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Category: Machine Learning

  • MIL-OSI Global: States that impose severe prison sentences accomplish the opposite of what they say they want

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Leverso, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati

    Prison doors close, but for most people convicted of crimes, they eventually open again. Hans Neleman/Stone via Getty Images

    Across the U.S., tough-on-crime policies are surging again, despite research showing they do little to reduce crime, particularly violent offenses.

    Before the early 1990s, people who were sentenced to 10 years in prison might be released after serving roughly half that long. That’s because of policies that allowed incarcerated individuals to earn credit for good behavior or, in some states, to avoid losing credits they already held toward an early release. These so-called “good time” policies were created by states to encourage good behavior and rehabilitation and to reduce prison overcrowding.

    But in the 1990s, when national politics was focused on crime rates, Congress encouraged states to adopt so-called “truth-in-sentencing” laws, which required people to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence.

    As research highlighted the inefficacy and unintended consequences of these laws, states rolled them back or modified them, mostly by partially repealing them or reducing the severity of mandatory sentences.

    Some efforts to roll back harsh sentencing rules continue: In Illinois, traditionally a leader in criminal justice reform, one bill that would soften truth-in-sentencing requirements has stalled, though another was introduced in January 2025.

    But in many other states, truth-in-sentencing laws and other similar laws that impose longer sentences are making a comeback, particularly for violent crimes.

    Since 2023, Louisiana, Arkansas, South Dakota and Tennessee have passed truth-in-sentencing laws. North Dakota is now considering similar legislation. In November 2024, Colorado voters required people convicted of violent crimes to serve higher percentages of their sentences, which is a similar move, though it didn’t bear the “truth-in-sentencing” label.

    A personal lens on the topic

    These laws have real effects on real people.

    In 1998, I was sentenced to 22 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for a gang-related violent crime I committed as a juvenile. I served just 11 of those years under a long-standing policy that allowed individuals to serve half their sentence with good behavior.

    But if I had been arrested just 100 days later, a truth-in-sentencing law would have taken effect, and I would have had to serve the full 22 years.

    Eleven years is a long time. Since my release in 2012, I’ve earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a Ph.D. I’m now a college professor, author, husband and father.

    If I had been required to serve my full sentence, I would have been released in 2023, older and with fewer opportunities for education, rehabilitation and rebuilding my life.

    Instead of being able to start my education at the age of 30, I would have entered the world in my forties, making it much harder to pursue a decade of schooling to become a professor. The delay would have also made it harder to start a family, forcing me to balance career-building with the difficulties of having children later in life.

    Incarcerated graduates, who finished various educational and vocational programs in prison, wait for the start of their graduation ceremony in May 2023.
    AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

    Not deterring crime

    Supporters of truth-in-sentencing laws say they are intended to increase accountability for wrongdoing and deter crime. The logic can seem reasonably intuitive: If people know they will receive a harsher punishment, they will be less likely to commit particular crimes.

    But research finds that those are not the results. There is no compelling evidence that punitive sentencing policies discourage individuals from engaging in criminal activity.

    And states without truth-in-sentencing laws have seen their crime rates fall to roughly the same degree as states that have the laws.

    Harming society at large

    Research also finds that truth-in-sentencing laws cause far-reaching harms to people convicted of crimes and to society at large, undermining both rehabilitation and public safety.

    Because truth-in-sentencing laws focus on deterrence, they do not address the causes of criminal behavior, such as poverty and childhood trauma.

    These laws also make prisons less safe: They remove incentives for people in prison to follow the rules, get an education, participate in psychotherapy or otherwise engage in positive activities while behind bars.

    The vast majority of incarcerated people – six out of every seven inmates – are released into society again. Under truth-in-sentencing laws, they emerge from prison less prepared to follow the laws than they would have been if they had access to educational programs, therapy and an incentive structure that encouraged rehabilitation while incarcerated.

    A study in Georgia, for instance, found that after stricter sentencing requirements were enacted, inmates subject to the new rules committed more disciplinary infractions and participated in fewer rehabilitation programs in prison. And once released, they were more likely to commit new crimes than released inmates who had not been subject to the stricter sentences.

    Costing taxpayers dearly

    Additionally, the financial burden of these laws is significant.

    For example, Arkansas’ truth-in-sentencing law, passed in 2023, is projected to cost the state’s taxpayers at least US$160 million over the next decade to pay for increased prison capacity and staffing.

    Instead of deterring crime, truth-in-sentencing laws lock more people up for longer periods of time without addressing the underlying factors, which strains already overburdened correctional systems.

    These laws also disproportionately affect people of color, exacerbating systemic inequities in the criminal justice system.

    These people incarcerated in a California prison are learning computer programming.
    AP Photo/Eric Risberg

    A different path

    For me, the possibility of earning good-time credit was a powerful motivator to engage in rehabilitative activities and regain lost time after disciplinary infractions.

    When I began my sentence, Illinois law allowed people to receive a 50% reduction in their sentence through good-time credit: I might need to serve only half of my original 22-year sentence, and be released after 11 years, if I maintained good behavior.

    Breaking the rules would cost credit, extending my time in prison beyond that 50% mark. Early in my sentence, I broke the rules and was placed in isolation – also called segregation or restrictive housing, in a cell for 24 hours a day, except for six hours of exercise a week – for a total of 18 months, resulting in a significant loss of my good-time credit. As a result, instead of serving 11 years, my expected time in prison increased to approximately 12.5 years.

    This setback was a turning point. I knew that my actions had directly affected the length of time I would have to spend in prison. I became determined to earn back my lost time. I focused on staying out of trouble, earning my GED, completing my associate degree and enrolling in available programs. I was able to regain my time credit and had to serve only 11 years.

    Under today’s truth-in-sentencing laws, none of this would have been possible. I would have been required to serve my full sentence, regardless of whether I chose to change, rehabilitate or prepare for life after prison. The ability to reduce my sentence through good behavior and educational achievement gave me a tangible incentive to turn my life around, an opportunity that truth-in-sentencing laws eliminate.

    A way forward

    By contrast, investing in rehabilitation not only improves outcomes for those incarcerated but also makes communities safer by reducing the cycle of crime.

    Research shows that in-prison rehabilitation programs – particularly those centered on education and vocational training programs and social-support services such as housing help, mental health care and job placement assistance – reduce recidivism rates. While in prison, people are held accountable while also having opportunities to grow and learn, preparing for successful reintegration into society after their release.

    I believe that in the overwhelming majority of people in prison, there is potential for redemption – but that potential is most likely to emerge when they have opportunities to learn and grow and receive benefits for making changes in their lives.

    Unfortunately, many states are choosing to spend millions locking up more people for longer periods – while giving them less opportunity to improve themselves and their lives, reducing their potential for change and safe, productive reintegration into society upon release.

    John Leverso does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. States that impose severe prison sentences accomplish the opposite of what they say they want – https://theconversation.com/states-that-impose-severe-prison-sentences-accomplish-the-opposite-of-what-they-say-they-want-247550

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AIs flunk language test that takes grammar out of the equation

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rutvik Desai, Professor of Psychology, University of South Carolina

    AIs can sound good without having a clue about what they’re saying. Carol Yepes/Moment via Getty Images

    Generative AI systems like large language models and text-to-image generators can pass rigorous exams that are required of anyone seeking to become a doctor or a lawyer. They can perform better than most people in Mathematical Olympiads. They can write halfway decent poetry, generate aesthetically pleasing paintings and compose original music.

    These remarkable capabilities may make it seem like generative artificial intelligence systems are poised to take over human jobs and have a major impact on almost all aspects of society. Yet while the quality of their output sometimes rivals work done by humans, they are also prone to confidently churning out factually incorrect information. Skeptics have also called into question their ability to reason.

    Large language models have been built to mimic human language and thinking, but they are far from human. From infancy, human beings learn through countless sensory experiences and interactions with the world around them. Large language models do not learn as humans do – they are instead trained on vast troves of data, most of which is drawn from the internet.

