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HKSTP’s Biggest Ever Elevator Pitch Competition 2024 Hits Four World Cities to Bring Global Innovators to Hong Kong and Springboard to Mainland China and Asia Success

Startups battle for up to US$5 million in venture funding, US$240,000 in cash prizes, plus unrivalled partnership and funding opportunities

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 October 2023 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) is kicking off its eighth and biggest ever global Elevator Pitch Competition 2024 (EPiC 2024), by inviting leading tech startups around the world to join the four-city global contest and will have the excellent opportunity for up to US$5 million investment from HKSTP Corporate Venture Fund (“CVF”). Hong Kong’s leading startup pitch competition also offers a total of US$240,000 in cash prizes, unrivalled business matching and funding opportunities, plus the ideal springboard to huge market opportunities in Mainland China, across Asia and beyond.

HKSTP EPiC 2024.jpg

HKSTP is partnering again with world-leading accelerator Plug and Play to help take EPiC on this major global expansion. From January to March 2024, four regional EPiC semi-finals will be hosted in Silicon Valley, Stuttgart, Singapore and Hong Kong, culminating with the grand finale in Hong Kong in April 2024. Mid-to-late-stage tech ventures from around the world are invited to compete in the regional contests to join the list of 72 semi-finalists. The selected semi-finalists will come to Hong Kong to make their live 60-second pitch in front of judges while riding up the elevator at the iconic sky100 venue atop Hong Kong’s tallest building, International Commerce Centre. All applicants of EPiC 2024 will have an opportunity to seek investment from CVF up to US$5 million. External corporations also have the option to co-invest, which further raises the potential final funding opportunity.

Additionally, 72 semi-finalists will enjoy benefits from the HKSTP value-added services for six months, even after the competition. These include business matching, investment referral, exclusive membership of a city-wide and cross-industry virtual lab (STP Platform), access to co-working space as well as an extensive talent pool by reaching out to Hong Kong’s renowned universities, five of them being ranked in the world’s top 100 according to the QS World University Rankings 2024.

Organised by HKSTP, EPiC 2024 is one of the global’s most anticipated startup event and is now open for applications across three competition tracks – FinTech, PropTech and MobilityTech – from 17 October 2023 through to 31 December 2023. The finale will take place in April 2024 at the sky100 venue, International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong, recreating a genuine elevator pitch experience for all participants.

Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said: “The global growth of the EPiC pitching contest is proof of Hong Kong as a leading international I&T hub to top-tier global startups who seek critical support on their growth journey, connections with entrepreneurs, investors and corporate partners, plus access to Hong Kong’s biggest innovation and technology ecosystem. Hong Kong is the international hub of the China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) and at the heart of Asia, while the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster is ranked second in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s latest Global Innovation Index, making the city the ideal springboard to the surging investment and market potential of Mainland China, Asia and beyond.”

EPiC is HKSTP’s annual flagship startup event, taking place in Hong Kong and gathering global entrepreneurs, technologists, investors, corporate partners and ecosystem leaders to help the brightest innovators to commercialise their ideas to success in Mainland China, across Asia and beyond. The success of EPiC 2023, which attracted a record 600 plus contestants and 55 economies, made it the city’s most international pitch contest ever. The day-long event generated 150 businesses startup-corporate partnership opportunities and countless investment leads, with four of the EPiC 2023 finalist ventures currently close to becoming full-fledged companies landing at Science Park.

Who can apply to join EPiC 2024:

  1. Tech startups that are less than 10 years old as of 30 April 2023
  2. Ideas should focus on one of the THREE technology tracks: FinTech, PropTech and MobilityTech

Applications will close on 31 December 2023 at 23:59 (GMT+8).

Please visit https://epic.hkstp.org/ for more information on EPiC 2024.

List of awards and prizes

All applicants of EPiC 2024 qualify for a chance to have up to US$5 million investment by the HKSTP Corporate Venture Fund.
Award Cash Prize (for each winner)
Champion Additional US$60,000
3 Tech Winners
(FinTech /PropTech /MobilityTech)
Additional US$20,000
Top 12 Finalists US$10,000

Hashtag: #HKSTP

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

About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has for over 20 years committed to building up Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub to propel success for local and global pioneers today and tomorrow. HKSTP has established a thriving I&T ecosystem that supported over 10 unicorns and Hong Kong’s leading R&D hub with over 13,000 research professionals and over 1,400 technology companies focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies.

