Huawei’s Intelligent World 2035 sets out ten defining technology trends that serve as both the backbone of its vision and a framework for understanding the coming transformation of the global economy, industry, and governance. The analysis is not just predictive; it positions these trends as catalysts for change with strategic significance and practical value.

The report’s foresight, systematic approach, and bold projections are striking. Below is a summary of the ten trends and their implications.

1. Toward the Physical World: The Path to AGI

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is seen as the ultimate goal of AI—systems with human-level cognition, autonomy, and creativity. Huawei argues that AGI will become the most transformative force of the next decade, though it still faces formidable challenges.

• Three Decades of Evolution: 1) Statistical learning revived AI in its first decade; 2) deep learning drove breakthroughs in perception; 3) Transformer models ignited cognitive AI; 4) the next decade will go “Beyond Transformers.”
• Three Engines: Data-driven experience, rule-driven reasoning, and practice-driven action will together form “world models” that allow AI to truly engage with the physical world.

2. From Tools to Decision Partners: AI Agents Drive Industry Transformation

AI “agents” will evolve from simple assistants into decision-making collaborators. Their success depends on maturing technology, trust frameworks, and business ROI. By 2035:

• Early stage: productivity assistants in customer service, sales, office tasks.
• Mid-stage: breakthroughs in drug discovery, professional consulting, cost reduction.
• Long term: embodied robots and AI PCs reshape human experience, opening trillion-dollar industries.
  The human–machine relationship will shift from division of labour to true symbiosis.

3. Human–AI Collaborative Programming: Reinventing Software

The complexity of software is rooted in human limitations. Large models have already transformed programming, alleviating bottlenecks and boosting productivity.

• Co-programming will become mainstream, with models and formal methods complementing each other.
• AI agents will generate adaptive, “malleable” applications from natural-language prompts, while professional developers continue to build mission-critical systems.
  Future software will blend deterministic logic, neural networks, and agent orchestration.

4. AI and the Mirror World: Immersive Interaction

Interaction will move from 2D screens to multi-modal, spatial, and sensory-rich experiences.

• Interfaces will progress from keyboards to gesture sensors, voice, and eventually full five-sense integration.
• Devices may include gesture-sensing rings, pulse-tracking necklaces, ultra-light 3D glasses, and brain–computer interfaces.
  The result: a seamless fusion of physical and digital realities.

5. From Apps to Agent Ecosystems

Instead of millions of isolated mobile apps, the future internet will be an ecosystem of interconnected AI agents.

• User commands will trigger cooperative multi-agent workflows across services.
• Success metric: “end-to-end task success rate” will define competitiveness.
  The formula for multi-agent strength: strong foundational models × (coordination frameworks + specialisation + learning + trust).

6. Embodied Intelligence: Crossing into Trillion-Dollar Industries

AI is gaining a physical form through embodied intelligence—merging AI with robotics, sensors, energy systems, and networks.

• Autonomous Driving: By 2027, L4 pilots; by 2030, scaled L4 in selected contexts; by 2035, widespread L4+ and early L5 trials.
• Robotics: Around 2030, robotics may see its “ChatGPT moment” with vision-tactile-language-action models. By 2035, home robots could cost under US$10,000.
• Low-Altitude Economy: Advances in battery energy density (towards 800 Wh/kg) and hybrid power systems could make personal aerial vehicles feasible by 2035.

7. Beyond the Von Neumann Architecture: New Compute Paradigms

By 2035, global compute demand could be 100,000 times higher than in 2025, driven by pre-AGI models. Meeting this requires breakthroughs in:

• Materials: beyond silicon to low-dimensional materials.
• Engineering: 3D heterogeneous integration, wafer-level computing.
• Architecture: from compute–storage separation to in-memory and neuromorphic designs.
• Paradigms: from classical to analog, optical, brain-inspired, and quantum computing.

8. Data as Intelligence: The New Storage Paradigm

Data is the “new fuel.” By 2035, over 70% of data will be “warm” or “hot,” constantly feeding AI models.

• Traditional three-tier storage will evolve into a two-tier “hot–warm/cold–warm” structure.
• New storage must handle contextual, stateful, and evolving data—enabling continuous learning and fast rollbacks while cutting costs.

9. From Mobile Internet to the Agent Internet

Connectivity will expand from 9 billion people to 900 billion devices and intelligent agents.

• PC Internet: on-demand, file-driven, few producers.
• Mobile Internet: always-on, rich media, everyone a producer.
• Agent Internet: real-time, hyper-dimensional, humans and agents as co-producers and co-consumers.
  Networks will evolve to ultra-broadband, ultra-low-latency, secure, integrated sensing–comms–computing.

10. Energy Tokens: AI as the Nervous System of Energy Networks

Energy is the ultimate constraint. By 2035, renewables will surpass fossil fuels, with wind and solar >50% of generation. Hydrogen and advanced nuclear will complement this shift.

• Space-based solar pilots (10MW in orbit by 2035) and progress in fusion could redefine supply.
• Energy “tokens” managed by AI will dynamically allocate every joule, turning the energy grid into an intelligent nervous system.

Conclusion

Huawei frames Intelligent World 2035 not only as a technology roadmap but as a manifesto for an “intelligent civilisation.” It positions AI’s evolution from a tool of efficiency to a partner in human progress.

As the report notes:
“Only when technology is woven into our lives, families, businesses, and environment can it truly advance civilisation.”

The vision is clear: by 2035, AI will permeate industry, infrastructure, and society, enabling a sustainable, intelligent future.

Day 1 – Shenzhen: Internet, Platforms s Digital Ecosystems Morning – Arrival s Context Briefing

• Arrival in Shenzhen; transfer to hotel in Nanshan / Futian.
• Overview of China’s technology landscape, Greater Bay Area strategy and AI/robotics roadmap.
• Framing of the trip: technology for inclusive growth, sustainability and youth opportunity.
• Afternoon – Tencents the Consumer Internet
• Visit: Tencent Headquarters (Shenzhen)
• Briefing: ByteDance – Greater Bay Area Office (Shenzhen)
• Evening – Networking Dinner
• Hosted roundtable with local venture funds and ecosystem partners in Shenzhen.
• Introduction of delegates; sharing of expectations and partnership interests.

Day 2 – Shenzhen: Robotics, Semiconductors s MedTech Morning – Advanced Robotics s Smart Devices

• DJI – Global Drone Leader (Shenzhen)
• Insta360 / Arashi Vision (影石) – Immersive Imaging
• Pudu Robotics – Service Robots for Restaurants s Hospitality
• Afternoon – Humanoid Robotics s Power Semiconductors
• UBTECH Robotics (Shenzhen)
• Basic Semiconductor (Shenzhen)
• Optional Side Meeting – Biomed Frontier
• Evening – Transfer to Guangzhou

Day 3 – Guangzhou / Foshan: New Energy Vehicles s High-End Manufacturing Morning – NEV s Smart Manufacturing

• GAC Group (广汽集团, Guangzhou HQ)
• Midea Group (Foshan)
• Afternoon – Climate Tech s New Retail
• Vipshop / VIP.com (Guangzhou)

Evening – Travel to Shanghai

Day 4 – Shanghai: GPUs, Gaming s Capital Morning – Advanced Computing s Robotics

• Moore Threads (Shanghai)
• AgiBot (Shanghai)
• Afternoon – Content s Capital
• miHoYo (Shanghai)
• Fortera Capital (Shanghai)
• all Win / Alpha Win Capital s Aofei Zhuhai Fund (Investor Roundtable)
• Alpha Win (All Win) Capital – Hong Kong–headquartered investor specialising in
• biomedicine and technology with equity investment as its core business.
• Aofei Zhuhai Fund – regional fund platform in Zhuhai (advanced manufacturing C tech focus; details to be confirmed).
• BGI Industry / Win-Win Fund (华大共赢) – BGI-linked fund family investing in genomics, life sciences and related technologies.
• Closed-door dialogue on co-investments, joint funds, and blended finance for health and climate innovation.
• Evening – Transfer to Hangzhou

Day 5 – Hangzhou: AI, AR s Frontier Robotics Morning – AI Foundation Models s Open Innovation

• DeepSeek (Hangzhou)
• Rokid (Hangzhou)
• Afternoon – Humanoid Robotics s AI-Enabled Drug Discovery
• METiS Pharmaceuticals / METiS TechBio (Hangzhou–linked AI drug firm)
• Late Afternoon – Closing Session

• • Key takeaways on: AI C robotics, green transition, health innovation, and philanthropy.
  • Map follow-ups: pilots, MOUs, co-funded programmes, and youth
  • Evening high-speed rail back to Shanghai or direct departures from Hangzhou, depending on flight options.

The trip can be extended to XiAn or Chengdu, upon group consent. Need to inform 2 weeks in advance. 

07/12/2025

As generative AI transforms how people search and consume information, businesses are facing a new challenge: being seen. Traditional search engine optimization (SEO) and digital advertising strategies are becoming less effective in a world where AI engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity dominate discovery. This is where Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) steps in — not as a trend, but as a necessary evolution for brands to stay visible, cited, and competitive in the age of AI.

The Shift: From Search Engines to AI Engines

The digital landscape has undergone a seismic shift. Over 40% of users now turn to AI tools instead of traditional search engines for information. These AI engines don’t display ads and often bypass standard search engine rankings by curating answers directly. This means if your brand’s content isn’t structured for AI comprehension, it’s effectively invisible.

AI is no longer just a tool for marketers — it is the media. Discovery now happens in AI-generated answers, community platforms like Reddit, video content on YouTube and TikTok, and vertical marketplaces like Amazon. The age of “Search Everywhere Optimisation” is here. Businesses must optimize for every touchpoint, not just Google.

What is GEO?

GEO, or Generative Engine Optimisation, is the process of making content discoverable, citable, and favored by generative AI engines. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on ranking for keywords on web search results, GEO is about structuring and distributing content so that AI selects your brand as a credible source in its generated responses.

At its core, GEO is about making your content AI-readable and AI-preferred. This includes deploying evidence-rich, structured content, optimizing for AI-friendly platforms, and tracking your brand’s share of citations across AI tools.

Why GEO Matters Now

• AI engines are the new gatekeepers of information. They don’t serve ads and often select from a limited number of sources. Being one of them is critical.

• Trust in AI-generated content is rising. According to the Edelman Trust Barometer (2024), 67% of users trust AI answers as much as human experts.

• Zero-click impressions are increasing. Users stay on AI platforms for answers, meaning fewer website visits — unless your content is directly cited.

• The content explosion driven by AI tools makes it harder than ever to stand out. GEO is your edge in this saturated space.

IDEA GEO Operating Model

Our  GEO framework is a four-step, data-driven approach:

1. Evaluate – Benchmark your current visibility across AI engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and audit competitor share-of-answer.

2. Strategize – Define keyword clusters, content formats, and KPIs that align with AI visibility goals.

3. Optimise – Deploy AI-optimized content that is structured, evidence-rich, and published across AI-favored sources and communities.

4. Monitor – Continuously track AI citations, visibility, and competitive movements. Iterate through monthly content sprints.

This model enables brands to build compound traffic assets that don’t reset like ad campaigns — they grow over time.

Content that Powers GEO

GEO is powered by a mix of short-tail and long-tail keyword strategies:

• Short-tail (e.g., “Running Shoes”): High competition but essential for brand awareness. Requires encyclopedia-style landing pages with structured data.

• Long-tail (e.g., “Best running shoes for marathon training”): Lower competition, higher conversion intent. Ideal for scaling traffic via programmatic content and niche targeting.

Successful GEO execution involves content that is extractable (clear headings, summaries, data tables), schema-enabled (for AI comprehension), and supported by off-site signals (media mentions, backlinks, community citations).

Measurable Success

GEO is not theory — it delivers quantifiable results. By Month 6 of a typical GEO campaign, clients often reach 1 million+ impressions and 10,000+ clicks/month, with compounding traffic built through SEO-backed strategies.

Why SEO Is the Foundation of GEO

While GEO is the future, SEO remains its foundation. AI engines prioritize credible, organically ranked content over paid ads. Thus, investing in structured SEO today sets the stage for AI dominance tomorrow. You buy GEO by buying traffic. You earn it by restructuring  repurposing your content metrix.

GEO is more than a marketing tactic — it’s a strategic imperative for brands that want to lead, not follow, in an AI-first world. By optimizing for generative engines now, businesses can ensure long-term visibility, authority, and growth in the platforms that matter most to tomorrow’s customer.

The global logistics sector, long characterised by tight margins, labour intensity, and complex supply chains, is entering an era of profound change. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation are redefining how goods move from factories to warehouses to consumers’ doorsteps. Nowhere is this more visible than in Southeast Asia, a region where rising e-commerce penetration, infrastructure gaps, and diverse regulatory regimes collide with the promise of efficiency gains through technology.

Rising Pressures on Southeast Asian Logistics

Southeast Asia’s logistics market is worth more than US$300 billion annually, driven by surging e-commerce volumes, regional trade, and manufacturing shifts as firms diversify beyond China. Yet inefficiencies remain. Cross-border customs can delay shipments by days; last-mile delivery costs eat into margins; and warehouse operations struggle with rising labour costs and space constraints.

For logistics providers, AI offers a double advantage: operational efficiency and scalability. From predictive demand modelling to warehouse automation, the ability to handle higher volumes at lower cost is increasingly a survival factor.

DHL: Pioneering Digitalisation in Warehousing

DHL, the German logistics giant, has invested heavily in digitalisation across Asia. In Singapore, it has rolled out AI-driven warehouse management systems that use predictive analytics to optimise inventory placement and routing. Globally, DHL operates more than 1,500 collaborative robots in warehouses, with Southeast Asia a focal point for expansion due to the region’s booming e-commerce market.

The company has deployed LocusBots and other robotic picking systems that reduce walking distances for human staff, improving productivity by as much as 80%. DHL is also experimenting with computer vision tools that enhance real-time tracking, ensuring faster turnaround at distribution hubs.

DSV: Optimisation and AI-Enhanced Freight

Denmark’s DSV, among the top global logistics players, has focused on integrating AI into its freight forwarding operations. Predictive algorithms analyse historical shipping data, fuel price movements, and geopolitical risks to recommend optimal routes and booking strategies. In Southeast Asia, where trade lanes stretch from manufacturing hubs in Vietnam to consumer markets in Indonesia and the Philippines, such optimisation is invaluable.

DSV has also invested in AI-powered visibility platforms that provide clients with granular data on shipment location, delays, and customs processing. For multinational manufacturers seeking resilience in their supply chains, this transparency is increasingly a non-negotiable feature.

Toll Group: Robotics at the Front Line

Australia’s Toll Group, with significant operations across Southeast Asia, has turned to automation to address labour shortages and rising costs. In Singapore and Malaysia, it has introduced automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and robotic sorting systems in its warehouses. These systems not only reduce reliance on manual labour but also enable 24/7 operations, crucial for markets where consumer demand peaks during late-night e-commerce sales.

Thomas Knudsen, Toll’s CEO, has repeatedly emphasised that technology is no longer optional but central to competitiveness: “Automation is not about replacing people; it is about scaling operations to meet demand and creating safer, more efficient workplaces.”

Syrius Robotics: Lazada’s Automation Partner

Perhaps the most striking illustration of AI’s role in Southeast Asia comes from Syrius Robotics, a Beijing-founded company that has gained traction with major e-commerce players. Syrius develops autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) designed for warehouses, capable of navigating complex layouts, picking items, and transporting them to human packers.

In 2024, Lazada — one of Southeast Asia’s largest online marketplaces — announced the deployment of Syrius robots in its regional warehouses. The move reflects a critical need: Lazada handles millions of orders daily, with surges during major shopping festivals like 11.11 or Ramadan. Syrius robots enable dynamic scaling, reducing order processing times and increasing throughput by double digits.

The robots are integrated with Lazada’s warehouse management system, powered by AI algorithms that dynamically assign tasks based on real-time demand. This human-robot collaboration model — where machines handle repetitive transport tasks and workers focus on higher-value functions like quality checks — is emerging as a blueprint for regional logistics.

Competitive Dynamics: Global Giants vs. Local Innovators

Southeast Asia’s logistics ecosystem is intensely competitive. Global heavyweights like DHL, DSV, and Toll compete against nimble local players, from J&T Express and Ninja Van to Gojek’s logistics arm. The differentiator increasingly lies not in fleet size but in technology adoption.

Local players have been quick to embrace AI for route optimisation, last-mile delivery scheduling, and cash-on-delivery risk assessment. Yet global firms, with deeper capital and R&D, are pushing robotics into core warehousing and cross-border operations. Syrius’ partnership with Lazada is a case in point: regional platforms are willing to experiment with cutting-edge robotics when volumes demand it.

Challenges: Labour, Regulation and Costs

Despite progress, hurdles remain. Labour remains a sensitive issue: unions and policymakers in Southeast Asia are cautious about automation displacing jobs. Regulators are also grappling with safety standards for robots and drones, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

Cost is another constraint. While AMRs and AI systems promise efficiency, upfront investment can be prohibitive for small and mid-tier logistics companies. Without financing support or shared platforms, adoption risks being concentrated among large multinationals.

Cybersecurity and data governance also loom large. As more logistics processes move onto AI-enabled cloud platforms, risks of cyber disruption or data leakage multiply. Regulators from Singapore’s IMDA to Malaysia’s MDEC are beginning to issue guidelines, but implementation varies.

The Road Ahead

The trajectory is nonetheless clear: AI will become embedded in every layer of logistics. Three themes will dominate:

1. Warehouse robotics: AMRs and robotic arms will expand beyond pilot deployments into mainstream logistics hubs.
2. Predictive visibility: AI-driven platforms will offer not just real-time but predictive supply-chain intelligence.
3. Platform partnerships: E-commerce firms will deepen collaborations with robotics and AI providers, creating new standards for scalability.

For Southeast Asia, where logistics efficiency is pivotal to sustaining e-commerce and manufacturing growth, the race is no longer about who has the largest fleet. It is about who can harness AI most effectively to move goods faster, cheaper, and smarter.

Syrius’ work with Lazada may prove emblematic: a future where robots quietly orchestrate the region’s logistics engine, augmenting human work while transforming one of the most traditional industries into a digital frontier.

Genomics has long been heralded as the foundation of precision medicine. By decoding the genetic blueprint of individuals, clinicians can anticipate disease risk, tailor treatments, and accelerate drug discovery. In the past decade, advances in sequencing technology, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence have made large-scale genomic applications more feasible. Yet the ecosystem varies widely across geographies: the United States remains the innovation hub, Europe is building strong regulatory and collaborative frameworks, and Asia is rapidly emerging with unique datasets and new business models.

At the centre of Asia’s genomic surge is Predictiv Care, a Korean health-tech company led by Dr. Sajung Yun, and Artificial Intelligence visiting scholar at Stanford University, which is developing AI-driven algorithms to process genomic and medical data at scale.

which is developing AI-driven algorithms to process genomic and medical data at scale. Their story underscores how Asia can move from being a consumer of Western innovations to becoming a global innovator in its own right.

The United States: Innovation and Capital Density

The United States continues to lead in both genomic sequencing capacity and commercialisation. Illumina and Thermo Fisher dominate sequencing platforms, while a wave of health-tech firms — from 23andMe to Helix and Color Genomics — have brought consumer genomics into mainstream awareness. Crucially, the US capital markets, with their deep pools of venture and public equity, have enabled genomics firms to fund R&D and pursue ambitious clinical trials.

Regulatory oversight by the FDA, while sometimes slowing commercial rollouts, has provided global benchmarks for clinical validity and safety. The US also benefits from a vast ecosystem of academic medical centres and National Institutes of Health initiatives, such as the All of Us Research Program, which aims to sequence one million genomes.

Europe: Regulation, Collaboration and Ethical Guardrails

Europe has moved deliberately, often prioritising ethics, data governance, and cross-border collaboration. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has set global standards for privacy, directly influencing how genomic data is stored, shared, and monetised. Large-scale projects like the UK Biobank (with 500,000 sequenced participants) and Genomics England have provided robust infrastructure for both research and public health planning.

Continental Europe has launched initiatives such as “1+ Million Genomes” (covering 22 countries), which aims to make genomic and clinical data accessible across borders for research, diagnosis, and personalised medicine. The focus on interoperability and public-private collaboration offers lessons for Asia, where fragmented systems still hamper data sharing.

Asia: Scale, Diversity and Untapped Potential

Asia’s promise lies in its scale and diversity. With 4.7 billion people, the region offers genetic datasets unmatched by any other geography. Historically, much of genomic research has been skewed toward European ancestry populations, limiting the global applicability of findings. Asia can help correct this imbalance.

China has poured resources into sequencing capacity through companies like BGI Genomics, while Japan and Singapore have focused on integrating genomics into healthcare policy. Korea, meanwhile, has nurtured a cadre of ambitious start-ups and academic centres. Among them, Predictiv Care has emerged as a company combining AI algorithms with practical healthcare applications.

Predictiv Care: AI, Partnerships and Expansion

Founded by Dr. Sajung Yun, Predictiv Care develops AI algorithms to process genomic and medical data. Its core platform is a search engine covering more than 20,000 genes and 22,000 diseases, enabling clinicians and researchers to query associations between genomic variants and clinical outcomes. The company is conducting clinical trials at Seoul’s Eunpyung St. Mary’s Hospital and Korea University Guro Hospital, while also expanding into digital health check-up services and AI-driven drug discovery.

Dr. Yun’s vision is clear: genomic data should not remain siloed in academic labs but should be harnessed in real time for clinical and preventive use. As he has emphasised in public remarks, the integration of AI and genomic sequencing can create digital twins of patients, opening pathways to simulate disease progression and treatment outcomes.

Recent Progress and Data Assets

Predictiv Care has acquired significant datasets to train and validate its algorithms:

• 4,000 genomes from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
• 2,000 genomes from the Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine
• 60 centenarian genomes, providing unique insights into longevity

In parallel, the company has been developing MyData Twin Ontology for healthcare, enabling digital clinical trials and personalised simulations.

Partnerships have been central. In 2022, Predictiv Care collaborated with Naver on an employee health programme and fact-checking initiative. In 2024, it partnered with St. Mary’s Hospital and Naver’s HyperCLOVA X on digital twin research in kidney and liver transplantation and developmental hip dysplasia. Other projects include:

• UNIST’s 10K Genome Project, localising human digital twin efforts in Korea
• Gacheon University Gil Hospital on colorectal cancer liquid biopsy
• Digital Athletes USA, applying digital twins to enhance athletic performance
• NEOM City (Saudi Arabia), where Predictiv Care is an authorised medical supplier
• MBRSC (UAE space tech), supporting astronaut readiness with digital twin models
• NVIDIA, through its Inception program for AI start-ups
• SEHA Hospital (UAE), applying gene-based digital twins for hyperlipidemia management

Capital Market Strategy: IPO Pathways and Synergies

Predictiv Care has outlined an ambitious capital market roadmap. It plans to pursue a direct KOSDAQ listing from 2026, aiming for a full listing in 2027. Global expansion via NASDAQ is targeted for 2028. A SPAC listing remains a contingency plan. By 2025, the company expects to be incorporated as an affiliate of Predictive AI, creating synergy for global expansion.

Investors already include NAVER D2SF, Hana Securities, Muirwoods Ventures, and Predictiv Care (US), which participated in a 2022 funding round. M&A by global healthcare companies or big pharma is also under consideration, a strategy consistent with recent consolidation trends in biotech.

Competitor Analysis

In Korea, Predictiv Care’s peers include Lunit and Oncocross, both of which are already listed on KOSDAQ. Lunit specialises in AI-based radiology analysis, while Oncocross focuses on AI drug discovery. Predictiv Care differentiates itself by focusing on the genomics + AI + digital twin nexus, covering a broader scope of diseases and integrating directly with clinical workflows.

Internationally, companies like Illumina, 23andMe, and Genomics England represent reference points. Yet Predictiv Care’s positioning — combining Asian datasets, AI algorithms, and partnerships across healthcare, sports, and even space — reflects a unique hybrid model.

Challenges and Outlook

Challenges remain. Regulatory frameworks for genomic data in Asia are still fragmented, raising questions about cross-border data flows and patient privacy. Clinical adoption will require strong validation, and insurers may be slow to reimburse for genomics-based interventions. Public trust, especially around genetic privacy, must be carefully cultivated.

Yet the opportunity is immense. By 2030, the global genomics market is projected to exceed US$90 billion, with Asia contributing a rising share. If Predictiv Care executes its capital market plan, it could position itself as a global contender, moving from Seoul to Silicon Valley, Riyadh, and beyond.

Conclusion

The genomic sequencing landscape is global but differentiated: the US dominates innovation and capital; Europe leads in regulation and collaboration; Asia brings scale, diversity, and fresh models. Predictiv Care exemplifies how a new generation of Asian companies is moving from data collection to actionable insights — bridging clinical practice, digital twins, and AI-driven drug discovery.

