TOMASZÓW MAZOWIECKI, Poland, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A new hyperscale data center campus with a target capacity of 3.2 GW will be developed in Lublewo, in the municipality of Choczewo in northern Poland’s Pomerania region. The project, named Baltic Data Center Campus, is being developed by WBS Power S.A., which has already secured grid connection conditions for the full 3.2 GW capacity.

Visualization of the data center in the municipality of Choczewo

“This will be the largest project of its kind in Poland and one of the largest in Europe,” says Maciej Marcjanik, CEO of WBS Power.

WBS Power has taken a strategic step into the hyperscale data center sector, positioning itself as an energy infrastructure provider for AI. The company is responsible for designing, integrating and delivering large-scale, stable and low-emission energy infrastructure that will form the foundation for the development of AI, HPC and cloud infrastructure. 

“This is a natural step in our growth strategy, enabling us to leverage the expertise and market experience we have developed over many years. We are building the infrastructure that will underpin the next phase of the global digital transformation,” says Hubert Bojdo, CFO of WBS Power.

Preparations for the project have taken several months and included the development of the investment concept, the selection of an optimal location and the securing of suitable plot for the development. The chosen site allows the project to scale flexibly across different technological configurations while ensuring access to sufficient power sources. The company is now moving into the next phase of the project. The campus will be built in four phases, each with a planned capacity of 800 MW. Each phase will include:

• dedicated energy infrastructure for AI workloads,
• integration with renewable energy sources and battery energy storage systems (BESS),
• solutions meeting the highest ESG, energy efficiency and energy security standards,
• platforms designed to support cooperation with global hyperscalers and cloud providers.

Preparatory work for all four phases is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, with the first data center planned to become operational around 2028–2029.

“The rapid development of AI is driving demand for hyperscale data centers supported by advanced infrastructure and reliable access to large volumes of power. The integration of renewable energy and energy storage with digital infrastructure will be a key pillar of competitiveness for next-generation hyperscale projects,” says Maciej Marcjanik.

The Baltic Data Center Campus will be located near one of the largest power substations in Poland. The power supplied to the campus will come from conventional sources complemented by renewable energy and, in the longer term, also nuclear power.

“The digital revolution requires infrastructure on an entirely new scale. We selected the location for the Baltic Data Center Campus very carefully, ensuring access to large power capacities, a diversified energy mix already in place today, and the long-term prospect of stable supply supported by future nuclear generation,” adds Hubert Bojdo.

The Baltic Data Center Campus is not the first project of this type developed by WBS Power. The company is also advancing the Finsterwalde Data Center project in Germany, with capacity of 500 MW, designed in response to growing demand in the German market for hyperscale data centers efficiently integrated with the energy system.

WBS Power brings more than 15 years of experience in developing energy infrastructure, including renewable energy and BESS projects, high-voltage grid infrastructure and powered-land developments.

The company’s activity in Poland and Germany reflects a broader trend of building a new European AI infrastructure landscape.

“We are proud that a Polish company can contribute to Europe’s energy and digital transformation, strengthening its economic competitiveness and technological sovereignty,” concludes Maciej Marcjanik.

CONTACT: Pola Królak, p.krolak@wbspower.com 

Sydney-based Oracle AI Customer Excellence Centre will serve as a regional hub to help organisations adopt the latest AI innovations and accelerate business transformation

SYDNEY, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Oracle AI World Tour — Oracle today announced the launch of its AI Customer Excellence Centre in Sydney to help organisations keep pace with rapid AI advancements. The Oracle AI Customer Excellence Centre (AI CEC) will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration, bringing together leaders to drive AI adoption and success across Australia and Oceania.

“AI will change everything and it will fuel the next wave of opportunity and growth,” said Stephen Bovis, regional managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Oracle. “The Oracle AI Customer Excellence Centre reflects Oracle’s commitment to helping customers, partners, and developers across Australia and Oceania innovate faster using cutting-edge cloud and AI technologies. It will help build the skills and ecosystem needed to support Australia’s digital economy by enabling organisations of all sizes to experiment, learn, and turn innovation into real-world impact.”

The Oracle AI CEC builds on Oracle’s longstanding commitment to supporting governments and enterprises across Australia and Oceania. Through strategic ecosystem partnerships and as part of a global network of innovation centres, these facilities enable customers to design architect, and validate solutions in secured, scalable environments. The Oracle AI CEC provides access to Oracle and third-party technologies, along with flexible deployment options through Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to help organisations reduce complexity, accelerate decision-making, and speed time to market.

