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Accuron Technologies & Hyundai CRADLE Co-Invest in Xnergy

Singapore-based Precision Engineering Group Incubates Contactless Charging Start-Up Accuron Technologies (Accuron), in partnership with Hyundai CRADLE—Hyundai Motor’s corporate venturing and open innovation business, is pleased to announce a strategic investment in Xnergy Autonomous Power Technologies (Xnergy), a Singapore-headquartered start-up developing contactless charging solutions for autonomous electrified mobility. This investment also heralds the formal launch of Accuron’s New Ventures pillar—dedicated to fostering innovative technologies through targeted venture investments. Accuron New Ventures marks a pivotal expansion of the Group’s strategic vision, and this new pillar will focus on ventures into high-potential start-ups that are well-aligned with global megatrends and sustainability imperatives, further positioning Accuron as a leader in driving industry transformation. It will continue to identify and invest in groundbreaking technologies, with a view to strengthen the Group’s position in emerging markets and sectors. Empowering Progress in Pivotal Megatrends Accuron has consistently nurtured innovation across its core business groups of Aerospace, Industrial Technologies, and Advanced Manufacturing, and is now broadening its coverage with the introduction of New Ventures. The Group’s investment philosophy is to facilitate the growth of high-potential businesses, and through which, to enhance its portfolio. The capital injection into Xnergy exemplifies this approach and showcases Accuron’s commitment to foster emerging companies—not only through financial backing, but also complemented by strategic support with corporate management and expert oversight. Xnergy was chosen for its strong positioning in the AMR charging market, as well as its ability to seize opportunities in the burgeoning EV charging segment, particularly in China. The start-up’s robust management team, proprietary technology, and strategic partnerships at present further solidify its potential as a transformative player in this space. “We’re pleased to welcome Xnergy into the Accuron New Ventures portfolio,” expressed Edwin Chow, Vice President for Industrials & New Ventures at Accuron Technologies. “Their innovative solutions in contactless charging are […]

South Korean consortiums leading the realisation of industrial metaverse

Consortium achievements illustrate the capability of industrial metaverse in 3 industry whitepapers Technology is evolving to support modernisation and enable innovation in industry. South Korea’s National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) is supporting local technology development, eventually promoting the efforts and success to an international audience. Though often conflated with gaming and social networking, metaverse is an important tool that can improve operations and is increasingly being leveraged for industrial environments. In 3 recently released whitepapers, NIPA and Frost & Sullivan detail the cases of successful industrial metaverse implementation in the country. By sharing these cases, NIPA is expressing the capability of domestic technology and promoting Korean expertise internationally. Junam Lee, Director at NIPA for the Metaverse Convergence team says, “We believe that we have lots of advanced technologies to share and cooperate with nearby countries in terms of geography and culture.” Most organsations cannot easily execute industrial metaverse technology due to budget and customisation requirements. These papers identify ways that this innovative technology can be implemented right now. Supporting flexible manufacturing in the automotive industry One of the papers published details the benefits of the industrial metaverse and how it has supported the manufacturing industry, specifically automotive. The automotive industry, which is a major part of many Asian economies, is evolving to require flexible manufacturing systems for electric and autonomous vehicles. This paper outlines the path to industrial metaverse realization that enables flexible manufacturing. The consortium led by Shutagen, a technology service company, was able to achieve business and manufacturing agility through industrial metaverse with a deployment at the Hyundai Ulsan plant. XR devices to enable multiple use cases Another paper looks at the use of extended reality (XR) devices and how they support the expansion of metaverse use in industry. The consortium project aimed to develop a mass-produced […]

