All posts by admin

Business Wire India

The University of Aberdeen’s Mumbai campus has announced the establishment of its Industry Advisory Board (IAB), a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening industry integration and ensuring that academic programmes remain closely aligned with evolving industry needs.

The Industry Advisory Board will bring together senior industry leaders who will provide strategic guidance on curriculum development, employability initiatives, and collaboration across research and innovation. Members will also enable industry engagement through guest lectures, workshops, mentoring, and pathways for internships and graduate recruitment.

Complementing this, the Alumni Advisory Board will leverage the University of Aberdeen’s global alumni network to bring in practitioner-led perspectives across geographies and sectors. Alumni members will contribute to mentoring, career guidance, global mobility pathways, and strengthening employer linkages, while also supporting the University’s positioning within international talent ecosystems.

Professor Rahul Choudaha, Chief Operating Officer, University of Aberdeen, said, “The future of higher education lies in deep, sustained collaboration between academia, industry, and alumni ecosystems. At the University of Aberdeen Mumbai, we are building an institution that is globally connected and industry-integrated from day one. Our Industry and Alumni Advisory Boards will play a critical role in shaping a future-focused learning environment, bridging classroom learning with real-world application and ensuring students graduate with the skills, exposure, and global perspectives needed to succeed in an increasingly complex world.”

The formation of the Boards comes as the University prepares to launch its Mumbai campus in Powai in September 2026, marking a significant step in expanding the University of Aberdeen’s global presence and deepening its engagement with India’s fast-growing innovation and business ecosystem.

The dual Boards will play an advisory role by leveraging their professional expertise to enhance the industry relevance of the University’s academic programmes. Members will offer insights into emerging sector trends and evolving skill requirements, supporting the integration of experiential learning opportunities such as internships, research, and mentorship into the academic experience. They will also advise on opportunities for collaboration, partnerships, and knowledge exchange, helping connect academic work with real-world applications through industry and alumni engagement.

Both the Industry Advisory Board and Alumni Advisory Board will comprise industry leaders representing diverse sectors, geographies and ensuring a broad range of perspectives and expertise. Members will be appointed for a two-year term and will meet periodically throughout the academic year to provide strategic recommendations.

Through this initiative, the University of Aberdeen Mumbai aims to build a strong ecosystem of collaboration between academia and industry, ensuring that its programmes remain globally competitive while preparing students with the skills, knowledge, and professional exposure required for future careers.

Detailed advisory board member names are listed below:

Industry Advisory Board Members

• Chintan K Doshi: Global Director, Early Talent, NatWest Group
• Deepesh Hiran: Head – India Operations and Managing Director, AuxoAI
• Deepti Yadav: General Manager – HRBP, Airtel
• Komal Machindar: VP and Global Delivery Excellence Head, LTM
• Sudhir Warier: Head of Learning and Development – Home Business (In-Premise Connect), Reliance Jio Infocom
• Sumit Mukherjee: Senior Vice President – Human Resources, HDFC ERGO General Insurance
• Sayan Bandyopadhyay: Lead – HR Business Partner, JioBlackRock Investment Advisers
• Sanjeev Bhalwal: HR and Talent Leader

Alumni Advisory Board Members

• Arun Ramachandran: EVP – Country Manager, Customer Value Management, Vodafone
• Dr. Abhishek Saxena: Investigator and Group Leader, Changping National Laboratory
• Bruce Keith: Co-founder and CEO, InvestorAi
• Cynthia Rajan: Global Head of Marketing and GTM – Zoho Books and Zoho Practice, Zoho
• Shefali Paliwal: AVP and Chief Talent Acquisition Manager, Liberty Mutual Insurance
• Siddharth Naithani: Senior Advisor – Information and Communication Technology, South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland
• Dr Soumya Palliyil: Head of the Scottish Biologics Facility
• Dr. Vineet Sikka: VP and Group Head, Apollo Hospitals

Business Wire India

According to Omdia’s latest research, Mainland China’s smartphone market declined by 1% year on year in 1Q 2026, with shipments reaching 69.8 million units. In 1Q 2026, rising component costs, particularly for memory, prompted major vendors to increase product prices, further extending the market’s downward trajectory. Huawei ranked first with shipments of 13.9 million units, capturing a 20% market share and maintaining strong momentum. Apple followed in second place with 13.1 million units and a 19% share. OPPO, in its first quarter following realme’s reintegration, shipped 11.0 million units to rank among the top three vendors. vivo recorded 10.5 million units, ranking fourth, while Xiaomi placed fifth with shipments of 8.7 million units.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413266424/en/

