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EquiLend Launches Short Squeeze Score to Help Market Participants Stay Ahead of Volatility

New metric empowers market participants to proactively monitor short squeeze risk by leveraging combined insights from market behavior, securities finance activity and social sentiment.

NEW YORK, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EquiLend, the global leader in data and technology for the securities finance industry, has announced the launch of its Short Squeeze Score – a unique trading signal designed to provide an early warning of potential short squeezes. The signal enables traders, portfolio managers and risk teams to proactively mitigate risk in their portfolios by identifying the likelihood that a given security may be vulnerable to a short squeeze.

A short squeeze occurs when a heavily shorted security experiences a rapid price increase, forcing short sellers to cover positions and accelerating upward price pressure. The Short Squeeze Score is available across more than 50,000 unique equities in EquiLend’s suite of Data & Analytics Solutions, including DataLend, Orbisa and the Orbisa app on Bloomberg.

“With today’s market volatility and uncertainty, the ability to proactively identify the risk of a short squeeze is more valuable than ever,” said Nancy Allen, Head of Data & Analytics Solutions at EquiLend. “Built on our transaction-based securities finance data, our score brings greater transparency to the global short sale market—and we’re excited to share it.”

Three Powerful Data Pillars Behind the Score
The Short Squeeze Score provides a holistic risk signal derived from three critical dimensions:

  • Market Dynamics
  • Securities Finance Data
  • Social Sentiment

By combining these data sets, the Short Squeeze Score not only reflects current conditions but anticipates potential emerging risks for market participants. In back-testing, the score has shown strong historical correlation with prior squeeze events, such as the January 2021 GameStop short squeeze.

“This launch underscores our dedication to providing DataLend and Orbisa customers with data-driven insights that enable them to anticipate market trends, manage risk and drive innovation in their decision process,” said Nick Delikaris, Chief Product Officer at EquiLend.

For more information about the EquiLend Short Squeeze Score or to request a demo, please visit EquiLend.com.

About EquiLend

EquiLend is a leading global financial technology firm providing Trading, Post-Trade, Data & Analytics, RegTech, and Platform Solutions to the securities finance industry. With a presence across North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific, EquiLend operates in multiple jurisdictions, upholding the highest regulatory standards.

Renowned for its commitment to innovation and operational excellence, EquiLend continues to drive efficiency and automation in the industry. The company is Great Place to Work Certified™ in the U.S., UK, Ireland, and India and has received industry recognition, including Americas and EMEA Data Provider of the Year and Regulatory Solution of the Year at the Securities Finance Times Industry Excellence Awards 2024.

For more information, visit www.equilend.com.

Media Contacts
Andrew.Fern@equilend.com

From D1 Athletics to Historic Theaters accesso® Welcomes New Live Entertainment Clients

ORLANDO, Fla., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — accesso Technology Group (AIM: ACSO), the premier technology solutions provider to leisure, entertainment and cultural markets, is proud to announce the addition of several venues to the accesso ShoWareSM family. These new multi-year partnerships highlight the continued demand for modern ticketing solutions to enhance the performing arts, live entertainment, and collegiate sports guest experience.

New Clients Include:

Stony Brook Athletics & Stony Brook Southampton. Expanding on accesso’s existing relationship with Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, accesso has now extended its ticketing services to include Stony Brook Southampton and Stony Brook Athletics. As part of this expansion, the university’s Division I Athletics program is using accesso ShoWare to power ticketing for football, men’s and women’s basketball and lacrosse.

Aims Community College in Greely, CO. This public community college serves north Colorado and is the first community college in accesso ShoWare’s growing network of educational institutions leveraging the platform for campus events and performances.

Ritz Theater in Sanford, FL. The 500-seat performing arts venue located in Historic Downtown Sanford is known for its dynamic mix of theatrical performances, ballet, magic, and special events.

Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT. A 1930 Georgian style building on the National Register of Historic Places, this 500-seat live entertainment and movie venue has a rich community legacy.

Rialto Theatre in Loveland, CO. The Rialto is the preeminent Performing Art Center in Loveland. Following a competitive RFP process, the City of Loveland selected accesso ShoWare for its flexible platform.

“We are passionate about offering venues great technology that makes the experience easy for guests and we are thrilled to welcome these incredible venues to the Accesso ShoWare family and look forward to supporting their continued success,” said Wendi Yanez, Director of Sales, Live Events, accesso.

About accesso Technology Group plc

accesso is the leading global provider of patented and award-winning technology solutions that redefine the guest experience, drive increased revenue, streamline operations, and support data-driven business decisions for leisure & entertainment operators. Currently serving over 1,200 venues worldwide, accesso invests heavily in research and development to provide venues with technology that empowers them to deliver unforgettable guest experiences. Staffed by a team of attractions, cultural venue and ski industry veterans, accesso partners with venues to increase their range of on- and off-site guest engagement to drive increased revenue through intuitive ticketing, point-of-sale, virtual queuing, distribution, digital professional services, and experience management technology. 

accesso is a public company, listed on AIM: a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. Learn more at accesso.com or follow accesso on X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook.

