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AI Is Rewriting the Economics of Marketing Agencies — and the Fixed Retainer May Be Its First Casualty

As AI cuts production costs and multiplies the output of small agency teams, a new model is emerging in Singapore: revenue-sharing, where the agency earns only when the client sells.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – For decades, the marketing agency business model has rested on one assumption: producing campaigns is expensive, so clients must pay fixed monthly retainers regardless of results. Artificial intelligence is dismantling that assumption from two directions at once — cutting what it costs an agency to operate, while multiplying what a small team can produce.

The savings start in places clients never see. Administrative work that once consumed billable hours — invoicing and quotations, client reporting, campaign documentation, scheduling and follow-ups — can now run largely on AI systems, stripping overhead out of every account an agency manages.

The bigger shift is in production itself. In video, AI now handles the foundation of the edit — assembling rough cuts, syncing footage, generating captions and preparing ad-ready variations — before a human editor applies the judgment, pacing and finishing that machines can’t. What once took an editor days takes hours. The same applies to design and ad creatives. The result: a small team’s production capacity multiplies while its cost per campaign falls.

That double effect — lower cost, higher capacity — changes what an agency can afford to offer. When servicing an account no longer carries heavy fixed costs, those economics can be passed on to the customer: instead of a large retainer that pays for activity, the agency can charge a minimal base fee and earn its real income as a share of the sales its campaigns generate.

Singapore agency touchmkt has built its business on this model, charging SME clients a low base retainer that roughly covers production, then earning 5–9% of the revenue attributed to its campaigns — tracked through conversion tools that tie each sale back to the ads that produced it.

“The economics simply didn’t work before,” said Charlie Tan, founder of touchmkt. “If every account carries thousands of dollars in production and admin costs, you have to charge for it whether the campaigns perform or not. When AI takes out the cost and multiplies the output, you can afford to be paid on outcomes. For the first time, the agency’s goals and the client’s goals are actually aligned — we only do well when they sell.”

The model does demand discipline: rigorous attribution, and the agency absorbing the risk of campaigns that underperform. But for small businesses long wary of paying retainers for activity rather than results, the direction is clear — AI hasn’t just changed how marketing is made; it’s beginning to change how it’s paid for.

Hashtag: #touchmkt #MarketingAgency #AI #Singapore #SME #DigitalMarketing



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

Touchmarket LLP

(TouchMarket LLP) is a Singapore-based growth agency for small and medium businesses, combining on-site videography and photography with AI-assisted content production and performance advertising. The agency builds websites, produces short-form video and branded social content, and manages Meta and Google ad campaigns with full conversion tracking — operating on a performance-based model in which its fees are tied to the sales revenue its campaigns generate. touchmkt works with clients across F&B and catering, education, beauty and skincare, renovation and home services, and professional services in Singapore. Learn more at or contact biz@touchmkt.com.

Speediance Names Cycling Legend Sir Mark Cavendish KBE Brand Ambassador and Launches “Build for Belief”

A global campaign connecting human resilience, global sporting culture and the story of a cycling icon—marking a new chapter in Speediance’s evolution as an international sports brand

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On September 12, Speediance, the global smart fitness brand creating connected training experiences for everyday life, named British cycling legend Sir Mark Cavendish KBE its Brand Ambassador and launched “Build for Belief,” a global campaign exploring the work behind belief—and the strength it takes to rebuild it.

Speediance Names Cycling Legend Sir Mark Cavendish KBE Brand Ambassador and Launches “Build for Belief”
Speediance Names Cycling Legend Sir Mark Cavendish KBE Brand Ambassador and Launches “Build for Belief”

Founded in 2020, Speediance set out to make world-class training more accessible in everyday life. Today, the brand serves a growing global community and is extending its role beyond smart fitness innovation to build a more meaningful presence in international sporting culture. The appointment of Cavendish marks an important step in that evolution.

Widely regarded as one of cycling’s greatest sprinters, Cavendish holds the all-time record for Tour de France stage victories, with 35 wins. His career is defined not only by exceptional speed and sporting achievement, but by longevity, adaptation and the ability to return when others believed the story was over. That makes him more than a symbol of winning: he is living proof of what it takes to rebuild.

