Monthly Archives: April 2021

Integrated systems and data analysis can play a key role in reducing air pollution, says the Managing Director of Siemens Mobilitys Intelligent Traffic Systems business in the UK, Wilke Reints.

From the phone in your pocket to the latest video streaming services, smart technology is playing an increasingly large role in all our lives, which is only set to grow as the systems themselves become more and more sophisticated.

That technology is also propelling huge changes in areas that many of us take for granted, like traffic management systems.

The days of traffic lights simply changing colour on a loop are over. Modern systems can help monitor and control traffic flow, as well as gather important information on the types of vehicles that use the nations roads, behaviour patterns and so forth.

There are many applications for that data and smart traffic management systems, including helping to improve air pollution and implement Clean Air Zones, as Siemens Mobilitys Intelligent Traffic Systems Managing Director in the UK, Wilke Reints, explains.

Without data it would be difficult to find the right measures or solutions to improve pollution levels he tells Air Quality News.

But it is not just about having isolated data sets. The seamless integration of that data is as important and necessary. You need to put all the data into one system and then try to identify a pattern, which will then help you to find the right tools to improve the situation in your town or city.

However, different towns and cities require different solutions. For larger areas, smart technology can help with the implementation of a Clean Air Zone, which might not be as effective in smaller towns and villages.

Mr Reints says it is important to try to identify where your problems are.

That is the single most important thing and for that, you need data analysis and the seamless integration of various systems. You should simulate first and then build the system, rather than the other way around.

There are different ways you can make people aware of their journey and how it contributes to the air pollution around them. One is providing direct information to people who need to understand what their travel options are and why certain measures are in place. For example, if you introduce a greener route but nobody knows it exists, you will carry on using the older, more congested route.

The other factor is to analyse data and manage traffic flows in a way that is balanced with overall targets. Whilst it may not be possible to avoid all congestion in a city there are some conditions you can avoid. If you have smart traffic controllers, where all the information gets collected into a centralised system, a more constant flow is possible and travel times become more reliable.

A good indicator for a traffic management system is that the travel times are reduced and stable. The more consistent the travel times are, the more balanced the system is.

What we need to do is have the right traffic management in place for certain groups of road user. For example, in busy cities such as London pedestrians may have a higher priority.

While Clean Air Zones may work in larger towns and cities, Mr Reints says they may not be the best option for smaller towns and villages, who will need to closely examine the type of traffic in their specific areas.

For example, he says the installation of rapid EV chargers may not be as necessary in small villages compared to motorways, where EV drivers need a quick top up on longer journeys. You need to have three layers of EV charging infrastructure and they go hand in hand, he explains.

The first one is for the long-distance traveller who requires a rapid charger. They need their cars charged quite quickly, which is a challenge in itself because service stations along our motorways dont necessarily have the energy capacity for this right now.

But from a planning perspective, you need to enable people to travel longer distances by EV. If you dont do that, people will not embrace these types of vehicles, or it will just be a secondary car, and they will not use it as much if they struggle to charge it on their journey.

So, you need other layers of charging, either at home or on the street, through street light chargers at the curb for example.

With more EVs on our roads than ever before and public demand growing for action on tackling air pollution, the direction of travel is clear for many local authorities. The infrastructure of tomorrow will have to take into account the environment, as well as the needs of all road users. Smart technology and data analysis could help join the dots to ensure a more seamless vision of the future.

This article first appeared in the April Air Quality News magazine, which is available to view here.

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How smart technology can drive the decarbonisation of transport - AirQualityNews

New York, N.Y., April 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abel Noser Solutions, a global institutional trading analytics firm recently named the top global multi-asset TCA provider by Aite Group, is proud to welcome two new technology specialists to its ranks. Kent Konkol joins the firm as SVP of Client Services and Analytics with over 20 years of quantitative development experience in the financial services industry. Ronen Peled, with more than 12 years of experience in options market data and portfolio management, also joins the technology group as Market Data Developer. These new hires are part of the companys ongoing expansion of products and services meant to provide clients with unsurpassed multi-asset class TCA.

Prior to joining Abel Noser Solutions, Kent Konkol was with Virtu Financial/ITG as a product and client services manager specializing in ETL software and Python development. During his career, he has also worked at Deutsche Bank, Standard and Poors/ClariFI, Inc., Bear Stearns and Salomon Smith Barney, ultimately providing him with deep experience in various risk models for factor back-testing and attribution. Mr. Konkol holds a BA in Physics from University of Chicago and an MA from University of Rochester.

Prior to joining Abel Noser Solutions, Ronen Peled was with Autonomy Capital as Director of Market Data Strategy. During his career, he has also worked at S&P Capital IQ, JP Morgan and Citco Fund Services. Mr. Peled has an extensive background in listed options, market data management and regulatory trade reporting including MiFID II-related applications. He earned his BS and MS in Applied Math from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Were thrilled about the deep knowledge of market structure and electronic trading both of our new hires exhibit, said Ted Morgan, COO of Abel Noser Holdings, the fintech groups parent company. One important reason that we stand out in industry surveys as the best multi-asset TCA provider is that we hire the best people. Kent and Ronen are excellent examples of this, and I am excited to see how they will contribute to our platform.