Network, Collaborate, Explore Innovations at Building Construction Technology Expo 2025, Bangkok

BANGKOK, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Building Construction Technology Expo 2025 (BCT Expo 2025), Southeast Asia’s annual exhibition and conference for the building, construction and mining sector, shall return again in Bangkok, Thailand from 3rd to 5th September 2025 at Hall 8, IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre.

Building Construction Technology Expo 2025 (BCT Expo 2025)
Building Construction Technology Expo 2025 (BCT Expo 2025)

Organized under the theme “The Construction & Mining Meeting Place”, BCT Expo 2025 will showcase the latest in construction technology, machinery, equipment, and materials, while providing the ideal platform for industry professionals to network, collaborate, and explore innovations in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) and mining sectors.

Last year, BCT Expo 2024 recorded the participation of over 150 exhibiting companies and brands from 16 countries, with over 3,879 industry visitors from 35 countries. A key highlight of BCT Expo 2024 was its highly successful “BusinessMatching Program“, that saw over 520 pre-arranged business meetings between pre-qualified hosted buyers and exhibitors. This program allowed exhibitors to pre-schedule one-to-one meetings with their targeted buyers.

Mr. Kannapak Taweeyos, Business Development Manager, Channakorn Engineering Co., Ltd., said “This year marks our 3rd year of participation in BCT Expo. The numbers and quality of attendees clearly make it a worthwhile marketing investment for us to continue to exhibit in BCT Expo.”

This year’s BCT Expo 2025 continues to bring together leading exhibitors and trade attendees from around the world, focusing on 10 key industry clusters, namely 1. Construction Vehicles, 2. Mining, Lifting, Earthmoving & Demolition, 3. Roads & Infrastructure, Component & Service Suppliers, 4. Concrete Products, 5. Building Materials, 6. Construction Services, 7. Digital & Smart Construction, 8. Smart Facility Management, and 9. Sustainable Construction & 10. Green Building Materials.  

Trade attendees will have opportunities to discover cutting-edge solutions and innovations while engaging with experts on latest trends, best practices, challenges and issues. In addition, there will also be trade certification courses conducted by key trade associations for industry professionals.

The ASEAN construction industry is undergoing a digital transformative phase, driven by emerging technologies and innovations aimed at improving efficiency, sustainability and cost effectiveness. The region’s construction market size revenue is projected to reach US$538.5 billion in 2024, and expected to grow at a CAGR rate of 7.5% from 2023 to 2028, driven by a demand shift towards Smart and Sustainable infrastructure developments, with technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), AI and Robotics playing key roles in shaping the future of the industry.

In supporting these trends, BCT Expo 2025 is introducing its “Sustainable Construction Showcase Zone aims at showcasing and discussing the latest cutting-edge green technologies and trends, ranging from EcoFriendly Building Materials, EnergyEfficient Construction Technology, Smart IoT and AI Driven Applications to Green Mining Solutions.

Ms. Pailin Thiansuwan, Advisor to Thailands Ministry of Industry, said “BCT Expo’s sustainability and green transition agenda is aligned with our government priorities, aims to foster collaboration between public and private sectors to raise our national construction standards to be in line with Thailands industry 4.0 agenda. We expect BCT Expo 2025 to introduce new innovations to support our SMEs in the construction sector so as to enhance their competitiveness, while stimulating investments in environmentally friendly construction technologies.”

The construction industry faces a variety of challenges that can impact project delivery, cost, quality and safety. These challenges include labor shortages, cost escalation, supply chain disruptions, safety concerns, quality control, regulatory compliance, sustainability and environmental impacts, technology integration and automation, increasing project complexity,  just to name a few.

Hence, BCT Expo 2025 aims to bring together the entire Southeast Asian construction industry to network, learn, share and address these issues. Over 40 insightful conference sessions, workshops, and certification courses are scheduled to be conducted by over 30 local and international industry experts and gurus over 3 days.

Attendees will get to stay ahead of the curve in an industry that is increasingly driven by digitalization, automation, and sustainability with topics such as AI and Robotics in Construction, The Future of Construction Equipment, Building Information Modelling, SMART Facility Management, Green Mining, ESG for Building, Construction and Mining, Green Construction Transitions, Construction Laws and Regulations Updates, just to name a few.

The use of AI & Robotics in construction is expected to become mainstream by 2027 to include autonomous equipment for excavation and bricklaying. In addition, the adoption of drones for surveying, monitoring and safety inspection is gaining ground, especially in areas where safety and efficiency are paramount concerns.

Addressing the above issues, BCT Expo 2025 is conducting handson and skill upgrading certification courses in AI & Robotics Automation in Construction, Drone Operation for Surveying and Safety Inspection, and not forgetting the highly popular Construction Safety Certification Training Course.

Ms. Peerayaphan Pongsanam, Assistant Director of IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd, the organizer said, “Building on the success of our previous editions, we are motivated to create yet another exciting platform for industry players to come together to do business, share ideas, and forge new partnerships, while advancing sustainable practices and digital transformations within the industry.”

