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Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit APAC 2025 sets bold targets to cultivate 30,000 AI talents and nurture 200 AI partners

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit APAC 2025 showcased how cutting-edge cloud and AI solutions will unlock economic growth potential for Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region while delivering transformative impact across key sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing.

Minister of Digital Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Gobind Singh Deo and Huawei Malaysia’s CEO Simon Sun at the Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit APAC 2025
Minister of Digital Malaysia, Yang Berhormat Gobind Singh Deo and Huawei Malaysia’s CEO Simon Sun at the Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit APAC 2025

The event was graced by Minister of Digital, YB Gobind Singh Deo, who in his keynote address stressed the importance of ethics and sustainability in Malaysia’s AI journey, noting that the country’s efforts are not just for national progress but are also critical to the broader ASEAN region.

“Our National AI Office (NAIO) has been speeding up the completion of the AI Technology Action Plan 2026–2030 and relevant regulatory frameworks to ensure the adoption of AI technology in key sectors in the country are ethical, sustainable and of high value,” he said in his closing keynote.

“Central to this ambition is Malaysia’s Digital Economy Blueprint, powered by initiatives like Malaysia Digital (MD). These efforts are amplified through strategic collaborations with technology leaders like Huawei. Every step we take is action-driven, grounded in strong public-private collaborations, to shape Malaysia’s digital economy,” he added.

In his closing speech, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Huawei Malaysia) Simon Sun, underscored the importance of the Huawei Malaysia AI Talent Programme in strengthening the AI talent pipeline.

“We have set the goal of nurturing 30,000 Malaysian AI talents, comprising students, Government officials, industry leaders, think tanks, associations and others, under this initiative in the coming three years.”

“We also plan to nurture 200 local AI partners through engagements, knowledge transfers as well as Cloud and AI solution collaborations with top AI companies. Huawei Cloud will also be the bridge to encourage AI investments in Malaysia, spurring homegrown AI innovation and solutions via tie ups with local players as well as through the inception of new Malaysian AI entities,” he added.

These efforts form part of the broader Huawei Cloud APAC AI Ecosystem Initiative, which aims to build a strong and inclusive AI ecosystem by empowering people and supporting local players.

The marquee announcements of the Huawei Cloud APAC AI Ecosystem Initiative were made by Sun in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, on the opening day of the ASEAN AI Summit 2025. The Prime Minister’s presence underscored the Government’s strong commitment to accelerating AI development in Malaysia and across the ASEAN region through strategic public-private partnerships and capacity-building initiatives.

Vice President of Huawei Cloud Marketing, Aka Dai, emphasised that intelligence is now a definitive trend, with cloud and AI as the core engines driving innovation and growth. He noted that ASEAN is seizing this strategic opportunity by building an “AI region”.

“Huawei has invested in ASEAN for 26 years, and Huawei Cloud has served the region for seven years. We will ramp up local investments as well as provide diverse, agile, and inclusive cloud and AI technologies to help boost regional economic growth, enhance competitiveness, and improve social well-being,” said Dai in his keynote session titled “Accelerate Intelligence, Ignite Smart ASEAN” on the first day of the ASEAN AI Summit.

Huawei Cloud empowers enterprises to fully harness AI through three core capabilities. First, Huawei Cloud’s global footprint spans 34 Regions and 101 availability zones (AZs), providing customers with ultra-low latency. In ASEAN, Huawei Cloud has built 5 Regions and 17AZs. Second, the AI Cloud Service with its open model ecosystem supports over 160 mainstream open-source models. Third, its industry-leading Pangu Models—a suite of multimodal models—underpin the “AI for Industries” strategy, helping businesses to rapidly develop dedicated models tailored to their needs.

The Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit APAC 2025, held on Day 2 of the ASEAN AI Summit, brought together approximately 300 industry delegates and featured the Chief Technology Officer of Huawei Cloud Enterprise Intelligence Ms Li Yin as a key speaker. Her session titled “Leap to Cloud, Heading to AI” highlighted Huawei Cloud’s deep collaboration with customers and partners that has led to AI applications across more than 30 industries and over 500 scenarios globally.

