Japan has donated over 400 sets of football training wear to the Lao Football Federation (LFF). On 24 September, the Japanese government, in collaboration with the Japan Football Association, officially handed over the football gear at the LFF headquarters in Vientiane Capital.
Japan Boosts Laos Grassroots Football with Training Gear Donation

Bokeo Authorities Crack Down on Non-Compliant Shops in Currency, Signage Regulations
Bokeo authorities have initiated a province-wide inspection of stores to ensure compliance with key regulatory requirements, including the proper use of language on signs and billboards, as well as the exclusive use of Lao kip as the official trading currency.
Luxshare Precision’s 2024 First-Half Achievements in Sustainability, Diversity and Innovation
Recognition by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
Luxshare Precision’s carbon reduction goals were successfully recognized by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in January 2024. The SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It helps companies set science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the latest climate science. Since 2022, Luxshare Precision has committed to science-based carbon targets with SBTi. In these two years, it conducted carbon inventories and analyses, setting reduction targets aligned with the requirements of SBTi’s 1.5°C pathway. This recognition by the SBTi demonstrates its commitment to combating climate change and reducing its carbon footprint.
Leadership in CDP Ratings
On February 6th, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) released the latest ratings for over 21,000 companies worldwide. Luxshare Precision has again led in sustainable development, achieving an “A-” in climate change and a “B” in water security in the latest CDP ratings. CDP is a global disclosure system that enables companies to measure and manage their environmental impacts. This high rating demonstrates the company’s transparency and accountability in reporting environmental data, as well as its proactive measures to mitigate environmental risks. Its leadership in CDP ratings clearly indicates its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices.
EcoVadis Silver Medal for Sustainable Development
In March 2024, Luxshare Precision was awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal, placing it in the top 15% of globally evaluated companies for sustainable development. EcoVadis evaluates companies based on their performance in four key areas: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement. The high score in these categories highlights the company’s comprehensive approach to sustainability, from reducing environmental impact to ensuring ethical labor practices.
Fortune China ESG Influence List
On May 13th, 2024, Luxshare Precision was included in the “Fortune” China ESG Influence List, a testament to its significant impact on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. This list recognizes companies that are leading the way in ESG initiatives, demonstrating a commitment to responsible business practices that benefit society and the environment. The company’s efforts in this area include initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, promote diversity and inclusion, and ensure transparent governance practices. Being featured on this list not only enhances the company’s reputation but also sets a benchmark for other companies in the industry.
Diversity Supplier of the Year
In May 2024, Luxshare Precision was honored as the Diversity Supplier of the Year by the Minority Supplier Development in China (MSDC). This award recognizes the company’s efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion within its supply chain. It has implemented various programs to support minority-owned businesses, ensuring that its supply chain is inclusive and representative of diverse communities. This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to fostering an inclusive business environment and supporting economic growth in underrepresented communities.
Luxshare Precision’s strong performance in the first half of 2024 reaffirms its leadership in the electronics industry. Recognition from EcoVadis, Fortune, MSDC, SBTi, and CDP highlights its commitment to sustainability, diversity, and ambitious carbon reduction targets. The company goes beyond simply adhering to legal requirements by strictly prohibiting forced, bonded, or child labor, enforcing rigorous standards on working hours and wages, ensuring transparency and fairness in recruitment practices, actively preventing any form of exploitation, and adhering to the highest standards of labor management. Luxshare Precision maintains a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, fostering an equitable work environment for all employees, regardless of race, gender, or background, the Han or minorities like Uyghur from Xinjiang, male or female. As Luxshare Precision continues to innovate and grow, it remains focused on its mission to create value for its stakeholders while contributing to a sustainable and inclusive world.
Hashtag: #luxshare #applesuppliers
Weather Warning: Heavy Rain, Flood Risk Expected in Central, Southern Laos
As the low-pressure trough combines with the southwest monsoon, central and southern Laos brace for heavy rains from 25 to 27 September. Meteorologists predict thunderstorms, moderate to heavy rain, and occasional strong winds will sweep across the region.
Emaan Catalyst Community Secures Funding to Empower Youth in Expeditions Across Asia
Partnership with Youth Corps Singapore expands service-learning expeditions to more underserved communities in Asia, creating a new wave of youth leaders and deepening social impact.
