Category technology

15/07/2024- In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, Generative AI (GenAI) has quickly moved from a buzzword to a powerful, practical tool. AI is now integral to various fields, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment. Machine learning algorithms are enhancing medical diagnoses, optimizing financial trading, powering self-driving cars, and even creating art.

AI Appreciation Day is a time to celebrate the advancements in artificial intelligence and reflect on the ethical implications of this technology. It encourages a candid conversation about ensuring AI is used for the greater good.

As AI continues to develop rapidly, it is crucial to engage in thoughtful and inclusive dialogue about its potential and pitfalls. The decisions made today will shape the future of AI and its impact on society.

Comments By Industry Experts:

Amit Luthra, Managing Director – India, Lenovo ISG

“The AI decade has just begun, and we must recognize and emphasize practical applications over technological breakthroughs. With an increase in AI application, mitigating risks and deployment complexities becomes crucial for organizations looking to expand and enhance their operations. At Lenovo, our goal is to deliver AI to your data efficiently and responsibly. This AI Appreciation Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to a ‘’Hybrid AI’’ vision ensuring AI is accessible, fair, and inclusive to all.

Today, 57% of Indian CIOs see AI as a game changer but face the biggest deployment challenges that are identifying the right business use case and skilled AI talent. Lenovo’s ongoing $1 billion investment in delivering a comprehensive AI-ready portfolio, spanning from pocket to cloud, accelerates large-scale AI deployment. Additionally, our ‘AI Fast Start’ for AI Innovators offering 165+ deployment-ready solutions, and 8-GPU systems quickly demonstrates AI value across industries.

As business needs expand, hybrid Smarter Infrastructure effectively manages AI complexities. Moreover, it enables them to generate and process data in real-time helping them to improve, innovate, and enhance superior customer experience. Ushering in this new era of AI, businesses must develop and evolve the entire industrial ecosystem to ensure AI is accessible across all development and application stages. Everyone should benefit from these advancements in a more sustainable future created through smarter AI.”

Mayank Baid, Regional Vice President, India, Cloudera.

“In India, AI is no longer a new technology or concept, but a part of India’s digital progress as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. While 2023 was centered on AI quality and capabilities, 2024 is geared toward delivering tangible value. To achieve this, businesses are developing custom AI solutions to maximize the technology’s benefits. However, many Indian organizations still struggle to integrate AI models with business data and deploy LLMs efficiently. These challenges delay the realization of AI’s full potential, preventing businesses from maximizing data value, driving revenue, and optimizing costs. Additionally, the lack of accessible AI-driven tools for data analysis hinders the extraction of valuable insights.

At Cloudera, we fully understand this and constantly work towards addressing these gaps to better equip our customers to make data-driven decisions. We have recently introduced AI-driven assistants, including SQL AI Assistants, an AI Chatbot in Cloudera Data Visualization, and Cloudera Copilot for Cloudera Machine Learning. These tools accelerate AI development, democratize access to insights, reduce data management costs, and enable new use cases, empowering businesses to fully leverage their data.

Recently, an Indonesian bank, OCBC, has chosen Cloudera to support their vision of becoming a digital-first bank, enhancing customer experiences. The bank aims to leverage Cloudera’s hybrid data platform for generative AI, data management, and analytics. This partnership will aid The bank’s data science team integrated their data lake with various applications, enabling the delivery of advanced AI models and personalized customer recommendations,”

Sreejith AR, Global Head of Middleware Data Product & Services, Head of Creation Platform & Shared Services – APAC

“In an era where one-size-fits-all no longer cuts it, travelers crave unique experiences. Gen AI is today solving this by providing hyper-personalized search results to real-time recommendations, unlocking a new era of travel. At Amadeus, we are leveraging Gen AI to make the experience of travel better, for everyone, everywhere. We are empowering travel providers and sellers worldwide, to enable them to deliver smarter, more personalized travel experiences to their customers. Our APIs empower travel innovators to develop AI-based applications that not only innovate with new features but also introduce disruptive business models, fundamentally reshaping the travel experience. For instance, our Cytric solution offers conversational flight search, allowing travelers to book trips in natural language and inquire about travel policies and costs effortlessly. Amadeus Hey! builds brand loyalty post-trip through smart campaign management, keeping travelers inspired and engaged. In fact, AI’s impact extends beyond travel enhancements; it revolutionizes customer support by automating responses, providing instant and accurate information, thereby enhancing satisfaction and reducing the workload on support teams.

