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Baidu Unveils Reasoning Model ERNIE X1.1 with Upgrades in Key Capabilities

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  • ERNIE X1.1 shows major advancements in factuality, instruction following, and agentic capabilities; it surpasses DeepSeek R1-0528 in overall performance while performing on par with top-tier models like GPT-5 and Gemini 2.5 Pro.
  • The PaddlePaddle-ERNIE ecosystem now serves 23.33 million developers and 760,000 enterprises; while the AI coding assistant Baidu Comate has supported more than 10 million developers.
  • Baidu also announced the open-source of ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B-Thinking model.

BEIJING, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At WAVE SUMMIT 2025, the company’s deep learning developer conference, Baidu unveiled a series of AI advancements that further accelerate the wide adoption of AI. These advancements include the company’s latest reasoning model ERNIE X 1.1, an upgrade to the PaddlePaddle framework, the upgraded AI coding assistant Baidu Comate 3.5S, as well as the open-sourcing of the ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B-Thinking model.

ERNIE X1.1 Shows Major Advancement in Factuality, Instruction Following, and Agentic Capabilities

The newly released ERNIE X1.1 reasoning model is a significant upgrade that delivers major advancements across core capabilities including factuality, instruction following, and agentic capabilities. Compared to ERNIE X1, ERNIE X1.1’s factuality is up 34.8%, instruction following is up 12.5%, and agentic capabilities are up 9.6%

Multiple benchmark results show that ERNIE X1.1’s overall performance surpassed that of DeepSeek R1-0528, demonstrating clear advantages in certain tasks. Meanwhile, its performance is on par with other top-tier models such as GPT-5 and Gemini 2.5 Pro. Built upon ERNIE 4.5, a multimodal foundation model, ERNIE X1.1 has incorporated an iterative hybrid reinforcement learning framework that blends mixed reinforcement learning and iterative self-distillation.

ERNIE X1.1 is now accessible to users via the ERNIE Bot website (ernie.baidu.com) and the Wenxiaoyan app, and has also been deployed on Qianfan, Baidu AI Cloud’s MaaS (Models-as-a-Service) platform — open to enterprise clients and developers.


PaddlePaddle Framework v3.2 and Baidu Comate 3.5S Lower Barriers for AI Development and Deployment

At the event, Baidu also debuted the PaddlePaddle framework version 3.2, featuring enhancements in model training, hardware compatibility, and ecosystem support. The upgraded PaddlePaddle framework incorporates three core upgrades—computational optimization, parallel strategies, and native fault tolerance—that address long-standing challenges in model training. The framework significantly boosts efficiency, achieving a pre-training MFU of 47% on the ERNIE-4.5-300B-A47B model.

Accompanying the new framework are a suite of toolkits, including ERNIEKit, designed for foundation model development, FastDeploy v2.2 for efficient model deployment, and two scientific computing toolkits, PaddleCFD and PaddleMaterials. Together, these releases further reduce barriers to applying foundation models across training and deployment.

To date, the PaddlePaddle-ERNIE ecosystem has served 23.33 million developers and 760,000 enterprises.

Also released at the event was Baidu Comate 3.5S (Super Synergistic AgentS), a major upgrade to its AI coding assistant. The new version strengthens multi-agent-collaboration capabilities, enabling a single developer to achieve the productivity and efficiency of an entire team.

Baidu Comate 3.5S delivers three core enhancements. First, agents are more powerful, with stronger business understanding, the ability to break down task lists, and improved execution accuracy. Second, the system advances from single-agent to multi-agent collaboration, dynamically generating multiple agents that autonomously work together to complete complex tasks. Third, team collaboration is reinforced through the integration of Rules and MCP, creating a unified knowledge base that enables seamless knowledge transfer within teams.

To date, Baidu Comate has already supported more than 10 million developers. Within Baidu, 45% of new code is now generated by AI.

Open-sourced ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B-Thinking Model Delivers Outstanding Performance Across Tasks

At the conference, Baidu announced the open-sourcing of ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B-Thinking, a deep-thinking model trained on the foundation of ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B. It supports a 128K context window and is designed for complex reasoning tasks that require long-context understanding. The model delivers outstanding performance across a wide range of tasks, including content creation, logical reasoning, mathematical computation, code generation, and tool use.

As a lightweight MoE model with 21 billion total parameters and only 3 billion active parameters, ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B-Thinking has achieved performance close to leading large-scale models across benchmarks, delivering near-SOTA intelligence at a significantly reduced scale.

ERNIE-4.5-21B-A3B-Thinking is now available on platforms including Hugging Face and Baidu AI Studio. The release of this model follows the open-sourcing of 10 other distinct ERNIE 4.5 models on June 30.