The partnership debuts with “Build for Belief,” a campaign built around a simple human truth: strength is not about never bending, but about the ability to adapt, rebuild and rise again. Told through a restrained, intimate portrait of Cavendish in training, the film looks beyond race-day victory to the moments that make it possible—five in the morning, the doubt, the weight coming down, and the choice to return, rep after rep and day after day. This spirit reflects the people Speediance is built for: those who see training not as a performance for others, but as a disciplined commitment to becoming stronger than they were yesterday.

The same resolve shapes Speediance itself. The brand pursues excellence through intelligent digital resistance, connected hardware, personalized training and considered industrial design—bringing them together in a precise, professional and progressive training experience. The aim is not to promise belief, but to give people the tools to turn disciplined effort into progress they can measure, own and continue to build upon.

“Globalization is not product distribution; it is the translation of innovation into shared human meaning,” said Hongbo Wei, Brand Director at Speediance. “That is why this partnership is more than an ambassador announcement. Through Sir Mark’s story, ‘Build for Belief’ connects technology with human experience, global sporting culture and a belief people everywhere can recognise: strength is built through action, especially when progress is uncertain. It marks Speediance’s evolution from explaining what a product does to expressing why training matters in people’s lives.”

Seen in this way, “Build for Belief” is not simply a celebrity-led campaign. It is a global sports brand narrative shaped by four connected elements: the human experience of doubt and renewal; the cultural language of global sport; the lived story of an athlete who has repeatedly rebuilt; and Speediance’s belief that training can help people take ownership of who they are becoming.

To watch “Build for Belief” and learn more, visit: https://www.speediance.com/pages/global-brand-ambassador

The launch also reflects a broader shift in connected fitness. As technology and hardware capabilities advance, product performance remains the foundation of trust—but it is no longer the whole story. The next generation of global fitness brands will be defined not only by how intelligently they help people train, but by whether they can connect that technology to culture, identity and a lasting sense of personal meaning.

BUILD FOR BELIEF. SPEEDIANCE. OWN IT.

Focus Graphite Establishes C$2.0 Million Revolving Credit Facility with CIBC to Support Government-Funded Work Programs and Working Capital

Facility provides working-capital flexibility to bridge reimbursement timing under more than C$15 million of previously announced non-dilutive federal funding

Ottawa, Ontario – Newsfile Corp. – September 14, 2026 – Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV: FMS) (OTCQB: FCSMF) (FSE: FKC0) (“Focus” or the “Company“), a Canadian developer of high-grade flake graphite deposits and advanced graphite materials for battery, defence and industrial applications, is pleased to announce that it has established a secured revolving line of credit facility of up to C$2.0 million (the “Facility“) with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC“).

The Facility provides Focus with additional working-capital flexibility as the Company advances work programs supported by previously announced non-dilutive government funding agreements. In particular, the Facility is intended to help bridge the timing between Focus’s payment of eligible project expenditures, the subsequent submission and review of claims under applicable contribution agreements, and the receipt of corresponding government contributions.

Focus has secured more than C$15 million in previously announced non-dilutive federal funding to support development of its Lac Knife Graphite Project and downstream graphite-processing initiatives. This includes up to approximately C$14.1 million in non-repayable funding from Natural Resources Canada (“NRCan“) under the Global Partnerships Initiative (“GPI“), announced December 8, 2025, and up to C$1,378,700 in non-repayable funding under NRCan’s First and Last Mile Fund (“FLMF“), announced June 3, 2026.

The GPI funding supports Focus’s program to advance electrothermal purification of Canadian natural flake graphite and the development, piloting and demonstration of ultra-high-purity graphite production capabilities. The FLMF funding supports engineering, environmental, permitting, Indigenous engagement and feasibility activities associated with planned road and electrical infrastructure serving the Company’s Lac Knife Graphite Project in Quebec.

As these programs move further into active execution, Focus expects the scale and frequency of eligible expenditures to increase. The Facility is intended to provide liquidity during the period between the Company’s payment of qualifying project costs and receipt of eligible government contributions, allowing capital to be recycled as reimbursements are received while maintaining continuity across funded work programs. All funding remains subject to the terms, eligible expenditure requirements and reimbursement procedures of the applicable contribution agreements.