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2024 – Emaan Catalyst Community Ltd (ECC), a Singapore-based foundation, is making a transformative impact by expanding its overseas service-learning (SL) program, aimed at empowering Singaporean youth and supporting underserved communities. This expansion is fueled by a strategic funding model made possible with Youth Corps Singapore (YCS) a division of the National Youth Council (NYC) under the Youth Expedition Project (YEP) Programme Funding grant. This support opens the door for more Singaporean youth, community groups, and corporate teams aged 15 to 35 to embark on transformative service-learning expeditions across ASEAN, China, and India.
2. These youth expeditions will receive partial grant support and are designed to nurture leadership, build resilience, and promote sustainable development, significantly expanding ECC’s reach and deepening its impact on underserved communities in the region. This strategic model strengthens ECC’s commitment to developing socially conscious youth leaders, providing them with the resources to bring about sustainable change in the communities they serve.
A Decade of Impactful Service Learning
3. For nearly a decade, ECC has led impactful SL overseas trips, engaging over 2,000 volunteers from schools, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and corporations. These initiatives have improved the lives of over 100,000 people in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
4. With the support from YCS for the period of April 2024 to March 2025, ECC will expand its service-learning experiences to more countries, including China, India, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. These immersive expeditions of minimally 10 days focus on making tangible social contributions, such as providing access to education and introducing new skills such as STEM education to school children, building infrastructure to support sustainable goals such as clean water systems, providing food aid, and working alongside the community on biodiversity projects for self-sufficiency.
5. This is in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of poverty reduction (SDG 1), zero hunger (SGD 2), quality education (SDG 4), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) and climate action (SDG 13). Through this service-learning experience, participants apply their skills in real-world settings and develop resilience and leadership qualities focused on sustainability and related areas. The longer duration is structured to provide an immersive experience, to allow for deeper reflections, and valuable insights to make a lasting difference.
“A Lifeline for Communities, A Launchpad for Youth”
6. “This funding is more than just a financial boost but a lifeline for communities and a launchpad for our youth to act as changemakers,” said Mr. Hafiz Othman, Director of Emaan Catalyst Community Ltd. “We want every participant to return home not just with priceless memories, but with the mindset and skills to become global leaders in service and sustainability.” Having already left a positive mark in Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, ECC is excited to extend its opportunities to other parts of Asia under the YEP. Mr Hafiz added, “These expeditions are at the heart of ECC’s mission to empower youth through meaningful service and cross-cultural exchange. We aim to nurture more culturally aware changemakers who return to their communities equipped with the insights, skills, and confidence to lead and inspire.”
Nurturing a New Generation of Leaders
7. Mr Ong Kah Kuang, Executive Director, Youth Corps Singapore, echoed this sentiment: “We are happy to support Emaan Catalyst in their mission to empower communities through service-learning. This partnership will help develop Asia-ready youths who are socially and culturally aware, and also equip them with critical skills and confidence to execute impactful service projects in the region.”
Real Stories, Real Impact
8. Participants of ECC’s service learning expeditions have shared valuable experiences. Ms Syasya Nadya Umairah, an NUS graduate and currently a nursing professional in the health industry,, reflected on her journey: “Being part of the ECC service-learning programme showed me how such collaborative projects can lead to real positive change in communities. From redecorating playgrounds to teaching local children, every action was deeply appreciated by the local community and developed a strong kinship between us. I highly encourage students to join these once-in-a-lifetime self-development opportunities while making a tangible difference in the lives of others.”
9. ECC invites schools, IHLs, MMOs, youth organisations, and corporate entities to participate in these life-changing expeditions. The closing datve for all applications is 31 January 2025. For more information on ECC initiatives and how to participate in the YEP, visit our website at https://www.emaancatalyst.org/expedition or contact Mr Suhaimi at 9850 1415 or email suhaimi@emaancatalyst.org
Annex A
Strories from Past ECC-YEP Participants
Profile 1 – From Cambodian Waters to a Lifelong Commitment to Care
The sight of families living on boats in the village of Batom Sakor, Cambodia, left a lasting impression on 23-year-old Syasya Nadia Umairah Binte Suhirwan. As a student participant in Project ASA Ignite, a Youth Expedition Project (YEP) under the grant partnership of ECC and Youth Corps Singapore in June 2023, Syasya witnessed a world vastly different from her own. “Seeing families—especially young children—spending their lives on boats because they couldn’t afford homes was deeply moving,” she reflects. “But what struck me most was their resilience. Despite their hardships, they always smiled.” It was here, among these boat-dwelling families, that Syasya’s passion for caring for others transformed from a simple desire into a lifelong commitment.
