BENGALURU, India, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Syngene International, a global contract research, development, and manufacturing organization (CRDMO), today announced the extension of its long-standing strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb through 2035. The expanded agreement broadens the scope of integrated services across the drug development lifecycle spanning discovery (chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics), translational sciences, pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, clinical trials, data and information technology services to enable seamless progression from research to commercialization. The expansion of this collaboration marks the next phase of growth, reinforcing Syngene’s position as a strategic partner delivering integrated, end-to-end scientific and manufacturing solutions.

Peter Bains, Managing Director and CEO, Syngene International Ltd., said, “Our collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, which now spans more than 25 years, is anchored in scientific excellence, operational reliability, and a shared commitment to advancing innovative therapies. The agreement to extend this partnership through 2035 enables us to plan together for the future in terms of building new capabilities and infrastructure with a decade long horizon. Taking a long-term perspective is a key feature of our partnership which adds strategic value to both companies. We look forward to supporting BMS with their next wave of discovery, development, and manufacturing programs that have the potential to improve patient outcomes worldwide.”

Payal Sheth, Senior Vice President, Therapeutic Discovery Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, said, “At Bristol Myers Squibb, everything we do begins with patients. We greatly value our long-standing partnership with Syngene, which has been instrumental in advancing our scientific ambitions. This expanded collaboration reflects our commitment to advancing innovative science by effective integration of our research, development, and manufacturing capabilities to accelerate the delivery of transformative medicines and bring hope to patients around the world who are waiting for new treatment options.”

The collaboration between Syngene and Bristol Myers Squibb began in 1998, culminating in the establishment of the Biocon Bristol Myers Squibb Research and Development Center (BBRC), Syngene’s first dedicated R&D Center, which was fully commissioned in 2009. Over the years, the BBRC has evolved into a major strategic R&D site for Bristol Myers Squibb, supporting integrated capabilities across target identification, lead discovery, lead optimization, pharmaceutical development, molecular and cell biology, protein sciences, assay biology and clinical biomarkers. The center, which today houses around 700 Syngene scientists working as an extension of Bristol Myers Squibb’s global research organization, contributes to discovery, preclinical development, and patent filings across therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, fibrosis, immunology, and oncology.

Since its inception, BBRC has played a pivotal role in accelerating the progression of novel compounds from early discovery to first-in-human studies, thereby helping reduce development timelines and overall costs for Bristol Myers Squibb.

About Syngene

Syngene International Ltd. (BSE: 539268, NSE: SYNGENE, ISIN: INE 398R01022) is an integrated research, development, and manufacturing services company serving the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutrition, animal health, consumer goods, and specialty chemical sectors. Syngene’s team of over 8,200 employees including 5,600 scientists, brings both deep expertise and the capacity to deliver scientific excellence, robust data security, and world class manufacturing, at speed, to improve time-to-market and lower the cost of innovation.

With over 2.5 mn sq. ft of specialized discovery, development, and manufacturing facilities across India and the U.S., Syngene works with 400 global customers across industry segments, including biotech companies pursuing leading-edge science and multinationals such as BMS, GSK, Zoetis, and Merck KGaA. For more details, visit www.syngeneintl.com. For the Company’s latest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, visit Syngene ESG Report.

Media Contacts:

Vijay Jeevanandham
Syngene International Limited
M: +91 8310914552
E: Vijay.Jeevanandham@syngeneintl.com

Alex Heeley / Abdul Khalifeh
De Facto Communications
T: +44 (0) 203 735 8165 / +44 (0) 7834784764
E: a.khalifeh@defacto.co.uk
E: a.heeley@defacto.co.uk

GRAMMY® IQ built with IBM watsonx debuts ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards®

ARMONK, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM), the Official Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Cloud Partner of the Grammy Awards® for nearly a decade, today announced the launch of GRAMMY® IQ built with IBM watsonx. By tapping into the power of agentic AI, the new fan engagement solution transforms the Recording Academy®’s vast reserves of music industry data into interactive quizzes that put the knowledge of music lovers to the test. IBM plans to also continue to design AI-driven solutions that automate workflows and deliver more personalized and engaging digital experiences for Recording Academy members, potential new members and millions of music enthusiasts around the world.

