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TPBank and Backbase Clinch ‘Best Omni-Channel Digital CX Solution’ at the Digital CX Awards 2024

The adopt-and-build approach on the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform elevated TPBank into the Top 10 banks in Vietnam within 5 years


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 April 2024 – Backbase, the global leader in Engagement Banking, in partnership with Vietnam’s Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank), has won the ‘Best Omni-Channel Digital CX Solution’ award at The Digital CX Awards 2024. This accolade highlights TPBank’s significant strides in transforming banking experiences through omni-channel touchpoints, enabled by Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. The awards ceremony took place on 25 April 2024 in Marina Bay Sands.

Since its inception in 2012, TPBank has grown from modest beginnings to become one of Vietnam’s Top 10 banks, with a customer base of over 12 million. Driven by a unique bank development philosophy of “State of the Art – Trendy – From the Heart”, TPBank is dedicated to winning the hearts of millions through innovative banking solutions that are creative and insightful.

The Digital Banker’s panel of judges noted, “TPBank’s implementation of the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform has categorically augmented its omni-channel capabilities. Commendably, the strategic adopt and build approach enabled the Bank to completely revamp its internet and mobile banking system, migrating almost three million customers to the new platform driving growth in digitally active customers and contributing to retail business growth.”

Leveraging Backbase as their anchor platform for digital customer engagement, TPBank has strategically embraced an ‘adopt and build’ approach to develop a comprehensive end-to-end omnichannel digital platform. By building on the platform, TPBank has achieved a digital-first and customer-first omnichannel banking experience that not only accelerated their acquisition of new customers via multiple touchpoints but also reduced their cost to serve. To achieve accelerated build, TPBank trained and expanded its in-house development teams to lead ongoing customized features and UI/UX development.

The implementation of the Backbase platform at TPBank has enabled essential scalability:

  • Engagement Banking Platform was launched in 9 months to nearly 3 million existing users
  • Growth of active retail banking users to over 7 million within five years.
  • Doubling of mobile banking transactions in 2023, with over 1 billion transactions recorded.

“Backbase has been pivotal in advancing our shift toward a digital-first, customer-centric banking model, significantly enhancing operational efficiency and service agility,” stated Mr. Nguyen Hung, CEO, TPBank. “With the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform, we’ve been able to hollow out the core to focus on modernizing customer experiences smoothly. The rate of modernization has rapidly accelerated as our in-house team of UI/UX designers are able to easily and confidently build on the platform. Today, we are developing feature launches 6 times faster, from up to 6 months to less than a month.`

Hung continued, “In addition, customer satisfaction and frictionless usage of our banking services across the omnichannel are enhanced. We have achieved 100% straight-through-process for over 200 self service online banking products and 95% reduction in downtime to just a few minutes per month. Our goal is clear—to continue to move TPBank up to become a top ten all-rounder bank in Vietnam.”

Riddhi Dutta, Regional Vice President, Asia, Backbase, remarked, “TPBank had a clear vision of the customer experience they wanted to deliver for omnichannel banking 5 years ago. They strategically adopted the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform, differentiating where it matters by building unique journeys they had envisioned. The strength of the platform lies in its ability to level the playing field for banks at any stage of their modernization journey, regardless of their age or tenure in the industry. We are grateful that TPBank believed in the platform from the outset and are proud to see them rise to the top today.”

TPBank also appeared for the first time in the Brand Finance Rankings with a brand value exceeding 425 million USD, among the Top 5 private banks with the highest brand value in Vietnam. The Vietnam Review Report Joint Stock Company (VNR) recognizes TPBank as one of the ten most prestigious Vietnamese commercial banks, and one of the four most prestigious private banks of 2023.

Hashtag: #Backbase, #digitalbanking, #engagementbanking, #retailbanking, #omnichannelbanking, #engagementbankingplatform


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Backbase

Backbase is on a mission to re-architect banking around the customer.

