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Cristiano Ronaldo Life Museum Set to Open in Hong Kong: A Celebration of a Football Legend

Tickets to immersive cultural attraction set to honor football icon’s inspiring career go on sale from 5th February


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 February 2025 – The highly anticipated Cristiano Ronaldo Life Museum is set to open its doors in July 2025 at K11 Art & Cultural Centre (6F, Kunsthalle), K11 MUSEA in Tsim Sha Tsui. The grand opening will feature several international celebrities, marking a monumental celebration of the football legend’s illustrious career. This state-of-the-art museum celebrates Cristiano Ronaldo’s career and the power of ambition, passion, perseverance and hard work; a beacon of inspiration for fans and visitors.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo

Featuring state-of-the-art interactive exhibits, rare memorabilia, and motivational storytelling, the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum offers an immersive experience designed to inspire greatness. The Cristiano Ronaldo Museum is designed to be a place where visitors not only celebrate the accomplishments of a global icon but also reflect on their own aspirations. Aimed at empowering youth and dreamers, the museum features motivational content and inspiring quotes to encourage visitors to unlock their full potential. The museum will be the first of its kind in Asia and aims to attract over 12 million visitors to Hong Kong, providing significant exposure for the city as a global tourist destination.

This initiative presents a unique opportunity for Hong Kong to unite and spread happiness throughout the city. The CR7® LIFE Museum will naturally inspire collaborations across Hong Kong’s hospitality sector, food and beverage outlets, retail businesses, tourism agencies, and the MTR. These synergies are expected to foster a collective movement called “HONG KONG UNITED,” encouraging all sectors to embrace and welcome tourists from around the globe. This organic connection aims to create a positive ripple effect, benefiting the entire city.

Tickets for the museum will go on sale on February 5, 2025, coinciding with Cristiano Ronaldo’s birthday, allowing fans worldwide to partake in this historic opening. Early bird ticket buyers will unlock exclusive benefits at merchandise stores, offering unique opportunities to enhance their CR7® LIFE Museum experience.

On February 5, a grand celebration will take place at the K11 MUSEA promenade to honour Cristiano Ronaldo, a global icon whose impact transcends the world of football. As part of this unique event, attendees can expect extraordinary surprises that promise to make the occasion truly unforgettable, reflecting the unparalleled legacy of this legendary figure.

In addition to the museum, two flagship merchandise stores will open in Tsim Sha Tsui and on Hong Kong Island between March and April 2025. Spanning over 3,000 square feet each, these stores will be the first of their kind in the world, offering exclusive Cristiano Ronaldo signed merchandise and memorabilia.

The opening of the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum at K11 MUSEA promises to be a landmark event in Hong Kong’s cultural landscape, offering an unparalleled experience for fans and visitors alike.

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

About Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is a global icon whose influence extends far beyond the football field. Known not only for his unparalleled skills and record-breaking achievements in the sport but also for his leadership, entrepreneurial ventures, and impactful philanthropic efforts, Ronaldo embodies excellence and inspires millions worldwide.

About K11

K11 is a global cultural brand founded in 2008 by renowned entrepreneur Dr Adrian Cheng. The company’s unique and original business model, “Cultural Commerce”, blends culture, art, and commerce to create an ecosystem that caters to all walks of life. With its headquarters in Hong Kong, the Group has expanded its reach and influence, achieving a significant presence across Greater China. Upholding its core values of Art, People, and Nature, the Group aims to democratise art, incubate cultural talents, advocate sustainable development, and inspire the new generations. In addition to its groundbreaking multi-development project in Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, K11 Art and Cultural District, the Group operates a wide range of businesses, including retail, workplace, hospitality, and luxury residence.

Looking ahead to the future, K11 is expected to attain a footprint of 38 projects with an approximate GFA of 3 million square meters in 12 cities across Greater China upon completion, and it continues setting new standards in “Cultural Commerce”.

VAIO Re-enters the Singapore Market, Debuts New Laptop

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 4 February 2025 – VAIO Corporation (Headquarters: Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, President & CEO: Masaki Yamano, hereinafter referred to as “VAIO”), today announced its re-entry into the Singapore market through a partnership with Unified-1 Solutions Pte. Ltd. as the official authorised distributor of VAIO products. This strategic initiative reflects VAIO’s commitment to expanding its footprint in Southeast Asia and responding to the growing demand for high-performance computing solutions.

The decision to reestablish operations in Singapore highlights VAIO’s recognition of the market’s unique potential. With its vibrant business ecosystem and strong focus on technological advancement, Singapore serves as an ideal base for VAIO to introduce its latest innovations and engage directly with consumers and businesses, effectively addressing the evolving demands of modern work and lifestyle.