    The capabilities of these models are very impressive, and there are AI agents that can attend meetings for you, shop for you or handle insurance claims. But before handing over the keys to a large language model on any important task, it is important to assess how their understanding of the world compares to that of humans.

    I’m a researcher who studies language and meaning. My research group developed a novel benchmark that can help people understand the limitations of large language models in understanding meaning.

    Making sense of simple word combinations

    So what “makes sense” to large language models? Our test involves judging the meaningfulness of two-word noun-noun phrases. For most people who speak fluent English, noun-noun word pairs like “beach ball” and “apple cake” are meaningful, but “ball beach” and “cake apple” have no commonly understood meaning. The reasons for this have nothing to do with grammar. These are phrases that people have come to learn and commonly accept as meaningful, by speaking and interacting with one another over time.

    We wanted to see if a large language model had the same sense of meaning of word combinations, so we built a test that measured this ability, using noun-noun pairs for which grammar rules would be useless in determining whether a phrase had recognizable meaning. For example, an adjective-noun pair such as “red ball” is meaningful, while reversing it, “ball red,” renders a meaningless word combination.

    The benchmark does not ask the large language model what the words mean. Rather, it tests the large language model’s ability to glean meaning from word pairs, without relying on the crutch of simple grammatical logic. The test does not evaluate an objective right answer per se, but judges whether large language models have a similar sense of meaningfulness as people.

    We used a collection of 1,789 noun-noun pairs that had been previously evaluated by human raters on a scale of 1, does not make sense at all, to 5, makes complete sense. We eliminated pairs with intermediate ratings so that there would be a clear separation between pairs with high and low levels of meaningfulness.

    Large language models get that ‘beach ball’ means something, but they aren’t so clear on the concept that ‘ball beach’ doesn’t.
    PhotoStock-Israel/Moment via Getty Images

    We then asked state-of-the-art large language models to rate these word pairs in the same way that the human participants from the previous study had been asked to rate them, using identical instructions. The large language models performed poorly. For example, “cake apple” was rated as having low meaningfulness by humans, with an average rating of around 1 on scale of 0 to 4. But all large language models rated it as more meaningful than 95% of humans would do, rating it between 2 and 4. The difference wasn’t as wide for meaningful phrases such as “dog sled,” though there were cases of a large language model giving such phrases lower ratings than 95% of humans as well.

    To aid the large language models, we added more examples to the instructions to see if they would benefit from more context on what is considered a highly meaningful versus a not meaningful word pair. While their performance improved slightly, it was still far poorer than that of humans. To make the task easier still, we asked the large language models to make a binary judgment – say yes or no to whether the phrase makes sense – instead of rating the level of meaningfulness on a scale of 0 to 4. Here, the performance improved, with GPT-4 and Claude 3 Opus performing better than others – but they were still well below human performance.

    Creative to a fault

    The results suggest that large language models do not have the same sense-making capabilities as human beings. It is worth noting that our test relies on a subjective task, where the gold standard is ratings given by people. There is no objectively right answer, unlike typical large language model evaluation benchmarks involving reasoning, planning or code generation.

    The low performance was largely driven by the fact that large language models tended to overestimate the degree to which a noun-noun pair qualified as meaningful. They made sense of things that should not make much sense. In a manner of speaking, the models were being too creative. One possible explanation is that the low-meaningfulness word pairs could make sense in some context. A beach covered with balls could be called a “ball beach.” But there is no common usage of this noun-noun combination among English speakers.

    If large language models are to partially or completely replace humans in some tasks, they’ll need to be further developed so that they can get better at making sense of the world, in closer alignment with the ways that humans do. When things are unclear, confusing or just plain nonsense – whether due to a mistake or a malicious attack – it’s important for the models to flag that instead of creatively trying to make sense of almost everything.

    If an AI agent automatically responding to emails gets a message intended for another user in error, an appropriate response may be, “Sorry, this does not make sense,” rather than a creative interpretation. If someone in a meeting made incomprehensible remarks, we want an agent that attended the meeting to say the comments did not make sense. The agent should say, “This seems to be talking about a different insurance claim” rather than just “claim denied” if details of a claim don’t make sense.

    In other words, it’s more important for an AI agent to have a similar sense of meaning and behave like a human would when uncertain, rather than always providing creative interpretations.

    Rutvik Desai receives funding from NIH/NIDCD.

    – ref. AIs flunk language test that takes grammar out of the equation – https://theconversation.com/ais-flunk-language-test-that-takes-grammar-out-of-the-equation-247177

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Tech’s Answer to Pollution | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Biotech, AI and other advanced technologies are opening new possibilities in material science and resource circularity.

    What are the most promising technologies and how can they address pollution in the air, land, or marine ecosystems?

    Speakers: Takayuki Morita, Ronaldo Lemos, Manuela Kasper-Claridge, Jessika Roswall

    The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

    This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
    X ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65MqMlg71A0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: Rightworks cloud and security platform chosen for AICPA’s Member Discount Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NASHUA, N.H., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rightworks, the only intelligent cloud service provider of solutions purpose-built for accounting firms and professionals, today announced it has been selected to join AICPA’s Member Discount Program. The collaboration provides AICPA members with exclusive discounts on Rightworks WISP and Total Security solutions, empowering firms and small businesses to stay ahead of security threats and achieve mandatory industry compliance throughout the year.

    “Rightworks has a decades-long track record of delivering comprehensive and easy-to-use solutions built specifically for the accounting profession and their clients,” said Michael Cerami, EVP of CPA.com, the business and technology subsidiary of the AICPA. “We look forward to connecting AICPA members with solutions that offer a strong and layered security approach.”

    The newest addition makes Rightworks the only intelligent cloud service provider of solutions purpose-built for accounting firms and professionals in the AICPA Member Discount Program. More than 400,000 AICPA members now get a 15% discount on Rightworks comprehensive security solutions, which include:

    Rightworks WISP

    • A custom security strategy: Strengthen internal processes with a tailored Written Information Security Plan (WISP)
    • Expert assistance: Rightworks security professionals will build a comprehensive WISP, saving billable hours so your firm can focus on serving clients
    • Regulatory compliance: WISPs are mandated by the IRS and the FTC Safeguards Rule and are required to renew a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) each year
    • Eliminate security gaps: Create a clear roadmap for strengthening your firm’s security posture

    Rightworks Total Security

    • Stronger protection: Includes device security, automatic backups, a VPN and a password manager
    • Staff training: Equips teams with security awareness training to mitigate risks from phishing and cyberattacks
    • A comprehensive solution: Addresses firms’ security and compliance challenges in one offering

    “Maintaining a robust security strategy and ensuring compliance with industry standards are among the top challenges for firms every year,” said Joel Hughes, CEO of Rightworks. “We are proud to join AICPA’s discount program to help empower the members of the world’s largest association representing CPAs with solutions that offer protection against reputational and financial damage.”

    The AICPA Member Discount Program provides savings on products and services its members use every day, such as travel, technology, office supplies, shipping and more.

    Click here for more information on AICPA member discounts.

    Connect with Rightworks
    Visit our newsroom; read our blog; and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    About Rightworks
    Rightworks enables accounting firms and businesses to significantly simplify operations and expand their value to clients via our award-winning intelligent cloud and learning resources. This is possible with Rightworks OneSpace, the only secure cloud environment purpose-built for the accounting and tax profession, and Rightworks Academy, the premier community for firm optimization, growth and professional development. The Academy offers access to thought leadership, events, peer communities and extensive learning resources. Founded in 2002, we’ve grown to serve over 10,000 accounting firms in the US—from single practitioners to Top 10 firms. For more information, please visit rightworks.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a3d94458-39e1-42e1-bf61-7f7515be063b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Chargeflow Expands to New York City with Flatiron District Office, New VP Sales Hire, Strengthening Global Presence and Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chargeflow, the leading AI-powered chargeback prevention and automation platform, is proud to announce the opening of its new offices in the heart of New York City’s Flatiron District. This expansion solidifies Chargeflow’s commitment to innovation, industry leadership, and its mission to revolutionize the chargeback and fraud prevention ecosystem for online merchants worldwide.