Through the Huawei Cloud Pangu foundational large model and ModelArts AI toolchain and proven engineering methodologies, Huawei Cloud enables enterprises to use their own data assets to rapidly develop customised AI models for high-quality incremental training, fine-tuning, and reinforcement learning.

She outlined three focus areas for Huawei Cloud’s continued investment: strengthening a secure and trustworthy AI computing foundation; applying ModelArts and the Pangu Large Model to power industry-to-business solutions such as enterprise AI assistants and AI video applications to transform sectors like smart cities, mining, railways, healthcare and manufacturing; and lastly fostering ecosystem growth by working with partners.

The rest of the speaker lineup at the Huawei Cloud AI Ecosystem Summit APAC 2025 included Head of the National AI Office (NAIO) Malaysia Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid; Vice President of iFLYTEK Open Platform William Zhou; Co-Founder of Zetrix Dato Fadzli Shah; Managing Director of TrustDecision Malaysia, Henry Li Nan; and Multimedia University Malaysia’s Professor Ts. Dr. Ting Choo Yee.

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About Huawei

Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 207,000 employees and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.

Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organisation for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will work towards ubiquitous connectivity and inclusive network access, laying the foundation for an intelligent world; providing diversified computing power where you need it, when you need it, to bring cloud and intelligence to all four corners of the earth; build digital platforms to help all industries and organisations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; and redefine user experience with AI, making it smarter and more personalised for people in all aspects of their life, whether they’re at home, on the go, in the office, having fun, or working out. For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on:

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http://www.youtube.com/Huawei 

Infosys and Telstra Announce Joint Venture in Australia

Accelerating AI-powered Cloud & Digital transformation for Australian enterprises

BENGALURU, India and MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the formation of a joint venture with Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company. Accelerating Infosys’ strategy to help clients navigate their AI journey, this collaboration will propel AI-enabled cloud and digital solutions for Australian businesses.

Infosys will acquire 75% of the shareholding in Versent Group1, Australia’s leading Digital Transformation Solutions Provider, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Telstra Group, that delivers cloud and digital transformation. Infosys will have operational control, while Telstra will continue to retain a 25% minority stake in Versent Group, reflecting its confidence in the shared potential for growth and customer value, combining Telstra’s connectivity, Versent’s local digital engineering expertise, and Infosys’ global scale.

Versent Group has earned its reputation by helping Australian enterprises design and implement cloud strategy with industry leading partners – delivering digital transformation with deep industry expertise. With a team of 650 engineers, advisors, strategists spread across Australia, Versent Group strengthens Infosys’ local presence. Versent Group primarily serves large blue-chip organizations with established presence in government & education, financial institutions, energy, and the utilities sector.

This strategic collaboration will see Versent Group’s cloud and digital transformation expertise boosted by Infosys’ advanced AI capabilities, Cloud, Data and Digital consulting services. The collaboration will leverage Infosys Topaz and cloud offering Infosys Cobalt, as well as the cybersecurity capabilities of The Missing Link. It aims to deliver a new wave of differentiated value to accelerate end-to-end digital transformation for Australian enterprises and government corporations.

In 2024, Infosys had announced a strategic multi-year collaboration with Telstra to accelerate its software engineering and IT transformation journey and enhance customer experience. Further, in 2025, Infosys announced a collaboration with Telstra International, to advance technology leadership, drive innovation and support Telstra’s new Connected Future 30 strategy. This joint venture is another key step in strengthening the strategic collaboration between the two organizations to further the technology transformation agenda for enterprises across the region.

Vicki Brady, Chief Executive Officer, Telstra said, “Our collaboration with Infosys reflects our confidence in the value we can unlock together. Their global scale, deep industry knowledge, and culture of innovation and service excellence will be instrumental in accelerating Versent Group’s growth and impact across the region.”

Salil Parekh, Chief Executive Officer, Infosys said, “We are excited to bring Infosys Topaz™ to enable transformative AI-first capabilities to complement Versent Group’s cloud-first digital foundation. Expanding our trusted collaboration with Telstra, with whom we share a valued relationship, unveils a new opportunity to further accelerate the innovation agenda for enterprises across the region.”