Both Kent and Ronen are recognized industry technology contributors, said Randy New, CTO of Abel Noser Solutions. We are pleased to add them to our team during a time of rapid growth in multi-asset trading measurement and regulatory compliance. As key participants in the evolution of global multi-asset market analytics, we again look forward to applying the firms resources and leading position as the overall market matures and becomes more data-driven.

About Abel Noser Solutions

Abel Noser Solutions has long been respected as a leader in providing innovative software products to lower the costs associated with multi-asset trading. With 500+ clients worldwide, Abel Noser Solutions continues to hold its place as the leading innovator in TCA, compliance software, and service solutions and was ranked Top Global Fixed Income TCA Provider 2020 by Greenwich Associates and best-in-class multi-asset TCA vendor by Aite in Q1 2021. Learn more at http://www.abelnoser.com

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Abel Noser Solutions Expands Their Technology Group with New Hires - GlobeNewswire

EyeWay Vision has just recently joined the LaSAR Alliance. If that news doesnt thrill you, it could be because EyeWay and the LaSAR Alliance are both brand new. However, they have both recently come together in an exciting example of technology innovation and collaboration in XR research.

EyeWay Vision isnt actually brand new. Theyve been flying under the radar for the last seven years doing early-stage research and development in Israel.

Specifically, the company is exploring the far future of AR through eye-tracking laser scanning, and foveated projection. Essentially, they want to project digital images onto the eye rather than onto a lens in front of the eye. This involves understanding where the eye is looking and what already exists there in the physical world.

Dr. Nikhil Balram, formerly a Google executive, was announced the head of the Silicon Valley subsidiary late last year in the release announcing the new US branch.

What if you actually just projected an image the size of the pupil? Dr. Balram asked in a remote interview with ARPost. Now you can have very low power devices and very high-resolution images.

Power use is a target of XR technology innovation in part because, as David McIntyre of Perceive told ARPost in an interview around the time that EyeWay came to the US, when you start adding processing, heat becomes a problem. In AR devices without an external compute box, that often means heat discomfort or danger directly on the users head or face.

The LaSAR Alliance (LaSAR is short for Laser Scanning for Augmented Reality), like EyeWay, is only sort of new. The alliance itself is the newest edition to IEEEs Industry Standards and Technology Organization, which has been driving technology innovation for over 20 years.

The alliance was created to foster a platform and ecosystem of like-minded companies for the growth and development of laser and AR markets in general, LaSAR Alliance Chair, Bharath Rajagopalan, said in the interview. We want to have the best-of-breed solutions. We want to encourage, as much as possible, a wide variety of different approaches.

See Also: Taqtile Continues to Explore 5G With Booz Allen Hamilton and DOD

Essentially, member companies get access to an exclusive network of organizations interested in solving similar problems. Companies interact with each other through alliance initiatives, but also have the freedom to collaborate, network, and form partnerships on their own outside of the alliance. In exchange, member organizations contribute to documents like best-practice guides.

In addition to creating a marketplace of ideas, Rajagopalan hopes that LaSAR Alliance member organizations will achieve harmonization rather than standardization of industry practices through their shared technology innovations.

So, why has a company thats been essentially in hiding for over half a decade suddenly joined a technology innovation alliance? Because no one can operate in a vacuum.

According to Dr. Balram, EyeWays vision for the future of AR involves a network of components that come together and that includes components outside of EyeWays core competency areas.

We see ourselves as a systems company we developed this technology and now we need to start working with the ecosystem, said Dr. Balram. The Silicon Valley company is really geared outward.

This is exactly the kind of attitude that Rajagopalan hopes that all member organizations bring to the table. He also encourages technology innovation companies that arent directly involved in laser scanning AR technologies but also companies building things around it to get involved. This way, LaSAR Alliance can represent the entire rich ecosystem.

Other early entrants to the Alliance include companies making micromirrors. These mirrors are not directly involved in laser scanning but are involved in XR displays including the lensless headsets of the future proposed by XR pioneer Doug Magyari.

Both Dr. Balram and Rajagopalan touched on the concept of competition, which is bound to come up with the topic of collaborative technology innovation. Neither of them thinks that it is an obstacle to participation in the alliance.

You can have competition and collaboration; they can both exist, said Rajagopalan. A rising tide lifts all boats.

See Also: Defining a Tech Cycle and Where Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Stand

Dr. Balram also expressed confidence not just because there are different markets and use cases for different kinds of displays that make room in the market. He also expressed confidence in the unique nature and quality of EyeWay.

If you create an experience thats 10x, no one will ever go back. Its like going from black-and-white TV to color, said Dr. Balram. Thats what inspired me to leave Google to come to this little startup. This is the direction AR is going and well never go back.

