Archives February 2024

Bengaluru, India –24th February 2024– Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of Galaxy Fit3, its newest fitness tracker that democratizes Samsung’s advanced health-monitoring technology, inspiring everyone to feel their best and adopt a healthier lifestyle. The Galaxy Fit3 is Samsung’s latest wearable device and boasts an aluminum body with a wider display, allowing users to keep track of their health and wellness data — from daily workouts to peaceful sleep — straight from their wrists, around the clock.

“In this new era of wellness, users desire a more comprehensive understanding of their health and Samsung has committed to providing users with advanced health monitoring tools to help them along their wellness journey,” said Aditya Babbar, Senior Director, MX Business, Samsung India. “As our newest fitness tracker, the Galaxy Fit3 underscores our commitment to providing accessible resources that encourage everyday wellness and inspire everyone to work on their best self.”

A Durable and Compact Tracker with a Larger, More Stylish Display

The Galaxy Fit3 is designed with an aluminum body and a 1.6-inch display, 45% wider than the previous model, making it easier for users to check detailed insights at a glance. Galaxy Fit3 is also lightweight and sleek with a comfortable fit, making it ideal for everyday use around the clock. Users can incorporate the Galaxy Fit3 into their lifestyles with ease thanks to its long battery life that can last up to 13 days. They can personalize their tracker and make it more stylish by selecting their favourite watch face from over 100 presets or setting their own photos as the background. Users can also effortlessly mix and match bands to complement their fashion and daily routines with a one-click button.

Keep a Pulse on Your Health Metrics Day and Night

Samsung has always prioritized sleep for better wellness, empowering users to understand their patterns and build healthier habits with advanced sleep monitoring tools. This commitment is reflected in the Galaxy Fit3. Users can comfortably wear their Galaxy Fit3 throughout the night while it tracks their sleep patterns, even detecting snoring and monitoring blood oxygen levels to provide more detailed measurements. Based on individual sleep patterns, the Galaxy Fit3 provides users with personalized Sleep Coaching with meaningful insights that help them more intuitively understand their sleep, leading them to make positive changes.

During the day, the Galaxy Fit3 allows users to keep an eye on their daily activities. Users can track over 100 types of workouts anytime, anywhere and review their exercise records easily, encouraging them to stay motivated to achieve their goals. The Galaxy Fit3 features a 5ATM rating and IP68-rated water and dust resistance, meaning users can enjoy outdoor activities in a variety of environments, as well. The Galaxy Fit3 gives users an even deeper understanding of their overall health, by delivering health metrics that include heart rate and stress levels.

Stay Safe and Connected in the Galaxy Ecosystem

To provide users with a safety net, safety features including Fall Detection and Emergency SOS have been newly added to the Galaxy Fit3. When an abnormal fall is detected, the Galaxy Fit3 gives users the option to call emergency services right away to get medical support in a timely manner. When users are in an emergency, they can send an SOS immediately by pressing the side button five times.

Galaxy Fit3 users can also access an array of capabilities within the connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, for an enhanced wearable experience. Users can utilize the Galaxy Fit3 as a controller right on their wrist, not only as a remote control for their smartphone camera when taking photos and setting timers with Camera Remote, but also to play and control media on their connected device. For a seamless experience, when users don’t want to be disturbed or get ready for bed, they can automatically sync modes between their Galaxy Fit3 and paired smartphone. If a smartphone is misplaced, users can easily locate it with the Find My Phone feature on the Galaxy Fit3, or vice versa.

Price and Availability

The Galaxy Fit3 will be available starting February 23 on Samsung.com as well as other on leading online and offline retail stores.

Bengaluru,24th February 2024: Salesforce, the global CRM leader, today announced a strategic collaboration with Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd, an ethnic fashion brand, to craft a seamless and personalized journey for its customers. The collaboration aims to revolutionize customer experiences, drive business growth, and solidify Kalamandir’s position as a pioneer in the retail industry.

Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd is leveraging the Salesforce Customer Data Platform (CDP) and Salesforce Marketing Cloud to elevate customer engagement and experience. This strategic move aligns with Kalamandir’s goal to leverage cutting-edge technology for data-driven decision-making, segmentation, and enhancing the overall customer journey. Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd aims to empower its teams and key stakeholders with Data Cloud to deliver an exceptional experience to customers, fostering long-term success and business outcomes. The company envisions leveraging Salesforce’s capabilities to efficiently segment data across various parameters, assess deltas at each operational and sales facet, and meet the diverse expectations of its stakeholders. Kalamandir’s technology vision encompasses omnichannel integration, supply chain optimization, e-commerce and mobile solutions, data analytics, personalization, and the exploration of AI and ML benefits.

“Customer-centricity is at the core of our business approach. We are committed to creating a tech-driven retail ecosystem, providing personalized services, and Salesforce’s powerful solutions will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal,” said Mr. Prasad Chalavadi, Founder & Managing Director, Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd. “With this collaboration, we hope to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and stay at the forefront of industry innovation.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd and support their vision for transforming the retail industry. Salesforce is dedicated to providing the tools and solutions needed to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and contribute to the long-term success of our partners,” said, Arun Parameswaran, Managing Director – Sales, Salesforce India, “We look forward to a successful partnership with Kalamandir as they continue to innovate and lead in the retail space.”

Bengaluru, 24th February 2024 Salesforce, the global CRM leader, today announced a strategic collaboration with Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd, an ethnic fashion brand, to craft a seamless and personalized journey for its customers. The collaboration aims to revolutionize customer experiences, drive business growth, and solidify Kalamandir’s position as a pioneer in the retail industry.

Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd is leveraging Salesforce Customer Data Platform (CDP) and Salesforce Marketing Cloud to elevate customer engagement and experience. This strategic move aligns with Kalamandir’s goal to leverage cutting-edge technology for data-driven decision-making, segmentation, and enhancing the overall customer journey. Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd aims to empower its teams and key stakeholders with Data Cloud to deliver an exceptional experience to customers, fostering long-term success and business outcomes. The company envisions leveraging Salesforce’s capabilities to efficiently segment data across various parameters, assess deltas at each operational and sales facet, and meet the diverse expectations of its stakeholders. Kalamandir’s technology vision encompasses omnichannel integration, supply chain optimization, e-commerce and mobile solutions, data analytics, personalization, and the exploration of AI and ML benefits.

“Customer-centricity is at the core of our business approach. We are committed to creating a tech-driven retail ecosystem, providing personalized services, and Salesforce’s powerful solutions will play a pivotal role in achieving this goal,” said Mr. Prasad Chalavadi, Founder & Managing Director, Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd. “With this collaboration, we hope to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and stay at the forefront of industry innovation.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Sai Silks (Kalamandir) Ltd and support their vision for transforming the retail industry. Salesforce is dedicated to providing the tools and solutions needed to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations, and contribute to the long-term success of our partners,” said, Arun Parameswaran, Managing Director – Sales, Salesforce India, “We look forward to a successful partnership with Kalamandir as they continue to innovate and lead in the retail space.”

Hyderabad, February 23, 2024: Global pharma major Lupin Limited (Lupin) today announced its debut in the esteemed S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024, underscoring its dedication to corporate sustainability. With a notable Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) score of 69/100, Lupin joins the ranks of leading companies recognized for their exemplary environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.

The S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024, a benchmark for corporate sustainability performance, evaluated over 9400 companies worldwide, with only 739 earning inclusion. Lupin’s exceptional performance places it within the top 95 percentile for the pharmaceutical sector, showcasing its unwavering commitment to sustainable business practices.

Commenting on this achievement, Ramesh Swaminathan, Executive Director, Global CFO and Head – Corporate Affairs, Lupin said, “Lupin’s inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024 underscores our firm commitment to advancing sustainable practices within the pharmaceutical industry. This recognition reaffirms our dedication to creating long-term value for all stakeholders while fostering a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.”

Lupin remains steadfast in its mission to prioritize sustainability, drive positive change, and make a meaningful difference in the world.

February 23, 2024; Mumbai, India:

Market Research Society of India (MRSI) instituted the Golden Key Awards in 2019 to recognize the contribution of insights for the growth of India’s market research and insights industry. Among the many categories, MRSI each year also recognises the industry’s veterans for their significant contribution. MRSI’s Golden Key Awards 2023 honoured Partha Rakshit and Pranesh Mishra, two of India’s most notable personalities from across the research and insights industry for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

One of India’s most respected market research professionals, Partha Rakshit has over five decades of experience. He currently serves on the Board of the NorthPoint Centre of Learning, wherein he guides their Marketing Research, Media and Analytics programs. Rakshit last served as the Managing Director South Asia at Nielsen, from where he retired in 2010.

