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AppliedHE Launches First-Ever Asia Ranking to Recognise Both Public and Private Universities – with Student Voices at the Core

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AppliedHE today announced the results of the inaugural AppliedHE Public & Private University Rankings: ALL ASIA, the first Asia-wide university ranking that separately recognises both public and private universities while placing student feedback and employability outcomes at the heart of its methodology.

Photo: The AppliedHE Xchange 2025 was hosted at Sunway University, bring together higher education leaders, policymakers, and industry partners from across Asia and beyond.
Photo: The AppliedHE Xchange 2025 was hosted at Sunway University, bring together higher education leaders, policymakers, and industry partners from across Asia and beyond.

The launch of the AppliedHE ALL ASIA Rankings took place during the AppliedHE Xchange, hosted at Sunway University, which is an annual conference that brings together higher education leaders, policymakers, and industry partners from across Asia and beyond.

This new ranking responds to the growing demand for a more meaningful and student-centric approach to evaluating higher education quality in Asia. By distinguishing between public and private universities and foregrounding real-world outcomes, the rankings offer a more nuanced and equitable view of institutional performance across a diverse and rapidly evolving higher education landscape.

A total of 493 Asian universities from 41 countries were successfully ranked in this year’s edition. Institutions were evaluated using a rigorous and balanced methodology across six dimensions: Community Engagement, Employability, Student Satisfaction, Research Excellence, Internationalisation and Peer Recognition. These indicators collectively ensure the AppliedHE ALL ASIA ranking reflects not only academic strength, but also the broader student experience and societal value contributed by both public and private universities across the region.

Countries with the highest representation in this year’s ranking: Indonesia leads with 73 ranked universities, followed by the Philippines with 60 institutions and Malaysia with 44. India is represented by 29 universities, while South Korea has 28 institutions making into the list. Importantly, all six regions of Asia feature in the rankings, underscoring that access to quality higher education is broadly distributed and that academic excellence is emerging from every corner of the continent.

In the overall results, Yonsei University secured its position as the top private university in Asia, with Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) and Korea University following closely behind. On the public university side, the University of Hong Kong achieved the highest ranking, ahead of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Mainland China’s Peking University. Sunway University continues to be the top-ranking private university in Southeast Asia, ranking 6th in Asia, while National University of Singapore ranked as top public university in the region.

These outcomes reflect a dynamic and competitive higher education landscape in Asia, one in which both public and private institutions are demonstrating strong performance, regional leadership, and global relevance.

Top 10: ALL ASIA Private Universities

  1. Yonsei UniversitySouth Korea
  2. Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) – South Korea
  3. Korea University – South Korea
  4. Hanyang UniversitySouth Korea
  5. Waseda UniversityJapan
  6. Sunway University – Malaysia
  7. Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) – South Korea
  8. American University of Sharjah – United Arab Emirates
  9. UCSI University – Malaysia
  10. Kyung Hee University – South Korea

Top 10: ALL ASIA Public Universities

  1. The University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong SAR
  2. National University of Singapore (NUS) – Singapore
  3. Peking University – Mainland China
  4. Nanyang Technological University (NTU) – Singapore
  5. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) – Saudi Arabia
  6. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) – Hong Kong SAR
  7. Tsinghua University – Mainland China
  8. City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) – Hong Kong SAR
  9. Qatar University – Qatar
  10. Fudan University – Mainland China

An Asia-Rooted, Student- and Employability-Focused Alternative

AppliedHE was founded in 2020 by Ms Mandy Mok, a veteran in international university rankings and university improvement strategies, recognised for her expertise in global branding and marketing for higher education. Based in Singapore, AppliedHE has a clear mission to serve students, families, employers, and society with what matters most to them – employability, quality teaching and learning, and real-world engagement.

“AppliedHE was started because we saw an important gap – university rankings often don’t reflect what really matters to students and the communities they live in,” said Mandy Mok, Founder & CEO of AppliedHE. “With ALL ASIA, we’re creating an Asia-rooted, globally trusted ranking that listens to students, focuses on employability and real-life outcomes – not just reputation – and, importantly, separates public and private universities so that comparisons are fairer and more meaningful.”

Professor Sibrandes Poppema, President and Vice Chancellor of Sunway University, shared, “The AppliedHE ALL ASIA ranking highlights the depth and diversity of excellence across Asian universities. For Sunway University, being recognised among the region’s leading institutions affirms our purpose as a mission-driven 5th generation university, committed to empowering impactful research, building meaningful partnerships, and developing talent for the world. Hosting the AppliedHE Xchange reflects our shared commitment and underscores the importance of institutions coming together to advance a better tomorrow for future generations.”