    The Flatiron District, known as a hub for tech startups, fintech firms, and venture-backed startup companies, provides the perfect location for Chargeflow’s continued growth. With access to top-tier talent, strategic partners, and a dynamic business community, Chargeflow’s presence in New York will accelerate product innovation, customer success, and market expansion efforts.

    “We’re thrilled to establish a stronger footprint in New York City, a hotspot for some of the most exciting fintech and SaaS companies in the world,” said Ariel Chen, CEO and Co-Founder of Chargeflow. “This move is a testament to our rapid growth and our commitment to building a world-class team and solution that will redefine the chargeback management landscape.”

    As part of this expansion, Chargeflow is also excited to announce the hiring of Gabi Kobrin as its Vice President of Sales. With extensive experience in scaling high-growth fintech and SaaS organizations such as Riskified and Balance, Kobrin will spearhead Chargeflow’s sales strategy, drive revenue growth, and strengthen relationships with enterprise clients.

    “I’m honored to join Chargeflow at such a pivotal time,” said Gabi. “The company is tackling one of the biggest inefficiencies in the payments industry, and I look forward to contributing to our mission of protecting merchants with an industry-leading, AI-driven chargeback solution.”

    Chargeflow is actively hiring for multiple positions in sales, marketing, customer success, and product development in its New York office as well as its Israeli headquarters. The company seeks talented professionals eager to shape the future of eCommerce payments and fraud prevention.

    For more information about Chargeflow’s NYC expansion or career opportunities, visit Chargeflow.io/careers/

    About Chargeflow
    Chargeflow is the leading AI-powered chargeback automation platform, helping online merchants fight and prevent chargebacks with cutting-edge technology and machine learning. Trusted by thousands of merchants globally, Chargeflow simplifies dispute resolution, recovers lost revenue, and enhances payment efficiency. Learn more at www.chargeflow.io.

    Media Contact:
    Dan Moshkovich
    VP Marketing
    danm@chargeflow.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Intapp DealCloud Activator launched to drive growth for professional services firms

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Intapp (NASDAQ: INTA), a leading global provider of AI-powered solutions for professionals at advisory, legal, and capital markets firms, announced the availability of Intapp DealCloud Activator. The new solution was announced today at Intapp’s annual product event in New York City.

    Built on the research underpinning the forthcoming book The Activator Advantage, DealCloud Activator is an AI-enabled growth platform that enables professionals to adopt and sustain successful business development practices. Using AI and behavioral science, the solution helps firms better align business development efforts with strategic goals, successfully integrate new lateral partners, and drive sustained firmwide growth.

    DealCloud Activator uses AI to surface real-time insights and actionable nudges that guide professionals to proactively support client relationships throughout the entire client lifecycle — without disrupting their daily routines. Additionally, firm leaders gain needed visibility into their teams’ business development activities — empowering goal setting, progress monitoring, and alignment of coaching efforts with individual, practice, and firm goals.​

    “Professionals are inundated with the daily work to deliver for clients, often at the expense of business development,” said Erin Guinan, General Manager of DealCloud. “Intapp DealCloud Activator breaks business development down from a nebulous concept into a handful of simple tasks each day. It enables each professional to adopt and maintain Activator behaviors — driving consistency in BD activities, creating and maintaining connections, and delivering the right idea at the right time — at scale across the firm.”

    Key features of Intapp DealCloud Activator include:

    • Relationship and opportunity signals: Changes in key relationships — such as job changes, cooling contacts, and company news — are proactively fed to users with AI-driven signals and insights.
    • Behavioral nudges: Timely, relevant reminders on best next actions are integrated into daily workflows to foster consistent engagement.
    • Tech stack integration: Integration with email, LinkedIn, and other tools lets users act on nudges directly from the alert.
    • Holistic data pictures: Connecting third-party data with proprietary firm history, ensures that recommendations are built off a rich, unique set of data specific to each professional and their clients.
    • Network management and visualization: Visual relationship network maps strengthen internal and external connections, identify gaps, and drive more strategic client interactions and cross-firm collaboration.
    • Personalized updates: Tailored digests and updates on key activities — including new opportunities, relevant client changes, and internal referrals — promote collaboration and ensure professionals are well-prepared for client interactions.
    • Activator coaching: Actionable insights and reminders on proven business development strategies are embedded in notification feeds to reinforce training and ensure success.
    • Performance metrics and BD assessment: Dashboards highlighting key activities like referrals, new opportunities, and relationship building track individual and team-level business development performance.

    About Intapp 
    Intapp software helps professionals unlock their teams’ knowledge, relationships, and operational insights to increase value for their firms. Using the power of Applied AI, we make firm and market intelligence easy to find, understand, and use. With Intapp’s portfolio of vertical SaaS solutions, professionals can apply their collective expertise to make smarter decisions, manage risk, and increase competitive advantage. The world’s top firms — across accounting, consulting, investment banking, legal, private capital, and real assets — trust Intapp’s industry-specific platform and solutions to modernize and drive new growth. For more information, visit intapp.com and LinkedIn. 

    Contact:
    Ali Robinson
    Global Media Relations Director
    press@intapp.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cority Integrates Arcadia’s Platform to Automate Utility Data for ESG Compliance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cority, the global leader in enterprise Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) and Sustainability software, has announced a strategic partnership with Arcadia, the industry leader in utility data and energy management solutions. This collaboration enables Cority customers to leverage Arcadia’s expansive data platform, reducing manual processes and enhancing the quality of sustainability reporting across large enterprises.

    The integration aligns Arcadia’s utility data platform with CorityOne, the company’s comprehensive and integrated EHS and sustainability SaaS-based ecosystem, creating a powerful solution for organizations managing complex energy portfolios. By automating data acquisition, cleansing, and standardization, the partnership empowers sustainability, energy management, and compliance teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than labor-intensive manual data entry processes.

    Simplifying sustainability reporting: Accurate energy data at scale
    The Arcadia partnership unlocks easy access to accurate global energy data for Cority customers. Arcadia’s platform leverages AI-driven processes to clean and fill data gaps and draws on insights from a database of over three million utility accounts. The company’s global data coverage encompasses more than 9,500 utility data providers — including electric, gas, water, and more — in 52 countries, and over 95% of residential and commercial accounts in the US.

    The breadth of utility data from Arcadia and ease of integration with Cority ensures companies can meet complex and ever-changing regulatory requirements seamlessly, including reasonable assurance standards under the EU’s CSRD regulation and the IFRS-S2 climate-related disclosures.

    “Large organizations often struggle with fragmented data collection, whether it’s keyed in manually or pulled from inconsistent spreadsheets,” said Alex Hardwick, director of sustainability, planning and enablement at Cority. “With Arcadia, our customers now have access to a scalable, automated solution that ensures reliable, traceable data for sustainability reporting and energy management. It’s a game changer for companies with extensive site networks.”

    CorityOne: A unified ecosystem for sustainability data management
    CorityOne’s unified ecosystem is built on the principles of interoperability and integration, allowing organizations to consolidate their sustainability and EHS data in one platform. By partnering with Arcadia, Cority strengthens its ability to deliver a comprehensive data management solution that streamlines processes, improves accuracy, and eliminates silos.

    “Organizations are under growing pressure to deliver accurate sustainability reports, but many are still relying on manual data collection processes that are time-intensive, prone to error, and often limited to a one-time annual exercise,” said Curtis Snyder, SVP & GM at Arcadia. “Cority’s focus on EHS and sustainability provides the perfect foundation for a single source of truth. By combining Arcadia’s automated utility data capabilities with Cority’s unified ecosystem, we’re helping enterprises move beyond static reporting to ongoing visibility into their resource usage and carbon impact—enabling smarter decision-making and streamlined reporting.”

    With this partnership, Cority customers gain access to a scalable and automated approach for managing utility data. Arcadia’s robust platform seamlessly integrates with CorityOne, enabling customers to link utility accounts across thousands of locations and directly feed standardized data into the system. This eliminates time-consuming manual data entry and provides organizations with a centralized, actionable view of their energy consumption and emissions, further streamlining the reporting process.