 

 

 

“To balance volume, revenue, and profitability against rising memory prices, several major vendors, including Xiaomi, HONOR, OPPO, and vivo, raised retail prices on select models by 10–30% in the first quarter,” said Hayden Hou, Principal Analyst at Omdia. “This had a clear and negative impact on consumer purchasing sentiment. Huawei and Apple took the opposite approach. Both largely avoided broad price hikes, using cost pressures as a chance to capture market share. That strategy made their products more appealing to consumers and fueled stronger Q1 results.”

 

Lucas Zhong, Senior Analyst at Omdia, added: “Meaningful innovation in flagship and foldable devices is expected to help stabilize overall demand. Advances such as the LOFIC image sensor in Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra series, the near crease-free design of OPPO’s Find N6, and the lightweight design combined with a high-capacity battery in HONOR’s Magic V6 highlight how improvements in peripheral specifications will remain a key theme in product iteration this year. At the same time, AI agent capabilities will be a major focus for leading vendors at the software level. Smartphones remain the ideal platform for AI agents, and for vendors, breakthroughs in AI functionality represent a critical pathway forward. Vendors that can deliver differentiated and practical AI agent experiences will be better positioned to enhance brand perception and establish new strategic advantages.”

 

 

“In Q1 2026, the combined market share of the top six vendors – Huawei, Apple, Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, and HONOR – reached 94%,” Hayden Hou added. “Top vendors hold advantages in supply chains, R&D, OS and services, ecosystems, and distribution. Yet market dynamics demand constant vigilance. Memory volatility and AI’s trajectory will structurally alter the competitive landscape. As rising memory costs continue to bite, Omdia projects that China’s smartphone market will shrink by 10% in 2026.”

 

 

Mainland China’s smartphone shipment and annual growth Omdia Smartphone Market Pulse: 1Q26
Vendor	1Q26 shipments (million)	1Q26 market share	1Q25 shipments (million)	1Q25 market share	Annual growth
Huawei	13.9	20%	13.0	18%	7%
Apple	13.1	19%	9.2	13%	42%
OPPO	11.0	16%	11.3	16%	-3%
vivo	10.5	15%	10.4	15%	0%
Xiaomi	8.7	12%	13.3	19%	-35%
Others	12.7	18%	13.6	19%	-7%
Total	69.8	100%	70.9	100%	-1%
Note: Huawei excludes HONOR since 1Q21. OPPO includes OnePlus and realme. vivo includes iQOO.   Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.   Source: Omdia Smartphone Horizon Service (sell-in shipments), April 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.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413266424/en/

 

Business Wire India

Optomec, a global leader in additive‑manufacturing hardware and software, today launched the Aerosol Jet Education Platform, a turnkey learning solution that brings hands‑on printed‑electronics and advanced 3D manufacturing training to universities and technical institutes.

 

Built on Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet fine‑feature printing technology, the platform combines purpose‑built hardware, intuitive HMI (human-machine interface) software, and a structured curriculum to bridge academic instruction and industrial workforce needs. The cost‑effective, scalable system enables students to design, optimize, and validate additive‑manufacturing processes to industry standards.

 

 

Each system ships with Module One, a set of pre‑programmed toolpaths and instructor‑guided labs that deliver 10 hands‑on analog electronic outcomes and post‑process validation techniques. The modular Lab Library enables progressive learning through topics such as conductive trace printing, passive component fabrication, strain‑gauge calibration, antenna design, and multilayer circuit manufacture, with integrated lessons on materials science and process optimization. Additional modules—available via software activation—unlock advanced material capabilities, an automated toolpath generator, and graduate‑level curriculum for expanded research and training applications with expanded functionality leveraging the current platform.

 

 

Backed by Optomec’s decades of industrial expertise and more than 700 systems deployed to 200+ customers worldwide—including GE, NASA, and Lockheed Martin—the Aerosol Jet Education Platform delivers industry‑aligned training that helps institutions build scalable programs preparing students for careers in electronics, aerospace, and life sciences.