Public and Private: Recognising Asia’s Full Higher Education Ecosystem

Unlike most international rankings, which either focus overwhelmingly on public universities or combine both sectors into a single list, the AppliedHE Public & Private University Rankings: ALL ASIA 2026 deliberately separates public and private universities into two parallel rankings.

This approach:

  • Recognises the distinct missions and funding models of public and private institutions
  • Provides fairer benchmarking within each category
  • Highlights the critical role of private universities in expanding access, innovation, and industry-linked programmes across Asia

Asia’s higher education landscape is powered by both sectors,” said Professor Kevin Downing, Chair of the AppliedHE Ranking Committee. “Public universities often carry national mandates, while private universities are agile pioneers in education innovation, employability, internationalisation, and industry partnerships. ALL ASIA is designed to honour both – side by side, on their own terms.”

The Only Asian Ranking Built on Student Voices

A key differentiator of ALL ASIA is the systematic inclusion of student and alumni voices through structured surveys on:

  • Teaching & learning experience
  • Support services and campus life
  • Career guidance and employability support
  • Online and blended learning quality

These student-based indicators are integrated into the overall score, ensuring that lived experiences of learners are reflected in how universities are recognised.

Carota Launches MaaS Smart Mobility Service, Building the Future Landscape with Three Core Product Lines

TAIPEI, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the rapid transformation of global mobility services, Carota officially announced its new MaaS (Mobility as a Service) smart mobility service. Through cross-industry data integration, the new service enables enterprises to build smarter and more sustainable mobility operation models.


Our commitment is to provide safe, stable, reliable, and scalable OTA upgrades, device management, and fleet management solutions to global industry players such as automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, chip manufacturers, IoT and connected car terminal equipment providers, fleets, and owners.

Carota CEO Paul Wu stated, “With the new MaaS service, the automotive industry can achieve remote maintenance and software updates; insurers can design customized policies through behavioral risk analysis; logistics and transportation operators can optimize fleet scheduling and energy usage; and consumers can enjoy a smarter, safer, and more personalized mobility experience. Our ultimate goal is to build a data-driven, cross-industry MaaS ecosystem that complies with regulatory and privacy standards while promoting digital transformation and sustainable mobility development.”

The new MaaS service was co-led by CEO Paul Wu (left) and COO Kevin Chen (right).
The new MaaS service was co-led by CEO Paul Wu (left) and COO Kevin Chen (right).

The key value of MaaS lies in multi-source data integration. By combining driver behavior data, insurance claim statistics, in-vehicle AI detection hardware, and fleet management systems (FMS/TMS), Carota enables precise risk analysis and predictive modeling. This helps fleets achieve tangible benefits in accident prevention, cost reduction, and operational efficiency, while increasing the adoption of intelligent management devices. The solution also extends to passenger cars, commercial vehicles, construction vehicles, and two/three-wheelers, enabling more efficient, energy-saving, and cost-controlled mobility operations through continuous data feedback.

The foundation of Carota’s MaaS service is built upon its two long-standing product lines — OTA Smart Update and AI Fleet Management. Carota’s OTA technology supports multi-ECU software updates, remote diagnostics, and software subscription services. With its differential compression algorithm, data transmission efficiency is greatly improved while ensuring compliance with international standards such as UNECE R156. Its bi-directional data loop also feeds diagnostic and vehicle status (digital twin) data back to the cloud, enhancing MaaS’s big data analytics and operational intelligence.

Meanwhile, the AI Fleet Management System integrates transportation, fleet, and driver management modules, supporting real-time data feedback from devices such as ADAS, driver management systems, and dashcams. This allows enterprises to gain full visibility into fleet operations, reduce accidents, and improve overall efficiency. When combined with MaaS, these capabilities form Carota’s core competitive edge in the mobility technology domain.

Carota emphasizes that the true value of MaaS lies in transforming data into insight, and insight into business growth, fostering a new era of cross-industry smart mobility collaboration. To support rapid business expansion and team growth, Carota will relocate to its new headquarters by the end of 2025, continuing to work hand in hand with partners toward a safer, more efficient, and sustainable mobility ecosystem.