Oliver Camplin-Warner, Group Executive for Telstra Enterprise added, “We’re excited about what’s ahead as we deepen our strategic collaboration with Infosys. By combining the strengths of our three businesses, we’re creating a unique proposition that will help Australian enterprises grow and innovate in today’s fast-moving, AI-driven digital landscape.”

Anand Swaminathan, Executive Vice President – Global Head of Communications, Media & Technology, Infosys added, “By combining Infosys’ global leadership in digital services with the strength and trust of the Telstra brand, we are uniquely positioned to deliver cloud and AI solutions that are secure, resilient, and built for the digital needs of Australia and New Zealand. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment in accelerating AI-led innovation, and enabling a more connected, intelligent, and digital future for the region.”

Infosys is delighted to welcome Versent Group and its leadership team.

The transaction is expected to close during the second half of FY 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

1 Versent Group is Telstra Purple Pty Ltd and is the integration of Versent, Epicon, Telstra Purple Digital and associated Cloud Access products. Telstra Purple Digital refers to carve-out from Telstra’s Enterprise Tech Services/Telstra Purple portfolio, and excludes Alliance Automation Pty Ltd, Aqura Technologies Pty Ltd, and Telstra Broadcast Services Pty Limited.

About Telstra

Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company, delivering advanced connectivity across mobile, fixed, and digital platforms. We enable people, businesses, and governments to connect to what matters most—locally and globally. Through innovation and network leadership, we’re building a more resilient, responsive, and inclusive digital future.

About Versent Group

Versent Group is a market leading digital transformation partner, uniting the capabilities of Versent, Telstra Purple Digital, and Epicon under one brand. With deep expertise in cloud-native solutions and a commitment to delivering real outcomes, Versent Group is focused on helping organisations achieve lasting success in a simpler, stronger way.

About Infosys

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 320,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses, and communities. We enable clients in 59 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace.

Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence (“AI”), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law.

 

Ethereum Trades Above $4.6K as Bybit Releases 10-Year Outlook Report

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, today announced the release of its latest Crypto Insights Report, “Ethereum at 10: A Decade of Disruption and the Road Ahead,” as Ethereum trades well above the $4,600 mark, only 6% away from the all-time-high reached in November 2021. As the institutions’ demand for Ether as treasury is nowhere to stop, Ether is poised for an all-time-high as soon as this week. The report examines Ethereum’s first decade, its shift from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS), and its ambitious roadmap through 2035, outlining how upcoming upgrades could transform scalability, efficiency, and security across the blockchain ecosystem.

Ethereum now secures hundreds of billions in digital assets and processes millions of transactions each day. It serves as the foundation for decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the growing market for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). The Bybit report details how Ethereum’s planned upgrades, from danksharding and zero-knowledge EVM integration to the Lean Ethereum vision, are expected to deliver exponential improvements in scalability, efficiency and security.

Key highlights from the report:

  • Scaling for the Future: Upgrades will enable millions of transactions per second through sharding, Layer 2 rollups and a next-generation virtual machine, alongside single-slot finality for near-instant settlement.
  • Lean Ethereum Strategy: A shift toward modular simplicity, minimalism and quantum resistance to strengthen long-term resilience.
  • ETH as a Yield-Bearing Asset: Ethereum’s PoS model has turned Ether into a crypto-native yield benchmark, influencing rates across DeFi markets.
  • Institutional Engagement: Leading global institutions including BlackRock, Visa and Deutsche Bank are adopting Ethereum for tokenized assets and enterprise blockchain infrastructure.
  • Maintaining Leadership: Ethereum remains the top Layer 1 by developer activity and total value locked, while its Layer 2 ecosystem is expanding to capture more use cases.
  • Long-Term Forecast: By 2035 Ethereum could operate as a highly scaled and secure base layer supporting trillions of dollars in annual on-chain economic activity with a stable or shrinking supply of ETH.

The report finds that Ethereum is entering a decade of significant technological advancement and deeper integration into the global financial system. With its developer community, liquidity depth and adaptability, Ethereum is positioned to remain the core infrastructure for the decentralized economy.

Full Report Access
The complete Bybit Crypto Insights Report: Ethereum at 10 is available here.