Backbase created the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform – a unified platform with the customer at the center, empowering banks to accelerate their digital transformation. From customer onboarding to servicing, loyalty, and loan origination, our single platform — open and frictionless, with ready-to-go apps — improves every aspect of the customer experience. Built from the ground up with the customer at the heart, our Engagement Banking Platform easily plugs into existing core banking systems and comes pre-integrated with the latest fintechs so financial institutions can innovate at scale.

Industry analysts Gartner, Omdia, and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership position. Over 120 financial institutions around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. In APAC, the customers we serve include ABBANK, BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, China Bank, EastWest Bank, HDFC Bank, JudoBank, OCB, Techcombank, and TPBank.

Backbase is a privately funded fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam (Global HQ), with regional offices in Singapore (APAC HQ), Atlanta (Americas HQ), and operations in Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Latin America, and the UK.

TPBank

Established in 2008, Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank) inherits the strength from strong strategic shareholders at home and abroad, including DOJI Jewelry Group, FPT Technology Group, and Reinsurance Corporation. Vietnam (Vinare), SBI Ven Holding Pte. Ltd (Singapore), IFC International Finance Company (part of the World Bank) and PYN Elite Fund investment fund, with the aspiration of becoming a transparent, efficient, sustainable financial institution and bringing the best benefits to shareholders and customers.

With a solid foundation and long-term strategy, TPBank has been continuing on a journey of breakthroughs with multiple impressive milestones. By the end of 2023, total assets has increased to 356,000 billion VND, an increase of 8.5% compared to the end of 2022, with more than 22,000 billion VND charter capital. The steady increase in capital has provided a strong financial foundation. Together with risk management, this have kept TPBank’s capital adequacy ratio (CAR) according to Basel III standards at 12.4% as of 31/12/2023, which is in the leading group of the industry, upholding the principles of loan growth and capital safety.

The total number of customers grows miraculously beyond 12 million in 2023. In just 3 years, with a leading and comprehensive digital banking strategy, TPBank has attracted more than 8.6 million customers, twice the cumulative number of the previous 12 years. The proportion of CASA increased by 34%, the proportion of demand deposits increased by 34%, exceeding 47,000 billion VND. Balancing the needs for deposit growth in accordance with the needs for capital use to achieve the best efficiency, the bank’s total deposits in 2023 reaches 316,500 billion VND, an increase of nearly 9.5% and exceeding the year’s plan.

The Bank continues to uphold its position at many domestic and international prestigious awards. For the second consecutive time, TPBank ranked first in Vietnam in the list of “Strongest Banks in Asia Pacific” by The Asian Banker. TPBank appeared for the first time in the Brand Finance Rankings with a brand value exceeding 425 million USD, among the Top 5 private banks with the highest brand value in Vietnam. Vietnam Review Report Joint Stock Company (VNR) ranks TPBank as one of the 10 most prestigious Vietnamese commercial banks, and also one of the 4 most prestigious private banks of 2023.

With the brand manifesto “A deeper understanding “, TPBank puts customer “understanding” at the center of research and implementation, to build a style of top quality and service. The bank sets itself the mission of accompanying customers, constantly innovating, and applying technology to create the best and most convenient financial solutions, products and services for customers.

The Digital Banker

The Digital Banker is a globally trusted news, business intelligence and research partner to the worldwide financial services sector. Our consultants and subject matter experts provide thematic research, data driven insights and forecasts, exclusively across the global Financial Services sector.

Techcombank and Backbase Win ‘Best Digital CX Partner – SME Bank’ at the Digital CX Awards 2024

Techcombank achieves 246% growth in active digital business banking users leveraging on Backbase Engagement Banking Platform


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 April 2024 – Backbase, the global leader in Engagement Banking, and Techcombank, Vietnam’s fifth largest private bank in asset size in Vietnam, have been named joint winners of the Best Digital CX Partner – SME Bank award by The Digital Banker, for the implementation of the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. Techcombank won the Best Digital CX Partner awards for retail banking with Backbase last year and SME Banking this year, highlighting the extensibility of the Engagement Banking Platform in creating a unified banking experience across both lines of business for Techcombank’s customers.