Learn more about Carota: https://www.carota.ai

Pudu Robotics Unveils PUDU D5 Series: Industry-Grade Autonomous Quadruped Robots Designed for Complex, Real-World Operations

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in service robotics, today announced the launch of the PUDU D5 Series, a new generation of Industry-grade Autonomous Quadruped Robots engineered for complex, unstructured, and large-scale outdoor environments. The series includes two configurations: the PUDU D5, a legged version built for maximum terrain adaptability, and the PUDU D5-W, a wheeled version designed for optimized performance on mixed surfaces.

PUDU D5 Series: Industry-grade Autonomous Quadruped Robot
PUDU D5 Series: Industry-grade Autonomous Quadruped Robot

Addressing the Automation Gap in Challenging Environments

While service robots are well-adopted in restaurants, hotels, and other structured commercial environments, many outdoor and industrial spaces remain difficult to automate. Uneven terrain, slopes, staircases, multi-level layouts, and weather exposure continue to limit deployment in critical tasks such as inspection, patrol, logistics support, and emergency response. The D5 Series was developed to close these gaps—delivering advanced autonomy, rugged mobility, precise perception, and high environmental resilience to enable robots to operate where traditional systems cannot.

“The PUDU D5 series represents a significant leap forward in our vision for robotics. The D5 successfully brings advanced autonomy, rugged mobility, and intelligent interaction into the complex outdoor and industry-grade scenarios”, said Felix Zhang, Founder and CEO at Pudu Robotics. “For Pudu, the D5 is not merely a new product, but a milestone in our mission to push robots deeper into more applications. We are building a collaborative ecosystem of ‘specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots’ that, by complementing each other’s capabilities, can comprehensively meet the diverse needs of our users.”

Key Features of the PUDU D5 Series

  • Automotive-Grade Computing for True Autonomy
    Powered by a dual-processor architecture featuring NVIDIA Orin and RK3588 for up to 275 TOPS, D5 executes real-time SLAM, 3D reconstruction, object recognition, obstacle avoidance, and path planning simultaneously—supporting continuous, unsupervised operation even in dynamic environments.
  • High-Precision 360° Perception
    Four 120° fisheye cameras combined with dual 192-line LiDAR sensors provide comprehensive environmental awareness, generating dense 3D point clouds for precise localization and dynamic navigation. Remote visualization tools allow operators to oversee missions when needed.
  • Million-Square-Meter Navigation Capability
    Capable of mapping and navigating facilities up to one million square meters, the D5 handles complete autonomous workflows including departure, patrol, obstacle handling, and return-to-charge. Single-charge range extends to 14 kilometers, making it suitable for airports, metro systems, and industrial campuses.
  • 30kg Payload with Stable Performance
    High-strength aluminum construction and closed-loop torque control enable stable 30-kilogram payloads with over two hours of continuous runtime at full load, accommodating diverse inspection devices, materials, and mission-specific modules.
  • All-Terrain Mobility for Complex Environments
    Advanced wheel-leg hybrid locomotion reaches 5 m/s on flat surfaces, while maintaining the ability to climb 30° slopes and continuously step over 25cm stairs. IMU-driven stabilization and bionic control algorithms ensure smooth and sustained operation across floors and challenging terrain.
  • All-Weather Durability and Extreme Resilience
    Designed for real-world exposure, the D5 supports cold-start at -10°C, operates from -20°C to 55°C, and achieves IP67 ingress protection for dependable performance in rain, snow, dust, and fluctuating climate conditions.
  • Intelligent Following and Predictive Avoidance
    With fusion of vision and depth sensing plus proprietary dynamic-obstacle-prediction algorithms, the D5 achieves natural, reliable autonomous following. It maintains safe, stable spacing even in narrow or crowded environments — ideal for inspection, logistics, and escort-type tasks.
  • Natural Interaction with Gesture and Voice Control
    The D5 supports 10+ intuitive hand gestures (start, stop, recall, follow, etc.) and features a 6-mic array with AI noise reduction for highly robust voice recognition in noisy environments. This enables more human-friendly collaboration and seamless on-site operation.

Expanding Pudu Robotics’ Embodied-Intelligence Ecosystem

The PUDU D5 Series extends Pudu Robotics’ embodied-intelligence portfolio beyond specialized service robots into complex industrial and outdoor environments. By complementing its existing specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, the D5 enables customers to deploy robot fleets across diverse scenarios—from industrial inspection and transportation infrastructure to outdoor security and research applications—creating a scalable ecosystem that addresses real-world operational challenges previously beyond the reach of autonomous systems.

