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Merit Network Inc. Receives USDA Grant to expand high-speed internet access for rural Michigan.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Merit Network is the recipient of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant for $997,000 to develop a connectivity and digital equity strategy to promote the expansion of high-speed internet in underserved rural Michigan communities.

According to the USDA website, “Under the Broadband Technical Assistance Program, USDA is providing $9.7 million to help 24 organizations deliver or receive technical assistance to expand high-speed internet access for people in rural and Tribal communities across 17 states. This funding will also develop and expand broadband cooperatives in rural areas.” Merit Network is proud to be a recipient and to be able to serve more rural communities in need in Michigan.

“This grant provides a wonderful opportunity to help Michigan communities get on the right track to achieving broadband internet service and digital inclusion that improves quality of life and allows people to live, work, play and stay in the places they call home,” said Roger Blake President and CEO, Merit Network.

This project leverages the Digital Opportunities Compass framework to develop a community driven digital equity plan inclusive of infrastructure planning. This project includes several communities across eight rural communities of Michigan. Merit targeted communities that aligned with the funding opportunity best and also represented a need for additional resources targeted towards broadband expansion and digital equity planning.

The Compass was developed by academic researchers from the Quello Center at Michigan State University, Merit Network, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, and the Digital Equity Research Center. The work supported through USDA can include survey activities, educational programs, community planning facilitation, digital skills programming, and infrastructure planning and funding activities. This is an opportunity to expand previously piloted works following the launch of the Digital Opportunities Compass last year, an effort driven by the research division at Merit Network.

According to Charlotte Bewersdorff, Merit VP of Community Engagement, “This compass framework acts as a vehicle for community engagement and planning that results in knowledgeable local resources poised to take action with the backing of leadership, community organizations and others. The teams that support this work are both DE experts, researchers and practitioners of broadband expansion efforts. Our goal is to serve as an unbiased resource in facilitating multi-stakeholder digital equity planning at the local level.” This strategic approach aligns with the long-term goals of the Michigan Moonshot program, which aims to ensure sustainable and comprehensive digital equity across Michigan.

ABOUT MERIT NETWORK
Merit Network, Inc. is an independent nonprofit corporation governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained at the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking, IT, Security, and community engagement solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations. Merit Network aims to continue its efforts to promote digital equity and infrastructure expansion in rural communities within the state through the Michigan Moonshot initiative, which has been providing programs and services to facilitate broadband expansion and capacity building within local governments since 2018. For more information: www.merit.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT
Barnaby Pung
bjpung@merit.edu

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SOURCE Merit Network

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Turningideas Ventures Backs IntelliDB Enterprise in Strategic Deal; Launch of AI-Driven DBA Agent Marks New Era in Intelligent Database Automation

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NEW DELHI, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IntelliDB Enterprise, India’s fastest-growing innovator in AI-driven database solutions, today announced a significant strategic investment from TurningIdeas Ventures, fueling its bold mission to disrupt the $80 billion global database management market. The investment will turbocharge IntelliDB Enterprise’s global expansion and accelerate the adoption of its groundbreaking AI-powered DBA Agent—a revolutionary solution set to redefine database automation for PostgreSQL and other open-source platforms.

“This isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a breakthrough. With our AI-powered DBA Agent, we’re pioneering a future where databases optimize, secure, and scale themselves without human intervention,” said Neelesh Verma, Co-founder and COO of IntelliDB Enterprise. “This strategic partnership with TurningIdeas Ventures unlocks new global opportunities and empowers us to help enterprises achieve unprecedented operational efficiency and agility.”

Gagandeep Singh, Co-founder and CEO of IntelliDB Enterprise, added, “At IntelliDB, we envision a world where database management is invisible, effortless, and autonomous. Our DBA Agent is the first bold step toward making that vision a reality—freeing up IT teams to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.”

Jayaraj Sabarad, CTO of IntelliDB Enterprise, shared technical insights: “We’ve engineered our Agentic DBA using cutting-edge AI and machine learning models capable of real-time learning and adaptation. It’s more than software—it’s an intelligent teammate that works tirelessly to deliver peak database performance, resilience, and security.”