Techcombank’s mission statement, “Purposefully digital and meaningfully human,” underscores their commitment to help customers make better decisions easier and improve their quality of life via digitalization. Techcombank believes that business owners are also consumers at heart and has differentiated their business banking app to offer the same familiarity and simplicity as their retail banking app. To achieve that, Techcombank leveraged on the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform to recycle, re-use and re-purpose digital retail journeys, UI/UX and features they have innovated on their highly rated retail banking app to successfully launch business banking platform in 6 months. Today Techcombank Business app has a near-perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store and a perfect rating of 5 out of 5 on Google Play.

The Digital Banker’s panel of judges noted, “Backbase’s Engagement Banking Platform is truly empowering banks in accelerating their digital transformation and ensuring enhancement in client experience across a diverse set of digital journeys for different customer segments. Notably, this single unified platform is open and frictionless, with ready-to-go apps and its implementation at Techcombank has significantly elevated digital business banking growth and adoption for the Bank.”

The Engagement Banking Platform provides Techcombank with seamless orchestration in digital customer engagement across retail and business banking lines of business. The platform serves as a robust engine room with industrialized, composable capabilities, providing the bank with the flexibility to quickly create tailored, differentiating experiences and innovate on their own terms across all channels. Since deploying the platform in 2022, the bank saw a 246% surge in business banking users. Today, the account opening process on the business banking website has been streamlined to 30 minutes.

“Our priority was to select a platform that wouldn’t limit our creativity. By leveraging the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform, we rapidly rolled out our business banking services within six months, utilizing digital retail banking journeys we had already created. This allowed us to build humanized and highly personalized user interfaces and experiences, offering business clients the simplicity and familiarity typically seen in retail banking,” said Henry Lam, Head of Corporate Digital Banking, Techcombank.

Henry added, “The platform’s extensibility is immensely powerful, enabling us to quickly develop and deploy flexible term deposit products, local bank guarantees, and short term loan tailored to various needs. With the Engagement Banking Platform, it enables us to launch new business banking features in just over a week, driving rapid adoption and acceleration in the market. Our customer base is growing rapidly with an increase of 42,000 new digital business banking users in 2023, bringing our total to 97,000. The ability to adopt and build on the platform is a key differentiator for us and has transformed our business banking arm into a key value-driving pillar of Techcombank’s portfolio.”

Backbase’s clear documentation, robust version control, and ongoing Application Development Support (ADS) have enabled Techcombank’s accelerated build. The bank developed approximately 40 new features and journeys specifically for business banking, including the introduction of Bank Guarantee and Overdraft Online services in 2023. The platform also facilitates seamless, omnichannel access, allowing businesses to manage their finances effortlessly from any location as well as integrated financial management tools and sophisticated data analytics for business owners to use essential insights for strategic decision-making.

“Techcombank exemplifies the adopt and build capability of the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. They have modernized their lines of business in increasingly rapid succession and agility to realize its overarching banking vision and mission,” said Riddhi Dutta, Regional Vice President, Asia, Backbase. “We are immensely proud of the bank’s success and the standards it has set for the industry.”

Techcombank would be looking to expand its digital services from SME banking to encompass micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) and corporate banking. This expansion is part of Techcombank’s broader ambition to provide intuitive digital experiences across all business banking sectors, contributing to its continued success and award-winning performances in digital banking.
Hashtag: #Backbase #digitalbanking #engagementbanking #retailbanking #omnichannelbanking #businessbanking #smebanking #corporatebanking #engagementbankingplatform


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Backbase

Backbase is on a mission to re-archtect banking around the customer.