Token 2049’s Spotlight: Asia Leads the Race for the First DeSci Unicorn

At the event “How to Pinpoint the First DeSci Unicorn?” held on September 17, 2024, in Singapore during Token 2049, renowned tech leaders and investors gathered to discuss the future of decentralized science (DeSci). Led by Dr. Tuan Cao, founder of LIFE AI; Matthew Immerso, Head of New Investments at Blockchange Ventures, and Justin Kim, Head of Asia at Ava Labs from Ava Labs. According to Dr. Tuan Cao, DeSci is emerging as one of the most disruptive fields of the next decade. Decentralized platforms not only ensure transparency, decentralization, and global collaboration in research but also unlock enormous opportunities in precision medicine and personalized healthcare based on genetic data. “The potential of DeSci is tremendous, but why haven’t we seen any unicorns in this field yet? and would Asia be the birthplace of the first DeSci unicorn?” Dr. Tuan Cao posed this thought-provoking question to the panelists. Matthew Immerso highlighted three key obstacles to the rise of a DeSci unicorn. First, the lifecycle of scientific businesses is significantly longer than in other industries, often measured in years. Second, DeSci projects handle sensitive data requiring strict quality standards, slowing their growth. Third, user engagement is a challenge due to the limited opportunities for users to interact with DeSci platforms. Dr. Tuan Cao highlighted many existing projects primarily use crypto for fundraising, limiting the scope of DeSci. He expressed satisfaction in seeing projects like LIFE AI that focus on real technology, users, and partnerships to address pressing social needs. Justin Kim emphasised the importance of technology readiness in DeSci. He noted that sensitive user data must be decentralized with clear permissions for access, transactions, and smart contract deployment. Both Immerso and Kim acknowledged the pivotal role of founders who understand the scientific and healthcare challenges and are ready to implement Web […]

Is life getting better for China’s tech billionaires?

Wenting He, PhD candidate of International Relations, Australian National University. According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Pony Ma, co-founder of Tencent Holdings, is once again China’s richest person, now with a net worth of more than A$65 billion, placing him 27th globally. Close behind him in the rankings are bottled water tycoon Zhong Shanshan, and Zhang Yiming, the main co-founder of tech giant ByteDance, which owns TikTok. Only a few years ago, China’s ruling Communist Party launched a crackdown on billionaires and other business leaders. Some were publicly jailed. Others simply disappeared from public view. Ma’s resurgence might seem like a positive signal of a more permissive market environment. But as we watch China’s private sector grow, we should remember it follows China’s unique playbook. The ascent of Tencent Ma’s wealth primarily comes from his stake in Tencent, which he co-founded in 1998 with its headquarters in Shenzhen. As China’s economy grew, Tencent became a world-leading internet and technology company. Tech billionaire Pony Ma at a government meeting in 2018. Song Fan/AP Tencent is well-known for QQ and WeChat, which quickly became two of the most popular instant messaging apps in China and connect more than a billion people. Tencent is also the largest video game vendor in China, with popular games such as “Honour of Kings” and “League of Legends”. Last month, Tencent released “Black Myth: Wukong”, China’s first-ever “AAA” video game. AAA is a globally recognised gaming industry buzzword that refers to major, high-budget, standalone productions. The much-hyped game surpassed 10 million sales across platforms within three days of its release, becoming one of China’s most successful games of all time. The game itself draws on a 16th century Chinese novel called “Journey to the West” and features various Chinese landscapes. Its popularity aligns with Beijing’s ongoing efforts to boost China’s international cultural appeal. China’s state-owned media outlet Xinhua […]

Beijing E-Town builds demonstration city for robot industry

As a pioneer in high-quality development for the new era, Beijing E-Town (BDA) is seizing the opportunity to lead the development of the embodied intelligent robot industry. The plan is to build a domestically leading and internationally first-class demonstration city for the embodied intelligent robot industry in two steps. “By the end of 2026, we aim to achieve full coverage of over ten interactive service application scenarios, attract more than 100 innovative enterprises, gather over 1,000 high-end talents, and reach a mass production capacity of 10,000 embodied intelligent robots. “By 2030, we plan to create an embodied intelligent robot innovation ecosystem characterised by ‘full-chain layout, full-stack autonomy, and comprehensive empowerment,’ establishing Beijing as a strategic base, a technological origin, an application demonstration, and a main industrial hub for embodied intelligent robots in China,” stated Kong Lei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Administrative Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), during the main forum on “Industrial Development” at the World Robot Conference 2024 (WRC 2024) on August 22. To achieve the development goals of the demonstration city, Beijing E-Town will implement the “Five Priorities” plan. In terms of advancing key technologies, Beijing E-Town will focus on critical areas such as the “brain,” “cerebellum,” and “limbs” of embodied intelligent robots. It will support key enterprises in strengthening collaborative research on disruptive and leading technologies, accelerate the construction of an innovative industrial technology system, and seize the high ground in embodied intelligent robot technology. To this end, Beijing E-Town will create an internationally competitive embodied intelligent “brain,” supporting robot companies in collaboration with AI enterprises to conduct research on key technologies of general-purpose large models in the field of embodied intelligent robots. It aims to develop an AI-based general-purpose model that integrates perception, decision-making, and control, […]