The AI-powered DBA Agent is designed to deliver transformative business impact by enabling:

Autonomous performance optimization, tailored to dynamic workloadsInstant anomaly detection and self-healing to ensure 99.999% uptimeSeamless scaling to meet fluctuating traffic without manual interventionBuilt-in security intelligence to proactively neutralize vulnerabilitiesPredictive maintenance to dramatically cut operational costs

“IntelliDB Enterprise is leading a paradigm shift in database automation,” said Ashish Mittal, Founder at TurningIdeas Ventures. “Their AI-powered DBA Agent is precisely the type of disruptive innovation we look for. We’re proud to back IntelliDB as they scale globally and set a new standard for database management.

IntelliDB Enterprise is actively inviting enterprises, cloud providers, and technology partners to join its journey in bringing AI-powered database automation to the world. For partnership inquiries, product demos, or more information, visit www.intellidbenterprise.com.

About IntelliDB Enterprise (www.intellidbenterprise.com)

IntelliDB Enterprise is redefining the future of database management with its AI-powered automation solutions for open-source databases like PostgreSQL. By embedding intelligence at the database core, IntelliDB Enterprise empowers businesses to achieve self-optimizing, self-healing, and highly secure data operations—eliminating the need for manual tuning and intervention.

About TurningIdeas Ventures (www.turningideas.com)

TurningIdeas Ventures is a global venture studio that partners with visionary founders to scale breakthrough technology startups. Through strategic investments, mentorship, and market access, TurningIdeas Ventures accelerates the growth of innovation-led businesses worldwide.

Website: www.intellidbenterprise.com

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Cathay United Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch Hosts ESG Seminar: A “Key” to Unlock Sustainable Development

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TAIPEI, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cathay United Bank (CUB) marked its 20th anniversary in Vietnam by launching a year-long celebration with a landmark ESG seminar, bringing together over 80 industry leaders to chart a course for sustainable development among businesses in Vietnam.

Focusing on ESG: Global Trends and Local Challenges

In a bold demonstration of its commitment to sustainability and innovation, Cathay United Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch (CUBHCM) celebrated its 20th anniversary under the theme “Better Together” by hosting the seminar “ESG: Challenges and Practices for Sustainable Development.” As Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria increasingly influence global business strategy, the event provided key industry stakeholders with practical insights and strategic guidance to navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.

As a commercial bank under Cathay Financial Holdings – one of Asia’s leading financial institutions – CUB not only provides financial services but also actively serves as a key partner for businesses transitioning towards sustainability. In 2015, CUB became the first Taiwanese bank to adopt the Equator Principles, ensuring its financed projects align with international environmental and social risk management standards, laying a solid foundation for supporting sustainable development in business.

Mr. Michael Wen, Executive Vice President of Cathay United Bank, emphasized at the seminar, “Cathay United Bank aims to support our clients in navigating the evolving ESG landscape by providing insights into global and local trends, regulatory developments, and practical implementation approaches, empowering businesses. Vietnam’s rapid economic growth presents both opportunities and challenges in sustainability, and collaboration between businesses, financial institutions, and policymakers is key to driving meaningful change.”

During the forum, Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Nam, ESG Leader at PwC Vietnam, highlighted the challenges many domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face regarding ESG: “Approximately 39% of businesses have never heard of ESG, and over 60% are unaware of relevant regulations. Key barriers include financial constraints, a lack of clear legal guidance, and limited ESG implementation capacity.”

To address these challenges, Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Nam advised that businesses to invest in internal ESG training, develop reliable reporting data systems, proactively seek green finance partners, and engage with industry associations to learn best practices.

Practical Models and Industry Best Practices

Despite the challenges, ESG implementation in Vietnam has seen encouraging progress. At the policy level, the Vietnamese Government has issued the Green Growth Strategy for 2021–2030. The forum also featured representatives from leading companies in ESG execution and certification, including IDICO Industrial Park, Schneider Electric, Ares International Certification, Dan-D Foods, and Micro Electricity .