 

 

“Optomec’s Aerosol Jet Education Platform closes the gap between academic theory and industrial practice, giving students real experience with the tools and workflows used in modern electronics manufacturing,” said Robert Yusin – President/CEO, Optomec.

 

 

“Partnering with Optomec lets us offer hands‑on printed‑electronics training that directly supports student readiness for high‑tech jobs and research,” said Liu Ziqiang, GM and CEO of YUNS Technology.

 

 

For more information, demonstration requests, or academic licensing inquiries, please visit www.optomec.com.

 

 

About Optomec

 

 

Optomec is a global provider of additive‑manufacturing hardware and software, specializing in printed electronics and 3D manufacturing solutions for industry and research.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260412737381/en/

 

Business Wire India

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), the Software Support and Agentic AI ERP Company™, and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced it will report earnings after market close on April 30, 2026. The company will host a conference call and webcast on that date to discuss the first quarter 2026 results and the 2026 outlook at 5:00 p.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. Pacific time.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413394339/en/

 

 

 

A live webcast of the event will be available on Rimini Street’s Investor Relations site via the Rimini Street IR events link and directly via the webcast link. Dial-in participants can access the conference by dialing 1-800-836-8184.

 

A replay of the webcast will be available for one year following the event.

 

 

About Rimini Street, Inc.

 

 

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a proven, trusted global provider of end-to-end, mission-critical enterprise software support, managed services and innovative Agentic AI ERP solutions and is the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company has signed thousands of IT service contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who have leveraged the Rimini Smart Path™ methodology to achieve better operational outcomes, billions of US dollars in savings and fund AI and other innovation.

 

 

To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

 

Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “reflect,” “results,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to our ability to attract new clients or retain and/or sell additional products or services to existing clients; our ability to achieve and maintain an adequate rate of revenue growth; cost of revenue, including changes in costs associated with our efforts to grow and the results of any efforts to manage costs to align with current revenue expectations and the expansion of our offerings; the effects of increased intense competition in our industry and our ability to compete effectively; our ability to successfully educate the market regarding the advantages of our support and managed services for enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and to sell the products and services comprising our “Rimini Smart Path™” solutions portfolio, including but not limited to our Agentic AI ERP solutions; our intentions with respect to our pricing model and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; the evolution of the ERP software management and support landscape facing our clients and prospects; estimates of our total addressable market; the effects of seasonal trends on our results of operations, including the contract renewal cycles for vendor-supplied software support and managed services; the effects of the efforts of enterprise software vendors to sell upgrades or migrations to cloud-based versions of their enterprise software on our results of operations; our ability to scale our operations quickly enough to meet our clients’ changing needs or decrease our costs adequately in response to changing client demand; risks arising from incorporating artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies into our products or services or any deficiencies associated with AI technologies used by us or by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand; the continuing impact of and our ability to comply with the terms of our July 2025 settlement agreement with Oracle; our wind down of support services for Oracle PeopleSoft software products and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; the loss of one or more members of our management team and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified technical, sales and marketing personnel; our ability to expand our marketing and sales capabilities; our ability to avoid interruptions to, or degraded performance of, our services and the impact of any such interruptions or performance problems on our operations; our ability to defend against cybersecurity threats and to comply with data protection and privacy regulations; our expectations regarding new product offerings, innovation solutions, partnerships and alliance programs and our ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships; our ability to expand internationally and the risks associated with global operations; the impact of macro-economic trends, including inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; our ability to generate significant capital through our operations or to raise additional capital necessary to fund and expand our operations and invest in new services and products; our business plan and our ability to effectively secure and manage our growth and associated investments; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; changes in laws or regulations, including tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take; tariff costs, including those imposed by the United States government and the potential for retaliatory trade measures by affected countries; our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the volatility of our stock price; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States government and international governments and capture new contracts with governmental entities/agencies; the occurrence of catastrophic events that may disrupt our business or that of our current and prospective clients; future acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, products, subscriptions or technologies; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 19, 2026, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

 

 

© 2026 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413394339/en/

 

Business Wire India

 

• Exclusive partnership to expand the Lidl Connect offering
• Redefining mobile freedom: Maximizing people’s flexibility through simple, digital, and affordable mobile plans
• Partnership offers new growth opportunities for established telecommunications providers