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under “BIDU” and HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

Media Contact
intlcomm@baidu.com

 

/C O R R E C T I O N — Epitome Global Pte Ltd/

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In the news release, Jan Lambrechts Urges Ethical AI Adoption and Workforce Reinvention at World Chambers Congress, issued 09-Sep-2025 by Epitome Global Pte Ltd over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that the first photo caption should read “Jan Lambrechts (second from left), Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, underscores the urgency of ethical AI adoption and workforce reinvention at the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne.” rather than “Jan Lambrechts (second from right), Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, underscores the urgency of ethical AI adoption and workforce reinvention at the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne.” as originally issued inadvertently. The complete, corrected release follows:

Jan Lambrechts Urges Ethical AI Adoption and Workforce Reinvention at World Chambers Congress

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne, Jan Lambrechts, Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, delivered a compelling keynote to over 1,500 participants from more than 100 countries, including business and government leaders. Lambrechts’ address underscored the urgency of ethical AI adoption and workforce adaptability as drivers of resilient economies, with Epitome Global’s global rollout now amplified by the company’s strategic distribution partnership with RGH Global. Together, the two firms are transforming workforce optimisation for enterprises and governments across EMEA and Asia-Pacific.

Addressing the Jobs Debate

Lambrechts dispelled AI employment myths: “AI taking our jobs is 100% not true. In fact, new AI roles such as engineers and prompters are emerging rapidly.” He emphasised that, “People who embrace AI skills will thrive, while those who do not risk being left behind. When harnessed responsibly, AI offers the potential to increase freedom, creativity, and purpose in work.” Proactive workforce reinvention, through investment in retraining, remains essential for the relevance of economies in a shifting landscape.

Breaking Barriers to AI Adoption

Central to Lambrechts’ message was overcoming global barriers to the adoption of responsible AI. He cited procurement delays, the need for chambers of commerce to become workforce intelligence hubs, and risks tied to foreign platform dependencies threatening national data sovereignty and workforce control. Lambrechts called for urgent reforms ensuring technological progress translates into real workforce benefits. Paul Guerra, Victorian Chamber Chief Executive and Congress Chair, praised Lambrechts’ vision, describing it as a critical blueprint for chambers seeking resilience and future readiness.

Roadmap for Responsible Innovation

Lambrechts outlined a roadmap including:

  • Rapid proof-of-concept cycles (30–90 days) via industry partnerships.
  • New revenue models for chambers to monetise workforce insights and skills forecasting, enabling sustainable, community-focused growth.
  • Formation of agile AI governmental taskforces acting at private-sector speed for policy alignment.

With global AI regulation advancing, especially in the EU and South Korea, Lambrechts insisted: “AI must remain ethical, inclusive, and empowering. The future belongs to those who adapt and embrace these principles.”

RGH Global’s Integrated Role

By collaborating with RGH Global as its strategic distributor, Epitome Global leverages RGH’s extensive network across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas to accelerate the real-world impact of AI optimisation solutions. Justin Madgwick, RGH Co-Founder and Global CEO, commented, “RGH’s workforce optimisation platform represents the future of recruitment, where technology supports and enhances human capability. Partnering with Epitome allows us to deliver this vision globally in a way that is both ethical and purpose-driven.” This partnership reflects optimism for scaling Epitome’s platform worldwide, delivering trusted AI innovation and lasting economic impact.

—

About Jan Lambrechts

Jan Lambrechts is a serial entrepreneur with 20 years of global experience leading AI platforms that transform workforce data into strategic intelligence. As Managing Director of Epitome Global, he drives organisational reinvention and growth.

About Justin Madgwick

Justin Madgwick is a seasoned recruitment entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience building workforce optimisation businesses. As Co-Founder and Global CEO of RGH Global, he leads the company’s expansion and partnership with Epitome to deliver ethical, AI-driven talent solutions globally.

About Epitome Global

Epitome Global, distributed strategically through RGH Global, is an AI-driven workforce optimisation company serving enterprises and governments with actionable talent insights using psychometrics, data science, and real-time labour market intelligence. Its holistic matching, engagement, and performance solutions are delivered at scale via RGH’s extensive presence.

Media Contact
Melissa Teh, COO
Email: melissa.teh@epitome.global 
Phone: +60 12 306 0647

Investor Relations Contact
Email: investment@epitomeholdings.com 

Follow the conversation: #WorkforceOptimisation #EthicalAI #FutureOfWork

Jan Lambrechts (second from left), Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, underscores the urgency of ethical AI adoption and workforce reinvention at the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne.
Jan Lambrechts (second from left), Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, underscores the urgency of ethical AI adoption and workforce reinvention at the 14th World Chambers Congress in Melbourne.

