Connect with us

Technology

IOT Data Hackathon 2025, Sparkling Innovation through Real-World Data, Technology and Cross-Sector Collaboration

Published

on

HONG KONG, March 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Organised by GS1 Hong Kong, co-organised by Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited and Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, and supported by the Digital Policy Office, the IOT Data Hackathon 2025 successfully concluded its final competition on 22-23 March 2025.

Themed “Smart Business” and “Smart Living”, the IOT Data Hackathon 2025 brought together enterprises, tech talent, and academic elites to tackle real-world business challenges through cross-sector collaboration and data-driven innovation. This year’s Hackathon garnered even greater enthusiasm than last year, attracting over 90 teams from local tertiary institutions, start-ups, and business sectors. After a rigorous screening process, 24 outstanding teams advanced to the final round, competing head-to-head on 23 March, the Final Pitch Day. 

Key Highlights

1. Fostering a Cross-Sector Ecosystem, Cultivating Talent through Practical Experience
A standout feature of the IOT Data Hackathon was its success in driving cross-sector collaboration. Six leading corporations — including Airport Authority Hong Kong, AS Watson Industries, CUHK Medical Centre, HKT, Maxim’s Caterers, and Swire Coca-Cola — provided real life business challenges and relevant datasets. Tech partners, Alibaba Cloud, AWS and Esri China (Hong Kong), offered technology platforms, tools and application support, enabling participating teams to develop commercially viable and innovative solutions by leveraging the provided datasets, open data and advanced technologies. 

2. Judges Applaud Data-Driven Innovation 
A panel of 12 distinguished judges highly praised the participants for their exceptional performance, highlighting their ability to combine data and technology while aligning with ESG trends. The judges emphasised the Hackathon’s role in unlocking the transformative potential of data-driven decision-making. The panel looks forward to the continued promotion of such collaborative models, which not only accelerate the growth of Hong Kong’s tech ecosystem, but also cultivate a new generation of talent to meet future opportunities and challenges.

3. Comprehensive Pre-hackathon Training with Top-tier Resource Support
To equip participants with practical skills, the organiser hosted 7 professional training workshops from Jan to Mar, covering hot topics such as IoT technology, artificial intelligence (AI) applications, data standards, cybersecurity, design thinking, data storytelling, pitching skills, and ESG strategies, etc. Additionally, GS1 HK invited 24 expert mentors from various fields to guide the participating teams, while Check Point Software Technologies provided one-on-one consultations to help teams integrate robust cybersecurity measures and data protection into their solutions.

The Data-driven Era: Cultivating Future Tech Talent

As artificial intelligence and data analytics become increasingly integral to businesses, mastering data application skills has become a critical asset for future talent. This Hackathon provided participants with an invaluable platform for practical experience and learning, stimulating creativity through competition and fostering a deeper connection between data-driven thinking and business needs. The participating teams demonstrated remarkable prowess in data integration and innovative thinking, and proposed diverse solutions to real corporate challenges. 

Ms. Anna Lin, Chief Executive of GS1 HK, emphasised: “IoT data is the cornerstone of a smart economy. By connecting young talent directly with industry pain points, this Hackathon fuels Hong Kong’s digital transformation and drives momentum for the city’s innovation journey.” 

Award Ceremony: Winners to be Announced at the InnoEX 2025 

The award ceremony will take place on April 13, 2025, at InnoEX 2025, where the winning teams and their innovative solutions will be unveiled. All sectors are invited to witness this celebration of data, technology, and creativity! 

Award Ceremony Details:

Date: 13 April 2025, SundayTime: 10:45am to 12:00nnVenue: The Stage, Hall 3C, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)Event: IOT Data Hackathon 2025 Award Ceremony (held within the InnoEX 2025)

For more information about the IOT Data Hackathon 2025, please visit www.gs1hk.org/iotdatahackathon.

About GS1 Hong Kong

Founded by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce in 1989, GS1 Hong Kong (GS1 HK) is the local chapter of GS1®, a not-for-profit, global organisation that brings industry stakeholders together to develop standards-based solutions to address the challenges of data exchange. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, GS1® has more than 115 national chapters serving 150 economies globally.

GS1 HK aims to empower industry’s digital transformation by enabling businesses to improve efficiency, safety, authenticity and sustainability through platforms, solutions and services based on our global standards. GS1 HK is dedicated to building a collaborative IoT ecosystem in Hong Kong to promote the development of ICT, serving as a bridge between ICT solution providers, users, government and other stakeholders, realising the community’s vision to become a smart city.

GS1 HK currently supports over 8,000 corporate members from various sectors including retail & consumer packaged goods, healthcare, food & beverage and food services, apparel & footwear, transport & logistics, among others.

