Day: March 5, 2024

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HKSTP Rides LEAP 2024 Platform to Power Middle East Innovation Drive and Calls on Ecosystem Leaders to Keep Up with Global I&T Opportunities

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 March 2024 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) has kicked off the first leg of a landmark delegation with the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau (ITIB) and Hong Kong Cyberport (Cyberport) to the Middle East. Together with eight Park companies and first stopping at LEAP 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, HKSTP is on a mission to rally innovators across the respective ecosystems to keep up with the global speed of disruptive innovation and technology (I&T).

The HKSTP Pavilion mimics Hong Kong’s iconic I&T landmark – the “Golden Egg”, showcasing cutting-edge innovation ranging from biotech, healthtech, logistics, AI, robotics, to new energy from eight forward-looking Park companies.

The opening of the first-ever Hong Kong Pavilion at LEAP was officiated by Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology, and Industry (SITI) of the HKSAR Government, Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP and Mr Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport. At the same occasion, HKSTP has landed a strategic MoU with Saudi Arabia’s leading technology R&D government institution, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST). The MoU provides reciprocal soft-landing opportunities for companies in both regions, as well as commitment to collaborate on technology, industry best practices and support for startups across the two ecosystem networks.

Under the witness of Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government (second from left) and H.E. Dr. Munir M. Eldesouki, President, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (second from right), Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP (first from right), and Mr Peter Yan, CEO of Cyberport (first from left), signed a MoU with Dr. Khalid A. Aldakkan, Senior Vice President for Innovation Parks, KACST (middle), to form a strategic partnership between the Hong Kong and Saudi I&T ecosystems, accelerating the growth and development of start-ups and talent.

Professor Sun Dong, SITI of the HKSAR Government, said, “I am deeply impressed by the energetic I&T culture and supportive programmes available at KACST. The strategic partnership between KACST and our I&T flagships will further deepen the I&T exchange between Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, accelerate the growth and development of our start-ups and nurture more global I&T talent.”


Mr Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, said, “LEAP 2024 is a crossroads of culture and innovation that captures the boundless energy and ambition of the Middle East. It is also an electrifying opportunity for HKSTP and eight of our Park companies to showcase cutting-edge advancements and explore the mega potential of Saudi Arabia. We are proud to be part of the Hong Kong delegation. Hong Kong is ready to collaborate, nurture breakthroughs and partner, as we all leap into a new era of innovation.”

Leveraging the Saudi Vision 2030, HKSTP also orchestrated the “Hong Kong Healthtech Innovations Driving Global Transformation for Generations to Come” panel session at LEAP to ignite discussions on R&D, investment, and collaboration. Three Hong Kong biotech and healthtech innovation leaders: Prof Samuel Au, President of Cornerstone Robotics; Dr Zhu Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of GenEditBio and Mr Chi Man Lam, Founder and CEO of Applied Technology Group illuminated the prospects of healthtech and highlighted Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia’s shared visions and limitless opportunities in the industry. Hong Kong-based biotech startup, GenEditBio, has also made its mark in the region with the confirmed MoU with Anwa Biosciences, a leading Saudi genomic firm. Both companies are collaborating to use cutting-edge CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) technology to combat genetic diseases, starting with sickle cell disease.

Titled “Hong Kong Healthtech Innovations Driving Global Transformation for Generations to Come”, the HKSTP-hosted panel discussion offered unique insights from robotics expert Professor Samuel Au, President of Cornerstone Robotics (first from left); Information and Communications Technology veteran Mr Chi Man Lam, Founder and CEO of Applied Technology Group (second from right); and passionate drug hunter Dr Zhu Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of GenEditBio (second from left).

HKSTP Park companies participating in LEAP 2024 and their innovative technologies:
https://www.hkstp.org/news-room/calling-all-global-innovators-keep-up-with-the-golden-era-of-it/

Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 with a mission to position Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. HKSTP has created a thriving I&T ecosystem supporting over 10 unicorns with more than 13,000 research professionals and around 1,700 technology companies from 26 countries and regions focused on healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies.

We offer comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures on their I&T journey. Our growing innovation ecosystem is built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Shatin, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long. The three InnoParks are realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined.

Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen, opened in September 2023 to support Hong Kong’s future development and its growing demands of the I&T industry and to strengthen cross-border exchange, attract technology companies as well as talent from around the world, helping them go global. It has both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition spaces, and more. We will focus on attracting enterprises in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability.

Through our infrastructure, services, expertise, and network of partnerships, HKSTP will help establish I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong.

More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

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CallTower Breaks New Ground: Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams Telephony Solution Now Unleashed Across EMEA

CallTower Sets the Stage for Revolutionary Growth in European Markets as an Elite Operator Connect Provider

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, ROCHESTER, NY, BOSTON, MA, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CallTower, a global pioneer in providing advanced cloud-based solutions for unified communications, contact centers, and collaboration, proudly announces the expansion of its Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams service to the EMEA region. Since becoming one of the select providers for Operator Connect in September 2021, CallTower has continued to extend its reach. Today marks a significant milestone as they broaden their services to include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This expansion builds on their established presence in the US, Canada, and the UK, further solidifying CallTower’s commitment to enhancing global communications.

CallTower is at the forefront of revolutionizing communication solutions for businesses across the EMEA region in local currencies (including the euro, the UK pound sterling and others) through the enablement of Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams. This innovative service transforms the way organizations connect by delivering PSTN voice access directly within Teams, significantly enhancing the customer experience. Operator Connect not only simplifies the integration between networks but also streamlines the provisioning and management of users. This leads to improved support models that elevate the overall quality of service. Since 2018, CallTower has been providing Microsoft Teams Voice to users in EMEA and over 70 countries globally.

CallTower’s Operator Connect for MS Teams allows for the extension of PSTN voice services to regions that are not covered by Microsoft Calling Plans. This capability is crucial for businesses aiming to maintain a global presence, providing them with a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced market. By leveraging CallTower’s expertise and support, companies can ensure a robust and reliable communication framework, essential for thriving in the digital era. This functionality enables them to effortlessly connect calling services, acquire phone numbers, and assign these components to users, ensuring a smooth operational flow. CallTower stands out by offering technical support and managing the voice network and infrastructure, relieving businesses from the complexities of these tasks.

CallTower enhances Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams, effectively addressing essential communication needs through a comprehensive suite of business integrations. This includes advanced SMS/MMS texting features, stringent compliance recording, crucial emergency services where available, and reliable one-click failover capabilities. Moreover, CallTower provides a range of innovative contact center solutions among other services, enabling businesses to significantly improve their communication frameworks.

“CallTower is thrilled to deliver on our promise of catering to customers in EMEA,” announced CallTower’s Chief Revenue Officer, William Rubio. “The launch of Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams marks the pinnacle of this commitment. It revolutionizes how our customers connect, offering a seamless transition and effortless implementation, all while broadening our coverage. By voice-enabling Teams through CallTower’s Global Network, we’re not just supporting our European clients; we’re empowering them. We provide a variety of options tailored to meet the diverse needs of their workforce, ensuring every user has exactly what they need to excel.” 

CallTower has strategically positioned itself as a leader in communication solutions by developing CallTower Connect, an innovative provisioning tool designed to streamline and simplify the management of its services. This proprietary portal is a testament to CallTower’s commitment to empowering businesses with the ability to effortlessly customize and control their communication platforms.

Through CallTower Connect, users gain access to a user-friendly interface that enables quick and efficient provisioning of a wide array of CallTower services. This includes seamless provisioning of CallTower’s Microsoft solutions, including Operator Connect, Direct Routing, GCC High Direct Routing, and Microsoft 365, among other vital communication tools. The simplicity and efficiency of CallTower Connect means that businesses can rapidly adapt their communication strategies to meet evolving needs without the need for extensive technical knowledge or support.

About CallTower

Since its inception in 2002, CallTower has evolved into a global cloud-based, enterprise-class cloud communications (unified communications, contact center and collaboration) solutions provider for growing organizations worldwide. CallTower provides, integrates and supports industry-leading solutions, including Operator Connect for Microsoft® Teams, MS Teams Direct Routing, GCC High Teams Direct Routing, Microsoft® 365, Cisco® Webex Calling / UCM, Cisco® CCP, Zoom Phone, Zoom (BYOB) and four contact center options, including Five9 for business customers.