#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk /#BybitResearch

About Bybit

Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

 

HolmesAI Closes Seed+ Round Funding, Pioneering the Future of Personalized AI Agents

HONG KONG, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — HolmesAI, a Persona-based AI Agent service platform, has successfully completed its Seed+ funding round with participation from prominent investors, including Bitrise Capital, Waterdrip Capital, and CGV Fund. To date, HolmesAI has raised a total of $3 million. The project received early-stage incubation support from both HashKey Group and a leading cloud computing company in the industry.

At HolmesAI, “Persona” represents a personalized knowledge base that enables Agents across various scenarios to really “think and act like users,” thereby unleashing human creativity.

The key to creating AI Agents with authentic “human-like” qualities lies not in algorithmic complexity, but in Persona – the unique personality framework that determines an Agent’s tone, expertise, and behavioral patterns. HolmesAI’s groundbreaking Persona system fundamentally addresses the personalization limitations of traditional AI Agents.

Through HolmesAI, users can build comprehensive Personas that include knowledge bases, language styles, thought patterns, and behavioral preferences, enabling  Agents to accurately simulate users’ cognitive and expressive patterns, achieving true human liberation from repetitive tasks.

The platform’s revolutionary innovation transforms each Persona into tradable digital assets. Blockchain technology ensures data sovereignty, allowing Personas to be deployed on multiple Agents. The more frequently a Persona is used, the greater the economic rewards for its creator.

“HolmesAI empowers everyone to own hyper-personalized Agents that truly reflect their individuality, finally freeing humanity from repetitive cognitive tasks,” said Chris, Founder of HolmesAI. “We’re starting with social media platforms, especially X, given how integral they are to modern digital life, before expanding to other industries.”

HolmesAI has officially launched its Persona-powered application for the X platform. This integration allows users to create their own personalized X Agents, enabling automated and tailored post generation. The platform will also roll out an “Ignition Program,” offering participants a variety of benefits.

The latest funding round, backed by several well-known institutions, underscores strong market confidence in decentralized AI Agents. “Autonomous AI is emerging as a key direction for the industry,” said Kevin, Partner at Bitrise Capital. “HolmesAI’s innovative Persona system enables a precise understanding of users’ needs, making personalized Agents accessible to all. We believe it holds long-term value in the Web3 ecosystem.”

SG Wireless and 1NCE Join Forces to Streamline IoT Connectivity and Rapid Prototyping

HONG KONG, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SG Wireless Limited, a full-stack IoT technology solutions provider and design engineering subsidiary of Season Group, announces a key partnership with 1NCE, a global leader in IoT software and connectivity services. This collaboration integrates 1NCE’s SIM card technology into SG Wireless’ F1 Starter Kits, enabling customers to benefit from seamless, zero-touch provisioning for a true plug-and-go IoT development experience.

The F1 Starter Kit is a comprehensive IoT development platform that includes multi-network connectivity modules supporting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, LTE CAT-M1/NB-IoT, and LoRaWAN, combined with developer-friendly tools and cloud integration. It is designed to help developers and enterprises quickly prototype, test, and deploy IoT solutions across various applications such as smart agriculture, industrial monitoring, and connected healthcare. 1NCE, known for its disruptive flat-rate pricing, currently operates the world’s largest IoT network in the cloud, with 30 million connected products across 170+ countries.

The partnership addresses a key challenge in IoT deployment-simplifying connectivity setup and accelerating time-to-market. By embedding 1NCE global SIM cards into the F1 Starter Kits, SG Wireless offers an out-of-the-box solution that allows developers and businesses to provision their IoT devices effortlessly, eliminating complex manual configurations. Supported by Season Group’s global manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Malaysia, the UK, and China, which provide quick-turn prototyping and flexible production scaling, this collaboration ensures customers can rapidly move from concept to production and deploy solutions in different regions with minimal delay.