In addition to the highly successful BusinessMatching Program for international and regional companies seeking business connections to expand their market presence in Southeast Asia, BCT Expo 2025 will continue to host the Construction Networking River Cruise providing a special evening for networking and building connections between local and international players.

A senior overseas attendee from Cambodia’s SIKA Cambodia Co., Ltd., said, “BCT Expo truly stands out as a leading international trade exhibition for the building and construction industry. Through the business matching program and river cruise, we had the opportunity to expand our networks with key decision-makers, suppliers and vendors. We would like to invite everyone to join BCT Expo 2025.”

BCT Expo 2025 is a proven industry platform and game-changing international trade exhibition showcasing technology and solutions across 10 key construction industry clusters. Its BusinessMatching Program is the gateway to partnerships, networking and business deals, while its conferences and workshops provide unparalleled knowledge and understanding of trends, issues and ideas.  In addition, its trade certification courses provide industry professionals with uptodate skills to stay relevant.

Mark your calendar for BCT EXPO 2025 and be part of the largest regional event that drives the future of the building, construction and mining industry in Southeast Asia, taking place from 3rd to 5th September 2025 at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand.

For more information and updates on BCT Expo 2025, please visit our website https://bct-construction.com   

Booth Enquiry link: https://bit.ly/4lCrRVb

Visitor Registration link: https://bit.ly/4jhMnsn

About The Organizer

IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd. is the leading exhibition organizer in Thailand. We organize and manage professional trade and public exhibitions, conferences, meetings and training, working in hand with international trade associations, organizers, and corporations across a broad spectrum of industries.

Plume Names Daniel Herscovici as President and CEO to Lead the Future of Connected Experiences

Industry veteran to build on Plume’s momentum as the trusted AI-driven platform for communications service providers

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Plume is naming Daniel Herscovici to lead and kickstart the company’s next phase of growth as Plume redefines intelligent, adaptive connectivity for 65 million homes and small businesses worldwide and growing. The creator of the world’s first SaaS experience platform for communications service providers (CSPs), selected the longtime innovator in the connected home, broadband, and WiFi sectors as their president and CEO to capitalize on the opportunity presented by increasingly intelligent networks and rising consumer demands.

Herscovici brings decades of leadership experience at the intersection of connectivity, AI, and consumer technology. Prior to joining Plume, he was a partner at Edison Partners, helping scale high-growth companies across the B2B and consumer tech landscape. Before that, he spent over a decade at Comcast, most recently as senior vice president and general manager of Xfinity Home, where he drove the creation of breakthrough smart home, WiFi, and IoT products that reshaped the market and are now embedded in millions of households. He has also held CEO and board roles across several leading tech companies.

“Connectivity, security, privacy, and control are the foundation of consumers’ daily lives, and Plume is at the forefront of making connectivity smarter, faster, and easier for everyone,” said Herscovici. “I’ve spent my career building products that enhance consumers’ lives through engaging connected services, and I’m energized to focus on what Plume does best: solve problems before they happen, make technology invisible for consumers, and deliver real, measurable results for our global partners.”

Co-founder Adam Hotchkiss, who had been serving as interim CEO, will transition to chief product officer, continuing to lead Plume’s long-term product vision and technology roadmap.

“It’s been nearly a decade since we started Plume, and while the industry has evolved, our mission remains as strong as ever; to enable CSPs to deliver exceptional connected experiences,” said Hotchkiss. “With Dan’s appointment, Plume’s continuing its momentum into our next chapter with the added experience and execution muscle to match our global ambition. Dan brings a deep understanding of the customer and the opportunity ahead of us.”

With one of the largest connected device datasets in the world, Plume’s AI engine learns from billions of interactions to proactively resolve issues, personalize experiences, and adapt in real time. Plume’s ability to turn data into action positions it as a foundational platform for the future of the connected home, reducing costs while unlocking new service and growth opportunities at scale.

“Plume is helping to transform broadband and unlock new capabilities in smart spaces and critical infrastructure for some of the world’s top providers,” said Ryan Hinkle, Managing Director at Insight Partners and Plume Board Member. “We are excited to welcome Dan, a seasoned technology leader, as CEO and look forward to partnering with him and the leadership team on Plume’s continued evolution as a category-defining intelligent WiFi platform.”

Media queries: corporatecomms@plume.com.

About Plume
Plume is the creator of the world’s first SaaS experience platform for communications service providers (CSPs) and their subscribers, deployed in more than 65 million locations globally. As the only open and hardware-independent, cloud-controlled solution, Plume enables the rapid delivery of new services for smart homes, small businesses and beyond, at massive scale. On the front end, Plume delivers self-optimizing, adaptive WiFi, cybersecurity, access, parental controls and more. CSPs get robust data- and AI-driven back-end applications for unprecedented visibility, insights, support, operations and marketing. Plume leverages OpenSync, an open-source framework that comes pre-integrated and supported on the leading silicon, CPE and platform SDKs.