Among his many achievements, Rakshit was a key member in the committee that worked on formulating and establishing SEC variables in India. He served as MRSI’s President from 1992-94. He was a founding member of the National Readership Survey Council. He served as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) during 1996 to 2016 and its President from 2013-2014. Rakshit was recognized for a new method for election forecasts in India which enabled the adoption of much lower sample sizes. Rakshit holds a Master’s degree in Management from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai.

Pranesh Mishra, the second awardee, is the Chairman and Managing Director at global marketing analytics and insight consulting company Brandscapes Worldwide which he founded in 2008. His 40 plus years’ experience covers strategic leadership roles in marketing, brand development, advertising, and consumer insights across several consumer products and services.

Prior to Brandscapes Worldwide, Mishra was associated with Lowe & Partners, MashreqBank, Pathfinders, among other organizations. Moreover, he led brand and communications strategy development for Fortune 500 brands including Unilever, Visa, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and HSBC. A Physics graduate from Delhi University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Mishra is a passionate student of human insights.

The Market Research Society of India extend their gratitude to both Partha Rakshit and Pranesh Mishra for their valuable contribution to the Indian and global research and insights sector.

Paris, February 23, 2024

• Finalization of a shared investment plan for the construction of a first end-of-life tire recycling plant in Uddevalla, Sweden.

• The project will be based on Enviro’s unique pyrolysis technology with the ability to extract raw materials from multi-component products.

• The joint venture has secured a series of multi-year contracts for the supply of used tires and the upcycling of recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil. This first plant will have capacity to recycle approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually and to create up to 40 green jobs in the local community.

This joint venture announces the final investment decision for the construction of its first used tire recycling plant. Antin and Enviro entered into the joint venture in March of 2023 to build a series of plants in chosen European geographies.

Antin is a majority shareholder of the JV, Michelin a minority shareholder and Enviro has an option to become a significant minority shareholder.

The first factory, based in Uddevalla, Sweden, has obtained all the necessary environmental and building permits and authorizations. Construction has already begun, and the plant is expected to be operational during 2025.

With an initial aim to process approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually, the plant should create up to 40 green jobs in the local community during its first phase.

Multi-year supply contracts

In addition to obtaining financing for the construction of the industrial plant, the joint venture signed a series of multi-year contracts regarding the supply of end-of-life-cycle tires as well as recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

In this context, Michelin continues its approach of proactively supporting the development of used tire recycling ecosystems and is committed to collaborating on the future developments of this joint venture. As an example, Michelin has signed a multi-year supply agreement regarding carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

One million tons

As previously announced, the joint venture plans on building factories throughout Europe targeting a total annual recycling capacity of one million tons of used tires. Once the Uddevalla plant begins operating, the joint venture will undertake the construction of additional factories in other European countries in order to ensure a rapid rollout of this technology. Antin and Enviro have already agreed to a financing plan for the construction of these factories.

The volume of tires that reach the end of their life cycle and are then discarded has continued to rise, now annually amounting to 3.5 million tons within Europe alone. This joint venture was established to develop used tire recycling throughout Europe, producing sustainable raw materials. Foremost among these materials produced are recovered carbon black and oils that may then be used in the manufacturing tires and in the petrochemical industry. By replacing virgin carbon black with the joint venture’s recovered material, it is possible to reduce the emissions arising from the use of conventional carbon black by more than 90%.

“Michelin has strongly supported the creation of this joint venture between Enviro and Antin. The undertaking began in 2020 when Michelin became a shareholder in Enviro to support the maturation of this technology. Today, we are moving on to a new step with the finalization of the investment for the construction of this first factory in Sweden. The launch of this ambitious industrial program, which is expected to be developed on a European scale, perfectly echoes the strategic objectives of the Michelin Group to reach 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2050, reducing the overall environmental impact of its tires,” states Maude Portigliatti, High-tech Materials Business Director – Member of the Michelin Group Executive Committee.