Looking ahead, AI-powered customer service promises heightened empathy and efficiency, establishing unprecedented standards in customer experience across the industry. AI brings transformative services to travelers’ fingertips, facilitating smarter choices, stress-free journeys, and seamless experiences. At Amadeus, we extend AI’s benefits not only to our customers but also integrate AI tools like Copilot to empower our employees, unlocking their full creative and productive potential. At Amadeus, we ignite a culture of relentless innovation and unparalleled efficiency that will transform the travel industry.”

Karthik Rajaram, Area Vice President and General Manager, India, Elastic

“As India’s digital economy rapidly expands, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen significant growth, redefining the country’s technological capabilities and social impact. From simplifying mundane tasks to solving complex global challenges, AI has seamlessly integrated into various aspects of our personal and work lives, driving efficiency and innovation and revolutionizing industries.

Among the various applications of AI, Search AI stands out as a game-changer. Taking the precision of search and the intelligence of AI, Elastic has helped many organizations interact with and derive value from their data, to get answers that are faster, smarter, and more efficient.

In healthcare, it is helping medical professionals quickly access critical patient information, research studies, and treatment plans, enabling better diagnosis and care. In business, it is empowering companies to swiftly uncover actionable insights from vast data pools, enhancing decision-making, customer service, and operational efficiency. Additionally, it assists IT and security teams in real-time threat identification and helps businesses offer more targeted customer support.

Yet, as we celebrate AI and its achievements, it is also crucial to emphasize our responsibility in ensuring its ethical application. Elastic is deeply committed to AI’s ethical development and deployment, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and fairness. Our vision is to harness the power of Search AI while preventing biases and ensuring equitable benefits for everyone.

On this AI Appreciation Day, let us celebrate the extraordinary advancements in AI technology and the positive impact it has on our lives. Let us commend the innovators and visionaries who make these advancements possible. At Elastic, we are thrilled to be part of this journey, transforming how the world searches, accesses, and interacts with data.”

Nick Magnuson, Head of AI, Qlik

“Artificial Intelligence, when grounded in contextually-relevant information, becomes a game-changer for businesses. The true power of AI lies in its ability to uncover insights across a wide array of information in real-time. Having a robust foundation for AI not only enhances the precision of these models but also transforms decision-making processes across all levels of an organization.

AI can make complex data accessible and actionable, democratizing insights and enabling employees, regardless of their technical expertise, to drive smarter outcomes. However, to unlock AI’s full potential responsibly, businesses must invest in comprehensive data integration and governance frameworks. This ensures that AI systems are fed with accurate, relevant, and timely data, while minimizing biases and fostering trust.

Looking ahead, AI will serve to differentiate industry leaders from laggards. Countries like India are pioneering in this space, demonstrating how AI can transform sectors such as healthcare and education. But remember two things: success in AI is a journey, not a destination.  Develop a plan that suits your organizations needs and abilities, one that builds on early successes.  Second, AI is not a replacement for human judgment – it’s an enhancement. By combining AI’s capabilities with human expertise, we significantly improve our ability to make informed, strategic decisions in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.”

Chinmay Hegde, Co-Founder, CEO, and Managing Director of Astrikos

“Under the central government’s ambitious National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) Program, India’s infrastructure sector will be fuelled by planned investments worth USD 1.4 trillion by 2025. This massive growth demands a substantial workforce, both technical and non-technical, to ensure these projects succeed. However, the shortage of skilled labor in the sector is a growing challenge, with employability remaining a significant hurdle.

With new airports, roads, and other infrastructure projects slated for this year, the solution to the manpower crisis lies in harnessing Infra-AI technology. The year 2024 will be a critical milestone in AI’s evolution, as Infra-AI has the potential to create more efficient, resilient, smarter, and sustainable infrastructure systems by integrating machine learning, IoT, and other advanced technologies. Infra-AI can also provide real-time data analytics and predictive models, monitor carbon emissions, identify inefficiencies, forecast ambient temperature requirements, and optimize energy output. These capabilities empower administrators in planning, monitoring, and decision-making. On AI Appreciation Day 2024, we at Astrikos.ai celebrate AI’s vital role in ensuring the enduring success of sustainable infrastructure projects.”