Plume, Plume Home, OpenSync, HomePass, WorkPass, Uprise and Haystack are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Plume Design, Inc. Other Plume and product names are used for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Nota AI Signs Generative AI Solution Contract with Dubai RTA, Accelerating Middle East Expansion

  • First Korean company to commercialize on-device generative AI solutions in the Middle East
  • Accelerating global expansion with proprietary AI optimization technology, fueling IPO momentum

SEOUL, South Korea, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Nota AI, a leading AI optimization technology company, has signed a contract with Dubai‘s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in the UAE to provide a generative AI-based Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) solution. The official signing took place at the ‘AI Assembly’ event held in Dubai on April 22.

Myungsu Chae (left), CEO of Nota Inc., and Mohammed Al Mudharreb (right), CEO of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), at the signing ceremony during Dubai AI Week 2025.
Myungsu Chae (left), CEO of Nota Inc., and Mohammed Al Mudharreb (right), CEO of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), at the signing ceremony during Dubai AI Week 2025.

Nota AI’s ITS solution is a core product of Nota Vision Agent (NVA), a cutting-edge traffic management solution powered by Vision-Language Models (VLM). It runs directly on NVIDIA data center and edge GPUs and leverages the NVIDIA AI Blueprint for  Video Search and Summarization (VSS) to process and summarize huge volumes of video data from traffic cameras. Leveraging real-time analysis capabilities, Nota AI’s platform effectively identifies hazards within complex road environments and the visual AI agents immediately alerts operations teams, which can greatly accelerate on-site response times. Additionally, the automated generation of analytical reports markedly improves administrative efficiency—factors highlighted by Nota AI as decisive in securing this recent contract.

Nota AI will present the project’s results at GITEX 2025, the largest technology exhibition in the Middle East, aiming to actively pursue further smart city initiatives throughout the region.

Following its successful Series C funding round last year, Nota AI has secured cumulative investments totaling $42.6 million USD. With a robust 136% revenue growth in 2024 and anticipated growth of 67% in 2025, the company has built a solid financial foundation ahead of its upcoming IPO. Significantly, Nota AI became the first AI optimization company to achieve a double-A rating in the KOSDAQ technology-based IPO evaluation in December 2024.

“This agreement with Dubai RTA marks an important milestone that clearly demonstrates Nota AI’s global technological competitiveness,” stated Myungsu Chae, CEO of Nota AI. “We look forward to successfully completing our IPO and spearheading AI-driven innovations across smart cities and diverse industries throughout the Middle East and beyond.”

A Leap Toward Smarter, More Efficient Workflows – MEGA 70W CO2 Laser Takes Efficiency to New Heights

Revolutionizing engraving, the MEGA 70W CO2 Laser combines AI-powered automation with advanced features to streamline operations for every maker and manufacturer. With a working area 35–40% larger than other CO2 laser machines, 25% more processing power, and cutting capabilities up to 25% thicker materials, it’s engineered to outperform the competition.

NEW YORK, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Built for the modern creator, the MEGA 70W CO2 Laser is more than just a tool—it’s a game-changer. With a host of intelligent features like Batch Fill, Automatic Layout, and AI Creation, it’s designed to optimize every engraving task, cut dimming speed by 80%, and reduce equipment maintenance by up to 80%. Developed by Monport Laser, a trusted innovator in the engraving industry, the MEGA 70W CO2 Laser seamlessly combines smart automation and precise engineering to meet the needs of businesses, artists, and professionals across all industries.

Shop Monport MEGA 70W CO2 Laser Here. Use code BESTMP10 at checkout for 10% Discount.

The Brand Story: Where Innovation Meets Purpose

The Monport MEGA 70W CO2 Laser wasn’t born from a boardroom—it began with a conversation. As Monport’s team engaged with users and partners worldwide, a pattern emerged: growing demand for efficient solutions in curved surface engraving and high-volume batch production. From personalized thermoses to mass-customized drinkware, users were seeking a better way to engrave complex, non-flat surfaces at scale.

Driven by our user-centered development philosophy, Monport embarked on a mission to innovate. Our engineers explored how visual recognition, computer vision, and automation could be harmonized into a streamlined solution. The result? The Monport MEGA 70W CO2 Laser—an engraving system that automatically detects shapes, adjusts in real-time, and delivers flawless precision, even on irregular or cylindrical objects. It’s a solution built not only to meet the needs of today’s creators but to future-proof the workflows of tomorrow.

Recognizing that small businesses and large-scale manufacturers alike require scalability, the MEGA CO2 Laser is designed for adaptability. Whether handling a limited product line or thousands of units per day, MEGA’s biggest conveyor belt support and smart Batch Fill support allow users to adjust batch sizes and configurations with ease. The intuitive 5-minute alignment feature also simplifies setup, getting users from design to production faster than ever.

Maximizing Efficiency with Intelligent Automation

The MEGA 70W CO2 Laser takes engraving efficiency to new heights with its Batch Fill feature. Utilizing proprietary vision algorithms, this technology identifies identical shapes, colors, and material specifications, allowing for one-click batch engraving. This intelligent automation eliminates manual adjustments, saving users both time and effort while ensuring consistent results across multiple pieces.