Founded in 1997 as PC brand of Sony Corporation, VAIO established itself as a leader in lightweight and portable laptops and has become synonymous with innovative design and exceptional performance. After becoming an independent entity from Sony in 2014, VAIO has continued to uphold this legacy by focusing on high-quality manufacturing at its head office factory in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, located at the foot of the Northern Japan Alps. Today, approximately 90% of VAIO’s sales come from corporate laptops.

Introducing the New Laptop

As part of its re-entry into the market, VAIO is proud to unveil its latest laptop model, the VAIO® SX14-R for consumers and VAIO® Pro PK-R for business users, both sharing the same core design and performance capabilities. At just 1.08kg, the ultra-lightweight carbon fibre SX14-R and Pro PK-R redefine mobile productivity, offering seamless portability for users and professionals on the move.

The SX14-R and Pro PK-R is equipped with advanced features that enhance the user experience for various work environments. Its AI noise-cancelling function utilises multiple microphones to dramatically improve web conferencing capabilities, ensuring clear communication during virtual meetings, regardless of background noise.

In addition to its impressive performance, the SX14-R and Pro PK-R boast a large-capacity battery that supports extended use without frequent recharging, allowing users to stay engaged without disruption. The thoughtfully designed aesthetics elevate the laptop’s visual appeal, with a selection of colours including a unique deep emerald option.

Masaki Yamano, President and CEO of VAIO Corporation, said: “As we embark on this exciting journey in Singapore, we are dedicated to building strong relationships with local businesses and consumers alike. Our innovative features – such as AI noise-cancelling function and user-sensing capabilities – are designed to meet the needs of professionals and businesses prioritising seamless communication and efficiency. VAIO aims to empower users with technology that elevates their dynamic lifestyles and work experiences.”

Customers can experience and purchase the VAIO SX14-R at Best Denki stores, the authorised reseller of VAIO products, located at VivoCity Mall, Ngee Ann City, and upcoming in Funan Mall in March. Discover firsthand the innovative quality and exceptional performance that define VAIO laptops, now available in Singapore.

Our corporate products, such as the VAIO Pro PK-R, are available through our authorised resellers. Kindly find images of the products here. For more information, please visit: https://www.vaio.com.sg/where-to-buy

Hashtag: #VAIO

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

About VAIO

VAIO Corporation, headquartered in Azumino City, Nagano, Japan, was established on July 1, 2014, following a spin-off from Sony’s PC business. With its rich history and product philosophy of being ‘Inspiring,’ ‘Ingenious,’ and ‘Genuine,’ VAIO is committed to delivering exceptional computing experiences and becoming a trusted partner to its users.

For more information about our products and upcoming events, please visit .

About Unified-1 Solutions Pte. Ltd.

Unified 1 Solutions Pte Ltd is the exclusive Distributor and After Sales Provider for VAIO Products in Singapore. We have a team of skilled professionals that is dedicated to the course of establishing excellent customer’s experiences with VAIO Products.

CoCo Bubble Tea Makes Single-Store Franchises Available in Japan

For aspiring entrepreneurs, applications are now open for single-store partnerships; leading tapioca tea brand now offering:

  • New training resources with programming customized to the Japan market
  • Expanded logistics and supply channels
  • Expanded operations support domestically
  • A trust-based partnership with competitive terms for ensuring profitability and business success

TOKYO, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Leading tapioca tea brand CoCo Bubble Tea is announcing it will offer single-store franchise partnerships in Japan for the first time ever. To further facilitate partner success, the brand is also expanding training programs, operations support, and supply channels dedicated to the Japanese market, aiming to empower franchisees to fully harness the growth of Japan’s tapioca tea market. To share this opportunity with aspiring individual entrepreneurs, CoCo will attend the Japan International Franchise Show 2025 on March 5-7 (Booth 3034, South Hall 1, 3, 4, Tokyo International Exhibition Center).

CoCo Store in Kobe
CoCo Store in Kobe

To explore opening a tapioca tea shop with CoCo Bubble Tea, please contact: coco@coco-tea.com

Or visit: https://bit.ly/3OFKWWC

“CoCo has been dedicated to serving Japanese consumers the very best tapioca tea for eight years, and we are now aiming to do even better by significantly growing our franchisee network,” notes Kody Wong, Director of Business Development at CoCo Bubble Tea. “We continue to see ample growth opportunity here. With expanded support, favorable arrangements, and a proven model of business success with CoCo, these latest moves will unleash this growth while helping aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams.”

Continuing success in Japan’s growing market

CoCo has achieved consistent success in Japan since its first store opening in January 2017. Through its effective business model and steadfast dedication, the brand has diligently established itself as one of the major tapioca tea players in Japan.