 

1GLOBAL, a pioneer in global telecommunications solutions, and the companies of the Schwarz Group, one of the world’s largest retail groups, are entering into a comprehensive strategic partnership. To this end, the companies of the Schwarz Group are acquiring a 9.9 percent stake in 1GLOBAL. The company will serve as the exclusive technology partner for mobile connectivity for the next five years.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413445664/en/

 

 

 

Against this background, 1GLOBAL and Lidl, one of Europe’s leading food retailers, will drive the digital transformation in the telecommunications market. With the help of Lidl Connect and Lidl Plus, the two companies will jointly introduce national connectivity services in Lidl’s markets.

 

Partnership Enables New Telecommunications Offerings from Lidl

 

 

Together with 1GLOBAL, Lidl is addressing a key need among telecommunications users: easily accessible, flexible, and affordable connectivity of the highest quality without long-term contract commitments. The solution and core of the partnership: Lidl will become a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) itself, enabling it to offer mobile services to its customers independently. In collaboration with 1GLOBAL, Lidl will enter into partnerships with local mobile network operators to respond flexibly to local requirements.

 

 

Together, 1GLOBAL and Lidl are transforming the industry and expanding the overall telecommunications market: established network operators benefit as partners from Lidl’s reach, growth, and higher utilization, while Lidl handles customer acquisition and service. As a fully regulated telecommunications provider, 1GLOBAL supplies the technical platform as well as telecommunications licenses and partnerships with mobile network operators in twelve countries, which are expected to expand to over 30 countries in the future.

 

 

In addition, the strategic partnership includes the development of innovative telco solutions on STACKIT, the Schwarz Group’s cloud solution. Data sovereignty, particularly regarding the secure handling of customer data, is a top priority here.

 

 

Hakan Koç, founder and CEO of 1GLOBAL, explains: “Lidl is the partner that shares our vision: We want to make mobile communications as intuitive, flexible, and digital as possible for millions of people. Our technology focuses on digital offerings tailored to the needs of users and their various devices. We want to successfully drive the technological transformation of the global telecommunications market in the best interests of people.”

 

 

Julian Beer, Executive Vice President of Purchasing at Lidl International: “We are democratizing mobile communications. Simple, affordable, and of the highest quality. We are very much looking forward to collaborating with 1GLOBAL. This partnership enables us to become active as an MVNO ourselves. In doing so, we are setting new standards and making affordable mobile communications easier than ever for our customers. By integrating state-of-the-art technology, we can meet the needs of millions of customers for uncomplicated connectivity for their devices. Thanks to our reach of well over 12,000 stores and more than 100 million customers in our Lidl Plus loyalty app, we are creating an attractive platform for established telecommunications companies.

 

 

Synergy of customer and market advantages

 

 

Lidl has been offering prepaid mobile plans through Lidl Connect since 2015. As part of the collaboration with 1GLOBAL, Lidl Plus, Lidl’s digital customer card, will also play a central role. Lidl Plus is available in all European Lidl countries. For millions of people, Lidl is a trusted partner in everyday life. In the future, this will also include an affordable, high-quality mobile phone plan without long-term contracts, as well as the ability to easily manage their services via the Lidl Plus app.

 

 

“With this step, we are consistently evolving our loyalty app into a lifestyle companion for our customers and, with affordable connectivity, creating an offering that is relevant for the entire family. We are integrating this seamlessly with our core business,” says Julian Beer.

 

 

About Lidl

 

 

Lidl is a part of the Schwarz Group with headquarters in Neckarsulm, Germany, and is one of the leading food retailers in Germany and Europe. Lidl currently operates around 12,600 stores and more than 230 goods distribution and logistics centers in 31 countries and employs over 382,400 people.

 

 

At Lidl, we value an optimal price-performance ratio for our customers. Simplicity and process orientation determine the daily activities in the stores, the regional distribution centers and the national headquarters.

 

 

Lidl takes responsibility for people, society and the environment in its daily activities. For Lidl, sustainability means fulfilling its quality promise anew every day.

 

 

Performance, respect, trust, grounded and belonging are Lidl’s corporate values, which are at the heart of our corporate culture, shape our daily actions and form the basis for our entrepreneurial success.

