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Business Wire India

‘SMEs are the engine that create a new economy,’ said Prof Ram Charan, global advisor to CEOs while addressing entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals at the Leadership Conclave on ‘Leadership That Delivers’ recently organised by WPU Goa in association with BNI Goa Region.

The conclave was one of the initiatives by WPU Goa for industry outreach and industry capacity building, particularly for SMEs and emerging business leaders in Goa. WPU Goa is a future-focused university built on the principles of transdisciplinary learning, experiential pedagogy, and continuous interaction with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and practitioners to prepare students for the evolving global landscape. The initiative reflects WPU Goa’s belief that universities must play an active role not only in educating students, but also in strengthening leadership capacity, innovation ecosystems, and entrepreneurial growth within the larger economy.

As a globally respected advisor to CEOs, boards, and institutions, Prof. Ram Charan continues to engage with WPU Goa as a mentor, thought partner, and part of the university’s broader leadership and core visioning group. During the leadership deep-dive session at the conclave, Prof. Ram Charan highlighted that learning must continuously enhance an individual’s ‘capacity’ to grow, lead, and adapt in rapidly changing business environments. Stressing the importance of scalable leadership for SMEs, he advised entrepreneurs to focus on ‘clarity,’ ‘specificity and actions,’ and long-term conviction while building organisations.

Speaking extensively on business growth and execution, he said that founders must ‘focus on a few things, go into depth, get them done,’ rather than attempting too many priorities simultaneously. He further emphasised that businesses should ‘build processes that will expand your capacity’ instead of remaining dependent entirely on the founder. Highlighting the need for organisational evolution, he encouraged leaders to ‘delegate,’ ‘automate,’ and ‘digitize’ in order to scale sustainably.

Drawing examples from global business leaders, Prof Ram Charan noted that successful entrepreneurs build conviction around their vision and attract capable talent despite uncertainty and limited resources. He stated that entrepreneurs should have the courage to recruit ‘people better than you’ who can ‘raise the bar’ and help organisations grow beyond the founder’s personal bandwidth.

Addressing SME founders on practical business challenges, he highlighted key issues including access to financing, attracting experienced professionals, delegation, prioritisation, and resistance to change. Encouraging continuous learning and mentorship, he advised entrepreneurs to move beyond ‘buzzwords’ and focus on execution, learning habits, and disciplined leadership practices that create long-term value.

Speaking on the role of education in nation-building and leadership, Dr. Rahul Karad founder WPU Goa, emphasised that universities must become ‘centers for transformation of the country’ and create an ‘open environment’ rooted in India’s value systems. He further stressed that education, cinema, media, sports, and spiritual leaders collectively shape society, adding that ‘universities only can really set the direction’ for future generations and national transformation.

Speaking about Goa’s development and the university’s vision for the state, Dr Ashish Bhardwaj, Pro Vice Chancellor, WPU GOA said, “Goa presents itself as a vibrant, multicultural, agile economy where global thinking stands in harmony with local wisdom and traditional knowledge. For us, Goa is a living lab of new ideas, progress, sustainability, and shared prosperity. WPU Goa is deeply committed to lead the transformation in higher education with the support, engagement, and expertise of Goa’s business leaders and communities to strengthen the social, cultural, and financial ecosystem and economy of Goa.”

The event also featured the WPU Goa Leadership Excellence Awards, where distinguished SME and corporate leaders were felicitated for their contribution to business, innovation, and leadership. Through these awards, WPU Goa seeks to acknowledge leaders who are not only driving enterprise growth but also contributing to regional transformation, innovation ecosystems, and broader societal progress, reinforcing the university’s commitment to building stronger connections between academia, industry, and emerging leadership.

Later in the day, former Group President and Chief Technology Officer of Anand Group, Sunil Kaul, spoke on leadership for MSMEs and stressed that business success comes from understanding problems deeply and converting challenges into opportunities. He highlighted the importance of learning through failures, maintaining financial discipline, and focusing on ethical governance and the ‘quality of profit.’

Speaking on ‘Leadership for Sustainable Growth,’ Mr Ashwini Malhotra, Vice Chairman, Weikfield Food Pvt Ltd said that leadership must guide organisations toward ‘long-term success, and not just short-term profits,’ while balancing economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social responsibility. He noted that ‘true economic value is created due to ethical values,’ adding that ethical leadership builds trust, goodwill, and sustainable profitability.

Through the conclave, WPU Goa highlighted its vision of building stronger industry-academia partnerships with industry leaders, management thinkers, entrepreneurs, and practitioners to nurture future-ready talent, leadership capabilities, and innovation-driven growth ecosystems for Goa and the broader business community.