Preview of the new GRAMMY IQ built with IBM watsonx

“Our partnership with IBM continues to push the boundaries of how technology can celebrate and deepen the world’s connection to music,” said Adam Roth, Executive Vice President of Global Partnerships at the Recording Academy. “With GRAMMY® IQ built with watsonx, we’re not only unlocking the richness of our history and data—we’re inviting fans and members everywhere to engage with music in more meaningful, interactive and inspiring ways. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to innovation, creativity and honoring the artists and stories that shape culture across generations.”

“The Recording Academy and IBM are bringing fans closer to the music they love by leveraging AI with the Academy’s vast reserves of music industry data spanning all genres and generations,” Jonathan Adashek, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications at IBM. “We are excited to collaborate together to help deliver more personalized and engaging digital experiences for the members of the Recording Academy and millions of music enthusiasts all around the world.”

GRAMMY IQ built with IBM watsonx features an AI-assistant embedded across the Grammys®’ digital channels for seamless fan interaction, leaderboards and sweepstakes for daily engagement and social sharing. It uses watsonx technologies, including IBM’s Granite 3.0 large language model (LLM), to generate questions, hints and answer explanations based on historical Grammys data. Clues will be provided, if requested, before final answers are revealed, and top fan scores will be featured in a GRAMMY IQ leaderboard on Grammy.com.

Also for the GRAMMYS 2026, IBM plans to work with the GRAMMY Museum® to reinvent Musical Crossroads, an interactive experience on their fourth floor that uses watsonx to allow visitors to explore artists and music across nearly 200 genres and give music lovers a new way to understand the rich and complex history of the industry. Each genre features artists, songs, photos, and interpretive text that connects to other genres, encouraging musical exploration and discovery.

In addition to this year’s fan features, IBM plans to continue to evolve how the Recording Academy enhances its membership digital processes for each of its 30,000+ members who represent every genre and creative discipline the music industry has to offer, from folk songwriters and classical composers to hip hop producers and sound engineers. This includes reimagining the member portal and offering translations in 4 additional languages.

This year’s solutions – a product of IBM technologies including its latest Granite LLMs, IBM’s consulting expertise, and ongoing collaboration with the Recording Academy digital and editorial teams – aim to scale content capabilities of the Recording Academy and deliver music fans, Recording Academy members and prospective members more engaging and informative digital experiences around Music’s Biggest Night®. 

Explore this year’s IBM-powered experiences and more on Grammy.com.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

About The Recording Academy
The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music’s history while investing in its future through the Grammy Museum^®, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares^®, and celebrates artistic excellence through the Grammy Awards^® — music’s only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world’s leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators.

For more information about the Grammy Awards and the Recording Academy, please visit Grammy.com and RecordingAcademy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, “like” Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy’s social communities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. For media assets, please visit the Recording Academy Press Room.

Media Contacts
For IBM: Paul Pettas; paulpettas@ibm.com
For the Recording Academy; communications@grammy.com

IBM and the Recording Academy Strike a Chord, Release New watsonx Digital Experiences for Fans and Members Around 2026 GRAMMY Awards®

IBM Corporation logo.

WOOSTER, Ohio, Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PRC-Saltillo, a global leader in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Therapy Box^® suite of apps: Predictable^®, Scene & Heard Pro^®, Colourful Semantics^®, and Voca Quest^®. This acquisition reinforces PRC-Saltillo’s vision for accessible communication across ages, stages of language development, locations, languages, and price points.

• Expanded Global Reach: With Therapy Box’s strong presence in Europe and beyond, PRC-Saltillo will broaden AAC access in new regions worldwide
• Product Integration: The apps will be integrated into PRC-Saltillo products around the world with varying timelines and availability by country, reflecting our commitment to thoughtful, region-specific implementation.

Created by Rebecca Bright and Swapnil Gadgil in 2011, these award-winning solutions set a global standard for excellence in AAC. “From the beginning, our goal was to bring cutting-edge technology to people with speech and language disabilities, regardless of where they live or what language they speak,” said Bright. “We’re proud of what we’ve built and thrilled to see PRC-Saltillo carry this vision forward.”

Sarah Wilds, CEO of PRC-Saltillo, shared, “We’re excited to welcome Predictable, Scene & Heard Pro, Colourful Semantics, and Voca Quest into our app portfolio, joining Avaz and PRC-Saltillo apps (TouchChat^®, LAMP Words for Life^®, Unity^® AAC, and Dialogue^® AAC) to offer a full suite of AAC solutions for all ages, abilities, and languages.”