Working seamlessly with the M-Design Hub, the MEGA 70W Laser optimizes each job by automatically adjusting material parameters based on the selected material type, whether you’re working with wood, acrylic, leather, or other substrates. This integration of smart design software streamlines the entire engraving process, making it faster and more accurate.

Automatic Layout: Streamlining Production and Reducing Waste

Further enhancing workflow, the Automatic Layout feature optimizes material usage by arranging scattered design elements into the most efficient layout. This AI-driven solution minimizes material waste, ensuring that every inch of material is used effectively. This feature is especially valuable for businesses working with high-volume custom jobs where maximizing material efficiency is key to reducing costs.

AI Creation: Powering Creativity

The AI Creation tool in the MEGA 70W Laser offers Text to Image and Image to Image functionality, powered by advanced AI models and Monport’s proprietary algorithms. This feature enables users to generate unique designs and modify images quickly and efficiently, making it easier than ever to create custom engravings without needing graphic design expertise. Whether you’re creating intricate artwork or product designs, the AI Creation feature enhances creative freedom and productivity.

Variable Text and Image for Batch Personalization

For those who specialize in personalized items, the Variable Text and Image feature takes customization to the next level. By allowing for the batch creation of products with custom text, serial numbers, and images, users can produce high-quality, personalized engravings quickly and efficiently. This feature is ideal for businesses that require mass customization, such as engraving awards, promotional materials, and gifts.

Pipelining Engraving: Continuous Production for Maximum Efficiency

Monport’s Pipelining Engraving feature adds an extra layer of efficiency, especially for high-volume production environments. By supporting conveyor belt accessories, the MEGA 70W Laser can automatically transport materials for continuous engraving, minimizing downtime and maximizing throughput. With its “1-Min Stay Fresh” smoke exhaust system, the machine maintains a clean and clear work environment even during extended production runs.

Enhanced Precision with M-Design Hub and Smart Controls

The MEGA 70W CO2 Laser is powered by Monport’s M-Design Hub, an intuitive design software that empowers users with a range of AI tools, material libraries, and real-time design previews. Combined with the machine’s Intelligent Touch Screen, users can access detailed visual previews, adjust laser parameters, and manage engraving operations with ease. The system’s smart interface allows for on-the-fly adjustments, including automatic material thickness detection, ensuring precise results every time.

For users who prefer using familiar platforms, the MEGA 70W Laser is fully compatible with LightBurn, providing a flexible and versatile experience that meets the needs of all engraving professionals.

Optimized for Real-World Workflows: Major Software Update Now Live

To support the evolving needs of MEGA users, the Monport Design Hub has just released a significant software upgrade focused on stability, precision, and user control. This update enhances overall network connectivity for smoother device communication, while a new manual USB port confirmation feature allows for more flexible network configuration. Additionally, eleven newly integrated image preprocessing algorithms now deliver sharper, cleaner engraving output—especially on high-detail or curved designs. Minor but important bug fixes have also been implemented, resolving previous inconsistencies in detail rendering. Altogether, this update is designed to help users achieve a higher level of performance, whether working on intricate single pieces or large-volume production runs.

Built for High-Volume Workflows

With batch processing capabilities, smart auto-layout, and advanced safety systems, the MEGA 70W CO2 Laser is designed for demanding environments. Its fully enclosed guide rails, intelligent airflow, and environmental sensors ensure smooth operations in both small workshops and large industrial settings. The system’s quiet, low-maintenance design—with 80% reduce maintenance requirements—makes it ideal for businesses looking for long-term productivity.

Shop Now and Save

The Monport MEGA 70W CO2 Laser is now available at www.monportlaser.com. For a limited time, use promo code BESTMP10 at checkout to receive exclusive savings on your purchase.

With the MEGA 70W CO2 Laser, Monport has raised the bar for engraving technology—delivering power, precision, and smart automation to help you achieve the best results in less time.

Shop Monport MEGA 70W CO2 Laser Here. Use code BESTMP10 at checkout for 10% Discount.

About Monport Laser

Monport Laser is a global leader in advanced engraving systems, trusted for its high-quality, precision-driven tools. Known for its commitment to innovation, Monport designs laser engraving and cutting machines that combine power, ease of use, and intuitive interfaces to meet the diverse needs of professionals and makers across industries.

Media Contact
Company: MonportLaser
Email: official@monportlaser.com
Website: https://www.monportlaser.com/ 

2025 Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize Now Accepting Submissions

BEIJING, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On April 15, 2025, the eighth Blancpain – Imaginist Literary Prize was officially launched. From now until May 15, the organizing committee will accept submissions from publishers, publishing companies or authors themselves. The final winners will be announced at the award ceremony in October. The young writer who wins the first prize will receive a bonus of 300,000 yuan. The finalists will receive the Young Friend of Blancpain award, a certificate for the finalist’s work, and a bonus of 20,000 yuan to support their creative efforts and to encourage young writers to continue their work.