For investors, policymakers, and clinicians, the rise of Predictiv Care signals not just the future of one company, but the next phase of genomics as a global, interconnected industry.

When Arc’teryx collaborated with the celebrated artist Cai Guo-Qiang on a fireworks display across the Qinghai–Tibet plateau in September 2025, the brand had intended to dazzle. Instead, it found itself engulfed in the wrong kind of flames. The spectacle, titled Rising/Ascending Dragon, unfolded against the fragile Himalayan landscape near Shigatse. Within hours of its release online, the event was condemned as an ecological affront and a cultural misstep. The backlash was swift: videos were pulled, apologies issued, and local authorities signalled an investigation into potential damage to the plateau’s ecosystem.

What followed was a textbook case in reputational crisis. International and Chinese media framed the event as an avoidable blunder. Business of Fashion chronicled calls for boycotts; Sixth Tone concluded the campaign had “backfired”; the South China Morning Post quoted Arc’teryx admitting the incident had been a “wake-up call” to respect nature; and Global Times distilled public fury in a single line: “Many netizens criticized the event as absurd, questioning the decision to set off explosions in such an ecologically fragile region.”

ESG 101—And Why It Matters to Brand Commerce

ESG—environmental, social and governance—has moved far beyond the language of investor reports. Once a screening mechanism for capital markets, it is now the architecture of corporate trust. The “E” forces scrutiny of climate footprints, biodiversity and resources. The “S” demands accountability in community relations, labour standards and cultural sensitivity. The “G” insists on transparency and governance structures that embed responsibility into decision-making.

Channel NewsAsia recently captured this evolution well. “It’s crucial to build metrics to see the progress of companies on their climate commitments,” observed Peter Bakker, president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The point is that ESG is measurable, not rhetorical. In brand commerce, it governs sourcing and production but also the less obvious question of where a marketing campaign takes place. A fireworks show in a pristine plateau is no longer just a creative flourish—it is a test of ESG credibility. Regulators are expanding their reach on misleading environmental claims, as The Guardian has reported in its coverage of greenwashing crackdowns, while investors increasingly price public sentiment into brand valuations.

Crisis Management Framework: Acknowledge, Apologise, Act

Arc’teryx’s misjudgment also illustrates the enduring three-step framework of crisis management. First, acknowledge—recognition must be swift and unambiguous. Silence breeds suspicion. The brand’s removal of the videos and confirmation of an inquiry signalled it understood the gravity of the moment. Second, apologise—credibility lies in the willingness to shoulder responsibility without equivocation. By promising to be “more respectful of nature,” Arc’teryx gestured towards humility, though many observers found the words insufficient. Third, act—contrition without remedy is hollow. Commissioning independent environmental assessments and revising internal approvals represent the kind of steps that begin to restore faith.

As crisis specialists often note, the alchemy of crisis management lies in converting anger into renewed trust. Brands that codify these steps into a playbook are not immune from error but are significantly better placed to weather it.

Crisis Recovery: From Backlash to Advocacy

Recovery does not mean returning to business as usual; it means repositioning the brand on firmer ground. Transparency is critical: publishing the results of ecological assessments, however uncomfortable, signals respect for stakeholders. Learning must be visible too, with tangible shifts such as the creation of an internal “ESG Gatekeeper” review for campaigns in sensitive geographies. Community engagement transforms critics into collaborators when local voices are embedded in future decisions. And advocacy can turn a misstep into a platform, as when a company begins sponsoring conservation initiatives in the very environment it once harmed.

This is how a reputational wound can heal into credibility. The most resilient brands are those that respond not defensively but constructively, proving that they listened, learned and acted. In that shift lies the possibility of turning anger into advocacy.

Reputation: The Hardest Asset to Earn, the Easiest to Burn

Warren Buffett’s oft-cited maxim—“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it”—is more relevant than ever in the era of social media. Five minutes can become five seconds when images of ecological insensitivity spread globally. For an outdoor brand, the disconnect is particularly stark. The values Arc’teryx sells—nature, respect, endurance—were precisely those undermined by the event.

As Explorers Web pointed out, even the company’s assurances that eco-friendly materials were used and residues would be removed did little to quell criticism. The very staging of the spectacle in such a landscape appeared irreconcilable with the brand’s professed ethos.

The Governance Lens (the “G” that Decides the Rest)

The incident also exposes the governance deficit. Who owns the brand-risk veto? Are ESG and public affairs advisers consulted upstream, before a campaign is greenlit? The South China Morning Post noted Arc’teryx’s place within Amer Sports, majority-owned by an Anta-led consortium, reminding us that investor priorities cascade into brand decisions.

Governance is where noble principles either live or die. Without clear escalation processes, even conscientious teams drift into misalignment. Regulators are ensuring that such drift has consequences. The European case of DWS, penalised over misleading ESG claims, illustrates how lapses can translate into fines, resignations and headlines that refuse to fade.

Voices That Matter: How Media and Thought Leaders Frame It

Different voices encapsulate the lesson. Global Times highlighted the domestic perception of absurdity in staging fireworks on a plateau. The Guardian cited designer Amy Powney’s warning that “greenwashing is rife,” a reminder that only transparency counts. CNA emphasised Peter Bakker’s call for measurable commitments, not platitudes. Collectively, these perspectives converge on a single truth: ESG is not a communications garnish but a reputational foundation.

Why Chief Brand & Communications Officers Must Put ESG First

Today’s brand and communications chiefs are not simply narrators of campaigns—they are guardians of legitimacy. ESG must be front of mind for three reasons. First, material risk is reputational risk. Studies now show that ESG controversies depress sales, impair recruitment and erode investor confidence. Second, regulators are alert. From advertising standards to securities regulators, misleading claims can lead not only to fines but also to personal accountability. Third, stakeholders demand coherence. Customers, employees and communities do not only ask what brands say; they scrutinise where and how they show up.

The Tibet fireworks saga will eventually fade from trending lists. But the damage to Arc’teryx’s credibility is a reminder that dazzling visuals never compensate for misplaced judgement. Reputation, once eroded, cannot be won back with a campaign—it requires years of discipline anchored in ESG.

How IDEA Communications Can Help

At IDEA Communications (www.idea-comms.com), we advise companies across Asia-Pacific on ESG integration, public affairs, crisis communication as well as other business issues. Our Crisis Communication Service equips brands to build rapid-response playbooks rooted in ESG principles, train leaders to acknowledge, apologise and act with credibility, and convert crises into advocacy moments through community engagement.

In a business climate where reputation is both fragile and foundational, foresight is not optional. Arc’teryx’s experience is a cautionary tale—but with the right ESG mindset and the right counsel, crises can be avoided, and when they come, they can be transformed into long-term resilience.

The health technology landscape in Southeast Asia is evolving at a pace that few anticipated even five years ago. The region, home to more than 670 million people, has historically struggled with fragmented healthcare systems, uneven infrastructure, and varying levels of public and private investment. Today, however, the convergence of digital health tools, artificial intelligence, and preventative care models is reshaping how patients access care, how doctors make decisions, and how governments plan health policies.

A Shifting Healthcare Context

Healthcare expenditure in Southeast Asia has traditionally lagged behind that of developed economies. World Bank data shows per capita health spending in the region ranges from US$130 in Vietnam to more than US$600 in Singapore — a fraction of what is spent in Europe or the US. Yet demographic pressures, urbanisation, and rising consumer expectations are forcing systems to adapt.

COVID-19 accelerated this trajectory. Digital consultations, mobile apps, and telehealth platforms filled gaps when hospitals were overwhelmed. More importantly, the pandemic normalised the idea that healthcare delivery could be decoupled from physical visits, paving the way for HealthTech to become a mainstream component of care.

Where Investment is Flowing

Venture capital has been brisk. According to DealStreetAsia, digital health start-ups in Southeast Asia raised more than US$1 billion in combined funding between 2020 and 2023. Singapore has emerged as a hub, with government-backed initiatives such as Healthier SG and the National AI Strategy creating fertile ground for data-driven health companies. Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are also nurturing ecosystems, often with hospital conglomerates partnering start-ups to accelerate adoption.

Preventive health is one of the fastest-growing segments. Rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity — has underscored the need for solutions that engage consumers before crises occur. This is where companies like Aktivolabs have stepped in.

Aktivolabs: Measuring Health Risk in Real Time

Founded in Singapore, Aktivolabs focuses on quantifying and predicting health risks through a suite of mobile-first products. Its flagship solution, AktivScore, is a dynamic risk assessment tool that measures an individual’s likelihood of developing chronic disease based on lifestyle, behavioural, and biomarker data. The app engages users directly but is also integrated into corporate wellness programmes, insurers’ offerings, and health provider systems.

Recent progress has been notable. In 2024, Aktivolabs expanded its partnerships with insurers in Singapore and India, integrating its digital biomarkers into underwriting processes. This move reflects a broader trend in which insurers are adopting real-time health data to personalise premiums and incentivise healthier behaviour. The company has also partnered with multinational employers to roll out workforce wellness initiatives across Southeast Asia, giving them reach into diverse populations.

Aktivolabs’ approach illustrates a key theme in regional healthtech: the shift from treatment to prevention, where predictive analytics and continuous monitoring enable earlier interventions. For governments facing ballooning healthcare costs, such models offer a potential lever to bend the cost curve.

Policy and Regulatory Tailwinds

Regulation remains uneven across the region, but governments are increasingly open to digital health. Singapore’s Ministry of Health has introduced licensing frameworks for telemedicine providers and established sandbox programmes for new health technologies. Indonesia’s Ministry of Health has been working on standardising electronic health records (EHRs), while Vietnam’s digital health strategy emphasises interoperability and data sharing.

These frameworks, while still maturing, provide reassurance to investors and corporates. They also open the door for cross-border collaborations, especially in clinical trials, AI applications, and cloud-based health platforms.

The Competitive Landscape

The Southeast Asian healthtech market is fragmented, with start-ups competing against entrenched hospital groups, regional insurers, and global technology players. Telemedicine firms such as Halodoc (Indonesia) and Doctor Anywhere (Singapore) have become household names, while regional hospital chains like IHH Healthcare are increasingly adopting digital interfaces. Big tech companies, from Google Health to Apple, are also expanding their health footprints in Asia, creating both competition and partnership opportunities for local innovators.

What differentiates companies such as Aktivolabs is their emphasis on risk stratification — providing quantifiable, actionable insights rather than simply digitising existing healthcare processes. This positions them well in a market where prevention is becoming a fiscal as well as medical priority.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the momentum, obstacles remain. Interoperability between national health systems is limited, meaning patient data often cannot move seamlessly across borders or even between providers within a country. Cybersecurity concerns are growing, particularly as sensitive genomic and biometric data are stored on cloud platforms. Affordability also remains a constraint in lower-income countries, where healthtech solutions may be out of reach for large segments of the population unless supported by public subsidies or NGO funding.

What Comes Next

The next phase of growth will likely focus on three themes:

1. Integration with national health strategies. As governments look to digitise health systems, start-ups that align their offerings with policy goals — such as chronic disease management or universal health coverage — will have an advantage.
2. Cross-sector partnerships. Insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and consumer health brands are increasingly seeking health data and analytics to shape product strategies.
3. Regional expansion. Companies like Aktivolabs demonstrate the scalability of models that work across borders, particularly when they adapt for cultural and behavioural differences.

Southeast Asia’s healthtech landscape is still in its early innings. But if momentum continues, the region could leapfrog traditional healthcare models, embracing a hybrid of preventative care, digital monitoring, and AI-driven insights. For patients, this means earlier interventions and more personalised care. For investors, it represents a market with growth potential and strategic significance.

As Aktivolabs’ trajectory shows, the winners will be those who can marry predictive analytics with practical, scalable solutions. In a region where healthcare challenges are vast but opportunities even greater, healthtech may prove to be one of Southeast Asia’s defining industries of the next decade.

April 23, 2025, Singapore – IDEA was privileged to facilitate and be part of the recent overseas study tour led by Dark Horse Technology Group (SHE: 300688), the largest startup accelerator of its kind in China, as part of the broader overseas expansion momentum. As the first chapter of  Dark Horse Chuhai ( meaning global expansion in Chinese) initiative, our delegation engaged with key Singaporean stakeholders to explore new frontiers in cross-border innovation.

Highlights from the Visit:

Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB): Discussed pathways for bilateral cooperation.

TikTok’s head of Indonesian business development shared compelling insights into Southeast Asia’s booming user base and the “social + shopping” monetization phenomenon

InCorp Global & Hillhouse Investments: Announced InCorp’s recent acquisition by Hillhouse, enabling accelerated growth in 2024

Lazada: Showcased its use of data analytics and agile market-specific strategies to navigate diverse regulatory environments

Goldman Sachs Private Bank: Hosted a luncheon featuring dialogue with the President and leading economists, focusing on cross-border M&A, green finance, and digital asset strategies

YCH Group: Presented its proprietary 7PL™ logistics model and smart tech solutions, highlighting digital transformation in supply chains.

Haidilao: Vice Chairman Dr. Zhou spoke about the brand’s localisation strategies and international scaling excellence

Commune: Shared its sustainable, omni-channel retail strategy that balances function and aesthetic

Maybank: Elaborated on regional SME financing and support for intra‑ASEAN trade

Liang Xinjun, cofounder of Fosun Group, principal of Xin Family office and IWC Management Pte Ltd speaking at the forum.

Mr. Niu Wenwen, publisher of Chinese Entrepreneur, founder of Dark Horse, speaking about the Chuhai momentum at the opening ceremony.

Visit at Incorp headquarters office

Visit at Goldman Sachs office at 1 Marina Link Singapore.

Visit at Lazada headquarters.

About Dark Horse Technology Group (SHE: 300688): Listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Dark Horse provides business innovation and entrepreneurship services, including startup incubation and SaaS offerings. Founded in 2011 and rebranded in 2019, it facilitates venture development, consulting, IP services, and financial advisory

CEO Wen Wen Niu said, “Our strategic alliance underscores a shared vision of empowering Chinese startups for global expansion. In Singapore, we find an ideal partner ecosystem that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.”

This landmark visit sets the tone for Chuhai —uniting Chinese momentum with Singapore’s dynamic business infrastructure to drive the next wave of innovation across both markets.

Fintech is booming in Singapore, a city known for being a global financial hub. The island city-state has received the lion’s share of funding in Southeast Asia over the past five years, and funding has only increased exponentially. In 2019 alone, fintech-related deals accumulated over a billion SGD, far outstripping the amount of funding received in 2018 according to research from Accenture. This has been facilitated in part by the state’s favorable business ecosystem, which boasts low corporate tax rates, political stability, and low barriers to entry.

The nation has also made active steps to support fintech’s growth, suggesting a continued boom ahead. From 2015 to 2020, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the state’s central bank, set aside $225 million to support fintech initiatives, a programme which has helped fund the nation’s turn towards fintech. Since then, the number of fintech firms has rapidly climbed from only 50 to more than 600. On the back of this success, MAS has announced that it is likely that the programme will be renewed as of 2020. Given its stated intentions to support a diversified range of fintech companies, it is wise to assume that there will be an increased amount of spending on the industry and a growing set of funds available for new and maturing startups.

What kind of initiatives has MAS launched to support the fintech industry? From 2015, MAS has taken a proactive stance in creating a favorable regulatory environment for businesses, emphasizing innovation in tandem with security as well as supporting upcoming projects. This was demonstrated in 2016, when MAS announced a regulatory sandbox for fintech companies to test their products in a live environment. This initiative has only expanded since – in 2019, MAS announced Sandbox Express to provide an even faster option for incoming players. Its commitment to liberalizing the fintech industry was further displayed in 2018, when it announced that it would issue up to two digital full bank (DFB) licences and three digital whole bank (DWB) licences, thereby opening up the banking sector to more players.

The country also boasts a highly skilled workforce favorable to incoming fintech entrepreneurs and the development of the market. This workforce is only set to grow—in 2019, the National University of Singapore announced the opening of a fintech lab in conjunction with business and financial institutions. This lab will be responsible for training the next generation of entrepreneurs and professionals. This development signifies the country’s commitment to expanding the labour pool available for upcoming fintech companies and bids good news for the booming market.

Singapore’s strategic location at the heart of the Malay peninsula has also made it an ideal location for leapfrogging into ASEAN markets. ASEAN markets offer a large pool of people who lack access to traditional financial institutions and would be well served by the development of fintech firms. An emerging theme of fintech in Southeast Asia is hence that of financial inclusion. For example, FinAccel, a successful fintech company based out of Singapore, is a credit lending company that caters to online shoppers in Indonesia, a group of people that have been historically underserved by traditional banks. Beyond consumers, there is a similarly large pool of SMEs in Southeast Asia that have been underserved by traditional financial institutions, which lack the flexibility and deep data analytics provided by fintech companies.

Thailand is another prominent country in the region committed to developing its fintech industry. The Thai government inaugurated the Digital Economy Promotion agency in 2017 and has made supporting the fintech scene a priority since. For instance, the country has since introduced three regulatory sandboxes which cover different aspects of the financial services industry. The nation also has one of the highest internet penetration rates in ASEAN, making it an ideal location for the fintech industry to blossom. Notably, the Thai Fintech Association has only expanded since 2016, with 66 out of 124 members being fintech startups.

Lightnet, an up and coming fintech company, is a shining example of the road ahead for fintech in ASEAN. The company taps on both the flourishing scene in Thailand as well as the resources offered within Singapore: its headquarters reside in Thailand and it is registered in Singapore, allowing it access to the best of both worlds. In fact, it is a truly regional company—similar to FinAccel, Lightnet’s strength is that it offers a necessary and overlooked service to millions of unbanked people in Southeast Asia.

Lightnet has benefitted from Singapore’s conducive environment for fintech players. .In 2019, it received US$31.2 million from various investors in a Series A Funding Round. Its largest investor was that of United Overseas Bank (UOB) Venture Management, the private equity unit of UOB. With this funding, the company will be able to increase its investment in the underlying blockchain technology its platform is built on, Stellar Network, and move forward with its first transactions in 2020. Lightnet’s vice chairman, Tridbodi Arunanondchai, has confidently predicted that Lightnet aims to facilitate over US$50 billion worth of annual transactions over the next three years.

As Lightnet moves into its next phase, it is likely that we will see a similar shift in the broader fintech funding environment in Singapore. In 2019, despite the rise in funding for fintech firms, the number of overall fintech deals actually decreased. This is a result of the focus shifting from seed funding to series funding in tandem with maturing start-ups securing larger deals from investors. Over the next few years, we should continue to see a diminishing pool in seed funding and a disproportionately larger growth in series funding as the market matures and bigger fintech companies consolidate.

Furthermore, it is also wise to expect a diversification away from payment start-ups over the next few years both in Singapore and in ASEAN more broadly. A report by (UOB) in November 2019 indicated that the fintech markets in Singapore and Thailand have been diversifying into insurance tech and personal finance, whereas in other ASEAN markets the focus is still largely centred on payment-related solutions. Lightnet has cleverly tapped into this by expanding operations in Singapore, allowing it to capture the remittance needs of the broader Southeast Asian market while benefitting from Singapore’s encouragement of fintech innovation.

Lightnet provides a vision of what is to come in the future of ASEAN’s fintech industry: flourishing start-up scenes, an expanding regional market, and financial inclusion. Even as Covid-19 has heavily impacted national economies across the globe, it has nevertheless accelerated digitalization globally. Without a doubt, fintech is here to stay as leading players flourish in a world increasingly reliant on digital financial services.

How AI is Transforming Traditional Sectors: Manufacturing, Life Sciences, and Maritime

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing traditional sectors by enhancing efficiency, productivity, and decision-making. Industries like manufacturing, life sciences, and maritime are experiencing profound changes due to the implementation of AI technologies, enabling them to operate with enhanced sophistication and agility.

Manufacturing

In manufacturing, AI technologies are driving the development of “smart factories,” where machine learning, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) converge. Predictive maintenance is one of the key applications of AI in this sector. By integrating advanced sensors with AI algorithms, manufacturers can monitor equipment health and performance in real-time. This leads to predictive insights that allow for maintenance before a failure occurs, reducing downtime and saving costs. A recent study showed that companies implementing predictive analytics reported up to a 20% reduction in maintenance costs.

Quality control is another area where AI significantly influences manufacturing. Automated visual inspection systems utilize computer vision and deep learning to identify defects during production. Not only does this enhance quality assurance, but it also reduces the labor required for manual inspections, ultimately increasing efficiency.

Moreover, AI optimizes supply chains by analyzing historical data, market trends, and consumer behavior. By effectively predicting demand and optimizing inventory levels, businesses can minimize waste and ensure a more responsive supply chain.

Life Sciences

In the realm of life sciences, AI is transforming healthcare delivery, drug discovery, and patient outcomes. Drug development, traditionally a lengthy and expensive process, is being expedited through the use of AI algorithms that can analyze vast datasets quickly. By examining genetic information and biomarkers, AI can help identify promising drug candidates, predicting their efficacy and safety before clinical trials. A notable example is the work done by Insilico Medicine, which successfully identified a novel drug candidate for fibrosis in just 46 days by leveraging AI.

Personalized medicine is another benefit brought by AI in life sciences. By combining data from genomic sequencing, electronic health records, and wearable devices, AI enables healthcare providers to tailor treatments to individual patients based on their unique profiles. This individualized approach has shown remarkable results, improving efficacy and reducing adverse reactions.

Furthermore, AI is enhancing diagnostic accuracy through advanced imaging technologies. Algorithms trained on extensive datasets can assist radiologists in detecting anomalies, improving diagnostic precision significantly.

Maritime

The maritime industry is not left behind in this AI-driven transformation. AI applications in this sector are enhancing navigation, safety, and operational efficiency. Predictive analytics is utilized to forecast weather conditions, tidal patterns, and sea traffic—enabling smarter route planning and reducing fuel consumption.

Autonomous vessels equipped with AI systems are paving the way for the future of shipping. These ships can navigate independently or with minimal human intervention, reducing operational costs and addressing the industry’s skilled labor shortages. For instance, Rolls-Royce is testing autonomous ships capable of navigating using AI and machine learning algorithms that analyze environmental data.

Safety is paramount in maritime operations, and AI solutions are improving incident prediction and risk assessment. Machine learning models can analyze historical incident data to highlight potential risks, empowering operators to take preventive measures.

AI’s integration into traditional sectors such as manufacturing, life sciences, and maritime is reshaping the way industries operate. By enhancing efficiency, improving quality, and fostering innovation, AI solutions are crucial in driving economic growth and adapting to market demands. As the capabilities of AI continue to expand, its transformative influence will only increase across these sectors, establishing a new frontier for operational excellence and competitive advantage.

As we traverse the digital age, the interplay between technology and the humanities has become increasingly salient. The rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has spurred discussions about its implications for society, culture, and humanity itself. While technology is often seen as an entity divorced from humanistic values, the convergence of AI and liberal arts offers a unique pathway to enhance human evolution. This synergy paves the way for a future where technological advancement and humanistic endeavors coexist, enriching our understanding of the world and improving the human experience.

Understanding AI and Liberal Arts
Before delving into their convergence, it’s essential to define both AI and liberal arts. AI refers to computer systems designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and problem-solving. On the other hand, liberal arts encompass a broad range of disciplines that study the human experience, including literature, philosophy, history, visual arts, and social sciences. These fields examine societal values, ethical considerations, and the cultural contexts in which we live.

Separately, both domains hold immense value: AI drives innovation and efficiency in various sectors, while liberal arts foster critical thinking, creativity, and ethical reasoning. However, when combined, they can lead to transformative outcomes that enrich human creativity, social understanding, and ethical considerations surrounding technology.

Enhancing Creativity and Innovation
One of the most compelling arguments for the convergence of AI and liberal arts is its potential to enhance creativity. AI technologies can serve as tools that augment human creativity rather than replace it. For instance, AI can analyze vast amounts of artistic data—music, visual art, literature—and inspire artists and writers by generating new ideas, patterns, and combinations that might not emerge through traditional thinking.

Artists today are already employing AI to create original works. Musicians use algorithms to compose melodies or explore novel soundscapes that blend genres, while visual artists utilize generative adversarial networks to produce stunning visual compositions. This collaboration between humans and machines leads to the emergence of new art forms, reflecting both technological advancements and the rich tapestry of human emotion and experience.

This synergy fosters an environment where innovation thrives, merging cutting-edge technology with deep-rooted humanistic principles. As AI continues to evolve, artists and thinkers will face new opportunities and challenges, urging them to reconsider traditional notions of authorship, creativity, and inspiration.

Promoting Ethical Considerations
As the power of AI expands, so too do the ethical dilemmas surrounding its use. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the dehumanization of decision-making necessitate a thoughtful examination of the technology’s implications on society. Here, the liberal arts can play a crucial role in fostering discussions about ethics, empathy, and responsibility.