For more information, please visit www.gs1hk.org

For high-resolution photo, please download via this link.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/iot-data-hackathon-2025-sparkling-innovation-through-real-world-data-technology-and-cross-sector-collaboration-302414109.html

SOURCE GS1 Hong Kong

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Axon Global CEO Israel Martinez Named Security Expert of the Year at HMG Strategy Summit in Dallas

Published

on

By

Israel Martinez, CEO and Global CTO of Axon Global, was named Security Expert of the Year at the HMG Strategy Summit in Dallas, the largest network of CIOs and CISOs in the U.S. with over 300,000 technology executives globally. Martinez was honored for his groundbreaking work in AI-driven cybersecurity and a 20-year track record of zero reportable breaches across high-risk, high-impact environments. He also spoke on a featured panel addressing the escalating threat of geopolitical cyberattacks and the critical need for global cyber resilience.

DALLAS, April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Israel Martinez, CEO and Global CTO of Axon Global, was honored with the HMG Global Leadership Institute Award for Security Expert of the Year at the HMG Strategy Executive Leadership Summit in Dallas. The event brought together top technology executives from across the country for a day of thought leadership, innovation, and strategic insights.

“Israel is fearlessly committed to innovation and integrity—and when lives are on the line, his team shows up.” — August Pelliccio, Executive Editor, Digital, HMG Strategy,

Martinez also took the stage as a featured speaker during the Executive Panel: Securing the Future Against Geopolitical Cyber Risks, joining Mignona Cote (CISO, Infor Global Solutions) and Art Harvey (CISO, Dovenmuehle) for a dynamic conversation on the rising threat of state-sponsored cyberattacks and the critical importance of international collaboration, proactive threat intelligence, and executive-led cyber resilience.

During the award presentation, HMG Strategy highlighted Martinez’s exceptional track record:

“Israel has helped protect everything from billion-dollar enterprises to space programs, with a track record of zero reportable breaches—by the way—across twenty years and countless high-risk clients.

Right now he’s pioneering an AI agent-driven model, building out a team of two hundred LLM-powered experts that already compete and win against the best in the world.

How’s this for a case study? One of the teams he worked with monetized IT for the Olympics, turning it into a profit engine rather than just a cost center. They increased media revenue by 300% and eliminated redundant global oversight.

Israel is fearlessly committed to innovation and integrity, and when lives are on the line, his team shows up. As one Commander put it, ‘Thank you for pulling so many technology resources together to rescue my daughter.’

There are only so many clips I can share in the brief time we have on stage, but I hope what I’ve shared expresses some of the gravity of the work Israel has done—and how deserving he is of this honor.”

HMG Strategy is recognized as the largest network of CIOs and CISOs in the United States, with over 300,000 IT executives globally. Its Executive Leadership Summits are known for convening top-tier professionals to tackle the most urgent challenges in technology and business.

Media Contact

Kaitlyn Procter, Axon Global, 1 2027055053, kaitlynpr@axoncyber.com, https://axoncyber.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/axon-global-ceo-israel-martinez-named-security-expert-of-the-year-at-hmg-strategy-summit-in-dallas-302421119.html

SOURCE Axon Global

Continue Reading

Technology

Ramki Sankaranarayanan Receives EGA’s Hermes Lifetime Achievement Award for Pioneering Innovation in Global Content Operations

Published

on

By

LOS ANGELES, April 4, 2025 /CNW/ — The Entertainment Globalization Association (EGA) has honored Ramki Sankaranarayanan, Founder and Global CEO of Prime Focus Technologies (PFT), with the 2025 Hermes Lifetime Achievement Award. The accolade recognizes Ramki’s visionary leadership and transformative impact on entertainment localization and media technology worldwide.

Presented at the prestigious Hermes Awards for Entertainment Localization Excellence, the honor celebrates Ramki’s role in reimagining global media supply chains—seamlessly blending AI innovation with human creativity to enable scalable, culturally authentic storytelling across geographies.

A trailblazer in media tech for over two decades, Ramki spearheaded the launch of the industry’s first Media ERP, laying the foundation for cloud-based Supply Chain that subsequently was articulated within the MovieLabs 2030 Vision. Under his leadership, PFT has continuously pushed the boundaries of localization—leveraging AI-assisted subtitling, dubbing, and metadata solutions through its CLEAR® and CLEAR® AI platforms. Early innovations such as automated subtitle retiming and hybrid AI pipelines have redefined scale and speed in global content delivery.

PFT’s localization capabilities span an impressive 150 unique languages globally, including 92 European, 24 African, 18 from the Indian subcontinent, 10 East Asian, and 6 Central Asian languages, showcasing unparalleled depth and reach. Today, PFT supports over 2 million subtitled minutes and 1 million dubbed minutes annually for leading platforms including Star TV, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Warner Bros. Discovery, Crunchyroll, etc.