While there are a few companies in the XR space offering end-to-end solutions, most remain systems companies like EyeWay.

When these systems companies come together in organizations like the LaSAR Alliance, technology innovation takes off in ways that are both explosive and sustainable independent and integrated. These innovations are no less significant than the strictly siloed competitive feature races that we so often see in this rapidly changing XR space.

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EyeWay Vision Joins Technology Innovation Collective The LaSAR Alliance | ARPost - ARPost

The U.S. Small Business Administration has released the first round of technology partners participating in a new initiative for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) a program that will allow eligible restaurants and other food establishments to access the RRF application or data they need to fill out the application through their trusted point-of-sale (POS) service providers.

SBA is proud to announce partnerships with Clover , NCR Corporation, Square, and Toast in this groundbreaking effort to provide a customer-centric approach to the delivery of relief funds.

The SBA is partnering with point-of-sale providers to leverage technology to better reach the smallest businesses that need our help the most. This collaboration is just one example of the many innovative and creative ways were connecting with entrepreneurs in the hardest-hit and underserved communities, said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. The SBA must be as entrepreneurial as the entrepreneurs we serve. These partnerships enable us to meet small businesses where they are, instead of waiting for them to come to us.

Under Administrator Guzmans leadership, the SBA is prioritizing inclusion and equity in its programs as outlined by Congress. As small business entrepreneurs have been asked to pivot and adapt to the new COVID-19 marketplace, the SBA is doing the same and ensuring it provides equitable distribution of funds and easier access to disaster relief programs.

As restaurant sellers prepare for reopening, were working with the SBA to provide them with the tools and services they need to rebuild, said Bruce Bell, head of Square for Restaurants. Were honored to partner with the SBA in this important initiative, as we continue to support our sellers on the challenging road ahead.

The restaurant industry has been hit hard by the pandemic, and we are pleased to work with the SBA to help our customers easily access and navigate the Restaurant Revitalization Fund application process, saidNick DeLeonardis SVP & GM, Payments, Lending, and Payroll at Toast. As the Biden Administration continues to roll out new programs, this partnership will serve as an example of ways in which the public and private sectors can work together to serve the greater good.

Once the SBA announces when applications will be accepted, qualifying restaurants will be able to work directly with their point-of-sale service providers to help them apply for the RRF. Each point-of-sale partner is helping in different ways from providing a fully integrated application experience, to building pre-packaged point-of-sale documentation, to holding interactive webinars. In all cases, these partnerships allow for thousands of restaurant owners to accelerate their application submission process.

Restaurants have been scrambling to survive the downturn caused by the pandemic, saidDirk Izzo, President and General Manager, NCR Hospitality. We are committed and honored to do our part to facilitate access to much-needed financial support for our customers so they can keep their businesses running.

By working alongside the SBA we are expediting the Restaurant Revitalization Fund application process for restaurants using Clover or Fiserv technology, facilitating faster access to much-needed capital so they can continue to serve customers and their communities, said Jeff Dickerson, Head of Clover from Fiserv. We are proud to do our part to support a critical initiative that will aid restaurant reopening and do so with a focus on revitalizing women-owned, veteran-owned, and minority-owned restaurants.

While SBA encourages applicants to use the POS ecosystem, applicants without access to point-of-sale service providers can submit their applications electronically at https://restaurants.sba.gov/.

SBA is in ongoing conversations with other interested parties to continue to widely and equitably deliver an experience that is centered around who it is serving owners of restaurants, bars, breweries, bakeries, etc. Point-of-sale service providers who are interested in participating in this program should email restaurants@sba.gov. A full list of official point-of-sale service providers will be continually updated and can be found at https://restaurants.sba.gov/.

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SBA Announces First-of-Its-Kind Technology Initiative for Restaurant Revitalization Fund - Drgnews

HEFEI, China & EWING, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED), enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED technology and materials, and Visionox Technology, Inc. (), a leading Chinese display panel manufacturer, today announced the extension of their long-term OLED material supply and license agreements. The agreements extend Universal Displays supply of its proprietary UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED materials and technology to Visionox Hefei Technology Co. Ltd. () through its wholly-owned subsidiary UDC Ireland Limited. The new agreements run for five years. Further details and financial terms of the agreements have not been disclosed.

It is an exciting time in the OLED market as new products are launched that showcase the benefits of innovative form factor, high contrast ratio, wide color gamut, rich color saturation and fast response times, said Zhang Deqiang, President of Visionox Technology, Inc. We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with Universal Display Corporation and extend our material and license agreements. Our collaboration with UDC enables us to reach our goal of providing best-in-class, energy-efficient, OLED displays in this growing industry.

We are pleased to expand and extend our long-term agreements with Visionox Technology to ensure the continued supply of our highly-efficient, high-performing, proprietary, phosphorescent materials for their broadening OLED product portfolio, said Steven V. Abramson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universal Display Corporation. Visionoxs investments in OLED capacity, including its new Gen 6 flexible Hefei fab, are expected to help fuel the ongoing proliferation of cutting-edge OLEDs in the consumer electronics landscape. With our deep and broad experience and know-how of more than two-and-half decades of pioneering research, we are continually discovering, designing and delivering the best OLED emissive layer materials to support and enable the industry and look forward to further growing our partnership with Visionox.