About PUDU

Pudu Robotics, a global leader in the service robotics sector, is dedicated to enhancing human productivity and living standards through innovative robot technology.

With a focus on R&D, manufacturing, and sales of service robots, Pudu Robotics emphasizes three core technologies: mobility, manipulation, and artificial intelligence. Pudu Robotics has taken the lead in establishing a comprehensive range of specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robotic products in the industry. Currently, PUDU offers four product lines: service delivery robots, commercial cleaning robots, industrial delivery robots and embodied intelligent robots, which are deployed across ten major industries, including food and beverage, retail, hospitality, healthcare, entertainment and sports, industrial facilities, education, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has successfully shipped over 100,000 units to a variety of markets, with a presence in more than 1,000 cities across 80+ countries and regions worldwide. For more information on business developments and updates, follow PUDU on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.

Agoda CEO: “The travel landscape is transforming at an unprecedented pace – and Asia is at the forefront of emerging trends”

Agoda releases 2026 Travel Outlook Report based on Asian traveler survey

SINGAPORE, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ —Digital travel platform Agoda has released its 2026 Travel Outlook Report, offering a comprehensive analysis of the travel industry’s evolving landscape in Asia. The report highlights key trends and insights that are set to influence travel in the coming year, emphasizing the further removal of friction in tourism and the transformative role of technology in enhancing travel experiences.

Agoda 2026 Travel Outlook - Agoda CEO: “The travel landscape is transforming at an unprecedented pace – and Asia is at the forefront of emerging trends”
Agoda 2026 Travel Outlook – Agoda CEO: “The travel landscape is transforming at an unprecedented pace – and Asia is at the forefront of emerging trends”

Omri Morgenshtern, Chief Executive Officer, Agoda, shared, “The travel landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and Asia is at the forefront of emerging trends. Our research finds that this is fueled by emerging markets, new destinations, tech innovations, streamlined visa processes, expanded flight routes, improved tourism infrastructure, and more. With so many moving parts, 2026 feels like the beginning of a new era in travel.”

Based on survey and industry insights, the report identifies key insights poised to shape the travel industry in 2026. Efforts to reduce friction in travel are evident across Asia, in air travel infrastructure, visa policies, and digital finance, paving the way for increased intra-regional and international tourism. Airlines in Asia Pacific are scheduled to take delivery of an estimated 615 new aircraft in 2026. Additionally, AI innovation is driving the convergence of travel services, with travelers increasingly expecting the technology to provide travel inspiration and enhance the booking process.

Respondents in Agoda’s survey stated that price remains a crucial factor for travelers when selecting accommodation, with savvy consumers seeking great deals that enable them to enjoy more experiences and visit more destinations. Secondary destinations continue to gain popularity as travelers look for authentic and immersive cultural experiences. Experiential travel, including concerts and food trips, is becoming mainstream, with travelers prioritizing memorable experiences over simply visiting destinations.

According to the report, embracing technological advancements and remaining agile in the face of change will be crucial as the travel industry looks ahead to 2026. By understanding and anticipating the evolving needs of travelers, industry stakeholders can unlock new avenues for growth and deliver exceptional experiences.

With over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes, and over 300,000 activities available, Agoda offers travel options for any type of traveler. For more information, visit Agoda’s website and discover the best deals on the Agoda mobile app. The 2026 Travel Outlook Report by Agoda can be downloaded via https://ago-da.co/2026-report.

 

Techman Robot Unveils High-Speed AI Inspection Solution at iREX 2025, Driving a “Zero Downtime” Quality Revolution

TOKYO, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Techman Robot, a global leader in smart robotics, has announced a significant leap in manufacturing efficiency at the International Robot Exhibition (iREX) 2025 held at Tokyo Big Sight. Under the theme “AI Instant Decision, Seamless Productivity Upgrade,” the company unveiled its High-Speed AI Flying Trigger Inspection and breakthrough “Auto AI Training” technology, signaling a new era of zero-downtime, high-efficiency production.

Techman Robot launches its High-Speed AI Inspection Solution at iREX 2025, delivering up to 50% efficiency gains.
Techman Robot launches its High-Speed AI Inspection Solution at iREX 2025, delivering up to 50% efficiency gains.