Business Wire India

Biocytogen today announced the launch of RenSuper Workstation, a next-generation AI-powered antibody discovery platform providing off-the-shelf access to a large-scale, experimentally validated library of fully human therapeutic antibody sequences, together with the RenSuper High-Throughput Antibody Manufacturing Automation Center, a fully automated infrastructure designed to accelerate antibody validation and production.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526487212/en/

 

 

 

Built on Biocytogen’s proprietary RenMice^® platforms, RenSuper establishes a closed-loop antibody discovery engine combining in vivo immune repertoires, AI-driven candidate selection, automated experimental validation, and scalable manufacturing infrastructure. The platform supports the discovery and development of monoclonal antibodies, bispecifics, multispecifics, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), VHHs, and other advanced therapeutic modalities, significantly reducing the time and risk associated with antibody discovery.

 

RenSuper Workstation: AI-Powered One-Click Target-to-Lead Therapeutic Antibody Discovery

 

 

RenSuper Workstation introduces a new paradigm for one-click therapeutic antibody discovery, transforming antibody discovery from a project-based workflow into a searchable and programmable system. The platform enables rapid identification of high-quality therapeutic candidates with strong developability, functional relevance, and translational potential.

 

 

Proprietary Fully Human Antibody Library

 

 

The platform provides off-the-shelf access to fully human antibody sequences against more than 1,000 validated targets, complete with data packages to support more confident decision-making.

 

 

AI-Powered Candidate Selection

 

 

RenSuper’s AI models are trained on more than 100 million biologically validated antibody sequences, enabling efficient candidate identification against structurally and biologically challenging targets.

 

 

Using Biocytogen’s RenNano^® fully human HCAb platform as an example, the AI-powered screening workflow achieved an average positive hit rate of 46%, with peak hit rates reaching 98%. The workflow also enriched candidates with superior developability profiles and delivered an 82% success rate for high-purity (≥90%) Fc-format antibody expression.

 

 

Experimentally Validated Antibody Sequences

 

 

All AI-selected antibody sequences undergo experimental validation, including binding, affinity, and specificity characterization, ensuring reproducibility, reliability, and downstream development readiness.

 

 

One-Click Search & Design

 

 

The platform enables one-click filtering and comparison of antibody candidates by target, epitope, and physicochemical properties. An integrated antibody design platform further supports rapid sequence assembly and flexible format design across multiple therapeutic modalities.

 

 

Learn more about RenSuper Workstation: https://www.rensuperbio.com/

 

 

RenSuper High-Throughput Automation Center

 

 

Beyond intelligent discovery, RenSuper integrates industrial-scale automation to establish a scalable, closed-loop antibody development engine.

 

 

The newly launched automation center enables high-throughput experimental validation of AI-selected antibody candidates with minimal manual intervention, significantly accelerating the transition from molecular design to functional evaluation.

 

 

The fully automated platform spans the entire protein production workflow, including bacterial inoculation, plasmid extraction, transfection, fed-batch cultivation, and purification.

 

 

The system consistently delivers antibody yields averaging 50-100 mg, with throughput of up to 800 samples per day and over 5,000 samples per week, transforming antibody validation from a labor-intensive process into a scalable industrial workflow.

 

 

“We believe the future of antibody discovery will be driven by speed, scale, and data-driven intelligence,” said Dr. Yuelei Shen, Founder and CEO of Biocytogen. “With RenSuper, we are building an intelligence-native system that makes antibody discovery more intelligent, scalable, and efficient. Our goal is to reduce the time and complexity of early-stage discovery, accelerate the development of innovative therapeutics, and bring new medicines to patients faster.”

 

 

Together, RenSuper Workstation and the RenSuper High-Throughput Automation Center establish a next-generation target-to-lead ecosystem powered by biologically validated immune repertoires, artificial intelligence, and industrial-scale automation.

 

 

This milestone further reinforces Biocytogen’s vision of becoming the “Global Headstream of New Drugs” by transforming therapeutic antibody discovery into a more intelligent, scalable, and programmable process for biologics innovation worldwide.

 

 

About Biocytogen

 

 

Biocytogen (SSE: 688796; HKEX: 02315) is a global biotechnology company that drives the research and development of novel antibody-based drugs with innovative technologies. Founded on gene editing technology, Biocytogen has established a dual-engine platform combining a fully human antibody library with an extensive target-humanized mouse model portfolio, enabling a systematic approach to accelerating global drug discovery and development.

 

 

Biocytogen has independently developed its proprietary RenMice^® (RenMab^®/RenLite^®/RenNano^®/RenTCR™/RenTCR mimic™) platforms for fully human monoclonal/bispecific/multispecific antibody discovery, bispecific antibody-drug conjugate discovery, hu-VHH discovery, and TCR mimic antibody discovery, and has established a sub-brand, RenSuper™ Biologics, to explore global partnerships for an off-the-shelf library of >1,000,000 fully human antibody sequences against over 1000 targets for worldwide collaboration. As of December 31, 2025, more than 350 agreements for therapeutic antibodies and clinical assets—spanning co-development, out-licensing, and transfers—have been established globally, including landmark partnerships with leading multinational pharmaceutical companies (MNCs). Biocytogen pioneered the generation of drug target knock-in humanized models for preclinical research, and currently provides a few thousand off-the-shelf animal and cell models under the company’s sub-brand, BioMice™, along with preclinical pharmacology and gene-editing services for clients worldwide. Headquartered in Beijing, Biocytogen has branches in China (Haimen, Jiangsu, Shanghai), the USA (Boston, San Francisco, San Diego), and Germany (Heidelberg). For more information, please visit https://biocytogen.com.