Key Benefits of the SG Wireless and 1NCE Partnership

  • Plug-and-Play IoT Development: F1 Starter Kits come preloaded with 1NCE SIM cards, enabling instant, zero-touch provisioning for rapid device activation.
  • Global Coverage & Scalability: 1NCE’s global IoT software platform ensures reliable connectivity across 170+ countries, ideal for scaling IoT solutions internationally.
  • Cost-Effective Connectivity: IoT solutions can be deployed with predictable, affordable connectivity costs worldwide, leveraging 1NCE’s disruptive flat-rate pricing.
  • Multi-Network Connectivity: F1 Starter Kits support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, LTE CAT-M1/NB-IoT, and LoRaWAN, providing flexible options for diverse IoT applications.
  • Accelerated Time-to-Market: Plug-and-go setup reduces deployment complexity, helping businesses move from prototype to production faster.

Carl Hung, CEO of Season Group and SG Wireless, said, “Our collaboration with 1NCE brings together best-in-class hardware and connectivity to empower customers with a hassle-free IoT development journey. Integrating 1NCE’s reliable global SIM technology into our F1 Starter Kits means users can focus on innovation without worrying about connectivity setup. This partnership exemplifies our commitment to delivering end-to-end IoT solutions that accelerate product development and deployment.”

Nicolas Martinez-Fresno, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at 1NCE, added, “Partnering with SG Wireless allows us to extend our zero-touch provisioning capabilities directly to developers and enterprises at the earliest stages of IoT development. Together, we are simplifying IoT and enabling faster, scalable IoT deployments worldwide.”

The SG Wireless F1 Starter Kit with 1NCE SIM is ideal for developers and enterprises seeking a streamlined, scalable, and cost-effective way to build and deploy IoT solutions across industries such as industrial monitoring and connected healthcare.

For details on SG Wireless and the F1 Starter Kit, visit sgwireless.com.

To explore 1NCE’s global IoT connectivity solutions, head to 1NCE.com.

About SG Wireless:
SG Wireless Limited is a full-stack IoT technology solutions provider and design engineering subsidiary of Season Group. SG Wireless specializes in end-to-end IoT product design, prototyping, and manufacturing, helping businesses transform ideas into scalable, connected products.
https://sgwireless.com

About Season Group:
Season Group is a global electronics design and manufacturing leader, specializing in quick-turn prototyping and scalable production across multiple industries. With facilities worldwide and certifications including ISO and AS9100, Season Group delivers high-quality, end-to-end supply chain solutions that empower innovation and growth.
https://www.seasongroup.com

About 1NCE:
1NCE offers a software platform for connected products that delivers hassle-free IoT in 170+ countries. The software platform enables customers to easily, securely and reliably collect device data and turn it into actionable intelligence. It jumpstarts IoT adoption – accelerating time-to-market for data collection projects, increasing device lifetime, and allowing efficient management of sensors from initial deployment to the end of the product lifecycle.
https://www.1nce.com/

Press Contacts: 
Jasmine Leung, SG Wireless Limited, jasmine.leung@sgwireless.com
Brad Chase, 1NCE, brad.chase@1NCE.com

IPVF Confirms: LONGi’s BC Modules Hi-MO 9 Outperform TOPCon in Power Gen & LCOE

PARIS, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Renowned European third-party technical consultancy IPVF recently conducted a comprehensive value assessment of two 50MW ground-mounted PV projects in France and Denmark. The study provides an in-depth comparison of the power generation performance between LONGi’s BC module Hi-MO 9 (2382*1134mm) and mainstream TOPCon products (2382*1134mm).

Data reveals that LONGi’s Hi-MO 9 BC modules demonstrate significant advantages over TOPCon products in per-watt power yield, system costs, and particularly levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), delivering higher lifetime returns for large-scale centralized power plants. Multiple globally authoritative institutions including Enertis Applus+ have previously analyzed the field performance of BC versus TOPCon technologies, with all test results consistently favoring BC products. LONGi’s BC technology is now driving a new wave of technological transformation and large-scale adoption worldwide through its superior return-on-investment value.

Hi-MO 9 BC Modules Outperform TOPCon in Power Gen
Hi-MO 9 BC Modules Outperform TOPCon in Power Gen

• Superior Efficiency: Hi-MO 9 Delivers 1.84% Higher Per-Watt Generation Than TOPCon 

IPVF’s analysis shows Hi-MO 9’s exceptional low-light performance resulted in 1,210 and 1,639 hours of first-year generation in the French projects, surpassing TOPCon modules (1,187 and 1,611 hours). Similarly, in the Danish project, Hi-MO 9 outperformed TOPCon by 21 and 20 equivalent generation hours respectively, demonstrating robust power yield advantages. 