Importantly, no common shares, warrants or other securities of Focus were issued in connection with the Facility. The Company believes the addition of conventional bank financing provides greater flexibility to manage short-term working-capital requirements while reducing the need to access the equity markets solely to bridge reimbursement timing.

Dean Hanisch, Chief Executive Officer of Focus Graphite, commented, “The scale of non-dilutive government funding Focus has secured creates an important opportunity to advance Lac Knife, related infrastructure and our downstream technology programs while preserving shareholder capital. Because these contribution programs generally require eligible expenditures to be incurred before reimbursement is received, this revolving facility gives us an efficient way to bridge that timing difference and maintain momentum across our funded work programs. Our intention is to use the Facility as a working-capital bridge, reduce borrowings as approved government contributions are received and recycle that availability into subsequent phases of work where appropriate. Adding conventional bank credit gives us greater financial flexibility without issuing equity or warrants and supports our broader objective of minimizing unnecessary shareholder dilution as we execute on these programs.”

CIBC Revolving Credit Facility

Under the Facility, Focus has access to a revolving demand line of credit of up to C$2.0 million. Amounts drawn under the Facility bear interest at CIBC’s Prime Rate plus 2.00% per annum. Principal amounts borrowed and subsequently repaid may be re-borrowed, providing Focus with flexibility to manage recurring working-capital requirements as its funded programs progress.

Amounts outstanding under the Facility are repayable on demand. The Facility is secured by a first security interest over the present and after-acquired personal property of Focus Graphite Inc. and is supported by an unlimited guarantee from the Chairman of Focus Graphite.

The Facility may be used for day-to-day cash flow requirements, including working capital associated with the timing of expenditures and reimbursements under the Company’s government-supported programs, as well as for general corporate working-capital purposes.

While the Facility is intended to reduce the Company’s reliance on equity financing for these short-term requirements, it does not preclude Focus from accessing the equity markets or other sources of capital in the future where the Company determines such financing is appropriate to advance its broader development strategy.

About Focus Graphite Advanced Materials Inc.
Focus Graphite is building an integrated graphite platform to supply the industries shaping the future. Through the development of world-class graphite resources, advanced processing technologies and higher-value advanced materials, the Company is positioning itself to support battery, defence, advanced manufacturing and other strategic industries across North America and allied markets.

The platform is anchored by the Company’s two 100%-owned graphite assets in Quebec. Lac Knife is one of North America’s highest-grade feasibility-stage graphite deposits, while Lac Tetepisca is one of the largest identified graphite resources globally. Together with strategic technology partnerships and government-supported innovation initiatives, these assets provide the foundation for a secure, scalable and increasingly integrated graphite supply chain.

For more information on Focus Graphite Inc., please visit http://www.focusgraphite.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-graphite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusgraphite
X: https://x.com/focusgraphite

Investors Contact:
Dean Hanisch
CEO, Focus Graphite Inc.
dhanisch@focusgraphite.com
+1 (613) 612-6060

Jason Latkowcer
VP Corporate Development
jlatkowcer@focusgraphite.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words “could,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “projected,” “estimated,” and similar expressions, as well as statements relating to matters that are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company’s current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events.

In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information regarding, among other things, the Company’s intended use of the C$2.0 million revolving credit facility with CIBC; the Company’s ability to draw, repay and re-borrow amounts under the Facility in accordance with its terms; the use of the Facility to support working-capital requirements and to bridge the timing between the incurrence and payment of eligible project expenditures and the submission, review and receipt of corresponding government contributions; the anticipated timing, availability and receipt of reimbursements under previously announced funding agreements with Natural Resources Canada, including the Global Partnerships Initiative and First and Last Mile Fund; the Company’s ability to satisfy applicable eligibility, reporting, reimbursement and other requirements under those funding agreements; the continued advancement and execution of work programs supported by such non-dilutive government funding, including activities related to the Lac Knife Graphite Project, associated infrastructure and the Company’s downstream graphite purification initiatives; the Company’s expectations regarding the scale and timing of expenditures under those programs; the potential for the Facility to provide additional financial and working-capital flexibility, maintain continuity across funded work programs and reduce the Company’s need to access the equity markets solely to bridge reimbursement timing; the Company’s ability to reduce borrowings as government contributions are received and to recycle availability under the Facility into subsequent phases of work where appropriate; and the Company’s future capital requirements and ability to access equity financing, debt financing or other sources of capital where the Company determines such financing is appropriate to advance its broader development strategy.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to market conditions, regulatory approvals, changes in economic conditions, the ability to raise sufficient funds on acceptable terms or at all, operational risks associated with mineral exploration and development, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s public disclosure documents available under its profile on SEDAR+.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties, and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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