Backbase created the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform – a unified platform with the customer at the center, empowering banks to accelerate their digital transformation. From customer onboarding to servicing, loyalty, and loan origination, our single platform — open and frictionless, with ready-to-go apps — improves every aspect of the customer experience. Built from the ground up with the customer at the heart, our Engagement Banking Platform easily plugs into existing core banking systems and comes pre-integrated with the latest fintechs so financial institutions can innovate at scale.

Industry analysts Gartner, Omdia, and IDC continuously recognize Backbase’s category leadership position. Over 120 financial institutions around the world have embraced the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform. In APAC, the customers we serve include ABBANK, BDO Unibank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, China Bank, EastWest Bank, HDFC Bank, JudoBank, OCB, Techcombank, and TPBank.

Backbase is a privately funded fintech company, founded in 2003 in Amsterdam (Global HQ), with regional offices in Singapore (APAC HQ), Atlanta (Americas HQ), and operations in Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Latin America, and the UK.

Techcombank

Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank) is one of the largest joint stock banks in Vietnam, and a leading bank in Asia, with a vision to Change Banking, Change Lives. The Bank pursues a proven customer-centric strategy in providing a broad range of retail and corporate banking solutions and services to help financially empower its customers. Techcombank has 13.4 million retail and corporate customers, which it serves through a market-leading digital banking platform and mobile app, and an extensive network of transaction service outlets at locations across Vietnam. The Bank’s ecosystem approach, co-created through partnerships in multiple key economic sectors, adds further scale and differentiation in one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Techcombank is rated A+ by FiinRatings, Ba3 by Moody’s and BB- by S&P, which is the highest among Vietnam joint stock commercial banks.

The Digital Banker

The Digital Banker is a globally trusted news, business intelligence and research partner to the worldwide financial services sector. Our consultants and subject matter experts provide thematic research, data driven insights and forecasts, exclusively across the global Financial Services sector.

Successful Conclusion of “Study in Hong Kong” India Education Fair: Opening Doors to Global Education Opportunities

  • Highlighted academic excellence and learning opportunities from eight leading government-funded universities in Hong Kong.

  • Aimed to foster global collaborations and nurture future leaders across Asia Pacific.

  • Offered detailed information on various opportunities from Hong Kong’s universities.


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 April 2024 – The “Study in Hong Kong” India Education Fair concluded successfully in New Delhi in early April, marking a significant milestone in fostering international educational collaborations and providing Indian students with insights into higher education opportunities in Hong Kong. The event, which showcased academic excellence and learning opportunities from eight leading government-funded universities in Hong Kong, attracted a diverse audience of students, parents, and educational advisors.

“Study in Hong Kong” India Education Fair

Organized by representatives from top-ranked Hong Kong universities, the fair engaged with students in India and provided them with comprehensive information about studying in Hong Kong. The students interacted with university representatives directly who answered their enquiries regarding various academic programmes, admission requirements, scholarship opportunities, and campus life experiences. The attendees also got the opportunity to learn about the academic excellence and research opportunities offered by Hong Kong’s universities, as well as the vibrant cultural and social experiences available in the dynamic city.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Professor Bennett YIM, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and International Student Exchange at The University of Hong Kong, commented on behalf of the event organizing committee, “We are delighted by the overwhelming response to the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ India Education Fair. It was truly inspiring to witness the enthusiasm and curiosity of Indian students and their families as they explored the diverse educational opportunities available in Hong Kong. We are confident that this event has opened doors to exciting possibilities for future collaborations and academic endeavors.”

The
The “Study in Hong Kong” India Education Fair, jointly organized by eight leading government-funded universities in Hong Kong, was successfully held in New Delhi recently.

Representatives from participating universities provided detailed information on support services for international students. While making attendees aware of the higher education landscape of Hong Kong, the event also fostered meaningful connections between students and representatives from top-ranked universities.