Philosophy, for example, invites us to explore the moral dimensions of AI. Questions regarding the decision-making processes of algorithms, their consequences on social equity, and their implications for human rights can be informed by ethical frameworks established in philosophical traditions. By involving thinkers from liberal arts backgrounds in conversations about AI, we can craft technologies that prioritize human values and equitable outcomes.

Moreover, narratives from literature and the arts highlight the importance of lived experiences, enabling AI developers to better understand the societal contexts in which their technologies will be deployed. The incorporation of diverse perspectives—especially from those historically marginalized—ensures that AI developments consider the needs and concerns of all stakeholders, creating a more inclusive technological landscape.

Future Societies
As society evolves, the convergence of AI and liberal arts will shape the future of human interaction and communication. In an age where technology significantly influences social dynamics, understanding how to navigate human relationships within digital landscapes becomes essential. For instance, AI-driven social media platforms can facilitate connections across the globe, yet they can also perpetuate misinformation and enhance echo chambers.

By merging liberal arts insights with AI design, we can create platforms that foster meaningful interactions, promote critical discussions, and bridge cultural divides. Education systems that integrate AI literacy alongside critical thinking and ethics will prepare future generations to engage with technology intelligently and responsibly.

To conclude, the convergence of AI and liberal arts presents a compelling solution to guide humanity’s evolution in the digital age. By enhancing creativity, promoting ethical considerations, and shaping future societies, this synergy cultivates a more holistic approach to technological progress. As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, the collaborative efforts between AI and the humanities will empower individuals, enrich cultural understanding, and pave the way for a future where technology serves as a force for good—aligning innovation with the core values of humanity.
Ultimately, recognizing the intrinsic relationship between technology and human experience is crucial for shaping a more thoughtful, creative, and equitable world. As we embrace the potential of this convergence, we can ensure that advancements in AI enhance, rather than diminish, our humanity.

The 21st century is defined by a relentless march toward automation, a phenomenon reshaping the very fabric of human society. From artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to advanced algorithms and machine learning, automation is no longer a futuristic fantasy but a rapidly unfolding reality. This article explores the multifaceted dimensions of this race to an automated human society, examining the drivers, implications, and potential pathways that lie ahead.

The Rise of Automation: A Perfect Storm

Several factors have converged to accelerate the automation trend. Technological advancements, particularly in AI and robotics, have reached a point where machines can perform tasks previously thought to require human intelligence and dexterity. Simultaneously, economic pressures, such as the need for increased efficiency and reduced labor costs, are pushing businesses to adopt automated solutions.

Moreover, demographic shifts, including aging populations and labor shortages in certain sectors, are creating a demand for automated systems to fill the gaps. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the importance of automation, as businesses sought ways to maintain operations with minimal human contact.

Transforming Industries

Automation is transforming industries across the board. In manufacturing, robots and automated systems are enhancing production efficiency, improving quality control, and enabling mass customization. The rise of smart factories, where machines communicate and collaborate seamlessly, is becoming increasingly prevalent.

In logistics and transportation, self-driving vehicles, drones, and automated warehouses are optimizing supply chains, reducing delivery times, and lowering costs. The retail sector is also experiencing a revolution, with automated checkout systems, personalized shopping experiences powered by AI, and robotic assistants enhancing customer service.

Healthcare is another area where automation is making significant strides. AI-powered diagnostic tools, robotic surgery, and automated patient monitoring systems are improving accuracy, efficiency, and access to care. Virtual assistants and chatbots are also being used to provide remote support and mental health services.

The Impact on the Workforce

The automation revolution has profound implications for the workforce. While automation can create new jobs in areas such as AI development, robotics engineering, and data analysis, it also poses a threat to existing jobs, particularly those involving routine or repetitive tasks.
The displacement of workers due to automation raises concerns about unemployment, income inequality, and the need for workforce retraining and adaptation. Governments, businesses, and educational institutions must collaborate to equip workers with the skills needed to thrive in an automated economy.

Ethical and Societal Considerations

Beyond the economic impacts, automation raises a host of ethical and societal considerations. Algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the potential for increased social inequality are among the challenges that must be addressed.

As AI systems become more sophisticated, questions of accountability and responsibility become increasingly important. Determining who is liable when an autonomous vehicle causes an accident or when an AI-powered diagnostic tool makes an incorrect diagnosis requires careful consideration.

Moreover, the potential for automation to exacerbate existing social inequalities must be addressed. Ensuring that the benefits of automation are shared broadly and that marginalized communities are not left behind is crucial for creating a more equitable society.

Navigating the Future

As we march toward an increasingly automated human society, it is essential to adopt a proactive and thoughtful approach. Investing in education and training programs that equip workers with the skills needed for the jobs of the future is paramount.

Promoting policies that support innovation while addressing the potential negative impacts of automation is also crucial. This includes exploring options such as universal basic income, portable benefits, and lifelong learning initiatives.

Furthermore, fostering a culture of collaboration and dialogue among stakeholders—including governments, businesses, labor unions, and civil society organizations—is essential for navigating the complex challenges and opportunities presented by automation.

The race to an automated human society is underway, and its implications are far-reaching. By understanding the drivers, impacts, and ethical considerations associated with automation, we can work to shape a future that is both prosperous and equitable. Embracing innovation while prioritizing human well-being will be key to ensuring that automation serves as a force for progress and enhances the lives of all members of society. As we continue down this path, a balanced approach that values both technological advancement and human values will be essential for creating a future where automation benefits everyone.

12, March 2025, Singapore – This week, a corporate delegate led by Helena Ma, Managing Director of IDEA communication, embarked on visits to both listed and private enterprises in Foshan, Zhuhai, and Shenzhen, including Guangdong Shenling Thermal Tech, Ninestar, XPeng Huitian (AeroHT), Huawei, and Tencent. These engagements provided deep insights into how major Chinese companies are navigating U.S. sanctions and global economic uncertainties while carving out new avenues for growth and innovation.

Within the macroeconomic landscape, the effects of U.S. sanctions and tariffs remain significant, especially for Huawei and Tencent, which face restricted access to critical technologies and global markets. Notably, Huawei is accelerating investment in homegrown R&D—advancing its HarmonyOS and smart-city solutions to reduce dependence on foreign technologies. Tencent continues to diversify its revenue streams through its expansive ecosystem, spanning cloud computing to fintech, ensuring sustainable adaptability.

Visiting the headquarters of the leading Chinese air cooling system producer Shenling Group.

On a micro level, the visits underscored entrepreneurial dynamism. Shenling, founded in 2000 and listed on the Shenzhen ChiNext board, is cementing its leadership in eco-thermal solutions through its new smart manufacturing base in Foshan—driven by low-carbon, digital technologies targeting data centers and energy storage applications.

Ninestar is transforming traditional printing through smart manufacturing and IoT‑enabled devices, shifting from legacy competition with global brands toward tech‑forward growth. XPeng Huitian (AeroHT), Xpeng Motors’ eVTOL arm, is pushing boundaries in mobility innovation—exemplified by its “land aircraft carrier” concept and pilot production facility in Guangdong, placing China at the forefront of advanced electric vertical‑takeoff‑and‑landing vehicle development.

What emerged most clearly was the spirit of resilience: these companies are reframing crisis as opportunity—embracing innovation, expanding into new sectors, and leading transformation in a time of uncertainty. Their counterparts in Hangzhou—such as Deepseek and Nezha II—echo this narrative of tech‑epic entrepreneurship.

Additionally, the delegation visited the renowned He 和 (meaning Harmony) Museum in Foshan, showcasing post‑First World War abstract Impressionist art gifted by the Midea Group family to the city, rounding off a rich cultural experience.

For global businesses, the takeaway is clear: long‑term growth depends on adaptability, innovation, and strategic reinvention. These Chinese enterprises offer a compelling model of transformation in a turbulent geopolitical climate.

27 Sept 2025, Singapore – In a significant stride to boost trade and investment ties between Turkey and Singapore, a luncheon was co‑organised last week between the Turkish Ambassador H.E. Mehmet Burçin Gönenli and Azimut Group. Azimut is a global, independent financial services powerhouse headquartered in Milan, Italy. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange (ticker AZM.IM), it specializes in asset management, wealth management, investment banking, and fintech, with a strong presence across 18 countries.

The invitation‑only event brought together accredited investors from leading firms including Tricor Group, Gaorong Capital, and TVM Capital Healthcare. Sincere thanks are extended to Ambassador Burçin Gönenli for gracing the occasion and to Leonard Lim, head of Azimut Singapore for the unwavering support.

Turkey, home to over 85 million people, is an upper‑middle‑income emerging market with a diversified economy. It ranks as the 16th‑largest by nominal GDP and 12th by PPP in the world, with a GDP per capita (PPP) of around $42,400 in 2025. Services account for 61 % of the economy, industry 32 % and agriculture 7 %. Main industrial pillars include automotive, electronics, textiles, construction, steel, mining, machinery and food processing; textiles and soft commodities remain strategic anchors. After a period of economic turbulence, Turkey saw GDP growth of 3.2 % in 2024 and is expected to grow around 2.8–3.1 % in 2025, while inflation has eased to approximately 35 % in mid‑2025 thanks to orthodox macroeconomic policies.

“Singapore and Turkey share a history of strong commercial collaboration,” said Ambassador Burçin Gönenli. “This luncheon reinforces our commitment to deepen investment flows and foster new partnerships across sectors such as textiles, healthcare and technology. We look forward to growing with our Singaporean partners.”

This event further cements commitment to leveraging Turkey’s dynamic market and evolving trade landscape.

September 24, 2024 Singapore – As global AI investments are projected to reach $200 billion by 2025 according to IDC, distinguishing between hype and sustainable opportunities becomes crucial. At the AI Apex Asia Capital Connect Forum, a panel of industry leaders convened to shed light on strategies for identifying genuine AI prospects amidst the noise.

The session, “Decoding AI: From Hype to Hope,” featured insights from Jianfeng Lu, Founder & Chairman of Wiz.AI; Hao Wang, Managing Director at Hong Shan Capital; and Helena Ma, founder of IDEA communication Pte Ltd, advisor of AI Apex Foundation. Dr. Weiru Chen, Professor of Strategy at CEIBS, moderated the discussion.

Jianfeng Lu emphasized the primacy of real-world applications over technical sophistication. “The first priority should be the user scenario and customer use case,” Lu asserted. “What kind of data can we accumulate to build effective AI models?” This user-centric approach aligns with recent findings from McKinsey, which indicate that AI solutions closely tied to specific business problems deliver 50% higher ROI than broader, less focused implementations.

Helena Ma highlighted the symbiotic relationship between AI innovation and regulatory frameworks. “Stringent regulatory frameworks can foster a more mature and secure AI ecosystem,” Ma noted. This perspective gains significance as the EU’s AI Act takes shape, potentially setting global standards for AI governance.

The panel also delved into the debate between specialized and general AI. Lu pragmatically stated, “For application builders, the focus is on capabilities – analytical, generative, or action-oriented – rather than the distinction between AGI and specialized AI.” This practical view contrasts with the often-sensationalized media coverage of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

Looking ahead, the experts identified customer service automation and enterprise-wide AI transformation as key opportunities. “AI transformation is far more complex than previous digitalization efforts,” Lu remarked. “It encompasses technology, data governance, and continuous model training.”

Dr. Chen concluded by outlining three milestones for AI’s future:

1. Enhancing human productivity
2. Catalyzing new, high-growth business lines
3. Generating unprecedented value through disruptive innovations

This framework provides a valuable lens for evaluating AI investments, moving beyond short-term hype to focus on sustainable value creation.

As AI continues to reshape industries, the insights shared at the AI Apex Asia Capital Connect Forum offer a roadmap for investors navigating this complex landscape. By focusing on practical applications, long-term value, and ethical considerations, investors can position themselves to capitalize on the AI revolution while avoiding pitfalls of overhyped trends.

With strong support of our local partners, the Singapore visit organised by China Entrepreneur Club Green Alliance delegate in conjunction with 30th Anniversary of Sino-Singapore diplomatic relationship was completed successfully.

The six-day programme saw the delegate members visiting Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Wealth Management Institute (WMI), SGX Group, Seviora Group, Fullerton Fund Management, Azalea Investment Management, Pavilion Capital, National Gallery Singapore, UBS, Haidilao etc.

The delegate members gained insights on how ESG is managed and practiced on corporate and fund levels, regional economic policy and outlook, geopolitical risks, Singapore’s strategic positioning as a global wealth management hub, risks and opportunities in globalisation process etc. the visiting programme concluded with an refreshing walk and meditation at the world heritage site the Singapore Botanic Garden.

Impressive insights on how to construct a PE portfolio, how PE ESG investments can generate market-rate PE returns, portfolio diversification strategy and fund performance.

Seviora is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Temasek with AUM around $55bn. As a Singapore-based asset management group, Seviora Group provides investment access for a wide range of multi-asset portfolio.

China Entrepreneur Club was established in 2006 by a group of 31 China’s most influential first –generation entrepreneurs, economists and diplomats, to foster the entrepreneurial spirit, develop intra-club business collaboration and forge international relationships. Its members represent the 1st generation of modern Chinese entrepreneurs such as founders of Lenovo, Alibaba Group, Meng Niu Dairy Group, Xiaomi Technology, Huawei, Fosun, Baidu Inc., Tencent, GEELY, New Hope, etc. Their last visit in 2015 in Singapore coincided with 25th diplomatic anniversary of Singapore and China.

Founded as a non-profit organisation, CEC is committed to business integrity, mutual support and sustainable social and economic development. The 64 CEC council members collectively generate $751bn annual revenue as of 2019, employ over 2.9mn employees and 54.6mn employees indirectly. Green Alliance comprise of 160 member companies to promote ESG- aligned business.

Notable members include e-commerce mogul Jack Ma (founder of Alibaba), manufacturing giant Liu Chuanzhi (Chairman and CEO of Lenovo), real-estate tycoon Wang Jianlin (CEO and founder of Wanda Group) and pharmaceutical guru Guo Guangchang (founder of Fosun Group). Incorporating China’s ancient Confucius and Tao values, CEC members are also known as Daonong, literally translated as farmers who practice the law of Tao. As part of its staple annual program, CEC feature China Entrepreneur Golf Education, Daonong Gala, Green Company Alliance, GECG cross-border visits and CEC cross-border high-level visit, the latter of which has seen CEC members received by world-known politicians such as Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Tony Abbott and Barack Obama.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is having a midlife crisis. The once-reliable game of chasing keywords and backlinks is looking as dated as a 2010s Instagram filter. Enter GEO—Generative Engine Optimization, a marketing philosophy built for the AI era. GEO doesn’t ask marketers to master new tech toys; it asks them to rethink their mindset.

From Lighthouses to Knowledge Continents
Old-school SEO was about building lonely “lighthouses” around single keywords, hoping to lure passing traffic. GEO flips the script: it rewards brands that create interconnected knowledge systems. Instead of one-off posts like “best coffee beans,” think of a web of content covering growing regions, roasting methods, brewing techniques, and grinder choices.

Why? Because large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT thrive on structured knowledge networks, not isolated keywords. Your brand should look like a continent of expertise, not a blinking beacon in the dark.

From Traffic Chasing to Source-of-Truth
The GEO mindset moves marketers from “get clicks” to “be cited.” AI doesn’t care about your social buzz if your content lacks substance. High-quality, original insights with data and unique perspectives make your brand the answer AI trusts.
Consider Patagonia’s sustainability reports or Tesla’s open technical documentation—these aren’t just PR stunts. They’re citations waiting to happen, making these brands authoritative sources that AI models can confidently recommend.

From Backlinks to Consensus
Traditional SEO lived and died by backlinks. GEO thrives on social consensus. AI models scan forums, social platforms, and digital conversations to sense if the world agrees your brand matters. Think of how LEGO’s vibrant online community amplifies its relevance. This isn’t just chatter; it’s digital credibility.

Why It Matters
A 2024 HubSpot report found that 65% of marketers are already experimenting with generative AI for content discovery. Meanwhile, Gartner predicts that by 2026, 80% of web traffic will originate from AI-driven interfaces. The brands that adapt early will dominate the conversation—not by shouting the loudest, but by becoming the most quotable.
The future of marketing belongs to those who build ecosystems of knowledge, earn trust as authoritative sources, and create ideas people rally around. In GEO’s world, you don’t chase traffic. You become the reference point.

27 March 2023 Singapore-  In the next few decades, the aging population will be one of the biggest challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. The fast-rising cost of healthcare is a major challenge for governments, insurers and employers.  According to the World Health Organization, one out of six people will be aged over 60 years by 2030.

The number of persons aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020- 2050 to reach 426 million. In Singapore alone, it is estimated that by 2030, there will be 900,000 people aged over 65 years and healthcare expenditure is expected to triple to $60 billion per year.

With our ageing population, Asia is going to be centre of a dementia epidemic. Research has already shown the Covid 19 is affecting our brain structures and will make these problems worse. The cost to our societies will be very high. Brain conditions impact not just patients, but will have huge strain on families and communities.

In our special hybrid event, we have curated a panel with insiders, innovators, disruptors, investors to discuss the implications of longevity, challenges and opportunities for health tech startups, root causes of brain problem and mental health conditions in our society, government’s role in addressing the chronicle issues, etc.

“Health is wealth” as the old adage goes. Amidst the growing global traction and awareness on longevity, mental healthcare, and health tech, we curated a small forum aggregating industrial experts, investors, tech innovators, influencers and disrupter at 67PallMall, discussing about the implications of longevity, policy landscape across the world, challenges and opportunities for industry players, investment opportunities etc. We came into the conclusion that:

1. Still at a nascent stage and we have barely scratched the surface. Despite the bourgeoning supply of health tech startups, there are still ample untapped opportunities for both investors and innovators.
2. Preventive health and quality living matters, apart from the common notion of extending lifespan or reverse aging.
3. Working with regulators to incentivize mass adoption and paradigm shift of the mentality matters;
4. startups need to take a customer-oriented approach and offer solution with strong value proposition integrating accessibility, affordability, aftermarket care etc.

We appreciate our partners iGlobe Partners, Aktivolab, Neurowyzr, HealthXCapital and family offices for your attendance and support.

Thanks industry leaders, healthcare experts, investors, innovations for sharing with us your viewpoints and insights— was amazing to have you at our panel.

Joining our curated panels were:
-Jeff Lin, Operating Partner, iGlobe Partners
-Seemant Jauhari, Managing Partner, HealthXCapital
-Dr.Prem Pillay, Chief Medical Advisor Neurowyzr
-Gourab Mukherjee, CEO, cofounder, Aktivolabs
-Dr.Bechara Saab, Chief Scientist, founder, Mobio Interactive
-Dr. Saishreyas Sundarajoo, head of healthcare solutions, Speedoc

Nearly a year since the virus first hit, companies across all industries are reckoning with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial market shock landed a devastating blow on national economies, thus affecting overall demand and posing a huge risk to firms’ product sales and prices. The subsequent domino effect on the rest of the system—including material supply chains, logistics and operations, has been significant—especially for multinationals whose have seen their costs rise because of epidemic prevention policies and the curtailing of international travel and communication.

Despite economic headwinds creating a challenging environment for foreign companies, there have been some bright spots: the situation in China has vastly improved. Companies are slowly, but surely, recovering though some remain cautious about the future.

Shandong Linglong Tyre Co. Ltd. is one such company, though it is not remaining complacent. Linglong is currently working towards strengthening its crisis management mechanisms, while also retooling its business strategies to leverage on new opportunities and offset the impact of future risks on their production and business operations.

The firm has been able to remain optimistic about its future because of the experienced management has steered Linglong with a steady hand throughout these turbulent times. At the company’s helm is chairman and president, Wang Feng, an entrepreneurial veteran whose leadership has paved the way for Linglong to emerge as one of the world’s top tyre manufacturers.

Leading from the grassroots

Chairman Wang receiving the Most Responsible Enterprise in Petroleum and Chemical Industry Award from Gu Xiulian, Governor of Jiangsu from 1983 to 1989 (first woman in this position), Minister of Chemical Industry from 1989 to 1998, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People’s Congress, and Chairwoman of the All-China Women’s Federation.

Wang was born into a working-class family. As a young man, he worked alongside his father in a Zhaoyuan chemical plant where his interest in chemistry and management beliefs were seeded. Later, he would pursue his studies in chemistry at university and eventually begin working in a Yantai tyre factory, Linglong’s predecessor. Wang moved quickly through the ranks, eventually emerging as the firm’s chairman and making the bold moves that have characterised his tenure.

Under him, Linglong has achieved many milestones: the company presently exports its products to over 180 countries and regions all over the world. Linglong won the prestigious China Industrial Award—the first domestic tyre enterprise to do so—while Wang himself has garnered numerous accolades including the title of National Outstanding Entrepreneur and the Most Respectable Entrepreneur of the Year, among others.

For Wang, leadership is all about “seeing the bigger picture” and setting clear development goals that are effectively broken down and communicated to the entire team.

Sponsorship of Wolfsburg League

“Doing so will encourage the team members to work well together and in this way, the team will have a positive spirit, be united and prepared for action!” he said.

Wang noted that effective communication skills are also fundamental for the success of any team, which has helped inform his own hands-on, grassroots approach to managing his company. Having once been a front-liner himself, Wang is intimately familiar with every production process.

“[This] makes it less challenging to manage the company,” he shared, adding that even overseas visitors are surprised and heartened by his familiarity with every point in the production process. “This helped to build trust between us and them more easily.”

The company’s “contact the grassroots and serve the staff” approach to workforce management is built out of several aspects which centres their people’s well-being as core to Linglong’s success.

Critical response to crisis

Wang’s grassroots-oriented management style has influenced how the company has responded to the COVID-19 crisis. Aside from following government guidelines on epidemic prevention, Linglong formulated a strict work safety plan to ensure the health of workers in their plants. This plan is bolstered by a “vegetable basket project” that guarantees each employee’s basic living needs while simultaneously building stability into the overall company.

The company is not only focusing on the people inside the company, but also those outside it. Since the outbreak, Linglong has donated RMB five million to the Wuhan and Jingmen Red Cross Societies to support efforts to control and prevent epidemics. They have set up free tyre rescue services for construction vehicles of the Huoshenshan and Raytheon Mountain hospitals through its partnerships with local dealers in Hubei.

photo credit: Linglong. Linglong’s donation of PPE goods to Serbia during Covid19, as part of the Group’s CSR initiative.

Linglong’s charitable work has also extended to those outside China: the firm donated more than 300,000 sets of anti-epidemic material to the Serbian government, as well as disposable masks and medical gloves to countries in North and South America, Europe, and Africa.

Wang explained that business development composes of two major factors: economic and social values. Though they may appear unrelated, they actually influence one another more than most realise. “

“Investing in public welfare improves brand reputation, which then promotes faster enterprise development,” he said. “This gains us trust and respect from both shareholders and consumers.”

Sponsorship of youth football

Toughing it out

While the COVID-19 pandemic was unprecedented in its scale, Linglong and its entrepreneurial chairman is no stranger to major challenges. In 2000, the company faced obsolescence thanks to the rise of the superior radial tyre, a new innovation born in the 1990s. At the time, Linglong was only producing bias tyres, and was not designated by the Chinese government as a key manufacturer in its large-scale plan to develop a national radial tyre.

Rather than being cowed by this challenge, Linglong got to work on an ambitious plan to invest RMB16 million to produce its proprietary radial tyre, without the support of government or private funds. Within 11 months—a remarkably short timespan in an industry where such a feat would usually require three years at minimum—Linglong’s first radial tyre was coming off the production line and being sent to market.

“[We surprised] the industry with the ‘Linglong speed’,” Wang said proudly.

The next challenges arrived one after the other: first, the 2008 financial crisis dealt the tyre industry a major blow. Then in 2009, the US implemented its “special safeguard policy”, making Chinese tyres imports much more expensive, thus hurting the domestic market.

However, once again, Linglong refused to allow a bad situation to get the better of them. Wang explained that the firm worked hard to adjust the quality of their business—from the production of their tyres, to their customer relationship management—through research and development, and cost-cutting measures in their production and operations processes.

In doing so, they were able to reposition themselves in the market and won even more support and accolades form their customers, thus curtailing the impact of the US’s trade policy.

Developing entrepreneurship through challenges

Linglong’s approach to meeting challenges has not changed when it comes to the pandemic.

On a macro-scale, the automobile industry has taken a significant hit thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic which hampered the outputs of factories in not just China but also Europe. In response to the new economic conditions, Linglong made adjustments to their business in order to maximise their profits. The sales team analysed the overall market sentiment and made the necessary adjustments to their sales prices in order win more market share.

Whatever the company had lost in terms of sales volume they were able to make up for by winning a larger slice of the market. As a result, the company was able to make up whatever they had lost in terms of sales volume, and was performing better than expected within the first half of 2020. Overall domestic sales volume increasing by 35 percent, and between March and June 2020, Linglong’s growth rate exceeded 51 percent.