Established in 2001, we attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation and technology for entrepreneurs on their journey of growth. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three InnoParks are realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong. The goal is sectors like advanced manufacturing, electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined for a new generation of industry.

Through our infrastructure, services, expertise, and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish innovation and technology as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong, while reinforcing Hong Kong’s international I&T hub status as a launchpad for growth at the heart of the GBA innovation powerhouse.

More information about HKSTP is available at .

BAFS introduces ASEAN’s first high-flow EV hydrant dispenser for enhanced performance

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach – 17 October 2023 – BAFS INTECH unveiled the first-ever high-flow electric vehicle (EV) hydrant dispenser, powered entirely by electricity, in the ASEAN region at the Inter Airport Europe 2023, held in Munich, Germany, from October 10 to 13, 2023. This new hydrant dispenser model boasts a faster refueling rate and will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation sector.

ASEAN's first high-flow EV hydrant dispenser
ASEAN’s first high-flow EV hydrant dispenser


M.L.Nathasit Diskul, President of Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Public Company Limited (BAFS),
said that BAFS INTECH Company Limited, an affiliate of BAFS Group, specializes in the design, manufacture, and assembly of aviation refueling vehicles, aircraft refueling systems, and other ground vehicles operated on airport premises. In addition to serving BAFS, BAFS INTECH extends its services to international markets, including countries such as Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Cambodia. The company is currently poised for expansion into Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, with an ambitious goal of covering the entire Southeast Asia region within the next two years.

BAFS INTECH conducts its business in alignment with environmentally friendly practices and sustainable development goals. In its effort to minimize carbon emissions in the aviation areas, the company is committed to leveraging cutting-edge innovation to develop refueling vehicles that cater to customer requirements and reduce environmental impact. The recent introduction of ASEAN’s first high-flow EV hydrant dispenser is a testament to this commitment, and it marked the first instance of a refueling vehicle from Thailand being showcased on a global stage, as it was featured at the 24th Inter Airport Europe 2023 in Munich, Germany.

This fully electric refueling vehicle boasts enhanced refueling performance with an impressive flow rate of 3,400 liters per minute, a significant improvement over the low-flow model with a flow rate of 1,300 liters per minute. The standout features of the new hydrant dispenser include its compact and flexible design, low noise emissions, and an impressive range of up to 244 kilometers on a single charge (tested under WLTP standards). This substantial range allows it to refuel an average of 15 flights per full charge, rendering it an ideal choice for international airports. Furthermore, it has been manufactured in compliance with the aircraft fuel supply standards established by the Joint Inspection Group (JIG). This new vehicle is slated to begin service at Suvarnabhumi International Airport by the end of 2023.

Earlier in 2020, BAFS INTECH introduced an electric hydrant cart refueling vehicle, comprising an electric tractor and a refueling vehicle with a hydrant system operated entirely on electricity. This innovation resulted in a reduction of 6,300 liters in annual diesel consumption, equivalent to a yearly decrease of 15 tons of CO2-equivalent emissions. Building upon this success, BAFS INTECH continued its development efforts, leading to the launch of a low-flow EV hydrant dispenser in 2021. This dispenser offers a driving range of 170 kilometers and can refuel an average of 8 flights per charge, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional diesel refueling vehicles. Usage statistics reveal an 80% reduction in energy costs. The low-flow EV hydrant dispenser is currently in operation at Don Mueang International Airport.

BAFS INTECH is committed to harnessing innovation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The company also supports the Airport Carbon Accreditation program and contributes to advancing the transition to environmentally friendly “green airports” at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, as well as other airports throughout the ASEAN region. BAFS INTECH has collaborated with ITURRI, a leading refueling vehicle manufacturer from Spain, on developing the manufacturing of EV refueling vehicles. In this collaboration, BAFS INTECH will import parts for assembly in Thailand and exchange knowledge with ITURRI to adapt the products for the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, local assembly of EV hydrant dispensers in Thailand is expected to lower the cost of refueling vehicles. In the future, the potential use of locally sourced spare parts instead of imported parts could further reduce manufacturing costs, making EV vehicles more affordable. This will be an important factor in promoting the adoption of electric vehicles at airports throughout the ASEAN region. This strategic approach aligns with BAFS INTECH’s plan to drive the aviation industry towards net-zero emissions, in line with BAFS’s vision of “Uplifting the World through Sustainable Business.”Hashtag: #BAFS #BAFSINTECH #BAFSGroup


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

Cambodia Opens a New Airport to Serve Angkor Wat as It Seeks to Boost Tourist Arrivals

Tourists visit the Angkor Wat temple in Siem Rea, Cambodia, on 14 March 2018. (Photo: AP)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Commercial operations began Monday at Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport, designed to serve as an upgraded gateway to the country’s major tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwestern province of Siem Reap.