Recently, CoCo has drawn significant interest from entrepreneurs seeking to establish a bubble tea franchise business in Japan, ranging from young tapioca tea enthusiasts to family businesses. Besides increasing demand, the move to open up single-store franchise partnerships is also driven by the market outlook for Japan, where the tapioca tea market is steadily growing after some difficulty during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Globally, boba tea’s outlook is positive as well. The market is projected to have a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.75% from 2024 to 2031, with the market value expected to grow from $6.01 billion in 2024 to $10.51 billion by 2031, according to the firm Market Research Intellect.

What CoCo offers as a franchise partner

CoCo is highly dedicated to serving Japan’s unique consumer landscape. For franchise partners in the country, it offers several advantages:

  • Localized training and supply infrastructure: Including training programs for success in the bubble tea industry and expanded supply and distribution channels to augment flows of boba materials
  • Proven success model: A major global footprint and high brand recognition, carrying over directly to the success of each shop; no hidden fees and a trust-based partnership designed for sustained long-term growth
  • Competitive terms: An extensive supply chain helps to stabilize costs for partners and offer favorable terms
  • Collaborations with popular Japanese brands: CoCo has a partnership with the candy company SENJAKU and has more new collaborations underway

Visit CoCo at Booth 3034 on March 5-7 to learn more.

About CoCo Bubble Tea

CoCo Bubble Tea aims to create a diverse and sustainable community for its consumers by providing visually refreshing products. We continue to be one of the fastest-growing companies and are looking for enterprising partners to join the CoCo Bubble Tea franchise networks. Check CoCo Bubble Tea’s official website and start your application now.

For more information, please visit https://www.coco-tea.com/.

 

Mango Pomelo Candy
Mango Pomelo Candy

EBANX: E-commerce boosts consumer spending in Southeast Asia and India, outpacing other emerging markets

With a 122% increase over the next decade, consumer spending in this Asian region is expected to grow more than in Latin America and Africa, according to EBANX’s Beyond Borders 2025 study. E-commerce to accelerate at 14% per year by 2027

CURITIBA, Brazil, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Consumer spending in Southeast Asia and India is projected to increase by 122% over the next decade, outpacing other major emerging regions such as Latin America and Africa, which are expected to see growths of 57% and 103%, respectively. This surge, based on projections by the World Data Lab (WDL), is featured in the new edition of Beyond Borders, EBANX’s annual comprehensive study on the digital market and payment trends in emerging economies. The study can be accessed in full and for free at http://bit.ly/EBANXBeyondBorders2025.

Driven by their youthful, tech-savvy populations and expanding digital ecosystems, Southeast Asia and India are experiencing an increase in e-commerce transactions, which is one of the main factors fueling the largest consumer spending growth among rising markets. According to Statista data in Beyond Borders, online sales are projected to grow by 14% annually across emerging Asian countries over the next two years, with India leading the charge.

João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX
João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX

The digital transformation and burgeoning middle-class consumer base in rising markets position them as pivotal players in the global e-commerce landscape,” said João Del Valle, CEO and Co-founder of EBANX, a global payment service provider (PSP) specializing in payments in emerging markets. With exponential growth in e-commerce and booming consumer spending, Southeast Asia and India, along with Latin America and Africa, have been playing pioneering roles in the payments industry.

There is ample potential for merchants, financial institutions, and other players to benefit from all the payment innovations emerging from rising economies,” stated Del Valle.

Payment innovations

Consumer demand for real-time, seamless, and cost-effective transactions has made UPI, mobile money, and Pix the leading alternative payment methods for online purchases in India, Kenya, and Brazil, respectively. UPI leads the overall online sales in India, with 55% of the country’s market, followed by mobile money, which accounts for 48% of Kenya’s total e-commerce, and Pix, with 40% of Brazil’s online purchases, according to data from Payments and Commerce Market Intelligence (PCMI) in Beyond Borders.

Features like Pix Automático, set to launch in mid-2025, will unlock new recurring payment use cases and accelerate adoption in Brazil’s e-commerce. Beyond Borders’ exclusive projections reveal that Pix Automático could generate over USD 30 billion in online recurring payments within two years of its launch, per PCMI. This is a substantial figure, considering this credit card-dominated market vertical currently handles USD 50 billion annually in Brazil. EBANX’s study also predicts that the new recurring feature will account for 12% of all Pix’s online transaction volume by 2027.

Pix, UPI, and mobile money are also among the fastest-growing payment methods in online sales across emerging markets, expected to accelerate by 35%, 18%, and 16% per year by 2027, in that order. Debit cards are also one of the “game changer” payment methods, capturing 32% of the market across emerging economies, and still sustaining a 24% CAGR by 2027.