 

Jan Lambrechts (left), Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, with Justin Madgwick (right), Co-Founder and Global CEO of RGH Global
Jan Lambrechts (left), Founder & Global Managing Director of Epitome Global, with Justin Madgwick (right), Co-Founder and Global CEO of RGH Global

 

MBZUAI and G42 Launch K2 Think: A Leading Open-Source System for Advanced AI Reasoning

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K2 Think delivers performance on par with the most advanced reasoning models at a fraction of the size

ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Institute of Foundation Models at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and G42 today announced the launch of K2 Think, a leading open-source system for advanced AI reasoning.

MBZUAI and G42 Launch K2 Think: A Leading Open-Source System for Advanced AI Reasoning
MBZUAI and G42 Launch K2 Think: A Leading Open-Source System for Advanced AI Reasoning

 

K2 Think embodies a new approach to building smarter, more efficient AI. With just 32 billion parameters, it outperforms flagship reasoning models that are 20X larger. This breakthrough in parameter efficiency makes K2 Think a powerful alternative for advanced reasoning, redefining what is possible with compact architectures.

Built on six pillars of innovation, K2 Think represents a new class of reasoning model. It employs long chain-of-thought supervised fine-tuning to strengthen logical depth, followed by reinforcement learning with verifiable rewards to sharpen accuracy on hard problems. Agentic planning allows the model to decompose complex challenges before reasoning through them, while test-time scaling techniques further boost adaptability.  In addition, K2 Think will soon be available on Cerebras’ wafer-scale, inference-optimized compute platform, enabling researchers and innovators worldwide to push the boundaries of reasoning performance at lightning-fast speed. With speculative decoding optimized for Cerebras hardware, K2 Think will achieve unprecedented throughput of 2000 tokens per second, making it both one of the fastest and most efficient reasoning systems in existence.

K2 Think ranks among the industry’s top reasoning systems, leading all open-source models in math performance across AIME ’24/’25, HMMT ’25, and OMNI-Math-HARD.

More than a technical achievement, K2 Think is a defining moment for AI in the UAE. It reflects how open innovation and close public–private partnerships can position Abu Dhabi as a global leader in AI, demonstrating that the future of reasoning will be shaped not only by size, but by ingenuity and collaboration.

His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of MBZUAI’s Board of Trustees and Member of the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technology Council (AIATC), said: “The new global benchmark set by K2 Think underscores the pioneering excellence of MBZUAI’s Institute of Foundation Models initiative, an expedited pathway for global collaboration and cutting-edge research. It is also an example of the UAE’s commitment to building advanced systems that are developed by our institutions and shared with the world – ultimately progressing technically groundbreaking, practical, and scalable innovations with transformative global impact.”

Peng Xiao, MBZUAI Board Member, Council Member of Abu Dhabi’s AI and Advanced Technology Council, and Group CEO of G42, added: “K2 Think has shifted the AI reasoning paradigm from ‘bigger is better’ to ‘smarter is better’. MBZUAI, supported by the UAE ecosystem, is pushing the AI frontier with technology that is open, efficient and highly capable. By proving that smaller, more resourceful models can rival the largest reasoning systems, this milestone marks the beginning of the next wave of AI innovation.”

Unlike most “open” AI models that stop at releasing weights, K2 Think is fully open source — from training data and parameter weights to software code for deployment and test-time optimization. This new level of transparency ensures that every step of how the model learns to reason can be studied, reproduced, and extended by the global research community.

Professor Eric Xing, MBZUAI President and University Professor, said: “K2 Think, developed by MBZUAI’s Institute of Foundation Models, is a significant advancement for the global AI research and development community. By delivering these advances in a fully transparent framework, we are ushering in a new era of cost-effective, reproducible and accountable AI. For an institution just five years young, we are immensely proud of our global researchers, engineers, and teams who are advancing science and technology with ingenuity and a pioneering spirit.”

K2 Think builds on a growing family of UAE-developed open-source models, including Jais (the world’s most advanced Arabic LLM), NANDA (Hindi), and SHERKALA (Kazakh), and extends the pioneering legacy of K2-65B, the world’s first fully reproducible open-source foundation model released in 2024.

K2 Think is available today at https://www.k2think.ai/ and on Hugging Face.