Art Exhibition Marks the Festival of Lights at Rosewood Luang Prabang

Tiao-D-Somsanith (Photo supplied)

Exploring “A Sense of Place” through the eyes of artists in residence Tiao David Somsanith and David Cheah

Cyberport Venture Capital Forum 2023: A Global Gathering of Visionaries Exploring the Frontier of Emerging Technology Innovation

31 October – 1 November Event Brings Together Top Investors and Entrepreneurs to Examine Challenges and Uncover the Future Path of Hong Kong in Becoming the International Innovation and Technology Centre

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 October 2023 – In the face of ongoing global uncertainties, economic and geopolitical issues, the annual Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) returns this year with an inspiring theme – ” Venture Forward: Game Changing through Innovation” . Scheduled to take place from 31 October to 1 November in hybrid format, this premier event aims to explore the burgeoning optimism among investors and entrepreneurs seeking to harness the awakening global economy and capitalise on the limitless potential of emerging technologies such as Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI).

In the face of ongoing global uncertainties, economic challenges, and geopolitical issues, the annual Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) is set to return from October 31 to November 1 this year, with the inspiring theme of
In the face of ongoing global uncertainties, economic challenges, and geopolitical issues, the annual Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF) is set to return from October 31 to November 1 this year, with the inspiring theme of “Venture Forward: Game Changing through Innovation.”

Cyberport, as a digital technology flagship of Hong Kong, is committed to helping local startups to showcase the innovation and technology competence of Hong Kong internationally, and to foster the growth of the regional venture capital landscape. With the Hong Kong SAR Government implemented a variety of initiatives including Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme” (RAISe+ Scheme), and the enhancing collaborations with the Middle East to foster innovation and technology development to stimulate growth and diversification in the technology ecosystem, as an annual signature event in the venture capital market that discusses global successes of tech investments and hot trends of venture capital markets in the digital technology space, CVCF plays a crucial role by providing a platform for start-ups and investors to connect and collaborate, facilitating deal sourcing and fostering partnerships. Possessing a shared vision for I&T development, the government and CVCF work together to create a thriving environment that promotes innovation, collaboration, and technological advancement.

To kick start the Forum, Professor Sun Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, will give the opening remarks. Elites from industry including CMGE Technology Group, Global Ventures, HashKey Capital, Plug & Play, Polygon, Sunway iLabs and more will share in-depth insights and outlook on the venturing ecosystem, deep-diving into three key areas of discussion: 1) Impacts of geo-politics in relations to deal flows 2) Emerging technologies especially Web3 and AI continuing to spearhead innovation and technology, and 3) The dynamics of the tech venture landscape in the Greater Bay Area, Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport, said: “For the past 20 years, Cyberport has been committed to enhancing fundraising capabilities for start-ups to accelerate their corporate growth, and was recognised by the Ministry of Science and Technology as the State-level Scientific and Technological Enterprise Incubator three years ago. Regional economies have grown into key drivers of global development, and emerging technologies have opened up new opportunities for capital markets. The HKSAR Government also rolled out various initiatives to attract business and investment. Cyberport Venture Capital Forum will gather local, Mainland and overseas venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to jointly explore the global capital markets, with a particular focus on the promising markets in the Middle East, Asian and the Greater Bay Area, as well as new technology industries related to Web3 and AI. The Forum will also engender a platform for start-ups to showcase their innovative prowess and facilitate more investment matchings, leading the technology innovators to seize opportunities for development and achieve breakthroughs in the challenging macro environment.”

Hendrick Sin, Chairperson of Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) Steering Group and Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF) Investment Committee; Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, CMGE Technology Group Limited said ” Despite global economic and geo-political uncertainties, it is the support from the Central Government under the 14th Five-Year Plan framework, and from the HKSAR Government with its strategic pathway from the Blueprint to the focus on digital economy, Web3 and GreenTech in this year’s Budget, as well as Hong Kong’s unique connections within Asia and other regions actively developing the I&T, that inject momentum into Hong Kong’s I&T and venture capital markets. Cyberport will continue to devote to the growth of the city’s and the world’s startup and venture ecosystem with programmes and initiatives such as Cyberport Investors Network (CIN) and Cyberport Macro Fund (CMF).”