For more information contact marketing@calltower.com

Kade Herbert
CallTower, Inc.
8003475444
marketing@calltower.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 9056536

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President Al-Mashat meets head of National Documentation Center


His Excellency Field Marshal Mahdi Al-Mashat, Head of the Supreme Political Council, met today ,Tuesday, the Head of the National Documentation Center, Abdullah Al-Sayyani.

During the meeting, the head of the center presented a detailed report to the President on what was accomplished during the past six months, and the importance of the center’s role in preserving, classifying and restoring documents according to modern practical methods, ensuring easy access to them.

President Al-Mashat confirmed that he would pay special attention to the National Documentation Center, and directed to redouble efforts, benefit from modern technologies, automate work in the center, , develop the preservation and archiving of documents.

He praised the efforts made by the center’s workers despite the difficulties it faces and the weak capabilities in light of the American-Saudi aggression.

Source: Yemen News Agency

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Xposure 2024: Celebrated Emirati filmmaker Nayla al Khaja on breaking the glass ceiling

SHARJAH: ‘Believing in yourself can take your far; the more I was getting rejected the more I wanted to find success,’ vouched Nayla Al Khaja, pioneering filmmaker from the UAE during her talk ‘How I went from making films for Netflix to world cinemas’ at the Xposure International Photography Film Festival in Sharjah on Tuesday, March 5.

Khaja, whose debut feature film Three was released in cinemas in February 2024 across the Gulf and major MENA territories – 120 theatres in 7 countries – in English and Arabic, looked back at her career hurdles, the initial bottlenecks to her business at the age of 26, and the rejections that preceded her ultimate recognition and success. She currently has two shorts streaming on Netflix: ‘The Shadow’ and ‘Animal’ while her upcoming project, Baab, a fantasy realism horror scheduled for shooting in 2024, will have two-time Oscar winning Indian music director A R Rahman set the musical score for the film.

The 46-year-old, who has chosen the genre of psychological thrillers as
opposed to rom-coms that are stereotypically considered women’s favourites, said she had grown up watching film cassettes in Russian, French, Indian and English.

Commenting on the generational gap that prevented her parents accepting her choice of profession, the eminent director noted that there is a huge gap in the ways of thinking. She elaborated: ‘The idea of a sticky floor is that you have to break the ceiling but you have to learn to walk on sticky floor. The journey itself is extremely difficult, it will break you so many times and every time it breaks, new skin will come out, new ideas will emerge and you will be in a much more powerful position than when you were broken. So in my process of making my film I had to be patient, resilient and a person of action.’

Khaja, who blends horror and beauty in her films, observed that perception is key to everything one does and the richer the experiences of life, the more tolerant one becomes. She added that the film Three, shot in Thailand for financial reas
ons, took her four years with Covid lockdown and her own pregnancy making it a big struggle while her short film Animal was initially snubbed but was picked up by Netflix six years later.

The feature film, which was launched by HE Noura Al Kaabi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, will use artificial intelligence to study the voices of the actors for the first time in the history of Arab cinema and produce a Mandarin release.

The filmmaker pointed out that she had wanted to showcase the beauty of her city with the ‘360 degrees of its nuances’ in a movie for the world to see. Khaja called Dubai’s amazing metamorphosis in less than 40 years ‘one massive Botox exploded over time’.

The director called the calibre of actors from Sharjah ‘mind-blowing’, and recalled how her lead actor in Three, Jefferson Hall of Oppenheimer fame, was floored by the histrionic skills of the child actor-protagonist.

Al Khaja remarked it was absolutely incredible to see 400 photographers in one place under one roof, and
was excited to see film as one of the components of Xposure 2024.

The seven-day festival wrapped up on March 5.