Wang’s belief in the spirit of entrepreneurship bolstered by a focus on innovation may explain why the company has responded so well to the pandemic. For example, the Linglong sales team took a significant step towards innovating how they networked and communicated through the construction and implementation of a new retail platform. The platform combined the best of online platforms—through which the team held bi-monthly video meetings with dealers—in order to maximise offline sales.

“Innovating through entrepreneurship amid uncertainty can create greater added value even with limited resources,” he said, adding that companies should use market challenges as opportunities to improve themselves and their enterprises in order to strengthen their customers’ trust in them.

Getting smart for the future

Linglong’s chairman does not intend on allowing the innovation born from the pandemic to slow down. Moving forward, Linglong has plans to establish its first “smart platform” at its fifth production base in Changchun, which has been designated by the Jilin Province government as the site for an international automobile city. Furthermore, Changchun is strategically located in relation to Linglong’s main retail markets in northeast China.

Once it has been built, the Changchun facility will become the first digital-first factory, filling an existing gap in the global tyre industry. The technologies being put into place would support more complete dissemination of information among its staff throughout various processes, as well as increasingly sophisticated research and development projects.

“We have invested a lot of time, manpower, and material and financial resources in research and development, and have achieved positive results, which has boosted our confidence in building a truly automated digital smart factory in China,” Wang said.

Wang noted that through the smart platform in Changchun, excess inventory can be reduced to meet precise demand levels, thus lowering the storage and warehouse costs by almost 70 percent. Furthermore, labour-intensive manufacturing and production processes will become less reliant on manpower, which can be redirected to ensuring high quality products, and higher customer satisfaction.

“The creation of a digital and smart platform enables each of our tyres to pass the test in terms of quality,” he said.

Strategic partnership with Geely Motor

In terms of its international business, Linglong also has plans to make a strategic shift of focus. The business had previously been focused on what they call their “5 + 3” strategy, which covers their five existing domestic production bases and three retail markets in northeast China.

Moving forward, Wang is determined to transition the company to a “6 + 6” strategy which would be more focused on globalising its reach and production. He explained that the company is working on laying out more domestic production bases—the goal is to have six in China alone—and making further inroads in other countries in the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. In addition to Linglong’s bases in Thailand and Serbia, the company has established research and development institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Germany and the US to drive more scientific research.

For Wang, pushing the development of better products through R&D has helped the company continue to innovate and emerge as a market leader in the global tyre industry.

“Underlying every great brand is a great product. We are committed to do everything necessary to improve the quality and standard of our product. Only through taking care of our customers, our employees and our community can we achieve the vision of building a world-class tyre manufacturing company,” Wang said.

Zhaoyuan City, Shandong, 10 July 2021— Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. (Linglong) has signed the Phase II strategic partnership agreement with Tencent Cloud and Huazhi, leading big data, cloud service and IoT service providers in China in the joint effort to build LingLong’s digitalized factory in Changchun, which will incorporate fully integrated, digitally connected and cloud-based data and process management software.

The Phase II partnership will see Tencent upgrading Linglong’s marketing cloud, using WeChat and other connected proprietary digital software to improve engagement with users and respond more quickly and efficiently to market demands. The partnership also enables Linglong to tap into the full-suite of marketing products Tencent offers to enhance customer value-add and servicing capability.

The first digitalized smart manufacturing platform of its kind in China, Tencent’s smart platform will enable streamlined manpower resources in the manufacturing process, allowing these resources to be optimized and reallocated into the quality inspection process to further strengthen Linglong’s digital transformation and to set the benchmark in domestic tyre manufacturing. The tech-enhanced LingLong Changchun Smart Factory is also a vital component of Changchun Municipal City’s International Automotive City plan and an integral part of LingLong’s “glocalization” strategy.

“The partnership with Tencent and Huazhi is testimony to our enduring commitment to strengthening our servicing capacity and standards. We are committed to boosting our investment in smart manufacturing and value-added services in a bid to enhance the overall standard of the tyre industry,” said Wang Feng, Chairman and President of Linglong Tyre.

Smarter process, better results

The tyre manufacturing process — made up of four major components — has stringent requirements for temperature and quality control, encompassing internal mixing, semi-finished products, finished products, and vulcanization. The new smart platform integrates lean manufacturing that is the hallmark of Linglong’s production facility, allowing for digital monitoring of factory equipment in real time, resulting in minimized down time, increased efficiency and improved quality standards.

The construction of smart factories is set to revolutionize the tyre industry through the integration of digital, smart engineering and new retail platforms, effectively reducing inventory by two-thirds, resulting in lowered costs, shortened response lead time and enhanced value-add to customers.

Further to the strategic partnership signing with Tencent Cloud and Huazhi Smart, the Changchun factory will incorporate IoT, AI, cloud and big data technology, deploying a team of 200 to enable full digitalization of office, manufacturing processes, customer service, management and R&D, including the transformation and upgrading of the automation and intelligence of a single device.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Linglong Tyre has swiftly adapted to the crisis by enhancing emergency safety mechanisms and continuously improving resource allocation and local operations to soften the pandemic’s impact on Linglong’s international network. The automotive and tyre industry as a whole has been impacted by falling demand, economic downturn and market panic, hampering sales and affecting the supply chain, logisitics, and operations of many companies.

With the pandemic continues to cripple the global economy, affecting the international as well as domestic automotive market, the adoption of a smart platform and digitalization strategy is expected to cushion the COVID-19 impact and keep operational and financial risks at bay.

Linglong, 5 February 2021 – Linglong Tire Drift team Orange, sponsored by Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd. (Linglong) won the championship in the D1 Grand Prix race held at Tsukuba Circuit Course 2000 in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture.

Linglong Tire Drift team Orange emerged victorious at the seventh race after two days’ enduring battle and secured the team title of D1GP 2020 series champion. Over the entire season including eight races lasting two consecutive days, Linglong Tire Drift Team has secured five wins under its belt and is the overall winner demonstrating reliable tire performance.

Masanori Kobashi of Linglong Tire Drift Team Orange has completely conquered the final round of the 2020 season and was crowned for the first time as a series champion. “We are trememdously proud of winning the race. We would like to thank all participants, organisers and fans for making the event happen, despite delays in the initial schedule for D1GP 2020 due to the pandemic,” Kobashi remarks.

Linglong Atlas Tire Drift Team was established in 2018 out of passion for motor sport and has made its first appearance in the D1GP 2019 arena. “D1GP 2020 marks Linglong Tire’s second year of participation and we are honored to win the championship in a world-class event as such. It’s a testament to the sportsmanship that connects us all in an unprecedented time as such, the reliable performance of our tyres and our continuous R&D efforts to improve the durability and reliability of the Linglong tyres,” remarks Wang Feng, Chairman and President of Linglong Tire.

Two decades since its inception, the Japan D1GP car drifting series has been recognized as a world’s top international drifting event with growing popularity and reputation. Every year, drifting masters come together to show off their chops in this sport of control, where they seek to manipulate the brakes, steering and throttle in an agile manner to keep the car in an oversteer position while maintaining absolute control, and shifting the weight of the car between corners.

A drifting competition comes in the form of a big sensory overload, as it combines a sound of engines punctuated by the shrilling pop of an exhaust pipe under extreme pressure, the smoke towering the crowd and the acrid stench of burning rubber that bring tears to the eyes. Racers are required to possess high technical and psychological capacity in D1GP, an event that integrates speed with technology, while relying on the tyre’s impeccable quality and performance. Engineered with Linglong Tire’s racing-inspired technology for an optimal track performance ride, the brand’s performance tyres are developed with unique construction and tread compounds for maximum grip which allows for extreme cornering and braking.

About Linglong Tire

Linglong Tire is a leading Chinese tyre manufacturer founded in 1975, with its manufacturing facilities established in China, Thailand and Serbia, as well as R&D centers in China and North America. The company has been among the global top 14 tyre enterprises and is the official global partner of Juventus Football Club, and VfL Wolfsburg.

To learn more, please visit

strong>https://www.linkedin.com/company/linglongtire/?viewAsMember=true

SINGAPORE, 30 November 2020 – Velo Labs Technology Ltd. (Velo Labs) has announced a collaboration with Lightnet Pte. Ltd. (Lightnet Group) and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited (Visa) to jointly develop payment solutions in Asia

• Velo Labs, Lightnet Group and Visa to collaborate on payment solutions in Asia
• VELO tokens to serve as the digital asset collateralizing financial solutions

With a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in effect between the parties, Velo Labs, Lightnet Group and Visa will collaborate on payment solutions aimed at addressing the under-served micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) lending market in Asia. The International Finance Corporation estimates that, globally, USD 5.2 trillion in MSME lending goes unserved annually, with more than half of this financing gap existing in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

“Being new-to-credit or lacking creditworthiness is often an obstacle to achieving one’s financial goals, such as securing loans to start a business or even buying a car,” said Tridbodi Arunanondchai, Vice Chairman and Group CEO of Lightnet Group. “We are delighted to be a part of this unique cooperation along with trusted partners like Velo Labs and Visa. We are providing customers from the MSME market with another pathway to build credit and improve financial wellness.”

Velo Labs, Lightnet Group and Visa’s partnership extends the reach of all three firms by allowing near real-time global transactions between participating banks, money transfer operators and other financial service providers. This initiative aims to enable users with poor or inexistent credit histories to receive a line of credit by depositing digital assets as collateral. This approach is ideally suited to connect over one billion unbanked and underbanked individuals in APAC to the global financial system. VELO tokens will serve as the digital asset collateralizing financial solutions.

“This agreement is a testament to Velo Labs’ and its partners’ continuous efforts to achieve financial inclusion for millions in the under-served MSME lending market. It also illustrates VELO’s capacity as a bridge asset enabling greater financial inclusion,” says Chatchaval Jiaravanon, Chairman of Velo Labs.

About Velo Labs

Velo Labs’ mission is to build a Federated Credit Exchange Network, powered by the Velo Protocol. The Velo Protocol is a financial protocol that issues digital credits pegged to any fiat currency, and ensures that these digital credits are always collateralized by the right amount of VELO tokens to maintain a 1:1 digital credit to fiat currency value ratio. Backed by Stellar Network and CP Group, Velo Labs is currently serving business partners in Southeast Asia. By connecting the legacy finance, CeFi and DeFi industries, Velo Labs’ Federated Credit Exchange Network positions Velo Labs as one of few blockchain projects with a clear path towards mass adoption.

www.velo.org

About Lightnet Group

Lightnet Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-headquartered fintech company with the purpose of empowering underbanked populations and MSME trade finance with an inclusive international remittance ecosystem. The Lightnet Group adopts the Velo Protocol as its blockchain protocol and positions itself as the next generation clearing and settlement network across the Asia Pacific region by leveraging blockchain and connecting existing financial systems with its network of cash agents and wallets. The Lightnet Group’s initial focus will be on Southeast Asia remittances which it estimates to be in excess of USD 150 billion per annum.

www.lightnet.io

27 November 2020, Singapore – Singapore-based fintech company, Lightnet Pte. Ltd., has announced a formal partnership with Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), the second partnership initiative the company has taken on the heel of the collaboration with the Swiss SEBA Bank.

The Lightnet Group leverages blockchain to provide remittance services across Southeast Asia for millions of workers. This service allows workers to bypass the global remittances industry, a trillion USD market characterized by high transaction fees, fragmentation and unreliable payment routes. The Group intends to disrupt this industry with a core team cultivated from global tech leaders such as Microsoft, Lenovo, Amazon, Google and Alibaba.

Suvicha Sudchai, Chief Product Officer of Lightnet Group, says “With this partnership in effect, SCB will be Lightnet Group’s settlement partner responsible for disbursing and clearing payments, facilitating the electronic payment processing and enabling frictionless real-time remittances to Thailand from anywhere in the world with lower fees. This will also further expand the Lightnet Group’s money transfer network that connects to several trusted partners not only in South Korea, but throughout Southeast Asia.”

From left to right: Lightnet Group’s CEO and Vice Chairman Tridbodi Arunanondchai, SCB’s EVP, Payment Strategy and Digital Disruptive Technology Srihanath Lamsam, Lightnet Group’s Chief Product Officer Suvicha Sudchai

The partnership also makes transfers accessible to all Thai bank accounts and anyone who has signed up for PromptPay, a government-sponsored service that enables instant bank-to-bank fund transfers. As of 2018, PromptPay reached more than two-thirds of Thailand’s population with 46.5 million users registered in a country of 69.5 million. This integration with PromptPay extends the Lightnet Group’s reach further in line with its mission of making banking more inclusive and enabling participation for the unbanked and underbanked.

On the new partnership, Lightnet Group’s CEO and Vice Chairman, Tridbodi Arunanondchai says, “We are very proud to be working with SCB to facilitate cross-border remittances together with another trusted global fintech solution provider, SENTBE. SCB is one of the most reputable banks in Thailand and the technology investment the bank employs has allowed us to optimize our platform and help us reach our goals quicker.”

As of 2019, South Korea plays host to 1.4 million migrant workers and Lightnet Group’s partnership with SCB and Sentbe provides the fintech startup a unique opportunity to scale up. “The partnership with SCB enables further opportunities to partner with other banks and fintech startups,” adds Tridbodi.

In turn, this partnership offers SCB additional international money transfer options through Lightnet Group’s channels. “Siam Commercial Bank has been a longtime supporter of fintech startups in Thailand, and our fintech investment arm, Digital Ventures Co. Ltd., is the largest venture capital fund in Thailand, with a total capital base of USD100 million. Fintech plays an essential role in SCB’s digital transformation, and we look forward to working with the Lightnet Group to revolutionize the global remittances industry.” says EVP, Payment Strategy and Digital Disruptive Technology, Srihanath Lamsam

Earlier this year, Lightnet Group, co-founded by Chatchaval Jiaravanon, a family member of the CP group and Tridbodi Arunanondchai, a serial entrepreneur have raised USD 31.2 million in a Series A financing round backed by six Asian conglomerates, including prolific investors such as UOB Venture Management, Seven Bank, Uni-President Asset Holdings, HashKey Capital, Hopeshine Ventures, Signum Capital, Du Capital, and Hanwha Investment and Securities. Lightnet Group carried out its first transactions on 13th of November this year.

About Lightnet Group

Lightnet Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-headquartered fintech company with the purpose of empowering underbanked populations and SME trade finance with an inclusive international remittance ecosystem. The Lightnet Group adopts Velo as its Blockchain protocol and positions itself as the next generation clearing and settlement network across the Asia Pacific region by leveraging blockchain and connecting existing financial systems with its network of cash agents and wallets. The Lightnet Group’s initial focus will be on Southeast Asia remittances which it estimates to be in excess of USD 150 billion per annum.

www.lightnet.io

About SCB

SCB was established on 30 January 1907 by Royal Charter as the first Thai bank. SCB was Thailand’s largest commercial bank (in total asset value) as of 31 December 2018. King Vajiralongkorn is the largest single shareholder, owning 23.35 percent of SCB shares. SCB is well established in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, with a heritage of over 110 years, leading financial services in Thailand with its deep expertise.

www.scb.co.th

About SENTBE

Founded in 2015, SENTBE is South Korea’s first neo bank specialized in foreign exchange service. SENTBE has revolutionized overseas remittance services with low fees, fast transaction speeds, and simple user experiences to create frictionless cross-border financial services. SENTBE has processed more than 1 million remittance transactions, having acquired Overseas Remittance and Payment Gateway license in Korea, as well as Major Payment Institution License in Singapore.

www.sentbe.com

Shandong, 22 September 2020 – Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. (Linglong) has unveiled a new range of bio-based rubber tires, at the 22nd China International Industry Fair (CIIF) taking place in Shanghai, marking the company’s advancement in producing dandelion-derived rubber as alternative sources of natural rubber.

Developed in partnership with Beijing University of Chemical Technology over the past three years, Linglong utilizes a multitude of sustainable rubber ingredients, including eucommia rubber and itaconate biosynthesis rubber and dandelion rubber. Eucommia ulmoides (EU) gum, a natural polymer material extracted from EU oliver whose components improves tear strength as well as the wear resistance, is conducive to the reduction the rolling resistance of the tread compound and saving energy. Compared with natural rubber tyres, the new tyres is more environmental friendly, and minimised the harm to the tropical rain deforestation.

“As part of our bio-rubber R&D project, we look to flowering weed as a key component of the future of tires, as well as an alternative source of natural rubber,” said Wang Feng, Chairman and President of Linglong. “Currently, natural rubber can only be cultivated from the rubber tree (known as Hevea brasiliensis) which makes up a fraction of the world’s land surface. In face of the rising demand of natural rubber, we are committed to setting the benchmark of sustainability in the tire-manufacturing industry and continuously improve the quality of our product.”

At present, Linglong has invested more than 30 million yuan in the research and development of bio-rubber, including a one-ton pilot production line, and dandelion plantation spanning 42 acres across seven Chinese provinces. Furthermore, its research arm has successfully prepared and launched three bio-based rubber concept tires. The company has in the pipeline to manufacture road tires made from dandelion-derived rubber in the near future.

Chairman and President of Linglong Tire, Wang Feng commented, “We’re developing a new generation of bio-based rubber to address the unsustainable production of synthetic and natural rubber, as well as the shortage of resources. In fact, we are planning to strengthen our research on the technology for water-phase extraction of dandelion rubber, build a 100-ton dandelion rubber production line, and promote broader application of dandelion rubber tires, in line with our sustainability agenda.”

Flower power on a grand scale

Aimed at reducing dependency on rubber trees, especially in Southeast Asia, the tire industry is looking for more sustainable alternatives. While synthetic rubber is one such option, natural sources have remarkable performance qualities in terms of grip and load-bearing ability. In fact, the humble dandelion can be used to manufacture rubber, as it is a plant resource that contains high content of natural latex.

The R&D team at Linglong headquarters aims to extract natural rubber from dandelions, and ferment the remaining waste residue in order to obtain bioethanol – which will help preserve scarce resources and promote sustainability within the tire industry by reducing the amount of synthetic rubber used and carbon emissions produced.

Focus on green product development

Linglong Tire actively participates in nationwide green manufacturing initiatives to develop green products, such the ‘Made in China 2025’ strategic plan which aims to promote harmony between industrial and ecological developments.

Furthermore, Linglong’s research institute has meticulously designed and developed green tires of multiple brands and specifications, with products that feature low rolling resistance, low fuel consumptions and are compliant with EU REACH regulations, US SmartWay certification, Chinese labeling law, China’s low-carbon certification and other relevant requirements.

According to Linglong Tire, these bio-based rubber tires have since completed third-party evaluation from experts to meet the project’s requirements and have the ability to provide performance superior to tires made from traditional materials.

15 Sept 2020 Singapore – Business China partners with Singapore’s IDEA Communication to launch FutureChina Global Forum 2020 from 15 – 17 September 2020 virtually. The partnership connects Business China to Chinese and ASEAN technology companies such as Lightnet and SGInnovate to partake in their first virtual FutureChina Global Forum for 2020.

Esteemed Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister for Finance will be the Keynote speaker for the Opening Ceremony of the virtual conference.

In the theme of “A Resilient Future: Post-Pandemic Transformation & Opportunities in China and ASEAN”, the forum encompassing virtual panel discussions, virtual exhibitions, exclusive thematic roundtable discussions and virtual networking, will focus on trends and growth opportunities. Enabling participants to gain a clearer understanding of the ever-changing developments and materialising trends. Thus, positioning and preparing regional companies with the ability and knowledge to capture business opportunities in the post Covid-19 pandemic recovery.

The forum will also include a close-door roundtable on 16 September with IMDA, SGInnovate and Huawei where Group CEO and co-founder of Lightnet Group Tridbodi Arunanondchai will share his views and insights on technology innovation and proactive application.

Participants will be able to connect and learn from Senior Minister of State Koh Poh Koon on building economic resilience in times of change with online and digitalisation. Additionally, they will gain the opportunity to be present in conversation with Minister Chan Chun Sing in regards to capturing opportunities innovatively in a more resilient economy.

It is predicted that China’s costal regions will be amongst the first to recover economically post pandemic. Companies need to be positioned and prepared to anticipate this growth and changes in the supply chain and logistics trade flow. The detrimental effects of COVID-19 has not spared the economic and political sectors in China.

The impact of this pandemic has shrunk China’s first-quarter growth by 6.8% and will approximately lower the Chinese real GDP growth rate by 5% in 2020. Yet the post COVID-19 growth is foreseen and Singapore is strategically positioned as ASEAN and China’s international gateway, economic hub and centre of innovation.

With Singapore’s and China’s lasting partnership, Singapore can significantly contribute in further stimulating growth. Participants of the FutureChina Growth Forum will be exposed to insights of the China and ASEAN’s developments in addition to gaining a deeper appreciation to the role Singapore plays. As digitalisation continues to gain momentum, and taking the innovating leading edge in globalisation, it has provided emerging economies, SMEs and individuals the exposure and opportunity to gain an abundance of knowledge, information, data and services.

About Business China Singapore

Launched in November 2007, Business China’s mission is to nurture an inclusive and diverse faction of Singaporeans with the usage of Chinese Language as the instrument of communication. Thus, promoting and motivating the sustainability of our multi-cultural heritage, and to establish a cultural and economic bridge between the world and China.
With the support of the public sector and private enterprises, Business China aims to bolster the ties between Singapore and China by becoming the leading bilingual and bi-cultural medium for a closer collaboration with China. They aim to establish a widespread appreciation and acceptance of Chinese language and culture within the defining multi-ethnic and diverse society of Singapore. Curating a goal to nurture the new generations to come to develop deep rooted links with China, building the ability to engage it in the economic, business, social, cultural and educational forms.

About Lightnet

Lightnet is a Singapore-headquartered fintech company with the purpose of empowering the underbanked populations with an inclusive international remittance ecosystem that increases the efficiency of existing money transfer operators, financial institutions and other cross-border payment providers. Lightnet’s initial focus will be on Southeast Asia remittances, which it estimates to be in excess of USD 150 billion per annum. The company concluded USD 31.2 million Series A round funding led by UOB Venture Management, Seven Bank, Uni-President Asset Holdings, HashKey Capital, Hopeshine Ventures, Signum Capital and Du Capital, and is backed by a Charoen Pokphand Group family member.

Tag: manufacturing; strategic communication; corporate communications; international relations; public affairs; global expansion

Shandong Linglong Tire Co., Ltd. (Linglong), China’s third largest tire marker, has announced appointment of IDEA Communication as its agency-of-record to handle integrated communications and digital campaigns, in conjunction with the company’s product roll out into overseas markets. Having built a strong reputation in China over the last three decades as a reliable and customer focused tire supplier, the partnership with IDEA communication will further advance the company’s agenda of on-road safety and sustainability. IDEA communication is charged with handling the tire manufacturer’s global communication duties including media relations, digital marketing, messaging, crisis management and social media campaign.

Linglong is a leading Chinese tire-manufacturer founded in 1975 that has expanded to Southeast Asia and East Europe in recent years. Today, the company has manufacturing facilities in China, Thailand, and Serbia, and R&D centers in Zhaoyuan, Beijing and North America. The company launched construction of its second overseas manufacturing base in Zrenjanin, Serbia In March, 2019, covering 136 hectares, in a bid to ramp up manufacturing capacity for the European expansion underway. Linglong has established a strong brand visibility amongst sportsfans globally. Linglong’s products are sold to over 180 countries and partners with leading automotive brands Geely Motors, Nissan Motors, Volkswagen, and sponsoring Premier League Juventus and Japanese racing team [get name from Justin].

IDEA will be responsible for the company’s overall communications strategy and planning as part of this expansion into Europe, providing key expertise on public relations, corporate communications, media relations and digital marketing. Over the span of the retainer, IDEA communication will conceptualize an omni-channel external communication strategy for Linglong to raise company profile, drive social advocacy with an engaging multi-pronged and holistic approach

“IDEA communications has a proven track record of success working with companies in growth and expansion phase,” said Feng Wang, Linglong’s CEO. “We are delighted to partner with IDEA and tap the team’s understanding of digital media, automotive market and story-telling prowess to elevate the Linglong brand experience to a new level and drive our next stage of growth in key markets.”

According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the global automotive tire market is projected to reach $154.4 billion by 2027 from $112.16 billion in 2019. The rapid growth of the global automotive tire market is driven by the growing economies of China, India, South Africa, and Brazil, and the rising middle-classes therein. This has led to a rise in demand for automobiles and prominent growth in their manufacturing sectors. China has dominated the growth of this industry in the Asia-Pacific region thus far, with players like Linglong leading the charge forward for the global automotive tire market.

