Advances ANZ growth strategy and reinforces commitment to innovation, talent development and enterprise transformation in the region

MELBOURNE, Australia and PUNE, India, March 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Persistent Systems (BSE: 533179) (NSE: PERSISTENT), a global Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization leader, today launched its Melbourne Innovation Center as a strategic hub for AI-driven enterprise reinvention across the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) region. The Center strengthens Persistent’s localized engineering capabilities while accelerating AI-led modernization, digital product innovation and platform transformation for enterprises. The launch reflects a decisive step in the Company’s ANZ expansion strategy.

Australia represents a rapidly accelerating AI and cloud modernization market, with organizations shifting from digital experimentation to enterprise-scale AI deployment. Persistent currently partners with several top Australian Stock Exchange-listed companies across Banking, Manufacturing and Telecommunications, supporting mission-critical modernization initiatives. The Melbourne Innovation Center reinforces Persistent’s commitment to building regionally anchored, globally integrated innovation hubs that help enterprises compete and lead in an AI-driven economy.

The Center advances Persistent’s AI-first strategy, rooted in its core pillars of Engineering Hyper-productivity, Business Hyper-productivity, Enterprise Data Readiness and Responsible AI Infrastructure. It enhances engineering efficiency through the Company’s differentiated accelerators and platforms, while enabling legacy modernization with cloud-native refactoring, microservices, data modernization and automated observability powered by GenAI and intelligent agents. The Center will also help clients unlock new revenue streams via industry-specific AI solutions, outcome-based models and its hyperscaler partner ecosystem. With innovation workshops, ideation sessions and co-creation programs, Persistent will empower clients to accelerate strategic priorities and build modern digital capabilities that support long-term business growth.

Persistent will expand high-value engineering and AI capability in Australia through targeted hiring, ecosystem partnerships, industry-focused hackathons and advanced skilling initiatives delivered via Persistent University. By aligning industry needs with academic collaboration, hands-on innovation programs and competitive problem-solving platforms, the Company aims to strengthen Australia’s digital engineering talent pipeline and contribute meaningfully to the country’s growing technology ecosystem.

Jaideep Vijay Dhok, Chief Operating Officer – Technology, Persistent

“Our growth strategy is centered on helping enterprises accelerate transformation through AI-led engineering, platform-driven modernization and strong data and engineering foundations. The Melbourne Innovation Center strengthens our presence in ANZ and reflects our continued investment in the region as a strategic growth market. It enhances our ability to partner closely with clients through localized expertise, helping them adopt AI more effectively, modernize core systems and build scalable digital platforms that drive long-term growth.”

About Persistent

Persistent Systems (BSE: 533179 and NSE: PERSISTENT) is a global services and solutions company delivering AI-led, platform-driven Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization to businesses across industries. With over 26,500 employees located in 18 countries, the Company is committed to innovation and client success. Persistent offers a comprehensive suite of services, including software engineering, product development, data and analytics, CX transformation, cloud computing, and intelligent automation. The Company is part of the MSCI India Index and is included in key indices of the National Stock Exchange of India, including the Nifty Midcap 50, Nifty IT, and Nifty MidCap Liquid 15, as well as several on the BSE such as the S&P BSE 100 and S&P BSE SENSEX Next 50. Persistent is also a constituent of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. The Company has achieved carbon neutrality, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. Persistent has also been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Inclusion & Diversity 2025 by Newsweek and Plant A Insights Group. As a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the Company is committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, as well as take actions that advance societal goals. With 468% growth in brand value since 2020, Persistent is the fastest-growing IT services brand in ‘Brand Finance India 100’ 2025 Report.
www.persistent.com

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements
For risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements, please visit persistent.com/flcs

CHENGDU, China, March 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from CHINA DAILY.

Jiaozi Avenue, a key artery in the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone, hosted the 2026 Lantern Festival event themed “Full of Vitality, Chengdu My Home” on Tuesday evening, putting talents and enterprises center stage.