The success of the “Study in Hong Kong” India Education Fair underscores the growing interest among Indian students in pursuing higher education in Hong Kong, which has emerged as a leading destination for academic and professional development. Empowered with the valuable insights offered during the event, students and parents will now be able to make the right decision about their plans to study in Hong Kong.

Hashtag: #StudyinHongKong #UniversityGrantsCommittee #CityUniversityofHongKong #HongKongBaptistUniversity #LingnanUniversity #TheChineseUniversityofHongKong #TheEducationUniversityofHongKong #TheHongKongPolytechnicUniversity #TheHongKongUniversityofScienceandTechnology #TheUniversityofHongKong

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About “Study in Hong Kong”

With the support of the University Grants Committee (UGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the HUCOM Standing Committee for Internationalization (HUCOMSCI) has initiated a campaign entitled “Study in Hong Kong” which aims at expanding non-local student enrollment in emerging markets for the eight UGC-funded universities in the city. Through organizing visits and education fairs across the world, we are committed to building connections with government officials, local schools, parents, and students, with the goal of recruiting more outstanding international students to choose Hong Kong as a destination for higher education.

In the current year, the trip to India provides a platform for university representatives to greet talented Indian students and offer them an opportunity to learn about the academic excellence and diverse resources available at Hong Kong’s leading universities. By fostering connections and showcasing the advantages of studying in Hong Kong, HUCOMSCI seeks to strengthen the bonds between the participating institutions and the Indian student community.

World Intellectual Property Day: OPPO Maintains Top 10 Global IP Ranking for Fifth Consecutive Year

  • In the “OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper”, OPPO reaffirms its long-term commitment to innovation and its proactive defense intellectual property strategy.
  • OPPO is investing significantly in AI innovation and is committed to advancing and popularizing AI Phones.

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 April 2024 – Today, OPPO, a Leading global technology company, released its “OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper” on World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to innovation and intellectual property protection. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), OPPO ranked ninth globally in patents filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 2023, making its fifth consecutive year in the global top ten. As of March 31, 2024, OPPO has filed over 101,000 patent applications globally, with more than 55,000 patents granted, and 91% of all patent applications are utility patents.

OPPO Maintains Top 10 Global IP Ranking for 5th Consecutive Year

“At OPPO, we believe that technological innovation and intellectual property protection are fundamental to our company’s past, present, and future success,” said Feng Ying, Chief Intellectual Property Officer of OPPO. “Through our proactive defense IP strategy and commitment to fostering a healthy long-term IP ecosystem, we are fully committed to supporting the future of innovation as envisioned in the ‘OPPO Innovation and Intellectual Property White Paper’.”

OPPO’s Commitment to Advancing and Popularizing AI Phones

Through extensive R&D investment in areas such as image processing, computer vision, speech technology, natural language processing, and machine learning, OPPO is pioneering AI technology development and widespread application in its smartphone products. As of March 31, 2024, OPPO has filed a total of 5,399 AI-related patents globally, including 3,796 utility patents in AI imaging. According to the “Artificial Intelligence Patent Ranking” published by intellectual property media outlet IPRdaily on April 22, 2024, OPPO ranked ninth in China with a total of 3,743 AI-related utility patents granted.

Through its commitment to driving and protecting innovation, OPPO is bringing the convenience of technology to more and more people around the world while supporting the long-term development of the wider technology ecosystem.

As part of its efforts to enhance smart life experiences for its users, OPPO is focused on transforming the latest technical innovations into practical, consumer-centric applications. This includes the introduction of over one hundred AI-driven features on the latest OPPO Find X7 series, while future plans involve integrating generative AI features such as AI Eraser and AI Magic Studio into more OPPO products.

Advanced Key Technologies through Open Innovation

OPPO’s commitment to open innovation is driving the company’s efforts to build an intellectual property ecosystem based on key technological breakthroughs in high-value areas such as 5G/6G, AI, flash charge, and imaging.