PRC-Saltillo Unveils Genesis Communication Devices, Opening New Possibilities for AAC Communicators Worldwide

WOOSTER, Ohio, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PRC-Saltillo, a pioneer and global leader in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), announces the global launch of the Genesis product line, a new generation of communication devices designed to expand communication possibilities for adults, teens, and children with acquired or long-term complex communication needs, including ALS and cerebral palsy.

The Genesis product line debuts with two highly customisable Windows®-based AAC solutions: the Genesis 13 (13-inch) and the Genesis 16 (16-inch). Backed by 60 years of engineering, clinical, linguistic, and communicator expertise, Genesis is designed to help communicators make the most of every opportunity with thoughtful design, access flexibility, and familiar tools that support everyday communication.

“Innovation is meaningful when it helps people connect more fully with the world around them,” said Sarah Wilds, CEO. “Genesis brings together thoughtful design, state of the art durability, and personalisation to open new possibilities for communicators across the global AAC community.”

Designed around real-world communication needs

Genesis 13 and Genesis 16 include features designed to support independence, clarity, connection, and comfort across everyday environments.  The new devices offer expansive, vibrant screens, a 7.62 centimeter (3-inch) angled partner display, customisable quick access controls, surround-style audio from front- and rear-facing speakers, a multi-angle kickstand, larger power and volume buttons, long-lasting battery life, and generous storage capacity.

Flexible access and personalisation

Genesis solutions can be customised to fit each communicator’s body, access method, routines, and style. Access options include an advanced eye tracker with improved outdoor performance, a head tracker, wireless and wired switches with two switch-scanning ports, TouchGuides, and keyguards. Communicators can also personalise their device with an all-black design, ten frame colours, a cushioned backpack, and heavy-duty mount options.

Familiar tools, trusted support

Genesis makes the transition to a new device feel familiar with many of the features and tools PRC-Saltillo customers already use and trust. Every Genesis device supports robust vocabulary options, including Unity®/Unidad®, LAMP Words for Life®, Essence®, WordPower®, CoreScanner™, and more, along with a Windows-based platform and Empower® and/or NuVoice® software for familiar navigation and a seamless transition.

Every Genesis device also includes PRC-Saltillo support for communicators and communication partners.

Join the Global New Possibilities Tour

To celebrate the global launch of Genesis, PRC-Saltillo is taking the New Possibilities Tour around the world, giving communicators, families, and professionals the opportunity to explore Genesis firsthand and discover what the new devices can do.

Genesis trial and purchased devices will start shipping in the U.S. in October. PRC-Saltillo AAC Consultants are available to share Genesis product information, answer insurance funding questions, and support customers as they begin something extraordinary. Customers outside the U.S. may contact their local PRC-Saltillo subsidiary to learn more about Genesis options in their region.

About PRC-Saltillo

Founded in 1966, PRC-Saltillo is a pioneer and global leader in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology for individuals with complex communication needs. The company offers a full range of speech-generating devices, industry-leading AAC apps, and research-based vocabulary systems. PRC-Saltillo is 100% employee-owned and headquartered in Wooster, Ohio, USA, with subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, Germany, India, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

ST Engineering iDirect Powers Datacom with Intuition Ground System for Cloud‑Native Ground Services Across Asia‑Pacific

Collaboration introduces a flexible ground architecture that enhances efficiency, enables multi‑orbit operations, and supports operators’ modernization strategies across the region

HERNDON, Va., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ST Engineering iDirect, a leader in satellite communications, is powering leading satcom integrator and service provider Datacom with its Intuition ground system, enabling Datacom to deliver cloud‑native services for satellite operators across the Asia Pacific region. Intuition improves bandwidth efficiency, enables multi‑orbit operations, accelerates network modernization without vendor lock‑in, and introduces a flexible bring‑your‑own‑hardware architecture.