Since its inception in 2024, the event has been held three times on the avenue. This year’s centerpiece was the 52,000-square-meter giant screen light show at the Tianfu International Financial Center’s twin towers. Divided into three chapters, the show featured intangible cultural heritage elements and designs themed around the Year of the Horse.

Notably, a special “enterprise spotlight” segment was staged at the show, featuring inspirational mottos from nearly 50 key enterprises in the zone.

Beyond the light show, the event featured a concert where most of the singers and songwriters were from the zone’s industries such as electronic information, biomedicine, digital economy and future science and technology. Artificial intelligence was used in the song creation and intelligent robots also participated in the concert.

For the first time, a recruitment drive was held during the event, with 91 enterprises offering more than 1,300 jobs online and offline.

During the Lantern Festival event, 1 million yuan ($144,982) worth of consumption vouchers were distributed. From Tuesday to March 31, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone plans to issue 20 million yuan in vouchers across 19 product categories, boosting consumer demand.

In addition to Lantern Festival, Jiaozi Avenue has become the premier choice for locals and tourists to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. At the celebration for welcoming 2026, over 200 sets of beam lights along the avenue complemented the twin towers’ giant screen, showcasing the event’s theme “Chengdu Lights Up for You”.

A highlight of the celebration was when people’s wishes were displayed on the twin towers. Over 600 wishes appeared on the massive screen, each reflecting love for life, visions for the future, and affection for the city, embodying Chengdu’s passion, openness, and innovation. A countdown appeared on the towers as midnight approached on the last day of 2025, with 120,000 residents and tourists joining in to welcome 2026.

The vibrant lights of the New Year’s Eve and Lantern Festival on Jiaozi Avenue are a vivid representation of the vitality and strength of the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone. These celebrations, which integrate technology, culture and talent, are supported by the zone’s robust efforts in advancing industrial development and fostering innovation.

At a recent work conference held in February, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone reported on its economic growth and development for 2025. The zone achieved a regional GDP of 366.2 billion yuan, reflecting a growth rate of 6.1 percent, and solidified its position as the core engine driving the city’s economic expansion.

Meanwhile, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 114.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4 percent. The fixed asset investment hit 80.6 billion yuan, growing by 12.5 percent. Currently, the zone hosts more than 850,000 skilled professionals, including over 2,300 high-level talents recognized at national, provincial and city levels.

As the hub of Chengdu’s development, the zone has established a modern industrial framework. The electronic information sector, for example, reported a 10 percent increase in the added value of industries above designated size, underscoring its role as an economic pillar.

Emerging and future industries are also flourishing. Milestones include the establishment of Ant Group’s AI enterprise service headquarters with an investment of 3 billion yuan; three companies, including Koala Uran, being ranked among the top 100 AI enterprises by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and the launch of the world’s first space computing satellite constellation.

While enhancing its industrial competitiveness, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone is accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces, with the number of national-level innovation platforms reaching 70. The zone also took the lead in establishing the pilot innovation cooperation network and developed landmark products like the Skywalker II humanoid robot.

This year, the zone will continue to prioritize high-quality development, aiming to enhance its appeal and strength. It plans to make breakthroughs in seven key areas, including national strategy services, economic stability, modern industrial system advancement and social welfare.

In terms of industries, the zone will refine the “3+6+6” modern industrial system and develop a balanced industrial structure with diverse support. For instance, in the electronic information sector, it will leverage leading enterprises to expedite the gathering of key upstream and downstream supporting projects. In the medical and healthcare sector, it will focus on new frontiers such as innovative drugs and cell and gene therapy.

Regarding social welfare, the zone will enhance its balanced and high-quality public service system, responding to the needs of residents at all life stages, particularly the elderly and children.

This year, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone will fortify its five core functions. These include acting as an innovation transformation hub, high-end industry leader, inland opening-up demonstration and park city showcase.

It will build high-level innovation platforms, achieve breakthroughs in core technologies, assemble top scientific research teams and innovative talents, and create new 100-billion-yuan industrial clusters focusing on AI and the aerospace economy.