Emerging markets are leading the global shift towards real-time payments, with innovations that match their populations’ demands for speed and convenience,” said the CEO of EBANX. “This results from an irreversible trend in the payments industry: the development of solutions completely adapted to local consumer behavior. And our report shows how this is taking place.

To read EBANX’s Beyond Borders 2025 study, access http://bit.ly/EBANXBeyondBorders2025.

ABOUT EBANX

EBANX is the leading payment platform connecting global companies with customers from the fastest-growing digital markets in the world. The company was founded in 2012 in Brazil with the mission of giving people access to buy in international digital commerce. With powerful proprietary technology and infrastructure, combined with in-depth knowledge of the markets where it operates, EBANX enables global businesses to connect with hundreds of payment methods in different countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. EBANX goes beyond payments, increasing sales, and fostering seamless purchase experiences for businesses and clients.

For further information, please visit:
Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx  

Media Contact:
Shan Huang
shan.huang@ahgstrategies.com 

Fear or FOMO? Kantar reveals how marketers can unleash GenAI’s potential

SINGAPORE, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics company, reveals that the majority of marketers feel unprepared for GenAI implementation and integration, leaving significant untapped opportunity on the table. A lack of role-specific training and high costs are among the hurdles standing in the way of wider GenAI adoption in the industry.

The findings come from GenAI for marketing: Fear or FOMO, an in-depth qualitative study based on interviews with more than 50 marketing and capability leaders around the world. The research identifies the key challenges and best practices for unleashing the potential of GenAI in marketing teams and sets out a roadmap to guide marketing leaders through the process.

The study highlights the gap between the potential of GenAI to revolutionise the industry and current adoption among marketers. Looking ahead to the next three to five years, the consensus among senior marketers and capability builders is that GenAI is going to be a game-changer, with interviewees rating its impact at 9.0 out of 10 on average. But organisational readiness is lagging, with most respondents admitting they’re not quite AI-ready (4.9 out of 10), though external partners like agencies and data providers are seen to be slightly ahead of the curve at 5.3/10. This lack of readiness is holding back marketing’s GenAI revolution, with respondents believing that the industry is still in the early stages, rating the current impact of the technology on the industry at 5.3 out of 10.

GenAI equals effectiveness, not obsoletion

While some of the reluctance about AI stems from fears around the preservation of traditional marketing skills, Kantar found that marketing leaders understand that expert oversight will be essential, and that it will continue to be necessary for a human to be in the loop. Additionally, without foundational marketing skills, marketers risk becoming overly reliant on GenAI, cutting corners and losing the ability to critically evaluate AI-generated content.

Speaking to Kantar, Stephan Gans, Chief Consumer Insights and Analytics Officer, Pepsico, said: “People also feared that the accounting business would soon become obsolete when Microsoft launched Excel. Instead, we have more accounting firms than ever.”

The four roles for GenAI in marketing

The study outlines four ways that GenAI is set to transform marketing:

  • Strategic advancement: building long-term brand strategies and challenging, validating and finetuning marketing outputs. For example, Group Bel developed its own internal GenAI tool, BelGPT. Amongst other functionalities, it connects market share, channel-based sales, and competitive data to see where the biggest growth opportunities for the portfolio sit, using AI as decision aid.
  • Operational efficiency: using GenAI for day-to-day execution, streamlining tasks and automating processes like data management, tracking and workflow automation. When Reckitt analysed how its marketers were spending their time, it revealed where GenAI could be most impactful. They helped marketers automate some of their most time-consuming tasks and focus on what really mattered.
  • Brand elevation: empowering long-term brand planning and innovation, using GenAI to help align marketing with overarching business goals, guide teams and influence trend forecasting. For example, Coca-Cola asked fans around the world what the year 3000 would taste like and combined this with insights from GenAI to co-develop a new limited-edition flavour, Y-3000.
  • Automated marketing: engaging consumers in real time with tailored content. GenAI can help marketers with tasks including automating media buying or personalising messaging for different channels, devices and languages. For example, AIA, one of Asia’s leading insurance companies, created AI Sonny, an AI version of footballer and brand ambassador Son Heung-min who appears in videos to welcome and onboard new customers in a more personal way.

Schwabe Group, a health and pharmaceutical company, is an example of how end-to-end integration of GenAI enables businesses to capitalise on these opportunities: “GenAI helps us to solve complex challenges and work more efficiently across our business. By implementing AI initiatives in departments like R&D, we are able to accelerate processes while ensuring we meet high scientific standards. Nevertheless, it’s important to say that humans remain at the centre of what we do. AI supports us in focusing on what truly matters – developing innovative solutions to improve health,” said Alexander Reisenauer, Director Global Digital Marketing, Global Brand & Health Interest Strategy – Schwabe Group.