Empower companies to propel their ventures forward

Aligning with Cyberport’s mission to foster industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, CVCF serves as a unique venture platform to bring together funders and founders while discussing fundraising strategies and the latest technology trends featuring an array of incisive panel discussions from industry heavyweights, with an aim to provide attendees with actionable insights and strategies. Elite innovators include AirWallex, alfred24, Animoca Brands, DigiFT Tech, and PropCap Technologies etc., will discuss the landscape and opportunities of Web3 & AI and share their keys to success in funding in Investor-Investee dialogues.

Given the overwhelming demand from previous years, CVCF 2023 will continue its highly acclaimed “Investor Matching Session” , which provides a distinctive platform for deal sourcing, connecting start-ups and investors through both face-to-face/in-person and online interactions. Based on tech sectors and investment preferences, it ensures relevant connections between start-ups and investors, serving as a marketplace for innovative solutions, enabling start-ups to showcase their offerings to a diverse audience. The session provides start-ups with an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their innovative technology solutions not only at the 20+ on-site booths but also through the dedicated online platform running from 31 October 2023 to 15 November 2023, allowing them to network and match with local investors as well as a global audience of potential backers.

Web3 Spotlight Events and GreenTech and Sustainability Venture Day

With the Hong Kong SAR government setting out a clear stance to seize the potential of Web3, Cyberport has been committed to fuelling the city’s adoption of the emerging technology. As a continuation of the conversations from CVCF, a series of spotlight events focusing on Web3 will be held, these include: 1) Co-organised by Scroll and Newman Group, ETH Hong Kong brings together over 50 experts in the Ethereum community, including Ethereum’s Co-founder Vitalik Buterin, to shed lights on the development of blockchain and Web3 technology with a focus on Ethereum technology research; 2) Organised by DRK Labs, the Web3 Scholars Conference will focus on discussing technical innovations within the blockchain ecosystem, including but not limited to security, MEV, cryptography, Cryptoeconomics, DAOs, and organizational studies; 3) Future of Web3.0, co-organised by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and Hashkey, will focus on discussing DePIN and its massive adoption; 4) The two-day Ahoy! event, co-organised by Memeland and Newman Group and supported by MTR and AWS, will culminate in a pitching competition that is designed to highlight and support the most promising innovations in the realm of decentralized web technologies. Officiated by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and InvestHK, an estimation of 500 – 1,000 participating builders and developers will take part in 2 rounds of pitch in front of a judging panel formed by prominent VCs including Havemind Capital from the US and Cypher Capital from the UAE, as well as Spartan Group, Web3 Harbour, Newman Group and Memeland from Hong Kong and Asia. 5) Co-organised by Cyberport, Central Research and leading organisations in the industry, Web3 Big Demo Day VIII is a large-scale Web3.0 that will help projects obtain more industry resources, project promotion and financing services.

Poised to be the centrepiece of the International GreenTech Week introduced in the 2023-24 Budget Speech, Cyberport launched GreenTech and Sustainability Venture Day, in partnership with Friends of the Earth, HK Green Finance Association, MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node, and GIS Academy. Taking place on the second day of CVCF, on 1 November, GreenTech and Sustainability Venture Day will gather green-minded Cyberport Startup Community members, investors, entrepreneurs, academia, enterprises, and government officials in the FinTech sector through four captivating sharing sessions and networking opportunities to forge partnerships and explore rewarding investment opportunities in the green tech landscape.

CVCF is a highly anticipated flagship tech venture event for investors and entrepreneurs in the global digital technology arena. The hybrid format attracted more than 2,500 participants in 2022, with a total of more than 120,000 views. Over 260 investors participated with more than 300 deal flows facilitated. For detailed information on this year’s CVCF, please visit the website: http://cvcf.cyberport.hk/

Hashtag: #Cyberport #CVCF2023 #I&T #CapitalVenture

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

About Cyberport

Cyberport is an innovative digital community with over 2,000 members including over 900 on-site and close to 1,100 off-site start-ups and technology companies. It is managed by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government. With a vision to be the hub for digital technology, thereby creating a new economic driver for Hong Kong, Cyberport is committed to nurturing a vibrant tech ecosystem by cultivating talent, promoting entrepreneurship among youth, supporting start-ups, fostering industry development by promoting strategic collaboration with local and international partners, and integrating new and traditional economic by accelerating digital transformation in the public and private sectors.