In addition, the zone will accelerate the development of a new production model aligned with the requirements of new quality productive forces, as well as a modern governance system in line with the standardized development of new zones. It will also advance the integration of science and industry, institutional opening-up and in-depth reforms.

Biophilic design, Japanese craftsmanship, and planet-first hospitality come together in Tokyo’s highly anticipated landmark debut.

TOKYO, March 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 1 Hotels, the mission-driven luxury lifestyle brand founded by hospitality visionary Barry Sternlicht, is proud to announce the official opening of 1 Hotel Tokyo, the brand’s first property in Japan. Now welcoming guests, the hotel is a sanctuary in the sky, set high within the Akasaka Trust Tower, offering sweeping views of the Imperial Palace gardens, Tokyo Tower, and the city skyline. The property brings 1 Hotels’ signature nature-led design, trailblazing food and beverage concepts, wellness-forward experiences, and a luxuriously sustainable ethos to one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

Now Open: 1 Hotel Tokyo—A Nature-Infused Urban Sanctuary Credit: Mikkel Vang

The property is the result of a collaboration between 1 Hotels and Mori Trust—one of Japan’s leading real estate developers—and anchors Tokyo World Gate Akasaka, a next-generation mixed-use hub that combines offices, retail, and culture in a pedestrian-friendly setting. Akasaka is an ideal base for exploring all that Tokyo has to offer, placing guests at the center of the city’s cultural and commercial energy. From here, iconic neighborhoods such as Ginza, Roppongi, and Shibuya are easily accessible, while nearby parks, shrines, and embassies lend the district a distinctive mix of international presence and local character.

Japan has long embraced a philosophy of living in harmony with nature, where craftsmanship, restraint, and respect for materials are woven into daily life. That sensibility finds a natural counterpart at the 211-room 1 Hotel Tokyo, which is designed as a calming retreat that connects guests to nature through sustainable materials, curated greenery, and tactile, crafted details. 

“In my travels to Japan over the decades, I’ve been struck by the extraordinary beauty of its gardens, the serenity of its parks, and the enduring respect for nature. Even amid the modern architecture and commotion, there’s a sense of peace,” says Barry Sternlicht, Founder of 1 Hotels and Chairman of Starwood Hotels. “With the design of 1 Hotel Tokyo, our first property in this amazing city, we wanted to capture some of that harmonious tranquility.”

“Tokyo World Gate Akasaka was conceived as a district that brings together business, culture, and green space in a way that reflects Tokyo’s future,” says Miwako Date, President and CEO of Mori Trust. “1 Hotel Tokyo strengthens that vision by introducing a hospitality experience centered on environmental performance and design integrity. We believe the hotel will contribute meaningfully to Akasaka’s evolution and to Tokyo’s continued growth as a global destination.”

A Nature-Led Design Journey, from Street to Canopy

Spanning the 38th through 43rd floors of the Akasaka Trust Tower, the hotel pairs expansive city views with an immersive design language shaped by Japan’s reverence for materials and 1 Hotels’ signature biophilic design philosophy.

“Designing 1 Hotel Tokyo was about finding harmony between our brand philosophy and Japan’s extraordinary culture of materiality and craft,” says Raul Leal, CEO of Starwood Hotels. “From the thoughtful use of reclaimed materials to the operational rigor that enabled us to achieve Japan’s highest environmental certification, this hotel demonstrates how design excellence and sustainability can elevate one another at the highest level of luxury.”

The interiors were developed by global architecture and design studio CRÈME, which envisioned the hotel as a refuge within the skyline, unfolding from the moment guests arrive. At street level, a wall of greenery signals a quiet transition away from the city’s kinetic energy. The ascent becomes part of the narrative, with guests moving upward as if traveling along the trunk of a tree and emerging into a lush canopy upon arrival at the 38th-floor lobby.