With 13+ patents and seven NAB Product of the Year Awards, including a 2023 win for AI-led localization, CLEAR® AI exemplifies contemporary Agentic AI, defined by its autonomous Localization Agents capable of independent decision-making, real-time collaboration, and continuous improvement. CLEAR® AI leverages Multi-Agent Collaboration, orchestrating agents specialized in several tasks across content lifecycle. This market-defining approach dramatically improves accuracy, accelerates time-to-market, and reduces manual intervention, reflecting a strategic shift towards intelligent, collaborative AI in localization.

PFT’s latest breakthrough, CLEAR® AI Content Studio, further exemplifies this momentum by turning dormant archives into dynamic, revenue-generating content libraries.

“This award is deeply meaningful,” said Ramki. “It honors not just my journey, but the passion and relentless innovation of our PFT team & the pivotal role clients have played in embracing the innovation—and the vibrant localization community driving global storytelling forward.”

EGA’s recognition underscores the rising strategic importance of AI-led, human-enhanced localization—and the visionaries who are shaping its future.

About the Entertainment Globalization Association (EGA)
The EGA is the leading professional body for executives driving content globalization. Its Hermes Awards celebrate excellence in localization and the innovators behind cross-cultural storytelling.

About Prime Focus Technologies (PFT)
Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) is the creator of CLEAR®. It offers streaming platforms, studios, and broadcasters AI technology and media services powered by the cloud that help them enable creativity, efficiency, and, most importantly, revenue generation. PFT works with major companies like Channel 4, ITV, Sinclair Broadcast Group, A&E Networks, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, Crunchyroll, Insight TV, JioStar, BCCI, Tegna, Amazon MGM Studios, and more.

For more information, visit: www.primefocustechnologies.com.

Press Contact
T Shobhana
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Marketing
Prime Focus Technologies
Los Angeles, CA
t.shobhana@primefocus.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ramki-sankaranarayanan-receives-egas-hermes-lifetime-achievement-award-for-pioneering-innovation-in-global-content-operations-302421174.html

SOURCE Prime Focus Technologies

Continue Reading

Technology

S’moresUp Launches “It’s a Family Thing!” to Help Moms Get Their Pink Back This Mother’s Day

Published

on

By

From the Team Behind Two-Time App of the Day S’moresUp, Comes a Smarter Family Management App

LOS ALTOS, Calif., April 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — S’moresUp, the trusted family management platform with over 300,000 users, announces its next evolution: It’s a Family Thing! (IAFT)—just in time for Mother’s Day.

Inspired by the phrase “getting your pink back,” IAFT is designed to help moms reclaim their energy and joy while navigating the invisible labor of parenting. Like flamingos that regain their color with care, moms too can thrive with the right support.

S’moresUp has twice been named Apple’s App of the Day. IAFT builds on that success with AI-powered tools, personalized insights, and family-focused features made specifically for today’s overwhelmed parents.

Developed by a single mom and a generative AI technologist—both former PayPal leaders—IAFT reflects seven years of insights from the S’moresUp community.

Key Features:

AI Family Agent: A virtual assistant for managing chores, schedules, and planning.Parenting Weather (PUP Score): Gauges parenting stress and suggests solutions.Chore & Reward System: Includes Photo Proof, Late Penalties, and gamified tracking.Family Analytics: Tracks skill development and offers personalized support.Mood Management: Encourages emotional check-ins and open family communication.Campfire: A private space for sharing updates, celebrations, and memories.AI-Driven Planning Tools: Features like “How To Do Today” and “Weekly Plan.”

More than a digital organizer, IAFT is a lifeline – helping moms reduce decision fatigue, prioritize self-care, and restore balance at home.

Pricing starts at just $3.49/month, with premium features available up to $49.95/month.

Available now on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

“Working mothers are constantly fighting an uphill battle to balance career and home life,” says Priya Rajendran, CEO and co-founder. “IAFT is here to do the heavy lifting so moms can breathe again.”

“With IAFT, we’re doubling down on innovation and family wellness,” adds Reeves Xavier, CTO and co-founder. “This is a lifeline for the modern family.”

About S’moresUp

S’moresUp and now It’s a Family Thing! are family management solutions created by Priya Rajendran and Reeves Xavier, technologists and parents with a passion for empowering families. With experience at companies like PayPal, Microsoft, and Intuit, they bring heart, humor, and cutting-edge AI to parenting. S’moresUp’s mission is simple: Raise independent, responsible, and joyful kids—while making parenting a little less exhausting.

Visit www.smoresup.com

Contact: Ann Dunning, ann@amurraypr.com 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smoresup-launches-its-a-family-thing-to-help-moms-get-their-pink-back-this-mothers-day-302421261.html

SOURCE S’moresUp

Continue Reading

Trending