Conquering AI fear and FOMO

The benefits of successfully adopting GenAI tools include reducing the product development cycle to as little as six weeks and creating world-class creative concepts in 60% less time – underscoring the need for marketing leaders to act fast. Kantar’s study sets out how leaders can take their teams on the journey from fear to enthusiasm, with a roadmap setting out an approach for strategy, ways of working, training and leadership in the short, medium and long term.

Lyn Lim, Head of Commercial Growth, Kantar Consulting, said: “The overwhelming consensus among senior marketers is that GenAI is going to revolutionise the industry. But reality today is that many companies don’t feel ready yet. We see that leading organisations are making the shift from using GenAI predominantly for efficiency reasons to now also driving effectiveness. Those that get it right will succeed by building excitement and understanding around GenAI among everyone in their business: how they can help them achieve more with greater efficiency, speed, and effectiveness. We believe APAC marketing has the potential to leapfrog the world in its adoption of GenAI, just as it’s led the world in other aspects like social commerce and mobile marketing.”

Click here to read GenAI for marketing: Fear or FOMO.

Notes to editors

Methodology: Kantar’s study is based on a combination of in-depth desk research and interviews with 50+ CMOs, marketing directors and capability leads in key markets in Europe, as well as Australia and the US, conducted over two months in Q4 2024.

About Kantar
Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies. We combine the most meaningful attitudinal and behavioural data with deep expertise and advanced analytics to uncover how people think and act. We help clients understand what has happened and why and how to shape the marketing strategies that shape their future.

Major new ETC report presents complete picture of global buildings sector emissions and pathways to decarbonisation

LONDON, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The latest report from the Energy Transitions Commission, Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible, draws a complete picture of the buildings sector’s emissions and energy use and describes how a combination of electric, efficient and flexible solutions can decarbonise buildings, improve standards of living, and reduce energy bills if supported by ambitious policy.

New Report from Energy Transitions Commission on Buildings Sector Decarbonisation
New Report from Energy Transitions Commission on Buildings Sector Decarbonisation

The global buildings sector currently contributes a third of greenhouse gas emissions (12.3 GtCO2 in 2022).[1] This comes from the use of fossil fuels for heating, cooling, cooking, lighting, powering appliances, and constructing residential and commercial buildings.

There is not a one-size-fits-all solution for decarbonisation, as different solutions work for different building types, countries, and climates, but three key priorities stand out for creating a zero-carbon dioxide emissions buildings sector:

  1. Electrification replacing fossil fuels: Decarbonising heating and cooking is essential. Currently, gas and oil heating accounts for 8% of global emissions, or 3 GtCO2. Switching from fossil-based heating and cooking to cost-effective electric and efficient technologies, such as heat pumps and electric hobs, is crucial and must be accompanied by the continued decarbonisation of electricity generation. By 2050, 80% of the energy used in buildings could be electricity; this would bring annual emissions from building use close to zero if electricity supply is decarbonised by then.
  2. Dramatically improving energy efficiency: Rising use of air conditioners and the electrification of heating and cooking would result in electricity demand for buildings almost tripling, from 12,800 TWh to around 35,000 TWh by 2050 if energy efficiency is not simultaneously increased. But this could be reduced to around 18,500 TWh via a combination of:
    – Improvements in the technical efficiency of heat pumps, air conditioners, and other appliances.
    – Improvements in the energy efficiency of both new and existing buildings, considering a range of so-called “passive heating and cooling” building design techniques, such as insulation and painting roofs white in hot countries.
    – Smart building management systems and consumer choices which avoid wasteful use of heating or cooling.

    These improvements, together with the deployment of building-level batteries and other energy storage, smart building control systems, and rooftop solar generation are particularly important for reducing the growth of peak electricity demand, which is a crucial driver of electricity system costs.

  3. Constructing efficient and low-carbon buildings: Constructing new buildings accounts for 7% of global emissions a year, or 2.5 GtCO2. Global floor area (area covered by buildings) is set to expand by 55% by 2050 (or 140 billion m2, which is almost 150 times the size of Hong Kong), predominantly in Asia, Africa and South America. If the average carbon intensity of construction remains unchanged, this expansion would result in a cumulative 75 GtCO2 emissions between now and 2050.[2] These cumulative emissions could be reduced to around 30 GtCO2 via a combination of:
    – Decarbonising the production of steel, cement, concrete, and other building materials.
    – Using fewer materials in building construction via lightweight design and modular construction or using less carbon-intensive materials such as timber.
    – Better utilising existing buildings via extended building lifetimes and shared working spaces.