About Visionox Technology, Inc. ()

Founded in 2001, Visionox is the world's leading supplier of integrated advanced display solutions, and its origin can be traced to the Tsinghua University OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display) research group, established in 1996. The company operates under a vision of pushing boundaries to enhance the experience of vision and a mission of leading China's OLED industry through technological innovation. With over 20 years of experience in OLED technology, Visionox has become a globally leading enterprise in the OLED industry, covering R&D, production and sales. The field of OLED technology has become competitive around the world. Visionox practices constant self-innovation, steadily working to develop OLED technology and the OLED industry, from basic research to pilot production to mass production. Visionox has mastered many core OLED technologies and holds more than 8,500 key OLED patents to date. It has also received a number of prestigious awards including First Prize in the State Technological Invention Award (issued by the State Council of the PRC) and the China Patent Gold Award (jointly issued by the WIPO and the Chinese Patent Office). In 2002, Visionox spearheaded the formulation of OLED international and national standards and continues to lead the endeavor. Visionox is responsible for the formulation and revision of four OLED international standards and leading the framework for six OLED national standards and four OLED industrial standards. Visionox has secured a dominant position among international competition, becoming a leading voice in China's industrial development. Leveraging its existing technological advantages and embracing new trends, Visionox actively explores technological frontiers that represent the future of the industry, such as flexible AMOLED technology. Visionox has successfully created many of the world's firsts, including the world's first fully scrollable AMOLED display, the world's first bi-directional foldable single-axis display module and many other flexible products. With products boasting a folding radius as small as 1.6 mm, Visionox has made repeated breakthroughs in flexible foldable technology. It has also formulated two international standards for flexible display, and leads the world in flexible OLED technology. Visionox focuses on OLED technology and industrial development, with a commitment to independent innovation and keeping the development of China's OLED industry on pace with the rest of the world. Visionox provides customers with a high-quality visual experience and has incorporated China's supply-side structural reform. Embracing the belief that innovation is the soul of an enterprise, Visionox always strives for world-class excellence, endeavoring to provide the most-advanced display solutions that enhance the experience of vision. For more information, please visit http://www.visionox.com/.

About Universal Display Corporation

Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) is a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display, solid-state lighting applications with subsidiaries and offices around the world. Founded in 1994, the Company currently owns, exclusively licenses or has the sole right to sublicense more than 5,000 patents issued and pending worldwide. Universal Display licenses its proprietary technologies, including its breakthrough high-efficiency UniversalPHOLED phosphorescent OLED technology that can enable the development of energy-efficient and eco-friendly displays and solid-state lighting. The Company also develops and offers high-quality, state-of-the-art UniversalPHOLED materials that are recognized as key ingredients in the fabrication of OLEDs with peak performance. In addition, Universal Display delivers innovative and customized solutions to its clients and partners through technology transfer, collaborative technology development and on-site training. To learn more about Universal Display Corporation, please visit https://oled.com/.

Universal Display Corporation and the Universal Display Corporation logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Universal Display Corporation. All other company, brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

All statements in this document that are not historical, such as those relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company and otherwise, the Companys technologies and potential applications of those technologies, the Companys expected results and future declaration of dividends, as well as the growth of the OLED market and the Companys opportunities in that market, are forward-looking financial statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this document, as they reflect Universal Display Corporations current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in Universal Display Corporations periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, in particular, the sections entitled Risk Factors in Universal Display Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Universal Display Corporation disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this document.

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Visionox Technology, Inc. and Universal Display Corporation Extend Long-Term OLED Agreements - Business Wire

Technology can recycle all forms of plastic including multi-layer, flexible plastics often used in food packaging.

Dow to play pivotal role in Muras global rollout of 1MM metric tonnes of recycling capacity by 2025.

Dow to receive supply of recycled feedstocks made from plastics waste from Muras first-of-its-kind plant in Teesside, UK, supplying major brands across the globe with sustainable plastic products.

Future Mura sites planned in US, Germany, and Asia as Muras global rollout accelerates.

Today Dow (NYSE: DOW) a global leader in materials science, and Mura Technology, the global pioneer of an advanced plastic recycling solution, announced a partnership to help keep plastic waste out of the environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210422005594/en/

The collaboration will support the rapid scaling of Muras new HydroPRS (Hydrothermal Plastic Recycling Solution) advanced recycling process aimed at preventing plastic and carbon from entering the natural environment while creating the feedstocks for a sustainable, circular plastics economy. The deal marks an important step in Dows commitment to advance a circular economy for plastics and keep plastic waste from entering the environment.

The partnership combines Dows materials science capabilities, global scale and financial resources with Muras leading technology, to produce the circular feedstocks which are then converted into the recycled plastics that consumers and global brands are increasingly seeking.