 

 

 

 

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Business Wire India

Mevion Medical Systems has signed a definitive purchase agreement to bring the MEVION S250-FIT Proton Therapy System™ to Tam Anh General Hospital in Vietnam. This would be the first proton therapy system in Vietnam. This signing reflects a broader shift in cancer care: proton therapy is becoming more practical to deploy, enabling more hospitals to bring advanced treatment closer to the patients who need it. Both the MEVION S250-FIT™ and MEVION S250i Proton Therapy System® have recently received regulatory approval in Vietnam, marking an important step toward clinical implementation.

 

The introduction of proton therapy at Tam Anh General Hospital marks a turning point for cancer care in Southeast Asia and is facilitated by TD Tech Company, Mevion’s distributor in Vietnam. By establishing this domestic capability, Vietnam joins a growing group of countries expanding access to advanced proton therapy, ensuring that Vietnamese patients have access to world-class treatment within their own borders. The MEVION S250-FIT system at Tam Anh General Hospital is expected to become operational as early as late 2027, upon the inauguration of Tam Anh’s new facility in Phu My Hung, one of Vietnam’s most modern urban areas.

 

 

Proton therapy is widely regarded as one of the most advanced forms of radiation treatment available today. Unlike conventional photon (X-ray) radiation therapy, proton beams can precisely deposit the majority of their energy directly within the tumor while minimizing exit dose beyond the target. This level of precision reduces radiation exposure to healthy tissues and helps lessen treatment-related side effects in select clinical scenarios, particularly for complex tumors and pediatric cancers.

 

 

MEVION S250-FIT™: Making Proton Therapy a Reality

 

 

The cornerstone of this partnership is the MEVION S250-FIT, a breakthrough technology designed to make proton therapy a practical reality for hospitals worldwide. Historically, proton therapy required massive, multi-story facilities and decade-long planning cycles. The FIT™ platform changes this paradigm, enabling advanced care to be deployed with unprecedented ease:

 

 

• Bunker-Ready Design: It is the only FDA-cleared proton system designed for installation in a standard, existing radiation therapy vault.
• Rapid Deployment: By eliminating the need for massive new construction, the FIT allows hospitals to begin treating patients much faster than traditional systems.
• Operational Simplicity: The FIT system fits directly into conventional oncology workflows, using AI-driven treatment planning and integrated diagnostic CT imaging.
• Upright Patient Positioning: The installation will feature an upright patient positioning system from Leo Cancer Care, providing enhanced flexibility in patient setup and a more comfortable experience for those treated in a seated position.
• State-of-the-art Treatment Planning: Powered by RaySearch Laboratories, the RayStation®* treatment planning system features multi-criteria optimization, HYPERSCAN® and DirectARC™ planning, and highly accurate dose engines tailored specifically for advanced proton therapy.

 

 

Leadership Vision

 

“Our partnership with Tam Anh General Hospital marks an important step in Mevion’s mission to make the most advanced cancer care accessible to patients worldwide,” said Tina Yu, Ph.D., CEO and President of Mevion Medical Systems. “By integrating the MEVION S250-FIT into their oncology program, Tam Anh is demonstrating how the next generation of compact proton therapy can be seamlessly adopted by leading health systems to deliver precise, life-saving treatment closer to home.”

 

 

“As one of Vietnam’s leading general hospital systems in terms of clinical excellence, advanced and specialized technologies, and comprehensive services, Tam Anh has consistently taken the lead in acquiring world-class, cutting-edge medical technologies and equipment,” said Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tam Anh General Hospital Group. “The purchase of the next-generation MEVION S250-FIT™ Proton Therapy System marks a significant milestone, not only for the Tam Anh General Hospital Group but also as a major step forward in Vietnam’s efforts to access and effectively deploy the world’s most advanced medical technologies in cancer care. This event reaffirms Tam Anh’s strategic vision of making large-scale, comprehensive investments in healthcare in general, and oncology in particular, serving millions of Vietnamese people as well as international patients, in alignment with international standards of quality, clinical effectiveness, and patient safety.”

 

 

About Mevion Medical Systems

 

 

Mevion Medical Systems is a leading provider of compact proton therapy systems for cancer care. Dedicated to advancing the design and accessibility of proton therapy worldwide, Mevion pioneered the single-room platform and continues to further the science and application of proton therapy. Since 2013, Mevion compact proton therapy single-room systems have been used by leading cancer centers for treating patients. Mevion’s series of products, including the flagship MEVION S250i^® and MEVION S250-FIT™ with HYPERSCAN^® pencil beam scanning, represent the world’s most compact proton therapy systems that eliminate the obstacles of size, complexity, and cost. Mevion is headquartered in Littleton, Massachusetts with a presence in Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.mevion.com.

