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Changsha polishes blueprint for tech-culture integration

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BEIJING, Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A report from China Daily

Innovative approach spurs expansion of tourist industry

Limitless potential for revamping tourism is created when a city melds its dazzling culture with cutting-edge technology. Such is the case in Changsha, capital of Central China’s Hunan province, where a whirlwind of “culture plus technology” is sweeping the city, spurred by concerted efforts to blend industries with culture and shape new paradigms for tourism.

New business modes

Located on the bank of Liuyang River, Changsha’s Malanshan Video Cultural and Creative Industrial Park is home to more than 60,000 professionals who are excelling in the field of audio and video creation and production. With the support of technology, new cultural business modes have emerged there, forming a complete digital cultural industry chain that encompasses links such as content production, creativity, storage, broadcasting and trading.

At Skymedia, a large audio and video multimedia model released by Wondershare at Malanshan park, users can upload a photo and get a dynamic 3D effect video, or input text commands to generate music. The model boasts a wide variety of functions, including text-to-video generation, image-to-video generation and soundtracks, and is in commercial use. With the Skymedia model, creators can complete audio and video content production and editing more efficiently, significantly enhancing both the efficiency and quality of their creations.

As part of another project at Malanshan park, two people far apart don special pairs of “glasses” to become “close neighbors” in a virtual scene. Zou Jun, who is responsible for the project, said: “We define it as the next generation of communication, enabling real-time face-to-face interaction for remote business meetings, family communications and educational activities.”

The deep integration of culture and technology has led to the continuous emergence of new business modes and new scenarios at Malanshan park. According to statistics, over the past two years, more than 60 percent of leading enterprises attracted to the park are engaged in new business modes.

The animation and video game industry has become one of the fastest-growing new cultural sectors in recent years. Thanks to new infrastructure such as a video cloud platform, a supercomputing center and shared production center, Malanshan park has reduced the rendering time and costs for animation and game production by 30 percent. This has led to a strong trend of enterprises clustering together and scaling up capacity in the three-dimensional animation industry.

Currently, Malanshan park focuses on new technologies, new applications and new industries. It has established 16 scientific and technological innovation institutions and attracted 3,000-plus upstream and downstream enterprises.

By deeply applying digital technologies such as panoramic scanning, virtual reality and glasses-free 3D into the field of cultural heritage, other Changsha projects have brought precious historical relics back to life.

In August, Hunan Mango Digital Art Intelligence Technology launched a digital cultural museum application called Shanhai. This platform uses digital technology to present museum relics in a 3D form, allowing people to explore exhibitions anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices. The app offers vast digital collections and integrates functions such as 3D artifact appreciation, AI interaction and personalized museum experiences. It has quickly become popular online.

Digital technology helps relics be “reborn”, allowing audiences to seemingly travel back thousands of years while gaining an immersive understanding of the history and culture behind them. This year, Hunan Museum released a 3D digital image of Lady Xin Zhui, a woman whose remains have been well preserved for more than 2,000 years. Through the integration of advanced AI technology, motion capture technology and multiple disciplines including medicine and archaeology, the “sleeping beauty” has been brought back to life.

Besides relics in the museum, heritage in the wild can be “revived” with the help of high-tech solutions. The Wuxi site of stone tablets in Hunan’s Qiyang city is a large open-air site that preserves stone inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), making it a rare treasure trove of calligraphic carvings. Due to natural causes, the surfaces of the inscriptions have experienced varying degrees of weathering, rendering many characters blurred and difficult to discern. The Malanshan cultural digitization innovation center, in collaboration with a team, utilized various digital technologies to rejuvenate the historical and cultural heritage, collecting images of each stele, employing techniques to achieve high-precision digital imaging, and forming a stele database.

Today, the database stores basic information about the inscriptions, which have been made clear and distinguishable, and provides things such as original photos and micro-trace images, as well as calibrating relationships between several hundred steles and hundreds of famous individuals. In the future, it could facilitate secondary creations around the inscriptions by experts, scholars and design teams.

Cultural tourism

Changsha’s innovative integration of culture and technology has given rise to new cultural tourism scenarios and business modes. From traditional real-world sightseeing to immersive experiences that blend the real with the virtual, new technologies can be found in the creation and dissemination of cultural content and interactive methods in cultural tourism, providing visitors with entirely new experiences.