Muras proprietary solution, HydroPRS, is a revolutionary advanced recycling process that uses supercritical steam to convert plastics back into the chemicals and oils from which they were made, for use in new, virgin-equivalent plastic products. HydroPRS can recycle all forms of plastic including multi-layer, flexible plastics used in packaging, which are currently harder to recycle and often incinerated or sent to landfill.

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Importantly, the plastics produced using these recycled products are expected to be suitable for use in food-contact packaging, unlike most conventional recycling processes. With Muras process there is no anticipated limit to the number of times the same material can be recycled meaning it has the potential to significantly reduce plastics being used once and make the raw ingredients for a circular plastics economy. In addition, advanced recycling processes are expected to save approximately 1.5 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of plastic recycled, compared to incinerationi of unrecycled plastics.

Dow will play an important role as a global manufacturer of plastic, proving that Muras solution can meet both the sustainability and performance needs of the industry and that the products made via HydroPRS can be employed at scale to make new plastics. The worlds first plant using HydroPRS is in development in Teesside, UK, with the first 20,000 tonne per year line expected to be operational in 2022. Once all four lines are complete, Mura will be able to recycle up to 80,000 tonnes of plastic waste per year, providing Dow with materials produced by the process. Dow will use these materials to develop new, virgin-grade plastic for applications such as food packaging and other packaging products to be re-circulated into global supply chains, creating a true circular plastics economy.

Carsten Larsen, Commercial Director Plastic Circularity EMEA & APAC, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics commented: "We are delighted to offer our investment and expertise to support the development of this truly game-changing recycling process. We are committed to enacting real change to stop plastic going to waste and accelerate moves towards a more circular economy. We know achieving this goal will take major innovation and investment and we cant do it alone. Thats why our partnership with Mura is so exciting and why we believe it will form a key pillar of our recycling strategy going forward."

Dr Steve Mahon, CEO of Mura Technology, said: "Plastic pollution is a global challenge and our goal is to meet it head on by recapturing millions of tonnes of plastic waste every year and put them to work again as a valuable resource for the worlds biggest brands.

"Were changing the way the world thinks about plastics not as something to throw away, but as a product that can be used over and over again, and sustainably, without damaging our natural environment. Our partnership with Dow will help make this a reality for global brands and deliver a circular plastics economy globally within the next decade."

This lost resource of plastic waste is a huge economic opportunity valued at up to $120 billion per year according to the World Economic Forumii. Global plastic production also creates an estimated 390 million tonnes of CO2 every yeariii equivalent to over 172 million carsiv. While plastic production accounts for approximately 6 percent of global oil consumption today, by deploying technology capable of recycling all plastics and creating the ingredients for a circular plastics economy, advanced recycling can decrease the use of oil by the chemical industry. Mura offers the prospect of dramatically cutting global plastic waste and associated emissions attributed to that waste.

To reduce global plastic waste, Mura has designed its business model for rapid global deployment and is building a global network of partners. Dow joins other major global players such as KBR Inc., a US-based multinational engineering services company, Wood, a global consulting and engineering company, and Igus GmbH, a global leader in industrial plastics, as partners to accelerate the deployment of Muras technology worldwide. Muras HydroPRS process utilises at its core the Cat-HTR technology, which was developed and is owned by Licella Holdings Limited, New South Wales, Australia.

Alongside its first plant in the UK, Mura has identified development opportunities in Germany and the United States where it will develop new recycling plants in both countries in the next five years and Asian markets, as part of a rapid global rollout that will see one million tonnes of recycling capacity in development worldwide by 2025. The partnership with Dow will be a key driver of this goal. Mura is continuing to raise funds to drive further expansion and is in discussions with a range of global investors.

The partnership announced today is another example of how Dow is working with partners to build momentum around breakthrough advanced recycling technologies and to drive game-changing innovations that keep plastic waste from entering the environment. In 2019, Dow announced a partnership with Fuenix to supply feedstock made from recycled plastic waste. The partnership with Mura represents another step in Dows efforts to meet its recently announced sustainability targets to address both climate change and plastic waste.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Companys ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company, with a purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the world through our materials science expertise and collaboration with our partners. Dows portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings, polyurethanes and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer care. Dow operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $39 billion in 2020. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit http://www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

About Mura Technology

Mura Technologys mission is to eliminate global plastic pollution and create sustainable societies.

We are pioneering a globally scalable technology to prevent millions of tonnes of plastic and carbon from entering our natural environment every year and turning an $80 billion lost resource of plastic waste into a valuable global commodity. Our technology can recycle all plastic waste, and produces the ingredients for brand new products, reducing the need for new and fossil-fuel derived plastics.

We are partnering with the biggest global brands to scale worldwide and feed a sustainable plastics economy in the next decade. Our plan is to have capacity for 1,000,000 tonnes of plastic recycling in operation or development by 2025.