 

 

Lidl achieved store sales of 132.1 billion euros in fiscal year 2024. The companies in the Schwarz Group generated total sales of 175.4 billion euros in fiscal year 2024.

 

 

About 1GLOBAL: Leading Digital Transformation in Telecommunications

 

 

1GLOBAL is a technology-driven global mobile communications provider dedicated to empowering enterprises worldwide to unlock the full growth potential of mobile connectivity. With a best-in-class telecom technology platform, a comprehensive suite of globally viable regulatory licenses, and privileged access to the telecom wholesale market, 1GLOBAL is uniquely positioned to deliver seamless mobile connectivity solutions. Serving the world’s leading banks, corporations, and digital-first businesses—including neo-banks, travel companies, and retail groups—1GLOBAL connects over 60 million devices globally.

 

 

In 2025, 1GLOBAL continued to grow profitably, generating revenue of USD 203 million and a profit of USD 26 million. The year was characterised by strong demand for the 1G Connect Travel™ offering, the expansion of enterprise and compliance solutions, and continued investment in eSIM technology. Going forward, 1GLOBAL will focus on expanding national connectivity, extending its MVNO footprint and scaling its technology platform to continue delivering sustainable, profitable growth.

 

 

Established in 2022 by experienced tech founders and entrepreneurs Hakan Koç and Pyrros Koussios, 1GLOBAL is a European technology leader driving digital transformation in the global telecommunications market. It operates as a fully regulated Mobile Virtual Network Operator (“MVNO”) in 12 countries and as a regulated telecommunications operator in an additional 28 countries. Headquartered in the Netherlands, with world-class R&D hubs in Lisbon, Berlin, and São Paulo, 1GLOBAL employs close to 500 experts across 15 countries.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413445664/en/

 

Business Wire India

At Elevate’26 in Orlando, Airship, the mobile-first customer experience company, announced a major expansion and enhancements to its AI Agent Fleet — the world’s first grounded, tested, and trained multi-agent fleet designed to drive continuous goal optimization and deliver measurable results. This milestone launch introduces the Campaigns AI Agent, empowering teams to streamline campaign setup, scale production, and accelerate results.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413056637/en/

 

 

 

The announcement comes as product, marketing, and growth teams struggle to create personalized campaigns and run growth experiments at scale. Airship integrates unified customer data and cross-channel orchestration, enabling teams to navigate their insights and manage campaigns through intuitive, natural-language conversations while enabling continuous, goal-based optimization. Requiring zero developer time, the Airship AI Agent Fleet streamlines workflows to eliminate roadmap delays — turning month-long projects into measurable results in just hours.

 

“Airship is providing the first enterprise-grade platform with multi-agent collaboration, built into the platform – automating for scale,” said Brett Caine, Chief Executive Officer of Airship. “Our agentic AI is proving value for enterprises today, and driving the next generation of customer experiences. Our first-to-market, purpose-built agent fleet proactively optimizes for your goals, turning AI into a tangible engine for growth. In the coming months, we will continue to accelerate our innovation to ensure our customers stay ahead of the agentic AI curve.”

 

 

A Fleet of Specialized Agents that Work Together

 

 

“Our approach to the Airship AI Agent Fleet was a deliberate move toward a true multi-agent system where specialized agents collaborate to achieve a shared goal,” said Mike Herrick, Chief Technology Officer of Airship. “With the addition of the Campaigns AI Agent, we’ve closed the gap between strategy and execution. This is enterprise-grade infrastructure that automates the heavy lifting of analysis and execution while maintaining an intentional human-in-the-loop model for brand safety and strategic oversight.”

 

 

• Campaigns AI Agent (New): Automates and accelerates the transition from campaign brief to execution through a streamlined, conversational interface, empowering users to launch and scale sophisticated, brand-compliant cross-channel experiences — across app, SMS, push, email, and app web experiences — with speed and precision.
• Native Experience AI Agent (Enhanced): Builds native app and web experiences conversationally from text descriptions or image uploads. It replaces rigid templates with composable layouts, enabling teams to combine forms, surveys, and interactive content on a single screen without writing code. By rendering native UI components at runtime, the agent ensures every interaction automatically adapts to a user’s device settings and accessibility needs.
• Journeys AI Agent (Enhanced): Product managers and marketers can now create and refine complex, multi-channel journeys via a simple conversational interface. The agent uniquely bridges the gap between sessions, picking up exactly where a user left off to ensure a seamless, persistent experience.
• Recommendations AI Agent: Works from real-time audience data, analyzing customer movement over time to surface “next best action” that match specific conversion goals.
• ​​Accessibility AI Agent: Automatically audits and flags fixes in digital experiences to meet critical standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and European Accessibility Act.
• Brand Guidelines AI Agent: Acts as a tireless brand steward. It automatically audits every AI-generated draft against a company’s unique voice, tone, and visual identity.