    About Cority
    Cority gives every employee from the field to the boardroom the power to make a difference, reducing risks and creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world. For over 35 years, Cority’s people-first software solutions have been built by EHS and sustainability experts who know the pressures businesses face. Time-tested, scalable, and configurable, CorityOne is the responsible business platform that combines datasets from across the organization to enable improved efficiencies, actionable insights, data-driven decisions, and more accurate reporting on performance. Trusted by over 1,500 organizations worldwide, Cority deeply cares about helping people work toward a better future for everyone. To learn more, visit www.cority.com

    About Arcadia
    Arcadia is the global utility data and energy solutions platform. With our leading data platform, AI-powered analytics, industry expertise, and expansive partner network, we deliver solutions for every stage of the enterprise energy management lifecycle across carbon, cost, and reliability. Arcadia also manages the nation’s leading community solar program.

    For media inquiries, contact:
    Natalie Rizk
    RiotMind
    natalier@theriotmind.agency

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Kandji Unveils Device Management for Apple Vision Pro to Enable Seamless Integration of Spatial Computing in the Enterprise

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kandji, the Apple endpoint management and security platform, today announced Device Management for Apple Vision Pro, a groundbreaking solution that revolutionizes how businesses deploy and manage Apple Vision devices at scale.

    Kandji’s new solution represents a new enterprise device management solution built specifically for Apple Vision devices that intelligently uses Apple’s next-generation Declarative Device Management (DDM) protocol, wherever available. This enables organizations to seamlessly integrate spatial computing into their workplace faster and with more consistent enforcement of security settings.

    The Augmented and Virtual Reality Headset industry is expected to grow from 6.7 million units in 2024 to 22.9 million in 2028. With two-thirds (67%) of IT professionals in agreement that the future of Apple Vision Pro is as a business productivity solution, and over 50% of Fortune 100 companies incorporating Apple Vision Pro into their operations, the device is gaining traction in the enterprise.

    “As Apple continues to develop new and advanced devices that expand the bounds for what modern organizations can accomplish, it’s of utmost importance that the management and protection of these devices be as seamless as possible,” said Adam Pettit, co-founder and CEO of Kandji. “At Kandji, we’re thrilled to support and enable a revolutionary work experience for our customers through augmented and virtual reality, while prioritizing security and productivity.”

    Kandji’s Device Management for Apple Vision devices features automated device enrollment specifically for fully-managed, corporate-owned devices. This helps IT teams manage and secure Apple Vision devices right out of the box, allowing them to be set up and fully configured from Day 1 with the right apps and settings with minimal intervention by IT.

    Breaking from legacy device management approaches, Kandji automatically utilizes Apple’s DDM rather than legacy mobile device management (MDM) frameworks whenever it is available, for example when setting a passcode policy. This forward-thinking architecture results in a more responsive and stable management experience that keeps pace with the innovative nature of spatial computing.

    “Apple Vision Pro represents a new era of computing, and businesses need modern management tools to support it,” added Pettit. “By leveraging Apple’s latest declarative device management protocols, we’re enabling organizations to confidently deploy Vision devices while maintaining enterprise-grade security, compliance, and performance.”

    Kandji’s Device Management for Apple Vision is seamlessly integrated into Kandji’s Device Management product so customers are able to manage and secure their Apple Vision devices alongside the rest of their Apple fleet. Kandji’s support for Apple Vision devices is currently available for all Kandji customers. For more information please visit https://www.kandji.io/.

    Helpful Links

    About Kandji
    Kandji is the Apple endpoint management and security platform. Kandji empowers companies to manage and secure Apple devices in the enterprise and at scale. By centrally securing and managing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, IT and InfoSec teams can save countless hours of manual, repetitive work with features like one-click compliance templates and more than 150 pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Learn more at http://www.kandji.io.

    Media Contact
    Erica Anderson
    pr@kandji.io  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Varonis Opens Data Centers in India to Support Expanding Customer Base and Minimize Cloud Data Risk 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI and MUMBAI, India, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Varonis Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNS), a leader in data security, today announced new data centers in India. Located in Mumbai and Pune, the centers will support customers using the Varonis cloud-native Data Security Platform to protect sensitive data, maintain privacy regulations, and stay on top of threats with AI-powered automation.

    New draft rules under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act require Indian businesses to navigate the country’s intricate legal landscape skillfully. Varonis’ new data centers will support customers who must comply with regulatory frameworks from the Reserve Bank of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India — all without disrupting the business.

    “Varonis’ new data centers in India help us meet strict data localization requirements while strengthening our security,” said Makesh Chandramohan, the Group CISO of Aditya Birla Capital. “Varonis will help us ensure compliance, reduce latency, and improve our overall cybersecurity posture.”

    “Our new data centers underscore Varonis’ dedication to providing our customers with deep data visibility wherever it lives — in the most important data stores and applications across SaaS, IaaS, on-prem, and hybrid environments,” said Scott Leach, Varonis VP of APAC. “The launch demonstrates our ongoing commitment to helping customers automatically reduce their data security risk with a unified platform.”

    With data growing at a rate that surpasses the ability to secure it, organizations turn to Varonis to protect their sensitive cloud data.

    “Varonis establishing its data centers in India demonstrates our commitment to our customers and partners in the region and helps ensure their requirements around data sovereignty and regional regulatory compliance are met comprehensively,” said Maheswaran Shanmugasundaram, Country Manager for India at Varonis. “This move will accelerate our mission to help customers protect their most valuable and vulnerable asset — data — automatically and help ensure they are compliant and secure.”

    Additional Resources

    About Varonis

    Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) is a leader in data security, fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and detects advanced threats with AI-powered automation.

    Thousands of organizations worldwide trust Varonis to defend their data wherever it lives — across SaaS, IaaS, and hybrid cloud environments. Customers use Varonis to automate a wide range of security outcomes, including data security posture management (DSPM), data classification, data access governance (DAG), data detection and response (DDR), data loss prevention (DLP), and insider risk management.

    Varonis protects data first, not last. Learn more at www.varonis.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Tim Perz
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    646-640-2112
    investors@varonis.com

    News Media Contact:
    Rachel Hunt
    Varonis Systems, Inc.
    877-292-8767 (ext. 1598)
    pr@varonis.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Šiaulių Bankas Group Results for the Year 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Financial targets. Šiaulių Bankas Group demonstrated strong performance and successfully achieved all its financial targets for 2024, delivering on its guidance
    • Profit. Šiaulių Bankas Group earned a record net profit of €78.8 million
    • Loan portfolio. The loan portfolio grew by 17% year-on-year to over €3.4 billion
    • Deposits. The deposit portfolio grew by 12% over the year to almost €3.6 billion at the end of 2024
    • Fee & commission income. Net fee and commission income grew by 44% year-on-year to over €29 million
    • Dividends. Šiaulių Bankas Group intends to propose a distribution of 50% of its 2024 net profit, or €0.061 dividend per share
    • Share buybacks. Will allocate up to 5% of the 2024 net profit for own share buybacks
    • Rebranding. A rebranding of Šiaulių Bankas will be proposed for the upcoming shareholders’ meeting

    “In 2024, we have successfully integrated INVL’s retail business into Šiaulių Bankas Group, updated our long-term vision and strategy, and initiated a business transformation that we believe will bring greater value to our customers, shareholders, and society.

    While launching strategic projects such as the replacement of the core banking platform and rebranding preparation, we maintained high profitability and service quality, effectively managing risk and costs.

    The successful implementation of our first international bond issuances and the updated dividend policy demonstrate our commitment to efficient capital utilization and delivering high returns to shareholders during the transformation period,” says Vytautas Sinius, CEO of Šiaulių Bankas.

    Šiaulių Bankas Group earned an unaudited net profit of €78.8 million in 2024 which is 5% more than in 2023. Operating profit before allowance for impairment losses and income tax amounted to €107.3 million, a 3% decrease compared to operating profit of €111.0 million in 2023.