The company is based in London, UK. Visit http://www.muratechnology.com/

References and links

idependent analysis by CE Delft, the independent research and consultancy organisation specialised in developing innovative solutions to environmental problems.ii WEF The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics iii The Ellen McArthur Foundation the New Plastics Economy: Catalysing Action ivps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-car-carbon-dioxide-emissions

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210422005594/en/

Contacts

Media Kyle Bandlowkbandlow@dow.com +1 9896382417

Dow Europe Judy Hicksjchicks@dow.com +41 44 7282319

Media Will Spraggwill.spragg@greenhousepr.co.uk +447528307499

Investors Oliver BorekCommercial Directoro.borek@muratechnology.com

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Dow and Mura Technology announce partnership to scale game-changing new advanced recycling solution for plastics - Yahoo Finance

This will continue to be important as countries focus their efforts here. To make renewable energies more resilient in the United States, the Biden administration made a plan to spend $2 trillion over four years to escalate the use of clean energy in the transportation, electricity, and building sectors, creating economic opportunities and strengthening infrastructure while also tackling climate change. Skycatch is also rapidly expanding across Asia and the Pacific Islands. The company plans to collaborate with ADB Ventures and its partners in Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand to make infrastructure projects including those for renewable energy more resilient and leverage those solutions throughout the region.

"Asian Development Bank (ADB) aims to play a catalytic role to enable technology in infrastructure projects, which result in reduced carbon footprints and increased safety and operational efficiency," said ADB's Daniel Hersson in a recent TechCrunch article."The enterprise-grade Skycatch technology for capturing, processing and analyzing high accuracy 3D drone data is a critical part to accomplishing that mission."

Skycatch's drone-based computer vision platform for the construction and mining industries reduces more than 30% of the rework by preventing design inconsistencies and providing complete transparency of projects.

"Companies can use digital twin technology to help detect and prevent mistakes from happening during the building process to minimize waste," said Sanz. "At Skycatch, we're on a mission to revolutionize operational and cost efficiency in infrastructure-related projects worldwide through our drone-based 3D computer vision technology."

Skycatch recently closed its Series C round funding, culminating in $25 million raised, led by ADB Venturesand Wavemaker Labs. Other new investors include I2BF Global Ventures, Falkon Ventures, and Gaingels.

"ADB's Sydney-based team is already piloting Skycatch drone-based technology in a project to create highly accurate digital twins of an infrastructure upgrade project during its construction phase,"said Lotte Schou-Zibell, regional director of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney. "This has the potential to use the technology throughout the entire life cycle of an infrastructure project, enabling project implementation that is safer and more efficient while avoidingrework and reducing the overall project carbon footprint."

About SkycatchSkycatch is a drone data company based in the Bay Area founded in 2013 to provide aerial data capture, processing, visualization, and analysis tools to the world's largest companies on their most demanding work sites. Over 10,000 construction and mining sites in more than 20 countries, including Japan, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and the United States, use Skycatch's solutions. For more information, visit https://skycatch.com/.

About ADB VenturesSet up by the Asian Development Bank, ADB Ventures is its venture arm that supports and invests in early stage technology companies tackling large unsolved problems in emerging Asia. ADB Ventures typically invests across seed and early stages, providing leading technology companies with risk capital, deep insights, and networks.For more information, please visit https://ventures.adb.org/.

About Wavemaker PartnersWavemaker Partners is an early stage venture capital firm with dual headquarters in Los Angeles and Singapore. Wavemaker is one of the most active early stage investors in Southern California and Southeast Asia and has invested in more than 360 companies over the past 17 years. For more information, please visit https://wavemaker.vc/.

For more information, please contact Maddie Hirsch, Senior PR Strategist at Influence & Co., at [emailprotected].

SOURCE Skycatch

https://skycatch.com/

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Skycatch Announces New Technology Initiatives to Achieve Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Globally - PRNewswire

PITTSBURGH, April 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IIVI Incorporated (Nasdaq: IIVI), a global leader in engineered materials and optoelectronic components, today inaugurated the II-VI Technology and R&D Center in Shanghai, China. A grand opening ceremony was held with speakers, live entertainment, and facility tours.

The Center is II-VIs largest technology and R&D hub, with nearly 600 employees. The Center will leverage its broad base of talent, including its senior scientists and engineers, to be a world leader in technology and product development, designing the most advanced optical components, subassemblies, and systems, and enabling customers around the world to serve rapidly growing new markets. These leading-edge innovations will unlock the further potential of the Cloud and 5G networks; integrated solutions for life sciences, including in biotechnology, medical, and scientific applications; and high-power lasers for materials processing and additive manufacturing.

We are proud of this milestone event, which happily is taking place during our companys 50th anniversary year and so it gives us another reason to celebrate, said Dr. Vincent D. Mattera, Jr., CEO of II-VI Incorporated. The Technology and R&D Center in Shanghai will be a jewel in the crown for II-VIs worldwide innovation initiatives, focusing on key mega market trends where II-VI will continue to have a significant impact.