 

 

About Tam Anh General Hospital Group

 

 

Tam Anh General Hospital Group is a high-tech hospital system delivering advanced diagnostics and treatment, specialized care, and training and research meeting international standards. After a decade of development, the Tam Anh General Hospital Group has become one of Vietnam’s leading modern private healthcare systems. The system currently operates five facilities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, serving more than two million patient visits each year, including tens of thousands of international patients. For more information, please visit: https://tamanhhospital.vn.

 

 

About TD Tech Company

 

 

Toan Dien Medical Technology Company Limited (TD Tech Company) is a medical device distributor in Vietnam with more than twenty years of experience in the field of radiation oncology. For more information, please visit: https://xatri.vn.

 

 

*RaySearch products are subject to regulatory clearance in some markets.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526647140/en/

 

Business Wire India

Omdia’s latest research reveals that Europe’s smartphone market (excluding Russia) grew 2% to 33.0 million units in 1Q26, showing resilience amid growing supply-side costs and increasing risks of availability bottlenecks. Healthy end-user demand alongside channel frontloading helped boost the market.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526611788/en/

 

 

 

Key vendor highlights from 1Q26 include:

 

• Samsung was Europe’s largest vendor as it grew 3% to 12.6 million units. Effective discounting of the Galaxy A16 4G helped Samsung boost volume, offsetting declines related to the delayed launch of the Galaxy S26, A57 and A37.
• Apple grew 9% to 8.8 million iPhones, driven by robust iPhone 17 series demand in addition to benefiting from a wider mid-range coverage from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16e. Noticeably, Apple’s strong results came despite lower and fewer discounts than in previous years.
• Xiaomi retained third place despite declining 15% to 4.5 million units, as it was more immediately impacted by supply-side difficulties. However, Xiaomi’s ASP grew 21% compared with 1Q25, boosted by a record-strong Xiaomi 17 and 15T series performance, which drove year-on-year value growth despite the shipment decline. Premium sales were particularly strong in France, Germany, and Spain.
• Motorola grew 17% to 1.9 million units, driven by rapid expansion in Spain and Portugal, alongside continued progress in France and Italy.
• OPPO grew 9% to 1.3 million units, largely driven by its comeback in France alongside growth in Romania and Poland. With both realme and OnePlus now under its umbrella, OPPO is restructuring to optimize its portfolio and strategy with ambitions to strengthen its European position.
• HONOR, ranking sixth, was the fastest-growing vendor among the largest players, with shipments increasing more than 60% compared to 1Q25. HONOR’s growth is underpinned by its portfolio being expanded further down the price-tiers.

 

“Demand remains healthy in Europe’s smartphone market as shipments were boosted by the ongoing replacement wave alongside channel partners expanding their inventories,” said Runar Bjorhovde, Principal Analyst at Omdia. “Even though some price hikes have occurred, combined with fewer and lower discounts than in previous years, vendors and channel partners remain far more concerned about what is to come in 2Q26. In a region where the three largest vendors hold almost 80% market share, competition is often fiercer amongst channel partners than between vendors, creating a clear rationale for the channel to frontload as a precautionary move.”

 

“The average-selling-price (ASP) of smartphones in Europe surged to a record-high level of €580 in 1Q26,” added Bjorhovde. “This was largely caused by lower availability of devices costing less than €200, which made up an all-time low of just 25% of shipments. Additionally, the high-end remained resilient thanks to Apple’s growth. The focus from both vendors and channel partners has shifted from volume to value to deliver results and operational sustainability. Many vendors who normally focus on the mass market segments are increasingly concentrating on the mid-to-high-end, hoping to benefit from less price-sensitive and upgrade-willing buyers.”

 

 

“The first quarter of 2026 delivered beyond expectations, but the outlook remains bearish as the rapidly escalating memory bottleneck worsens,” commented Bjorhovde. “Omdia forecasts shipments into Europe to decline 12% in 2026, but the majority of this will come in the second half of the year. We expect inventory levels to remain above normal as long as the trajectory points to future steep price increases. However, a market correction will be inevitable in the mid-term, as it will become beneficial to act cautiously and reduce inventory levels again as memory pricing starts to stabilize. Both vendors and channel partners need to remain highly agile within the evolving market conditions but must ensure that their focus remains upon attracting end-buyers and strengthening their brands for long-term success.”

 

 

Europe (excl. Russia) smartphone shipments (market share and annual growth)   Omdia Smartphone Market Pulse: 1Q26
Vendor	1Q26 shipments (millions)	1Q26 market share	1Q25 shipments (millions)	1Q25 market share	Annual growth
Samsung	12.6	38%	12.2	38%	+3%
Apple	8.8	26%	8.0	25%	+9%
Xiaomi	4.5	14%	5.3	16%	-15%
Motorola	1.9	6%	1.7	5%	+17%
OPPO	1.3	4%	1.2	4%	+9%
Others	4.0	12%	4.1	13%	-2%
Total	33.1	100%	32.4	100%	+2%
Note: Xiaomi includes Redmi and POCO. OPPO includes realme and OnePlus Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding. Source: Omdia Smartphone Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), May 2026

 

ABOUT OMDIA

 

Omdia, part of TechTarget, Inc. d/b/a Informa TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets grounded in real conversations with industry leaders and hundreds of thousands of data points, make our market intelligence our clients’ strategic advantage. From R&D to ROI, we identify the greatest opportunities and move the industry forward.