In September, a digital exhibition hall, located next to Tianxin Pavilion, officially opened. The hall houses a vast collection of relics related to figures from Hunan history and also offers an immersive cultural experience via new digital and intelligent technologies. In one example, a digital image of Zhu Xi, a renowned philosopher from the Song Dynasty (960-1279), appears on a screen and can answer questions asked by visitors. The “digital human” Zhu Xi was created based on national supercomputing. Through AI technology, the great scholar’s attire, expressions and movements have been interpreted and he can engage in precise conversations with visitors. They can ask him abstract questions such as the meaning of “seeking truth from facts”, as well as trendy enquiries like “What are some of the best foods in Changsha?” or “What drinks did people in the Song Dynasty enjoy?”

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SOURCE China Daily

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LG Energy Solution Hosts ‘Battery Innovation Contest (BIC) 2025’ to Foster Breakthrough Battery Technologies

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The company opens international research contest to strengthen technology leadership; open for entries until January 31, 2025Selected researchers to receive annual research funding of up to USD 150,000 annuallyBIC program revamped to enhance two-way collaboration between industry and academia

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220) has announced its launch of the ‘Battery Innovation Contest (BIC) 2025’ to identify and support the next groundbreaking battery technologies.

Innovators from universities and research institutions worldwide are encouraged to submit proposals until January 31, 2025, at https://bridge.lgensol.com/.

Since its inaugural competition in 2017, BIC has been LG Energy Solution’s flagship research contest. This year’s edition has been revamped to foster greater collaboration between academia and industry.

Selected researchers will receive annual research funding of up to USD 150,000 annually. Additional funding may be granted to projects making significant achievements through extended contracts.

Maximizing Industry–Academia Benefits through Two-way Communication

Unlike previous iterations of the competition, ‘BIC 2025’ allows participants to submit proposals on specific topics pre-announced by LG Energy Solution.

“By presenting specific research optics, we aim to go beyond merely supporting academia and maximize the mutual benefits between the industry and academia,” said an LG Energy Solution spokesperson.

To facilitate active collaboration, LG Energy Solution has introduced the ‘BRIDGE‘ system, a platform designed to manage open innovation programs like BIC. The system facilitates seamless collaborations with features that help teams working on joint research projects track their objectives and deliverables.

LG Energy Solution has unveiled the preselected 18 research topics for collaborative projects on the ‘BRIDGE‘ platform, such Battery Safety diagnosis algorithm technology and New materials for LFP Batteries topic. At the same time, the contest retains its traditional format to ensure participants are free to propose completely original research ideas. All research proposals must be submitted through the ‘BRIDGE‘ system.

“Providing Differentiated Customer Value via Enhanced Technology Leadership”

To protect the original ideas of every participant, LG Energy Solution has split the application process into two stages: initial proposals that provide concise information, followed by detailed proposals from a shortlist of candidates. This change aims to safeguard the ideas of researchers not selected for funding.

“The BIC platform serves as a bridge of wisdom between members of academia and industry, driving technological innovation for the all-important battery sector,” said Je-Young Kim, CTO of LG Energy Solution. “Through this initiative, we aim to provide differentiated value to our customers by strengthening our technology leadership.”

As of today, LG Energy Solution has supported 26 battery research projects through the ‘BIC’ initiative, with some evolving into large-scale projects that have received additional funding and resources. Thanks to the success of this competition, the company continues to establish partnerships with world-leading universities and research institutions, reinforcing its commitment to preparing the battery field for the future.

About LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution (KRX: 373220), a split-off from LG Chem, is a leading global manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. With 30 years of experience in revolutionary battery technology and extensive research and development (R&D), the company is the top battery-related patent holder in the world with over 58,000 patents. Its robust global network, which spans North America, Europe, and Asia, includes battery manufacturing facilities established through joint ventures with major automakers. Committed to building sustainable battery ecosystem, LG Energy Solution aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its value chain by 2050, while embodying the value of shared growth and promoting diverse and inclusive corporate culture. To learn more about LG Energy Solution’s ideas and innovations, visit https://news.lgensol.com.

 

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SOURCE LG Energy Solution

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SM approaches 2025 with cautious optimism

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PASAY CITY, Philippines, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The SM Group is approaching the coming year with cautious optimism, encouraged by the continued growth of the Philippine economy.

SM Investments President and Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio said that despite ongoing challenges of peso volatility and higher inflation, the business sector has adapted well.

Consistent demand sustained household spending in the third quarter, with Household Final Consumption Expenditure posting a year-on-year growth of 5.1%, maintaining the same level in the same quarter last year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed.

“Any moderation in inflation should trigger a strong confidence rebound. This could create opportunities in consumer-focused sectors in the country and we are poised to cater to these evolving demands,” Mr. DyBuncio said.