“We are tremendously proud of including a major Chinese manufacturer and a forward- looking brand like Linglong into our expanding client portfolio and ready to gear up to drive full throttle ahead.” Says Helena Ma, founder and managing director of IDEA Communication. “Shandong Linglong is a heritage Chinese manufacturing brand with a long track record of providing safe rides for Chinese households and a reliable supplier for an extensive range of automotive vehicles from sedans to off-highway trucks. We look forward to partnering with a progressive company like Linglong to shape compelling stories that delivery social and economic impact.”

Since its founding in May 2016, founder and manging director Helena Ma has led IDEA to considerable success over a short span of time, having partnered with chemical giant BASF, Swedish smartwatch innovator Kronaby AB, Chinese co-working Unicorn Ucommune, Thailand’s CP family-backed fintech company Lightnet Group and numerous others on integrated public relations, digital and social efforts. The integrated communication firm has ramped up its client servicing capacity with a growing team, strengthened core services and upgraded IT infrastructure to maximise the efficiency and efficacy of clients’ support. Its non-profit social consulting and community partnership arm Heart4Dream is slated to launch in mid Q4 2020, supporting profit-for-purpose businesses with social impact consulting services.

Tag: digital; communication; strategy; creative campaign; event management; media

As part of a move to tap into emerging markets and to add value to a wide array of international clients, Singapore-based IDEA Communication has announced its ‘evolution’ into a fully integrated and holistic communications consultancy, offering a range of services encompassing media publishing, corporate consulting, events, CSR, digital marketing, and more. Founded in 2016, IDEA has seen considerable success in a short span of time, having worked with brands such as Volvo Cars, Kronaby, Chinese co-working space giant UCommune, ofo and numerous others.

Beginning life in 2016, IDEA Communication is the brainchild of globetrotting founder Helena Ma, a seasoned communications veteran with experience in China, Singapore, Sweden, and the UK. Having carved out a niche servicing various clients in the technology, business, and government sectors, IDEA is now evolving into a vertically integrated, ‘full stack’ consultancy that will provide services across public relations, investor relations, corporate communications, digital marketing, events, enabling IDEA to fully harness the innate synergy between these units, which will, in turn, maximise added value for a portfolio of clients.

The breadth of IDEA’s consulting services is considerable, and encompass – but are not limited to – public relations, crisis management, executive profiling, corporate events, market roll-out strategy, and government relations. IDEA’s consulting work often takes the form of protracted, comprehensive campaigns spanning multiple platforms and lasting many months, and are invariably the product of rigorous research, analysis, and strategizing.

The lynchpin of IDEA’s media publishing arm is IDEATE, IDEA Communication’s in-house, proprietary publication platform that is envisaged to become the magazine of choice for our clients’ top executives around the world. IDEATE is a bi-monthly digital magazine providing free, quality coverage to our C-suite clients, distributed to a select audience of over 5,000 C-suite and investor readers and over 100,000 media readers in our global network. Through incisive, insightful, and rigorously researched content, IDEATE eschews quantity for quality, with 40 pages of carefully curated commentary and industry-relevant news from IDEA’s team of expert writers. Sparking meaningful conversations and generating impactful thought leadership on the pressing issues of the day, themes and topics featured in IDEATE include sustainability investment, digital transformation and Industry 4.0, philanthropy in business, and much more. Focusing on the shakers and movers of today’s increasingly disrupted world, IDEATE will provide a conduit for business leaders across various industries, delving into their beliefs and aspirations, as well as shining a light on their work to engender positive change.

Through an integrated yet differentiated set of initiatives, IDEA Communication has grown from humble beginnings to a full-fledged consultancy outfit with a global reach, striving to maximise and sustain the commercial value of some of the world’s most prominent brands through bridging tech, digital, creativity, and business acumen.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; chemical engineering; industry4.0; B2B communications

Image credit: https://www.plasticsnewseurope.com/article/20181120/PNE/181129999/basf-unveils-new-strategy-to-simplify-processes

Renowned not just for its name alone but for its dedication and commitment to environmental sustainability, BASF SE is an international conglomerate founded in Germany, dealing in the manufacture of chemical products. BASF is the first company in this industrial domain that has declared that it will certify all its biomass balanced products according to the new REDcert2 standard for the chemical industry by the end of 2019, setting the bar for its counterparts in the chemical production field. This entails that BASF has begun moulding a new best practice for the industry – replacing fossil resources with renewables in the foremost stage of the product manufacturing process to maximise natural resources, alleviating the pressure of greenhouse gas emissions on the ozone layer and in turn, the rising temperatures in the stratosphere. IDEA Communication is greatly honoured to have been selected among a plethora of communications firms and conferred the privilege of collaborating with a company that converges so closely with the tenor of IDEA’s ethos, which resounds with gravitas in the oft-neglected aspect of ethical responsibility.

IDEA Communication’s role as BASF’s preferred communications partner underscores BASF’s strategic move to further augment the profile of its subsidiaries and joint ventures, which aggregate to a brand presence that surpasses 80 countries, besides representing an extensive transnational network constituted by operations in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Americas and Africa. BASF has also developed high-tech plastics used to build cobots or collaborative robots. In recognition of IDEA Communication’s Founder and Managing Director, Helena Ma’s cosmopolitan outlook – having lived and worked in China, Sweden, the UK, and Singapore – BASF has entrusted IDEA Communication to reinforce BASF’s indisputable record as a leading, cutting-edge manufacturer that conceptualised the REDcert2 standard and has been listed on the Climate Leadership index since 2006.

IDEA Communication will take on the mantle of devising multi-pronged campaigns to amplify BASF’s media presence and increase BASF’s marketing efforts through the planning and executing of trade shows, alongside the crafting of editorials and articles to disseminate BASF’s messages and practices to a widespread audience vis-à-vis the technicality inherent to this niche industry. All in all, IDEA Communication will extend BASF’s reputation amongst other businesses to support BASF in its B2B relations, as well as propagate BASF’s good name within its industry.

“As one of the world’s biggest chemical companies, BASF was looking for a like-minded communications agency with international experience and a global perspective, and IDEA stepped up to the plate. IDEA’s diverse team comprises individuals with strong business, journalistic and creative pedigrees who possess experience across a wide range of sectors. We have unyielding faith in IDEA’s sterling abilities in communications” said Beverly Tan, Head of Regional Communications Performance Materials of BASF.

Linglong, 15 April 2020, Zhaoyuan, – Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd. (Linglong) held a ground-breaking ceremony for its fifth Chinese manufacturing base in Changchun, Jilin Province, attended by government officials from Changchun City, executive leadership of FAW Group Corporation, representatives from China Rubber Industry Association, as well as trusted dealers and distributors.

The new plant, seventh of its kind for Linglong, will be built in Changchun’s automotive economic zone with an estimated total investment of RMB4.89 billion (US$700 million). Covering an area of 647,000 sqm, it is projected to have an annual capacity of 120 million semi-steel radial tyres, two million all-steel radial tyres and 200,000 re-treaded tyres upon completion. The Linglong smart manufacturing facility is a vital component of Changchun City’s International Automotive City plan and an integral part of LingLong’s “glocalization” strategy.

“The launch of our fifth domestic manufacturing base in Changchun City is testimony to our commitment to strengthening our servicing capacity for FAW Group, a key customer with whom we have had a historic relationship spanning three decades.

“Tapping into the national policy of developing Changchun City into an international automotive hub, as well as the adjacency of Russia, North Korea and South Korea, we are committed to boosting investment in smart manufacturing and value-adding services in a bid to evolve into a world-class tyre manufacturer,” said Wang Feng, Chairman and President of Linglong Tyre.

Harnessing the heritage of the industrial city

Favourably located in Changchun City, one of six domestic plans in China’s national development policy, the Changchun factory harnesses the industrial cluster, the shared strength in scientific developments, human resources as well as raw materials as part of a broader scheme to expand the manufacturing capacity and to strengthen customer services standard.

Hailed as the cradle of China’s automotive industry and epicentre of the country’s industrial upgrading plans, Changchun city’s International Auto City Plan — launched earlier this year — will attract major automotive factories to invest in the city’s promising industrial growth. The city will work closely with renowned automaker FAW Group to upgrade China’s auto industry. FAW Group was selected among the top 10 best automotive suppliers in 2013, the same year Linglong Tyre became the sole award winner in the tyre category of China’s Top Suppliers Award.

Glocalization: think global, act local

In March this year, Linglong Tyre revised its “5+3” strategy to “6+6” strategy, as part of a holistic plan to connect the sizeable markets of Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Shanghai City and Northwest China. With the new addition of Changchun factory, Linglong is better positioned to maximize the output efficiency and capacity underlining its commitment to the automotive industry and customer service. Overseas, Linglong has three bases in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, and has in the pipeline to expand into the US, South America, Africa and the Middle East as part of its revamped “6+6” globalization strategy.

As the maiden retail markets launched by Linglong Tyre over three decades ago, Northeast China has seen LingLong building strong relationships with dealers and customers from scratch. After the completion of Linglong’s sixth local production base, the company will build a robust logistics distribution network of transition nexus throughout China to address the increasing demand on delivery efficiency by local customers.

Smartening up with a digital-led approach

Linglong’s Changchun factory will feature China’s first digitalized cloud-based smart platform, which streamlines manpower resources in the manufacturing and production pipeline, allowing these resources to be optimized and reallocated into the quality inspection process to further strengthen Linglong’s digital transformation and to set the benchmark in the tyre manufacturing sector.

The tyre manufacturing process — made up of four major components — has stringent requirements for temperature and quality control, encompassing internal mixing, semi-finished products, finished products, and vulcanization. The new smart platform integrates lean manufacturing that is the hallmark of Linglong’s production facility, allowing for digital monitoring of factory equipment in real time, resulting in minimized down time, increased efficiency and improved quality standards.

Powered by a team of 200, the Changchun factory sets to deploy to enable full digitalization of office operation, manufacturing processes, customer service, factory operation and R&D. An integral part of LingLong’s globalisation plan, the integrated smart manufacturing management platform features Internet of Things technology, digitalised operating process, smart engineering and New Retail marketing capability. Moreover, the platform effectively reduces two-thirds of the inventory, resulting in cost-reductions, minimized response lead time and enhanced value-add passed on to the customers.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Linglong Tyre has agilely adapted to the crisis by enhancing emergency management as well as continuously improving supply chain and local operations to weather the Pandemic impact. The domestic automotive and tyre industry in China has witnessed falling demand, plunging sales and a fearful sentiment, affecting the supply chain, logistics, and operations of many companies. With the pandemic continues to crimp the global economy, affecting the international as well as domestic automotive markets, the adoption of a smart platform and digitalization strategy is expected to cushion the COVID-19 impact and keep operational and financial risks at bay.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; fintech; banking; finance; B2B communications

Photo: Helena Ma

Thailand’s homegrown local fintech startup Lightnet has appointed IDEA Communication as PR partner as part of its “Pivot to Asia” strategy.

Lightnet was co-founded by Chatchaval Jiaravanon – a family member of the Charoen Pokphand Group in Thailand – and serial tech entrepreneur and former investment banker Tridbodi Arunanondchai in November 2018. It has announced its A-round funding in January 2020, and the launch of its low-cost, secure fintech tool that facilitates cash-to-cash, account-to-account across any forms of currency using Lightnet as the underlying infrastructure.

The financing round was led by UOB Venture Management, Seven Bank, Uni-President Asset Holdings, HashKey Capital, Hopeshine Ventures, Signum Capital, Du Capital and Hanwha Investment and Securities. The proceeds from the latest fundraising will go towards strengthening Lightnet’s investment in the underlying blockchain technology on the Stellar Network, and to build a next-generation financial mobility network.

With the continued growth of the middle class across much of the Southeast Asia region, demand for seamless and efficient remittance service across the region’s diversified geographic area has grown tremendously, and will continue to grow. In a bid to support the company’s market roll out in Asia, IDEA will take charge of communications strategy and planning, providing support in the realms of public relations, strategic partnership, media relations and training, public affairs and more.

Over the next 12 months, IDEA will be responsible for establishing and building relationships with Tier 1 media titles in Singapore, Greater China and Southeast Asia; producing regular press releases in order to secure media coverage and brand exposure; securing interviews with media houses; building brand awareness through print, digital, and other channels; and more.

“I am confident that Lightnet will scale the business in the region to new heights by tapping IDEA’s strong PR prowess and solid understanding of the fintech business,” said Tridbodi Arunanondchai, Vice Chairman of Lightnet, serial entrepreneur and investor operating within the digital consumer, media, artificial intelligence and blockchain sectors.

Prior to Lightnet, Tridbodi co-founded MoneyTable Public Company Limited, a leading Fintech Company focusing on big-data lending that helps enterprises own and manage their digital banking capabilities within their respective communities as well as Privepass.com (an online travel club), ATIZ Innovation (a sensor and imaging provider), and Play Media (a digital agency). As an investor, Beam has actively invested in technology start-ups spanning multiple sectors, including energy, food and beverage, internet, and tourism. He is also a Venture Partner at Indonesia-based Kejora Ventures, one of Southeast Asia’s most active VC firms. Beam graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from Chulalongkorn University and an MBA and Master of Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University.

In this powerful series, the emerging photographer reveals the raw human encounters that she has captured in this decade across Asia and Europe

SINGAPORE – On 19 Dec, Helena Ma debuted her provocative solo photography exhibition at The Fullerton Heritage Gallery, Singapore. Attended by notable art collectors and key business leaders from Singapore and China, the exhibition raised funds for DEBRA, an international medical research charity for “butterfly children” suffering from a rare genetic condition that causes their extremely fragile skin to tear or blister at the slightest touch.

Titled ‘Ode to Life’, the vernissage presents a raw, intimate series of life and its ‘great mundanity’, as captured by eponymous founder, photography enthusiast and agency director Helena Ma’s past decade living in Europe and Asia.

Through this palette-rich manifesto of faces and silhouettes, Ma investigates the emotions and mystery that are lost in the mundanities of everyday life. Shot against the familiar background of Asian cities, it is a powerful medley of light and texture, where spontaneous moments reveal ordinary life from an unusual perspective. Tapping into the natural, human curiosity, the intimate photographs challenges the jaded mind to appreciate everyday encounters with art, love and compassion, in this modern world.

Born and raised in China, Ma is an emerging photographer with a career spanning five countries: South Korea, China, Sweden, UK and Singapore. Since she picked up her first professional camera at the age of 20, the self-taught enthusiast has pursued her passion for photography extensively in the last decade, especially through her travels.

“Ode to Life represents my life’s work. This first edition offers the bold and beautiful whimsical moments that I have seized for the past ten years, in my travels around the world. From wandering the streets at night to intimate moments of my personal life, I have sought to freeze fractions of a second, as seen from my eyes, heart and mind,” says Ma.

The first of many solo exhibitions to come, ‘Ode to Life’ is a culmination of Ma’s decade-long collection. From urban landscapes to the storied moments of Ma’s personal life, each photograph is a spiritual story, where Ma is the unspoken raconteur. Merging the extension of her human psyche with abstract, painting-like finishes, Ma composes a thoughtful medley existential and spiritual. The exhibition also provides an intimate peek into the transformation and growth of Ma’s photography style, from architectural imagery to sensory expressions.

Tag: tech acceleration; communication strategy; government relations; event management; foodtech; fintech; advanced manufacturing

Possessing a diverse portfolio spanning an eclectic range of industries such as real estate and inter-government strategic partnerships, IDEA Communication Pte Ltd has recently signed partnerships with a number of companies in the highly competitive hospitality industry, encapsulating IDEA’s testament to forging an increasingly formidable global presence – with partner companies including the Wellesley Hotel, a London luxury boutique hotel, Café Royal London, and Sanchaya, a luxury resort in Bintan, Indonesia, among other names. Citing the motivation behind the partnership, Wellesley London’s General Manager, Steffano Loni, voiced that, “As a relatively small and little-known boutique hotel, we believe that integrated communications consultancy, IDEA Communication, can assist us in magnifying our international presence in various travel and media publications”.

The hospitality industry has significantly large barriers to entry and it is difficult for fresh entrants in the market to immediately wrest market share amidst the clout and influence wielded by large, long-established players such as the bigger names under the Dorchestor Collection and Hilton Group. In addition, contenders have to keep abreast of the revolutionary tide sweeping the hospitality industry – the rise of next-generation technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in this sector. In light of continued competition from the disruptive hospitality industry – of which big names include Airbnb – the traditional hospitality industry looks to be confronted with a fair amount of pressure that encourages participants to up their ante. Fortunately, these changes also encompass the opportunity to leverage on big data to enhance the level of customisation for personalised consumer experience. However, implementing changes is one thing, conveying them to consumers who have been accustomed to conventionality in this industry is another.

Under the leadership and guidance of Founder and Managing Director, Helena Ma, whose wealth of experience in the cosmopolitan landscapes of China, Sweden, the UK and Singapore endow invaluable insight, IDEA Communication is poised to help its hospitality clientele procure more customers or reiterate its prominence – depending on the client’s experience in the industry. Believing that a coherent brand identity and narrative can move mountains, IDEA intends to obtain more media coverage for the Wellesley Hotel in key travel and lifestyle publications in China, to further attract patronage for Wellesley from this extremely viable consumer market. IDEA’s strong relations with various media titles and cavern of contacts accumulated over the years will also put IDEA on firm footing to help its hospitality clients attain coveted positions at the forefront of the hospitality canon in their respective countries and niche markets.

In short, IDEA aims to achieve what Francois Xavier Schoeffer, General Manager of Café Royal London, deems as “relentless efforts to ensure that we continue to punch above our weight”.

https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/lonwb-the-wellesley-knightsbridge-a-luxury-collection-hotel-london/

Tag: tech acceleration; communication strategy; government relations; event management; foodtech; fintech; advanced manufacturing

Image Credit: In-Nordic AB LinkedIn

As yet another landmark in the prolonged history of Sino-Swedish bilateral ties, In-Nordic AB was established as a financial advisory and business development agency tasked with the role of encouraging increased European entrepreneurial presence in China and facilitating further political and economic relations engendered by the continuously deepening relationship between China and Sweden. Founded in 2015, In-Nordic AB has made significant headway in promoting mutual business opportunities for the two countries. Most recently, In-Nordic AB has devised a new China entry programme for Swedish consumer brands, amplifying its commitment to maintaining Sweden’s privilege as the top European destination for Chinese foreign investment. China is Sweden’s eighth-largest export market, and seventh-biggest source of imports – achievements which are in no small part attributable to the efforts of In-Nordic AB.

As one of the biggest consumer markets in the world, China extends immeasurable opportunities to Swedish businesses looking to grow or establish their market presence in China. However, there is a market gap in the aspect of sustainable Swedish technologies in China, and there is immense potential for Chinese businesses to emulate the Swedish way of environmental sustainability. In-Nordic AB has therefore chosen IDEA Communication Pte Ltd, a PR consultancy offering a myriad of services, for a one-stop solution to execute brand communication efforts and entice more investors from Sweden and other parts of Europe to China.

“In recent years, as China has become an increasingly lucrative destination for Swedish companies to do business in, we have been on the hunt for a communications partner with intimate knowledge of both the Chinese and Swedish markets,” said the CEO of In-Nordic AB, Jane Bao Jeppsson. “We trust that IDEA’s multi-pronged expertise in creativity, communications expertise, and international business acumen will help us achieve tangible results and increase the business deals between Chinese and Swedish companies.”

Helena Ma, Founder and Managing Director echoes the collaborative zeitgeist between In-Nordic AB and IDEA: “I hope that my experience living in both Sweden and China will come in handy when IDEA embarks on projects to generate greater cognisance of Sino-Swedish relations and maximise business opportunities for both countries. We can’t wait to get started”.

Tag: edutech; communication strategy; public relations; journalism

Further to the announcement of A round funding, Singapore’s local ed-tech startup Tenopy has engaged the services of IDEA Communication in a bid to raise aware of. Founded in 2016, IDEA has seen considerable success in a short span of time, having worked with brands such as Fosun International , Kronaby, Chinese co-working space giant UCommune, and numerous others.

Founded in 2017, the Singapore-based education tech (EdTech) start-up has attracted 1500 students who have taken over 3500 classes – and counting. The fast-growing LIVE online teaching platform enables Primary School students to log in from their home to online classrooms, where top quality tutors teach and interact with students in live-streaming video in both small and larger group class sizes. Tenopy has since raised S$1.5 million from three venture capitals in Singapore, China and Japan, and anticipates closing another funding round soon.

Ranging from small to large groups, Tenopy’s online classes cover academic subjects, global tests, and general learning workshops. Besides providing the ease and convenience of learning from any location, being an online platform also means that the cost of learning is greatly lowered – a benefit which is transferred to the students. Tenopy also makes sure each student’s progress is tracked with regular diagnostics and daily homework help. Likewise, tutors receive regular student data, which helps improve their teaching approach and the right follow-up guidance.

With the continued growth of the middle class across much of the Southeast Asia region, demand for online education across diversified disciplines has grown, and will continue to grow. IDEA will take charge of communications strategy and planning, providing valuable expertise in the realms of public relations, brand partnership, media relations and training, and more. Over the next month, IDEA will be responsible for establishing and building relationships with Tier 1 media titles in Singapore; producing regular press releases in order to secure media coverage and brand exposure; securing interviews with media houses; building brand awareness through print, digital, and other channels; and more.

“IDEA Communication has showcased proven track record of success and a solid understanding of tech services,” said Chongkian Soh, founding CEO of Tenopy. “What proved particularly compelling, above all, was the team’s result-driven attitude and dedicated service. I trust this partnership will help us new heights in a lucrative region where many markets are only just emerging.”

Tag: IDEA communication; strategy; virtual reality; technology; B2B communications

Singapore, 19 June 2019 – Singapore-headquartered public relations and communications firm IDEA Communication Pte Ltd (IDEA) is delighted to officially announce the signing of a strategic partnership with DGene, one of the world’s leading augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technology providers. In a move that marks IDEA’s commitment to the digital revolution and Industry 4.0, the firm will lead the market roll-out of DGene’s products and services in Singapore and China, as well as efforts to educate the public and key stakeholders on AR/VR technologies in Singapore, China, and other Asian markets.

Led by China, Asia has been an important early adopter of AR/VR technology. According to current projections, China’s growing investment in AR/VR could make it the dominant player in the industry, with the potential to take more than $1 of every $5 spent on AR/VR globally by 2022. With the combined might of other major countries in the region, Asia is expected to deliver around half of global AR/VR revenue within the next five years.

DGene, a leading California-based light field technology startup backed by Alibaba Group, SAIF Partners and GSR Ventures, has signed a strategic partnership with PR and communication firm IDEA Communication this week.

DGene aims to cement its global standing as a world leader in light field and AR/VR technologies by leveraging on IDEA Communication’s resources in the retail sector and digital know-how. DGene’s ground-breaking light field technology has myriad applications across multiple industries, spanning digital entertainment, real estate, education, medicine, retail, luxury goods, tourism, and more.

“I’m delighted to partner with a firm with a track record of success and an eagerness to embrace novel digital technologies, as well as a strong understanding of the role technology will play in consumption upgrading and in bringing new applications into the rejuvenated retail and consumer sectors,” said Mr. Yu Jingyi, founder and CEO of DGene. “We are confident that this partnership with IDEA Communication will be an enduring and successful one, harnessing IDEA’s local market knowledge and resources to propel our business to the next level and support us in meeting the demands of our growing customer base in the region.”

Recognising the immense potential of AR/VR, as well as the plethora of industry applications of DGene’s light field technology, DGene received USD $15 million in Series A funding from the Alibaba Group in December 2017. These funds have been deployed in furthering the research and development of similar technologies, such as developing advanced deep learning technologies and artificial neural networks for computers through the integration of light field technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“This strategic partnership combines the complementary strengths of our companies, and brings to bear a synergy built on common values and goals, as well as a shared consensus on the broader market outlook of AR/VR technology in Asia. As the digital transformation in Singapore and China shows no sign of slowing, the current advent of revolutionary AR and VR solutions in the retail and consumer sectors could not have come at a better time. The retail and consumer sectors are in dire need of revitalisation, as consumers demand more engaging and interactive experiences. At IDEA, we are committed to customer-oriented solutions, and I am confident that this strategic partnership will help the two companies grow to the next level,” said Ms. Helena Ma, owner and managing director of IDEA Communication, with offices in both Singapore and China.

“This collaboration with DGene is testament to our growth-driven value as well as a clear indication of the scalability of AR and VR in growing sectors such as new retail and tourism, and we are excited to be at the forefront of this technological revolution,” Helena added.