Her journey to Cambodia wasn’t just about exploring a new culture. For Syasya, it was a learning experience that echoed her personal drive to help others—a passion that would later shape her path in healthcare. During her service-learning work at Azizah Sapari Branch in Koh Khong, Syasya and her team conducted English literacy classes, built terrariums, and hosted a Sports Day for local students from the water village. “The students were so eager to learn; they would run down the walkway just to greet us,” she recalls. “Their joy and kindness amazed me. It was incredible to see how happy they were to learn, despite their challenging circumstances.”
In addition to these activities, Syasya had the unique opportunity to participate in the Qurban and meat distribution at Emaan International School. Alongside her team, she helped distribute meat to local villagers, further deepening her connection with the community. “Being part of the Qurban distribution was an eye-opening experience,” she says. “It allowed us to give back in a way that felt meaningful and impactful.”
Having grown up with access to the comforts of public transportation, education, and modern healthcare, Syasya realized how much she had taken for granted. In Cambodia, she witnessed firsthand the struggles of those without such privileges. “It made me so much more appreciative of what we have,” she recalls. But rather than dwell on the disparities, Syasya focused on how she could help. Whether through the activities her team had organized or simply interacting with the villagers, she saw every moment as an opportunity to contribute.
This experience became a turning point for Syasya. It deepened her empathy, strengthened her resolve, and fueled her passion for healthcare—a field where she knew she could continue to care for others in meaningful ways. As she returned home, her commitment to making a difference grew stronger, whether in her local community or abroad. “We should always be ready to help others in need,” she emphasizes. “If we can’t go overseas, we can start right here in our own communities.” For Syasya, the journey through Cambodia’s waters was more than just an expedition—it was the start of a journey into the heart of compassionate care, a mission that continues to guide her life today.
Profile 2 – From Blueprints to Impact
At 25, Mohammad Zafir bin Mohammad Zahid wasn’t just another civil engineering graduate from the Singapore Institute of Technology—he was someone fueled by a deep-rooted passion to create real, lasting change. While civil engineering had given him the tools, his innate desire to uplift communities pushed him to join the Emaan Catalyst Community’s (ECC) recce expedition to Lombok in August 2024. Supported by Youth Corps Singapore, under the National Youth Council’s Youth Expedition Project Programme Funding grant, this journey wasn’t just another step in his career—it was a personal mission to see how he could use his skills to build more than just structures.
As part of the APEXpedition Project ACE 2024, Zafir and his team, led by ECC expedition leaders, embarked on a five-day recce trip to assess the needs of underserved communities there. They were tasked with curating programs to uplift those living in conditions starkly different from what he had known in Singapore.
Upon arriving in Lombok, Zafir was immediately struck by the vibrant landscapes and the warmth of the people. Yet, in the bustling streets and makeshift markets, he began to witness the harsh realities of daily life for many. One visit to a local waste management site, Bukit Sampah (Rubbish Hill) would stay with him forever.
The sight was jarring. Young and old workers sifted through heaps of refuse under the sweltering sun, their faces lined with the weight of hardship. Zafir watched as families struggled to earn a living, each member participating in a seemingly endless task to earn a few dollars by collecting items such as glass bottles that can fetch only SGD 1.50 per kilo. He felt an unexpected surge of gratitude for the systems in place back home—systems that, while often strict, provided structure and support for people’s livelihoods.
“I realised that I’ve taken so much for granted,” Zafir reflected, his heart heavy with compassion. “In Singapore, the systems may sometimes feel overbearing, but they exist for the greater good. For example, our waste management system is efficient and designed to keep our environment clean, allowing people to work safely and with dignity. In Lombok, however, there’s a lack of that foundation. I saw families struggling to make a living in appalling conditions at Bukit Sampah, where workers had to sift through mountains of waste to find anything of value. It’s heartbreaking to see how many people are affected by the absence of those basic systems—people who deserve the same opportunities and protections we often take for granted.”