    Net interest income grew by 2% year-on-year to €160.2 million, while net fee and commission income grew by 44% to over €29 million. The latter increased 11% in the last quarter of 2024 alone, compared to Q3 2024.

    All loan book segments grew during the year, with the total loan portfolio increasing by 17% (€503 million) to €3.43 billion. New credit agreements worth €1.5 billion were signed during the year, 14% more than in 2023 (€1.3 billion).

    The quality of the loan portfolio remains strong, with provisions of €11.3 million made in 2024, €4 million less than in 2023. The Cost of Risk (CoR) of the loan portfolio for year 2024 was 0.35% (0.54% for the 2023).

    The deposit portfolio grew by 12% since the beginning of the year (€383 million) and exceeded €3.5 billion at the end of the year. The amount of term deposits grew by 22% (€348 million) to over €1.9 billion during the year and their share in the total deposit portfolio increased by 5 percentage points to 54%.

    The bank’s capital structure was enhanced by an additional issue of Tier 1 (AT1) bonds of €50 million in the fourth quarter. All issuances made in 2024 have significantly strengthened and diversified the capital base, which allows for continued rapid growth while ensuring high returns for investors.

    The Bank’s Management Board, taking into the account the updated dividend policy, the bank’s strong performance in 2024, its robust capital position, and the favourable outlook for the operating environment, has decided to propose a dividend of 50% of the 2024 net profit (€0.061 per share) for approval at the Bank’s Annual General Meeting.

    Šiaulių Bankas has repurchased own shares worth €10.2 million and is planning to continue with buyback programmes, in line with the existing the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) authorisation granted on 15th August 2024. The bank will also propose to allocate up to 5% of its 2024 net profit for the share buybacks for the capital reduction purpose, and to grant shares as part of the deferred variable remuneration for the employees of the Šiaulių Bankas Group.

    The group’s cost/income ratio (C/I) was 49.0%1 (41.2%1 in 2023) and the return on equity (RoE) was 14.0% (15.5% in 2023) at the end of the year. The capital and liquidity position remained strong and prudential ratios are being met by a wide margin. The capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 22.8%2 and the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) at 232%2.

    Income Statement (€’m) FY2024 FY2023 % ∆
           
    Net Interest Income 160.2 156.9 2%
    Net Fee & Commission Income 29.1 20.3 44%
    Other Income 34.4 19.3 78%
    Total Revenue 223.7 196.5 14%
           
    Salaries and Related Expenses (49.5) (36.2) 37%
    Other Operating Expenses (66.9) (49.3) 36%
    Total Operating Expenses (116.4) (85.5) 36%
           
    Operating Profit 107.3 111.0 (3%)
    Allowance for Impairment Losses (10.9) (15.2) (28%)
    Income Tax Expense (17.7) (20.4) (13%)
           
    Net Profit 78.8 75.4 5%
           
    Balance Sheet Metrics (€’m) Dec 2024 Dec 2023 % ∆
           
    Loans 3 435 2 932 17%
    Total Assets 4 923 4 808 2%
    Deposits 3 561 3 178 12%
    Equity 585 543 8%
           
    Assets under Management3 1,977 1,556 27%
    Assets under Custody 1,936 1,943 0%
           
    Key Ratios FY2024 FY2023 ∆
           
    Net Interest Margin (NIM) 3.3% 4.2% -93bps
    Cost-to-Income ratio (C/I)1 49.0% 41.2% +779bps
    Return on Equity (RoE) 14.0% 15.5% -146bps
    Cost of Risk (CoR) 0.3% 0.5% -19bps
    Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR)2 22.8% 22.4% +36bps
             

    Overview of Business Segments

    Corporate Client Segment

    Šiaulių Bankas has significantly increased the volume of corporate financing over the year – in 12 months new corporate financing agreements worth of €960 million were signed in 2024, 29% increase compared to previous year. In the 2024 the portfolio has grown by 20% (€308 million) to over €1.8 billion. Growth has been well-diversified across several strategic sectors, including manufacturing, retail, and renewable energy. A favourable business environment has encouraged investment and created additional opportunities for expansion.

    Šiaulių Bankas continued its commitments to promote sustainability and signed amendments to the Pre-financing and Contingent loan agreements with the European Investment Bank (EIB) concluded in 2016 to increase the Bank’s investment up to €255 million from €195 million – to finance the modernization programme of multi-apartment buildings in Lithuania.

    Private Client Segment

    In 2024, Šiaulių Bankas has successfully implemented key strategic initiatives that strengthened its market position and ensured sustainable growth. The successful integration of INVL retail business was a major accomplishment, which enabled the bank to expand its service offering and provide customers with even more opportunities. The implementation of new core banking platform is on track, promising a greater efficiency and an improves customer experience.

    To strengthen its image and further meet the expectations of its customers, Šiaulių Bankas has also started preparations for the rebranding. A rebranding of Šiaulių Bankas will be proposed for the upcoming shareholders’ meeting.

    The volume of new mortgage contracts in 2024 increased by 21% year-on-year to €213 million. In 2024 the mortgage portfolio has grown by 17% (€136 million) reaching €0.9 billion. The volume of new consumer loan contracts increased by 5% year-on-year to €232 million. Since the beginning of 2024, the consumer loan portfolio has grown by 19% (€57 million) to over €0.35 billion.

    Investment Client Segment

    The bank has remained active in the local corporate bond market, originating €42 million in corporate bonds across 10 issuances for its clients in Q4 2024. Total corporate bond issuance for the year reached €227 million. According to Nasdaq Baltics, Šiaulių Bankas is leading security issuer in Lithuania and the Baltic States and maintains the largest share of securities trading on the Lithuanian stock exchange.

    Šiaulių Bankas demonstrated strong performance in asset management business in 2024. Client assets under management (AuM) reached €1.46 billion and grew by €277 million year-on-year. Growth was driven by new client investment flows and investment performance. In 2024, Šiaulių Bankas asset management company, earned €164.4 million for Tier II pension fund clients and €19.8 million for Tier III clients. In total, the profit generated for clients during the year was €184.2 million.

    SB Alternative Investment Fund III, providing new investment opportunities for Lithuanian retail investors, has enjoyed a successful launch, attracting over €6 million in 2024. Distribution of units of the investment fund is ongoing.

    The Life Insurance segment also showed steady growth, Risk Under Management (RUM) reaching EUR 1.7 billion in the fourth quarter, EUR 174 million more than a year ago.

    1after eliminating the impact of the client portfolio of SB Draudimas
    2preliminary data
    3includes Asset Management and Modernisation Funds AuM

    Šiaulių Bankas invites shareholders, investors, analysts and all interested parties to a webinar presentation of the financial results and highlights for the 2024. The webinar will start on 27 February 2025 at 8.30 am (EET). The webinar will be held in English. Please register here. Please find attached the information that will be presented at the webinar.

    If you would like to receive Šiaulių Bankas’ news for investors directly to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter.

    Additional information:
    Tomas Varenbergas
    Head of Investment Management Division
    tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Relm Insurance and Liva Group Empower Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Web3 and AI Through Strategic Insurance Partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Liva and Relm focus on businesses in high-growth innovative sectors often not covered by traditional insurance products.
    • From digital asset insurance to AI-related risk management and solutions, the partnership ensures businesses operating in these industries can secure the coverage they need to thrive.
    • Partnership will initially support companies in the UAE and Bahrain, with plans to extend services to Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other key markets in MENA.

    Dubai, UAE, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Liva Group, a leading insurance group operating across the GCC, and Relm Insurance — the only insurer dedicated to dedicated to emerging sectors — today signed a strategic partnership aimed at empowering innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging sectors such as digital assets, biotech, and AI.

    The union will deliver tailored insurance solutions that address the unique and complex needs of tech companies.

    The partnership was formally signed by Martin Rueegg, CEO of Liva Group, and Joseph Ziolkowski, Global CEO and Founder of Relm Insurance, at DIFC AI Campus as part of DFS Dialogues. DFS Dialogues are exclusive strategic conversations that take place in invite-only gatherings in the lead-up to the Dubai FinTech Summit.