“Intuition gives Datacom a cloud-native foundation that unlocks immediate efficiency gains, faster service activation, and the flexibility operators need as they move into multi orbit architectures. This partnership accelerates modernization by removing hardware constraints and enabling a software defined operating model built for the next decade of satellite services,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, CEO, ST Engineering iDirect.
“Intuition gives Datacom a cloud-native foundation that unlocks immediate efficiency gains, faster service activation, and the flexibility operators need as they move into multi orbit architectures. This partnership accelerates modernization by removing hardware constraints and enabling a software defined operating model built for the next decade of satellite services,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, CEO, ST Engineering iDirect.

As operators face unprecedented growth in data demand and the operational complexity of hybrid GEO and NGSO networks, ST Engineering iDirect is enabling Datacom to set a new benchmark for ground operations in the region. The deployment of Intuition supports Datacom’s Satellite Modernization Blueprint, a scalable, repeatable framework designed to help operators transition to software‑defined, cloud‑native architectures. Through moving away from traditional five‑ to ten‑year hardware migration cycles, Datacom will enable its customers to achieve immediate agility, faster service activation, and more efficient use of network resources.

“Intuition gives Datacom a cloud-native foundation that unlocks immediate efficiency gains, faster service activation, and the flexibility operators need as they move into multi‑orbit architectures. This partnership accelerates modernization by removing hardware constraints and enabling a software defined operating model built for the next decade of satellite services,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, CEO, ST Engineering iDirect.

Representing an evolution in the orchestration model, ST Engineering iDirect is equipping Datacom to manage hardware procurement, full lifecycle services, and ground segment integration. Intuition’s advanced resource management—including Global Bandwidth Management, the Mx-DMA MRC waveform, and automated resource orchestration—maximizes spectrum throughput and simplifies operations. Combined with the elimination of proprietary hardware premiums, these efficiencies target double‑digit reductions in total cost of ownership for Datacom’s customers.

ST Engineering iDirect will support Datacom’s transition by providing Intuition under a subscription model, along with technical enablement, validation testing, and ongoing lifecycle support. Intuition will initially be deployed across multiple gateways to support a large installed base of maritime terminals, with the critical capability to roam between the customers’ existing and Intuition networks.

“By moving to a cloud-native, software-defined environment, we’re giving our customers immediate agility and the ability to evolve without the limitations of traditional hardware cycles. This deployment is the foundation of our Satellite Modernization Blueprint—a scalable model that helps operators increase efficiency, optimize bandwidth, and compete in a multi‑orbit future,” said Boris Ng, CEO, Datacom System International.

With Intuition creating a pathway toward advanced architectures including 5G Non‑Terrestrial Networks, edge compute integration, and AI‑assisted operational workflows, Datacom and its customers are well positioned for long‑term competitiveness in a multi‑orbit environment.

ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering, is a global leader in satellite communications (satcom) providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their satcom networks. With over 40 years of delivering innovation focused on solving satellite’s most critical economic and technology challenges we are committed to shaping the future of how the world connects. The product portfolio, branded iDirect, represents the highest standards in performance, efficiency and reliability, making it possible for its customers to deliver the best satcom connectivity experience anywhere in the world. ST Engineering iDirect is a leader in key industries including mobility, broadcast and military/government. In 2007, iDirect Government was formed to better serve the U.S. government and defense communities. For more information visit www.idirect.net.

 

When AI Learns to Defend Itself: Edvance International, CWG Innovations and RealRelay Rewrite Agent Security

SINGAPORE, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — APEX Bootcamp: RealRelay Edition ran in Singapore on 12 and 13 September 2026, organised by the Digital Defence Alliance Singapore (DDAS) and co-hosted by CWG Innovations, a partner company of Edvance International. It was open to students and young working adults with no prior technical or AI experience. Over two days, teams designed an AI agent and built it on RealRelay.

The programme ran on the same platform a school would use. RealRelay was built for education first, and the two days compressed a cycle that a teacher and a class would normally work through over a term.

Two days in one room. Teams worked through the build with mentors moving between tables, and every team presented a working agent at the end of day two.
Two days in one room. Teams worked through the build with mentors moving between tables, and every team presented a working agent at the end of day two.