To date, OPPO has deployed 5G essential standard patents in over 40 countries and regions globally. It has also filed over 6,100 families of global patent applications, declared over 3,300 families of 5G standard patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), and submitted more than 11,000 5G standard-related proposals to the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In other areas, OPPO has applied for over 12,306 global imaging-related patents and has licensed its VOOC flash charge technology to more than 50 companies, enabling more electronic devices with fast charging capabilities.

To date, OPPO has deployed 5G essential standard patents in over 40 countries and regions globally

Proactive Defense IP Strategy for Sustainable IP Ecosystem Development

Over the years, OPPO has signed licensing or cross-license agreements with dozens of patent owners globally, resolving numerous intellectual property licensing issues through negotiations and cross-licenses that fully reflect the value of intellectual property rights from all parties. These steps echo the company’s wider belief in charging reasonable licensing fees and avoiding coercive patent litigation while defending its legitimate legal rights and interests where applicable.

Driven by its mission of “Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World”, OPPO will continue to invest in innovation to create more industry-leading products and services while contributing to the development of the global intellectual property ecosystem through practical actions.

Hashtag: #OPPO

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

Salmon Expands Payment Channels with ECPay Partnership


MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 April 2024 – Salmon Group Ltd (“Salmon”), a leading financial technology group dedicated to improving access to credit, savings, and investments for over 500 million underserved customers in Southeast Asia, is excited to announce its strategic partnership with ECPay, a prominent electronic payment systems provider.

ECPay is renowned for its extensive network of payment centers strategically positioned across the country. These include convenience stores, pawnshops, remittance centers and rural banks. This partnership allows customers to easily pay for their Salmon products in ECPay’s 490,000+ over-the-counter and 3,000+ digital payment touchpoints. It allows Salmon to empower its customers, half of whom don’t have a traditional bank account, to easily make their repayments through the ECPay network.

By utilizing ECPay’s extensive payment network, Salmon’s customers gain greater flexibility and convenience in managing financial obligations.

“We are thrilled to embark on this partnership with ECPay as part of our commitment to providing seamless financial solutions to our valued customers. In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is not just important, it’s a must and this collaboration allows us to extend our reach and accessibility, ensuring that our customers can easily manage their financial transactions wherever they are,” stated Raffy Montemayor, Co-Founder of Salmon and Chairman of the Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Inc.

For a complete list of the ECPay payment centers, please visit https://www.ecpay.com.ph/.

For further information about Salmon and its initiatives, please visit Salmon’s website at https://salmon.ph/.

Hashtag: #Salmon



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the Salmon Group Ltd

Salmon Group is made up of Salmon Group Ltd and its subsidiaries in the Philippines including Sunprime Finance Inc. and the Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna), Inc., which was established in 1963. The Group is dedicated to expanding financial inclusion by providing customers with cutting-edge, customer-centric, AI and data-driven banking and financial services. It is on a mission to empower underserved communities across Southeast Asia and is supported by world-class shareholders including the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi (ADQ) and other blue-chip international and Filipino investors.

About ECPAY

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE PAYMENTS, INC. (ECPay) is the leading electronic customer purchase and payment systems provider in the Philippines, enabling merchants in both the offline and online channels with the one-stop-shop proposition and offering customers convenient payment platforms. For over 23 years, ECPay has enabled retail outlets and collection partners to offer accurate, secure, and timely payment services while providing merchants and billers with real-time electronic reconciliation, web-based reporting, and system management. ECPay currently has over 600 biller and portfolio partners, 490,000 over-the-counter, and 3000+ digital touchpoint channels nationwide.

PolyU forms global partnership with ZEISS Vision Care to expand impact and accelerate market penetration of patented myopia control technology


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 April 2024 – The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is partnering with ZEISS Vision Care, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of eyeglass lenses and ophthalmic instruments, to expand the global impact and speed up the market penetration of PolyU’s proprietary myopia control lens technologies through global partnership involving IP licensing and joint research and development.