The experience had opened his heart and reshaped his understanding of his role as an engineer. He began to see engineering as more than just constructing buildings; it was about creating systems that uplifted communities.
Before returning to Singapore, Zafir made a personal promise to consume less and be more mindful of his daily choices. He vowed to avoid unnecessary plastic bags, appreciate his resources, and advocate for sustainability in his community. He said, “Every small action counts. We must be aware of what we use and how it impacts others. This overseas service learning taught me we can do more as industry leaders. For us, engineers, it’s not just building structures but a better world.”
As Zafir anticipates the two-week expedition in December, he and his 17 fellow team members are set to return to Lombok for Project ACE. This journey will immerse them deeply in the local community, working hand-in-hand to create meaningful change. From engaging in sustainable farming at Alam Rinjani School to distributing food and participating in cultural exchanges, the expedition will provide invaluable hands-on experience in community building, environmental stewardship, and social entrepreneurship. For Zafir, it’s not just about drafting new blueprints—it’s about empowering the community to shape a future they can proudly call their own.
Hashtag: #emaancatalystcommunity #ecc #ycsyep #eccyep #servicelearning #youthexpeditions #globalcitizenship #youthempowerment #youthvolunteerism #youthcorpsingapore
https://www.emaancatalyst.org/expedition
https://www.facebook.com/EmaanCatalyst
https://www.instagram.com/emaancatalyst/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Emaan Catalyst Community Ltd
Emaan Catalyst Community Ltd (ECC) is a Singapore-based foundation dedicated to fostering community development and youth leadership through service learning. For close to a decade, ECC has empowered youth, schools, and corporate teams to engage in meaningful service projects across Southeast Asia, improving the lives of over 100,000 people. ECC’s mission is to build resilient communities and inspire the next generation of leaders committed to sustainability and positive global impact.
Unveiling Humanity: A Journey Through Avidyā’s Art
Immerse in Transformation — Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre, October 9-14, 2024
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2024 – Prepare to be captivated by the art of Avidyā, a rising star whose work explores the profound depths of human experience. Avidyā’s unique ability to navigate the complexities of suffering, love, and innocence has garnered them a global audience and a reputation for creating transformative art experiences.

The Oneness Gallery, an independent online gallery launched in 2023 and dedicated to showcasing such art, is proud to represent Avidyā. -Nicole Fung, the gallery’s curator, has witnessed the profound impact of Avidyā’s work on viewers worldwide. “Avidyā’s art resonates deeply,” Fung remarks. “It acts as a catalyst for personal transformation, prompting viewers to confront the darkness within themselves while embracing the light of compassion and understanding.”
A Spectrum of Emotions
Avidyā’s artistry unfolds across three distinct levels: suffering, love and light, and innocent enchantment. Each level serves as a guide, inviting viewers on a profound emotional and spiritual exploration. Through their art, Avidyā delves into the complexities of human existence, weaving a tapestry that connects the depths of suffering with the heights of love.
The artist’s unique perspective, informed by their earthly experiences, manifests in works that bridge these seemingly disparate realities. This philosophy of interconnectedness, the very essence of “oneness,” lies at the core of both the gallery’s mission and Avidyā’s creations. Their art invites viewers to contemplate their own place within the grand narrative of humanity, fostering a sense of solace and a shared journey.
A Shared Journey
The Oneness Gallery’s mission is to promote the concept of “oneness” through various art forms, a philosophy that is central to Avidyā’s work. Avidyā’s creations serve to illuminate the interconnectedness of all human experiences, inviting viewers to find solace in the shared journey of humanity and to reflect on their own place within it.
Stepping into the Physical Realm
In July 2024, The Oneness Gallery ventured beyond the digital realm with a successful exhibition titled “Avidyā? Vidyā?” at the RWS Gallery in London. This exhibition showcased three captivating themes from Avidyā’s collection: “Dark,” “Light,” and “Innocence,” offering visitors a profound exploration of life’s diverse facets.
This event marked a significant milestone for both The Oneness Gallery and Avidyā, bringing the transformative power of their art from the virtual world into a physical space. It further underscores the gallery’s commitment to engaging with audiences on both online and offline platforms.