About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) 

MBZUAI is a research-focused university in Abu Dhabi, and the first university dedicated entirely to the advancement of science through AI. The university empowers the next generation of AI leaders, driving innovation and impactful applications of AI through world-class education and interdisciplinary research. In 2025, MBZUAI launched its first ever undergraduate program, a Bachelor of Science in AI, with two distinct streams: Business and Engineering. For more information, please visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae. 

 

Eddid Financial Partners with University of Oxford to Launch Women in Finance Scholarship Promoting Global Education and Gender Equality

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HONG KONG, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Eddid Financial (“the Group”) announced its collaboration with the Department of Economics and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford to establish the Oxford Saïd – Eddid Financial Women in Finance Scholarship for the 2025/26 academic year. This award will support exceptional early-career women pursuing careers in finance. The scholarship will fund one outstanding woman pursuing Oxford’s MSc in Financial Economics – one of the world’s most highly regarded master’s programmes in finance and economics. The scholarship aims to remove financial barriers and widen access to graduate study at Oxford.

As one of the world’s leading academic institutions, the University of Oxford is renowned for its excellence in research and global influence. The MFE program, jointly offered by the Department of Economics and Saïd Business School, combines rigorous academic training with practical application, preparing students for leadership roles in investment banking, asset management, consulting, and policy-making.

Eddid Financial is committed to nurturing top talent in finance and actively promoting gender equality and equal access to education. The Group believes this initiative will provide exceptional women with equal learning opportunities and help them become leaders on the international financial stage. Eddid Financial will also maintain a long-term partnership with Oxford University to foster academic exchange and global educational development, contributing to the cultivation of the next generation of financial leaders.

Professor Johannes Abeler, Head of Department of Economics, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Eddid Financial to support this important initiative. The Oxford Saïd – Eddid Financial Scholarship for Women reflects our shared commitment to improving access and opportunity in economics and finance, and to supporting outstanding women at the start of their careers.”

Dr. Jerry Tse, Chief Executive Officer of Eddid Financial, commented:

“We are committed to building a more inclusive future in finance. Partnering with the University of Oxford, this scholarship is a meaningful step to support exceptional women as they pursue advanced study in financial economics.”

This initiative strengthens the Department of Economics’ ongoing efforts to widen access to graduate study and foster the next generation of economists and financial leaders. We look forward to welcoming the first scholar, Amelia, this autumn.

Following a highly competitive process, Amelia Hund has been awarded the inaugural Oxford Saïd – Eddid Financial Scholarship for Women. Scholars are selected for their academic excellence, assessed through degree results, GMAT or GRE scores, and recognition such as university prizes and awards.

While reflecting on receiving this scholarship, Amelia commented:

“Receiving the Oxford Saïd – Eddid Financial Scholarship for Women is an honour as it recognises my achievements so far and reflects a trust in what I will accomplish ahead. I value its support for women in finance, a field where representation still matters, and it allows me to fully focus on my studies and contributions to my cohort.”

About Eddid Financial

Eddid Financial is a diversified financial group headquartered in Hong Kong, providing comprehensive services in fintech, investment banking, virtual asset, wealth management, and asset management. Committed to innovation and excellence, Eddid Financial delivers high-quality, one-stop financial solutions to clients worldwide.

For more information about Eddid Financial, please visit www.eddid.com.hk

About the MSc in Financial Economics (MFE)

The MFE is a rigorous nine-month graduate program offered jointly by Oxford’s Department of Economics and Saïd Business School. Renowned for its academic excellence and real-world relevance, the program equips students for careers in investment banking, asset management, consulting, policy, and more.

Quality Building Award 2026 Nominations Open Now Eligibility Expanded to Include More Greater Bay Area and International Projects to Foster Cross-Regional Exchange

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 September 2025 – Nominations for the “Quality Building Award 2026 (QBA 2026)” is open now. The biennial Quality Building Award, hailed as the “Oscar of the Construction Industry,” is jointly organized by ten top professional institutions and organizations in Hong Kong’s architecture and construction sectors. With a history spanning over two decades, the award aims to recognize outstanding building projects in Hong Kong, mainland, and overseas, as well as teams that have demonstrated exceptional collaboration and teamwork.

QBA 2026 is chaired by The Hong Kong Institute of Housing (HKIH). The theme for this year is “Smartly We Build | Sustainably We Thrive | Inclusively We Lead,” focusing on honoring projects that employ intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive solutions. The goal is to drive industry innovation and green development, promote social collaboration, and collectively build a prosperous and sustainable future. This year, the award categories have been further expanded to encourage greater participation from projects in the Greater Bay Area and overseas regions.