DGene was featured at the Global AR/VR China Summit 2016, and has worked successfully on a number of prominent projects, including the Shanghai Museum Virtual Exhibition, Alibaba Buy+ Act, 2016 Caixin Summit, and more. DGene’s proprietary technologies have been deployed in various use cases to great success. In one example, DGene worked closely with Alibaba on its Buy+ AR initiative, providing commercial light field modelling for Alibaba’s merchant partners. Buy+ utilises AR technology to bring consumers a futuristic shopping experience like no other; an exemplification of the concept of experiential retail. Buy+ illustrates the immense potential of AR to transform the retail sector. Through AR, retailers can inculcate a new relationship between consumer and product, as consumers will be able to interact with their desired products like never before, potentially opening the door to an entirely new world of e-commerce possibilities.

About DGene:

DGene, formerly known as Plex-VR Digital Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., is a technology startup developing light field-based technologies for museum exhibition, e-commerce, education, virtual tourism and remote medicine applications. Founded in Shanghai in 2016, the company now has a research and development (R&D) centre in Silicon Valley. DGene’s AR/VR solutions have myriad applications across multiple industries, including but not limited to e-commerce, digital entertainment (Internet, video, and film), real estate (home design, interior decoration, and virtual house inspection), education (remote or online courses), and healthcare (remote diagnosis, operation surveillance, and adjuvant therapy). The company’s 3D virtual reality live broadcast solution provides video capture, real-time splicing and processing, and cloud server streaming for entertainment events, sporting events, and classroom education. The company also deploys light field rendering technology that offers 3D real-time playback effect for audiences at sports events, movies, and TV commercials. DGene also develops cross-industry immersive panoramic roaming virtual solutions for application in museums, memorials, art galleries, libraries, industrial pavilions, corporate pavilions, and experiential centres. DGene is based in Pudong, China, with operations in both Silicon Valley and Shanghai.

About IDEA Communication

IDEA Communication is a Public Relations and Communication firm founded in 2016, with registered legal entities in Singapore and China. The company supplies a broad range of PR, communication strategy, digital content creation, corporate communication, government relations and event management services. Representing the four tenets of ‘Innovation’, ‘Diversity’, ‘Execution’ and ‘Adaptability’, IDEA taps on its vast repository of cross-industry resources and insights, reliable industrial knowledge, and an unerring commitment to the strictest service standards to maximise commercial values.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; Nordic Innovation House; coworking; real estate; B2B communications; tech incubation

Singapore, 1 June 2019 – In a bid to ramp up efforts to promote Singapore and the wider Southeast Asia region as a destination for Nordic businesses, Nordic Innovation House Singapore (NIH-SG) has partnered with IDEA Communication (IDEA), an international integrated consulting company with offices in Singapore and Beijing. The multi-disciplinary consulting firm has Nordic connections of its own – its founder and managing director Helena Ma is a Chinese-born, Swedish-educated entrepreneur with an impressively fluent command of Svenska, making IDEA uniquely equipped for the role.

A joint effort by Business Sweden, Innovation Norway, the Finnish Embassy, and the Embassy of Iceland, NIH opened its Singapore office as recently as October 2018 and aims to promote, facilitate, and support Swedish businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs in their eastward expansion, particularly in the Southeast Asian region (SEA). Using Singapore as a hub, the initiative will strengthen business and trade ties between the Nordics and Southeast Asia, functioning as a soft-landing, community and resource centre, as well as a networking hub for Nordic businesses and startups.

Speaking at the soft launch of NIH Singapore in October 2018, Business Sweden’s spokesperson described the initiative as a “dream come true”. Ms Marie-Claire Maxwell, Head of Technology and Start-Up Lead, Region AP, said at the launch of NIH-SG: “It is very important to support entrepreneurs to have their feet on the ground to connect with the networks – to the capital and to local entrepreneurs.” Key stakeholders in the project also hope that the initiative will build a bridge between the Nordic countries and Southeast Asia, a region that presents great potential to Swedish businesses and startups looking for emerging markets abroad. “It [NIH-SG] is for Nordic tech startups who seek to speed up their market growth in Southeast Asia and expand their networks,” said Finland’s Ambassador to Singapore, Paula Parviainen.

It is envisaged that NIH-SG will build the robust community and network needed in order to help Nordic businesses navigate local landscapes and sensitivities, and connect Nordic companies with the right ecosystem stakeholders across the region. These will include investors, co-working space providers, startup incubators and accelerators, and stakeholders in government and academia in Singapore and Southeast Asia. IDEA’s global experience, industry know-how, and international network will lend valuable support to NIH-SG in this endeavour. In particular, IDEA’s cross-cultural experience and knowledge will prove integral in bridging the gap between the Nordics and Southeast Asia.

About Nordic Innovation House
Nordic Innovation House is a unique joint effort by the Nordic countries aiming to connect the cold corners of the globe with the main hotspots around the world. With backing from Nordic Innovation and the Nordic Council of Ministers, we bring Nordic entrepreneurship, values, and our way of doing business to the global innovation ecosystem. We give Nordic companies, from startups to corporations, a head start in the most relevant global innovation hubs. By offering a strong community, connections to the local ecosystem, and programs for acceleration, we enable Nordic businesses and entrepreneurs to hit the ground running, wherever in the world they may be.

About IDEA Communication
IDEA Communication is a multi-disciplinary integrated consulting firm founded in 2016, with registered legal entities in Singapore and China. The company supplies a broad range of PR, communication strategy, digital content, corporate communication, government relations and event management services. Representing the four tenets of ‘Innovation’, ‘Diversity’, ‘Execution’ and ‘Adaptability’, IDEA taps on its vast repository of cross-industry resources and insights, reliable industrial knowledge, and an unerring commitment to the strictest service standards to maximise commercial value for its clients.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; event management; automotive industry; B2B communications

In a move to boost the company’s corporate communications efforts in the APAC region, Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars has signed a partnership with Singapore-headquartered public relations consultancy IDEA Communication. Volvo Cars joins a list of global brands that have enjoyed success working with IDEA, including big names such as Fosun, UCommune, and BASF – each a major player in their respective industries.

In the automotive industry, however, change is the only constant. The injection of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies into the industry has seen the advent of alternative fuels, hybrid technology, all-electric cars, and even self-driving cars. Clearly, the global automotive industry is in a state of disruption and evolution. Despite these technological advances, however, the global automotive industry is expected to face multiple challenges in 2019, and China has already seen a decline in vehicle sales for the first time in over 20 years. With China constituting one of the world’s largest market for carmakers, Volvo identified a pressing need to revitalise its APAC arm, with a focus on internal communications and corporate branding. It is no coincidence, of course, that IDEA – led by Chinese entrepreneur Helena Ma, whose experience includes stints in Sweden – has offices in both Beijing and Singapore. As a global PR consultancy with a local touch as well as an intimate knowledge of cultural sensitivities, IDEA is uniquely placed to navigate the potential pitfalls that a Swedish business may encounter in Asian markets.

Volvo Cars is a Swedish luxury car manufacturer headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. With a storied history spanning 92 years, the Volvo brand is known all over the world, in particular for its reputation as a maker of safe, reliable, and well-made luxury cars, encompassing sport utility vehicles (SUVs), station wagons, sedans and compact executive sedans. Characterised by intuitive, human-focused, functional Scandinavian design and unmatched craftsmanship, Volvo is a household name in the global automotive industry.

IDEA will bring its considerable expertise to bear in the development of corporate communications strategy for Volvo, overseeing direction, implementation and execution. IDEA will be responsible for creating a brand message that resonates not only with Volvo’s customers, but also its employees at every level within the organisation – thus helping to inculcate a company-wide culture of clear, consistent, and capable communication – a tool integral to any business, and in any sector. In particular, IDEA’s work for Volvo will revolve around brand-building, unifying the company’s multinational employee roster under a singular, coherent brand identity.

“We have identified a need for a more effective and consistent corporate communications strategy in our Asian area of operations,” said Mr. Yuan Xiaolin, President of Volvo Cars APAC. “IDEA Communication, with an international track record of success across Asia as well as in Sweden, is the ideal partner in our bid to strengthen our internal communication policies and practices in the APAC region, where cultural differences mean that we need a partner with both global experience and a local touch.”

Helena Ma, owner and managing director of IDEA Communication, added, “At IDEA, we know the lay of the land – our international experience means we know exactly what works in both Beijing and Stockholm, as divergent as these cities may be. We are delighted to be embarking on this journey with Volvo Cars, and we can’t wait to get started. I believe that Swedish businesses, with their unique approach and focus on sustainability, have a lot to offer to emerging markets in Asia – and I hope that Volvo Cars’ growing presence in Asia is the beginning of something bigger.”

Singapore’s Finance Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation, Mr. Heng Swee Keat, and Singapore’s Ambassador to China, Mr.Luo Jialiang, visited ucommune on October 17, 2018. Mr. Heng and Mr. Luo were toured around ucommune’s Fang Yuan Community and had in-depth discussions with community members on China’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, as well as the development of ucommune’s proprietary coworking resource sharing platform.

Minister Heng also inquired about technical fields, development status, market scale and application scenarios of the enterprises that have set up shop in the community. He had friendly discussions with the representatives of the enterprises, and advocated stronger people-to-people exchanges and connectivity between Chinese and Singaporean enterprises.

Mr.Zhu Zilong, Chief Investment Officer at ucommune, introduced the company’s new sharing business model, new mobile internet technology, and a new real estate fund. He updated Minister Heng with ucommune’s current business strategy in Singapore and the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Singaporean companies. At the same time, he showcased ucommune’s latest developments in building an intelligent coworking platform encompassing intelligent shared office and lease management system, U Bazaar-an online social platform, IoT, automation, and data mining.

Dr. Mao Daqing, Founder and Chairman of Ucommune, shared with Minister Heng and Ambassador Luo about the development of enterprises on the ucommune platform. Minister Heng and Ambassador Luo also conducted in-depth conversations with representatives of ucommune members such as Zhiguagua, JoyRun, Wuliangang and Rocket Technology.

At the seminar, Yan Changchun, the founder of Zhiguagua, showed the “Internet + Intellectual Property Service” platform to Minister Heng and Ambassador Luo. With “Vanguarding customers’ IP right and maximising the commercial value of the innovative technology” as the company’s mission, Zhiguagua provides customers with a full spectrum of services from the strategy, mining, protection to commercialisation of intellectual property. Yan said that Zhiguagua has served more than 200,000 companies and has also established a base in Singapore to help Chinese companies “go global,” while servicing local companies in Singapore.

As the IT technology integration service provider of the sports event ecosystem in ucommune, JoyRun draws on the advantage of the resources on the ucommune platform to participate in the Singapore Marathon event services and has introduced the Singapore Sundown Marathon to China, contributing to the promotion of the Sino-Singapore cultural exchange. At present, it has become China’s leading one-stop sports tourism event service platform. On November 2017, it was recognised as China’s national high-tech enterprise. On the one hand, it provided each participant with a unique and high-quality experience that easily by integrating elements such as consumer-end registration services, destination tourism resources and cultural exchanges. On the other hand, the proprietary cloud-based event system meets the operational needs of the 2B customers. JoyRun turns events into a core community to empower technology, providing each user with a quality sports tourism experience.

Subsequently, Minister Heng and Yuan Ning, CTO of the Wuliangang, discussed around the Internet of Things and the construction of a Sino-Singapore smart city. Beijing Wuliangang Technology Development Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise established by the National Internet of Things Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, and is dedicated to the development and application of the open commonality of the internet of things.

Rocket Technology is a smart office solution and smart terminal provider. Its CTO Mr Han Zheng detailed the cooperation between Rocket Technology and Ucommune. Rocket Technology combines the entry-level hardware and applications of offline office scenarios with “light software + intelligent custom hardware” to bring a more refined operation model to the industry, giving users a smarter and more comfortable office experience. At present, Rocket Technology has launched the Rocket Office Wechat mini-program, Rocket calendars, and Melo intelligent conference systems. In the future, Rocket Technology will establish an intelligent office system integrating office, ecology, culture and entertainment to empower enterprises.

Minister Heng and Ambassador Luo thanked Ucommune for building bridges between China and Singapore. At the same time, they affirmed the significance of U College in promoting entrepreneurial innovation. This will enable university students to get out of the campus and get close to entrepreneurs and innovative science and technology, and also encourage more young entrepreneurs to share innovative ideas and participate in the urban innovation movement.

Tag: digital; communication; strategy; creative campaign; event management; media

The Chongqing Connectivity Initiative (CCI), a bilateral government-to-government project established to reinforce trade links between China and Singapore, is the third in a series of strategic trade partnerships intertwining the economic outlook of both countries. Under the aegis of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the CCI bears witness to China and Singapore’s intricate interdependency as Asian counterparts and countries with multilateral diplomatic ties involving each other. The CCI entails the intensification of infrastructure connecting the two countries – in the holistic sectors of transport, logistics, aviation, finance and info-communications technology – as a continuation of the legacy of the BRI, the 2013 brainchild of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Signing ceremony held at China Club. Photographer: Helena Ma, managing director IDEA communication Pte Ltd.

The ethos behind the BRI and the CCI notwithstanding, the two initiatives have drawn flak and controversy from Western media outlets, which have alleged that the BRI embodies Beijing’s expansionist agenda and thereby jeopardises the climate of political liberalism. Given that the CCI is encompassed by the BRI, it too, has suffered the levelling of similar criticism on the basis of this affiliation. Moreover, being less conspicuous than the much-discussed BRI, the CCI is in need of greater media coverage, especially coverage by the most prestigious of news agencies.

In a bid to debunk disingenuous claims about CCI and BRI, the key personnel behind the CCI have appointed IDEA Communication Pte Ltd as the exclusive PR and communications consultancy that will recalibrate public perceptions of these initiatives. This decision is envisioned by the CCI to turn the tables and give the CCI and BRI a clean slate to gain the recognition and support they deserve, as the CCI’s preliminary discussions with IDEA Communication have already yielded detailed and systematic plans for feature articles in top tier media outlets such as China Daily, and concrete measures to dissociate CCI and BRI from detrimental allegations.

The potential that this partnership promises is well-articulated by Gordon Tan, General Manager of the Sino-Singapore Chongqing Connectivity Solutions (SSCCS): “The launch of the Chongqing Connectivity Initiative was a watershed moment in the traditionally strong relationship between China and Singapore, one built on not only economic ties, but also on a shared culture and heritage, and IDEA’s diverse team of PR operators and specialists in other disciplines will play a critical role in helping the CCI to gain traction in both Singapore and China.” Led by Helena Ma, the Founder and Managing Director who straddles the complexities involved in residing across the globe, IDEA Communication looks set to give the CCI the publicity boost it needs and catalyse a paradigm shift in the minds of detractors.

Image credit: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/new-china-rail-network-cuts-transit-time-for-exports-to-singapore-and-beyond

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; public relations; media; fintech; technology ; B2B communications

Silot, a Singapore-based fintech startup, has entered into a strategic partnership with IDEA Communication, a global integrated consulting firm with offices in Beijing and Singapore. IDEA’s stable of clients includes giants such as the German chemicals company BASF, Chinese investment conglomerate Fosun, Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars, and more.

Fintech, or financial technology, aims to compete with, supplement, and potentially even supplant traditional financial methods in the provision of financial services and products. It is an emerging industry that uses technology to improve activities in finance. The fintech industry is expected to grow considerably in the coming years, as fintech becomes more widely adopted by traditional financial institutions. Fintech will bring greater efficiency through innovative technologies such as cloud and quantum computing, and greater productivity through the application of automation and robotics. In addition, a new wave of regulatory firms, aided by fintech, will bring efficiency and uniformity to risk management and regulatory reporting. In a similar vein, Silot aims to empower banks and other financial institutions with the introduction of novel commercial data solutions harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology to greatly enhance efficiency and capability. Central to this is Silot’s Banking Platform, which in turn comprises three components: Silot Payment Engine, Silot Merchant Suite, and Silot Guardian.

As Silot’s communications partner, IDEA will be responsible for addressing a challenge ubiquitous in the highly competitive startup space – the challenge of proving a new brand’s credibility and viability. Furthermore, public sentiment towards blockchain technology can, at best, be characterised as one of caution and scepticism, and one of IDEA’s key undertakings will involve shaping public perception of Silot as being more than just another of the many blockchain startups that have sprung up in recent years. Taking charge of Silot’s overall communications strategy, IDEA’s campaign will be aimed at elucidating a coherent brand identity and key message(s), securing positive media coverage; as well as enhancing Silot’s brand awareness via events and trade shows.

“As a nascent startup in today’s cut-throat business landscape, we understand the challenge we face – but it is a challenge we relish. Our partners at IDEA are similarly bullish, and I am sure we will grow together from strength to strength,” said Andy Li, founder and CEO of Silot.

“When Andy, Silot’s founder and CEO, first approached us, I knew right away that this was a job for us. At IDEA, we embrace a good challenge, and we can’t wait to get started,” said Helena Ma, owner and managing director of IDEA Communication.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; coworking; real estate; media; B2B communications; expansion

Beijing-based Ucommune, the second largest co-working space provider in the world, has engaged public relations consultancy IDEA Communication to provide essential PR and communications support in the company’s continued expansion across Asia and the world. Representing yet another coup for the Singapore-based communications firm, Ucommune’s partnership with IDEA comes in the wake of IDEA’s tie-ups with other major MNCs such as the chemicals giant BASF, Chinese conglomerate Fosun, and Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars. Founded in 2015 by Chinese entrepreneur Mao Daqing, Ucommune has operations in more than 160 locations in 35 cities across the globe.

The co-working space industry is an emerging industry that rents real estate in the form of office space to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and other businesses. In terms of international growth, co-working spaces are booming, and the industry has grown exponentially since 2010. The number of co-working spaces worldwide in 2018 doubled from 2015’s total, and market researchers project that there will be 21,306 co-working spaces worldwide by the end of 2019. The industry is expected to grow almost 43 percent between this year and 2022, with Ucommune set to be at the forefront of this expansion. In August 2018, Ucommune announced plans to establish operations in 50 new cities by the end of the year, while also seeking 200 million dollars in further funding. Recognising that securing the services of an accomplished communications partner would be essential to this global expansion, Ucommune wasted no time in signing with IDEA, a PR agency with a wealth of international experience across a multitude of different countries and industrial sectors.

Chief among IDEA’s key undertakings as Ucommune’s communications partner will be crisis management and reshaping public perception of the company, in the wake of a damaging legal spat with American co-working space provider WeWork. This will involve tireless work to dispel the ‘copycat’ label and to portray Ucommune as a product of Chinese innovation and ingenuity, and not a mere copy of a Western idea. IDEA will also be responsible for conceptualising and executing Ucommune’s overall integrated, global communications plan, encompassing public relations, corporate communications, and digital marketing.

Photo credit: www.technode.com

“We believe that IDEA will be the ideal partner to provide essential communications and PR support in our worldwide expansion,” said Mr. Mao Daqing, CEO and founder of Ucommune. “With IDEA’s international experience and expertise, we expect to become the top Chinese co-working space provider in both regional and international markets within the near future, and IDEA will prove instrumental in helping us shape and refine our go-to-market strategy.”

Photo credit: www.techcrunch.com

Leading Singapore-based venture start-up consulting firm Momentum Works combines expertise with digital marketing and brand communication specialist IDEA Communication.

Tag: startup; IDEA communication; communication strategy; public relation; startup acceleration; technology

Singapore, 15 August 2018 – Momentum Works, a SEA-oriented venture start-up acceleration consulting company, and IDEA communication a full-service marketing firm with specialty in content and experiential marketing, have announced a partnership through which they will provide integrated communications services for emerging Singaporean and other South East Asian companies. The two firms will combine their expertise in venture operation, distribution set-up, social community growth, media relations and digital marketing techniques to develop programs and training courses that effectively accelerate venture start-ups in Singapore and beyond.

The firms plan to offer pre-packaged “PR starter kits” that will help start-ups target specific target group or geographical territories. The package will support with key messaging development, media pitch survivor tool kit as well as core media relations programs. Modular add-ons for tactics such as social media, SEO, blog content creation, events and other programs can be incorporated. To streamline the engagement process for clients, efficient and transparent billing and administrative practices will be provided.

“IDEA and MW each thrives in their respective areas. Through forging this partnership, we aim to leverage combined resources and expertise to enable high growth rate, expand into new markets region-wide and build brand awareness, interest and ultimately- loyalty with stakeholders (consumers, investors, media) for our venture start-up clients. This is an ideal collaboration built on our shared core values, respective strengths, resources and forward-thinking mindset, “said Helena Ma, Founder and Managing Director of IDEA.

Jianggan Li, CEO of Momentum Works, ex-Managing Director of successful start-up Easy Taxi and Food Panda added, “As the world’s third-largest financial hub and the Silicon Valley for SEA, Singapore has the right system and environment to foster efficient growth for start-ups, and the pipeline of new innovation coming from the start-up community here is top of the line. With Momentum Work’s solid credential in start-up operation and IDEA’s strong knowledge of venture growth cycle and digital marketing metrics, this will further help elevate the reputation of Singapore’s tech prowess.”

Momentum has a well-earned reputation as one of the most effective and efficient venture acceleration firms in South East Asia, with a strong track record of achieving high-growth result in transport, food, retail and consumer. The firm’s network reaches deep into the Chinese and Singaporean investors, venture capital and academic communities.

IDEA offers a global new media outreach and leverages its experienced global partner network of communication and graphic design professionals in key markets, including San Francisco, Toronto, Stockholm, Shanghai, Singapore, Manila, London, New York, Montreal, Poland, Saint Petersburg, Switzerland, Paris and Madrid. The firm’s holistic approach to the marketing and impactful, measurable communications programs has built it a reputation amongst multi-billion MNCs to start-ups featuring disruptive technologies.

Both IDEA and Momentum Works build their communication programs on a foundation of deep knowledge and appreciation in entrepreneurship and the infrastructure-building. By first providing effective support in messaging and digital/social media strategies, IDEA can then design optimized communications programs for post A-round start-ups that include:

• Growth-driven digital marketing initiatives on a local and regional level to support community growth
• Systematic messaging and narrative-shaping programmes to enhance brand positioning
• Content creation for various marketing touch points to magnify outreach impact
• PR workshops and media training for executive profiling and enhancing strategic roll-out

About IDEA Communication
Founded on the convergence of business perspectives, journalistic content creation and industrial insights, IDEA Communication brings to life the brand values and messages through marrying contents with technologies and resources with skills. It combines the agility and bespoke approach of an independent boutique agency with the global network and disposable resources of a mega powerhouse.

About Momentum Works
Jianggan Li, INSEAD 13J, is the Founder of Momentum Works (www.momentum.asia) ,which specializes in accelerating early stage startups in Southeast Asia and India.Prior to Momentum Works, he was Co-Founder and Managing Director of Easy Taxi & FoodPanda, two major ventures of Rocket Internet in Southeast Asia.A native of China, Jianggan is fluent in Mandarin, English and French. He is conversational in Cantonese and Spanish. In his free time, he has traveled to Pyongyang, Chisiniau and Santiago de Chile, among other places.www.momentum.asia

Nascent Chinese luggage maker Lanzzo has secured a partnership with the Singapore-based global integrated communications consultancy IDEA Communication, who will spearhead Lanzzo’s push for more effective communications, branding, and lead generation. IDEA has proven its mettle working with consumer brands, having previously partnered with brands such as Sweden’s Volvo Cars and Kronaby, among others.

Photo credit: www.lanzzo.com

Lanzzo is an Italy-registered, Shanghai-based luggage manufacturer seeking to compete against the likes of Globe-Trotter, Tumi, Rimowa, and others. Through the use of high-quality, durable materials such as aluminium and steel combined with contemporary and stylish design, Lanzzo sets itself apart from rival brands that make heavy use of plastics in the construction of competing products. Cognizant of the need to package these selling points into a singular, coherent and compelling brand story, Lanzzo aims to tap on IDEA’s broad industry experience and knowledge of the consumer market, having previously worked with major consumer brands.

IDEA will be responsible for providing vital communications support to Lanzzo, encompassing public relations, brand communication, marketing, and more. To this end, IDEA will implement a four-pronged, multi-faceted communications campaign encompassing marketing, web development, public relations, and community engagement. IDEA’s work for Lanzzo will include market development strategy, retail strategy, and branding; developing a corporate website with arresting visuals and a minimalist, easy-to-navigate layout for retail customers; a public relations campaign targeted at building rapport with Tier 1 media titles such as Vogue China and Bazaar China in order to build brand credibility and customer confidence; and finally, community engagement through social media channels such as Wechat and Weibo, converting followers into customers and providing lead generation.

IDEA’s work for Lanzzo will also include careful crafting of press releases and proactive pitching of stories and brand messages to relevant media. Through these efforts, it is envisaged that IDEA’s support will provide a significant boost in the development and growth of Lanzzo’s customer base, distribution network, and retail footprint in both local and global markets.

“As a young brand, we are intimately aware of the challenges and obstacles we face in the unforgiving consumer goods sector,” said Mr Xu Zhonglang, founder and president of Lanzzo. “By partnering with IDEA Communication, I believe we are in good hands, and we’ll let the numbers do the talking. Effective communication can often have a tangible impact on sales generation and value creation, and we’re grateful for IDEA’s unwavering support in helping us achieve this.”