Pioneering “AI Flying Trigger” Inspection: Zero Downtime, Maximum Efficiency 
The centerpiece of the exhibition, the High-Speed AI Flying Trigger Inspection system, underscores Techman Robot’s leadership in collaborative robotics. By leveraging the NVIDIA Omniverse platform, the system allows for the precise simulation and optimization of high-speed robot motion control and AI visual algorithms prior to physical deployment, ensuring both real-time responsiveness and exceptional precision.

The system seamlessly integrates high-speed motion with advanced AI vision to perform zero-latency defect detection and quality control while workpieces are in motion. This innovation disrupts traditional inspection methods that require production lines to pause for sampling. According to Techman Robot, clients adopting this system can reduce inspection times by an average of 40% to 50%, significantly optimizing cycle times and overall production efficiency.

Ideally suited for high-standard applications such as automotive seat components and server assembly, the solution eliminates human error and reduces labor costs. It is designed to meet the rigorous “zero defect” standards of the Japanese automotive and precision manufacturing industries.

Democratizing AI: Auto AI Training Reduces Setup by 90% 
Addressing the industry-wide challenge of complex and time-consuming AI adoption, Techman Robot introduced its revolutionary “Auto AI Training” technology. This solution reduces the time required to implement AI visual inspection by up to 90%.

The technology empowers frontline production staff to label, train, and optimize AI vision models in real-time, drastically reducing reliance on specialized AI engineers and accelerating production line adjustments.

Showcased alongside this technology was a printer inspection demonstration, which integrates cobots, grippers, and AI vision to perform rapid, high-precision quality checks on intricate electronic assemblies.

“Instant Cobot Ready”: A One-Stop Deployment Solution To meet the urgent demand for “rapid deployment and rapid ROI,” Techman Robot also launched its “Instant Cobot Ready” automation suite.

A highlight of this suite is the Instant Palletizer, which supports payloads of up to 35kg. Designed for continuous, uninterrupted stacking operations, it provides logistics and packaging sectors with a “plug-and-play” solution that maximizes investment efficiency and accelerates automation transformation.

Executive Commentary
“iREX is th
e premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge robotics technology,” said Dr. Scott Huang, COO of Techman Robot. “Techman Robot is not merely a manufacturer of collaborative robots; we are a leader in AI-driven automation solutions. Through close collaboration with global partners like NVIDIA, we are committed to providing AI collaborative applications that are easier to adopt and deliver faster results, leading the manufacturing industry into the next wave of smart upgrades.”

X-Design Launched AI Agent: The Always-On Partner That Saves Small Business 70% of Branding time

SYDNEY, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — For small business owners, building a beautiful, consistent brand feels out of reach. Creating a logo in one app, designing a menu in another, and making social posts in a third often leads to scattered visuals that fail to represent the business. Today, X-Design officially launches its new AI Agent, an intelligent branding partner designed to help small businesses create consistent and professional brand identities without the complexity of traditional design tools.

Trained on the real-world needs of more than 500 beta users in retail, food & beverage, wellness, and services, the AI Agent cuts design time by up to 70% and turns the entire branding process into a simple conversation.

“You don’t need another design tool. You need a partner who remembers your brand so you don’t have to,” said Vicky, the founder of Meraki Coffee. “It captures your unique style from day one and ensures every flyer, menu, and product photo tells the same, compelling story.”

Key Benefits and Product Highlights
1. Build Your Brand in 10 Minutes
Start with a simple chat. The AI Agent guides you to create an original logo, a curated color palette, matching fonts and ready-to-apply storefront and packaging mockups. In testing, 92% of users finalized their logo within 10 minutes, receiving a complete, production-ready brand kit.
2. Your Always-On Brand Manager: 
The AI doesn’t forget your brand. It saves the business’s logo, colors, typography, and graphic style in the Brand Kit for instant reuse. When you ask for a “winter sale poster,” it automatically applies your colors, fonts, and style, ensuring instant consistency. Beta users reported a 35% increase in visual coherence across all touchpoints.
3. Real-World Ready, Right Now:
Forget templates. Get designs built for your industry: stunning restaurant menus, eye-catching retail posters, and clean product flyers—all optimized for real-world print and digital use. Just say, “Create a holiday menu for my café.”
4. AI Product Photography: Turn Phone Shots Into Professional ImagesFor sellers who rely on Instagram, Google Maps, or online storefronts, X-Design enhances product photos by one prompt just like “turn this photo into a studio quality photo”,and the Agent will:
1) Generating realistic environments based on the brand style
2) Optimizing lighting and composition
3) Preparing platform-ready crops in ratios such as 1:1, 4:5, and 9:16

Beta results show a 41% increase in user engagement on product posts using X-Design -generated images.