Who was in the room, and what they built

The first edition was oversubscribed within days. For this edition, participants were selected against three criteria: they were already serious about AI, they arrived with an idea of their own, and they wanted the two days to build it rather than hear about it.

Mr Aaron Ang, Regional Director at CWG, mentored the teams himself and took them through it in stages. By the end of the two days every team had a working Minimum Viable Product (MVP) AI agent.

“Before this I was jumping between four or five different AI tools and spending more time googling which model was supposed to be good for what than actually building. RealRelay put all of it in one place, so I could stop thinking about the tools and start thinking about the problem we were trying to solve. By the end of day two I had an agent that actually did something, and I built it myself.”

Lim Ying Yi Chloe, Year 2 Big Data and Analytics, Temasek Polytechnic

Participants were also impressed by the way RealRelay handles cyber and AI security. Those protections sit inside the platform, so the checks happen while the agent is being built rather than at the end, and that is key to building a good agent.

One platform, over 300 models

RealRelay is an agentic AI platform that aggregates over 300 mainstream AI models behind a single interface. Its agents are built from functional modules for information retrieval, courseware generation, email processing, business data analysis and team collaboration. Users describe what they need in natural language to create, publish and share custom agents on the platform. RealRelay will also support agent trading, so people can monetise what they build.

Built for the classroom, and more

Education is where RealRelay started. The goal was a full ecosystem rather than a standalone tool, so that students across disciplines can develop agentic AI solutions for their own fields. Teaching, collaboration and assessment run as a closed loop entirely on the platform. Lecturers take part in the whole development process, offering guidance and supporting iterations while the work is happening, instead of grading only the finished deliverable.

A dedicated teaching-analytics module sits underneath it. The module analyses classroom recordings and student learning data so teachers can read the state of a class in real time and identify where individual students are weak, which makes differentiated instruction practical rather than aspirational.

All of it runs under the same governance as the rest of the platform. The school controls permissions, security, auditing, retention and access centrally, class by class or department by department.

Education is the first of several verticals. The team is already building out cybersecurity, with fintech to follow, and after that the industries its own market research has flagged as the ones where agentic AI pays off earliest. Each vertical is built the same way: functional modules shaped around how that industry actually works, on the same platform and under the same governance.

Security built into the platform

Conventional AI platforms leave security testing to a separate purchase. A penetration testing vendor, a scanner, a red team and an auditor. That is four suppliers, four data agreements, and findings that arrive weeks after the work.

RealRelay keeps it inside one boundary. Build, test and govern sit on the same platform, with one supplier, data that never leaves, and findings that surface while the agent is running.

Within an organisation’s authorised scope, the security agent conducts a five-stage assessment covering more than 20 vulnerability categories: surface, identity, input, logic and proof. Unlike traditional tools, it carries out practical vulnerability exploitation before it generates a report. Outputs are risk ratings, reproduction evidence and remediation guidance. Once fixes are deployed, automatic re-testing and record keeping close the loop.

The loop re-arms every time an agent changes, which matters because agentic systems change faster than any assessment schedule can follow. The platform runs in cloud, on-premises and air-gapped deployments, and customers can hold their own keys and connect local models, so the engine sits wherever the data is allowed to be.

Because agent development and security validation are completed in a single closed-loop environment, there is no need to integrate multiple systems and vendors, and the coordination and compliance costs that come with them fall away.

Edvance International’s security DNA

Edvance International is a leading cybersecurity solutions distributor in Hong Kong with more than 20 years in the field, and has been applying that experience where artificial intelligence and cybersecurity meet.

Agents at scale create risks that conventional security methods do not cover, across creation, distribution and runtime. Supply chain exposure, data governance, and protection that cannot keep pace with iteration are problems an organisation meets as soon as it starts building agentic AI.

Against that backdrop, together with CWG Innovations, Edvance International has taken years of hands-on attack and defence experience and risk-governance practice and embedded them deep in RealRelay’s underlying architecture. Security protection moves from post-incident remediation to the product-design phase, with threat identification, vulnerability validation and closed-loop remediation running through the whole chain of agent building, testing and governance. Security becomes an innate capability of an AI agent rather than a retrofitted patch.