 

 

 

 

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Business Wire India

Tecan (SIX Swiss Exchange: TECN), a global provider of laboratory automation and solutions, today announced the launch of direct operations in India, including a dedicated local sales and service team based in Gurugram, near New Delhi. The launch, marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, is an important milestone in the company’s geographical expansion and reinforces its commitment to serving customers in one of the world’s most dynamic and fastest-growing life sciences markets.

 

For over a decade, Tecan has supported customers in India through its trusted distributor partner Bioscreen. As it establishes a direct presence, Tecan will continue to work with Bioscreen, combining local expertise with closer customer engagement and strengthened support.

 

 

The establishment of Tecan India, incorporated on April 1, 2026, brings the company closer to customers across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic and diagnostic sectors, enabling more direct collaboration and responsive local support.

 

 

Mukta Acharya, EVP and Head of Tecan’s Life Sciences business, said:“India is a key market for the future of life sciences, with strong momentum across CROs, pharma, biotech and diagnostics. Establishing a direct presence allows us to be closer to our customers, deepen collaboration and further strengthen the value we deliver locally.”

 

 

Building on its expansion into South Korea in 2024, Tecan is strengthening its presence in high-growth regions as part of its ongoing commitment to improving the lives and health of people. It does this by enabling its customers to scale healthcare innovation globally.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526195832/en/

 

Business Wire India

 

Connects a potential market of 2 billion e-wallet users from 50 e-wallets and banks, plus over 10 national QR schemes

 

Helps local businesses capture inbound tourism growth through partnership with PVS

 

Alipay+, a leading global payment gateway under Ant International that connects 150 million global merchants and 2 billion consumer accounts, is rolling out cross-border mobile payment services for global travellers in Latin America in collaboration with PVS, a fintech company specialized in developing customized payment solutions in the region.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526146133/en/

 

 

 

This partnership enables users of Alipay+’s partner payment apps, including 50 e-wallets and banking apps, and over 10 national QR schemes, to make seamless QR payments at PVS merchants. The collaboration aims to support global travellers, especially those from Asia who are increasingly exploring multiple destinations and planning longer stays in the region, with convenience, transparency, security and zero currency exchange pains. Coverage begins with Chile and Argentina and will expand to other markets.

 

Through one single integration, businesses large and small can receive payments in local currency with minimal friction from leading wallets and banking apps in Asia and Europe. Merchants will also be able to leverage cross-border digital user engagement and marketing opportunities, as Alipay+ rolls out more AI-powered travel solutions for its ecosystem.

 

 

“At PVS, we are proud to partner with Alipay+ to offer Asian and European travellers visiting Latin America a payment experience that is familiar, secure and transparent, through the wallets they already know and trust,” said Lucio Colunga, CEO, PVS. “This partnership also reinforces our commitment to connecting local businesses with international consumers, helping merchants capture new growth opportunities across the region.”

 

 

“This landmark partnership builds on Ant International’s technology capabilities, risk solutions and marketing tools with PVS’s deep local expertise, fast-growing networks and regulatory know-how,” said Weixiao Jiang, General Manager for North Asia and the Americas, Alipay+, Ant International. “We are deeply committed to expanding public and private partnerships to contribute to the regional digitalization and AI agendas.”

 

 

With an average of over 20 million transactions daily, Ant International is a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider. It supports financial institutions and merchants of all sizes across Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Americas with a comprehensive suite of solutions, ranging from payment and account services to digitisation, embedded finance, treasury management and other AI-powered financial innovations.

 

 

For example, Alipay+ NFC (near-field communication) enables cross-border transactions through its partnership with Mastercard. Starting with AlipayHK, GCash and Kakao Pay, users can now make NFC payments at over 150 million Mastercard-enabled merchants worldwide, including across Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and other Latin American markets.

 

 

In Latin America, Ant International is expanding partnerships with more global and local payment service providers, as well as fintech companies and digital platforms to provide cross-border payment and credit services for SMEs and individuals. This includes Ant International’s collaboration with R2, a leading embedded lending infrastructure company headquartered in Mexico, to expand SME financing across the region.

 

 

In May 2025, Ant International became the Argentina National Football Team’s official sponsor for the Asia region (excluding the Middle East).

 

 

About Alipay+

 

 

Ant International’s Alipay+ is a unified wallet gateway with cross-border payment and digitisation services that help connect global merchants to consumers. Consumers enjoy seamless payments a broad choice of deals and the convenience of digital services using their preferred payment app/e-wallet while travelling abroad. Many small and medium-sized businesses already use Alipay+ digital tools to enhance efficiency and achieve omni-channel growth.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526146133/en/

 

Business Wire India

Philip Morris International’s (PMI) (NYSE: PM) IQOS, the #1 tobacco heating system¹, has been listed for the first time as one of the top 100 most valuable brands in the world in Kantar’s BrandZ 2026 Most Valuable Global Brands. This ranking solidifies IQOS’s global momentum and its emergence as a culturally relevant, iconic brand for adult nicotine users seeking better alternatives to cigarettes.