Expanded International and Greater Bay Area Categories to Foster Cross-Regional Collaboration

Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of mainland and being closely connected to the world. As an industry that relies heavily on cross-regional collaboration with both mainland and international partners, the construction sector can benefit from strengthening external connections and technical exchange opportunities. QBA 2026 has expanded the eligibility of two categories: “Building Outside GBA (include International)” and “Building in GBA (Not include Hong Kong).” These categories are open to high-quality projects from mainland and around the world, with no requirement for involvement from Hong Kong-registered companies. Projects only need to submit proof of completion. Whether residential or non-residential, new construction or renovation, all eligible projects are encouraged to participate.

This initiative aims to promote professional interaction among Hong Kong, Greater Bay Area, and the international community. It encourages cross-regional teams to showcase their outstanding work, share experiences and technologies, and further strengthen Hong Kong’s role as an international hub.

Ms CHANG Yuk Kam, Patricia, Chairlady of QBA 2026 Organizing Committee, stated, “We hope the award will inspire the industry to move beyond solely pursuing scale and height, and instead focus on integrating innovative technologies and sustainable practices that truly meet the needs of users and communities. Particularly against the era of Hong Kong’s integration with the Greater Bay Area, cross-disciplinary and cross-regional collaboration has become an inevitable trend. The relaxed eligibility criteria this year are designed to encourage more teams from the Greater Bay Area and internationally to participate and collectively elevate regional building standards.”

Mr HO Chun Hung, JP, Chairman of QBA 2026 Jury Panel and Director of Buildings Department, HKSARG, stated, “Architecture is not merely a fusion of technology and art, but also a vital force driving social progress. We encourage entries to fully embody the spirit of ‘people-oriented’ design, showcase sustainable and inclusive architecture, and apply innovative and smart technologies in design, construction, building management and maintenance, thereby injecting new impetus into making Hong Kong a more livable city.”

Nomination Details and Key Dates

Nominations for the QBA 2026 opens now. The deadline for submissions is 12:00 noon HKT on Friday, 28 November, 2025. Teams from Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and around the world are encouraged to submit entries across multiple categories, including but not limited to residential, commercial, cultural, public facilities, and urban redevelopment projects.

Schedule

Date Key Milestone
9 September 2025 Nominations open
28 Nov 2025 at 12:00 noon (HKT) Nominations close
The Jury / Assessment Process
2 Dec – 12 Dec 2025 First Screening
Jan-Feb 2026 Site Visits / Video Judging
Feb-Mar 2026 Finalists Announce
20-21 March 2026 Finalists Presentation to Jury Panel
June 2026 QBA 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony

Award Categories

Categories Nomination Requirements
  • Hong Kong Residential

(Single Building)

  • Nominated new building must be a single independent structure/ single tower, not part of a complex containing other buildings.
  • The Major Function of the nominated building must be for residential use.
  • Hong Kong Residential

(Multiple Buildings)

  • Nominated new buildings must be a group of buildings/ more than a single tower of similar kinds, which form a residential complex.
  • The Major Function of the nominated multiple buildings must be for residential use.
  • Hong Kong Non-Residential

(New Building – Government, Institution or Community)

  • The Major Function of the nominated new building must be for non-residential use and for GIC use.
  • Nominated new buildings may be single or multiple buildings.

  • Hong Kong Non-Residential (New Building – Non- Government, Institution or Community)
  • The Major Function of the nominated new building must be for non-residential use and for non-GIC use.
  • Nominated new buildings may be single or multiple buildings.
  • Hong Kong Building (Renovation / Revitalization)
  • Any nominated existing building must have undergone and completed a renovation, restoration, revitalization or similar process to its physical structure and/or communal facilities.
  • Nominated existing buildings may be residential or non-residential buildings.
  • Hong Kong Temporary Building
  • Nominated building must be designed and constructed for temporary purpose and / or constructed of short-lived materials.
  • Nominated new building may serve one or several functional uses, such as residential, commercial, institutional, and for exhibition & leisure purposes.

*Nominated project teams should submit a photo and video documenting their project, to be remotely assessed by the judging panel.

  • Building Outside GBA (include International)

  • Nominated buildings must be outside the territorial limits of the Greater Bay Area (GBA)#
  • Welcome participation from all companies, without the requirement of providing proof of being based in Hong Kong.
  • Nominated buildings can be new or existing buildings, with a valid certificate of completion.
  • Any nominated existing building must have undergone and completed a renovation, restoration, revitalization or similar process to its physical structure and/or communal facilities.
  • The Major Function of the nominated building may be a residential or non-residential building.

*Nominated project teams should submit a video documenting their project, to be remotely assessed by the judging panel.