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AI and Sustainability in Advanced Manufacturing to take Centre Stage at Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP) 2024

Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP), will be held at Singapore EXPO from 14 -16 October 2024. Focusing on shaping the future with sustainable manufacturing, ITAP 2024 will spotlight the latest AI integration capabilities that enable diverse manufacturing sectors at various stages of technology adoption to foster business growth while contributing towards global climate goals. National AI developments to spur AI integration in manufacturing The Asia Pacific region is leading the smart manufacturing sector, which is expecting to grow at 15.7% CAGR through 2030. This is underscored by the accelerating rollout pace of AI policies that will lead to its greater adoption by manufacturers. Various industries are currently seeing more AI integration. For instance, Rolls-Royce, at their Seletar campus, uses AI for predictive analytics and maintenance of aircraft engines, enhancing reliability and performance while minimizing downtime. At ST Engineering, AI is used in predictive maintenance, enhancing production efficiency, and improving product quality across its various sectors, including aerospace and electronics. At a national level, Singapore revised national AI strategy (NAIS) with one of the aims to triple the nation’s AI workforce to 15,000 by 2029 and plans to invest more than $1 billion (US$743.7 million) over the next five years in AI computing, talent and industry development. Indonesia projects that AI will make a significant contribution of US$366 billion to its economy in the next decade. Indonesia aims to accelerate the growth of Southeast Asia’s largest AI ecosystem with the 2045 Artificial Intelligence National Strategy (Stratnas AI). In Vietnam, the government has approved a national strategy on AI that will enable Vietnam to become a hub for AI innovation and solutions in the Southeast Asian region and globally by 2030. Malaysia is propelling ahead with its Malaysia AI Roadmap 2021-2025, having recently launched the Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Consortium (MAIC) and the AI […]

Seven Companies Announce to Conduct Engineering Design Work for Japanese Advanced CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) Project

ITOCHU Corporation, Nippon Steel Corporation, Taiheiyo Cement Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., INPEX CORPORATION, Taisei Corporation, and ITOCHU Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. have been selected by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (hereinafter “JOGMEC”) to conduct “Engineering Design Work for Japanese Advanced CCS Projects” (hereinafter “Work”), a public offered project.(1) CCS is positioned as a means for decarbonisation that should be fully harnessed, particularly in hard-to-abate industries(Note2), to achieve two targets set by the Japanese government: carbon neutrality in 2050 and a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (from FY2013 level) in FY2030. To expedite social implementation of CCS, JOGMEC issued a public call for advanced CCS projects in 2023 with the goal of achieving the successful underground storage of domestically-emitted carbon dioxide (CO2) by FY2030. And the Initiative was selected as one of the first advanced CCS projects in Japan to be eligible for governmental support. The Initiative involves the concept of using ships to transport CO2 separated and captured at the Nippon Steel’s Kyushu Works Oita Area and the Kawasaki Plant of DC CO., Ltd., a Taiheiyo Cement Group company, to candidate storage sites. In FY2023, a feasibility study was conducted relating to the CO2 separation, capture, transportation and storage, which included identifying technical issues in the overall project as well as studies on economic viability and public acceptance.(3) The Work selected this time includes Front End Engineering Design (FEED) work relating to the separation, capture, ship transportation and storage of CO2 and appraisal drilling, as the next phase of the project.(4) Based on the results of the feasibility study mentioned above, basic engineering design work will be carried out from the perspectives of both technical and economic viability for each element of the value chain with the goal of starting operations by FY2030. The seven […]