    Whether they’re start-ups or established players, firms in emerging sectors often struggle to get the right insurance due to a lack of understanding of their industries’ rapidly evolving landscape, which stifles innovation and deters investment. By combining Liva Group’s deep market knowledge with Relm’s deep expertise in specialised insurance, the partnership will provide unparalleled support to these companies, empowering them to tackle complex challenges and seize new opportunities.

    The alliance will initially support companies in the UAE and Bahrain, with plans to extend services to Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other key markets in MENA, supporting the region’s development as a leader in digital transformation, AI innovation, and blockchain technology.

    Martin Rueegg, Group CEO of Liva Group, said: “Sectors such as digital assets and AI are critical to the next phase of growth in this region. We believe that unlocking their full potential requires fostering an environment where creativity, collaboration, and innovation can thrive. At Liva, we recognise that technology is a key enabler of this transformation. By leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions, we are not only improving customer experiences but also enhancing our ability to anticipate and respond to evolving market needs. A key aspect of this is providing entrepreneurs and investors with the confidence to embrace new challenges and explore fresh ideas. This mission is at the heart of our partnership with Relm.”

    Joseph Ziolkowski, Global CEO & Founder of Relm Insurance, added: “Our priority is to support clients and brokers by providing the insurance solutions tailored for innovative businesses in this region. This collaboration enables brokers to offer their clients the security they need to thrive in complex and dynamic sectors.”

    Operating through its Dubai-based affiliate, Relm Insurance holds a Category 4 licence issued by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). With its new headquarters in DIFC and regulation under the Bermuda Monetary Authority, Relm is well-positioned to provide its specialised insurance solutions in the region.

    -ENDS-

    About Liva Group

    Liva is an insurance group operating across the GCC, founded on the belief that insurance is a pillar that supports both personal and professional lives. As one of the pioneering insurance players in the region, Liva’s team of 1,200 employees is dedicated to offering products and services centred on customer needs, empowering individuals, businesses, and communities to thrive. Serving more than 1.5 million customers, Liva has a strong and growing presence in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain across motor, home travel, health, life, and commercial insurance, as well owning subsidiaries such as NSSPL (India) and Inayah TPA (UAE), supporting its long-term strategy to scale and diversify the business. The word “Liva” signifies “protection” or “life”, reflecting the Group’s commitment to protecting what matters most to its people, its partners, and, most of all, its customers.

    About Relm Insurance

    Relm Insurance Ltd. (Relm) is a Bermuda-domiciled specialty insurance carrier that supports emerging industries driving innovation and next-generation technologies. Launched in 2019, Relm offers a wide range of insurance products to high-growth markets, including digital assets, blockchain, AI, biotech, and the space economy. With a Financial Stability Rating of ‘A, Exceptional’ from Demotech, Relm is widely recognised for its industry expertise and solutions-driven approach, making it a trusted risk partner for businesses operating at the frontier of technological innovation.

    Media Contacts

    Sarah Abdelbary
    Brunswick Group
    sabdelbary@brunswickgroup.com

    Reannah Smith  
    Luna PR  
    reannah@lunapr.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ataccama Recognized in BARC Data Intelligence Platform Report 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ataccama, the data trust company, today announced it has been named a challenger in the 2025 BARC Data Intelligence Platform Report. The report, which evaluates leading vendors in data intelligence, highlights Ataccama’s ability to unify critical capabilities—data cataloging, lineage, governance, quality, observability, and master data management—into a seamless, all-in-one platform. Ataccama enables organizations to eliminate complexity, ensure data reliability, and drive strategic data and AI initiatives with confidence.

    “As organizations modernize their technology stacks to enhance products, services, and business models, data silos hinder access and trust across the enterprise,” said Mike McKee, CEO of Ataccama. “Ataccama ONE simplifies this complexity, allowing organizations to organize, understand, and improve their data. This is especially important in highly regulated industries like financial services and insurance, where compliance is stringent, or in sectors like manufacturing, burdened by legacy systems. By creating a unified source of truth, businesses can streamline discovery, enhance efficiency, and demonstrate the value of their data investments. Our recognition by BARC underscores our commitment to unlocking the transformative potential of high-quality data.”

    The BARC report commends Ataccama for its integrated, in-house developed platform, which allows businesses to build scalable governance frameworks and ensure trust in their data assets. With advanced features—such as metadata refinement, automated data quality checks, and intuitive self-service tools—Ataccama simplifies complex data landscapes, fosters collaboration, and reduces risks tied to data quality issues or regulatory non-compliance.

    The report evaluates capabilities like metadata refinement and automated workflows within the data intelligence domain. While these are critical components, data intelligence is a subset of the broader concept of data trust. Ataccama ONE extends beyond the scope of the BARC evaluation by offering end-to-end capabilities, including governance, lineage, observability, master data management, all supported by ONE AI for automation of data tasks to save time for data teams. This comprehensive approach helps organizations establish resilient systems that support enterprise-wide trust, compliance, and innovation.

    “Trusted, high-quality data forms the backbone of successful data-driven organizations,” said Timm Grosser, Senior Analyst for Data and Analytics at BARC. “Platforms like Ataccama ONE address the critical need for unified data governance, quality, and cataloging by integrating advanced AI and active metadata. This allows enterprises to eliminate silos, ensure regulatory compliance, and make informed decisions, positioning them for long-term success.”

    Ataccama’s recognition as a Challenger reflects its ability to meet evolving market needs with innovative solutions, while its roadmap prioritizes AI-enhanced features and self-service capabilities to further empower organizations.

    To learn more about Ataccama ONE unified data trust platform, visit https://www.ataccama.com/platform

    About Ataccama
    Ataccama enables organizations to accelerate business initiatives with high quality data they trust using Ataccama ONE, a unified data trust platform. Combining data quality, lineage, observability, governance, and master data management in a single solution, Ataccama supports hundreds of organizations around the world to increase revenue, decrease costs, and mitigate risk. Ataccama was one of only three software companies to be recognized by Gartner as a Market Leader for Augmented Data Quality in 2024. Learn more at www.ataccama.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Introducing Lineos, AI Powered by insightsoftware: Transforming Finance Workflows With Actionable Insights

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — insightsoftware, the most comprehensive provider of solutions for the Office of the CFO, today announced the launch of Lineos, a suite of AI-driven capabilities designed to enhance insightsoftware’s financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, and operations products. Lineos supports finance professionals by simplifying complex data into actionable insights, addressing real-world challenges, and enabling confident decision-making.

    Manual processes and repetitive tasks continue to burden finance teams, consuming time and increasing the risk of errors. Many organizations spend more than 30 hours monthly on top-level reporting. According to Gartner, 81% of CFOs plan to increase AI investments in 2025—a sign of growing confidence in AI’s ability to transform financial operations. Lineos helps navigate this shift by automating tasks, uncovering trends, and delivering actionable insights—all within the systems teams already trust.

    “While finance teams recognize the potential of AI, many struggle to make it meaningful,” said Lee An Schommer, Chief Product Officer and General Manager, ERP Reporting & BI at insightsoftware. “CFOs are challenging their teams to boost productivity with AI, but finding a starting point can be difficult. At insightsoftware, we are dedicated to the Office of the CFO, delivering AI solutions that tackle real-world challenges like report generation. With Lineos, we empower finance teams with an AI-powered ‘line of sight’ into their data, enabling confident, data-driven decision-making.”

    How Lineos Empowers Finance Professionals:

    • Saves Time: Lineos takes care of tedious, manual tasks, such as summarizing comments, building and refining complex reports, and recommending pre-built content, so finance teams can focus on the big picture.
    • Reveals Patterns: Lineos uncovers hidden trends like spending patterns from general ledger data to help identify cost-saving opportunities, surfaces actionable insights from ESG data to boost sustainability ratings, and simplifies month-end close by consolidating comments across subsidiaries and departments, enabling faster, smarter decision-making.
    • Simplifies Workflows: Lineos uses Natural Language Query (NLQ) to enable effortless report creation, seamlessly integrates with existing systems, and reduces the need for heavy IT involvement, driving greater productivity and innovation.