The Literary Prize is an impartial, authoritative and professional award in the field of Chinese literature that aims to discover and encourage outstanding young writers under the age of 45. The co-sponsors, Blancpain and the Imaginist, continue on their quest to convey a simple but meaningful message to the public: “Reading makes time more valuable.”

As every year, the 2025 Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize has brought together a new team to serve as the members of jury. By doing so, the prize maintains the diversity and high caliber of the judging team by assembling many important and iconic figures in the field of Chinese literature and culture. This year’s jury lineup brings together Huang Ziping, Li Zishu, Lu Qingyi, Shi Zhanjun and Sun Ganlu (in alphabetical order).

This Year’s Theme: Time’s Eternal Forking Paths

This year’s theme draws inspiration from Jorge Luis Borges’ seminal short story The Garden of Forking Paths, in which the character Dr. Albert reflects:

“He believed in an infinite series of times, in a dizzily growing, ever spreading network of diverging, converging and parallel times. This web of time – the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect or ignore each other through the centuries – embraces every possibility. We do not exist in most of them. In some you exist and not I, while in others I do, and you do not, and in yet others both of us exist.”

Beyond the facade of linear history, the textured layers of marginalized narratives endure. For centuries, writers have captured these alternate timelines—chronicling humanity’s resistance to monolithic historical arcs. This remains literature’s vital mission: to preserve what dominant structures seek to erase.

This mission highlights a troubling paradox in our present age. The internet, celebrated as a network of infinite connections, often traps us in echo chambers. In this era of curated realities, we must ask: Can we still hear dissenting voices? Embrace human contradictions? Distinguish sincerity from noise? Amid the din of history, can we discern time’s subtle threads—those obscured truths found in overlooked voices—and regain our bearings?

In a world overwhelmed by noise, you are what you choose — that is time’s hard truth.

Let this serve as a reminder to young writers: In a world demanding constant vigilance, the safest refuge from fear lies in the literary worlds you build. Through your craft, you disrupt the illusion of time as a single line, inviting us to unravel the knots of our constrained existence and confront truths too essential to evade. Within these pages we turn together, “You and I both exist”.

Panelists of the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize 2025

Huang Ziping, Professor Emeritus at Hong Kong Baptist University and former Professor at Peking University Department of Chinese Language and Literature. In 1985, in concert with Chen Pingyuan and Qian Liqun, he helped define the theoretical framework of ‘Twentieth-Century Chinese Literature’. He has taught at Hong Kong Baptist University Department of Chinese Language and Literature for many years. His major publications include The Elf of the Pensive Old Tree, Narratives in the Chalked Circle, and Text and Its Discontents.

Li Zishu, Malaysian-Chinese writer. Her works include the novels The Age of Goodbyes and Worldly Land, the collection of short stories Ye Pusa, flash fiction collection Yu Sheng (The Rest of Life), and the essay collection Zan Ting Jian (Pause Button).

Lu Qingyi, director, photographer, and editor. His representative work Four Springs won Best Documentary at the 12th FIRST International Film Festival in 2018 and was nominated for Best Documentary and Best Editing at the 55th Golden Horse Awards. He published a book of the same name in 2019.

Shi Zhanjun, professor, editor, and critic. Former editor-in-chief of People’s Literature magazine. He has edited multilingual foreign editions of People’s Literature, New Voices from China Series, Compilation of Research Materials on Contemporary Chinese Literature, This Generation: Cross-Strait Young Writers Series, and Criticism Volume of the New Century Chinese Literature Series. His works include Handwritten Notes on the Eve of the Century, Love and Regret, and The Charm of Living Literature.

Sun Ganlu, writer. His publications include the novels A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains, Breathing, and Time Doll: Chronology of Sun Ganlu’s Short Stories, essay collections I Heard the Voice of the Suburbs Again and Two Sides of Time Coin, the interview collection Folded Time, and documentary This Place is That Place.

About the Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize

The Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize, co-founded by the prestigious Swiss watchmaker Blancpain and China’s foremost publishing brand Imaginist, is the first accolade to be jointly established by a commercial brand and a publishing house, with the goal of identifying and supporting talented young writers under 45. Since its inception, the Literary Prize has upheld the principles of impartiality, authority, and professionalism, steadfastly maintaining these standards as its cornerstone.

Engagement of the members of the latest generation just entering adulthood is always a key indicator that determines the future of the world of literature. In the field of literary creation, talented young authors are always seeking an opportunity, while publishing platforms are looking for potential authors, and, at the same time, aim to attract more attention and garner more engagement. Many contemporary classical authors were discovered and recognized in their youth, as literary awards specifically designated for up-and-coming authors were available to them. For example, Naipaul, Coetzee and Kazuo Ishiguro all won the Man Booker Prize in their youth and went on to earn the Nobel Prize in Literature at a later stage in their writing careers. Renowned Japanese authors, among them, Shusaku Endo, Kenzaburo Oe and Ryu Murakami, were each recipient of the Akutagawa Prize in their youth. In today’s world, literary creation is a lonely and long road for young authors. The literary prize is designed to create a future that gives authors the space to focus on the creation of their works just as calligraphers are given the space and time to practice their craft.