July 3, 2018 – Beijing China – The ninth edition of Sino-Europe Entrepreneur Summit (known as SEES), an event affiliated to Sino International Entrepreneur Federation (known as SIEF) was held at the prestigious conference hall Maison de la Mutualité in Paris last month.

SIEF is a leading international business platform aggregating global business elites, diplomatic dignitaries, politicians, think tanks and thought leaders from China, Europe, Oceania and Africa. This edition of SEES was co-chaired by Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France and Chairman of the Prospect and Innovation Foundation, and Mr. Long Yongtu, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of People Republic of China as well as former Secretary General of the Bo’ao Forum. SEES attracted a gathering of more than 400 Chinese and European leaders including diplomats, entrepreneurs, think tanks and academic scholars to conduct in-depth discussions on topics such as the “Belt and Road Initiative”, China-EU financial innovation and cooperation through the promotion of China-EU non-tripartite cooperation and the building of a large Asia-Europe market. A series of thematic roundtables, high-quality project roadshows and one-on-one talks were organized during the conference.

Chinese Ambassador to France Mr. Zhai Jun delivered a keynote at the opening ceremony, bringing up prospects of China-EU business amidst a new era of socialist construction with Chinese characteristics. China is opening up, providing broader prospects for China-EU practical cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy, aviation, artificial intelligence and digital network technology. Mr. Zhai stressed that current unilateralism, egoism, volatility and protectionism are becoming major challenges. In response to this emerging global challenge, China has put forth the “Belt and Road” initiative as a way to promote multilateralism, stronger trade collaboration with Belt and Road markets, as well as better people-to-people exchanges. It is estimated that over the past five years, total trade volume between China and countries along the route has exceeded US$4 trillion and the accumulated investment has exceeded US$60 billion, due to factors including but not limited to increased direct flights, 75 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones and over 200,000 jobs created for locals. The UK, Germany and several other European countries have also expressed strong interest in joining the initiative.

Ms.Jin keyu, Associate Professor of Economics of London School of Economics, member of the Board, Richemont Group, Lord Jim O’neill, former Chairman of Goldman Sachs asset management, current Chairman of Chatham House, Jean-Herve Lorenzi, President of Le Cercle Des Economiste, Vice President of UBS Holding France shared their perspectives on the macro outlook of the global economy and politics, and discussed the implications of globalisation, as well as communication and collaboration of Chinese and European enterprises.

“China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ has the ability to promote world peace, stability, and bring opportunities to the countries along the route. It is imperative that Europe and China establish mutual trust and support innovation and financial cooperation between Chinese and European entrepreneurs to promote the bilateral economy to the next level,” said Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin. He also stated that the world today urgently needs the strength of China and Europe to build more stability, and China in turn plays an important role in Europe’s stability.

Mr. Long Yongtu stated that the summit reflects China’s growing foreign investment momentum. Despite experiencing some drawbacks, China’s economy is still one of the world’s largest with ample room for growth, factoring in its rich resources, market volume and the Chinese peoples’ aspiration for a better living standard. He hopes that through building contacts with European entrepreneurs, Chinese enterprises will not only contribute to upgrading the economy in Europe, but also bringing happiness to the local people and shaping the vision of a shared community built on inclusiveness, collaboration and sustainability.

“European companies have been increasingly looking to the East amidst the U.S. protectionist policy and the continuity and stability of China. China and the EU are both important members of the WTO and are strategic partners for many years. We should join hands and firmly oppose trade protectionism and commit to maintaining an open economy, a fair multilateral trade order and positive momentum of the world economy, “says Mr. Long Yongtu. He made it clear that the Belt and Road Initiative is instrumental in deepening Sino-European economic and trade development, interlinking national policies, deepening pragmatic cooperation, and achieving common goals and prosperity. China’s economy is facing the challenge of structural transformation and upgrading, hence the collaboration with the EU in consumer and industrial sectors will point towards a win-win situation.

The SEES summit in Paris concluded with a total investment of 1.3 bn euro, including a one bn euro worth of overseas M&A fund led by China’s State-owned Structural Reform Fund, a permanent EU summit site in Ireland worth 100 mn euro led by Xin Chang Holdings Investment, the China-Switzerland Enterprise Innovation and Cooperation Industrial Park at a contract value of 100 mn euro in Switzerland by Shaanxi JuGuang Group Co., Ltd, and a new energy project 150mn euro co-invested by Handi Group and Bouygues Group.

“EU is undergoing unprecedented changes and I believe that China can support the EU’s construction and reform,” said Mr. Gianfranco Terenzi, Chairman of World SME Alliance. He added that with a deepening China-EU strategic partnership, the Belt and Road Initiative will add tremendous value in building a cross-border economic and trade platform characterised by inclusiveness, open economic cooperation, and stronger geopolitical balance. Leveraging the infrastructure of the Belt and Road, China hopes to strengthen the role of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He also believes that the Renminbi will become more international, while the EU enterprises face financial challenges. Thus, the alliance can help SMEs to connect, and contribute to the world economy and democracy.

About SIEF:

Founded in 2008 by Mr. Long Yong Tu, Sino-Europe Entrepreneur Federation (known as SIEF), is a global non-profit, non-partisan organisation head-quartered in Beijing, committed to building extraordinary partnerships between Chinese business leaders and their counterparts from around the world. SIEF constituents represent the most influential and relevant decision-makers from business, government and other sectors of society – from the chairpersons and chief executives of the world’s leading companies to the heads of governments. SIEF builds and serves powerful communities that bonds top leaders from China, Europe, Australasia and Africa, such as the Governing Council, Corporate Council, Advisory Council and Official Members. Our role is to facilitate practical discussions and catalyse high-impact actions among these leaders by providing all integrated platform comprised of Annual Summits, Industry Committees and a broad range of other ongoing programmes. SIEF recognises that Chinese business leaders and their international peers together can shape the future in significant and positive ways. (www.seeschina.org)

Kronaby are excited to announce the release of their new and improved IOS and Android app. The new update has been designed with one thing in mind – The user.

The polished new interface will now display each watch with a unique colour depending on the model, to create an even more unique experience for the user. The display will now also show the complete watch including wrist strap. All these visual changes have been made without losing the signature Scandinavian aesthetic of the Kronaby brand.

Not only has the visual look of the app been updated, but a range of software improvements have taken place to make the app run smoothly and provide even more features including:

• Better Bluetooth connection with app update.
• Added Stop Watch by user request.
• Added Find Phone any time the user holds down the crown for 3 seconds.
• Added possibility to have more important apps on IOS.
• Updated the watch Firmware to add features and solve bugs.
• Made onboarding and reconnecting a little smoother. Added updated tips and trick in the app.
• IFTTT as notifications
• Added Lost Watch.
• Added Home Time Zone to automatically switch to second time when traveling.

*The new app update will be released April 4th 2018*

Kronaby Labs

Alongside the new app, Kronaby have developed a light testing program called “Kronaby Labs”. Avid fans of the brand will be able to sign up and test exclusive features before they are released.

New handy features will be released regularly for customer evaluation. Expect us to try and add even more value around helping our users stay Connected. Not distracted. Also, experiments like habit trackers and more quirky features like a dice will be made available. Possibilities are endless, with plans to bring in IOT integration and further exciting features in the coming year.

With a uniquely identifiable plum skin, the user will be able to differentiate between the regular features and Labs. Kronaby labs is a creative space where our developers can let their imagination run wild, inevitably ending up with some exciting creations straight from the heart of Kronaby.

The main goal for labs is to create a platform to experiment with features which may not be ready for the public. The Kronaby enthusiasts will have a direct channel to the designers to give feedback, this is where we will be able to gather vital feedback from our most valuable customers. Expect much more from Labs!

*Kronaby Labs will only be released in English and not translated*

APEX
Configured with motion, durability and legibility in mind, Kronaby’s APEX takes it one step further. We’ve taken design cues from classic sports car’s speedometers and naval gauges, adding Super-LumiNova™ hands and dial numbers for excellent readability even in the most demanding conditions.

Case sizes – 43mm now with duel sub dials. Comes in 7 different variants with 20mm & 22mm bracelets in stainless steel or leather.

CARAT

Like a precisely polished gem, Kronaby’s CARAT displays as many facets as life. The convenient timepiece expresses Scandinavian refinement and elegance and is made of carefully selected premium materials and finishes that we have chosen to match an effortless sense of style.

Case size 38mm, comes in 9 different variants with 18mm bracelets in stainless steel, solid links/mesh or leather.

SEKEL

A homage to the art of traditional watchmaking, Kronaby’s SEKEL epitomizes the age-old qualities of genuine craftsmanship and analogue precision. Crafted using only the finest materials, its classic lines give it a distinct Scandinavian flavour that will stand the test of time.

Case size – 38mm, 41mm and 43mm with sub dials. Comes in 22 different variants with 18mm, 20mm and 22mm bracelets in stainless steel or leather.

NORD

Pared down to the bare minimum, Kronaby’s NORD is a refined manifestation of purity and proportion – and a nod to our Nordic heritage. This modern-day classic is Scandinavian simplicity in its purest form. By no means a wallflower, its flawless detailing includes a matte finish dial, a stainless-steel case and a double domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

Case sizes – 38mm & 41mm. Comes in 6 different variants with 18mm & 20mm bracelets in stainless steel, solid links/mesh or leather.

KRONABY WATCH FEATURES INCLUDES

Auto Time Zone – Always on time

No matter how many time zones the watch cross, it automatically displays the local time accurately.

Silent Alarm – A gentle wake-up call

By switching on the silent alarm, the watch’s soundless vibrations will only wake the user, letting those around carry on snoozing.

Filtered Notifications – Never miss what matters

There is a fine line between staying connected and being distracted. That is why Kronaby lets users choose to be notified only by the people they care most about.

Battery life – Never Charge

With a standard battery that lasts up to two-years (depending on use), users will never again have to put their life on hold while searching for an outlet to recharge.

Get Moving – Take a stand

Get up and get moving – there is increasing evidence that we need to spend less time sitting to maintain a healthy physique. Kronaby can send a gentle reminder when the user has been inactive for too long.

Reject Call – Decline with a tap

In our connected world, prioritizing incoming phone calls is an inevitable modern-day nuisance. Kronaby just made it a little less of a hassle through a swift press on the crown to decline.

Lost watch

Can’t find your watch? Open your Kronaby app to see where the watch was last connected, easy as that!

WATCH FACE FEATURES

Second Time – In sync with the world

Kronaby keeps users continuously connected with the outside world by letting them select an additional time zone to be displayed on the watch face.

Date – Stay up-to-date

Knowing the current date is a fundamental piece of information that is readily available through the push of a button. *Now with the new duel sub dial (APEX only), the watch will be able to display the day simultaneously.

Daily Hundred – Every step counts

Statistics show that activity is key for a healthier life. Kronaby users can set a step goal and track progress daily.

Timer – Keeping count

Proper time management is hard to achieve without the right tools. A timer allows users to box chores and find their focus.

Stop watch – Record time

Whether you are working out at the gym or cooking dinner, a stopwatch is always a useful tool to have at your disposal.

PUSHER FEATURES

Camera Remote – Picture perfect

The built-in camera remote lets users switch places, from always being the person behind the camera to sharing the moment with friends in front of it.

Remember This Spot – You were here

Part of living is trying new things and experiencing unfamiliar places. To make sure to find the way back, users can press the Geo Tag button.

Find Phone – Never lost again

Busy days make us all forget and misplace things. The clever pusher trigger on the watch reveals the phone’s whereabouts.

From now on this highly useful Find Phone-feature will be pre-installed on all Kronaby watches. Can’t find your phone? Press and hold the crown button on your Kronaby watch and your phone will start ringing to let you know where it can be found.

Walk Me Home – Feel safe 24/7

Being free to move around safely should be everyone’s prerogative. The push of a button sends a signal to a loved one, letting them respond and follow the user every step. It’s like having someone walk you home, but from a distance.

Music Control – Immediate tunes

Kronaby give users instant access to their favourite music, whenever and wherever they want by Press Play. In addition to standard playback controls, now you can also adjust the volume to make sure it fits your soundtrack of the day.

Find out how in Music Control in Pushers.

IFTTT x Kronaby – Simplify your life by automating your digital tasks

Use your Kronaby as a trigger and brew a cup of coffee, switch on your lights or open the garage door. On IFTTT you can browse through hundreds of services and create your own personalised Kronaby Applet. Learn more on Kronaby.com/ifttt

New carefully selected features will be released regularly. Features that stands the test of allowing the user to stay connected but not distracted, making the watch experience relevant for people again.

About Kronaby

Kronaby is a contemporary connected watch brand from Sweden. By combining world leading engineering with state-of-the-art Scandinavian design and Swiss watchmaking tradition, resulted in a new generation of watches. The collection consists of four classic models, Apex, Sekel, Nord and Carat with different variants available, each with its own characteristics and purposely designed to fulfill the users’ objectives for many years. Kronaby is available for purchase via www.kronaby.com and in selected stores throughout Europe, US, Canada and Japan.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; event management; media; international affairs; government relations

IDEA Communication has teamed up with the international non-profit organisation Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation (SIEF), marking another coup for the Singapore-based consulting firm, led by founder Helena Ma. Founded in 2016 and with offices in both Singapore and Beijing, IDEA has worked with various MNCs and SMEs, including renowned brands and industry leaders such as Volvo Cars, BASF, UCommune, and others.

Photo credit: www.seeschina.org

Established in Switzerland, SIEF is a global non-profit and non-partisan organization bringing together global business elites, diplomatic dignitaries, politicians, think tanks and thought leaders from China, Europe, Oceania and Africa. Its bureau members include former leaders of developed countries and industry leaders who have made tremendous contributions during their terms. Over the past decade, SIEF has held four summits every year in countries such as Morocco, Britain, France, Australia and China. 2018 saw the ninth edition of the SIEF-affiliated Sino-European Entrepreneurs Summit, co-chaired by Mr. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France (2002-2005), and Mr. Long Yongtu, former Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the People’s Republic of China.

IDEA will bring to bear the collective expertise of its diverse and multi-talented team – honed and polished over years of experience across various communications disciplines – in the development of an integrated communications strategy for SIEF, overseeing direction, implementation and execution. Despite boasting a number of high-profile dignitaries and members – including former Prime Ministers and other high-level government officials – SIEF has suffered from a paucity of media coverage as well as a weak online presence. To this end, IDEA will put in place a targeted communications campaign with a particular focus on brand communication and social media engagement. Brand communication, where SIEF is concerned, involves – first of all – the articulation of a coherent brand identity and the clarification of key brand messages. In particular, espousing key values that SIEF stands for will be integral to creating a positive, credible brand identity. IDEA will also lead efforts to boost SIEF’s community engagement through a robust and long-term social media engagement plan, making use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other channels to raise the client’s profile and increase public awareness of SIEF and its events.

“For a long time, we have been cognizant of the need for a competent communications partner with consummate understanding of international affairs to support us in our international public relations efforts,” said Tony Dong, CEO of SIEF and former general manager of International Cooperation Department at Beijing Capital Group. “Having IDEA Communication at the helm gives us confidence that SIEF will be able to significantly elevate our international profile, as we envisage that IDEA’s global experience across multiple disciplines, industries, and sectors will lend our communications and PR efforts valuable expertise and fresh impetus.”

Singapore, 16 April 2018 – Silot Pte. Ltd. (known as Silot) announced today its successful completion of pre-series A funding. Silot has raised three million USD from Arbor Ventures and Eight Roads Ventures. This funding follows just nine months after its initial seed funding from ZhenFund, which marked the angle investor’s first investment in to South East Asia.

Arbor Ventures, widely regarded as Asia’s largest Fintech-focused venture fund, is backed by significant corporate strategic investors and networks. Eight Roads Ventures is the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International Limited. Silot was hand-picked by the senior investment team of Eight Roads Ventures and is one of a few exceptional early-stage start-ups chosen for investment. This pre- Series A funding will mainly be deployed to fuel Silot’s expansion in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and other markets in the region.

Wei Hopeman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Arbor Ventures, said: “The Silot team has strong market knowledge, and the ability to engage and partner with well-known financial institutions through its end-to-end solutions and technological integration. We believe Silot will play a leading role within the fast moving, dynamic development of mobile payments and new technology adoption in South East Asia, and potentially around the globe.”

“The wealth of network and industry know-how of Arbor Ventures and Eight Roads Ventures will give Silot the cutting edge for the technology upgrading and growth ahead”, said Mr. Andy Li, founder and CEO of Silot. Prior to setting up Silot, Andy headed global expansion for top tier technology firms such as Baidu, Sohu, SEA Group and Kingsoft. “With product and technology at the core, Silot embraces the cashless revolution by actively building a Fintech eco-system that serves the purpose of providing quality, diversified financial services to many institutions.”

Empowering Financial Institutions by connecting legacy silos with Big Data and AI
In the coming years, technology will play an even bigger role in financial services, with Financial Institutions (FI) increasingly investing in digital transformation. Financial technology (Fintech) has gained popularity, disrupting or replacing conventional banking mechanisms, which in turn has fuelled rapid growth and investment in Fintech. Investment in Fintech in Singapore hit S$83.3 million in the second quarter of 2017, according to KPMG. To retain long-term competitiveness and to adapt to evolving customer needs and behaviors, it is imperative for FIs to upgrade their current banking infrastructures.

Silot provides a one-stop banking platform that empowers innovation and accelerates the growth of financial institutions through its proprietary, benchmark-setting Fintech products. Silot connects the silos of payments, on-boarding, operations and Anti-Fraud / Anti-Money Laundering (AF/AML).

In less than a year, the Silot team has extended the proprietary Silot Banking Platform to banks in Thailand and Malaysia and has attracted noteworthy partners such as Krungsri Bank and Visa, enabling efficient merchant transactions with proven security and swift business roll-out. The Silot Banking Platform (SBP) empowers financial institutions by providing three major components:

• Silot Payment Engine – A unified payments engine supporting major payment methods (both legacy card payments & new mobile payments) in the market.
• Silot Merchant Suite – A unified merchant on-boarding and management platform applicable for merchants across all payment channels.
• Silot Guardian – A unified Anti-Fraud and Anti-Money-Laundering system built to safeguard both on-boarding and transactional activities across all payment channels.

SBP is backed with the Silot Connect blockchain solution, which empowers banks, partners and Silot itself with secured data sharing and an inclusive financial eco-system that significantly lowers the operational cost in due diligence and KYC. Data collected by SBP can be further applied to identify financial loan opportunities and risks in small and medium sized enterprises.

For editors

About Arbor Ventures
Arbor Ventures is a global early-stage venture capital firm focused on shaping the way the world transacts by investing in early stage companies at the intersection of financial services, big data and digital commerce, through partnering with extraordinary founders, and accelerating the growth of next gen FinTech, facilitated by unparalleled strategic networks. www.arborventures.com

About Eight Roads Ventures
Eight Roads Ventures is the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International Limited (FIL) and partners with high-quality, high-growth companies across a broad range of sectors. Eight Roads provides a long-term investment mindset, a powerful network of resources and a team of investment professionals with a proven track record of success. Investments include Alibaba, Akulaku, BankBazaar, Early Salary, Icertis, Manthan Systems, Netmagic, Northern Arc Capital and Securonix.www.eightroads.com

With the rise to prominence of smart and ‘hybrid’ watches in recent years, more and more small watchmakers have sprung up in an attempt to ride on the wave of digitalisation that, it seems, has spared not even the watch industry. One of the bigger names in this niche market is Sweden’s Kronaby, who has now signed a partnership with IDEA Communication, a global integrated communications consultancy with offices in Singapore and Beijing, and led by Helena Ma, a Swedish-speaking, Chinese-born, British-trained businesswoman and polyglot. Kronaby’s plans to enter the lucrative Chinese market – buoyed by a growing middle class – naturally calls for the enlistment of a savvy communications operator with knowledge of both Sweden and China.

Photo credit: www.uhrcenter.de

Established in 2015 by four entrepreneurs-to-be from Sony Mobile, Kronaby, formerly part of Anima and now part of the Spanish-owned Festina Group, is a Swedish watchmaker and a pioneer in the global rise of the hybrid smart watch. Combining the aesthetic and finesse of traditional quartz-powered timepieces with the cutting edge of technologies such as Bluetooth, GPS, and more, Kronaby has taken the watch industry by storm, embracing digital innovation without compromising on classic, timeless design language. Its range currently consists of 50 men’s and 9 women’s watches across its Sekel, Apex, Nord and Carat lines. When paired with a smartphone, Kronaby watches offer a unique set of features – including fitness monitoring, motion tracking, and even a camera remote control – and impressive multi-year battery life.

However, as part of the ‘luxury’ subset of the consumer goods industry, Kronaby – like other watchmakers – is often at the mercy of market conditions and in turn, consumer behaviour. A shrinking economy leads to lower demand for ‘luxury’ goods such as watches. Today, companies in consumer sectors are looking to identify trends and capitalize on growth in emerging markets – with Kronaby’s move into the Chinese market, with IDEA’s support, being a case in point. In addition, companies in the sector have traditionally looked to innovate as a source of growth, and now, they are trying newer and bolder strategies than ever. Kronaby’s innovative use of smart technologies in its watches is an exemplification of innovation in the consumer goods sector. While these strategies will benefit a consumer brand, a strong communications partner with particular expertise on the industry or sector remains of paramount importance.

As Kronaby’s communications partner, IDEA will take charge of Kronaby’s overall brand communication campaign for its push into the Chinese market, encompassing media relations, digital marketing and paid content, partnerships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and social media influencers, as well as event marketing. As a relative newcomer in a highly competitive industry and as a foreign brand entering the Chinese market for the first time, a key objective will be building brand awareness in China.

“Having enjoyed a successful first year in local and European markets, we decided there was no better time to expand abroad and break into the China market,” said Kronaby CEO Pål Borge. “With Helena’s unique global perspective, I am confident that IDEA Communication will provide the perfect foil for Kronaby’s international expansion.”

Beijing, 23 March 2018 – China’s largest co-working space provider, UrWork (Beijing) Venture Investment Co. Ltd (known as ucommune) has announced today to enter a strategic partnership with China’s leading property developer Vanke, in a bid to build an integrated service platform through tapping shared resources and brand equity.

“The joint partnership with Vanke is to me a family reunion. Being a former member of Vanke family myself, the journey with ucommune has been closely connected with Vanke since the very beginning,” says Dr. Mao Daqing, former senior vice president at Vanke. He said that the partnership will see the two parties setting up joint locations in over ten cities across China, taking coworking and coliving to the next level. The move has come less than two weeks after the acquisition of Woo Space which prompted the value of ucommune to US$1.7bn.

“Ucommune has over 6000 corporate members that are fast-growing and are leadership in their respective sectors. While their growth posts high demand on coworking space development, resource integration and platform infrastructure, these enterprises themselves form the main growth drivers of the urban economy. The strategic partnership built on mutual recognition and complementary strengths will see ucommune going from strength to strength,” says Dr.Mao.

Liu Xiao, senior vice president of Vanke says: “ucommune’s wealth of cross-regional operation and management experience, as well as the consummate brand-building expertise will add tremendous value to this win-win partnership. Both parties will be fully committed to synchronising resources, know-how of facility management and operational capabilities to support the growth of more and more start-ups and SMEs in China.”

Mr Liu adds also that the strong membership system and the service platform powered by AI and Big Data technologies will create stronger intra-member connectivity and service accuracy, enabling maximised business networking efficiency and efficacy.

Joint partnership to revitalise facility management

This strategic partnership will see both parties collaborating in areas such as: joint commercial leasing, investment and operation, direct leasing, and customised interior design. Apart from physical space sharing, both parties will reach full-scale partnership in developing youth apartments, office buildings in industrial parks as well as equity partnership. The partnership will set new benchmark that the industry coerces around and collaboratively build an integrated platform to support the mature development of the coworking industry in China.

In recent years, coworking space sector has been growing at year-to-year rate of 30%. It is estimated that by 2019, the total operating area of coworking space in China will reach 51 million square meters. By 2030, 30% of office space will exist in the form of coworking spaces. In the next five years, the development of a platform and sharing economy will become an important part of promoting the growth of the new economy.

Note to editors:

China Vanke Co., Ltd. (known as Vanke) is a Fortune 500 property developer in China established in 1984. The Group centers on the three most vibrant economic circles nationwide and hub cities in Midwest China. Positioned as “integrated urban development service provider”, Vanke upholds the vision of “making quality housing available for the many people”. The core business of the group includes property development, urban development and property service. In recent years, the group has been focusing on commercial property development, logistic estate, long-term rental estate, skiing resorts, pension and education facilities. (www.vanke.com/en/)

Beijing 22 Jan 2018 – Ucommune (Beijing) Venture Investment Ltd (known as Ucommune) has announced to launch its first location in Hongkong in February, on the heel of its C round funding which raised $179 million and the merger with New Space to form China’s largest coworking network earlier this year.