Since its launch last year, Hi-MO 9 has gained industry recognition through multiple outdoor demonstration projects. Integrating LONGi’s proprietary HPBC 2.0 technology featuring grid lines-free front side, the module significantly enhances power output and conversion efficiency—particularly maintaining high performance under low-light conditions. Combined with its high-temperature and humidity resistance in complex environments, Hi-MO 9 has become a globally sought-after BC product. 

IPVF’s consolidated data confirms that across all four power plants analyzed, Hi-MO 9 delivers 1.84% higher per-watt generation than TOPCon modules on average. This translates to greater lifetime energy output and higher commercial returns for BC-equipped power plants. 

Hi-MO 9 BC Modules Outperform TOPCon in LCOE
Hi-MO 9 BC Modules Outperform TOPCon in LCOE

• Cost Leadership: Hi-MO 9’s Superior LCOE Secures Competitive Edge

LCOE remains the critical metric for power plant economics, where module selection directly impacts project viability. IPVF’s analysis confirms that Hi-MO 9 not only increases energy yield but also optimizes project cost structures, establishing a solid foundation for maximizing lifetime plant returns. Crucially, Hi-MO 9 achieves an average 3.32% lower LCOE than TOPCon modules across the evaluated projects. 

Notably, this advantage was calculated with Hi-MO 9 priced 1¢/W higher than TOPCon. As HPBC technology rapidly evolves, the LCOE benefits of Hi-MO 9 will further expand, substantially boosting end-customer returns. With accelerating global deployment, LONGi’s high-efficiency BC solutions will elevate ROI for worldwide customers and propel the PV industry toward new value growth horizons. 

From pioneering monocrystalline technology to industrializing BC solutions, LONGi consistently applies “first principles” to reduce LCOE through technological innovation. Moving forward, LONGi will collaborate with global partners through dual drivers—collaborative innovation and ecosystem development—delivering advanced, reliable, and economically superior BC solutions, empowering the BC era with collective wisdom. 

No Drag. Just Drive. Vectorworks 2026 Coming Soon

Upcoming Version of the Design and BIM Software Empowers Designers with Smarter Automation, Seamless Customization, and Sustainability Insights.

COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks, Inc., is set to launch its most forward-thinking software version yet: Vectorworks 2026. Engineered to elevate every step of the design process, Vectorworks 2026, which builds on the provider’s “design-first” philosophy, is fueled by the evolving needs of designers today and informed by the challenges of tomorrow. This release delivers powerful automation, customizable features, and real-time sustainability intelligence, helping designers transform creative thinking into results that matter most for their business, clients, and our planet.


“At Vectorworks, we believe that creativity should drive business results, not be hindered by software limitations,” said Vectorworks CEO Jason Pletcher. “Designers are ambitious, and Vectorworks 2026 offers the tools to transform their big ideas into reality. Our latest version allows designers to work more efficiently, break free from busywork, automate manual processes, and unleash their design freedom, so their best work can move forward.”

Focusing on balancing creative exploration and technical accuracy, this release enables designers to streamline documentation, collaborate across disciplines, and meet environmental targets—all within a single, integrated platform, eliminating the headache of transferring files between programs to get work done.

For All Designers

Vectorworks 2026 encourages design freedom through smarter technology, focusing on optimizing major everyday workflows across multiple industries. Automated Depth Cueing of linework for elevations, sections, and 3D views enhances the legibility of your drawings by manipulating how objects appear based on how far away they are. This allows designers to achieve professional-looking depth and clarity in their drawings instantly, without adjustments, enhancing both the technical and creative aspects of their project work. Additionally, a new intuitive Worksheet interface that allows slicing and linking will provide speedier, complete page layout control of large reports.

The latest version offers designers improved access to emerging technologies that enhance their everyday workflows. Vectorworks Cloud Services now integrates seamlessly with the Vectorworks desktop application, providing a direct connection to the Vectorworks Cloud computing platform. This enhancement enables users to leverage the immense computing power of the Vectorworks Cloud for resource-intensive tasks without needing to leave the desktop application. Customers can stay synchronized, productive, and focused on their projects while taking advantage of the powerful capabilities offered by cloud computing.