**Nominated project teams are not entitled for Quality Excellence Award, Sustainable Development Award nor Innovative Project Award

  • Building in GBA (Not include Hong Kong)
  • Nominated buildings must be outside the territorial limits of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region but within the Greater Bay Area#
  • Welcome participation from all companies across the Greater Bay Area, without the requirement of providing proof of being based in Hong Kong.
  • Nominated buildings can be new or existing buildings, with a valid certificate of completion.
  • Any nominated existing building must have undergone and completed a renovation, restoration, revitalization or similar process to its physical structure and/or communal facilities.
  • The Major Function of the nominated building may be a residential or non-residential building.

*Nominated project teams should submit a video documenting their project, to be remotely assessed by esteemed team of assessors. In addition, the jury panel will conduct a site visit to the building to further evaluate the project’s merits.

**Nominated project teams are not entitled for Quality Excellence Award, Sustainable Development Award

nor Innovative Project Award

# Greater Bay Area (GBA) includes Macao Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.

Award Types

Award Type Description
Quality Excellence Award Only one Quality Excellence Award will be presented to a project within the territorial limits of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, with an outstanding OVERALL quality that is judged to be the BEST among all the Grand Award Winners.
Grand Awards* There will be a Grand Award Winner(s) for each nomination category. This is the highest recognition to projects at the category level.
Merits* There will be recognition of merit(s) for each nomination category.
Finalists* There will be recognition of finalist(s) for each nomination that has passed the first screening, site visits and that has been presented at the Finalist Presentation to Jury Panel .

#Finalist qualification will be usurped if the project team is unable to present at the Finalist Presentation to Jury Panel .

Special awards Description
Sustainable Development Award This will be a recognition for the finalist with an outstanding quality in green and sustainability
Innovative Project Award This will be a recognition for the finalist with an outstanding quality in innovative design and construction technology.

* QBA 2026 Organizing Committee reserves the right not to bestow an award if the Jury Panel deems that no nomination is worth receiving that particular award. The decision of the Jury Panel shall be final.

** Finalist qualification will be usurped if the project team is unable to present at the Finalist Presentation to Jury Panel.

Honorary Patron and Jury Panel Members

Honorary Patron
Ms LINN Hon Ho, Bernadette, JP Secretary for Development,

Development Bureau, HKSARG

Chairman of Jury Panel
Mr HO Chun Hung, JP Director of Building,
Buildings Department, HKSARG
Vice Chairlady of Jury Panel
Ms CHANG Yuk Kam, Patricia Chairlady,
QBA 2026 Organizing Committee
Members of Jury Panel (In alphabetical order of surnames)
Ir CHOW Kin Tak, Alice President,

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers

Professor CHU Hoi San, Paul Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Professor at the Department of Architecture, Hong Kong Chu Hai College
Mr HO Kwing-kwong, Alex Director – Industry Development,
Construction Industry Council
Sr LAM Kin Wing Eddie, MH Deputy Chairmen,
Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency
Ar LAU Man Kwan, Julia, FHKIA, JP President,
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects
Sr LEUNG Chi Tim Robin President,

The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors

Mr LI Kiu Yin, Michael, JP Director of Architectural Services,

Architectural Services Department, HKSARG

Ir LIU Sing-pang, Simon President,

Hong Kong Construction Association

Mr POON Kwok Ying, Raymond, JP Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services/Gen Mgr, EMSTF,
Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, HKSARG
Sr Frankie SO Hung Fai Chairperson,

BEAM Society Limited

Cr TANG Yu Chi, Alfred President​,
Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers​
Mr Don TSE President,

The International Facility Management Association – Hong Kong Chapter

Mr WU Biqiao Vice President,

Guangdong Construction
Industry Association

Mr YAU Kam Fai, Anthony President,

The Hong Kong Institute of Housing

Official category details, the latest updated jury panel, and further information can be found at www.qba.com.hk, or follow Quality Building Award social media as below:

Facebook: QBAHK
LinkedIn: Quality Building Award
Weibo: 优质建筑大奖
WeChat: 优质建筑大奖

Please download the event photos here.

Photo Captions
Photo 1: Quality Building Award 2026 now open for nomination. Ms CHANG Yuk Kam, Patricia, OC Chairlady of QBA 2026 (middle), Mr HO Chun Hung, JP, Director of Building, Buildings Department, HKSARG (right), Ir ZA Wai Gin, Tony, chairman of Jury sub-committee (left) are speakers of QBA 2026 award briefing session, sharing tips and information with potential award participants.

Photo 2: Ms CHANG Yuk Kam, Patricia, OC Chairlady of QBA 2026 welcomes teams from various regions to participate and witness the birth of more high-quality buildings.