 

Learn more about Airship AI Agent Fleet in this blog post.

 

Experience the Future of Agentic AI

 

 

As a lead sponsor of the Elevate’26, Airship is showcasing exclusive, live demonstrations of these goal-optimized workflows. Attendees can witness firsthand how the Airship AI Agent Fleet interprets business requirements to build high-performing drafts and how the integrated fleet manages a continuous, autonomous loop of testing and improvement.

 

 

ABOUT AIRSHIP

 

 

Airship is the only mobile-first customer experience platform delivering the first live, purpose-built AI Agent Fleet for CX. For over 15 years, Airship has pioneered mobile innovation—from inventing the first push notification, the first mobile boarding pass, the first live activity, and now the first intelligent agent fleet. Thousands of top global brands trust Airship to deliver unified cross-channel experiences and orchestrated journeys that drive measurable results at scale.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413056637/en/

 

Business Wire India

IFF (NYSE: IFF)—a global leader in flavors, fragrances, food ingredients and health & biosciences—will showcase scent and bioscience innovations focused on wellness and sustainability at In‑Cosmetics Global 2026, taking place April 14–16 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410788004/en/

 

 

 

Across the event, including experiences and live sessions, IFF will illustrate how science‑led ingredients can enhance daily beauty routines and scent experiences, delivering physical and emotional benefits while remaining ecofriendly. The showcase will span scent solutions designed to support science-based wellness; natural fragrance ingredients with proven cosmetic benefits by LMR—IFF’s in‑house natural ingredients capability—derived through advanced extraction technologies; and sustainable, bioactive and functional ingredients for skin and hair care.

 

 

Visitors can discover scent solutions designed with METAMOOD™—which combines consumer perception data, neuroscience and AI-guided creation to deliver emotional benefits such as energy, relaxation and happiness—at the IFF booth and METAMOOD™ X LMR Sensory Bar Display within the In-Cosmetics Innovation Lab.

 

 

In-Cosmetics attendees can also experience natural fragrance ingredients from the LMR Active Essences collection, known for adaptogenic and nootropic benefits and scientifically proven skin care and hair care properties.

 

 

Additionally, IFF will highlight its METASLEEP™ scent solutions, designed to enhance relaxation and support a restful sleep experience.

 

 

On April 15, IFF Application Specialist Morgane Piet will deliver a technical seminar to share insight into how consumers experience hair care products across the full journey, from first impressions to post-use. IFF will demonstrate how AURIST™ AGC, IFF’s award‑winning, biotech‑enabled hair conditioning polymer powered by IFF’s Designed Enzymatic Biomaterials™ (DEB), can be used as a formulation tool to deliver targeted sensory and performance benefits.

 

 

IFF will also host a live session over three days, sharing real-world consumer usage insights and highlighting how IFF’s GENENCARE® range creates new formulation opportunities for brands navigating modern skin care routines.

 

 

At In-Cosmetics Global 2026, IFF will bring science, sensorial design and performance together to demonstrate consumer‑driven innovations that deliver wellness benefits. Across booth experiences and live sessions, IFF’s Science of Wellness program will come to life through scents designed to elevate mood and spark moments of joy—elevating the power of beauty.

 

 

Explore more about IFF’s Science of Wellness program at iff.com/scent/science-of-wellness/.