Vectorworks is dedicated to continuously increasing the value of its subscriptions. As part of this commitment, Vectorworks 2026 introduces the File Health Checker palette, available exclusively to subscription customers. This new tool helps keep files in optimal condition and ensures that projects run smoothly and efficiently, especially when integrating files from external sources. Additionally, subscription customers will benefit from uninterrupted productivity thanks to Vectorworks Cloud processing for Revit imports. The Cloud manages large Revit file imports from consultants and collaborators in the background, allowing projects to progress smoothly and efficiently.

“Vectorworks 2026 brings thoughtfully refined solutions across all our industry sectors, streamlining routine tasks and allowing your focus to remain on realizing your creative vision,” said Vectorworks Vice President of Product Development Hugues Tsafak. “With enhanced automation and intelligent design documentation capabilities, Vectorworks 2026 helps you work smarter, faster, and with greater confidence—enabling you to deliver outstanding results every time.”

For Architects and Landscape Architects and Designers

The new version also highlights Vectorworks’ commitment to the built environment across architecture and landscape by delivering smarter, more sustainable, and more-connected tools to support informed design decisions and environmental accountability. The new Sustainability Dashboard combines several sustainability-focused tools into a centralized, easy-to-access dashboard with real-time monitoring, tracking, and reporting of your project’s compliance targets, including Embodied Carbon calculations, Biodiversity Net Gain, Urban Greening, and SITES Biomass metrics.

Additionally, improvements to the Massing Model tool allow for the planning of mixed-use buildings with custom floor heights and usage data during early-stage planning for even greater flexibility.

For Architects

Building on its history of continuous development and a foundation of trusted tools, Vectorworks 2026 emboldens architects to explore new frontiers in design with a software that meets the ever-changing needs of the industry without compromising creativity. With the introduction of the advanced Door and Window Assemblies tool, modeling complex, combined architectural openings is fast, smart, and intuitive. With the addition of this feature, architects will enjoy real-time, interactive editing, flexible layouts, and detailed reporting that enables creative freedom, speed, and construction realism.

For Landscape Architects and Designers

For designers in the landscape industry, Vectorworks 2026 focuses on a unified workflow for creative planting plans. This includes a new Plant Style Manager that can instantly build, manage, and customize the Plant Style library with continually expanding content, batch editing, seamless web data import from nursery partners, spreadsheet import, flexible plant placement and editing tools, and a streamlined content structure. This unified system saves you hours, keeps your plant data accurate and project-ready, and lets you focus on creative planting design.

With version 2026, you’ll also be able to create regulation-ready Existing Tree models that integrate effortlessly with your landscape projects. Plus, you can design and edit flexible Grade Objects along with Data Tag labeling for faster, clearer site plans. With input that matches the real-world result every time, you can confidently set Hardscape pathway offsets.

For Lighting, Scenic, Rigging, and Event Professionals

Vectorworks 2026 continues Vectorworks’ ongoing dedication to accelerating entertainment and live event professionals’ workflows with an added emphasis on quality. Designers can unleash their creativity with the new LED Video Wall tool, which streamlines the design and creation of any shape of LED wall, from basic straight to complex curves and three-dimensional forms, at any angle. Complete with intuitive drawing tools and instant reports for fully documented installations, this new tool enables professionals to deliver creative and fully documented installations with ease.

Professionals can increase their efficiency with more complex and realistic sidearms. A dedicated sidearm object and insertion tool, combined with smart clamp and equipment rigging, saves time and boosts design accuracy. Version 2026 also includes workflow quality improvements to the Bridle, Device Database, Shared Reports, and Showcase features. A new MVR-xchange Protocol eliminates the need for manual file transfers, allowing customers to commit and receive MVR files instantly with any connected application in the same network group, streamlining collaboration and reducing workflow interruptions.