Bangalore, 15th July 2024 – Ascent Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd., proudly announces its transformation into Ascent HR Technologies Pvt. Ltd., marking a strategic shift towards technology-driven solutions. This rebranding initiative signifies our commitment to pioneering advancements in the HR Tech industry, alongside our expanded focus on Regtech and Fintech domains.

“Ascent HR Technologies Pvt. Ltd., reflects our dedication to embracing the future of technology,” stated Subramanyam S, Founder & CEO.” This evolution underscores our mission to deliver innovative solutions and unparalleled value to our clients. Recent key product launches include solutions for Lending, Investment, and Insurance enablement, complemented by a comprehensive tax filing application catering to employees’ financial wellness needs. Our Split Salary feature aids liquidity management, while TripEx facilitates seamless, paperless travel and expense claims management, covering Budgeting, Approvals, Travel Help Desk, and Claims processes. Skills Berry, post a buyout rearchitected and integrated into StoHRM – our HCM solution, efficiently manages organizational skill landscapes and offers standalone capabilities for skill profiling and gap analytics. Additionally, we’ve introduced AI-driven, multi-lingual BOTS for mobile-based query management, enhancing accessibility, ensuring rapid response times, and improving overall employee experience.

“At Ascent HR Technologies Pvt Ltd., technology is at the core of everything we do—from enhancing productivity to driving business success,” added Mr. Subramanyam Sreenivasaiah, Founder & CEO AscentHR. “Our commitment to leveraging AI, ML, and RPA underscores our vision for the future of AI-based HR management.”

BUCHAREST, Romania, July 15, 2024  — Yarooms, the creator of workplace experience software, is launching a beta version of Yarvis, the AI-powered workplace assistant set to revolutionize team interactions with their workspaces.

Yarvis embodies the latest advancement in workplace AI, changing how teams engage with their work environments. It simplifies complex booking and scheduling tasks, enhancing connectivity and organization in the workplace.

Yarvis beta is now available on Microsoft Teams, with more integrations on the way. It allows users to manage their day around the office without leaving the familiar interface of their primary communication platform. This innovation addresses the common frustration of juggling multiple apps, making work more seamless and efficient.

Leveraging generative AI, Yarvis can understand and fulfill various requests within seconds, including:

• Searching for available workspaces based on specific criteria.
• Providing detailed information about personal or team schedules.Analyzing booking lists and responding to related inquiries.
• Applying various filters (such as date and space type) to refine booking searches.
• Answering help queries to minimize time spent by users in getting support
• AI technology unlocks numerous possibilities for enhancing employee experience. Yarvis does just that by enabling teams to save valuable time and concentrate on what truly matters, effectively managing their day in the office.

“We are thrilled to launch Yarvis and offer our clients a cutting-edge interface to their workplaces,” said Dragos Badea, CEO of Yarooms. “In an era where people have become accustomed to asking AI questions almost daily, why not use it for your workplace? With Yarvis, your employees can talk to the workplace, just like they talk with a friend. This is just the beginning of how AI can revolutionize our workplace experiences.”

“The power of Yarvis lies in its ability to handle a wide range of requests easily. It’s a versatile assistant that enhances workplace efficiency,” adds Andra Ionita, Product Manager, Yarooms.

<p style=”text-align: justify;”><strong>SYDNEY, July 15, 2024–</strong> With the release of multiple top-selling consumer technology accessories this year in Australia, Baseus is growing its presence in the country’s retail and online marketplaces.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>At the halfway point of 2024, Baseus is seeing multiple new flagship products become top-sellers on eBay including the Baseus MA10 Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Baseus 100W USB C to Type C Charger Cable, and the Baseus GaN5 Pro Fast Charger 2C+U 65W.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Highly acclaimed in just two months since its release, the Baseus MA10 Noise Cancelling Earbuds deliver impressive features for their affordable AU $69.99 price-tag. 140-hour playback time, -48 dB active noise cancellation, IPX6 water resistance, and multi-port connectivity are all standard features of these hot-selling earbuds.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Baseus’ strong performance in Australia is also driven by its Baseus 100W USB C to Type C Charger Cable. This product powers electronic devices and transfers data with the ultra-durable Baseus Type-C Cable, featuring 100W fast charging and 480Mbps speeds, all in a stylish, braided design. Retailing at just AU $15, this cable has garnered a positive rating on eBay, becoming one of the top-selling cables on the site.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Meanwhile, the<strong> Baseus GaN5 Pro Fast Charger 2C+U 65W,</strong> available on Amazon Australia and offline stores such as Telewise in Baulkham Hills, has quickly emerged as a favorite among consumers seeking a fast and versatile charging solution. Equipped with upgraded Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, this compact charger delivers remarkable power efficiency without compromising speed or safety. Its compatibility with a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more, makes it an indispensable accessory for users on the go.</p>
<p style=”text-align: justify;”>Baseus has seen an overwhelmingly positive response to these products on Australia’s online retailers, and has seen continued strong sales since their release. As the brand continues to gain traction on eBay Australia, consumers can expect even more exciting developments in the future.</p>