“Decarbonising the buildings sector is a story of many transitions. It’s vital for our climate goals and it’s an opportunity to improve living standards and reduce energy costs. Electric heating and cooking technologies will significantly improve air quality and have lower running costs than gas heating and traditional use of biomass. Cooling is essential to quality of life, especially as global warming intensifies due to man-made emissions. It is possible to achieve zero-emissions, efficient, and flexible homes with low-carbon building design techniques and technology that runs on clean electricity.” said Adair Turner, Chair of the Energy Transitions Commission.

However, implementing some of the decarbonisation options for buildings poses more complex challenges than faced in other sectors of the economy, for instance:

  • For existing buildings, residential and commercial building owners can choose from many different low-carbon technologies and options to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, some of which can be disruptive and involve high upfront costs (e.g., roof or wall insulation, new windows, higher-efficiency heating and ventilation systems). The availability and cost of finance vary greatly between low and high-income households and across countries. Government policies must therefore combine clear targets to ban the sale of fossil-fuel boilers and cookers, with financial support for low-income families, as well as external finance (e.g., from multilateral development banks) to lower-income countries.  
  • For new construction, specific optimal solutions vary by country, regional climate, and building type, and there are sometimes trade-offs to be struck between designing to minimise construction emissions versus in-use operational emissions. In addition, construction sectors often entail complex value chains of subcontracting and a large role for small and medium enterprises. Careful design and implementation of building design and construction codes, learning from international experience but tailored to specific circumstances is therefore vital.

“Unless we can radically decarbonise buildings we will fail to keep global warming under 1.5°C outlined in the Paris Accord. To do that we need to make changes all the way through the design, delivery and operation of buildings – from electrification of heating and passive cooling, to reducing embodied carbon emissions for new buildings and refurbishments.” said Stephen Hill, Sustainability and Building Performance Expert at Arup. “This will require collaboration right across sector, between governments, industry bodies and private companies. We need to be ambitious, but if we get it right we can cut carbon, generate value for our economy and improve people’s quality of life through action like improving living conditions and reducing fuel poverty.”

Given the complexity of the buildings sector decarbonisation challenge, the report sets out a detailed analysis of 7 different, though overlapping, challenges. Summaries of the nature of the problem, clean technologies, and actions required can be accessed via the links below:

Topic

Key audience

The heating decarbonisation challenge (focus on Northern latitude countries) 
How electric heating and cost-effective insulation can displace fossil fuels.

Policymakers, residential households, energy and technology companies,
financial institutions

Increasing access to affordable cooling Managing rising demand in a warming
climate with a combination of passive cooling and efficient air conditioning

Policymakers, residential and commercial building owners

Improving access to clean cooking Eliminating the traditional use of biomass in
low-income countries and shifting to electric cooking solutions globally.

Policymakers, residential homeowners

Efficient lighting and appliances Improving the energy efficiency of lighting and
appliances in residential and commercial buildings.

Commercial building owners, technology companies

Decarbonising commercial buildings Creating strong market demand signals
for low-carbon, efficient, and flexible buildings.

Policymakers, financial institutions, building owners, commercial
businesses

Buildings within a clean energy system Managing total and peak electricity
demand from buildings via efficiency and flexibility.

Policymakers, energy companies and network operators

The new build opportunity Decarbonising steel and cement, combined with
better building techniques  

Policymakers, developers, construction companies, financial institutions

 

“Buildings are responsible for one-third of the world’s carbon emissions. Harnessing the power of electrification, on-site generation, digital controls, IoT, big data and digital twins can make a net zero-carbon future in our built environment possible. Incorporating these technologies into new constructions or retrofitting existing buildings benefits the planet as well as the safety, resilience, and comfort of our buildings.” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman of Schneider Electric.

“WorldGBC mobilises a global network towards the just transition of the built environment for people and planet. We are proud to support this ETC report. It is a timely reminder of the connection between buildings and the energy system. The two are intrinsically linked – we cannot decarbonise one without the other.” said Cristina Gamboa, CEO of World Green Building Council (WorldGBC).

“A comprehensive, informative and crucial contribution to advance climate action, this ETC report on building decarbonization provides a holistic and pragmatic view of how the building sector can transition to a low-carbon future. A must-read for policymakers and industry leaders alike, the report’s regional approach ensures tailored solutions and valuable insights from best practice to turn ambition into action.” said Roxanna Slavcheva, Global Lead for Built Environment at World Resources Institute (WRI).