 

According to the BrandZ 2026 Most Valuable Global Brands, IQOS achieved a ranking of #74 globally.

 

 

With more than 35 million IQOS users worldwide—most of whom have fully switched away from cigarettes²—the brand continues to lead from the front and champion in a smoke-free era through science-backed innovation and consumer-centric design. Within 10 years of inception, IQOS surpassed $10 billion in annual net revenues, reaching this milestone faster than some of the world’s most recognized technology companies—and making up the large majority of Philip Morris International’s smoke-free business which reached close to $17 billion in net revenues in 2025.

 

 

“This milestone is a powerful validation of the journey we are on,” said Oggie Kapetanovic, President Heat-Not-Burn Products at Philip Morris International. “IQOSis not only the world’s leading smoke-free brand – it is becoming a truly iconic brand, built on science, innovation, and consumer trust. This recognition reaffirms IQOS’s continued growth and its pivotal role in transforming the industry. It inspires us to go further, faster, in delivering better alternatives for adults who would otherwise smoke.”

 

 

BrandZ charts the way in which global brands have continued to evolve and innovate. Now in its 21st edition, it spotlights the importance of building meaningful difference where a brand meets consumer needs, stands out from competitors and remains top-of-mind in its sector for a prolonged period.

 

 

“The brand era has changed. People now interact with brands in thousands of different ways. Many of these are shaped by AI, like personalized feeds or LLMs that influence what we see. Machines are increasingly surfacing and prioritizing content. That means brands need to work harder than ever to stand out as meaningful and different,” said Martin Guerrieria, Head of Kantar BrandZ.

 

 

IQOS’s inclusion in the Kantar Top 100 for the first time underscores its growing role beyond product innovation — positioning the brand at the intersection of technology, design, and culture, aiming to meet the preferences of adult nicotine users. This recognition marks another important step toward achieving a future where cigarettes can become obsolete.

 

 

Other notable brands featured in this year’s BrandZ 2026 global rankings include Google, Claude and Chinese-based companies like Alibaba and Xiaomi, highlighting industry leaders driving global brand value. Kantar BrandZ is a global ranking that assesses brand value by combining financial data and extensive brand equity research, offering an in-depth view of over 22,000 brands in 54 markets.

 

 

IQOS is not risk-free and provides nicotine, which is addictive. Only for use by adults who would otherwise smoke or use nicotine products.

 

 

1 PMI global estimates of total in Market Sales of Heated Tobacco Units as of December 2025

2 Source: PMI Q4 2025 Earnings Release

 

Philip Morris International: A Global Smoke-Free Champion

 

Philip Morris International is a leading international consumer goods company, actively delivering a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, nicotine pouch and e-vapor products. Our smoke-free products are available for sale in over 105 markets, and as of December 31, 2025, PMI estimates they were used by over 43 million legal-age consumers around the world, many of whom have moved away from cigarettes or significantly reduced their consumption. The smoke-free business accounted for 43% of PMI’s first-quarter 2026 total net revenues. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $16 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. Following a robust science-based review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the marketing of Swedish Match’s General snus and ZYN nicotine pouches and versions of PMI’s IQOS devices and consumables – the first-ever such authorizations in their respective categories. Versions of IQOS devices and consumablesand General snus also obtained the first-ever Modified Risk Tobacco Product authorizations from the FDA. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI has a long-term ambition to expand into wellness areas. References to “PMI”, “we”, “our” and “us” mean Philip Morris International Inc., and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

 

 

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

 

 

This press release contains projections of future results and goals and other forward-looking statements, including statements regarding business plans and strategies. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties, and inaccurate assumptions. In the event that risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, PMI is identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by PMI.

 

 

PMI’s business risks include: excise tax increases and discriminatory tax structures; increasing marketing and regulatory restrictions that could reduce our competitiveness, eliminate our ability to communicate with adult consumers, or ban certain of our products in certain markets or countries; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; litigation related to tobacco and/or nicotine use and intellectual property; intense competition; the effects of global and individual country economic, regulatory and political developments, natural disasters and conflicts; the impact and consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; changes in adult smoker behavior; the impact of natural disasters and pandemics on PMI’s business; lost revenues as a result of counterfeiting, contraband and cross-border purchases; governmental investigations; unfavorable currency exchange rates and currency devaluations, and limitations on the ability to repatriate funds; adverse changes in applicable corporate tax laws; adverse changes in the cost, availability, and quality of tobacco and other agricultural products and raw materials, as well as components and materials for our electronic devices; and the integrity of its information systems and effectiveness of its data privacy policies. PMI’s future profitability may also be adversely affected should it be unsuccessful in its attempts to introduce, commercialize, and grow smoke-free products or if regulation or taxation do not differentiate between such products and cigarettes; if it is unable to successfully introduce new products, promote brand equity, enter new markets or improve its margins through increased prices and productivity gains; if it is unable to expand its brand portfolio internally or through acquisitions and the development of strategic business relationships; if it is unable to attract and retain the best global talent; or if it is unable to successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits from recent transactions and acquisitions. Future results are also subject to the lower predictability of our smoke-free products’ performance.