Organic cues are embedded throughout the property, from wood ceiling details that evoke the bark of trees to subtly textured walls that recall the movement of air. A signature Oya stone wall nods to the stonework around the moat of the Imperial Palace, connecting the hotel’s design to Tokyo’s landscape and history. Greenery is central to the experience, reflecting 1 Hotels’ ethos of bringing the outdoors in. Lush walls, abundant plantings throughout public spaces, and layouts that emphasize the views create a sense of immersion in the heart of the city.

The hotel features 211 guestrooms, including 24 suites with three exclusive penthouses. The nature-led sensibility blends Japanese minimalism with modern comfort. Rooms showcase biophilic art made of preserved moss and recycled pallets, locally crafted décor, and curated greenery, while select rooms frame views of the Imperial Palace gardens and Tokyo’s skyline.

Dining That Evolves with the Day

At 1 Hotel Tokyo, dining is a defining part of the experience, shifting in mood and energy from morning through late night. Three distinct venues—NiNi, Spotted Stone, and Neighbors Café—draw both locals and travelers into spaces that foster connection, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

NiNi is led by Head Chef Nikko Policarpio, whose experience spans Michelin-starred restaurants in Tokyo and senior roles within David Chang’s Momofuku group in Toronto. NiNi (which translates to “TwoTwo” in Japanese) is shaped by two coasts and two cultures, combining the relaxed elegance of the French Riviera with Japanese refinement. The menu highlights Provençal herbs, olive oil, fresh seafood, and citrus, reimagined through Japanese seasonality and attention to detail. A defining element of the kitchen is its use of a Josper Grill Oven, still rare in Japan. Fueled by natural charcoal, the technique draws out the character of meat, seafood, and vegetables without overpowering their nuance. One of the signature dishes is Maguro Tartare, built on a classic French framework and gently accented with Japanese aromatics. Desserts reflect the flavors of the South of France, including a reinterpretation of the classic French baba made with Japanese black tea syrup and orange liqueur in place of rum.

On weekends, NiNi evolves into a relaxed space with brunch highlights like a grand, Riviera-inspired seafood plateau. A seasonal afternoon tea, created in collaboration between Executive Pastry Chef Fumitake Goji and Chef Policarpio, is presented in an original wooden box. At NiNi, there’s also an intentional sonic experience, with music curated to complement the cuisine and the moment—laid-back by day, rhythmic and sensual by night.

Spotted Stone brings a distinct Tokyo perspective to cocktail culture. This destination bar dedicated to Japanese craft gin showcases a collection of nearly 100 varieties, making it one of the largest and most eclectic in the city. It’s curated like a living library, organized by botanicals, distillation methods, and the philosophies behind each spirit. Guests are invited to explore Japan through gin, one pour at a time.

By day, Spotted Stone offers a relaxed lounge setting for light bites. As the evening unfolds, the atmosphere deepens with cocktail rituals and conversation. A sculptural, cloud-shaped back bar glows softly against textured walls, reinforcing the hotel’s organic design language. Music programming adds another layer of energy, with resident DJs and international guest takeovers, including vinyl sets.

Neighbors Café is a grab-and-go café inspired by the concept of neighborhood and community. Guests can enjoy artisan-brewed coffee, premium teas, and wholesome food and sweets. The café also features menu items from The Matcha Tokyo, the Harajuku-based brand dedicated to organic matcha, alongside snacks from nearby small businesses. Designed to serve travelers, residents, and nearby office workers alike, Neighbors Café provides nourishing options that fit naturally into daily life.

From intimate meetings to milestone celebrations, 1 Hotel Tokyo offers more than 460 square meters (5,000+ square feet) of flexible venues, including the Sakura and Camellia event spaces and three private dining rooms, all located on the 38th floor. Flooded with natural light and framed by dramatic views of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Bay, the Sakura and Camellia rooms bring the hotel’s nature-led sensibility to gatherings of every scale. Through 1 Hotel’s Certified Sustainable Gatherings program, events are supported by zero-waste planning, local sourcing, and real-time environmental reporting.