The Future of Oneness
The Oneness Gallery remains dedicated to sharing transformative art experiences with a global audience. The upcoming exhibition includes the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre (October 9th to 14th, 2024). With its unwavering focus on “oneness” and its innovative online platform, The Oneness Gallery is poised to be a leading force in shaping the future of the art world.
Avidyā’s art offers a path to healing and awakening, highlighting that suffering and love are but two sides of the same coin. The artist’s work embodies the concept of “oneness” by exploring themes that resonate with people from all walks of life.
As Avidyā’s star continues to rise and The Oneness Gallery welcomes new artists to its platform, both their reach and impact are sure to grow. The gallery invites viewers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection through art, embracing the unifying power that exists within humanity.
To Find out more about the creative process of the talented artist Avidyā, here’s the link! https://aestheticamagazine.com/transformative-connections/
[ “Avidyā? Vidyā?” ] Exhibition Period: Oct 9 – 14, 2024 ( Oct 9 by invitation only)
Opening Time:
Oct 9 (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm) by invitation
Oct 10 – 13 (10:00 am – 9:00 pm)
Oct 14 (10:00 am – 4:00 pm)
Address: Hong Kong Visual Art Centre, 5/F, Exhibition Hall, 7A Kennedy Road, Central, Hong Kong
Hashtag: #theonenessgallery #artistavidya #soloexhibition #hongkongartexhibition #expressionism #expressionist #transformative #oneness #gamechanger #humanity #cleanwater #globalcitizen #artreview
https://theonenessgallery.com/
https://www.instagram.com/theonenessgallery
https://www.instagram.com/artistavidya
https://avidya-artist.com/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About The Oneness Gallery
The Oneness Gallery is an independent online platform dedicated to sharing the concept of “oneness” through diverse artistic expressions.
NetApp Teams with NVIDIA to Redefine Enterprise RAG and Power Agentic AI
NetApp’s end-to-end enterprise AI vision and intelligent ONTAP data infrastructure—combined with powerful NVIDIA NeMo Retriever and NIM microservices—transform how customers discover, search and curate data across hybrid multi-cloud to fuel AI applications
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2024 – NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the intelligent data infrastructure company, today unveiled an advanced generative AI data vision and end-to-end integrated solutions that combine NVIDIA AI software and accelerated computing with NetApp intelligent data infrastructure for enterprise retrieval augmented generation (RAG) to power the future of agentic AI applications.
This will bring new capabilities to the NetApp ONTAP unified storage operating system that can leverage a new NetApp global metadata namespace to unify data stores for the tens of thousands of enterprises that trust NetApp for their data infrastructure. It opens up exabytes of enterprise data stored across clouds and on-premises infrastructure to drive RAG capabilities that can put enterprises’ entire data estate to work, accelerating next-generation agentic AI applications.
The solution brings together proven NetApp AIPod architecture with NetApp ONTAP and the NetApp BlueXP unified control plane, with NVIDIA NeMo Retriever and NIM microservices, which are part of the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software platform.
“To power AI applications and drive transformative progress for their business, enterprises must unlock the potential of their data,” said Harv Bhela, Chief Product Officer at NetApp. “Combining the NetApp data management engine and NVIDIA AI software empowers AI applications to securely access and leverage vast amounts of data, paving the way for intelligent, agentic AI that tackles complex business challenges and fuels innovation.”
“Data is fundamental to the evolution of generative AI,” said Manuvir Das, vice president, Enterprise Computing at NVIDIA. “By combining NVIDIA AI software and accelerated computing with NetApp intelligent data infrastructure, enterprises can turn their data into knowledge, and AI agents can turn that knowledge into action.”
With the new NetApp AI capabilities built into NetApp AIPod – certified for NVIDIA DGX BasePOD infrastructure and NVIDIA OVX solutions— and managed through BlueXP, NetApp customers will be able to easily discover, search, and curate data on-prem and in the public cloud based on a set of criteria, honoring existing policy-based governance criteria.
Once the data collection has been established through NetApp BlueXP, it can be dynamically connected to NVIDIA NeMo Retriever, where the dataset will be processed and vectorized to be accessible for enterprise GenAI deployments with appropriate access controls and privacy guardrails. This creates the foundation for a generative AI flywheel to power next-generation agentic AI applications that can autonomously and securely tap into data to complete a broad range of tasks to support customer service, business operations, financial services and more.
