s Concluding Session themed “Beyond Sustainability” was facilitated by Dr Ilex LAM, Chairman of iEnterprise Foundation. He joined hands with Ms Naomi CHAN, National Executive Vice President of JCI, Hong Kong; Dr Eddy LEE, Founder of 350HK; Ms Nicolette TONG, Executive Vice President of The Wave; and Mr YUEN Shu Wah, Founding Chairman of Gratia Foundation Limited to examine visions of sustainability in the post-pandemic era and prospects of the future “regenerative” development.

The SIE Fund hosted a Social Innovation Exhibition with the theme of “Creating Social Value with Novelties” during the first two days of SES 2021 at the HKCEC. The Exhibition showcased its two flagship projects, namely “Gerontechnology Platform” and “FOOD-CO”, as well as the first “Pay-for-Success” project, that manifested how cross-sector collaboration contributes to poverty alleviation in Hong Kong.

About Social Enterprise Summit (SES)

Social Enterprise Summit (SES) is a cross-sector platform to inspire and empower social innovation and social entrepreneurship. The flagship International Symposium builds on the experiences of over 70 speakers and attendances from 10 locations to inspire, innovate, connect and collaborate with delegates from the civic society, businesses, government and academic sectors from Hong Kong, China; Asia Pacific region and beyond to advance positive societal changes. Community engagement activities are held in nine different districts in Hong Kong during the year to expand the participation and reach beyond the conference rooms, applying knowledge, social entrepreneurship and innovative mindsets to various day to day life settings. Official Website: http://www.ses.org.hk

#SocialEnterpriseSummit

Man Hospitalized After Attempted Theft of Electrified Railway Cables

Electrified cables along the Laos-China Railway
Electrified cables along the Laos-China Railway

A man has been hospitalized with serious electrical burns after attempting to steal electrified cables along the Laos-China Railway.

TRON Founder Justin Sun Confirms Attendance at Singapore FinTech Festival 2021

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 6 November 2021 – On November 6, TRON’s official account announced that Justin Sun, founder of TRON, will attend SFF 2021 Singapore Fintech Festival and will deliver a keynote speech. 

Organized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF) is the world’s largest gathering for the FinTech community. SFF 2021 will take place from November 8 to 12 as a hybrid digital and physical event, welcoming guests both online and offline. The first two days (November 9-10) of the SFF will feature a hybrid conference and exhibition; and on November 11 and 12, participants can attend this global summit online and at physical venues as well. The online conference covers themed forum sessions, online exhibitions, one-to-one media collaboration, and workshops.

 

In addition to TRON, industry giants such as AMTD Group, Microsoft, Ant Group, Tencent, Mastercard, Temasek, Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, HSBC, and PayPal have also confirmed participation in SFF 2021.

 

The theme for SFF 2021 is “Web 3.0”. This event will provide global professionals with an opportunity to discuss together how Web 3.0 and key technological breakthroughs will drive financial services forward. In particular, the conference will investigate the three far-reaching factors that may reshape financial services in the next decade, including reconfiguration of financial products and services delivery through embedded finance (EmFi), decentralized finance (DeFi) and digital currencies, integration of ESG into the core design of financial services, as well as wide adoption of foundational digital infrastructure (digital identity, trusted data exchanges, and interoperable payment systems as well as consent systems).

 

The 2021 Singapore FinTech Festival will also host deep-dive sessions, where participants will explore how Web 3.0 can be used to enhance the efficiency of financial intermediation, advance key objectives such as green finance and financial inclusion, and examine the impact on financial regulation and supervision.

 

TRON, one of the top three public chains in the world, has been invited to this FinTech Festival. Founded by Justin Sun in 2018, TRON went on a fast track to grow into an industry leader within only a few years and is now among the top three public chains across the globe. Today, it boasts an all-round blockchain ecosystem with 60 million users, over 2.5 billion transactions, and the world’s highest stablecoin circulating supply.