Imaginist, the most influential publisher in China, has been dedicated to discovering the best authors who write in Chinese, offering an opportunity for thoughtful words to be published, while imagining another possibility for books. Works by Mu Xin, Kenneth Pai Hsien-yung, among others, have become even more valuable with the passage of time, nourishing the emotional life for generations of readers. Imaginist has, for a long time, been focused on publishing both the literary classics alongside the works of some of the most dynamic and thoughtful young authors who care about the human condition through the diverse collection of works that they have created with their open-minded insights. There’s always great literature out there to be discovered, and the best of it always pushes the boundaries and explores new horizons. That’s the core idea behind what Imaginist strives for in literature.

Bearing the identity mark of Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie (MDHH), Blancpain is a truly luxury watchmaking brand. For Blancpain, a creator of classic timepieces, watchmaking is as much a result of enduring love as writing. Since its establishment in 1735, Blancpain has ushered in the age of branded watchmaking. Over the past 290 years, navigating the ever-changing tides of time and numerous historical junctures, Blancpain has steadfastly upheld its brand philosophy of solely crafting mechanical watches and maintaining unwavering quality standards, considering MDHH as its eternal passion. This devotion resonates deeply with authors’ dedication to literature and their pursuit of creating classic works, with a shared purpose. Moving forward, Blancpain sees literature as an extension of time – this is Blancpain’s take on literature.

Call for Entries

Requirements:

Entries must be in Simplified Chinese, published as a standalone volume between 1 May 2024 and 30 April 2025, exclusively in mainland China. All novels or collections written in Chinese are eligible for submission. Collections comprising multiple works by different authors or anthologies will not be considered. Short story collections must be first-time publications and should not include stories that have appeared in other published novels by the same author.

The entry age limit is set at 45 years old or younger, calculated as of the author’s age at the time of his or her work’s initial publication. The publication date refers to the first-print date indicated on the copyright page, and reprinted editions are ineligible for this award.

How to Register

Entries can be submitted either by publishing entities (publishers or publishing houses) or directly by individual authors.

For publisher recommendation:

If the submission is made by a publishing entity (publisher or publishing company), the recommending unit must compile a list of the recommended works in an official letter, fill out the “Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize Recommendation Form,” affix the official seal (download the recommendation form here), and submit it along with five copies of the work’s sample to the Jury Office. Each unit is limited to nominating two works, and explicit consent from the author must be obtained prior to submission.

For author submission:
For self-nominations, authors must fill out the “Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize Recommendation Form,” sign it and attach a copy of their personal ID (download the recommendation form here), along with five copies of the work’s sample to the Jury Office. Each author is limited to submitting one work for consideration.

Please note that the submission deadline for this year’s Prize is 15 May 2025, based on the delivery date stamped by the courier or postmark.

In addition to the paper materials mentioned earlier, kindly submit the electronic version of your work in PDF format, along with the front cover and a three-dimensional book cover (excluding the waistband, JPEG file not exceeding 5MB), and the electronic “Recommendation Form” as a WORD document to the designated email address. Upon receipt, the Jury Office will confirm your submission for evaluation via email. Please note that sample books will not be returned.

The Jury Office reserves the right to disqualify any organization or person who is found to be ineligible to participate in the competition.

Receiving Address

Address: Blancpain – Imaginist Literary Prize Jury Office, Building 26, Xinghua Dongli, Hepingli, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Postcode: 100013

Tel: 010-84255532 (ext. 8096)

Email for Submission: BLANCPAIN-IMAGINIST@imaginist.com.cn

Rules

The judging panel for this edition consists of Huang Ziping, Li Zishu, Lu Qingyi, Shi Zhanjun, and Sun Ganlu (in alphabetical order).

Submitted works will be received, organized, and numbered by the Jury Office before being forwarded to the five judges.

Judges will participate in the entire review process. Based on reading and discussing the entries, each judge will nominate works for consideration. Through discussion and voting, a shortlist will be selected. After three rounds of voting, a finalist list will be determined, ultimately leading to the selection of the winner through final voting.

  1. Throughout the evaluation process, the organizing committee respects the autonomy of the jury and entrusts them with the sole discretion to determine the shortlist and final award recipients.
  2. All jury members are required to read all the entries for the year.
  3. All judges will thoroughly examine the nominated works multiple times. At the shortlist evaluation meeting, they will collectively score, discuss, and vote, ultimately selecting the top five works for the shortlist.
  4. The jury will deliberate during the morning session of the award ceremony to determine the recipient of the year’s first prize.

Stay tuned

On 1 August, the Jury Office will unveil the longlist, compiled from the initial candidates proposed by jury members.

On 15 September, the Jury Office will announce the shortlist, determined by the five nominations made by a majority vote of the jury.