A Wellness Sanctuary Above the City

Wellness is central to the 1 Hotel Tokyo experience. Bamford Wellness Spa is a restorative sanctuary created in partnership with Carole Bamford, a pioneer in organic, sustainable, and holistic living. Here, carefully curated facial and body treatments are devoted to nurturing well-being through targeted, holistic methods. Treatments incorporate modalities such as shiatsu, reflexology, acupressure, assisted stretching, and yogic breathing, drawing on ancient traditions and modern therapeutic approaches.

Signature offerings include the 1 Hotel Tokyo Experience, a bespoke ritual that combines a grounding foot ritual, a restorative massage, and an expert facial using Bamford skincare tailored to individual needs. The Japanese Bamboo Massage draws inspiration from local wellness rituals, using smooth Kyoto bamboo tools and a green tea–infused oil to encourage circulation, ease muscular tension, and support lymphatic flow. Another highlight is the Green Tea Healing Facial, which draws on premium organic Japanese skincare and pressure-point work to release tension, support lymphatic flow, and restore radiance.

Additional wellness features include The Field House, a 24-hour movement space outfitted with Technogym equipment and a range of fitness classes. Guests can also unwind in a light-filled indoor pool, with access to an outdoor deck where greenery supports pollinators, creating a micro-ecosystem in the urban landscape.

A Living Commitment to Sustainability

1 Hotel Tokyo reflects Starwood Hotels’ long-standing commitment to planet-first hospitality, paired with Japan’s own tradition of mindful living, where craft and stewardship of resources are an integral part of the culture and continue to shape everyday life.

Sustainability has informed 1 Hotel Tokyo’s design and operations from the ground up. The hotel has achieved CASBEE S certification, Japan’s highest rating for environmental performance. Smart efficiency systems and extensive water conservation measures support low-impact operations, while refill stations help reduce single-use plastics. Throughout the property, reclaimed, responsibly sourced, and local materials reinforce a sense of authenticity, history, and place, reflecting 1 Hotels’ belief that thoughtful design and meaningful comfort can, and should, coexist.

Extending that commitment beyond the property walls, 1 Hotel Tokyo also features the Audi Electric Vehicle Experience, offering guests complimentary access to a fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron for exploring the city with zero-emission performance.

Experience 1 Hotel Tokyo

Now open in Akasaka, 1 Hotel Tokyo is a sanctuary above the skyline, where nature, craft, and well-being converge—from sunrise swims and spa rituals to late-night gin martinis with amazing city views. Discover Tokyo through a new lens at 1hotels.com/tokyo.

ABOUT 1 HOTELS

As a mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature, 1 Hotels cultivates the best of sustainable design and architecture, together with extraordinary comfort and an unrivaled level of service. With properties among some of the first to receive the prestigious MICHELIN Key distinction, 1 Hotels is inspired by a simple idea: those who travel the world should also care about it. It is, after all, 1 world. 1 Hotels launched in 2015 with the opening of exclusive properties in Miami’s South Beach and Manhattan’s Central Park, followed by Brooklyn, located on the East River in February 2017; West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard in June 2019; Toronto in 2021; San Francisco and Nashville in 2022; in 2023, the Hanalei Bay (Kauai) flagship property and Mayfair (London), the brand’s first European property; Seattle, Melbourne (Australia) and Copenhagen in 2025; and Tokyo in 2026. The brand is expanding with properties under development in Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Paris, Elounda Hills (Crete), Austin (Texas), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) and Hudson Valley (NY). Additional information can be found at 1hotels.com.