    Lineos features work together to simplify processes, enabling finance teams to shift focus from managing data to driving insights and delivering value. Built on the insightsoftware Platform, Lineos capabilities fit into the workflows that finance teams already use, meaning there’s no steep learning curve or added complexity. Prioritizing security and privacy, it ensures data is protected at every step, enabling organizations to maintain reliable and secure business operations.

    Find out more about how Lineos can help finance teams bypass time-consuming manual processes and deliver insights sooner here.

    About insightsoftware
    insightsoftware is a global provider of comprehensive solutions for the Office of the CFO. We believe an actionable business strategy begins and ends with accessible financial data. With solutions across financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, and operations, we transform how teams operate, empowering leaders to make timely and informed decisions. With data at the heart of everything we do, insightsoftware enables automated processes, delivers trusted insights, boosts predictability, and increases productivity. Learn more at insightsoftware.com.

    Media Contacts
    Inkhouse for insightsoftware
    insightsoftware@inkhouse.com

    Daniel Tummeley
    Corporate Communications Manager
    PR@insightsoftware.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bridgetown Research raises $19M from Lightspeed and Accel to deploy AI business research agents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Seattle, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Strategic business decisions have traditionally been expensive and slow for a fundamental reason: they don’t happen enough. This means companies lack both historical data to learn from and experts who have seen enough similar cases. Bridgetown Research is changing that. Today, the AI decision science startup announced $19 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed and Accel, with participation from a leading research university.

    Bridgetown Research has developed AI agents that autonomously execute research. Most notable amongst these agents are voice bots trained to recruit and interview industry experts, gathering primary data that can be analyzed alongside alternative data sourced from their partners. 

    Bridgetown Research founder Harsh Sahai.

    Founded by Harsh Sahai, who previously led machine learning teams at Amazon before leading strategy engagements at McKinsey & Co., Bridgetown Research was born from a simple observation: the majority of business analyses are a permutation of a small number of automatable tasks. The founding team, comprising former professionals from McKinsey, Bain, Amazon, and leading tech startups, brings together extensive experience across strategy consulting and technology.

    “We are excited to be a catalyst for change. We are working with multiple private equity firms, management consulting firms, and corporate teams to help make strategic decisions better and faster. This in turn is driving up demand for advisory and information services downstream. We enable $10+ of advisory and information services revenue for every $1 we make. Together with leading institutions, we’re building something bigger than ourselves—an ecosystem where everyone thrives,” commented Harsh Sahai, CEO & founder of Bridgetown Research.

    While many AI solutions focus on searching and summarizing information using LLMs, real world business decisions require much more than synthesising the open web. They need proprietary data such as primary data from experts and customer surveys, along with frameworks to understand markets, what Harsh Sahai calls “ontologies”. Moreover, outputs need to be repeatable and auditable for a business to use them to make decisions with tens of millions of dollars at stake. Bridgetown Research is the only player using agents to gather primary data and systematically find patterns in it to generate original insights. 

    Bridgetown Research: (L to R) Founder Harsh Sahai with Director of Engineering Mohak Singh. 

    “AI is causing widespread disruptions across many enterprise functions, and Bridgetown Research is riding that wave by assisting executives in making important strategic decisions. We are pleased to see Bridgetown serving several marquee customers, with users likening its platform to having a team of top-tier consultants at their fingertips. We are excited to partner with Harsh, who, with his background as an ace AI research scientist turned management consultant, blends a unique combination of skills and insight needed to imagine this whole new category of applied AI,” said Anagh Prasad, Investor at Accel.

    Bridgetown Research started with a focus on private equity deal screening diligence. Multiple top-tier PE & VC firms already use Bridgetown Research for deal screening and deeper commercial diligence. They’re able to screen their pipeline much faster with initial analysis taking 24 hours instead of weeks without Bridgetown enabling teams to focus on actual decision making instead of research and analysis. For other customers Bridgetown has enabled voice of customer conversations that cover hundreds of respondents in parallel, and within days. 

    Ishaan Preet Singh, Investor at Lightspeed added “Companies are built on the quality of strategic decisions, and the research and analysis behind it. Bridgetown Research enables the smartest executives and investors to make these decisions with an order of magnitude more information, and at a pace that was earlier impossible. Harsh and Bridgetown are already creating immense value for their customers, but are still just scratching the surface of the leverage that AI can create.”

    As global markets become increasingly complex, the demand for efficient and effective decision-making tools continues to rise. With this funding round, Bridgetown Research plans to invest further in training its AI agents to perform a broader set of analyses across a broader range of domains, and deepening industry partnerships to enhance access to domain-specific intelligence.

    Ends

    Media images can be found here. 

    About Bridgetown Research
    Bridgetown Research builds AI agents for decision research. Its voice agents and web crawlers find and clean data, while its analyses agents produce repeatable, auditable, and reliable analyses. The team consists of computer scientists, econometricians, software engineers, investors and business consultants, working across geographies. For more information please visit https://www.bridgetownresearch.com/ 

    About Accel 
    Accel is a global venture capital firm that aims to be the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere (Facebook, Flipkart, etc.), from inception through all phases of private company growth. Accel has been operating in India since 2008, and its investments include companies like BookMyShow, Browserstack, Flipkart, Freshworks, FalconX, Infra.Market, Chargebee, Clevertap, Cure Fit, Musigma, Moneyview, Mensa Brands, Myntra, Moglix, Ninjacart, Swiggy, Stanza Living, Urban Company, Zetwerk, and Zenoti, among many others. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit: www.accel.com

    About Lightspeed
    Lightspeed is a global multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, Health, and Fintech sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 500 companies globally including Affirm, Acceldata, Carta, Cato Networks, Darwinbox, Epic Games, Faire, Innovaccer, Guardant Health, Mulesoft, Navan, Netskope, Nutanix, Physics Wallah, Razorpay, Rubrik, Sharechat, Snap, OYO Rooms, Ultima Genomics, Zepto and more. Lightspeed and its global team currently manage $25B in AUM across the Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in the U.S., Europe, India, Israel, and Southeast Asia. www.lsip.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Starmer announces aid cuts to fund defence – but Britain’s days as an aid superpower are already long over

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Balazs Szent-Ivanyi, Reader in Politics and International Relations and Deputy Director Aston Centre for Europe, Aston University

    Keir Starmer’s announcement that the UK will cut foreign aid in order to fund more defence spending seems like smart politics. With the US’s commitment to European security in question, it is clear that European countries, including the UK, need to spend more on defence.

    The US president, Donald Trump, with whom the prime minister is meeting on Thursday, has long called out Europeans for free-riding on America’s security guarantee. Credible promises of more British defence spending (including on American kit) may also deter Trump from introducing tariffs on UK imports.

    Building up the UK’s and Europe’s defence capabilities comes with a hefty price tag, and finding the money is tricky. The UK economy has weak growth prospects, and Labour has made a pledge not to increase taxes “on working people”. This leaves budget cuts in other areas as the only approach. The government seems to have decided that cutting foreign aid may be the least painful option for voters.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    Foreign aid has generally been seen as an area of government spending which has relatively weak groups of domestic supporters. Charities and companies that directly benefit from aid spending through government contracts are a smallish group, and many receive funding from several sources.

    Hostility to aid among the general public is relatively high. According to a 2024 survey by the British Foreign Policy Group, 46% of Britons surveyed thought that UK aid should not return to its previous high of 0.7% of gross national income (GNI), or should be cut even further below the 0.5% at the time of that survey.

    A frequent argument made by successive British governments is that aid, by targeting poverty and conflict, can address the root causes of migration. The public, however, is sceptical about aid’s ability to reduce irregular migration or make the UK safer.



    Read more:
    Why many policies to lower migration actually increase it

    Although Labour voters are more positive about aid’s benefits, it is unlikely that the government would see any major electoral harm from reductions to the aid budget.