Photo 3: Mr HO Chun Hung, JP, Director of Building, Buildings Department, HKSARG encourages prospective teams to join QBA 2026.

Photo 4: Mr ZA Wai Gin, Tony, chairman of Jury sub-committee said the theme of QBA 2026 revolves around creating a sustainable green smart city, encouraging industries to inject technology and green energy into architecture.

Hashtag: #QualityBuildingAward2026



Wechat: 优质建筑大奖

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

Moët Hennessy Elevates the Monza Grand Prix with Living Memories

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MONZA, Italy, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Since 2025, LVMH has been a global luxury partner of Formula 1 under a 10-year agreement involving several iconic LVMH Maisons: Louis Vuitton, Moët Hennessy, and TAG Heuer.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: 
https://www.multivu.com/moet-hennessy/9355051-en-elevates-monza-grand-prix-with-living-memories

At each Grand Prix, the wines & spirits division of the LVMH group showcases its iconic Maisons – Moët & Chandon, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Belvedere, and Whispering Angel – through exclusive on-track experiences that celebrate performance, excellence, and heritage.

But for the first time this season, Moët Hennessy unveiled a very special off-track activation, elevating its presence beyond its individual Maisons. A signature Saturday evening dinner, masterfully crafted by the renowned three Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura, brought together celebrities, distinguished guests, and legends of the sport in a setting of refined elegance.

The dinner took place at Garage 21 in Milan, an iconic venue celebrated for its contemporary elegance and sophisticated atmosphere. Guests were invited to explore an exquisitely arranged gastronomic journey, where each dish, inspired by a different Formula 1 moment, reflects Bottura’s creative genius, and was paired with Moët Hennessy’s iconic wines and spirits.  

During the dinner, an emotional tribute was paid to a very special guest, Sir Jackie Stewart, honoring his extraordinary career and his deep connection to Monza. Stewart, a three-time Formula 1 World Champion, achieved some of his most memorable victories at this legendary track, and he was also one of the first drivers to celebrate a win with the iconic champagne spray, a tradition now inseparable from the world of Moët & Chandon.

This weekend exemplifies the true strength of Moët Hennessy’s partnership with Formula 1: the ability to make an already thrilling sport even more desirable through a combination of on-track excitement and off-track luxury experiences. By blending the adrenaline of the racing with the elegance and craftsmanship of its Maisons, Moët Hennessy creates moments that captivate, inspire, and engage audiences on multiple levels. In doing so, the division not only celebrates the sport itself but also elevates each Grand Prix, making them a truly exceptional, multi-sensory experience where luxury, heritage, and performance come together seamlessly.

The Monza activation sets a new standard for MH experiences, affirming its commitment to curating living memories.

Please drink responsibly.

Contact:

Quentin DURAND

Head of Corporate Communications
qdurand@moethennessy.com

Adrien FRANCESCHI
Global Corporate Projects & PR Manager
afranceschi@moethennessy.com

 

Moët Hennessy Elevates the Monza Grand Prix with Living Memories
Moët Hennessy Elevates the Monza Grand Prix with Living Memories

 

 

Dieter Rams named 2025 recipient of WDO World Design Medal

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Advertorial Desk
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LONDON, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — World Design Organization (WDO)® announced today that renowned industrial designer Dieter Rams has been named recipient of the 2025 World Design Medal™ in recognition of his profound impact on the profession of industrial design. 

From his 34-year tenure as Head of Design at Braun to his projects with Vitsœ, the furniture company he co-founded in 1959, Dieter Rams is widely regarded as one of the most influential design voices of the 20th century, having set new standards for clarity, functionality and timelessness in design. His Ten Principles of Good Design have guided generations of designers, influencing everything from household products to digital interfaces, and continue to serve as a touchstone for design that is both human-centred and enduring. 

“Few designers have left a mark as indelible as Dieter Rams. His unwavering and long-standing commitment to design integrity have not only shaped the objects around us, but also the very values of our profession,” stated WDO President Thomas Garvey. “As laureate of this year’s World Design Medal, WDO is honoured to recognize his ongoing legacy, one that continues to challenge, inspire and elevate designers around the world.” 

Following a public call for nominations, Rams was selected by the World Design Medal Selection Committee. The committee, composed of members of WDO’s Board of Directors and Senators, acknowledged Rams’ lifetime of contributions that have redefined the standards of design practice.

Reflecting on this designation, Dieter Rams shared that “internationality has always been very important to me. Only through free, honest and collegial international dialogue and cooperation will we be able to shape our world sensibly in the future.” 