Supported by a dedicated team of Oracle experts and a network of partners, the Oracle AI CEC is designed to help organisations train teams, test innovations in secured cloud environments, and gain the knowledge needed to transform critical business operations. Benefits of the Oracle AI CEC include:

• Training: Provides organisations access to training and certifications on the latest cloud and AI technologies led by Oracle University and ecosystem partners.
• Experimentation: Enables organisations to test early-stage AI innovations in secured cloud environments. Using Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, organisations can explore agentic AI, AI-powered analytics, generative AI, and machine learning across multiple industries, including public sector, healthcare, financial services, and telecommunications.
• Transformation: Enables organisations to conduct proof-of-concept projects and lay the foundation for full-scale implementation by allowing them to pilot AI initiatives to test their feasibility and potential benefits.
• Rapid Implementation: Enables organisations to quickly adopt new predictive, generative, and agentic AI features embedded in finance, HR, supply chain, sales, service, and marketing workflows. With the powerful AI capabilities embedded across Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite, organisations can help increase productivity, reduce costs, expand insights, and improve the employee and customer experience.

Analysts and Customers on the Launch of the Oracle AI Centre of Excellence Sydney
“Artificial intelligence is fuelling unprecedented global demand for cloud infrastructure, data platforms and storage. ADAPT’s latest Edge research shows Australian organisations are already experiencing a 23% surge in compute demand, with a further 26% growth expected in the coming year as AI moves from pilots to production. As spending rises, boards and leadership teams want clear proof of AI’s financial impact. With funding constraints and competing priorities still major barriers, technology leaders are under pressure to demonstrate measurable returns. Centres of Excellence, such as the one being launched in Sydney by Oracle, could help accelerate the shift from AI experimentation to real business value while strengthening Australia’s innovation capability,” said Matt Boon, senior research director, ADAPT.

“Access to a local Centre of Excellence gives us a practical environment to experiment, learn, and validate AI solutions in real-world conditions before committing to broader deployment,” said Ryan Klose, executive general manager, chief information officer, Royal Flying Doctor Services. “It’s not just a showcase of what AI can do, it’s a place to reimagine what’s possible for our organisation. With the support of Oracle’s technology and partner ecosystem, we can reduce risk, accelerate time-to-value, and ensure the AI initiatives we scale are grounded in real operational needs and deliver measurable impact.” 

Oracle continues to work with industry, governments and partners to promote responsible, secure, and trustworthy AI adoption.

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

About Oracle AI World Tour
Oracle AI World Tour is where customers and partners discover the latest product and technology innovations, see how AI is being applied across industries, and connect with experts and peers. Attendees will gain practical tips and insights to drive immediate impact within their organisations and explore how Oracle is helping unlock the full potential of cloud and AI. Join the event to see new capabilities in action and hear from thought leaders and industry movers. Register now at oracle.com/ai-world tour or follow the news and conversation at oracle.com/news and linkedin.com/company/oracle.

Trademarks
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MANILLA, Philippines, March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Great Place To Work® ASEAN & ANZ has announced the annual Best Workplaces in The Philippines 2026.

This year’s recognition is built on insights from 241,285 employees, representing the voices of 450,074 workers all across The Philippines, making it one of the most comprehensive workplace culture studies in the country.

“The Philippines has always had an extraordinary relationship with people. We have a culture rooted in community, in bayanihan, and in the belief that everyone deserves to be valued. The Philippines today is also at an exciting inflection point, with a young, dynamic, and deeply committed workforce ready to compete on the world stage.”

“The organizations we recognize are proving that when trust is placed at the heart of a workplace, Filipino talent can lead. These organizations are setting the benchmark of trust and inclusion which will be the foundation of business leadership for the next generation.”
 – General Manager of Great Place To Work Philippines, Charles Plumley.

The list recognises 55 organisations across Small, Medium and Large categories that have demonstrated exceptional workplace culture and consistently delivered a high-trust employee experience.  Best Workplaces™ in The Philippines 2026

• Synchrony(Large category: 1,000 or more employees)
• Hilton(Medium category: 100–999 employees)
• AbbVie Sdn Bhd(Small category: 30–99 employees)

Discover the full list of Best Workplaces in The Philippines 2026 here 

“We are grateful to be recognized by Great Place to Work as one of the Philippines’ Best Workplaces for seven years running, which underscores our commitment to a supportive, collaborative, and high-performing environment. Our people-first culture centers on growth, well-being, and meaningful work. We listen, learn, and act, building trust and accountability so every employee has the support and opportunity to thrive.” – Gaurav Sehgal, Senior Vice President, HR, Asia Synchrony

“We are super excited to be ranked among the Philippines Best Workplaces for the fourth consecutive year! Taking part in this list is a strong validation of our efforts in continuously reassessing and improving everyone’s experience in Kollab. This award is a reminder for us to continue looking for ways to improve our people-focused culture.” – Herald Uy, CEO, Kollab Herald Uy

“Being named a Best Workplace tells the world that we are living up to our name. Carelon was built on the promise of total and complete care and that commitment shapes how we build our workplace, how we serve our partners, and how we show up for the communities around us. Over the past few years, we have grown into a global capability center defined by innovation, advanced technology, and a deep commitment to inclusion and nation-building in the Philippines.” – Nicki Agcaoili, VP & Chief Country Executive, Carelon Global Solutions Philippines

Rigorous, Employee-First Methodology

The Best Workplaces in The Philippines 2026 list is determined using the Great Place To Work Trust Index™ Survey, the global standard for measuring workplace culture. Rankings are based entirely on employee feedback about both the quality and consistency of their experience across an organization. Survey responses are analyzed across different demographic groups and roles, with workplaces that earn enough points becoming Great Place To Work Certified, and the best receiving recognition on a globally recognized Best Workplaces List.