Earth Environmental Foundation’s Western Sichuan “Resilience & Symbiosis” Interdisciplinary Field Study Camp Sharing Session Inspires Youth on Climate Resilience and Ecological Symbiosis

Exploring Climate Resilience and Ecological Symbiosis – Advancing Education for Sustainable Development
Sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Jointly Organized by Earth Environmental Foundation and Chengdu University of Information Technology

HONG KONG, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Earth Environmental Foundation (EEF) hosted a successful “EEF Western Sichuan ‘Resilience & Symbiosis’ Interdisciplinary Field Study Camp” Sharing Session cum Press Conference last Saturday (12 September). The event celebrated the outcomes of this year’s Camp, continued EEF’s “School ESG Ambassador Programme” (SESGAP), and featured inspiring discussions on climate change, resilience, and ecological symbiosis, as well as cross-border collaboration between Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland. The sharing session brought together students, educators, government officials and industry leaders to reflect on the Camp’s impact and chart future directions for youth empowerment in environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

Distinguished guests, representatives of the Camp's sponsor, organisers and supporting organisations, and teachers from participating schools joined students as they shared their treasured memories and unforgettable experiences from the Camp.
Distinguished guests, representatives of the Camp’s sponsor, organisers and supporting organisations, and teachers from participating schools joined students as they shared their treasured memories and unforgettable experiences from the Camp.

The Camp was sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and jointly organized by the Earth Environmental Foundation and Chengdu University of Information Technology, with the PolyU-BGI Joint Research Centre for Genomics and Synthetic Biology in Global Ocean Resources and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Science Education Association as co-organising partners. The seven-day Camp, held from 4 to 10 July 2026, engaged around 50 teachers and students from five secondary schools in Hong Kong and Macau – South Tuen Mun Government Secondary School, Pui Ching Middle School (Macau), Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Government Secondary School, G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College, and Cheng Chek Chee Secondary School of Sai Kung & Hang Hau District, N.T. – together with Chengdu University of Information Technology (CUIT), in immersive interdisciplinary fieldwork across Chengdu and the western Sichuan plateau. Drawing on geography, architecture, ecology and social science, participants visited CUIT, Sichuan University, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Taoping Qiang Village, Xuecheng, and Yanwozhai Village in Songpinggou. Through smart meteorology courses, emergency disaster-response drills, and intangible-heritage Qiang embroidery workshops, students explored the earthquake-resistant architectural wisdom of the Qiang people, while a study of the horse-caravan (“mabang”) culture of Yanwozhai Village – covering equine behaviour, highland horse-taming techniques, and high-altitude patrols under Leave-No-Trace principles – deepened their appreciation of the symbiotic relationship between humans, horses, and nature.

Representatives from the five participating schools shared their firsthand experiences from the Camp. Students from EEF’s “School ESG Ambassador Programme” also shared their ongoing sustainability projects, followed by an update from Mr. Andrew TSANG, Chief ESG Development Officer of EEF, on the programme’s next phase.

Distinguished guests delivered keynote remarks and speeches, emphasising the event’s alignment with broader conservation and educational development goals.

The Hon Dennis LEUNG Tsz-wing, MH, Legislative Council Member, HKSAR, hoped: “Hong Kong’s primary and secondary school curricula can establish a more professional and enriched framework for environmental education, sustainable development education, and ESG education.”

The Hon Jonathan CHAN Pok-chi, MH, JP, Legislative Council Member, HKSAR, said: “I hope that, going forward, through positive interaction between the Government and the Legislative Council, together with civil society, academia, and organisations with a shared vision, we can achieve even more outstanding results.”

Mr. CHAN Kin Fung, Simon, Assistant Director (Conservation) of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSARG, said: “The Government has launched Hong Kong’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2035, which sets out very clear, long-term goals for Hong Kong’s biodiversity work over the next decade, with particular emphasis on participation by the whole community.”

Mr. CHEUNG Ki-tang, Jack, MH, Member of Kwun Tong District Council, encouraged the students: “I hope all of you will dream bigger about your future, and not limit yourselves.”

Prof. LEE Ming-yuen, Simon, Chair Professor of Biomedical Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, delivered a keynote titled “Resilience and Symbiosis, Nature’s Gift to Us: A Journey of New Drug Discovery from Mangrove Microbes to Corals,” in which he elaborated on new research methods and trends in biomedical science.