Delhi, brace yourselves for an uproarious night of laughter! The legendary Russell Peters brings his world-famous “Act Your Age” Tour to your city on February 28th, courtesy of Zomato Live. Get ready to laugh your head off as his razor-sharp wit and laugh-out-loud humor take center stage. From Chicago to New York, Dubai to Canada, the tour has captivated audiences across 23 countries and left laughter echoing in every corner of the world.

Now, it’s Delhi’s turn to experience the comedic genius of Russell Peters live! Don’t miss your chance to witness this side-splitting rollercoaster ride of relatable humor that will leave you yearning for more.

Join us at this special, as Russell shares his unique take on parenting, marriage, cancel culture, ageing, Gen Z, anxiety, and much more. PS, if you didn’t already know, he too is a desi at heart! Watch out for the nuances that will definitely hit home! With the tickets selling like hotcakes, don’t let procrastination hold you back from THE comedy extravaganza of the season. So, hurry! Grab your tickets now and get ready to laugh till you drop with Russell Peters’ ‘Act Your Age’ Tour – Delhi edition! See you there!

When: February 28, 2024; 5:30 PM onwards

Where: Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre), Dwarka

Pune, February 23, 2024: Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company, one of India’s leading private life insurers, continues to enhance its business parameters through its transformative journey. The 9MFY2024 results showcase its outstanding performance vis-à-vis the other private players in the Indian life insurance industry.

Individual Rated New Business (IRNB) of the Company for 9MFY2024 grew by 24% as compared to the corresponding period last year. This was nearly three times the growth showcased by industry average. Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance three year (FY 2020 to FY 2023) of Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 39% in Individual Rated New Business (IRNB) further reaffirms the strong growth path of the private life insurer. The Company’s GWP stood at INR 14,860 Crores for 9M FY24, on the back of strong growth in individual business and renewal premium received, as compared to INR 13,028 Crores over the same period last year.

Strong focus on enhancing renewal payment processes through initiatives such as driving auto-payment registration, digital payments, etc. have led to consistent persistency across most cohorts. As of 31st December, 2023 persistency stood at 83% for 13th month, 65% for 37th month and 51% for 61st month. The Company also registered a strong growth in renewal premium of 31% in 9M FY24; supported by various initiatives to improve persistency. Additionally New Business Value (NBV) grew by 9% from INR 535 Crores for 9M FY23 to INR 581 Crores for 9M FY24 due to strong IRNB Growth and focus on a diverse product mix.

Key Business Highlights of Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance for 9MFY2024

· PAT (Profits after tax) for 9M FY24 is at INR 457 Crores as compared to INR 364 Crores in 9M FY23, recording a 26% growth

· Registered a strong growth of 31% in renewal premium

· Registered the highest growth in the Number of Policies (NOP) among top 10 private life insurance companies with 4.92 lakh policies being written in this period

· Assets under Management crossed the Rupees One Lakh Crore milestone in this period and stood at INR 1,04,737 crores as of December 31, 2023

· Achieved 24% growth in Individual Rated New Business with INR 3,996 crores in 9M FY24 vis-à-vis INR 3,222 crores in 9M FY23

· The Company’s Solvency Ratio stands at an impressive 446% the end of December, 2023 underlining its strong financial stability and ability to meet its obligations

· As on 31st December 2023, the Company covered over 4.30 crore lives

· The Company has an extensive distribution network comprising of 511 branches, over 1,42,000 agents, and 82 institutional partners

Bajaj Allianz Life prioritizes customer-centricity, emphasizing fast issuances, diverse product offerings backed by cutting-edge technology. Customers have responded positively to the existing product bouquet and new introductions, including Bajaj Allianz Life Ace (Par), Bajaj Allianz Life Magnum Fortune Plus (ULIP), Bajaj Allianz Life Assured Wealth Goal (Non-Par), Bajaj Allianz Life Guaranteed Pension Goal (Annuity), Bajaj Allianz Life – Flexi Income Goal (PAR), and Bajaj Allianz Life Future Wealth Gain. The company’s dedication to innovation is evident in the substantial growth of its product suite and distribution network during FY24.

Bangalore, February 23, 2024: The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) successfully hosted the 17th edition of the Innovations in Software Engineering Conference (ISEC 2024) from 22nd to 24th of February. Formerly known as the India Software Engineering Conference, ISEC is the flagship annual conference of iSOFT, the India chapter of ACM SIGSOFT, under the esteemed umbrella of ACM India.