The Centers inauguration comes on the heels of II-VIs announcement that it expanded its silicon carbide manufacturing footprint to China to serve the largest worldwide market for electric vehicles. II-VI maintains a large manufacturing operations and product development presence in China in the cities of Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Suzhou, and Wuxi, where more than half of II-VIs 22,000 employees are located.

As part of its long-term commitment to its customers and operations in China, II-VI has become a member of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) and the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC). The NCUSCR (ncuscr.org) is a nonprofit educational organization that encourages understanding of China and the United States through ongoing public education, face-to-face contact, and exchange of ideas. The USCBCs (uschina.org) mission is to expand the U.S.-China commercial relationship to the benefit of its membership and, more broadly, the U.S. economy. In order to contribute to the world, II-VI recently became a member of the World Economic Forum (weforum.org) where we will focus our contributions on the advanced manufacturing and production platform, including technology adoption, workforce development, while driving the formation of resilient supply chains.

About II-VI Incorporated

II-VI Incorporated, a global leader in engineered materials and optoelectronic components, is a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in communications, materials processing, aerospace & defense, semiconductor capital equipment, life sciences, consumer electronics, and automotive markets. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, the Company has research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide. The Company produces a wide variety of application-specific photonic and electronic materials and components, and deploys them in various forms, including integrated with advanced software to support our customers. For more information, please visit us at http://www.ii-vi.com.

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II-VI Incorporated Inaugurates Technology and R&D Center in Shanghai - GlobeNewswire

SAN CARLOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JetBlue Technology Ventures (JTV), the venture capital subsidiary of JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU), today announced its investment in Universal Hydrogen, the company fueling carbon-free flight, as part of its $20.5M Series A funding round. The financing allows Universal Hydrogen to accelerate the development of its hydrogen logistics network and regional aircraft conversion kits, and bolsters its burgeoning commercial activities.

JTVs primary goal is to better position JetBlue with startup-led innovation set to disrupt the travel industry, ultimately helping JetBlue chart a path toward net zero emissions. JTV supports JetBlues ambitious sustainability strategy and targets by investing in technology focusing on advanced methods of measuring and reducing emissions, improved environmental protections, and game-changing transportation. In 2020 JetBlue became the first U.S. airline to achieve carbon neutrality for all domestic flying, today primarily through carbon offsets while the industry builds up lower-carbon technologies to reduce direct emissions.

Universal Hydrogen is building a fuel distribution network that connects hydrogen production directly to the airplane using modular capsules that are transported using the existing freight network, avoiding the need for costly new pipelines, storage facilities, and fuel trucks. The company is also developing conversion kits to retrofit existing 40-60 passenger regional airplanes with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.

Our investment in Universal Hydrogen is highly aligned with JetBlues environmental objectives, and this partnership allows the airline a seat at the table in the fast-developing hydrogen for aviation sector and provides valuable insight into the options, progress, and viability of hydrogen to help decarbonize aircraft operations, said Jim Lockheed, Investment Principal at JTV.

Universal Hydrogen was founded in 2020 by aviation industry veterans Paul Eremenko, John-Paul Clarke, Jason Chua, and Jon Gordon. First commercial flights are planned no later than 2025, with operating costs equivalent to those of conventional hydrocarbon-burning airplanes and decreasing rapidly thereafter.

We see the near-term decarbonization of regional aviation as a first step and catalyst, setting the whole industry on a path to meeting Paris Agreement emissions targets. Hydrogen is today the only viable fuel for getting to true zero emissions in commercial aviation, and our goal is to de-risk the decision for Airbus, Boeing, and COMAC to make their next new airplane in the 2030s a hydrogen-powered one, said Paul Eremenko, Universal Hydrogen co-founder and CEO.

The financing was led by Playground Global, and other investors include Fortescue Future Industries, Coatue, Global Founders Capital, Plug Power, Airbus Ventures, Toyota AI Ventures, Sojitz Corporation, and Future Shape.

About JetBlue Technology Ventures

JetBlue Technology Ventures invests in and partners with early stage startups innovating in the travel, transportation, and hospitality industries. The company prioritizes investments that advance the seamless customer-centric journey; technology powered customer service; the future of operations and maintenance; distribution, loyalty, and revenue management; and evolving regional travel. Founded in 2016, JetBlue Technology Ventures is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU) and is located in Silicon Valley, California. For more information, visit http://www.JetBlueVentures.com.

About Universal Hydrogen

Universal Hydrogen is making hydrogen-powered commercial flight a near-term reality. The company takes a flexible, scalable, and capital-light approach to hydrogen logistics by transporting it in modular capsules over the existing freight network from green production sites to airports around the world. To accelerate market adoption, Universal Hydrogen is also developing a conversion kit to retrofit existing regional airplanes with a hydrogen-electric powertrain compatible with its modular capsule technology.