Witnessed by Prof. Chea-su Kee, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry (back row, left) and Mr Timo Kratzer, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care (back row, right), Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU (front row, left) and Dr Benjamin Viering, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ZEISS Vision Care (front row, right) signed the licensing agreement.
Witnessed by Prof. Chea-su Kee, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry (back row, left) and Mr Timo Kratzer, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care (back row, right), Mr Kelvin Wong, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU (front row, left) and Dr Benjamin Viering, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer of ZEISS Vision Care (front row, right) signed the licensing agreement.

The licensing agreement signing ceremony was held at ZEISS Vision Care’s headquarters in Aalen, Germany, and attended by distinguished representatives from both parties including Prof. Chea-su KEE, Head of the PolyU School of Optometry; Dr Benjamin VIERING, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Operating Officer, ZEISS Vision Care; Mr Kelvin WONG, Director of Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship of PolyU and Mr Timo KRATZER, Head of Lens Product Development at ZEISS Vision Care. Inventors of the myopia control technologies from the PolyU School of Optometry, including Dr Dennis TSE, Associate Professor; Prof. Chi-ho TO, Visiting Chair Professor and Prof. Carly LAM, Adjunct Professor, were also present at this important event. Under the terms of the agreement, ZEISS will adopt PolyU’s patented myopia control technology in its specialised optical products.

Furthermore, this partnership paves the way for a long-term collaboration in research and development between PolyU and ZEISS, focusing on myopia control and other ophthalmic technologies. The close relationship between PolyU and ZEISS started some years ago when both partners began to explore collaboration on research and education.

Following the signing ceremony, the PolyU delegation toured ZEISS Vision Care’s state-of-the-art laboratories and production facilities, and held constructive discussions with ZEISS representatives on future joint research and development.

Mr Kelvin Wong expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and said, “This collaboration with a global industry leader like ZEISS Vision Care not only accelerates the market presence of our innovations but also amplifies the impact of our research and endeavours in commercialisation. PolyU innovations in the areas of myopia control and other ophthalmic issues are poised to make unprecedented societal impact.” The partnership between PolyU and ZEISS Vision Care is expected to create further innovative solutions that will enhance vision preservation and improvement for people around the world.

Dr Benjamin Viering added, “PolyU and ZEISS have been working closely together for many years. Further research into the understanding and treatment of myopia is of paramount importance and requires intensive cooperation between academia and industry. We are therefore very pleased to deepen our cooperation to combat progressive myopia for the benefit of children around the world.”

PolyU has been at the forefront of addressing myopia, an eye disorder that affects one-third of the global population, with a novel non-invasive solution to control the development of myopia in children. In particular, researchers from the School of Optometry have developed advanced myopia control technologies, which have been incorporated in specialised contact lenses and spectacle lenses. Since their launch in 2018, these innovative products have reached millions of people worldwide, positively impacting the lives of children with myopia and establishing PolyU as the market leader in myopia control technology.Hashtag: #PolyU #ZEISS #Mypoia #VisionCare

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Prince Holding Group’s Chen Zhi Scholarship Clinches Silver Stevie for CSR Excellence at Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards


PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 25 April 2024 – Prince Holding Group, one of Cambodia’s leading business groups, has clinched the Silver Stevie® Award for Innovative Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility at the 11th annual Asia Pacific Stevie Awards, a testament to its commitment through the pioneering Chen Zhi Scholarship Program. This prestigious international recognition celebrates the program’s significant impact on nurturing the next generation of leaders through extensive educational support and professional development opportunities in Cambodia.

The Chen Zhi Scholarship Program commits $2 million over seven years to aid 400 Cambodian university students, fostering inclusivity and long-term growth in diverse academic fields.
The Chen Zhi Scholarship Program commits $2 million over seven years to aid 400 Cambodian university students, fostering inclusivity and long-term growth in diverse academic fields.

Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, the visionary Chairman of Prince Holding Group, has spearheaded the scholarship program focused on education as a critical catalyst for societal advancement. His commitment broadens the scholarship to support gifted, economically disadvantaged students nationwide

Lending his namesake and patronage to the scholarship program, Chen Zhi champions broader educational access, equipping young Cambodians with the tools necessary for personal and professional development. His efforts are crucial in forging a more equitable and prosperous future, reflecting his broader vision of accessible, quality education for all.

Prince Foundation’s Chen Zhi Scholarship Program has pledged $2 million over seven years to support 400 deserving Cambodian university students. The program offers full scholarships and stipends, enriching students’ academic journeys across various fields, including civil engineering, media and communications, and hospitality.

Emphasizing inclusivity and long-term development, the program supports an equal number of male and female students, prioritizing candidates from non-urban areas; 75% of the scholarships are awarded to students outside of Phnom Penh. With a notable 90% continuation rate of scholarships annually, the program stands as a transformative force within the Cambodian educational landscape.

Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer at Prince Holding Group, said, “This Silver Stevie Award underscores the significant impact of the Chen Zhi Scholarship Program on our community and beyond. It reinforces our dedication to fostering an educated and skilled workforce, ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. We believe in the power of education to transform lives, and this award reaffirms our mission to empower young Cambodians through learning and career opportunities.”

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all 29 markets of the Asia-Pacific region. The Stevie Awards are widely considered to be the world’s premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in programs such as The International Business Awards® for 22 years.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 executives around the world acting as judges in February and March.
Hashtag: #PrinceHoldingGroup #ChenZhiScholarship #ChenZhi

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Prince Holding Group

Prince Holding Group is one of Cambodia’s largest business groups, spanning across real estate development, financial services, and consumer services.

Prince Holding Group’s key business units in Cambodia include Prince Real Estate Group, Prince Huan Yu Real Estate Group, Prince Bank, and Awesome Global Investment Group. Via its subsidiaries, Prince Holding Group has over 100 businesses in Cambodia operating in real estate development, banking, finance, tourism, logistics, technology, food and beverages, lifestyle sectors, etc.

Leveraging a network of industrial, business, and financial professionals across Asia, Prince Holding Group is firmly committed to the long-term development of Cambodia.

Moving forward, Prince Holding Group will continue to seek out opportunities to play an important role in Cambodia through partnerships or direct investments into key industries for the betterment of Cambodians and the local economy.

About Prince Foundation

Prince Foundation, founded in 2015, is one of Cambodia’s leading philanthropic foundations. A member of Prince Holding Group, which is one of the largest business groups in Cambodia, the Foundation aims to work with local communities to build thriving living and working environments that elevate people’s well-being and livelihoods, following the vision: “Together, Building a Better Future for Cambodia.”

Focusing on education and youth development, healthcare, and community engagement and sports, and healthcare initiatives, Prince Foundation works with partners to deliver sustainable programs that enhance opportunities for Cambodia’s youths, build resilience in communities, and contribute to sustainable infrastructure.

The Foundation’s flagship projects are the Chen Zhi Scholarship, offering full scholarships, stipends, internships, and work opportunities to 400 Cambodian university students over a period of seven years, and Prince Horology, where aspiring Cambodian watchmakers learn the art of Swiss-style watchmaking in a state-of-the-art facility. Prince Foundation has launched more than 250 philanthropic initiatives, benefiting over 1.2 million people, with donations exceeding US$16 million.

Luang Prabang Welcomes Record Numbers During New Year Celebrations

Visitors on Luang Prabang main street durign Lao New Year. (Photo: Teng)

More than 110,000 visitors flocked to Luang Prabang during the Lao New Year festivities from 10-19 April, marking an increase of 364.44 percent compared to the previous year. The festival, which showcased the rich cultural heritage of Laos, also generated an estimated revenue exceeding USD 47 million.