 

 

Welcome to IFF
At IFF (NYSE: IFF), we make joy through science, creativity and heart. As the global leader in taste, scent, food ingredients, health and biosciences, we’re innovating for the future. Every day, we deliver groundbreaking, sustainable solutions that elevate products people love — advancing wellness, delighting the senses and enhancing the human experience. Learn more at iff.com, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

LMR Naturals by IFF
LMR is an IFF in-house capability which brings together the best of nature and cutting-edge technology to craft a wide range of pure ingredients for perfumery, cosmetics and flavors. Headquartered in Grasse, its agronomists and scientists travel the world to uncover, farm, harvest and extract the highest quality of natural ingredients that make the signature of unforgettable fragrances, cosmetics, and flavors. Learn more at lmrnaturals.iff.com, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

 

 

© 2026 by International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. IFF is a Registered Trademark. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260410788004/en/

 

Business Wire India

NeuroPi Tech Pvt Ltd, a deep-tech company pioneering Human Development Intelligence, today announced that its Founder & CEO, Dr Aperna Volluru, has been conferred the Economic Times Industry Achievers Award 2026 in the category of Deep Tech Leader.

The recognition comes alongside a series of high-impact sessions delivered by Dr Volluru for university students, defence personnel, veterans, families, and SSB officials in Prayagraj marking a significant expansion of NeuroPi’s national footprint.

 

Recognition for Building a New Category: Human Development Intelligence

The Economic Times Industry Achievers Award 2026 acknowledges Dr Volluru’s pioneering work in integrating:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics and Epigenetics
• Artificial Intelligence

into a unified platform—NeuroPi EDGE—designed to transform how human potential is understood, developed, and measured.

“NeuroPi is not an EdTech or HealthTech platform. It is a foundational intelligence layer for human development across education, defence, and longevity,” said Dr Volluru.

 

Strategic Engagement with Defence Personnel and Families

In Prayagraj, NeuroPi conducted a series of interactive sessions for defence personnel, veterans, and their families, focusing on:

• Cognitive resilience
• Stress and emotional regulation
• Child development in military families
• Longevity and wellness optimization

The sessions introduced NeuroPi’s core philosophy:

“Attention is biological energy. Stress impairs cognition. Environment shapes human outcomes.”

Participants engaged in real-time discussions on how biological intelligence can enhance performance, decision-making, and family wellbeing within defence ecosystems.

 

Advancing Officer Selection: Engagement with SSB Officials

NeuroPi also presented its framework to SSB (Services Selection Board) officials in Prayagraj, showcasing:

• A non-DNA-based Human Assessment Model
• Behavioral and cognitive profiling frameworks
• AI-assisted interpretation of Officer-Like Qualities (OLQs)

 

The NeuroPi approach enables:

• Deeper candidate evaluation
• Enhanced observation accuracy
• Scientific augmentation of traditional selection processes

“The future of selection systems lies in augmenting human judgment with biological and behavioral intelligence,” Dr Volluru emphasized.

 

Academic Impact at Rajju Bhaiya University

At Rajju Bhaiya University, Prayagraj, NeuroPi delivered a forward-looking session for university students, introducing them to:

• The science of human potential
• The intersection of AI, neuroscience, and genetics
• Emerging careers in deep tech and human development

The session positioned NeuroPi as a next-generation platform at the intersection of education, science, and national development.

Students responded with strong interest in NeuroPi’s vision of:

“No human potential remaining undiscovered or misunderstood.”

 

From Education to National Human Capital Intelligence

Originally deployed within school ecosystems through My School ITALY, NeuroPi has evolved into a multi-sector platform with applications across:

• Education systems
• Defence and performance optimization
• Longevity and preventive health
• National policy intelligence

These engagements in Prayagraj signal NeuroPi’s transition from institution-level deployment to national-scale human capital infrastructure.

 

Looking Ahead

With increasing interest from government bodies, defence institutions, and academic ecosystems, NeuroPi is now preparing for:

• National-level pilot programs
• Strategic collaborations with defence and education sectors
• Expansion of its AI-powered NeuroPi EDGE platform

Business Wire India

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany officially launched their programs in partnership with H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of Gabonese Republic, also the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, the programs which started in 2024 with the aim to transform patient care, build healthcare capacity, break the stigma of infertility, empower women, support girl education in Gabon and the rest of Africa.

The program was chaired by The First Lady of Gabon, H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, and CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej. The program took place at the State House, Gabon.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign emphasized, “It is a great honor to meet my dear sister, H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of Gabon. We officially declared her as the Ambassador of the ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign. We also formally launched the Merck Foundation programs in the country and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare and media capacity, patient care landscape transformation, breaking infertility stigma and supporting girl education, together in the country.”

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp added, “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program.”