 

 

PMI is further subject to other risks detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including PMI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. PMI cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not a complete discussion of all potential risks and uncertainties. PMI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that it may make from time to time, except in the normal course of its public disclosure obligations.

 

 

About Kantar

 

 

Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business. We deliver the intelligence needed to power brand growth.

 

 

We provide the signals that help organizations act quickly and confidently. We empower brands to make effective marketing decisions based on predictive evidence. And we help them craft powerful growth strategies rooted in the connection between consumers, brands and enterprise value. All this is powered by our uniquely robust human and synthetic data, our unrivalled IP, our AI-native platform and the team of global brand experts that bring this all together.

 

 

About Kantar BrandZ

 

 

Kantar BrandZ is the global currency when assessing brand value, quantifying the contribution of brands to business’ financial performance. Kantar’s annual global and local brand valuation rankings combine rigorously analyzed financial data, with extensive brand equity research. Since 1998, BrandZ has shared brand-building insights with business leaders based on interviews with 4.6 million consumers, for over 22,000 brands in 54 markets. Discover more about Kantar BrandZ here.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526629537/en/

 

Business Wire India

• Motorola has continued its strong upward growth momentum in India, emerging as the 5^th ranking smartphone brand in Q1 2026. The brand has climbed from the #9 position in Q1 2024 to top 5 in 2 years – reflecting one of the fastest growth trajectories in the Indian smartphone industry
• Motorola’s market share has grown from 4.6% in Q1 2024 to 7.5% in Q1’ 2025 to 8.9% in Q1’ 2026, driven by a strong portfolio strategy across the moto g, motorola edge, razr, and the newly introduced motorola signature series
•  Motorola continues to strengthen its premium proposition through globally differentiated partnerships including PANTONE™ curated colours and finishes, DXOMARK-recognized camera innovation, and collaborations spanning lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment experiences including Swarovski and FIFA World Cup™
• Motorola’s premium AI ecosystem is further strengthened through partnerships with Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity, delivering more intuitive, personalized, and productivity-driven experiences for consumers
• The company’s growth momentum has further been supported by strong customer partnerships across e-commerce, retail, and after-sales service networks, helping Motorola strengthen its value proposition and ownership experience across India

Motorola, a global leader in mobile technology and innovation and India’s leading~ AI smartphone brand by leading technology research firm, TechArc, has continued its strong growth momentum in India by emerging among the Top 5 smartphone brands, according to the latest IDC Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, Q1 26. Climbing from the 9th position in Q1 ’2024 to the #5 position in Q1 ’2026, Motorola has recorded one of the strongest growth trajectories in the Indian smartphone industry over the last two years. The company’s market share has also grown significantly from 4.6% to 8.9% during this period, driven by meaningful innovation, differentiated design, premium experience, and a consumer-first strategy across segments.

 

Motorola’s continued momentum has been powered by its expanding portfolio spanning the moto g, motorola edge, razr, and the newly introduced motorola signature series. Across its portfolio, Motorola has consistently focused on delivering meaningful innovations through exceptional form factors, innovative colours, materials and finishes, advanced camera systems, AI-powered imaging, immersive display technologies, and more.

 

The recently introduced Motorola Razr Fold further reinforces Motorola’s premium innovation leadership, combining next-generation foldable technology, advanced AI capabilities, and a DXOMARK Gold Label-awarded camera system into one refined flagship experience.

 

Motorola’s broader premium positioning continues to evolve beyond technology into lifestyle-led experiences through collaborations spanning design, fashion, and entertainment, including partnerships with Pantone™, Swarovski, Bose, Corning and as the Official Smartphone Partner for FIFA World Cup 2026™.

 

The company’s growth in India has further been supported by strong partnerships across retail, e-commerce, and after-sales service networks, helping Motorola continue to enhance accessibility, service experiences, and long-term consumer value across markets.

 

Commenting on the milestone, TM Narasimhan, Managing Director, Motorola India, said: 

“Our continued growth momentum in India reflects the strong trust consumers have placed in Motorola’s meaningful innovation, iconic design, and premium experiences. Partnerships with leading brands such as PANTONE™, Bose and Sony reinforce our focus on delivering best-in-class experiences, enhanced with AI-led innovation that continues to strengthen our brand desirability and aspiration. We remain committed to driving premium innovation and connected experiences tailored for Indian consumers and are confident of sustaining our strong growth momentum in India.”

 

Motorola continues to strengthen its software and connected ecosystem proposition with their latest announcement of Motorola Qira™, enabling seamless interoperability across smartphones, PCs, tablets, wearables and personal audio devices. Backed by partnerships with Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Perplexity, combined with disruptive form factors, CMF innovations and imaging prowess, Motorola is delivering more intuitive AI-led experiences while expanding its position as a lifestyle-led technology brand.