“One of the distinguishing factors of Great Place To Work is that our model is built on the idea of a great place to work for all, the ideal of inclusiveness. As the Philippines builds its next-generation workforce, helping organizations scale and amplify a culture of trust, regardless of background or where people come from, is foundational.” – Evelyn Kwek, Managing Director, Great Place To Work® ASEAN & ANZ

MEDIA CONTACT 
Alice Williams
Email: alice.williams@greatplacetowork.com  
Follow Great Place To Work on LinkedIn, Instagram or visit greatplacetowork.com.ph 

Peer-reviewed economic analysis finds a combined ESR + CRP testing strategy reduces misdiagnoses and delivers net cost savings compared to CRP alone

SMITHFIELD, R.I., March 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

ESR and CRP are complementary

The $9.95 Million Question: Is ESR Worth Keeping?

A new ALCOR Scientific sponsored peer-reviewed study published in ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research makes a powerful economic case for retaining erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) testing alongside C-reactive protein (CRP) for managing patients with inflammatory conditions — directly challenging calls to eliminate ESR in the name of cost savings. 

The study found that combining ESR with CRP reduces misdiagnoses and generates substantial net cost savings compared to ordering CRP alone.

For a representative 739-bed academic medical center in the United States, the analysis projects net annual savings of $9.95 million from reduced follow-up costs associated with misdiagnoses — driven primarily by avoided unnecessary workup from false positives associated with CRP.

ESR and CRP Are Not the Same Test

Critics of combined testing have argued that ESR and CRP are redundant. This study challenges that assumption head-on.

“The kinetics of CRP and ESR are fundamentally different,” the authors note. CRP rises rapidly within hours of acute inflammation and normalizes within days. ESR, by contrast, increases more slowly over 24–48 hours and remains elevated longer — making it especially valuable for detecting chronic and subacute inflammatory conditions like polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, lupus, and certain malignancies.

These biological differences mean the two tests provide complementary, not redundant, clinical information. Using both — when interpreted correctly — improves diagnostic accuracy in ways that a single test cannot replicate.

Why This Research Matters

The findings arrive at a pivotal moment in value-based care. The former “Choosing Wisely” initiative pressured hospitals to cut “redundant” laboratory testing, with ESR frequently cited as a target. This initiative began when ESR was still a manual test – not fully automated like it is today – and when there was minimal evidence on the financial impact to health systems.

Automated ESR is reimbursed in the US at just $2.70 per test – less than a cup of coffee – and fully automated testing no longer burdens the clinical laboratory with hands-on time. The incremental investment is minimal when tested alongside CRP. The return — in the form of avoided misdiagnoses and their downstream follow-up costs — is orders of magnitude greater. Lab testing costs are typically well below the reimbursement rate, further strengthening the cost effectiveness of ESR.

“Modern ESR analyzers are fast, automated, and inexpensive,” the authors write. “The older argument that ESR is burdensome to laboratory resources no longer holds. The question is whether the diagnostic value justifies the cost — and for the ESR + CRP strategy, the answer is clearly yes.”

Study Design and Scope

The study used a decision-tree economic model simulating cohorts of 100 patients, evaluated from the U.S. healthcare system payer perspective. Eight conditions were analyzed: rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, periprosthetic joint infection, giant cell arteritis, pancreatitis, infection, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.

Sensitivity and specificity data were drawn from published clinical literature. Costs were sourced from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reimbursement rates (ESR: $2.70; CRP: $5.18). Follow-up costs for misdiagnoses were derived from U.S. clinical guidelines and validated by clinicians.

Results were robust across scenario analyses varying test costs, follow-up costs, and diagnostic accuracy inputs.

Takeaway

It turns out cutting ESR to save money has the opposite effect. When ESR and CRP are used together, misdiagnoses fall and follow-up costs fall with them. ESR is fast, automated, and cheap. The argument for dropping it doesn’t hold up when the cost to the overall health system is evaluated.

If testing ESR and CRP together – two fully automated, low cost markers of inflammation – helps reduce misdiagnoses, why does the push to reduce ESR testing persist? The real world impact of testing ESR and CRP alongside each other depends on the institution, disease, patient population, disease prevalence, and so on. However, keeping a time-tested, clinically valuable test that costs payers just $2.70 in order to help prevent unnecessary follow up testing just makes sense.

About the Study

Citation: Yarnoff B, Morris W, Zivaripiran H, McCutcheon M, Koshy T. “Economic Evaluation of Combined Testing Strategies Using Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-Reactive Protein Tests.” ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research. 2026;18:578961. DOI: 10.2147/CEOR.S578961

Funding: This study was sponsored by ALCOR Scientific LLC.

Media Contact
Lexa Sullivan, ALCOR Scientific
Email: lsullivan@alcorscientific.com
Full study available open-access at https://doi.org/10.2147/CEOR.S578961