NEW TAIPEI CITY, July 15, 2024– IEI Integration Corp. (TAIEX 3022) proudly presents the innovative IEI Virtualization Edge Computer (iVEC). This pioneering solution aims to revolutionize industrial applications by merging virtualization technology with high-performance hardware. It streamlines device management and optimizes hardware usage, fostering the agility required for Industry 4.0.

Tailored Vertical Solutions

Our solution is tailored specifically for vertical applications, offering significant benefits:

• Equipment Monitoring:

Handles large data streams for data acquisition, real-time analysis and data monitoring by running multiple applications on a single hardware to reduce downtime and costs.
Running Legacy Applications:

Supports various operating systems and provides isolated environments for legacy software, ensuring compatibility and protection.

• Building Automation:

A high-density, centralized server for building automation systems that optimizes energy usage, eliminates the need for rack space, and reduces costs.
Outdoor Remote Management:

Features a rugged design for harsh environments and maintains connectivity in areas with limited infrastructure.
Advanced Features for OT Professionals

The iVEC offers OT professionals remote desktop accessibility for continuous operation oversight in hard-to-access industrial settings. It enhances service quality and energy efficiency with flexible workload distribution, powered by the 13th Gen Intel® Core™ hybrid CPU. Additionally, it supports various communication protocols for easy industrial automation configuration.

• Secure and Powerful Operation

The integrated Ubuntu Certified IoT OS ensures secure, long-term operation. With Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics and hardware acceleration, iVEC excels in edge AI capabilities, efficiently handling complex AI workloads and supporting add-on GPU cards.

• Efficiency and Versatility of iVEC

The iVEC software is designed to significantly boost energy and operational efficiency. It stands out for its remarkable compatibility, seamlessly integrating with existing systems to streamline processes and enhance overall performance. iVEC excels at efficiently running multiple industrial applications on a single hardware unit, enabling workload distribution, scalable infrastructure, and remote maintenance while optimizing operational costs.

VANTAA, Finland, July 15, 2024  — As the world transitions to electrification and green energy, the demand for more powerful and safer rechargeable batteries—such as lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and solid-state—is rapidly growing. Vaisala, a global leader in measurement instruments and intelligence for climate action, is addressing this need by enhancing manufacturing processes with accurate, highly responsive dew point probes.

The midstream stage of battery manufacturing involves electrode production, cell assembly, and cell finalization. It is during these steps – in dry rooms, dry booths, and glove boxes – that humidity control is especially important to prevent unwanted reactions. These include lithium-forming lithium hydroxide and hydrogen gas, lithium salt-forming hydrogen fluoride (HF), and electrolyte-generating corrosive byproducts. Effective drying processes are critical to:

• Protecting the safety of people and materials: The chemicals used are sensitive to moisture and present an explosion risk if exposed to elevated moisture levels.
• Maximizing the yield of the process and maintain quality: Excessive moisture negatively impacts the quality and lifetime of batteries.
• Optimizing energy consumption: Maintaining dry room ambient dryness at optimal levels avoids costly over-drying and under-drying.

Innovative Dew Point Measurement Solutions

The ambient dew point temperature in dry rooms is maintained at around -30 ºC to -40 ºC. Low humidity is controlled by a high-end dryer that pushes dry air into the room. This is one of the most energy-intensive parts of the whole battery manufacturing process, so minimizing over-drying is key to the plant’s overall energy efficiency.

The dew point sensors in the dryer need to be highly responsive to control the dryer quickly and accurately in order to avoid under or over-drying. It is important to note that sensor accuracy alone will not be enough to avoid these issues. A probe with a fast response time, and without the complex internal measurement control loops of some analyzers, makes all the difference in dryer and overall dry room control. The volume of air being dried and pushed through is huge, so the energy consumption can easily skyrocket if the drying process is not optimized.

