SHANGHAI, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Absa, in partnership with UnionPay International (UPI), is launching contactless payments to UnionPay cardholders across South Africa, thereby strengthening its commitment to offering a seamless and secure payments experience. The collaboration ensures that customers with UnionPay cards can enjoy an even faster and more convenient checkout experience at thousands of retail stores nationwide.

With digital payments becoming increasingly popular, shoppers expect quick and hassle-free ways to pay. By enabling contactless technology, Absa ensures that customers can simply tap and go—whether they are grabbing a coffee, shopping for groceries, or making fashion purchases. The functionality eliminates the need for cash or a PIN entry for qualifying transactions.

“As Africa’s biggest merchant acquirer, we are always looking for ways to improve the payment experience for consumers,” said Chris Wood, Managing Executive for Product at Absa Business Banking. “Our collaboration with UnionPay International aligns with the growing consumer preference for contactless payments and will empower clients to transact in a fast and secure way. It will also enable Absa merchants to offer contactless payment options to more customers.”

As part of this initiative, more than 44,000 payment devices across South Africa will now accept UnionPay contactless payments, including major retail chains, supermarkets, restaurants, and independent stores. This extensive acceptance network ensures that both local and international UnionPay cardholders can experience seamless transactions at their favorite shopping destinations.

“We are thrilled to partner with Absa Bank to bring the power of contactless payments to South Africa, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to digital innovation. This collaboration enhances the payment experience for both domestic and international cardholders, offering seamless, secure, and fast transactions. By expanding contactless acceptance, UnionPay is not only improving convenience but also empowering consumers to experience the future of payments today. As we continue to innovate, we are excited about the future of digital payments in South Africa and beyond, and we remain dedicated to providing solutions that benefit both businesses and consumers, fostering a more connected and efficient global payment ecosystem.”

This collaboration reinforces Absa’s commitment to providing world-class financial solutions and supporting the growing demand for digital payments in South Africa. Customers can use their UnionPay contactless cards at participating retailers.

About Absa

Absa Group Limited (‘Absa Group’) is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is one of Africa’s largest diversified financial services groups.

Absa Group offers an integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking, corporate and investment banking, wealth and investment management and insurance. 

Absa Group owns majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Absa Bank Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia and has insurance operations in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia. Absa also has offices in China,  Namibia, Nigeria and the United States, as well as securities entities in the United Kingdom and the United States, along with technology support colleagues in the Czech Republic.

For further information about Absa Group Limited, visit www.absa.africa. 

About UnionPay International

UnionPay International (UPI) is focused on the growth and support of UnionPay’s global business. In partnership with more than 2600 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has enabled card acceptance in 183 countries and regions with issuance in 84 countries and regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and secure cross-border payment services to the world’s largest cardholder base and ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants.

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The awards, organised in collaboration with B Lab Spain and GSMA Foundry, recognise technological projects with a sustainable visionThe 17 finalists, selected among 157 candidates, will gather on the 12th of June in Barcelona to discover the winners of this first edition of the MWCapital Awards

BARCELONA, Spain, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital), in collaboration with B Lab Spain and GSMA Foundry, has announced the 17 finalist projects for the first edition of the ‘MWCapital Awards: Technologies for a Sustainable Future’. This new awards programme recognises the most innovative projects that leverage technology to drive the transition towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. Aligned with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the initiative celebrates creativity, innovation, and tangible impact – supporting a responsible and global digital transformation. The winners will be revealed during a dedicated ceremony on 12 June at Torre Glòries, Barcelona.

The call for entries, which closed in March, attracted 157 applications from 34 countries, reflecting strong global interest in technology solutions with social and environmental impact. The finalists, from 11 countries, represent a wide range of actors including startups, corporations, public institutions, non-profit organisations, and research or academic bodies.

From advancing energy sustainability to protecting biodiversity, early disease detection, and combating misinformation, the finalist projects reflect a strong commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, nanotechnology, and the Internet of Things, these solutions demonstrate the power of digital transformation in building a more resilient and equitable world.

AI for Selective Fishing (Spain) – Satlink’s an AI-enhanced device that enables sustainable fishing by differentiating tuna species under Fish Aggregating Devices. (SDG 14 – Life Below Water)BraiN20® (Spain) – Time is Brain S.L. is a real-time brain monitoring device revolutionizes stroke care with continuous functional data. (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being)Data-Driven City for Citizens (Finland) – Tampere’s smart city initiative integrates AI and digital twins to enhance urban sustainability and citizen participation. (SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities)Embrace the Forest (Brazil) – Umgrauemeio’s wildfire management software, Pantera, leverages AI for prevention, detection, and impact analysis to mitigate CO2 emissions. (SDG 13 – Climate Action)Gov.pt – Portuguese Digital Wallet (Portugal) – It is a national app that digitizes official documents and streamlines access to public services. (SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)H2SAREA (Spain) – Nortegas’ project integrates green hydrogen into natural gas networks, contributing to decarbonization and climate neutrality. (SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)Julieta (Colombia) – Developed by Salva Health S.A.S, this AI-powered, portable device enables early disease detection without radiation or specialized personnel, making healthcare more accessible in underserved regions. (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being)Kyiv Digital (Ukraine) – The Kyiv City Council’s smart city app enhances urban services and citizen safety. (SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities)Luchando contra la desinformación (Spain) – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid offers an AI-powered tool that combats misinformation, supporting journalists, fact-checkers, and public institutions. (SDG 4 – Quality Education)Natura 2000 Passport (Portugal) – Palombar’s initiative raises awareness about biodiversity preservation within the Natura 2000 network. (SDG 15 – Life on Land)Nut4Health (Mauritania) – SIC4Change’s blockchain-driven initiative fights malnutrition, supporting thousands of vulnerable families and aiming for global expansion. (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being)PDApp (Spain) – Fundació Espigoladors’ digital platform streamlines agri-food surplus management, reducing food waste and supporting circular economy principles. (SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production)Saving Norway’s Endangered Atlantic Salmon (Norway) – Huawei’s AI-powered system sorts invasive species from rivers to protect the Atlantic salmon population. (SDG 14 – Life Below Water)SIMPaCT (Australia) – Western Sydney University’s IoT-driven smart irrigation system optimizes urban cooling and water efficiency. (SDG 13 – Climate Action)Tecnología con Propósito (Spain) – Samsung Electronics Iberia’s AI-driven accessibility initiatives support individuals with ALS, ASD, and speech disorders. (SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities)Victoria, Vaso Linfático Artificial (Mexico) – Universidad Panamericana’s nanotechnology-based implant addresses secondary lymphedema in breast cancer patients. (SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being)Xworks AI (United Kingdom) – Uses AI to transform waste into valuable secondary raw materials, advancing circular economy goals. (SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production)