Pricing and Availability
X-Design is now available worldwide at https://x-design.com/

Pricing plans: 
1) Free: Basic features with limited usage credits.
2) Pro: Full access to AI tools, enhanced output quality, and expanded usage credits. Monthly pricing depends on region (see website for details, e.g. annually billed users pay US $49.99 per year).
3) Enterprise: Custom plan for businesses requiring higher volume, private models, or API integration. Pricing available on request.

About X-Design
X-Design empowers the heart of the economy: small businesses. Designed to make branding effortless, our AI-powered platform enables local shops, cafés, studios, and independent sellers to create and apply professional, consistent visual identities across every touchpoint—no design skills required.
For partnerships and press inquiries:
Press Contact: info@x-design.com
Website: https://www.x-design.com

DEKRA reflects on its anniversary year: A stable foundation today, a clear direction for tomorrow

STUTTGART, Germany, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As DEKRA concludes the year marking its 100th anniversary, the organization looks back on a period of particular significance – characterized by stability, clear priorities, and strong resilience. Despite a persistently challenging environment, shaped by elevated volatility, geopolitical uncertainties and weak economic conditions in several European markets, for the full year 2025, DEKRA expects mid-single digit revenue growth and overall stable results at the level of the previous year. In the first ten months of the year, revenue growth in the core TIC business stood at around 4 percent.


“2025 was a very special year for DEKRA – we honored our 100th anniversary. Only few companies reach such a milestone, and we are incredibly proud of this achievement,” says Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of DEKRA. “At the same time, this year confronted us with economic and geopolitical challenges. But our strong foundation stands. We stayed on course, focused on what matters, and delivered reliably. For this, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire DEKRA team.”


While individual markets faced economic headwinds, DEKRA’s global TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) business remained robust. The vehicle inspection business maintained its international strength and, with more than 32 million inspections carried out worldwide each year, stands as a symbol of trust and reliability in everyday life – consolidating DEKRA’s position as the global number one in vehicle inspection. Demand also developed positively in the areas of sustainability and digital security, supported by continuous expansion of the service portfolio and strong customer partnerships.

Investments as a key component of future safety

Despite challenging economic framework conditions, ongoing investments in modern testing and certification facilities remain a crucial pillar of the company’s long-term future security. Between 2022 and 2024, DEKRA invested annually around EUR 140 million – and around EUR 150 million in 2025 – in future-oriented measures, ranging from modern infrastructure to advanced systems and the further development of testing and inspection capacities. One focus was the expansion of DEKRA Lausitzring, which today ranks among the leading test environments for automated and connected driving. There, in the anniversary year, DEKRA opened its new Battery Test Center, bringing together all relevant types of battery testing under one roof for the first time. In addition, over the past years, new 5G and WiFi testing facilities were established in Asia and Europe, and the photovoltaic laboratory was expanded.

In the coming years, DEKRA will continue to invest around EUR 150 million annually in targeted and future-oriented areas. “All our investments follow a clear guiding principle: we focus on impact, not scope. We invest where we can reinforce DEKRA’s long-term strength and secure our future,” explains DEKRA CFO Wolfgang Linsenmaier.

A strong team makes the difference

These investments form the foundation for further growth in strategic key areas – and such growth requires qualified and committed people. In DEKRA’s original home market, Germany, around 560 new employees were hired in 2025. Currently, more than 750 positions are open, particularly in technical and inspection-related roles, reflecting DEKRA’s ambition to continue expanding in its core geography where it already is the largest player. The increase in new vehicle inspection engineers, international cooperation across more than 60 countries, and the strong team spirit lived throughout the organization demonstrate that commitment and collective strength remain among the company’s most important success factors. “Our employees are the foundation of our success, and we keep growing,” emphasizes Wolfgang Linsenmaier. “This anniversary year has shown once again how competently, pragmatically, and responsibly our teams act across the globe.”