Newer technologies such as all solid-state batteries may require drier conditions with the dew point temperature as low as -80 ºC in individual processing steps. These steps are usually performed inside dry booths or glove boxes because it is not economical to dry the whole dry room to the same extremely low dew point level. Humidity levels in dry booths and glove boxes are monitored at critical points.

Vaisala’s DRYCAP® Technology

Vaisala’s DRYCAP® technology is the world’s most used technology for dryer monitoring and control. It is a field-proven innovation that provides accurate, stable, and fast-response dew point measurement with minimum drift. Vaisala has achieved this leading position not just because of innovation, but also because of a firm commitment to product quality and reliability, with short lead and delivery times, combined with world-class levels of service.

Versatile, cost-effective solutions for the whole process

The sensors needed to monitor humidity in the drying process of midstream battery manufacturing don’t need to be expensive ultra-high precision laboratory-level devices. For example, the miniature dew point transmitter DMT143 is a simple, cost-effective device for accurate, stable, and fast-response dew point measurements in air dryers and glove boxes.

Vaisala adds value by providing holistic systems and packages, such as the Vaisala Indigo ecosystem. The core of the Indigo offering is the transmitters and compatible probes with DRYCAP® technology. Indigo family products are versatile and easy to install, use, and service. Transmitters that support various fieldbuses and include built-in displays and other advanced features can be combined with probes such as the DMPx. This enables you to measure accurately and reliably in demanding processes with harsh chemicals, high temperatures, and ultra-low humidity. This is why the Indigo ecosystem offers the best solution for humidity monitoring and control in midstream battery production.

13/07/2024- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a breakfast meeting with more than 200 CEOs from various leading sectors, including IT, Semiconductors, Electronics, AVGC, Biotech, and startups. This gathering comes in anticipation of the 27th Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS) 2024, set to take place from November 19-21 at Bengaluru Palace.

The State Department of Electronics, Information Technology & Biotechnology presented an ‘action taken report’ during the meeting, addressing industry feedback from the previous year’s session. Key discussions focused on Karnataka’s bioeconomy, with Kharge highlighting the state’s 21% contribution and detailing plans to enhance biotechnology skills and bio-manufacturing through initiatives like bio-foundries and biofuels derived from agricultural products.

Industry bodies such as NASSCOM, IESA, TiE Bangalore, and ABLE facilitated the discussions. The upcoming BTS 2024 will cover six specialized tracks: IT & deep tech, biotech & health tech, Startup Ecosystem, Global Innovation Alliance, India-USA Tech Conclave, and the newly added Electro-Semicon track.

Comments

Dr. V Veerappan the Chairman of IESA

“Dr. V Veerappan, Chairman IESA, applauded the decision by the Govt of Karnataka to include the “Semiconductor and Electronics sector” as a key focus at the upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024 and said it is a promising step that will bring together all stakeholders of the ESDM ecosystem. This move is expected to strengthen India’s position during a pivotal time in the global semiconductor industry.

During breakfast meeting with the CM, IESA President Ashok Chandak submitted recommendations to the Honourable Chief Minister and the Minister of ITBT Karnataka, highlighting business opportunities and ESDM growth prospects in the state. Chandak said, we are confident that with the government’s support, the state will be able to capitalize on this momentum for value chain resilience and creation. IESA is dedicated to ensuring the success of the ESDM sector showcase at BTS with exhibitors and conference speakers.”

Delhi NCR: The Indian MSME and tech sectors have several expectations from the government budget to foster growth and resilience. MSMEs seek easier access to credit with simplified loan approval processes and reduced interest rates to help overcome liquidity challenges. Enhanced credit guarantee schemes are expected to reduce lending risks, encouraging more financial institutions to lend to MSMEs. Programs aimed at boosting equity infusion would strengthen the capital base of these enterprises, enabling them to invest in growth and innovation.