To cater to growing demand, SM continues to expand into more underserved areas, contributing to sustainable economic development and collaborating with government stakeholders to enhance access to modern retail, financial services, and integrated property developments.

“By investing and expanding to more areas nationwide, SM creates new markets and improves access to these essential sectors, serving more communities and helping stimulate sustained economic activities,” he said.

Mr. DyBuncio also said SM continues to invest in promising ventures such as renewable energy and logistics, that foster economic activity.

SM has invested in the clean energy industry through Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC) which produces 300 Megawatts of geothermal steam supply. SM aims to continue to develop geothermal concessions through PGPC in support of the Department of Energy’s goal of reaching 50% renewable energy supply by 2040.

To encourage circularity towards green energy production, SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings partnered with GUUN Co. Ltd. (GUUN) to implement the Japanese technique of reducing landfill impact. The technology converts non-recyclable and hard-to-recycle packaging into alternative fuel.

SM’s banking arm, BDO Unibank is one of the largest funders of renewable energy projects. BDO has funded PHP898 billion in sustainable finance, including loans to 59 renewable energy projects as of December 2023. 

In logistics and tourism, the improvement of transport networks across the country’s archipelago connects tourist and industrial areas that will help create inclusive growth. SM though its subsidiary 2GO launched MV Masigla and MV Masikap in 2024 to help better connect goods to 19 ports across the country including Iloilo, Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro and Manila, further supporting the government’s push for medium term growth through an upgraded tourism infrastructure and ecosystem.

“Our focus for 2025 will be to drive purposeful growth, empowering communities and partners through our investments towards a sustainable future,” Mr. DyBuncio said.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sm-approaches-2025-with-cautious-optimism-302339449.html

SOURCE SM Investments Corporation

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Seongnam City to Participate in CES 2025, Paving the Way as a Global Innovation Hub

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Sky Labs Inc., BrainU Co., Ltd., and ANDOPEN Co., Ltd. will be recognized as Innovation Award Winners

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Following its successful participation last year, Seongnam City will participate in CES 2025, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology exhibition. The event will take place from January 7 to 10, 2025, in Las Vegas, USA. Seongnam City will operate the “Seongnam Pavilion,” which will support 25 local startups from the Seongnam region and highlight their innovative technologies and products. CES 2025 will attract approximately 4,400 companies and over 130,000 attendees worldwide.

At CES 2024, Seongnam City garnered significant attention from domestic and international investors and buyers by showcasing startups with outstanding technological capabilities. This effort established valuable global networks and expanded market opportunities, achieving a total contract value of KRW 145.5 billion. These tangible outcomes highlighted the high level of satisfaction among participating companies.

This year, Seongnam City, a leading innovative hub in South Korea, aims to actively support local startups in expanding into overseas markets and building global networks through its participation in CES 2025. The Seongnam Pavilion will feature cutting-edge technologies and products across advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, smart cities, and mobility. Through these efforts, Seongnam City seeks to further solidify its position as a “Global Innovation City.”

Notably, three companies from Seongnam were honored with CES Innovation Awards, demonstrating their technological excellence and global competitiveness on the world stage:

Sky Labs Inc.: Recognized for its QuickGly™ technology, which non-invasively measures glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).BrainU Co., Ltd.: Honored for its VET CAI, an EEG-based depth-of-anesthesia monitoring device designed for animals.ANDOPEN Co., Ltd.: Awarded for its SNAPPASS, a next-generation two-step authentication solution based on facial recognition.

Seongnam City stated, “By participating in CES 2025, we aim to showcase Seongnam’s innovative technologies to the global stage and provide a launchpad for our startups to expand into international markets.”

Meanwhile, the Seongnam Pavilion will feature 25 companies, including BRYTN Co., Ltd., NTL HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd., EMTAKE Inc., AWESOME LAB Co., Ltd., JNL Co. Ltd., Linkface Co., Ltd., Emma Healthcare Co.,Ltd., NC& Co.,Ltd, Becon Co.,Ltd, LITBIG, Inc., GeodeSound., Inc, MEDIAIPLUS, INC, BoS Semiconductors, Sky Labs Inc., STRATIO, INC., BrainU Co., Ltd., analogue plus Co.,Ltd., EX Healthcare Inc., Mangoslab, Littleone, Bluefeel Co., Ltd., Aram Huvis Co., Ltd., Real Design Tech Co.,Ltd., Crescom Co., Ltd., ANDOPEN Co., Ltd. These companies are set to unveil their groundbreaking technologies at the exhibition.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seongnam-city-to-participate-in-ces-2025-paving-the-way-as-a-global-innovation-hub-302339453.html

SOURCE Seongnam City

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