Following the opening of the company’s first co-working site in JTC launchpad Singapore in June 2017, Ucommune has confirmed its roll-out to Hongkong. Occupying 15,898 sq.f. at Grand Millennium Plaza, a 30-floor high-rise complex in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, Ucommune Hongkong location provides 230 work stations and will start operation after Chinese New Year in 2018. “By securing this deal, we take a foothold in the international financial hub with our flagship site in the heart of the city. It’s a strategic step that bolsters Ucommune’s position and facilitates easier people-to-people exchange between Hongkong and mainland,” said Dr. Mao Daqing, founder and CEO of Ucommune.

With 158,898 square feet, Sheung Wan is emerging to be a new hub for start-ups and MNCs opting for a more agile and nimble collaborating environment. Co-working spaces allow more flexibility on leasing terms and good for raising the overall satisfaction rate of employee.

Ucommune’s co-working spaces incorporate cutting-edge IoT, AI and face recognition technologies to cater perfectly to high growth SMEs and MNCs that value operational efficiency. Its broad range of cross-industry services integrating HR, IT, accounting, marketing functions provide a premium platform that facilitates business expansion for start-ups that targets mainland China. After its merger with New Space, owned by Hongtai capital last week, it has now operation in 120 locations in over 35 cities, covering a total area of 4 million sq.f.

Smart office solution embraced by all

MNCs are starting to embrace the concept of co-working after experiencing its benefits and Ucommune is responding to their demand by increasing their global footprint. Co-working is a smart office solution that reduces the rental cost which forms the second largest overhead cost in business operation. Co-working spaces provide custom-made solutions for corporates without committing them to long term contracts. Hong Kong as an international business hub aggregates creators, freelancers and start-up entrepreneurs from a diversified range of businesses. The appeal of co-working had extended to a group of digital-savvy and work-on-the-go business owners who used to prefer traditional offices.

Hongkong coworking space has been booming over the last few years in response to the growth of social enterprises. Supply of co-working space has increased 42 per cent to 983,000 square feet in the first 11 months of the year, with more than half or 499,000 square feet in grade A towers, according to figures from CBRE. As grade A office rents continue to grow in Hong Kong, co-working space operators provide reliable and flexible lease agreements that allow companies to maximise space and costs. CBRE’s Asia-Pacific Occupier Survey revealed that 64 percent of multinationals plan to use some form of third party office space by 2020. Cost savings was cited as a driver, followed by leasing flexibility and collaboration.

Dr.Mao deems that the future working landscape is centred around decentralisation, digitalisation and decarbonisation. Through sharing co-working spaces, profitable organisations can contribute to cutting the carbon footprint substantially while enjoying the benefits of community synergy and digital technology which improves operational efficiency.

“At Ucommune, our purpose had been and will always be to build a healthy eco-system and support the growth of start-ups and SMEs alike with nimble, efficient and quality services. We will achieve this through collaborating with more synergistic parties in the eco-system,” he says. Dr. Mao is very upbeat about the growth aspect in Hongkong: “coworking has room to grow and we are here to stay. It complements the traditional workspace with an innovative edge and taps the business synergy through open sourcing at relatively lower cost. This offers ample opportunities for start-ups that would not be available in a traditional office setting. “

About Ucommune

Founded in April 2015, Ucommune (Beijing) Venture Investment Co., Ltd, is a co-working disrupter and leader in China that provides start-ups, SMEs and corporate tenants with on-demand, short-term leasing and customised space solutions at an exceptional value. Backed by renowned investors such as Sequoia Capital, Zhen Fund, Noah Wealth Management, Sinovation Ventures, Hongtai Capital Ucommune posts a C round valuation of US$ 1.4 billion. Aggregating over 1000 professional business service suppliers across a broad spectrum, Ucommune serves over 100,000 individual members and over 5000 enterprises. The company offers in-house Express Financing program and a series of acceleration programs to help start-ups scale and grow. Its proprietary Link China Program partners with Chinese government agencies and a broad range of service suppliers to help foreign start-ups ease market-entry in to China.

Singapore – 8 Jan 2018 – The Qtum Foundation announced today that it will join forces with 360 Blockchain Research Center, and the BTN Foundation to form China’s first-ever blockchain technology laboratory, as part of the efforts to promote the development and commercialization of blockchain technology.

360 Blockchain Research Center, BTN Foundation and Qtum have signed Memorandum of Understanding to form a central blockchain technology laboratory on January 8, 2018, making the partnership the first of its kind in China. The joint partnership will see the three parties collaborating on the development of decentralized ledger technologies, the next generation of smart-contracts virtual machines, smart contracts security and formal verification, new consensus models, blockchain software security, blockchain and internet security, decentralized storage and computing technology.

“We are delighted to from this partnership with 360 Blockchain Research Center and BTN Foundation, a milestone event that will hopefully catalyst the commercialization of the blockchain technology. It’s a win-win-win partnership that can tap the shared strengths to promote the multi-lateral collaboration and the adoption of the blockchain technology in commercial contexts,” said Patrick Dai, founder and chief executive officer of Qtum Foundation, a Singapore-headquartered a decision-making body charged with accelerating the development of the Qtum open blockchain network and protocol that currently supports over three million users and 250 developers worldwide.

Patrick believes that blockchain technology is instrumental to eliminating transactional redundancies and improving the overall efficiency of business activities across various sectors in the society. Such a partnership is conducive to attracting quality developers as well as to the betterment of the R&D standard in the industry.

“The strategic alliance of 360 Blockchain Research Center, BTN Foundation, and Qtum Foundation is an instrumental part of our global strategy in diversifying the portfolio and industry reach of our ecosystem. We hope to aggregate more industry-leading experts, developers to cultivate the 360 blockchain ecosystem, in a bid to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of our collaborative platform,” said Mr. Liu Wei, vice president and chairman of 360 Finance, a subsidiary of Qihoo360, the leading Chinese cybersecurity company providing anti-virus solutions. The company has recently supported FBI anchorage in Alaska in cracking three local cyber-crime cases involving significant DDOS attacks.

Mr Liu adds that the newly founded blockchain lab will endeavour to promote the development and commercialization of blockchain technology, as well as to raise China’s authority in the blockchain.

Mr. Zhang Yunfan, secretary general of the BTN Foundation is affirmative about the prospect of the commercialization of blockchain technology and believes the adoption of it will significantly improve the operational and financial efficiency of a broad spectrum of sectors such as finance, smart equipment, healthcare, entertainment and the Internet of things. “The perception is changing from viewing blockchain technology as a disruptive challenge to that of a key instrumental in enhancing the commercial value. The partnership with Qtum and 360 reflects a broader transformation from information economy to that is taking place – transformation from the Internet thinking to blockchain thinking, from the information era to one that is characterised by network value.”

Qtum has earlier last week announced partnership with Baofeng, a listed major Chinese video portal valued at CNY8 Bln, to form the world’s first Blockchain Consensus Network (BCN) and to build the most decentralized blockchain node network.

For editors:

The Qtum Foundation is the Singapore-headquartered decision-making body charged with accelerating the development of the Qtum blockchain network and protocol. Qtum’s platform essentially combines the advantages of the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model, an Account Abstraction Layer (AAL) that allows for multiple virtual machines, and a proof-of-stake consensus protocol built for tackling industry use cases. The platform utilizes solidity smart contracts through its integration of the Ethereum Virtual Machine and to date more than 50 decentralized applications have been deployed on Qtum across a broad spectrum of sectors including but not limited to Internet of things, intellectual property, market forecast, healthcare and clean energy. Qtum’s independent blockchain aims to bring smart-contract technology to mobile and connected devices, in a bid to bridge the gap between blockchain and commerce, as well as to significantly improve the commercialization of blockchain technology and its practicability. Qtum’s global team is comprised of members from nine different nationalities, bringing an aggregated wealth of experiences working at Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, NASDAQ, Microsoft and other great companies. It launched its ICO on March 2016 and is currently valued at over $5B as of January 2018.

About Qtum Foundation

Qtum is the first UTXO-based smart contract system with a proof-of-stake consensus model. The platform use Account Attraction Layer to combine Bitcoin Core and Ethereum Virtual Machine. Proof-of-stake model reduces the computational difficulty in the network and increases scaling possibilities. Developers have deployed by more than 50 decentralized applications across a broad spectrum of sectors. Qtum’s independent blockchain aims to bring smart-contracts technology to mobile and connected devices, to minimize the gap between blockchain and commerce. On Dec. 28, 2017, Qtum and Baofeng, the largest video-hosting portal in China, announced a partnership to transform the music and movie industry. As of January 2018, Qtum posts a market valuation of over $5B USD. (www.qtum.org)

Ucommune (28 December 2017 Beijing) – China’s largest co-working space provider URwork (Beijing) Venture Investment Co., Ltd has rebranded itself from URwork Beijing to Ucommune today. This is a strategic move to strengthen its community support and the leadership position in China.

China’s coworking unicorn, URwork (Beijing) Venture Investment Co. Ltd, its rebranding conference in Beijing today. As of 01 January 2018, URwork will be rebranded as Ucommune and all press mentions will be known as Ucommune.

This rebrand is the result of extensive market research on our community members for the past three years. Ucommune embraces the company’s transformation from a business model based on asset optimisation and physical space management to corporate service and smart building economy. Ucommune is built on a seamless community ecosystem between people and space.

A brand that embraces community

Drawing inspiration on the artwork, The Dance of Henri Matisse, created by Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (1869-1954), the logo made up of five “U”. Ucommune’s logo is a dynamic interpretation of this era characterized by Internet, sharing economy, digital connectivity and coworking industry. The launch of the new brand identity mirrors Ucommune’s commitment to strengthening the community synergy as well as people-oriented service.

“Henri Mattise’s work boasts rich connotation to community and perfectly embodies how Ucommune can shape a new world,” explains Mr Han Jiaying, logo designer and founder of Han Jiaying design. “The rule of community applies as much to the ancient time as it does to today’s community- oriented society. Since the stone age, human beings exist in groups and develop through relying on the collective strength,” Mr Han adds.

At the center the brand is “U”. “U” stands for unity and community. The logo represents reciprocal exchange of ideas, thoughts and opinions between members in a seamless manner, symbolized in primitive dancing form of the logo. ‘Commune’ draws the link between inclusiveness, collaboration, connectivity and embracing the higher aim of humanity as a collective entity. ‘U’ and ‘commune’ combined, emphasizes the concept of a collective group bounded by common interest and purpose.

“Community thinking is an ability we all need to embrace, through taking a community – or people- oriented approach. The limitation of the physical space gives way to the extensive possibility that the coworking synergy brings. The desk is just the linking point. We hope that Ucommune’s rebranding can set the standard for China’s coworking industry and promote the innovation-driven model for the whole industry,” says Mr Mao Daqing, founder of Ucommune.

Revamped product line central to 2018 growth strategy

Apart from the new brand launch, Ucommune has also launched five product lines based on each functionality and positioning. Through creating five different types of products, we create contexts to cater better to the varied needs of our members:

• Matrix – flagship, benchmark, international. As the flagship product, Matrix line of the products are an amalgamation of all the values and best practices that fundamentally define Ucommune. Matrix is a management central that standardizes operational services;
• Elite – business, efficiency, excellence. As a product that focuses on white-collars at MNCs and established tech companies, Elite can be found in A+ grade buildings and provides excellent meeting and conference amenities for business men and women;
• Clash – cutting-edge, technological and futuristic. Positioned to serve small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). This product line zooms into fast-growing companies in niche segments. Clash is where business opportunities and new commercial inspirations are sparked through aggregating creative industry, creative professionals and creative ideas;
• Box – innovation, dynamism, future. Focused on SMEs and corporates, Box features flexible geographical locations and is in constant morphosis to adapt to the changing environments. Box is an amalgamation of multiple possibilities. “Life is a box of chocolates – its filled with possibilities.”
• Heritage – legacy, classic, humanity. Juxtaposing historical architecture and sharing art space, Ucommune features some of the most culturally-enriching spaces one can imagine. Through incorporating coworking elements into historic relics, the ancient architecture evokes a sense of cultural renaissance and an office working experience that transcends time and space.

“Ucommune is actively pushing the boundary and upgrading its product line to better service the growing community built round a shared passion for innovation. We are continuously working towards bringing connectivity and service benchmarked against the exacting standard to the many entrepreneurs and creative professionals worldwide,” said Mr. Mao.

Founded in April 2015, UrWork (Beijing) Venture Investment Co., Ltd, is a leading co-working space provider in China that provides start-ups, SMEs and corporate tenants with on-demand, short-term leasing and customised space solutions at an exceptional value. Backed by renowned investors such as Sequoia Capital, Zhen Fund, Noah Wealth Management, Sinovation Ventures, Ucommune posts a C round valuation of US$ 1.3 billion. Aggregating over 1000 professional business service suppliers across a broad spectrum, Ucommune serves over 100,000 individual members and over 5000 enterprises and has established 120 locations in 35 cities, six countries, covering a total area of 400,000 sqm. Ucommune offers in-house Express Financing program and a series of acceleration programs to help start-ups scale. It also partners with Chinese government agencies through its Link China Program to help foreign start-ups ease market-entry in to China.

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; event management; media; blockchain; technology ; B2B communications

In a move to ramp up the firm’s public relations and communications strategy, the Singapore-based blockchain startup Qtum has entered into a partnership with IDEA Communication, a global integrated communications consulting firm with offices in Singapore and Beijing. IDEA has enjoyed success since its founding in 2016, having worked with international brands such as Volvo Cars, BASF, Fosun, Ucommune, and more.

Photo credit: www.medium.com

Founded in 2016, Qtum is a Singapore-based blockchain application platform that uses smart contract technology and a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus protocol, targeted at novel use cases across multiple industries. As of 2018, Qtum has been deployed by more than 50 apps across a diverse range of sectors including intellectual property (IP), financial services, healthcare, and clean energy; with the overarching aim of accelerating the commercial adoption of blockchain technology. Like many of its contemporaries, Qtum has faced several challenges and obstacles common in the blockchain space. These include widespread public and media skepticism towards the merits of blockchain, cryptocurrency, and associated applications as a viable alternative to established systems; the difficulty in differentiating Qtum’s services and value proposition from numerous rivals in the blockchain startup space; and most significantly, a lack of brand awareness.

Aware of the need for a robust, broad-spectrum, and yet targeted communications campaign, Qtum’s top executives saw the value of a strategic partnership with IDEA Communication. Led by the globetrotting Helena Ma – whose experience spans multiple continents and cities, including Shanghai, Stockholm, and Singapore – IDEA’s team of writers, creatives, and communications specialists offer nuanced and differentiated perspectives and a unique, industry-specific expertise.

Taking charge of Qtum’s overarching communications campaign and strategy, IDEA will provide a bespoke, integrated approach that encompasses brand communication (reinforcing Qtum’s identity as a brand and raising brand awareness), social media engagement (engaging the blockchain community on social media platforms), and media training (equipping Qtum’s top executives with the necessary skills to navigate media questions, which can often be probing and difficult). Through such a multi-pronged approach, IDEA Communication will oversee the production of press releases, social media content creation, and relationship building with various Tier 1 media titles.

“IDEA Communication has consistently demonstrated a capacity to deliver tangible results across different industries and sectors,” said Patrick Dai, founder and CEO of Qtum. “Their track record of success was a compelling factor in our decision to partner with them, and we look forward to a fruitful, rewarding, and long-term partnership together.”

Tag: IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; event management; public relations; public affairs; international expansion; B2B communications

Photo credit: www.ft.com

IDEA Communication has secured a partnership with the Chinese international conglomerate Fosun, in what represents a major coup for the Singapore-based communications agency, headed by visionary founder Helena Ma. Founded in 2016, IDEA has seen considerable success in a short span of time, having worked with brands such as Volvo Cars, Kronaby, Chinese co-working space giant UCommune, and numerous others.

Fosun is a major player in the global investments market, with total assets exceeding RMB 530 billion (US$ 81 billion) as of 31 December 2017 and a varied portfolio that spans three broad sectors: ‘Wealth’, ‘Health’, and ‘Happiness’. Fosun’s ‘Wealth’ arm includes Portugal’s largest insurance company Fidelidade, Portugal’s largest listed bank Banco Comercial Português (BCP), German private bank Hauck & Aufhäuser (H&A), Hong Kong-based Peak Reinsurance, as well as Mybank. Its ‘Health’ arm includes Fosun Pharma, Sinopharm, Fosun United Health Insurance, Portugal’s hospital chain Luz Saúde, and Indian pharmaceutical company Gland Pharma. Finally, major brands under Fosun’s ‘Happiness’ arm include Club Med, one of the world’s premier tourism companies, and Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, a team in the English Premier League, the most-watched football league in the world. Fosun’s ultimate vision is to provide customers with an integrated ‘one-stop’ solution encompassing wealth, health, and happiness.

IDEA will bring its considerable expertise to bear in the development of corporate communications strategy for Fosun, overseeing direction, implementation and execution. IDEA will be responsible for creating a brand message that resonates not only with Fosun’s customers, but also its employees at every level within the organisation – thus helping to inculcate a company-wide culture of clear, consistent, and capable communication – a tool integral to any business, and in any sector.

“I am delighted to announce our tie-up with IDEA, an agency with a proven track record of success across multiple countries, industries and sectors,” said Chen Bo, Fosun’s head of public affairs. “We envisage that IDEA’s global experience, business acumen, and journalistic prowess will prove invaluable in adding fresh impetus and expertise to Fosun’s corporate communications strategy.”

Helena Ma, managing director of IDEA Communication, added, “At IDEA, we believe that successful corporate communications and PR can only be brought about with a keen understanding of how existing and emerging channels can be best utilized to craft brand messages that are compelling and resonate with target audiences. As much as IDEA’s expertise will benefit Fosun, however, the inverse is also true – IDEA has much to learn from a successful global business such as Fosun, and I am excited to see how we can grow together.”

Singapore office to boost the firm’s client roster and to offer more diversity in its expertise

Tag: new launch; IDEA communication; communications strategy; integrated campaign; event management; media

International PR and communication firm IDEA Communications has expanded its operations overseas with its newest branch office in Singapore following its launch in China in 2016. The new office will begin operations late this year and will be supporting all businesses in Southeast-Asia in the firm’s global footprint expansion.

IDEA Communications is highly differentiated on providing solutions in today’s highly disruptive communications landscape to help brands realize their value to their audiences. The firm operates on a wide range of expertise and knowledge offered by a diverse and experienced team. Helena Ma, Director of IDEA Communications says that “the firm is looking forward to working with industry experts in the region to bring more innovative and transformational communication solutions to the table” with the opening of the new office.

IDEA’s Singapore office will continue to offer solutions that addresses a wide range of communication issues including overall PR strategy, campaign conceptualization and execution, press office and media relations, digital marketing, influencer campaign and media event. The firm is also known for its unique positioning in solving issues for problems of both B2B and B2C nature.

The company, which has a track record of working with Start-up Unicorns, blockchain giants, government agencies and Fortune 500 MNCs seeks to expand its international portfolio with talks of new business partnerships with FMCG and fintech companies in the region.

In partnerships with local business associations and companies, China Entrepreneur Golf Club (known as CEGC) staged a five-day tight-knitted agenda during 23-27 August in Singapore, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sino-China diplomatic relationship and to forge stronger business ties with local business communities.

Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Sino-China diplomatic relationship, a total of 19 Chinese elite entrepreneur golfers flew in to Singapore at the end of August this year to carry out its first official visit in Singapore, realising the master plan conceived at its parent club – China Entrepreneur Club (known as CEC)’s high-level visit with PM Lee Hsien Loong last year.

The five-day program incorporated a myriad of activities woven intricately around business and golf, including three rounds of golf tournaments played against members of local business associations at iconic national country clubs, luncheons with local business associations and business visits at Singapore’s homegrown companies.

The golf tournament kicked out at the Orchid Country Club (OCC) with two other rounds hosted by Singapore Island Country Club (SICC) and Laguna National Golf Country Club (LNGCC). Despite of the acclimatization to the warm and humid weather, the players’ enthusiasm were not dampened a

whit. The early morning flights on 24th morning at OCC’s Vanda/ Dendro courses saw breezy weather

conditions and 24-strong team with 22 gentlemen and two ladies teed up for personal glory. The undulating landscape at LNGCC posted a challenge the day after to the Chinese players who fought through the drizzles and the “ups and downs” in true spirits of optimism and camaraderie.

The five-day event culminated in a full-force 18 hole played at the prestigious SICC with a sumptuous round-table lunch served over a vintage Maotai, China’s heritage rice liquor, brought over by the most veteran golfer in the group, also a Singapore returnee Su Jiancheng, who is today executive director at the crisis management institute of the distinguished Shanghai Jiaotong University. “I feel at home since here is where I lived 20 years ago when I listed Asatiles Ceramic Group in Singapore in 1998, with Temasek as the majority stake-owner. At that time we didn’t have Marina Bay Sands and look at how it has developed today – amazing!” said the cheerful professor, who has recently ventured into O2O start-up incubation in his mid-life.

“We are honoured to receive CEGC delegation amidst the Singapore 50 celebration and the 25th Sino-Singapore diplomatic relationship. Singapore is a nation built on spirit of optimism, integrity and resilience and today, we are here not only to share those core values with our Chinese friends who come from afar, but also to relive the spirit of our founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who built the infrastructure of our country and championed golf as a sport with grit and foresight. In that spirit, we rejoice over golf and embrace the stronger business relationship in the future, “said Seah Moon Ming, Chairman of SBF, executive director & Group CEO of Pavilion Energy Pte Ltd.

The non-competitive games saw those who performed better being rewarded with tree-plantation certificate by CEGC captain Niu Gengsheng, Founder and Chairman of China’s largest dairy group Mengniu Group. An inner-Mongolian born, Niu is today giving his undivided attention to nurturing his namesake charity foundation, aimed at promoting natural conservation through increasing forestry plantation in northern part of China.

The ensuing business activities saw the CEGC members being warmly received by Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Sino-China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), and International Enterprise (IE) in forms of business luncheons and seminars. In addition, the CEGC delegation visited Singapore’s home-grown giants including Singpost, Temasek and Grabtaxi. With this trip laying a solid foundation, the Sino-Singapore bilateral business activities – and surely golf developments too – is yet to see another blossoming 25 years.

Background introduction:

China Entrepreneur Golf Club (known as CEGC), is a subsidiary of China Entrepreneur Club (known as CEC). Founded in 2007 on a set of disciplines benchmarked against Augusta National Course principles, CEGC’s upholds the value of sportsmanship, camaraderie and leverages golf as platform to forge cross-border business dialogues, investment opportunities and cultural exchange.

China Entrepreneur Club was established in 2006 by a group of 31 China’s most influential first –generation entrepreneurs, economists and diplomats, to foster the entrepreneurial spirit, develop intra-club business collaboration and forge international relationships. Founded as a non-profit organisation, CEC is committed to business integrity, mutual support and sustainable social and economic development. Today it has developed in to a 46-member-strong organisation an aggregate business asset evaluated in excessive of USD 313 billion.

Notable members include e-commerce mogul Jack Ma (founder of Alibaba), manufacturing giant Liu Chuanzhi (Chairman and CEO of Lenovo), real-estate tycoon Wang Jianlin (CEO and founder of Wanda Group) and pharmaceutical guru Guo Guangchang (founder of Fosun Group). Incorporating China’s ancient Confucius and Tao values, CEC members are also known as Daonong, literally translated as farmers who practice the law of Tao. As part of its staple annual program, CEC feature China Entrepreneur Golf Education, Daonong Gala, Green Company Alliance, GECG cross-border visits and CEC cross-border high-level visit, the latter of which has seen CEC members received by world-known politicians such as Angela Merkel, David Cameron, Tony Abbott and Barack Obama.

Sino-Singapore 25th anniversary of bilateral relationship

The CEGC Singapore visit happened in the context of the 25th anniversary of Sino-Singapore diplomatic relationship. On the government reception held for Singaporean politician delegation in July in China, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of National Congress of China underscored the importance of strengthening the bilateral tie between Singapore and China, “Singapore is the largest capital investor and off-shore trading market for RMB. Notable projects involving the bilateral effort include Suzhou Industrial Zone, Tianjin Eco Zone and etc. An extensive scale of investment has been made in finance, technology, human resource, education and culture, social development sectors.” The third intra-government collaboration project highlighting modern service economy and modern communication is currently being conceived to build the infrastructure between the two countries.

“25 years isn’t too long and we have rapidly developed strong bilateral relationships during the period. As long as we maintain the pragmatic spirit and keep on renovating our collaborating format, we will surely see our relationships deepening in the future decades, “says Tony Tan, president of Singapore.