Stephanie Ledwidge, Associate, Life Sciences, Linesight

From July issue, Women Going Places Women Going Places July 2024 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu Top of mind trends in the life sciences sector, opportunities and challenges that businesses should be mindful of? The life sciences sector has been historically consolidated within designated parts of Asia-Pacific, but this has evolved over recent years, and we are now seeing key pharmaceutical hubs emerging across the region with a healthy pipeline of projects underway. As outlined in Linesight’s latest Construction Market Insights Report, skilled labour is a key challenge impacting construction growth opportunities. In developed life sciences markets such as Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia, there is a significant shortage of biotech talent. Although headwinds such as interest rates and skilled labour shortages remain front of mind, the outlook remains promising and there are opportunities for sustained growth in this sector. This is backed by significant investments from governments and the private sector to accelerate R&D activities, and place further emphasis on building supply chain resilience. For large-scale projects in this industry, effective programme and supply chain management as well as collaborating with a local partner to understand regional nuances and identify strategic opportunities, is crucial. How gender equality has evolved in the construction and life sciences industry, and share your experience as a female leader in these sectors The construction industry has predominately been a male dominated field for decades and still is. However, there are now a lot of initiatives in Singapore to promote STEM learning in schools and universities to support a future talent pipeline of women in construction. In fact, approximately 48% of all STEM degree candidates in Singapore’s universities are women. Whilst there is still more work to do to achieve a true gender balance, the life sciences industry has […]

Cisco and Rockwell to accelerate digital transformation in Asia Pacific industrial market

(left to right) Nicole Denil, vice president, Global Market Access, Rockwell Automation • Ruchika Jain, director, marketing and strategy – Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation • Shovan Sengupta, regional vice president, market Access – Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation • Scott Wooldridge, regional president – Asia Pacific, Rockwell Automation • Kartika Prihadi, Vice President, Partner Sales & Routes to Market, Asia Pacific, Japan & Greater China (APJC), Cisco • Simon Young, General Manager, Strategic Industry Partners, Asia Pacific, Japan & Greater China (APJC), Cisco • Yadi Karyadi, Country Solution Architect, Indonesia, Cisco. Cisco, a worldwide leader in networking and security, and Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced a collaboration to propel digital transformation of the industrial market in the Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China region. The announcement was made as the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the same. Cisco and Rockwell Automation provide technologies and services that enable manufacturers to optimise operations, enhance productivity, and ensure the security of their industrial networks. This collaboration will see the two companies coming together to facilitate the implementation of advanced automation solutions, such as connected factories and industrial IoT, while also addressing the unique challenges and requirements of manufacturing environments. “As industries across APJC embark on their digital transformation journeys, our collaboration with Rockwell Automation is poised to deliver significant value for our customers,” said Kartika Prihadi, Vice President, Partners & Routes to Market Sales, Cisco. “By joining forces, we aim to empower industrial enterprises with cutting-edge secure connectivity solutions that drive operational efficiency, enhance productivity and unlock new growth opportunities.” The MOU signifies a deeper commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation between Cisco and Rockwell Automation, as they work together to harness the power of digital technologies and automation solutions […]

BLT unveils high-strength aluminum and Ti65 powders for additive manufacturing

In a significant advancement for the aerospace and industrial sectors, Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) has recently unveiled its latest innovations in metal powder tailored for additive manufacturing. Leveraging its extensive research and development capabilities, BLT is launching new high-strength aluminum for Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and BLT-Ti65 for Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) processes, providing comprehensive turnkey solutions that cater to the complex demands of modern manufacturing. BLT-AlAM500 High-Strength Aluminum Alloy Boosts Industrial Manufacturing Quality High-strength aluminum alloys are renowned for their exceptional strength, thermal stability, and superior processing performance. These materials are prominently used in the aerospace sector for aircraft structural components, and engine parts. Beyond aerospace, high-strength aluminum alloys are also essential in high-speed trains, lightweight automotive parts, and premium sports equipment. However, producing these alloys using Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology often presents challenges such as cracking and poor component density. BLT has optimised the process parameters for high-strength aluminum alloys, overcoming the difficulties of manufacturing complex, large-sized components with integrated structures and achieving high yield rates. In May this year, leveraging its extensive manufacturing experience with high-strength aluminum alloy components, BLT launched the new high-strength aluminum alloy BLT-AlAM500, specifically designed for aerospace applications. At TCT Asia 2024, BLT showcased parts like the bent tube, ventilation duct, and connecting pipe made from this material. The bent tube, ventilation duct, and connecting pipe printed in BLT-AlAM500. These components, characterised by thin-walled, irregularly shaped tubular structures with internal cavities, demand high precision and quality. Traditional manufacturing methods are complex, challenging, and costly. BLT optimised the design of these parts, using the high-strength aluminum alloy BLT-AlAM500 and the our Metal LPBF printing machine BLT-S400 for integrated manufacturing. Each part takes approximately 30 hours to form, achieving an average weight reduction of around 20%. The parts exhibit […]

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