MWCapital Awards Jury and Evaluation Process

During the next phase a jury of national and international experts in sustainability, technology, and social innovation will evaluate the 17 shortlisted projects to select one winner per category, plus the Barcelona Horizon Award.

Among the experts participating in this first edition are John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd.; Irene Kaggwa, Director General of the Uganda Communications Commission and representative of ITU’s GIGA initiative; Antonio Torralba, professor at MIT; and Xavier Sala i Martin, Professor at Columbia University.

The panel also includes Lucas Hunter, Interim Executive Director at B Lab Spain; Carlos Mataix, Director of the Innovation and Technology for Development Centre at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Pilar Roch, General Director of AMETIC and Xavi Pont Martin, co-founder of Ship2B, among others. Public administrations and the foundation’s founding partners will also take part in the evaluation panel.

This diverse and multidisciplinary group ensures a robust evaluation process, considering the innovation, scalability, and potential for real-world impact of each project. The six winners will be selected based on their ability to leverage technology to address social and environmental challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Among the six selected winners, one project will be awarded up to €50,000 to pilot its solution in Barcelona, based on its potential for local impact in the city.

A platform for global visibility and collaboration

The MWCapital Awards ceremony will take place on 12 June 2025 in Torre Glòries, Barcelona. During the event, the six winning projects will be announced, recognised for their level of innovation and their ability to drive positive change through technology.

Winners will have the opportunity to present their solutions at MWC26 Barcelona, gaining international visibility and access to strategic partnerships, funding, and collaboration opportunities. Additionally, the special prize “Barcelona Horizon Award” highlights the tangible impact of the MWCapital Awards within the city, where the winning project will implement the pilot. With this initiative, MWCapital aims to inspire a global movement around responsible innovation and strengthen Barcelona’s role as a hub for technology with impact.

About Mobile World Capital Barcelona

Mobile World Capital Barcelona is a public-private foundation that promotes the digital development of society to build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future through the humanistic use of technology. MWCapital contributes to positioning Barcelona as a global benchmark in the digital field and to consolidating MWC’s legacy throughout the year, promoting initiatives in the field of technology transfer, the promotion of digital talent, and the development of innovative technological projects with social impact. MWCapital hosts MWC in Barcelona, is the founder of 4YFN and connects the international community of developers with the Talent Arena Project.

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SHENZHEN, China, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SINEXCEL (300693.SZ), a global pioneer in modular energy storage, EV charging, and power quality solutions, has been ranked No.1 among Chinese companies in global third-party string PCS shipments, according to the “2024 Global Energy Storage Industry Chain Data and China Energy Storage Enterprises Ranking” released by the Electrical Energy Storage Alliance (EESA), a leading authority in China’s energy storage sector. This recognition underscores SINEXCEL’s technological strength, global market competitiveness, and unwavering commitment to innovation in energy storage.

Recognition Driven by Technological Excellence

The EESA rankings assess companies on global presence, technological innovation, and product competitiveness.

With a presence in 40+ countries and over 5,000 deployed projects, SINEXCEL has emerged as a key player in the global energy storage sector. In 2024, the company’s installed storage capacity exceeded 12GW. All SINEXCEL PCS solutions meet international safety and performance standards and feature grid-forming and grid-support capabilities, compliant with interconnection requirements in North America, most European countries, Australia, and Japan.

Full Power Range of Energy Storage Solutions

SINEXCEL delivers scalable energy storage solutions ranging from 30kW to 1.725MW per unit, and up to 100MW per site, tailored for C&I, utility-scale, and microgrid applications.

SINEXCEL leverages its modular technology advantages and VSG-based grid-forming capabilities to address diverse energy challenges, from factory power management to off-grid agricultural applications, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

The successful delivery of the 114MW/228MWh grid project in Texas, USA, in 2024 not only supports local renewable energy integration but also effectively alleviates peak demand pressures. This milestone in Front-of-meter application underscores SINEXCEL’s technical expertise and execution capabilities in complex global deployments, highlighting the evolution of its asset-backed solutions from C&I to utility-scale applications.

Accelerating the Energy Transition

Committed to shaping the future of energy storage, SINEXCEL continues to drive innovation and develop high-efficiency, high-reliability solutions. By advancing intelligent power conversion and energy optimization, SINEXCEL is accelerating the transition toward a resilient, sustainable, carbon-neutral future. 

About SINEXCEL
Founded in 2007, SINEXCEL is a leading innovator in energy storage, EV charging, and power quality solutions, with nearly two decades of expertise in power electronics. With 12GW of installed storage, 140,000 EV chargers, and nearly 20 million amperes of AHF deployed, SINEXCEL partners with industry leaders like EVE Energy and Schneider Electric to empower energy freedom.

Media Contact
melody_yu@sinexcel.com 

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