Continuity for Customers

• Therapy Box apps will continue to be sold under their established brand names, with development and support provided by the current Therapy Box team based in the UK, Ireland, and India
• Existing customers can expect uninterrupted products, services, and support

Therapy Box employees joined Liberator UK, a PRC-Saltillo subsidiary, under the leadership of Managing Director Robin Short. “I’m delighted to bring the Therapy Box team into our UK and global teams as we grow together,” said Short.

As part of this transition, Bright and Gadgil will step away from day-to-day operations. “We’re confident PRC-Saltillo will take these apps to new heights, reaching more people and breaking down barriers to communication,” said Gadgil.

PRC-Saltillo’s Australian subsidiary is Liberator Pty Ltd, which has its head office in Sydney Olympic Park.

ABOUT PRC-SALTILLO: Founded in 1966, PRC-Saltillo is a pioneer and global leader in providing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to individuals with complex communication disorders. PRC-Saltillo offers a full range of speech-generating devices, industry-favorite AAC apps, and research-based vocabulary systems along with unmatched support and training. PRC-Saltillo is a 100% employee-owned company and headquartered in Wooster, Ohio with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, Singapore, and India.

prc-saltillo.com

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/prc_saltillo_logo.jpg 

Crayola Creativity Week Jan. 26 – Feb.1 set to engage millions of students, educators and parents around the world in the transformative power of creativity

EASTON, Pa., Jan. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Crayola announced today its inaugural group of Creativity Week Global Ambassadors, 31 schools from around the world selected to showcase how creativity fuels learning and builds positive school culture. The schools were chosen from more than 1,200 applicants in 11 countries and regions, including the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Italy, Ireland, United Kingdom, Mexico, Hong Kong SAR, Philippines, and Malaysia.

The brand synonymous with color, self-expression, and creativity introduced the Global Ambassador Program to mark the fifth year of Crayola Creativity Week taking place Jan. 26 through Feb. 1. The schools will represent more than 127,000 schools from over 70% of the world’s countries that have already signed up to participate in the free, virtual event that provides educators and parents with resources to nurture children’s creativity and gives children the tools to bring their ideas to life.

Crayola developed the school ambassador program to amplify the voices of educators and schools that prioritize creativity as an essential part of student development. These schools will share their unique Creativity Week experiences, offering practical tips and inspiration for integrating creative experiences into learning. Crayola will also collaborate closely with ambassador schools to gather insights that help improve future resources and understand the impact creativity is making on classrooms, families, and students.

“Creativity is an essential skill for childhood development and lifelong success,” said Cheri Sterman, senior director of education, Crayola. “Our Global Ambassadors exemplify how schools can make creativity a cornerstone of teaching and learning across all subject areas. We’re thrilled to celebrate their leadership during Creativity Week and beyond.” 

One ambassador representative noted, “Creativity helps our students think deeply, express themselves, and find joy in their learning. Crayola Creativity Week is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate imagination and show how creative thinking can brighten every part of our school.”

During the last week in January, classrooms, libraries and homes in more than 140 countries will come alive with daily themed, standards-aligned activities that integrate hands-on experiences with literacy, STEAM, and social-emotional learning. Crayola Creativity Week participants will have free access to inspiring and interactive content delivered by world-renowned creative talent, as well as resources available in eight languages and daily prizes. The program concludes with a livestreamed school assembly that allows children and educators around the world to connect and celebrate creativity together. Educators and parents can register now for Creativity Week at Crayola.com/CreativityWeek.

Crayola Creativity Week is a signature activation of Campaign for Creativity, Crayola’s global advocacy initiative focused on elevating creativity as a critical skill for childhood development and lifelong success.