Taxation relief is another critical expectation, with MSMEs hoping for reduced corporate tax rates and simplified tax compliance procedures to improve profitability and reduce administrative burdens. Additionally, there is a call for more incentives for digital adoption and technology upgrades, enabling MSMEs to stay competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

Mr. Pravin Dubey, Founder- WebClixs said, “The Indian IT sector, a key driver of the economy, has a clear vision for the upcoming Lok Sabha budget: solidify India’s position as a global IT leader. To achieve this, the sector seeks substantial investments in building a robust digital backbone with expanded broadband connectivity, especially in rural areas. This will fuel remote work, online education, and e-commerce. Additionally, the industry desires incentives to bolster domestic IT hardware production, aligning with the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This will create jobs, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen technological capabilities. Recognizing the importance of a skilled workforce, the sector seeks increased funding for specialized skill development programs to maintain India’s talent hub status. Budgetary provisions for startups, such as funding and tax breaks, are crucial to foster innovation and job creation. With rapid digital adoption, robust cybersecurity measures are paramount. The industry urges investments in infrastructure, capabilities, and data protection laws to safeguard digital assets. Bridging the digital divide is another priority, and the sector advocates for initiatives to enhance digital literacy across all demographics. To bridge the skills gap and foster innovation, collaboration between industry and academia is sought through joint research projects and internship programs. Finally, the sector anticipates tax reforms that streamline procedures, reduce compliance burdens, and incentivize R&D activities. By focusing on these areas, the budget can unlock India’s potential as a global IT leader, driving sustainable growth and shaping the digital future.”

Mr. Naresh Kumar, CEO, Sigma – HSE India said, “In the industrial safety and risk management industry, budget expectations are driven by a commitment to safeguarding workers, mitigating risks, and ensuring regulatory compliance. A significant portion of the budget typically goes towards acquiring and maintaining state-of-the-art safety equipment and protective gear tailored to specific workplace hazards. This includes investments in personal protective equipment (PPE), safety signage, and emergency response systems.Training and education also command a substantial allocation, covering comprehensive programs that educate employees on safety protocols, hazard recognition, and emergency procedures. These programs are vital for fostering a safety-conscious culture and ensuring that all workers are well-prepared to handle potential hazards effectively. Additionally, investments in technology and software solutions are becoming increasingly important. Advanced safety monitoring systems, data analysis tools, and incident reporting software enhance an organization’s ability to track safety performance and respond to incidents swiftly. For instance, integrating IoT devices and AI-driven analytics can provide real-time insights into workplace conditions, further improving safety management.”

Mr. Ameet Venkeshwar, Chief Business Officer, LoanTap said, “In the upcoming Union Budget FY25, we expect the government’s commitment to be more towards economic growth and social development. The fiscal deficit numbers are expected to be aligned with the numbers set around 4.9% to 5.1% of the GDP without compromising on the capital spends. We expect some measures to be taken to make more liquidity available in the system. Tax relief measures, especially for the low-income group, may be implemented to increase their spending power and stimulate the economy. Moreover, there may be an increase in standard deduction slabs for salaried taxpayers who are key to driving India’s economic progress and achieving long-term prosperity. These sectors expect the government to prioritize skill development and training programs to bridge the talent gap and prepare the workforce for future challenges. By addressing these areas, the budget can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable growth and technological advancement in India.”

BANGKOK, July 13, 2024  — MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (“MGI”), a company committed to building core tools and technologies that drive innovation in life science, launched DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert in the APAC region and opened early access to the platform at Medlab Asia & Asia Health 2024. Integrating high-throughput sequencing and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) staining, DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert challenges conventions and pushes the limits of life science and technology as a multi-functional sequencer that is compatible with in vivo spatial protein detection.

“We are excited to present our DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert to international customers and partners,” said Dr. Roy Tan, General Manager of MGI Asia Pacific. “Recent developments in pathology have been pointing towards automation and multiplexed spatial phenotyping among other trends. DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert is a fully automated high-plex multi-omics instrument that combines both DNA/RNA and protein analysis in one, offering a powerful and cost-effective upgrade from conventional pathology and spatial proteomics tools.

What If your sequencer can do in vivo spatial protein detection?

“Cancers with high somatic mutations, which are highly prevalent in the APAC region, are known to be potentially more responsive to immunotherapies,” said Dr. Meng Yang, Assistant General Manager and VP of MGI R&D. “The G400 sequencer, recognized globally as the most extensively utilized, has consistently offered an economical platform for professional sequencing analysis. Today, we are thrilled to introduce our gradable multiplex spatial phenotyping tool, set to enable spatial biomarker discovery and revolutionize immunotherapeutic research.”

Supported by MGI’s DNBSEQä technology and a highly efficient mIF staining technology, DNBSEQ-G400RS can be turned into DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert with a simple software upgrade, enabling users to obtain both molecular information and cellular morphological on the exact same platform, switching between sequencing and staining for high efficiency. Given that the same equipment may be used for multiple tasks, it is suitable for a wide range of applications in tumor classifications, disease prognosis, tissue microenvironment analysis, and more.