ABOUT STARWOOD HOTELS

Starwood Hotels, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group, is a sustainable hotel brand management company that operates 1 Hotels, a nature-inspired lifestyle brand that launched in 2015 with properties in South Beach (Miami) and Manhattan and includes Brooklyn Bridge (New York City), West Hollywood (Los Angeles), Toronto, San Francisco, Nashville, the Hanalei Bay (Kauai) flagship property, the brand’s first European property in Mayfair (London), Seattle, Melbourne (Australia), Copenhagen, and Tokyo with projects in development in Cabo San Lucas (Mexico), Paris, Elounda Hills (Crete), Austin (Texas), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), San Miguel de Allende (Mexico) and Hudson Valley (New York); Baccarat Hotels & Resorts, a luxury brand that made its debut in March 2015 with the opening of its flagship property in New York City, with projects under development in Rome, Florence, Dubai, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Brickell (Miami), and the Maldives; and Treehouse Hotels, which premiered in London in 2019 and now includes Manchester (UK) and Silicon Valley (California), with projects under development in Brickell (Miami), Adelaide (Australia), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and Miami Beach. Leveraging its marketing, design, operational, and technological expertise, Starwood Hotels is the force behind some of the most groundbreaking and dynamic hotel brands in the world. Additional information can be found at starwoodhotels.com.

ABOUT MORI TRUST

MORI TRUST CO., LTD. is a comprehensive real estate developer engaged in large-scale mixed-use development mainly in Tokyo’s central districts and its hotel and resorts business nationwide. Centered on its three businesses of real estate, hotels and resorts, and investment (Japan and overseas), the company has developed 52 buildings, residences, and commercial facilities and 34 hotel and resort facilities in Japan and overseas as of March 2025. MORI TRUST will continue to promote projects that enhance Japan’s international competitiveness through urban development, hotel development that preserves and utilizes historical buildings that serve as tourism attractions and other efforts. Additional information can be found at mori-trust.co.jp/english/

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Traub
elizabeth@ejmediagroup.com

Bar Area at 1 Hotel Tokyo Credit: Mikkel Vang

NiNi, a contemporary Tokyo dining destination, shaped by the idea of Two Two. Credit: Mikkel Vang

Panoramic Tower Suite at 1 Hotel Tokyo Credit: Mikkel Vang

1 Hotel Tokyo Skyline Suite Credit: Mikkel Vang

Spa at 1 Hotel Tokyo Credit: Mikkel Vang

BARCELONA, Spain, March 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — At the Huawei Product & Solution Launch during MWC Barcelona 2026, Yuan Yuan, President of Huawei Data Storage Product Line, officially launched Huawei’s AI Data Platform. The platform integrates technologies of knowledge generation and retrieval, KV cache for inference acceleration, memory extraction and recall, as well as Unified Cache Manager (UCM). It bridges the gap between models and business value.

Despite rapid AI advancement, most AI models have not been thoroughly integrated into core services. This is largely due to more focus on training than inference, which is the key to model adoption. Improved data processing is needed to address challenges like AI hallucinations, slow response, and throughput constraints in inference.

Huawei Data Storage officially launched a “3+1” AI Data Platform to tackle these challenges:

• Knowledge generation and retrieval with high-accuracy multimodal knowledge for more accurate retrieval

It converts multimodal resources into high-accuracy knowledge through multimodal lossless parsing and token-level encoding, ensuring a retrieval accuracy of over 95%.

• KV cache for inference acceleration using historical memory data for faster and more efficient inference

It applies intelligent tiering and management for KV cache to greatly expand the context window and reduce repeated computing. This results in a 90% reduction in time to first token (TTFT), significantly improving the speed of AI responses.

• Memory extraction and recall with context memory management for making models smarter with use

It can accurately extract historical data and experience, and accumulate them into recallable memories. This memory mechanism makes models smarter with use.

• UCM for managing and scheduling memory data throughout the lifecycle

It manages memory data at three cache levels to intelligently schedule the knowledge base, KV cache and memory bank.

The Huawei AI Data Platform provides the appliance mode for greenfield deployment and independent mode for evolving deployment. The appliance mode uses the OceanStor A800 system. This ensures ultimate performance and flexible scalability. The independent mode uses the architecture of AI data engine nodes + OceanStor Dorado storage. Data engine nodes can be added to upgrade existing systems, protect prior investments, and enable smooth AI transformation for businesses.

“Huawei will continue to deepen technological innovation. With the AI Data Platform serving as a bridge, we will transform model capabilities into real business value,” said Yuan Yuan.

Contact:
Zoe Yin, yinzijun@huawei.com