The World Design Medal 2025 presentation took place on 9 September 2025 as part of the World Design Congress programme in London (UK). The award was accepted on Dieter Rams’ behalf by Prof. Dr. Klaus Klemp, Managing Director of the Dieter and Ingeborg Rams Foundation. 

More information on the World Design Medal can be found by visiting wdo.org/programmes/world-design-medal. 

About World Design Organization

World Design Organization (WDO)® is an international non-governmental organization and the international voice for industrial design. Serving over 215 member organizations across the globe, WDO promotes and shares knowledge of industrial design-driven innovation that enhances the economic, social, cultural and environmental quality of life.

WDO.org 

About World Design Medal 

The World Design Medal™ was established by World Design Organization (WDO)® in 2017 to honour an individual who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the industrial design profession. The award recognizes the impact one designer has had on their peers, in their local design community and internationally.

Media contact: Natalie Dutil, WDO Communications Manager, natalie@wdo.org 

STRADVISION Enhances Data Pipeline and Secures Scalability with ‘Digital Transformation 2.0’

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Advertorial Desk
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  • Maximizes efficiency in autonomous driving training data processing with SVDataFlow-based integrated data management system

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — STRADVISION, a leader in deep learning-based vision perception technology for the automotive industry, today announced the release of SVDataFlow, an advanced version of the “Data Management Workflow” first introduced at CES 2025. This upgrade, developed as part of the company’s Digital Transformation 2.0 strategy, strengthens automation and optimization capabilities for large-scale 3D training data processing and secures scalability through hybrid cloud services.

SVDataFlow: An Integrated Pipeline Connecting Data Collection to Analysis

SVDataFlow is a comprehensive data management pipeline that automates the entire process for autonomous driving and ADAS development, from sensor data collection and ingestion to preprocessing, labeling, verification, and final analysis.

Key features include:

  • SURF Recording System: Synchronizes camera, LiDAR, radar, and vehicle CAN signals to ensure high-quality data.
  • AI-based Time Correction: Refines sensor timestamps for improved alignment of images and point clouds.
  • Auto-Labeling Engine & Auto-Sampling: Automatically labels large datasets and selects samples that directly contribute to model improvement.
  • Web Labeling Tool (Labelit) + ALAS: Supports semi-automatic labeling with pre-trained labels, reducing repetitive tasks and improving efficiency.
  • Quality Verification Network & WLS/WRS: Automatically validates and analyzes labeling quality, minimizing error rates and optimizing data reuse.

With this upgrade, STRADVISION has also secured scalability based on a hybrid cloud architecture that combines on-premise and cloud infrastructure. This design enables flexible responses to customer requirements: cloud resources can be expanded immediately for large-scale data processing, while projects with strict security regulations can be supported with on-premise operations to ensure compliance and stability.

Through the introduction of SVDataFlow, STRADVISION has already demonstrated significant benefits, including faster 3D data processing, a 30-40% improvement in labeling efficiency, and a noticeable reduction in operational costs. Notably, optimization of ALAS (Auto-Labeling Assistant Service) 3D map loading has significantly eased the workload of global operators.

“SVDataFlow is more than a data pipeline; it is a comprehensive management system that achieves balance across quality, productivity, efficiency, and scalability,” said Insu Kim, Head of STRADVISION’s Data Innovation Center. “We plan to commercialize SVDataFlow by the end of 2025, expand it into SVDataFlow as a Service in 2026, and roll it out globally. Through Digital Transformation 2.0, we will work with our customers to lead the global autonomous driving market.”

For more information on STRADVISION and its industry-leading technologies, please visit STRADVISION.

About STRADVISION 

Founded in 2014, STRADVISION is an automotive industry pioneer in artificial intelligence-based vision perception technology for ADAS. The company is accelerating the advent of fully autonomous vehicles by making ADAS features available at a fraction of the market cost compared with competitors. STRADVISION’s SVNet is being deployed on various vehicle models in partnership with OEMs; can power ADAS and autonomous vehicles worldwide; and is serviced by over 300 employees in Seoul, San Jose, Detroit, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Dusseldorf. STRADVISION has been honored with Frost & Sullivan’s 2022 Global Technology Innovation Leadership Award, the Gold Award at the 2022 and 2021 AutoSens Awards for Best-in-Class Software for Perception Systems, and the 2020 Autonomous Vehicle Technology ACES Award in Autonomy (software category). In addition, STRADVISION and its software have achieved TISAX’s AL3 standard for information security management, as well as being certified to the ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems and ISO 26262 for Automotive Functional Safety. 

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