For more information, please visit

GEODIS and Sephora open new Shanghai Distribution Center

New distribution center enables Sephora to enhance the customer experience for their e-commerce business and stores in China

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach – 17 October 2023 – GEODIS and Sephora, the world’s leading omnichannel prestige beauty retailer, announced the inauguration of the distribution center (DC) in Minhang District of Shanghai. The official opening ceremony for the 20,000 square-meter facility took place on 11th October 2023. Managed by GEODIS, the DC will play a critical role in enhancing Sephora’s customer experience and supporting its fast-growing e-commerce business and sales in its stores across China.

(from left to right) Maggie Chan, Managing Director, Sephora Greater China, Lily Zhou, Chief Operating Officer, Sephora Greater China, Onno Boots, GEODIS APAC and Middle East Regional President and CEO, and Ivan Siew, GEODIS China Managing Director, at the opening ceremony of the new Shanghai distribution centre.
(from left to right) Maggie Chan, Managing Director, Sephora Greater China, Lily Zhou, Chief Operating Officer, Sephora Greater China, Onno Boots, GEODIS APAC and Middle East Regional President and CEO, and Ivan Siew, GEODIS China Managing Director, at the opening ceremony of the new Shanghai distribution centre.

The facility includes a state-of-the-art storage technology and systems, consisting of mezzanine flooring, Very Narrow Aisle (VNA) pallet racks, and racking served by Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGV). The facility is fully automated to optimize operations and deliver the improved storage and inventory-processing in response to Sephora’s expanding product demand in China, which is now one of Sephora’s biggest markets in the world.

Aligning with Sephora’s and GEODIS’ commitment to sustainability, the facility provides access to features and processes that manage carbon emissions. This includes the use of sustainable construction materials for the warehouse façade, LED lights and motion sensors, automatic energy consumption monitoring systems, and energy-efficient air conditioning units. These features have been certified ‘Platinum’ by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the highest level of accreditation within the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

“We are committed to providing our consumers with the best possible shopping experience. The opening of this new distribution center is a significant milestone for Sephora as it will enable us to drive an incredible last-mile experience for our consumers and ensure that stock availability is the best it can ever be at our stores,” said President of Sephora Asia, Alia Gogi.

“I would like to thank Sephora for their trust and partnership over the past 17 years. As their growth partner, we look forward to supporting their long-term vision for expansion in China. We are committed to continually innovating and ensuring excellence in their supply chain operations to meet the demands of their consumers in this dynamic retail environment,” said GEODIS APAC and Middle East Regional President and CEO, Onno Boots.

Hashtag: #GEODIS

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

Sephora – www.sephora.com

Sephora is the world’s most loved beauty community, offering a unique retail experience for passionate clients and innovative beauty brands, encouraging them to be fearless in their creativity and self-expression. Since its debut in France almost 50 years ago, Sephora has been a leader in global prestige omni-retail, inspiring clients to explore a universe of beauty and wellness with an ever-changing array of carefully curated brand partners, from classic selective brands to exclusive independent ones, and the critically acclaimed Sephora Collection. Owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading luxury goods group, Sephora’s excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit have made it an omnichannel beauty trailblazer in 36 countries.

GEODIS – www.geodis.com   

GEODIS is a leading global logistics provider acknowledged for its expertise across all aspects of the supply chain. As a growth partner to its clients, GEODIS specializes in five lines of business: Supply Chain Optimization, Global Freight Forwarding, Global Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express, and European Road Network. With a global network spanning nearly 170 countries and more than 49,400 employees, GEODIS is ranked no. 6 in its sector across the world. In 2022, GEODIS generated €13.7 billion in revenue. GEODIS is a company owned by SNCF group.

NetApp and Equinix Deliver Industry’s Most Comprehensive Bare Metal-as-a-Service Solution for Cloud Adjacent Experience

NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal, powered by NetApp Keystone, lets organizations power business-critical workloads with a full stack solution as-a-service.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 17 October 2023 – NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), a global cloud-led, data centric software company, today announced their new joint Bare-Metal-as-a-Service (BMaaS) solution, NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal. NetApp Storage integrated with Equinix Metal is delivered as an as-a-service model through NetApp Keystone®, which offers a real hybrid cloud experience–in a single subscription–so users can choose the storage capacity and performance they need without overprovisioning. Keystone® greatly reduces upfront costs with the flexibility to add more storage on demand as business needs dictate.

NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal provides customers with a full stack of compute, networking and storage infrastructure with low-latency interconnection to all major public clouds. This environment can be either single tenant or dedicated, and meets most stringent performance requirements, provides elasticity, and is packaged, priced, billed and supported under a single agreement.

“Today’s rapid pace of cloud innovation enables companies to move more workload types to the hybrid multi-cloud more easily and in greater numbers than ever before,” said Sandeep Singh, Senior Vice President and GM of Enterprise Storage at NetApp. “NetApp is a leader in delivering native cloud and first-party solutions on all three major public clouds that provide a unified hybrid multicloud experience for customers. NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal further illustrates the industry value of our partnership and our collective commitment to providing as-a-service, hybrid multicloud solutions with higher performance, scalability, and simplified management.”

“As organizations in Asia Pacific accelerate their cloud journey, they need to build a robust data infrastructure for a flexible and secure hybrid multicloud experience on-premises, in any cloud, and anywhere in between,” said Matthew Swinbourne, CTO, Cloud Architecture, NetApp Asia Pacific. “We are excited to introduce this enterprise-grade flash as-a-service solution that is seamlessly integrated with Equinix Metal. With NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal, organizations will be able to better focus on driving innovations and business critical tasks.”

Key benefits of NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal include:

  • Integrated Solution: NetApp Storage is fully integrated with Equinix Metal’s infrastructure, ensuring a cohesive full stack experience for storage (file, block, and object), compute, and networking as-a-Service under a single subscription.
  • Cloud Adjacent: Customers can choose how they want to build their hybrid multicloud experience while maintaining control of their data in a low latency, high performance environment—on premises, in the cloud, or anywhere in between—on all three major public clouds.
  • Higher performance for demanding workloads: When NetApp Storage is combined with Equinix Metal’s high-performance dedicated bare metal servers, users unlock fast data access, minimal latency, and the ability to handle the most demanding workloads with ease.
  • Scalable Capacity and Performance On-Demand: With NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal, customers can scale their storage resources as required to meet evolving business needs.
  • Superior Data Security: NetApp Storage delivers industry-leading encryption, ransomware, and security features, and enables customers to receive industry-leading physical and environmental security in an Equinix International Business Exchange (IBX®) data center to help ensure customer data remains protected. NetApp’s proactive ransomware detection capabilities can identify potential cybersecurity threats and automatically perform an additional immutable back up of data if a threat is suspected.
  • Global Reach: Equinix’s extensive global footprint lets users take advantage of NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal in Equinix IBX data centers across the world. As of June 2023, Equinix has a total of 250 IBX data centers globally in 71 metros with 26 Equinix Metal locations.
  • Simplified Management: NetApp’s unified control plane for storage and data services provides customers with comprehensive control and visibility over their data no matter where it resides. Equinix Metal’s automated provisioning platform further simplifies deployment and management.

“The growth of cloud adoption, the acceleration of AI, and the desire to derive real-time insights from data puts significant pressure on customers to optimize data management to gain a competitive advantage,” said Brian Stein, Senior Vice President, Edge Infrastructure Services at Equinix. “Achieving our goal of an integrated, full stack, solution is another milestone that provides enterprise customers low latency access to all clouds while keeping control of their data. This cloud adjacency helps transform how companies deploy applications, design their own solutions, and generate new revenue streams while simplifying operations and containing costs.”

NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal is a strategic expansion of NetApp’s Cloud strategy, adding a true hybrid multicloud experience. NetApp can now deliver the entire stack in Equinix IBX data centers outfitted with Equinix Metal. The solution provides an optimized connection to most major public clouds through local, high-speed connectivity through on ramps. On Equinix’ global dedicated bare metal equipment, users have full access to NetApp cloud services such as Cloud Volumes ONTAP.

Visit the NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal page.