Adhering to principles of systemization and modularization design, DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert integrates optimized hardware, state-of-the-art biochemistry and innovative software for an all-in-one multi-omics experience. The comprehensive and versatile DNBSEQ-G400RS benchtop sequencer is equipped with optimized optical, mechanical, fluidics and electrics systems, empowering a more rapid and streamlined sequencing process.

On the other hand, the platform comes with the easy-to-use and highly flexible FluoXpert mIF reagent set. It is compatible with both frozen tissue and FFPE samples, as well as off-the-shelf antibodies, eliminating the need for a complex conjugation process. Available in standard and customized options, it is backed by highly efficient autofluorescence quenching reagent and a mild but efficient elution technology, promising low residual signal and optimal antigen preservation.

In addition, the FluoXpert program supports a fully automated process of fluorescence staining and high-resolution scanning and imaging. Equipped with highly customizable protocol, it provides real-time image visualization, antibody library management, as well as independent wash and elution. The resulting images are high in quality with seamless stitching and 20x subcellular resolution (360 nm per pixel). Thanks to efficient fluid exchange and mild elution reagents, sample tissue remains intact despite multiple rounds of staining, boasting robust reproducibility.

At 50 minutes per cycle, DNBSEQ-G400RS FluoXpert is tripled the speed of conventional manual staining and imaging, making it highly suitable for multiple staining cycles. Based on different flow cells of choice, its optimal throughput ranges between 20 to 40 sections per week(calculated under 8*5) on the standard 6-plex staining kit, while the highest throughput can reach up to 140 sections per week (calculated under 24*7) on the same kit. Results generated showed no significant difference between mIF and the gold standard IHC, demonstrating great performance in spatial protein identification and making it a strong platform for use in different fields of proteomics research.

NEW YORK, July 13, 2024 — Inventory stacking, a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, drove cellular module growth in 2021 and even into 2022. However, in 2023 it was a major headwind, driving a shipment decline of over 5% relative to 2022. What has buoyed the spirits of the cellular module market has been the growth of Cat-1bis. According to a new report from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research cellular module forecasts show that Cat-1bis will replace nearly 70% of the Cat-1 market by 2029.

For years, many Cat-1 IoT devices were designed using only a single antenna which sometimes required carrier approval for use on their networks. LTE networks are ubiquitous with good coverage hence a single antenna was sufficient. But what device OEMs and chipset vendors realized is that Cat-1 module costs can be reduced even more by building a dedicated Cat-1bis chipset with send and receive functions delivered over a single antenna. Not only could power consumption be lowered but also component costs. The Cat-1bis standard in 3GPP Release 13 formalizes the common, yet informal use of single antenna Cat-1 devices. The original Cat 1 specification in 3GPP Release 8 required two antennas.

Commenting on the new data, Dan Shey, Vice President, Enabling Platforms at ABI Research, says, “Like many new developments in the cellular IoT market, China is leading with deployment of Cat-1bis. Outside of China, Cat-1bis penetration is much lower since it is typically the replacement technology for new device designs. Regardless of region, based on the benefits of Cat-1bis relative to other cellular technologies, we see Cat-1bis becoming the number two technology choice for cellular IoT applications by 2029.”

Cat-1bis benefits include lower cost – outside of China Cat-1bis modules are at least 30% cheaper with even greater reductions seen in China. Network roaming is also a benefit as 4G roaming agreements are well established unlike the challenges seen today with NB-IoT and Cat-M. Finally, the Cat-1bis standard formalizes the use of a single antenna. The only question which will vary by use case and application is connection reliability for stationary applications. For battery-powered IoT applications, fixed placement of a Cat-1bis device where cellular network coverage is poor could shorten battery life as single antenna devices struggle to connect to the cellular network.

But there is also another view of Cat-1bis in the market. According to Shey, “Presently it is unclear if the chipset vendors will invest in new Cat-1bis chipsets. At Mobile World Congress, and more recently at Asia Tech Expo, RedCap was being pushed not only by module suppliers, but also the device OEMs and the chipset community. 5G RedCap is creating an opening to drive 5G device volumes in the IoT domain. The calculus by the 5G supplier community is 5G capabilities – low latency, location granularity, and future proofing against LTE sunsets, will convince more customers to invest in these higher revenue products.”