Achieving Zero-Carbon Buildings: Electric, Efficient and Flexible has been developed in collaboration with ETC members from across industry, financial institutions, and civil society. The ETC is a global coalition of leaders from across the energy landscape committed to achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century whose members include Arup, bp, HSBC, Iberdrola, National Grid, Octopus Energy, Petronas, Saint Gobain, Schneider Electric, Shell, SSE, Rabobank, Vattenfall, We Mean Business, and World Resources Institute. This report constitutes a collective view of the ETC, however, it should not be taken as members agreeing with every finding or recommendation.

Download the report: https://www.energy-transitions.org/publications/achieving-zero-carbon-buildings 

For further information on the ETC please visit: https://www.energy-transitions.org

[1] IEA (2023), Buildings, available at www.iea.org/energy-system/buildings.
[2] Forster et al. (2024), Indicators of Global Climate Change 2023: annual update of key indicators of the state of the climate system and human influence.

 

 

CapitaLand Investment expands global data centre portfolio with development of its first data centre in Japan

The project will entail an investment of more than S$900 million and seed a future data centre fund

SINGAPORE, Feb. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI), a leading global real asset manager, has acquired a freehold land parcel in Osaka to develop its first data centre in Japan which will entail a total investment of more than US$700 million (S$944.3 million[1]). 50 megawatts (MW) of power capacity have also been secured for the project.

The acquisition is a testament to CLI’s strong global multi-asset class network and deal-sourcing capability. With this latest acquisition, CLI has added 23 data centres to its global portfolio since 2021. CapitaLand Group has 27 data centres across Asia and Europe with about 800 MW of power and around S$6 billion of assets under management on a completed basis.

Mr Manohar Khiatani, Senior Executive Director of CLI, who oversees the Group’s data centre business said: “CLI’s data centre portfolio has expanded significantly over the last few years and we are delighted to expand our footprint to Japan. The acquisition is not only aligned with CLI’s digitalisation investment theme but also enhances CLI’s geographical spread, deepening its presence in Japan, one of CLI’s focus markets. CLI’s strong balance sheet gives us the distinct advantage to invest strategically in quality assets including data centres for our future private funds. Japan is a Tier 1 data centre market poised for tremendous growth. It is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 10%, from US$23.8 billion in 2023 to US$38.7 billion in 2028[2]. It is also Asia Pacific’s largest data centre market outside of China with a 1.4 gigawatt capacity[3], with both Tokyo and Osaka being key data centre hubs in the region. Major cloud service providers such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle already have a presence in Osaka. Our acquisition is hence well-positioned to capture demand in Osaka’s established data centre cluster.”

Ms Michelle Lee, Managing Director, Private Funds (Data Centre) of CLI, said: “With the rapid adoption of digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) globally and especially in Asia, data centre demand is expected to enjoy double-digit growth and outstrip new supply. There is strong institutional interest in data centre investments, with 97% of investors planning to increase their overall investment in data centres[4]. Leveraging CLI’s global network and on-ground expertise, we have secured this off-market opportunity in Osaka with 50 MW of power. Since October 2020, CLI has successfully raised about US$600 million (S$810 million) for our data centre development funds in Asia. CLI continues to develop new data centre fund products. We will also build on our investment momentum and identify compelling investment pipeline opportunities for our private fund investors.”

The data centre in Osaka will be AI-ready and feature state-of-the-art design with sustainability at its core. It will be designed, built, and certified in accordance with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) or an equivalent Japanese green-certification standard. The facility will integrate energy-saving solutions such as advanced cooling technologies and adopt industry best practices in temperature management to enhance energy and water usage efficiency. Furthermore, the data centre will utilise products with zero ozone depletion potential or with global warming potential (GWP) of less than 100 to minimise environmental impact.

CapitaLand Investment’s global data centre capabilities
The data centre in Osaka is a testament to CLI’s experience in investing, designing, developing and operating data centres. Combined with CLI’s deep market knowledge, deal-sourcing expertise, and global investment network, CLI’s vertically-integrated data centre capabilities enable it to partner with investors to tap into the wealth of opportunities in the sector.

CLI’s ability to deliver world-class data centre solutions was clearly demonstrated recently when CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT) signed a long-term agreement with a leading global hyperscaler for its data centres under development in India. With the agreement, CLINT is likely to pre-lease about half of its total gross power capacity of around 250 MW across its four data centres which are under development in India. CLINT is developing state-of-the-art facilities in all the key data centre corridors of India, i.e., Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

CLI’s localised data centre teams are led by country heads with over 25 years of industry experience each and supported by a global Centre of Excellence for data centre led by Mr Kenny Khow, Managing Director for Global Data Centre. Kenny, who has over 30 years of experience, joined CLI in September 2024 to oversee the development and execution of CLI’s strategy for its growing data centre business in close collaboration with CLI’s data centre fund and country teams.