Get Ready to Move Your Most Creative Work Forward

The upcoming English language release of Vectorworks 2026 will be available to active Vectorworks Service Select members and subscription customers in September 2025. For the latest news on the launch of Vectorworks 2026, visit vectorworks.net in the coming weeks and follow @Vectorworks on social media. Press members can contact pr@vectorworks.net for additional information, high-resolution images, press interviews, preview demos, and more.

About Vectorworks, Inc.

Vectorworks, Inc. is an award-winning design and BIM software provider serving the architecture, landscape architecture and design, and entertainment industries in 85 countries. Professionals worldwide are using Vectorworks on Mac and Windows to create, connect, and influence the next generation of design. Built with designers in mind since 1985, Vectorworks software offers you the freedom to follow your imagination wherever it leads you. Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with offices in the UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan, Vectorworks is a part of the Nemetschek Group. Learn how you can design without limits at vectorworks.net or follow @Vectorworks.

 

61% of Cybersecurity Professionals Plan AI Adoption as Manufacturing Faces Growing Cyber Risks

Global State of Smart Manufacturing Report finds cybersecurity is now the top external concern after economic conditions

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 13, 2025  /PRNewswire/ — Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today released the cybersecurity findings from its 10th annual “State of Smart Manufacturing Report.” Drawing insights from more than 1,500 manufacturing leaders across 17 of the top manufacturing countries, the report reflects how cybersecurity is becoming a central business issue. One third of respondents have direct information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity responsibilities.

61% of cybersecurity professionals plan AI adoption as manufacturing faces growing cyber risks
61% of cybersecurity professionals plan AI adoption as manufacturing faces growing cyber risks

As manufacturers advance smart operations, the integration between IT and OT increases the risk of cyberattacks. The report shows that manufacturers are beginning to use artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage these risks to strengthen protection.

“Cybersecurity is no longer just a technology issue — it’s a boardroom issue,” said Stephen Ford, vice president and chief information security officer at Rockwell Automation. “As IT and OT become more connected, the attack surface is expanding. Our latest research confirms what we’re seeing firsthand: Cyber risk is now one of the top threats to manufacturing growth. You can’t protect tomorrow’s enterprise with yesterday’s tools. AI is a critical part of the modern security stack, enabling manufacturers to detect threats in real time, maintain productivity, and stay ahead in an increasingly aggressive threat landscape.”

Key global cybersecurity findings include:

  • Cyber threats are among the most serious external risks. Cybersecurity (30%) now ranks among the top external risks, second only to inflation and economic growth (34%).
  • Security teams accelerate AI adoption. 61% of cybersecurity and IT professionals plan AI and machine learning (ML) adoption for security in the next 12 months, outpacing general manufacturing by 12 percentage points.
  • Cybersecurity tops smart manufacturing use cases. 38% of manufacturers plan to use data collected from current sources to drive protection.
  • IT/OT security takes center stage. 48% of cybersecurity professionals identified securing converging architecture as a key to positive outcomes over the next five years, compared to just 37% on average.
  • Cyber readiness is a growing talent priority. More than half (53%) of respondents from companies of $30 billion or more identified cybersecurity practices and standards as extremely important skill sets, compared to 47% of all respondents.

Workforce development continues to be a major hurdle. A shortage of skilled talent, training challenges and rising labor costs remain significant barriers to competition. As manufacturers recruit the next generation, cybersecurity and analytical skills are also becoming hiring priorities, reinforcing the need to align technical innovation with human development.

“Cybersecurity has become a business enabler,” said Ford. “It’s no longer just about preventing threats, it’s about empowering transformation with confidence. The most forward-thinking manufacturers are proactively leveraging advanced technologies like AI to stay ahead of evolving risks.”

The full findings of the report can be found here.

Methodology
Rockwell’s 10th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report analyzed feedback from 1,560 respondents from 17 of the top manufacturing countries with roles from management up to the C-suite and was conducted in association with Rockwell Automation and Sapio Research. The survey sampled from a range of industries including Consumer Packaged Goods, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Semiconductor, Energy, Life Sciences, and more. With a balanced distribution of company sizes with revenues spanning $100 million to over $30 billion, it offers a wide breadth of manufacturing business perspectives. Note that data and statistics referenced in this release may be sourced from the raw survey data and not included in the report itself.

About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 27,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries as of fiscal year end 2024. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.