H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of Gabonese Republic & Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” expressed, “It is a pleasure to welcome and meet Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO to our country. Together, we officially launched our joint programs and also celebrated important milestones of the great success of our joint programs to build healthcare capacity, transform patientcare, break infertility stigma and support girl education. This is the first time that we are working on such impactful programs, it is history in the making. We have achieved a lot in a very short span of time, through our long-term partnership, which started in 2024.

I am very proud to share that through our partnership, we have provided 16 scholarships for our local healthcare providers who will be the future healthcare experts of Gabon, who have either graduated, undergoing or will be starting soon the Merck Foundation scholarships of training in critical and underserved specialties such as Fertility, Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes and Hypertension.”

“I am also very happy to share that together with The First Lady of Gabon, we are also supporting girl education by providing annual scholarships to support the education of 40 high-performing yet underprivileged schoolgirls, till they graduate, so that they can reach their potentials and achieve their dreams,” Dr. Rasha Kelej added.

Merck Foundation has provided more than 2600 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.

Out of the total 16 scholarships provided in Gabon, Merck Foundation has provided:

• 4 scholarships for Fertility and Embryology. These were hands-on practical trainings in India. The first ever embryologist of the country has been trained through the program.
• 4 scholarships for Diabetes & Hypertension, including a special 3 months Diabetes Mastercourse in French language and Clinical Fellowship in Diabetes and Hypertension. Upon completion of the training, these specialists will have the expertise to establish dedicated clinics in hospitals and health centers, significantly enhancing the prevention and management of diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases, bringing immense benefits to the people of Gabon.
• 8 Scholarships for Oncology Nursing, which is very critical for cancer care.

During the launch program, the beneficiaries of the Educating Linda program were also present, where a few of them shared inspiring testimonies on how the scholarships have changed their lives.

“I really believe that when the girls are educated, their countries become more powerful, stronger & prosperous,” added Senator Kelej.

Merck Foundation, in partnership with The First Lady of Gabon has launched seven children’s storybooks, “More Than a Mother”, “Educating Linda”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “Not Who You Are”, “Ride into the Future”, “Sugar free Jude” and “Mark’s Pressure”. These books address critical social and health issues to young children. Few copies of the storybooks were signed by The First Lady of Gabon, Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO. Thousands of copies of these storybooks will be distributed to schoolchildren.

Moreover, Merck Foundation has conducted two editions of their Online Health Media Training for the Gabonese journalists in order to empower them to raise awareness about sensitive issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, stopping GBV, ending Child marriage and FGM and raise awareness about diabetes and hypertension prevention and early detection.

Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Gabon has also announced the Call for Application for their 8 important annual Awards for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.

Details of the Awards:

1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

2. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

5. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

6. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

7. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

8. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

Apply here: https://merck-foundation.com/Awards-Online-Application-Form

 

Entries for all the awards are to be submitted via email to:

submit@merck-foundation.com

 

Click the link below to Download Merck Foundation App

https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_StoreRedirection

 

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard

Facebook: Merck Foundation
X: @MerckFoundation
YouTube: MerckFoundation
Instagram: Merck Foundation
Threads: Merck Foundation
Flickr: Merck Foundation
Website: www.merckfoundation.com

Business Wire India

 

Kinaxis® Inc. (TSX:KXS), a global leader in supply chain orchestration, today announced that it has scheduled its conference call to discuss the financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026. The call will be hosted on Thursday, May 7 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time by Razat Gaurav, chief executive officer, and Blaine Fitzgerald, chief financial officer, followed by a question and answer period. The Company will report its financial results for the first quarter after the close of markets on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.

 

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
DATE:		Thursday, May 7, 2026
TIME:		8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
WEBCAST:		https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/986528748 (available for three months)

 

About Kinaxis

 

Kinaxis is a leader in modern supply chain orchestration, powering complex global supply chains and supporting the people who manage them. Our powerful, AI-infused supply chain orchestration platform, Maestro, combines proprietary technologies and techniques that provide full transparency and agility across the entire supply chain — from multi-year strategic planning to last-mile delivery. We are trusted by renowned global brands to provide the agility and predictability needed to navigate today’s volatility and disruption. For more news and information, please visit kinaxis.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

 

 

Source: Kinaxis Inc.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260413783077/en/