The end-to-end integration unlocks enterprise data for AI and takes a responsible approach by preserving the security and policy guardrails throughout the AI data and model lifecycle. This integration was first referenced as a proof-of-concept shown by Huang in his NVIDIA GTC 2024 keynote address. This secure and compliant GenAI integration will be available for customers to experience at NetApp INSIGHT today and is targeted to be released as a technology preview to customers later this calendar year.
NetApp has also begun the NVIDIA certification process of NetApp ONTAP storage on the AFF A90 platform with NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD, which will enable organizations to leverage industry-leading data management capabilities for their largest AI projects. This certification will complement and build upon NetApp ONTAP’s existing certification with NVIDIA DGX BasePOD. NetApp ONTAP addresses data management challenges for large language models, eliminating the need to compromise data management for AI training workloads.Hashtag: #NetApp
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About NetApp
NetApp is the intelligent data infrastructure company, combining unified data storage, integrated data services, and CloudOps solutions to turn a world of disruption into opportunity for every customer. NetApp creates silo-free infrastructure, harnessing observability and AI to enable the industry’s best data management. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in the world’s biggest clouds, our data storage delivers seamless flexibility. In addition, our data services create a data advantage through superior cyber resilience, governance, and application agility. Our CloudOps solutions provide continuous optimization of performance and efficiency through observability and AI. No matter the data type, workload, or environment, with NetApp you can transform your data infrastructure to realize your business possibilities. Learn more at
www.netapp.com or follow us on
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LinkedIn,
Facebook, and
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NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
NetApp Powers the Future of AI with Intelligent Data Infrastructure
Innovations across NetApp portfolio and collaborations with industry leaders including NVIDIA drive business outcomes with AI
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 September 2024 – NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the intelligent data infrastructure company, today announced new developments in its collaboration with industry leaders to accelerate AI innovation. By providing the intelligent data infrastructure required to make GenAI work, NetApp is helping organizations tap into one of the most important developments for business and IT in the last decade.
GenAI powers practical and highly visible use cases for business innovation such as generating content, summarizing large amounts of information, and responding to questions. Gartner research predicts that spending on AI software will grow to $297.9 billion by 2027 and that GenAI will account for over one-third of that. The key to success in the AI era is mastery over governable, trusted, and traceable data.
Yesterday, NetApp CEO George Kurian kicked off NetApp INSIGHT 2024 with an expansive vision of this era of data intelligence. A large part of the AI challenge is a data challenge, and Kurian laid out a vision for how intelligent data infrastructure can ensure the relevant data is secure, governed, and always updated to feed a unified, integrated GenAI stack.
Today at NetApp INSIGHT, NetApp will be unveiling further innovations in intelligent data infrastructure, including a transformative vision for AI running on NetApp ONTAP®, the leading operating system for unified storage. Specifically, NetApp’s vision includes:
- NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD Storage Certification for NetApp ONTAP: NetApp has begun the NVIDIA certification process of NetApp ONTAP storage on the AFF A90 platform with NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD AI infrastructure, which will enable organizations to leverage industry-leading data management capabilities for their largest AI projects. This certification will complement and build upon NetApp ONTAP’s existing certification with NVIDIA DGX BasePOD. NetApp ONTAP addresses data management challenges for large language models (LLMs), eliminating the need to compromise data management for AI training workloads.
- Creation of a global metadata namespace to explore and manage data in a secure and compliant fashion across a customers’ hybrid multi-cloud estate to enable feature extraction and data classification for AI. NetApp separately announced today a new integration with NVIDIA AI software that can leverage the global metadata namespace with ONTAP to power enterprise retrieval augmented generation (RAG) for agentic AI.
- Directly integrated AI data pipeline, allowing ONTAP to make unstructured data ready for AI automatically and iteratively by capturing incremental changes to the customer data set, performing policy driven data classification and anonymization, generating highly compressible vector embeddings and storing them in a vector DB integrated with the ONTAP data model, ready for high scale, low latency semantic searches and retrieval augmented generation (RAG) inferencing.