Associate Prof. KANG Ping, of the School of Atmospheric Sciences at Chengdu University of Information Technology, shared: “Resilience teaches us to understand and adapt to our environment amid change, and to find new paths through challenges; symbiosis teaches us that humans and nature are not opposing forces, but grow together through mutual respect.”

Dr. TSUI Yun Pui, Joseph, Chairman and CEO of EEF, said: “EEF’s philosophy is to advance environmental protection through technology and innovation, and to connect the world through education and practice – and this Western Sichuan journey is a true embodiment of that education and practice in action.”

The event underscored three key benefits. Firstly, the practical application of environmental stewardship and disaster-resilience knowledge through hands-on fieldwork. Secondly, the cultivation of students’ leadership and cross-cultural competencies through direct engagement with Qiang heritage, panda conservation, and highland ecology. And thirdly, the strengthening of cross-border educational ties between Hong Kong, Macau and the Mainland in support of Greater Bay Area development and sustainable, nature-based solutions.

The Camp was sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and jointly organized by the Earth Environmental Foundation and Chengdu University of Information Technology. The earlier opening ceremony in Sichuan was attended by representatives from the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government. The Camp received extensive media coverage, including from Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, Sichuan Education Television, and Qiangguo Hao.

Other co-organizers include the PolyU-BGI Joint Research Centre for Genomics and Synthetic Biology in Global Ocean Resources, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Science Education Association. Supporting organisations include the International Institute of Management, Global Universities Alumni Union, the Hong Kong Institute of Certified ESG Strategists, the Hong Kong Association of Financial Advisors, Hong Kong Engineering Associations Alliance, Hong Kong Institution of Building and Services Engineers, Hong Kong Society of Engineering Professionals, the Association of Chinese Internal Auditors, the University of Macau (Hong Kong) Alumni Association, and the Firefly Conservation Foundation.

 

Verdant Rock Secures 30% Quota Share Reinsurance Treaty with A+ Rated Panel, Expanding Emerging Market Guarantee Capacity

Reinsurance panel carries an average A+ financial strength rating from AM Best or S&P; treaty deepens security behind each financial guarantee Verdant Rock issues and unlocks capacity for future growth


HAMILTON, BERMUDA – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 September 2026 – Verdant Rock Limited (“Verdant Rock”), a Bermuda‑based Class 3B insurer and financial guarantor focusing on emerging markets, has closed a 30% quota share reinsurance treaty with a panel of leading global reinsurers. The panel carries an average financial strength rating of A+ from either AM Best or S&P, marking a significant milestone for the company less than a year after receiving its Class 3B insurance license from the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

The treaty supports Verdant Rock’s portfolio of irrevocable, unconditional and on-demand financial guarantees on private corporate, structured and project finance exposures across emerging markets. By sharing 30% of risk with highly rated capacity providers, Verdant Rock further strengthens its balance sheet, diversifies its capital base and enhances scalability for future growth.

“Securing a reinsurance panel of this caliber, rated A+ on average, at this stage of our development is a strong validation of our underwriting framework and our approach to governance. Every guarantee Verdant Rock issues now carries an additional layer of security from counterparties that have spent time understanding and believing in what we are building. We are grateful to each panel member for their confidence in us.” — Tolga Uzuner, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Verdant Rock Limited

This announcement is (i) for information only; (ii) not an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, insurance product, or financial guarantee; and (iii) not for distribution in any jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results, and Verdant Rock undertakes no obligation to update them. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security and may be subject to revision, suspension or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating agency.

Hashtag: #VerdantRock

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

ABOUT VERDANT ROCK

Verdant Rock Limited is a Bermuda‑based insurance company regulated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as a Class 3B Insurer. The company currently holds a BBB+ Long‑Term Insurer Financial Strength Rating with a Stable Outlook from Fitch Ratings. It provides Basel and ICS-family Solvency regimes compliant, investment‑grade financial guarantees on private credit exposures in emerging markets, designed to qualify as eligible credit protection under Basel and major insurance solvency regimes for banks, insurers and institutional investors globally. The company focuses on private liabilities and does not cover sovereigns, municipalities or provinces. Its remit covers bonds and loans issued by emerging market corporations and banks, structured financings, asset-backed (ABS) and mortgage-backed (MBS) exposures in securities or loan format, and project finance.