For instance, IDICO Industrial Park has introduced greener practices in heavy industry. It has installed rooftop solar systems across pre-built factories and reused wastewater. IDICO also prioritises human capital by developing convenient social housing, attracting quality workers. Meanwhile, Schneider Electric, with a Net Zero target by 2050, is actively developing clean technologies such as clean electricity and grid decarbonization to reduce its carbon footprint.

Cathay United Bank : Partnering with Vietnamese Businesses for Sustainability

By 2024, CUB had earned nearly 90 prestigious awards recognising achievements in asset management, digital innovation, and ESG practices—a testament to its position as a responsible and forward-thinking bank. Most recently, Cathay United Bank ranked in the top 20% of the Financial Supervisory Commission’s sustainable finance ratings.

Guided by its vision, positioning Vietnam as “second home,” CUB has taken significant steps in the recent years to promote ESG development across the country. Notably, the branch partnered with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to finance Vietnam’s largest onshore wind power project in Ninh Thuận province, with a total investment of USD 107 million.

Furthermore, the Cathay United Bank Ho Chi Minh City Branch has launched a green loan programme in the form of CAPEX financing to support Vietnamese companies in developing sustainable, eco-friendly projects. The first phase factories under this initiative were the first in Northern Vietnam to receive the international LEED green building certification.

Mr. VJ Lu, the General Manager of CUB Ho Chi Minh City Branch stated, “Throughout today’s seminar, we’ve looked at real challenges and practical solutions for ESG and sustainable development. Whether it was energy transition, strategy, or real business stories—it all comes down to one thing: working together. Collaboration really is key if we want to drive long-term change.”

As the opening event of CUB’s 20 years anniversary celebration in Vietnam, this seminar underscores the bank’s commitment to connecting people, ideas, and solutions. Embracing the message “Better Together”, CUB affirms that ESG is not a solitary path, but a shared responsibility requiring collaboration across the enterprise–finance–community ecosystem to move further, together.

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SOURCE Cathay United Bank

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EZVIZ’ s award-winning RS20 Max honored: A visionary leap in smart home cleaning recognized by the prestigious German Innovation Awards

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HOOFDDORP, Netherlands, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EZVIZ, a global leader in smart home technology, proudly unveils the RS20 Max, a next-generation 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop combo that redefines smart cleaning. Crowned a winner at the prestigious German Innovation Awards, the RS20 Max stands as a testament to EZVIZ’ s unwavering commitment to product innovation and user-centric design. Blending AI-driven automation, advanced cleaning performance, and an all-in-one base station, it sets a new standard for whole-home smart cleaning solutions.

The German Innovation Awards are among the most esteemed honors in international technology communities, recognizing products that break new ground and deliver tangible value to users. Chosen from over 520 entries across 23 countries, EZVIZ’ s RS20 Max was lauded by a distinguished interdisciplinary jury for its trailblazing AI automation and outstanding functionality, affirming EZVIZ’s position at the forefront of smart home innovation.

“EZVIZ is betting on a future where cleaning is a brand new part of a smarter lifestyle,” said Kimi Zhou, product manager of smart cleaning at EZVIZ. “With the RS20 Max, you get a self-sufficient partner in your home so you can spend less time doing chores and more time living.”

Traditional robot vacuums often miss stains or get stuck around furniture. The RS20 Max eliminates these frustrations with omni-dimensional spatial information processing powered by an AI RGB camera, LDS navigation and structured light. It recognizes 108 types of objects and navigates around obstacles with ease. More impressively, it detects liquid and sticky stains, something most robots overlook. Once the RS20 Max spots dirty areas, it lifts its brushes, boosts water flow, and re-mops up to three times to ensure a deep clean. With dynamic task adjustments and hands-free automation, the RS20 Max adapts in real time for optimal cleaning every time.

Power meets precision in its 13,000 Pa suction, delivering exceptional results from high-pile carpets to grooved hard floors. The patented 3-in-1 CutFree brush tackles tangled hair and hidden dust without clogging. Paired with dual rotating mop pads spinning at 180 RPM, it scrubs more thoroughly than typical mops. After each session, it empties the dustbin, cleans and dries the mop pads, and refills the water tank, so the RS20 Max is always ready for the next job, with no manual effort required.

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