Business Wire India

MOVIN, the logistics brand launched as a joint venture between UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises, today proudly marks its fourth anniversary, a journey defined by rapid nationwide growth, technology‑enabled solutions, and customer‑first logistics solution.

 

Rooted in the combined expertise of UPS and InterGlobe Enterprises, MOVIN has built a logistics Brand offering global best practices with local market insights, operational excellence, trust, and reliability. Over the past four years, it has expanded its operational footprint across India’s key business hubs, scaled shipment volumes, and strengthened its position as a trusted partner for SMEs, MSMEs, and enterprise clients navigating India’s evolving supply chain landscape.

 

MOVIN has reinforced its presence across India’s industrial corridors with the recent inauguration of a strategic hub in Surat and a strong existing footprint across Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Bhubaneswar.

 

A landmark achievement for the Company was the launch of MOVIN Healthcare in November 2025 – a dedicated vertical operating nationwide to serve the pharmaceutical, MedTech, and diagnostics sectors with advanced temperature‑controlled packaging and an industry‑leading Next Flight Out (NFO) service for time‑bound medical shipments.

 

Grégory Goba-Blé, Director of MOVIN Express and Head of UPS India, commented, “Four years of MOVIN represent a decisive step in strengthening India’s logistics backbone. Our journey has been about building scale with reliability, embedding technology into operations, and creating a network that supports businesses across sectors. As India advances its economic corridors and industrial clusters, our focus is on accelerating digital integration, expanding footprint, and deepening partnerships that enable supply chains to be more resilient and competitive. One encouraging development for us has been the response from our customers. We have received thoughtful feed-back, stronger engagement and growing support from them all this while. MOVIN’s next phase is about driving transformation in B2B logistics, ensuring that businesses are equipped to meet the demands of a future‑ready economy.”

 

As MOVIN marks four years of redefining logistics in India, the journey ahead is filled with greater ambition, stronger momentum, and a continued commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. With a future-ready approach and an expanding nationwide network, MOVIN remains dedicated to delivering seamless, reliable, and technology-led logistics solutions that empower businesses to grow with confidence.

Business Wire India

Quectel Wireless Solutions, a global end-to-end IoT solutions provider, today announced an expanded distribution partnership with Future Electronics to bring its full portfolio of products and services to customers across the EMEA region.

 

Under this agreement, Future Electronics will bring Quectel’s full IoT portfolio to customers across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a strong focus on its non-cellular solutions, including antennas, GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and smart modules.

 

 

This collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening Quectel’s presence in EMEA, leveraging Future Electronics’ strong regional infrastructure, technical expertise, and established customer relationships to accelerate growth and innovation.

 

 

“Future Electronics’ extensive footprint and demand creation capabilities make them an ideal partner for expanding our reach across EMEA,” said Natasha Barrios, Senior Vice President, EMEA, Quectel Wireless Solutions. “By working together, we can ensure faster adoption of our full global end-to-end IoT portfolio across diverse industries.”

 

 

With the complete Quectel portfolio now available through Future Electronics, customers in a wide range of sectors including industrial, smart homes and cities, and healthcare can leverage a full end-to-end IoT ecosystem. From modules, antennas and GNSS solutions to design-in support, certification, and a wide range of value-added services, the offering is designed to accelerate development and shorten time to market.

 

 

“Future Electronics continues to invest in strategic partnerships that add real value across the electronics supply chain,” said Matthew Rotholz, Corporate Vice President at Future Electronics. “Our engagement with Quectel in EMEA, complemented by core semiconductor suppliers, enables us to support customers with technical expertise and resilient supply.”

 

 

The expanded partnership is effective immediately, with Quectel products and services now available through Future Electronics’ EMEA distribution network and digital platforms.

 

 

About Quectel

 

 

Quectel’s passion for a smarter world drives us to accelerate IoT innovation. A highly customer-centric organization, we are a global end-to-end IoT solutions provider backed by outstanding support and services.

 

 

With a worldwide team of over 5,800 professionals, we lead the way in delivering end-to-end IoT solutions, spanning cellular, GNSS, satellite, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules, high-performance antennas, value-added services and full turnkey offerings including ODM services and system integration.

 

 

With regional offices and support across the globe, our international leadership is devoted to advancing IoT and helping build a smarter world.

 

 

For more information, please visit: www.quectel.com or LinkedIn

 

 

About Future Electronics:

 

 

Future Electronics is a global leader in the electronic components industry. The company’s award‑winning customer service, comprehensive global supply chain programs, and industry‑leading engineering design expertise make it a strategic partner of choice for customers worldwide.

 

 

A WT Microelectronics company, Future Electronics is headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and operates in 44 countries and 159 offices. Its global footprint enables exceptional service and efficient, end‑to‑end supply chain solutions. The company is fully integrated and supported by a single IT infrastructure that provides real‑time inventory visibility and seamless global operations, sales, and marketing capabilities.

 

 

For more information, visit www.FutureElectronics.com.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260526303449/en/