Source: Emirates News Agency

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Jordan, United Arab Emirates Discuss Relations, Regional Affairs

Amman: Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Ahmed Safadi, and United Arab Emirates Federal National Council Speaker, Saqr Ghobash, underlined the strong historical ties, emphasizing the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

During their meeting at the Federal National Council headquarters, Safadi emphasized the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit, stressing continued parliamentary coordination to address regional challenges, notably the Palestinian cause.

Regarding the war on Gaza and events in the West Bank, Safadi reiterated Jordan’s steadfast stance, advocating for an end to the conflict and swift humanitarian aid delivery to civilians. He underscored the imperative of establishing a Palestinian state for lasting peace and emphasized Jordan’s custodianship over holy sites in Jerusalem.

Safadi called for increased economic ties, recognizing the United Arab Emirates’ remarkable progress.
He emphasized the need for unity and cooperation to overcome regional challenges and advance mutual development goals.

Ghobash acknowledged Jordan’s contributions to the United Arab Emirates’ development and highlighted strong bilateral relations, particularly in addressing the Palestinian cause.

He emphasized the United Arab Emirates’ diplomatic efforts and ongoing support for Palestine.

Source: Jordan News Agency

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Hamdan bin Mohammed meets with philanthropic businessmen in Dubai

DUBAI: H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said charitable and humanitarian initiatives are key to bolstering Dubai’s status and global presence, and a major contributor to its success and the progress of its development journey. This humanitarian ethos reflects the statement of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that the emirate is blessed with an affinity for doing good.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed’s remark came during a meeting with a group of Dubai businessmen who have made an impact through their support for the emirate’s humanitarian efforts, alongside their contributions to the emirate’s economy. The attendees are known for their partnerships with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), which has implemented quality projects and programmes over two decades to make a tangible difference in the lives of tens of mi
llions of people around the world.

‘His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is our role model in governance, the economy, sport, and humanitarian work,’ Sheikh Hamdan said, highlighting the significant impact achieved by MBRGI across underprivileged communities through over 30 charitable and humanitarian entities that have benefited over 102 million people in 100 countries in 2022 alone.

He expressed his appreciation for the philanthropists’ efforts and support for charity initiatives. He also discussed with them Dubai’s humanitarian work and their role in alleviating the suffering of those in need.

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI); and Saeed Mohammad Al Eter, Assistant Secretary-General of MBRGI.

The businessmen attending the meeting included Marwan A Al Rostamani, Chairman of Al Rostamani Group; Abdulkader Sankari, Founder of Abdulkader Sankari and Sons Group; Mohamed Al Ansari, Chairman of Al Ansari Excha
nge; Mirwais Azizi, Founder and Chairman of Azizi Developments; Feroz, Irfan and Shiraz Allana, founders of IFFCO Group; Eng. Waleed Al Zoubi, Chairman of Tiger Group; Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman of Landmark Group; Nisha Jagtiani, Group Director of Landmark Group; Moafaq Al Gaddah, Chairman of MAG Group; Atif Rahman, Founder and Chairman of ORO24 Real Estate Development; Raghuvinder Kataria, Chairman of Pantheon Global; Nilesh Ved, Chairman of Apparel Group; Mohammed Al Hassan, co-Founder and co-CEO of Gulf Islamic Investment; Pankaj Gupta, co-Founder and co-CEO of Gulf Islamic Investments; Yousuf Saleem, Managing Director of Al Barakah Dates Factory; K. P. Basheer, Chairman of Western International Group; Naresh Bhawnani, Group Chairman of West Zone Group; Yusuffali MA, Chairman of LuLu Group International; Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings; Mahdi Al Fardan, Vice President of Al Fardan Group and Adel Mardini, Founder and CEO of Jetex.

Commenting about the UAE’s unique model for
philanthropy, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said that everyone in Dubai and the UAE contributes to charity: the government, the private sector and individuals alike. ‘Dubai is not merely an economic hub, it is a city with a spirit, and its spirit is ignited by good deeds. Great nations are not built by their economic and trade prowess alone, but by cohesive, united communities in which the strong help the weak.”

Participants at the meeting expressed their pride in contributing to the UAE’s culture of generosity, demonstrated by the country’s humanitarian initiatives and MBRGI’s work around the world.

Source: Emirates News Agency