Commitment to climate protection

DEKRA also sets important priorities in the areas of social responsibility and sustainability. Through the newly initiated DEKRA Climate Impact program, the organization is working together with UNICEF, WWF, and NABU. Through the partnership with UNICEF, more than 860,000 children and their families in areas of the world most impacted by climate change will gain access to clean water in the coming years. “Our anniversary motto ‘Securing the Future’ does not only mean making technologies safe,” stresses CEO Stan Zurkiewicz. “Safety is a societal value that concerns us all. As a company, we aim to make positive impact on the world around us that goes beyond our daily business – to take responsibility for people today and for the generations of tomorrow.”

Looking ahead with confidence

Looking ahead to the coming year, DEKRA considers itself solidly positioned. Business planning forecasts mid-single digit revenue growth for the full year 2025. In 2026, as part of the Strategy 2030+, targeted growth impulses will play a key role across the strategic business fields of Mobility, Digital Trust, and Sustainability. In the Mobility segment, DEKRA is further expanding its services for electric and automated vehicles. With its Digital Trust Services, the company is integrating testing procedures for functional safety, cybersecurity, and AI validation into a unique value proposition. The Sustainability business field continues to grow in line with the energy transition – ranging from wind and solar power to hydrogen and battery systems. These strategic priorities are supported by the strengthening of workforce capabilities, new international partnerships, and the modernization of infrastructure.

“2025 was a year in which DEKRA, once again, demonstrated its resilience and strength,” summarizes Stan Zurkiewicz. “We have laid the foundation for setting the right impulses in the coming years. We can only contribute to a safe future for business and society if we shape our own future in a reliable way. Our anniversary was an opportunity to honor our 100-year success story and at the same time a starting point for the next century of success and impact: We are securing the future – consciously, responsibly, and with a strong team.”

About DEKRA

For 100 years, DEKRA has been a trusted name in safety. Founded in 1925 with the original goal of improving road safety through vehicle inspections, DEKRA has grown to become the world’s largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Today, as a global partner, the company supports its customers with comprehensive services and solutions to drive safety and sustainability forward—fully aligned with DEKRA’s anniversary motto, “Securing the Future.” In 2024, DEKRA generated revenue of 4.3 billion euros. Around 48,000 employees are providing qualified and independent expert services in approximately 60 countries across five continents. DEKRA holds a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 1% of the world’s most sustainable companies.

vHive Launches Real-Time Solution to Validate As-Built Installations for MNOs

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — vHive, a global leader in infrastructure digitization, announces the launch of On-Site Validation, the first real-time field verification solution that ensures antenna installations match modification plans before the updated configuration goes live. Built to address one of the most costly problems in modern network rollouts, On-Site Validation realigns the delivery chain: It gives MNOs and contractors certainty that every installation is accurate in real time, while contractors confirm antenna installations against plans before leaving the site, reducing revisits that slow deployments and degrade performance.

The rapid pace of upgrades has outgrown the industry’s ability to verify the accuracy of installations, creating a gap between what’s designed and what is built. Plans shift, on-site conditions change, and crews install equipment using information that’s often outdated. With 5G and Fixed Wireless Access heightening the need for precision, this longstanding gap has become a major contributor to rollout delays and performance issues.

vHive’s On-Site Validation closes that gap at the moment of installation. The solution is an autonomous, real-time survey, taking only a few minutes, and performed by the contractor immediately after completing installation. Using vHive’s patent-pending Augmented Reality technology, contractors can interactively validate alignment between As-Built and As-Planned, detect deviations, and correct issues on the spot. After the contractor verifies all changes are “green lighted” they can leave the site knowing that they will not be required to return for associated rework.

“Installation accuracy has become mission-critical. For the first time, MNOs have a reliable way to ensure that what’s engineered is exactly what gets built, without waiting weeks to discover mistakes.

With Telecom infrastructure under unprecedented pressure to deliver faster rollouts and higher performance, On-Site Validation gives operators the assurance they’ve been missing: true As-Built certainty, delivered in real time and at scale.”

Tomer Daniel, CTO, vHive

About vHive

vHive is a global leader in end-to-end digitization solutions, empowering organizations to unlock the full potential of their infrastructure assets through data-driven decision-making. The vHive platform leverages advanced data capture technologies to digitize assets and deliver actionable insights based on AI analytics. Focused on uncovering new revenue opportunities, optimizing operational efficiency, and enhancing safety, vHive helps organizations transform their operations. Founded in 2016, vHive operates across 5 continents and over 40 countries, serving industries such as Telecom, Renewable Energy, and more.

Media Contact:

Naomi Stol Zamir
Marketing Director, vHive
Email: naomi@vhive.ai
Website: www.vHive.ai