The final winner (1) will be announced at the Award Ceremony scheduled in October.

For further details on the selection criteria and the progress of the prize, you can keep track by visiting the official website of the Prize at http://www.ilixiangguo.com/literary.html.

 

HCLSoftware Launches HCL AppScan API Security

A comprehensive API Security solution designed to help organizations effectively manage their API assets while minimizing risk.

NOIDA, India, April 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HCLSoftware, a global leader in enterprise software solutions, announced today the launch of HCL AppScan API Security, in partnership with Salt Security. This comprehensive API security program enables organizations to effectively manage all their API assets and ensure they continue to deliver business value without introducing increased levels of risk.

HCL AppScan API Security is designed to reduce security blind spots with an expert-trained, AI-infused discovery platform that finds and inventories all API assets, ensures corporate API standards in runtime and development, and integrates seamlessly with dynamic analysis to pinpoint and fix vulnerabilities. 

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are rapidly transforming the digital landscape, with APIs now accounting for well over 50 percent of all web traffic. APIs facilitate seamless communication between applications and are now being relied upon to drive cloud services, mobile apps, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. But all this traffic has, at the same time, made APIs a leading attack vector that can be exploited by bad actors, and organizations are now facing a whole new set of security challenges.

“The growing dependence on APIs has made robust API security a boardroom-level concern for our customers, all of whom are looking to improve their security posture and safeguard their digital ecosystems,” said Rajesh Iyer, Executive Vice President, HCLSoftware.

2023 saw a significant increase over previous years in both the total number of API attacks, as well as the percentage of data breaches associated with API vulnerabilities. And the trend is continuing. In the recent 2024 State of API Security report from Salt Security, 37% of the organizations surveyed reported having experienced an API-related security incident – twice that of the previous year. Just in the first six months of 2024, various news agencies have reported large-scale API-related attacks across numerous industries including social media and file sharing platforms, technology companies, and e-commerce sites, to name a few, leading to compromised data for millions of users.

APIs have become so ubiquitous that many companies don’t even know how many they are using. The number for medium and larger organizations can easily be in the hundreds. APIs now play multiple roles in every industry, most evidently in functionality such as online shopping, media delivery, payment gateways, workflow automation, microservices, software development – the list goes on. This means that the first step to securing APIs is gathering a full and accurate inventory of what is being used.

“One of the key capabilities of HCL AppScan API Security is its ability to continuously discover and record an organization’s entire API inventory.” said Colin Bell, CTO for HCL AppScan. “This allows security teams to gain insights into their overall security posture.”

The rising trend in API attacks led the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) to create The OWASP API Security Top 10 – a list of the most critical security risks specifically related to APIs. The list was compiled to help organizations understand and mitigate the risks associated with API vulnerabilities. These include key areas that organizations should focus on when securing their APIs such as Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA), Excessive Data Exposure, and Security Misconfiguration, just to name a few. According to the 2024 State of API Security report from Salt Security, 80% of attack attempts leverage one or more of OWASP API Top 10 methods, but only about 58% of respondents surveyed focus their security efforts around this list.

“With the rise in API security incidents and regulatory oversight, organizations need to maintain continuous compliance across their API ecosystems,” stated Michael Nicosia, COO and Co-founder at Salt Security. “By combining HCL AppScan’s powerful scanning features with Salt Security’s real-time governance and visibility of attack surfaces, including our discovery of undocumented and shadow APIs, we deliver unified insights and deeper visibility across their entire API landscape. This enables organizations to proactively identify risks and uphold compliance with essential standards such as PCI DSS, GDPR, and HIPAA throughout the API lifecycle.”

HCL AppScan API Security ensures 100 percent coverage of the OWASP API Security Top 10 list and provides organizations with numerous capabilities for more robust API security including:

  • Reduce security blind spots with an expert-trained, AI-infused API discovery platform
  • Discover and inventory all APIs, including Shadow and Zombie APIs
  • Pinpoint sensitive data in transit and ensure compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS)
  • Link APIs to owners and functions
  • Gain insights into the security posture of your entire API landscape
  • Ensure corporate API standards in runtime and development with the help of AI-based insights that assess and prioritize the riskiest API assets
  • Adopt industry best practices using pre-built policy templates and an expansive API policy library
  • Integrate API-specific DAST vulnerability testing and improve accuracy with up-to-date specs, business logic, and API configuration data

For more information about HCL AppScan API Security, please visit: https://www.hcl-software.com/appscan

About HCLSoftware

HCLSoftware is a global leader in software innovation and the software division of HCLTech. We develop, market, sell, and support transformative solutions across various industries, including business and industry, intelligent operations, total experience, data and analytics, and cybersecurity. Our commitment to customer success and our core values of integrity, inclusion, value creation, people-centricity, and social responsibility drive us to deliver best-in-class software products that empower organizations to achieve their goals. With a rich heritage of pioneering spirit, HCLSoftware serves more than 20,000 organizations, including a majority of the Fortune 100 and almost half of the Fortune 500. Learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals at www.hcl-software.com.