Additional Resources

NetApp Keystone: Storage as a service done right

NetApp Storage on Equinix Metal

Hashtag: #NetApp #Equinix #Keystone #BMaaS #Cloud

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

About NetApp

NetApp is a global, cloud-led, data-centric software company that empowers organizations to lead with data in the age of accelerated digital transformation. The company provides systems, software, and cloud services that enable them to run their applications optimally from data center to cloud, whether they are developing in the cloud, moving to the cloud, or creating their own cloudlike experiences on premises. With solutions that perform across diverse environments, NetApp helps organizations build their own data fabric and securely deliver the right data, services, and applications to the right people—anytime, anywhere. Learn more at or follow us on , , , and .

NETAPP, the NETAPP logo, and the marks listed at are trademarks of NetApp, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

In the presence of Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industries (SAVI) cluster launches at Masdar City

SAVI will support innovation and the commercialisation of smart and autonomous vehicle technologies in the UAE

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – EQS Newswire – 17 October 2023 – In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster has launched at Masdar City, which was endorsed by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Further enhancing Abu Dhabi’s industrial evolution, SAVI aims to position Abu Dhabi as a leading smart and autonomous vehicles hub, making significant contributions across air, land and sea mobility applications.

SAVI will support innovation and the commercialisation of smart and autonomous vehicle technologies in the UAE, unlocking their global potential, by providing state-of-the art facilities and value-added services within an enabling regulatory environment.

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) said: “Abu Dhabi is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in advancing technology and commercialisation within the smart and autonomous vehicles sector. Backed by a proven track record of accelerated innovation and built on a robust industrial base, the emirate both embraces and shapes global trends, supercharging the sector by leveraging its infrastructure, talent, progressive regulatory mindset, and key location at the crossroads of global trade.

“As a catalyst for Abu Dhabi’s diversification, SAVI is a game changer that will unleash extraordinary economic growth and create new opportunities for talent, entrepreneurs, and investors. SAVI is projected to contribute AED90-AED120 billion to the UAE economy and generate 30,000-50,000 jobs, which will create an extended ripple effect benefitting various sectors, and taking our smart, diversified, sustainable Falcon Economy to new heights”.

The launch of Smart and Autonomous Vehicles Industry (SAVI) cluster follows Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy (ADIS), launched by His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, in June 2022, that aims to leverage advanced technologies to harmonise human development, sustainability, and growth.

ADIS champions green economy practices and Industry 4.0 technologies to drive Abu Dhabi’s transition towards a smart, circular, and sustainable economy.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) are spearheading the development of SAVI covering the design, testing, and manufacturing of applications for transportation and mobility, as well as to service other sectors such as logistics. SAVI will build on the strength of Abu Dhabi’s industrial base and leverage its unparalleled access to established air corridors, road infrastructure and global network of partners.

The SAVI cluster brings together all relevant stakeholders to advance the development of the value chain, attract companies from all around the world, enable access to funding and investments, facilitate and fund innovation, streamline regulatory services and accelerate the adoption of future urban and mobility services. SAVI will house academia, test zones, R&D labs, testing and certification facilities, large scale workshops, hangars, manufacturing facilities, connected through Abu Dhabi’s global logistics network. Underpinning all operations are the local regulators establishing an enabling regulatory framework across air, land, and sea applications. These include the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Integrated Transport Centre and Abu Dhabi Maritime.

Three dedicated test zones, provided through ADIO’s partnerships with Tawazun Industrial Park (TIP), Miral and Maqta Gateway, part of AD Ports Group’s Digital Cluster, will enable companies to test and certify applications across air, land and sea. Enabling testing, TIP will make available its Nibras Aerospace Park, runway facilities, and an aerospace park for testing and manufacturing companies. The land testing zone in Yas Island, home to F1’s Yas Marina Circuit, offers an established road mobility test bed with a growing number of incorporated technology startups. The sea testing zone in Mussafah Port houses a port and the Abu Dhabi Maritime Academy.

The SAVI cluster will complement existing infrastructure and tap into synergies from shared technologies such as smart electrification, connectivity, and navigation software. It will also maximise the scope and coverage of applications to serve the future of integrated multi-modal logistics and mobility in the UAE, across the region and elsewhere around the world.

As the UAE prepares to host COP28, the launch of Abu Dhabi’s SAVI cluster will also help to accelerate the adoption of green mobility services and propel the country and wider world towards a zero-emissions future. SAVI will be centred in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, a sustainable development pioneer and a hub for research and development to realise greener, more sustainable urban living.

SAVI launches with immediate scale as many global companies concurrently announce plans to establish operations in Abu Dhabi, with each bringing specialisation in air, land and sea applications.

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