Prof. Debabrata Das, Director of IIIT-Bangalore, speaking about ISEC 2024, said, “ISEC 2024 has once again showcased the remarkable strides being made in software engineering (SE). To host ISEC is a matter of pride for IIIT-Bangalore. The participation of SE scholars during the conference has shown a great potential to lead to future collaborations and recruitments in the area of software engineering. The primary objective of any research conference is exchange of niche technical knowledge, networking and community building. It is time IIIT-B asserted its position as an important institution which could be a meeting hub for SE researchers and a seat of many great projects in SE and help Indian community to remain as one of the super power in software research and development. I think hosting ISEC is a strong step in that direction.”

Software engineering has always been a hotbed of many hard problems of computer science. These emerged from the challenges of various software development activities like requirement analysis, design, coding, and testing. These problems had been addressed by software engineering researchers using classical computer science techniques for several decades with great success.

As General Chair of ISEC 2024, Prof. Sujit Chakrabarti of IIIT-Bangalore emphasised the significance of ISEC 2024 within the current context. Prof. Sujit stated, “Now, with the emergence of much-talked-about technologies like language models, generative AI, and ML, researchers are trying to address classical SE problems using these emerging methods. Further, software engineering techniques have upped their game to meet the challenges posed by the emerging applications of computing, be it cloud, IoT, ML, LLMs, or cybersecurity. Considering this trend, ISEC 2024 saw a fair spread of these ideas in the papers, workshops, tutorials, talks, panel discussions, and poster presentations. There was a balanced representation from academia and industry, in applied as well as fundamental topics, from faculty members and PhD students.”

Prof. K. V. Raghavan (IISc) and Dr. Raveendra Medicherla (TCS Research) served as the organising co-chairs of ISEC 2024. The conference featured an illustrious lineup of invited speakers who graced the event with their expertise and insights. Prof. Abhik Roychoudhury from the National University of Singapore, Dr. Akash Lal from Microsoft Research and Dr. Alessandra Gorla, from the IMDEA Software Institute, delivered keynote talks.

The success of ISEC 2024 marks IIIT-B’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration in software engineering. As the conference drew to a close, participants departed with fresh insights, renewed inspiration, and strengthened connections, poised to drive future advancements in the ever-evolving landscape of software engineering.

Bengaluru, 23 February, 2024: Upskilling cloud platform Nuvepro Technologies has collaborated with Kamaraj College of Engineering & Technology (KCET) to give students hands-on learning experience in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Nuvepro will also be providing an “AI/ML 5 in a box” solution in collaboration with Intel and AWS.

The training modules have been designed to prepare students for future career roles and to make them Gen AI ready. As part of the comprehensive training program, Nuvepro, in partnership with AWS, will provide faculty and students with training and certification programs in AI and ML on the AWS platform. These training sessions will go beyond practice lab setups and will be in the form of structured training sessions to empower trainers and lecturers.

The unique AI/ML 5 in 1 Box, which is a joint venture between Nuvepro, Intel, and AWS. This will entail curricular support, faculty development, virtual labs amalgamation of Nuvepro’s cloud expertise, AWS’s content, and Intel’s technological prowess. This solid educational framework will be a win-win for both faculty and students at KCET.

Dr. A. Meenakshi, Professor and Head of the Department, Department of CSE, Kamaraj College of Engineering and Technology (Autonomous) said, “Our strategic alliance with Nuvepro signifies a profound commitment to academic excellence. We envision this partnership as a transformative force, where students not only gain cloud management expertise but also acquire invaluable real-world experiences, preparing our students to navigate and excel in the dynamic landscape of AI and ML.” The MoU will also help students secure internships and work-based learning opportunities in real-world cloud management projects.

As part of this MoU, KCET gains access to Nuvepro’s cloud management tools and technologies. This will allow the institution to develop and implement advanced cloud solutions tailored to specific client needs.

Nuvepro’s CEO, Mr. Giridhar L.V., said, “The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at KCET has already taken proactive steps by conducting Faculty Development Programmes and Student Peer Enablement Programmes, ensuring a smooth integration of Nuvepro’s cloud offerings into their academic framework. This partnership exemplifies Nuvepro’s commitment to fostering education, innovation, and industry collaboration, further solidifying its position as a leader in cloud management services.’’