Global Ambassador Schools

• Australia: Gunnedah High School (Gunnedah, New South Wales); St Kieran’s Catholic School, (Pioneer, Queensland)
• Canada: Emily Carr Public School (Oakville, Ontario); Wapanohk Community School (Thompson, Manitoba)
• Hong Kong SAR: Alliance Primary School Whampoa (Hung Hom, Kowloon); Joyful World International Nursery and Kindergarten (Tsuen Wan): and TWGHs Tsoi Wing Sing Primary School (Sha Tin)
• Ireland: Rathdown Junior School (Glenageary, Dublin)
• Italy: Gioacchino Gesmundo (Rome); Istituto Comprensivo Basile De Filippo (Campania)
• Malaysia: Dwi Emas International School (Selangor)
• Mexico: Instituto Acatitlán (Tlalnepantla)
• New Zealand: Pigeon Mountain Primary School (Auckland)
• Philippines: Valenzuela National High School (Valenzuela City)
• United Kingdom: Ceres Primary School (Ceres, Scotland); Llwyncrwn Primary School (Beddau, Wales)
• United States: Alton Darby Elementary School (Hilliard, Ohio); Cane Bay Elementary School (Summerville, S.C.); DeWitt Clinton Elementary School (Chicago, Ill.); Frank R. Conwell Middle School #4 (Jersey City, N.J.); George J. Ryan Middle School 216Q (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.); Sylvio Gilbert School (Augusta, Maine); Glenwood Elementary School (Kentwood, Mich.); Haleyville Elementary School (Haleyville, Ala.); John Tyson Elementary School of Innovation (Springdale, Ark.); Meadowview Elementary School (Bossier City, La.); Midway Middle School (Hewitt, Texas); Paso Verde School (Sacramento, Calif.); Peachcrest Elementary School (Decatur, Ga.); Pinewood Elementary School (Monticello, Minn.); and Tazewell Primary/Intermediate School (Tazewell, Va.)

Crayola Creativity Week 2026 is made possible by official sponsors Horace Mann and MFS Investment Management and the support of many other creative partners from around the globe.

Media Contact:
Constance Walker
cwalker@crayola.com

Acquisition will bolster Remote’s HR and payroll platform with integrated financial tools to streamline operations for modern workforces

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Remote, the leading global employment operating system, has completed the acquisition of Atlas, the expense management solution for global teams. The acquisition provides the foundation for a new category of products from Remote to enable customers to offer more holistic and modern employee experiences to their teams.

With companies of all sizes now hiring far beyond their HQ cities, managing the day-to-day financial operations of a distributed team remains a fragmented process. Led by co-founders Karen Serfaty and Gianina Rossi, Atlas solves this by offering a unified, AI-native platform for global teams including:

• The Atlas Card: The first global employee card designed specifically for remote teams, allowing companies to manage expenses and stipends for employees worldwide with customized rules and global support.
• Flexible Points System: Allowing companies to allocate budgets without processing reimbursements, while letting employees select their own perks, such as wellness, transit, or entertainment.
• Integrated Global Healthcare: The ability to offer and manage local health insurance across multiple key markets, including the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina, from a single dashboard.

“The complexity of cross-border financial management is one of the last great barriers to truly efficient global operations,” said Job van der Voort, co-founder and CEO of Remote. “From the first time I met the Atlas team, I was impressed by the elegance and depth of the solutions they’ve built to this problem. By building Atlas into Remote, we can more effectively solve those daily headaches for our customers and make life better for their teams. I’m thrilled to welcome such a talented group of builders who share our obsession with making global employment feel truly local.”

“We started Atlas because we believe that everyone, regardless of where they are located, should have access to the best working conditions. Part of solving this problem means providing global employees with access to financial solutions like a personal employee card and benefits such as healthcare,” said Karen Serfaty, co-founder and CEO of Atlas. “We are big fans of the work that Job, Marcelo, and the Remote team have done to advance the vision of a global workforce. We are joining Remote because we believe that we can get further together. We are very excited for the future of global employment and for all things to come for teams choosing Remote in 2026.”

To sign up or learn more about Remote, visit remote.com. And, to learn more about Atlas as the newest tool in Remote’s toolbox, visit https://www.heyatlas.com/.

About Remote: Talent is everywhere, opportunity should be too. Remote’s mission is to create opportunity everywhere by making it simple for companies to find, hire, manage, and pay teams anywhere. Founded in 2019 by Job van der Voort and Marcelo Lebre, Remote combines deep local expertise with a unified platform built for compliance, security, and ease of use. Remote is backed by leading investors including SoftBank, Accel, Sequoia, Index Ventures, Two Sigma Ventures, General Catalyst, and B Capital.

About Atlas: After payroll, the biggest challenge for distributed companies is managing employee expenses across borders. Atlas’s mission is to empower distributed companies with seamless multi-currency expense management and corporate card solutions that work across markets. Atlas combines deep local expertise globally with a unified platform built for compliance, flexibility, and financial clarity. Atlas offers Visa-powered corporate cards, integrated benefits marketplaces, multi-country health insurance, and automated tax filing tools. Backed by investors including Hi Ventures, Daniel Gross, Jason Calacanis, Claire Hughes Johnson, Lauran Behrens, Oskar Hjertonsson, 2048 Ventures, Ride Ventures, First Row Partners, Michael Manne, Ben Tossel.