CapitaLand Group has data centre investments across nine countries such as Singapore, Japan, South Korea, India, China, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

About CapitaLand Investment Limited (www.capitalandinvest.com) 

Headquartered and listed in Singapore, CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI) is a leading global real asset manager with a strong Asia foothold. As at 30 September 2024, CLI had S$134 billion of assets under management, as well as S$102 billion of funds under management held via six listed real estate investment trusts and business trusts and a suite of private real asset vehicles that invest in thematic and tactical strategies. Its diversified real estate asset classes include retail, office, lodging, industrial, logistics, business parks, wellness, self-storage, data centres, private credit and special opportunities.

CLI aims to scale its fund management, lodging management and commercial management businesses globally and maintain effective capital management. As the investment management arm of CapitaLand Group, CLI has access to the development capabilities of and pipeline investment opportunities from CapitaLand’s development arm.

As a responsible company, CLI places sustainability at the core of what it does and has committed to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2050. CLI contributes to the environmental and social well-being of the communities where it operates, as it delivers long-term economic value to its stakeholders.

Follow @CapitaLand on social media

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/capitaland-limited
Facebook: @capitaland / facebook.com/capitaland
Instagram: @capitaland / instagram.com/capitaland
X: @CapitaLand / x.com/CapitaLand
YouTube: youtube.com/capitaland  

Issued by: CapitaLand Investment Limited (Co.  Regn.: 200308451M)

Important Notice

This announcement and the information contained herein does not constitute and is not intended to constitute an offering of any investment product to, or solicitation of, investors in any jurisdiction where such offering or solicitation would not be permitted.

[1] Based on an exchange rate of US$1 to S$1.349 unless stated otherwise.

[2] Statista, ‘Data Centre Market Size in Japan 2023-2028’, May 2024.

[3] Cushman & Wakefield, ‘Asia Pacific Data Centre H1 2024 Update’, Updated in September 2024.

[4] CBRE, ‘Investor Sentiment Report for 2024’, June 2024.

 

SK Telecom Joins MIT GenAI Impact Consortium

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 3. 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM) announced today that the company is joining the MIT GenAI Impact Consortium as a founding member to explore commercialization and industry implications of generative AI technologies with MIT faculty and leading global companies.

MIT GenAI Impact Consortium is an industry-academia collaboration to explore the impact of generative AI technologies on society and industry, with the goal of providing practical direction to the AI industry. MIT has been paying close attention to AI-enabled industrial transformation, with faculty members publishing 25 papers on the topic of generative AI in the past year.

As a strategic priority of Sally Kornbluth, President of MIT, the consortium is led by Anantha Chandrakasan, Dean of the MIT School of Engineering and MIT’s Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, along with faculty leaders who play a central role in selecting optimized projects, identifying research teams, and managing research efforts.

The founding members of this consortium include six global companies: SK Telecom, OpenAI, The Coca-Cola Company, Tata Group, Analog Devices and TWG Global.

The MIT consortium plans to select key projects and commence full-scale research this year.

By participating in this consortium, SK Telecom plans to share its competitiveness and development strategy with the founding member companies and explore potential collaboration opportunities. Also, SK Telecom hopes to deliver tangible results created with MIT to its SK AI R&D Center, in areas such as ICT, semiconductors and energy. Acting as SK Group’s AI technology control tower, SK AI R&D Center closely supports business operations in AI-based technology areas — including AI modeling, vision AI, digital twins and AI factories.

“The MIT GenAI Impact Consortium is the ideal bridge between academia and industry,” said Chandrakasan. “While Generative AI and LLMs are reshaping everything, the consortium aims to break down barriers, bring together disciplines, and commit to ensuring the benefits of Generative AI are realized throughout the world.”

“As a founding member of the MIT Consortium, we are excited to collaborate with MIT’s world-class faculty,” said Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom. “Building on global collaborations, SK Telecom hope to leverage the AI capabilities of the SK Group, with the SK AI R&D Center at its core, to drive AI innovation across industries. Beyond generative AI, we will broaden our scope to encompass next-generation research areas and to convergent Vertical AI such as physical AI, manufacturing, and biotechnology.”

About SK Telecom

SK Telecom has been leading the growth of the mobile industry since 1984. Now, it is taking customer experience to new heights by extending beyond connectivity. By placing AI at the core of its business, SK Telecom is rapidly transforming into an AI company with a strong global presence. It is focusing on driving innovations in areas of AI Infrastructure, AI Transformation (AIX) and AI Service to deliver greater value for industry, society, and life.

For more information, please contact skt_press@sk.com or visit our LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/company/sk-telecom.