- A disaggregated storage architecture that enables full sharing of the storage backend, which maximizes utilization of network and flash speeds and lowers infrastructure cost, significantly improving performance while economizing rack space and power for very high-scale, compute-intensive AI workloads like LLM training. This architecture will be an integral part of NetApp ONTAP, so it will get the benefit of a disaggregated storage architecture but still maintain ONTAP’s proven resiliency, data management, security and governance features.
- New capabilities for native cloud services to drive AI innovation in the cloud. Across all its native cloud services, NetApp is working to provide an integrated and centralized data platform to ingest, discover and catalog data. NetApp is also integrating its cloud services with data warehouses and developing data processing services to visualize, prepare and transform data. The prepared datasets can then be securely shared and used with the cloud providers’ AI and machine learning services, including third party solutions. NetApp will also announce a planned integration that allows customers to use Google Cloud NetApp Volumes as a data store for BigQuery and Vertex AI.
“Organizations of all sizes are experimenting with GenAI to increase efficiency and accelerate innovation,” said Krish Vitaldevara, Senior Vice President, Platform at NetApp. “NetApp empowers organizations to harness the full potential of GenAI to drive innovation and create value across diverse industry applications. By providing secure, scalable, and high-performance intelligent data infrastructure that integrates with other industry-leading platforms, NetApp helps customers overcome barriers to implementing GenAI. Using these solutions, businesses will be able to more quickly and efficiently apply their data to GenAI applications and outmaneuver competitors.”
NetApp continues to innovate with the AI ecosystem:
- Domino Data Labs chooses Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP: To advance the state of machine learning operations (MLOps), NetApp has partnered with Domino Data Labs, underscoring the importance of seamless integration in AI workflows. Effective today, Domino is using Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP as the underlying storage for Domino Datasets running in Domino Cloud platform to provide cost-effective performance, scalability, and the ability to accelerate model development. In addition to Domino using FSx for NetApp ONTAP, Domino and NetApp have also begun joint development to integrate Domino’s MLOps platform directly into NetApp ONTAP to make it easier to manage the data for AI workloads.
- General Availability of AIPod with Lenovo for NVIDIA OVX: Announced in May 2024, the NetApp AIPod with Lenovo ThinkSystem servers for NVIDIA OVX converged infrastructure solution is now generally available. This infrastructure solution is designed for enterprises aiming to harness generative AI and RAG capabilities to boost productivity, streamline operations, and unlock new revenue opportunities.
- New capabilities for FlexPod AI: NetApp is releasing new features for its FlexPod AI solution, the hybrid infrastructure and operation platform that accelerate the delivery of modern workloads. FlexPod AI running RAG simplifies, automates, and secures AI applications, enabling organizations to leverage the full potential of their data. With Cisco compute, Cisco network, and NetApp storage, customers experience lower costs, efficient scaling, faster time to value, and reduced risks.
“Implementing AI requires a collection of finely tuned pieces of technology infrastructure to work together perfectly,” said Mike Leone, Practice Director, Data Analytics & AI, Enterprise Strategy Group, part of TechTarget. “NetApp delivers robust storage and data management capabilities to help customers run and support their AI data pipelines. But storage is one piece of the puzzle. By collaborating with other industry-leading vendors in the AI infrastructure space, NetApp customers can be confident that their compute, networking, storage, and AI software solutions will integrate seamlessly to drive AI innovation.”
Additional Resources
- Elevating Enterprise AI: NetApp’s Latest Ecosystem Advancements for Superior Innovation
- Next Generation Data Management for AI
- AI Data Solutions
- AIPod: Delivering the Promise
- FlexPod
Hashtag: #NetApp
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About NetApp
NetApp is the intelligent data infrastructure company, combining unified data storage, integrated data services, and CloudOps solutions to turn a world of disruption into opportunity for every customer. NetApp creates silo-free infrastructure, harnessing observability and AI to enable the industry’s best data management. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in the world’s biggest clouds, our data storage delivers seamless flexibility. In addition, our data services create a data advantage through superior cyber resilience, governance, and application agility. Our CloudOps solutions provide continuous optimization of performance and efficiency through observability and AI. No matter the data type, workload, or environment, with NetApp you can transform your data infrastructure to realize your business possibilities. Learn more at www.netapp.com or follow us on
X,
LinkedIn,
Facebook, and
Instagram.
NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at www.netapp.com/TM are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.