 

The fifth SFF held in 2020 featured an online fintech exhibition. The event had over 560 speakers delivering presentations at the forum and more than 500 businesses attending, and it hosted more than 100 innovative PITCH events, which together attracted a total of 60,000 attendees from 160 countries and regions. Cumulative views of the forum totaled 3.5 million.

Laos Confirms 960 New Cases of Covid-19 and Four Deaths

Covid-19 update in Laos

 

Laos has recorded 960 new cases of Covid-19 across the country today, as well as three new deaths.

MBH Corporation Plc Acquires Approved Air Ltd in the UK

Acquisition expected to add a further GBP1.7m in revenue and GBP430k in EBIT to the Group each year whilst strengthening the Engineering vertical.

LONDON, UK – EQS Newswire – 5 November 2021 – MBH Corporation plc (MBH), a diversified investment holding company, has today announced it has agreed to the terms for the acquisition of Approved Air Ltd in the UK, as the most recent step in its extensive acquisition drive. Subject to regulatory approval, Approved Air will be part of MBH’s Engineering vertical business line.

With this acquisition and the continued diversification of companies becoming part of the MBH Corporation, the MBH portfolio now stands at 27 companies across 8 industry sectors and five countries.


Established by David Williams in 1998 as DWCS in Somerset, UK, and becoming Approved Air in 2010, the company provides high quality validation/verification testing of medical facilities to ensure compliance with Health Technical Memorandums [HTM’s] and as independent specialists gives objective assessments and supports with improvement plans to keep both patients and staff safe. Specific services include particle counting, duct dust sampling, CO & CO2 monitoring, active air sampling and temperature & humidity testing amongst other essential services.

Within healthcare establishments, with the life expectancy of buildings and equipment forever being extended, there is a need for more robust monitoring and management of systems and processes to keep patients and staff safe. Having partnered with several NHS Trusts over many years, Advanced Air delivers a safe and efficient service with the flexibility required within an NHS Trust environment.

Approved Air’s unaudited revenues for full year 2021 were GBP1.7m. The total consideration for the acquisition of Approved Air will be approximately GBP2.7m to GBP3.4m which will be settled by way of a listed bond in accordance with the MBH bond programme with the following terms:

  • 5-year maturity with principal payable at maturity; and
  • 5% coupon rate per annum payable semi-annually

David Williams, Director, Approved Air commented: “Becoming part of MBH and a PLC is a logical and exciting next move for us. We are operating in an important area that has had further light thrown on it from the on-going global pandemic situation. Becoming part of the MBH Corporation should allow us to be even more successful in winning important contracts with healthcare establishments”.


Callum Laing, CEO, MBH Corporation Plc, said: “Not only am I pleased to welcome such a successful company as Approved Air to the MBH Corporation, but it’s also particularly satisfying to welcome a company that is involved in such important work to support healthcare establishments across the UK. David and Caroline Williams and their team have an exciting future ahead”


Bond Programme and Number of Shares on Issue

MBH has utilised approximately EUR35m of its bond programme leaving a balance of EUR15m to be utilised if required.

The number of shares issued at the date of this release is 80.7 million.

Approximately 70% of MBH shares are owned by the Principals in the Group. To further support the company, it is estimated that at least 40% of the Group Principals are engaged in repeat monthly purchases of shares on-market.

About Approved Air

Approved Air provides high quality validation/verification testing of medical facilities to ensure compliance with Health Technical Memorandums [HTM’s] and as independent specialists give objective assessments and support with improvement plans to keep both patients and staff safe. Specific services include particle counting, duct dust sampling, CO & CO2 monitoring, active air sampling and temperature & humidity testing amongst other essential services. The company was established by David Williams in 1998 in Somerset, UK.

www.approvedair.co.uk

About MBH

MBH Corporation plc (M8H:GR) is a diversified investment holding company, listed on the Frankfurt and Dusseldorf Stock Exchanges and the OTCQX in New York (MBHCF). The company acquires small to medium enterprises across multiple geographies and sectors that are well established, profitable and looking to scale. By leveraging the Agglomeration strategy, MBH Corporation plc is able to create substantial shareholder value through the consistent and accretive acquisition of excellent companies.

www.mbhcorporation.com

#MBH