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JetBlue Technology Ventures Invests in Universal Hydrogen to Support the Airline's Ambitious Sustainability Strategy - Business Wire

TipRanks

The stock market pulled back from all-time highs this week, as investors paused to consider just whats been goosing stocks and what the future may hold. A flood of stimulus cash, unleashed by the Biden Administrations big spending bills, is set to push GDP growth to 9% for 3Q21, but next year looks like it will slip back as the spending runs its course. Economists are predicting 5.5% GDP growth next year. This bodes poorly for cyclical stocks, which tend to reflect macro volatility. As Morgan Stanleys chief US equity strategist Mike Wilson said, Peak rate of change on economic data and earnings revisions... are all contributing to the deterioration in lower-quality, smaller-capitalization, and the more cyclical parts of the market. Dividend stocks, however, are more stable than the cyclicals, and while their average returns are lower, they offer the advantage of a steady return regardless of economic conditions. B. Riley analyst Matthew Howlett has been looking into the real estate trust segment, a group of stocks long-known for dividends that are both high and reliable. Howlett pointed out two stocks, in particular, that are showing dividend yields in excess of 7% and deserve a 'buy' rating. Ladder Capital Corporation (LADR) Well take a step into the real estate investment trust (REIT) niche, with Ladder Capital, a specialist in commercial mortgages. Ladder has operations in 48 states, and 475 cities. The average loan size is $19 million, and the company has securitized or sold a cumulative total of $16.7 billion commercial loans. Operations are backed by companys $5.9 billion in assets. Ladder Capital has seen a series of headwinds in the past year. The corona pandemic, of course, was the major crisis but for a commercial mortgage lender, the problem was broader. Loan customers were taking their own hits, and finding themselves unable to meet payments. As a result, Ladder saw its quarterly results in 2020 show deep declines, and greater volatility, when compared to 2019. On the positive side, Ladder finished the year 2020 with $1.25 billion in cash and cash equivalents. The final quarter of 2020 saw top line revenues of $77.9 million, compared to $135.4 million in the prior years Q4. Distributable earnings, however, came in at $4.9 million and the company declared a dividend of 20 cents per common share, which was paid out on April 15. This marked the fifth quarter in a row with the dividend at this level. The current payment annualizes to 80 cents per share, and gives a yield of 7%. Despite the challenging economic environment, LADR shares are up an impressive 79% over the past 12 months. B. Riley's Matt Howlett expects the momentum to continue, and sees Ladder with a firm foundation to move forward. [The] companys loan originator has been a top CMBS loan contributor since the 2008-2009 financial crisis and is well positioned to contribute to LADRs earnings growth as the conduit market rebounds post-pandemic, Howlett noted. Howlett especially likes the companys cash position, noting that it should allow the company to accelerate growth of its core investment portfolio." The analyst sees "upside potential to the dividend (forecasted to increase to $1.05 in 2022) as originations ramp steadily and legacy higher cost debt (Koch/legacy CLO) pays down. Backing these comments with a Buy rating, Howlett sets a $14 price target to suggest room for 21% growth in the next 12 months. (To watch Howletts track record, click here) Overall, Ladder gets a Moderate Buy rating from Wall Streets analysts, based on 6 recent reviews that include 5 Buys but also a single Sell. LADR shares are currently priced at $11.58, with an average target of $12.58 pointing toward 9% upside potential this year. The real attraction for investors here is the strong dividend yield. (See LADR stock analysis on TipRanks) Cherry Hill Mortgage (CHMI) The second stock were looking at, Cherry Hill, is another REIT, this one with a focus on the residential markets. Cherry Hills portfolio includes mortgage servicing rights, mortgage backed securities, and other mortgage assets in the residential market. After a steep earnings drop in the first quarter last year, to a loss of $2.80 per share, Cherry Hill has seen sequential growth in the past three quarters. The fourth quarter of 2020 saw EPS return to positive values, with a print of 37 cents per share. Like most REITs, Cherry Hill pays out a reliable dividend. The company has been maintaining the payments since the fourth quarter of 2014, adjusting it when needed to keep it in line with income. For the most recent quarter, the dividend was declared at 27 cents per common share, or $1.08 annually. At this rate, the dividend yields an impressive 11.5%. CHMI's strong defensive characteristics and attractive dividend yield drew it to the attention of B. Rileys Howlett. [We] believe the portfolio is better insulated against basis risk and would perform better in a rising rate environment We believe that CHMI's strong liquidity profile puts it in strong position to deploy capital accretively during 1H21," Howlett opined. The analyst continued, "We expect: 1) slower prepayment speeds and 2) declining servicing costs in 2H21 to be key drivers of higher core ROEs going forward. Our 12.5% ROE forecast for 2022 should allow the company to increase its quarterly dividend to $0.30 based on our model. In line with his upbeat outlook, Howlett rates Cherry Hill a Buy. His $11.50 price target implies that the stock has room to gain 21% in the next 12 months. CHMI has slipped under most analysts radar; the stocks Moderate Buy consensus is based on just two recent ratings; Buy and Hold. With shares trading at $9.43, the $10.75 average price target suggests room for a 14% upside. (See CHMI stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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