    Where aid is really used

    While cutting aid may be a smart move politically, it will have longer-term consequences for the UK’s global influence and its ability to achieve positive change in the world. Many charities were quick to point this out, arguing that it will hurt the lives of the poorest across the world.

    Aid is now set to shrink from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3%, which implies the UK will still have a substantial aid programme. On average, rich countries spent 0.37% of their GNI on aid in 2023 – not much more than what the UK will spend now.

    In practice, however, 23% of the British aid budget in 2023 was made up by Home Office spending on housing refugees in the UK. This is unlikely to decline quickly, even though the government has said it aims to reduce it. A further 34% consisted of contributions to multilateral organisations like the United Nations and World Bank. While there is scope to cut some of this, large savings are difficult without the UK leaving some organisations.

    Given these two fixed items, very little will remain for “genuine” development programmes in partner countries – the kind of funding that is actually visible as UK aid.



    Read more:
    The UK spent a third of its international aid budget on refugees in the UK – what it’s paying for, and why it’s a problem

    Such a small genuine aid programme will undoubtedly mean lower development impact and lower British influence. But the UK’s standing and soft power, particularly in poorer countries, was already in tatters well before Starmer’s announcement.

    The merger between the Foreign Office and Department for International Development in 2020, followed by budget cuts and the re-allocation of aid to the Home Office, has destroyed the UK’s reputation as an “aid superpower” and champion of the global poor.

    Across-the-board cuts have even devastated programmes which the UK has declared as priority areas, such as support for women and girls. Some would argue that after these cuts, the UK did not have much of a reputation left to lose.

    But this story of UK aid is not unique. Indeed, the world has entered a new era of aid fatigue. The populist right portrays aid as wasteful and ineffective, as shown by the Trump administration’s dismantling of the US Agency for International Development.



    Read more:
    USAID’s freeze has thrust the entire global aid system into uncertainty

    Many Africans see aid as a neocolonial enterprise aimed at spreading western ideologies, a sentiment often echoed by the progressive left. Western countries themselves are increasingly open about their selfish reasons for providing aid, such as boosting business, while many non-western donors have emerged as alternatives.

    It is not a surprise that the west’s influence in the world has waned, as evidenced by its failure to build a global anti-Russia coalition following the invasion of Ukraine.

    The UK will need to adapt to these realities. Designing a smarter and highly targeted aid programme, perhaps from the ground up, is now more important than ever to rebuild Britain’s reputation.

    Balazs Szent-Ivanyi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Starmer announces aid cuts to fund defence – but Britain’s days as an aid superpower are already long over – https://theconversation.com/starmer-announces-aid-cuts-to-fund-defence-but-britains-days-as-an-aid-superpower-are-already-long-over-250873

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: The Now Corporation’s (OTC: NWPN) M Love Vintage Holdings Inc. to Sponsor Polo Hamptons 2025, Continuing Legacy of Excellence in Fashion and Lifestyle

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PASADENA, Calif., Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Now Corporation (OTC: NWPN) (“The Company”), through its wholly owned subsidiary M Love Vintage Holdings Inc., is proud to announce its sponsorship of Polo Hamptons 2025, the prestigious annual polo match and cocktail party set to take place in Bridgehampton, NY, on July 19 and July 26, 2025.

    Building upon a legacy that began with Chuck’s Vintage, a beloved brand known for its influence among fashion elites and celebrities, M Love Vintage Holdings Inc. is now poised to redefine luxury vintage fashion with an upcoming production line catering to designers. This sponsorship reinforces the brand’s deep-rooted connection to high fashion, exclusivity, and cultural sophistication.

    The Polo Hamptons 2025 event, produced by Social Life Magazine, attracts a distinguished audience of high-net-worth individuals, tastemakers, and luxury lifestyle influencers. This setting provides an unparalleled platform for M Love Vintage Holdings Inc. to engage with the fashion industry’s top designers, influencers, and potential collaborators as it launches its new branding and logo.

    “We are excited to continue the legacy of Chuck’s Vintage through M Love Vintage Holdings Inc., bringing a fresh perspective to classic American style while honoring the vision of our brand’s origins,” said Alfredo Papadakis, CEO of The Now Corporation. “The Polo Hamptons event is the perfect venue to introduce our new production line, connect with industry leaders, and reinforce our commitment to timeless fashion and quality craftsmanship.”

    Stay tuned for more updates as M Love Vintage Holdings Inc. unveils its latest designs and brand evolution.

    About The Now Corporation:
    The Now Corporation (OTC: NWPN) is committed to advancing clean energy solutions through its subsidiary, Green Rain Solar Inc. Green Rain Solar focuses on urban rooftop solar installations and grid-connected power solutions, targeting markets with high energy costs. By combining state-of-the-art solar and battery technologies, The Now Corporation is dedicated to driving innovation and sustainability in renewable energy sector.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward- looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. This includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release may not be concluded due to unforeseen technical, installation, permitting, or other challenges. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of The Now Corporation to differ materially from those expressed herein. Except as required under U.S. federal securities laws, The Now Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    For press inquiries, please contact:
    Michael Cimino
    Michael@pubcopr.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08464db0-434a-4820-bde5-eb8ca165697f

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e73d07de-641c-4862-b963-32e26eff151b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/85d34959-3aa8-4a4b-b6ef-9737c8d08448

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Turbo Energy Unveils SUNBOX Home Lite, the Next Generation in AI-Optimized, All-In-One Solar Energy Storage Solution for Residential Installations Throughout Spain

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VALENCIA, Spain, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Turbo Energy, S.A. (NASDAQ:TURB) (“Turbo Energy” or the “Company”), a global provider of leading-edge, AI-optimized solar energy storage technologies and solutions, today proudly announced official market launch of the Company’s latest innovation in smart photovoltaic energy storage tailored for smaller residential installations – the SUNBOX Home Lite.

    Turbo Energy and Solar360 Introduce SUNBOX Home Lite, the Latest Innovation in All-In-One Solar Energy Storage Solutions

    SUNBOX Home Lite combines the sleek design and robust functionality of the original SUNBOX Home with a focus on homes requiring less than 15kh of solar energy storage. This cutting edge innovation is supported by Turbo Energy’s state-of-the-art cloud-based SaaS solution, which leverages Artificial Intelligence to provide intelligent data collection, optimized stored energy management and predictive analytics which provide real-time insight into weather and electricity price forecasts, solar panel performance, energy consumption and material cost savings opportunities.

    Turbo Energy has shipped 100 units to Solar360, which are available for immediate installation. A longstanding valued partner of Turbo Energy, Solar360, a joint venture of Repsol and Telefónica España, is engaged in the photovoltaic self-consumption business offering comprehensive solutions for individual customers; communities of neighbors; and companies, both SMEs and large corporations, through solar panel installations. In addition to the reach of its channels and its strength in operations and distribution, Telefónica contributes its technological expertise and IoT capabilities to provide differential optimization in the market. Repsol brings its experience in self-consumption and multi-energy in Spain, allowing them to offer customers a specific electricity rate that complements photovoltaic installations.

    Commenting on the launch of SUNBOX Home Lite, Alberto Jimenez, Director General del Segmento Masivo of Solar360, stated, “We chose Turbo Energy because it is a Spain-based company offering the industry’s most cutting-edge solar energy storage solutions – optimized with Artificial Intelligence. With the addition of SUNBOX Home Lite to Solar360’s growing line of Turbo Energy innovations, we are now empowered to address customer demand from smaller homeowners for solar energy storage solutions that have been specifically configured to satisfy their reduced energy storage requirements without having to sacrifice product quality, ease of installation and use and unmatched functionality.”

    Mariano Soria, Turbo Energy Chief Executive Officer, added, “We are excited to launch SUNBOX Home Lite in collaboration with Solar360. Since entering the self-consumption solar energy market, Solar360 has grown rapidly, demonstrating that it understands how to read the needs of its customers and earning the reputation of being a true expert in the area of photovoltaic installations.”

    Continuing, Soria said, “The market introduction of SUNBOX Home Lite not only enhances our Company’s growing line of proprietary all-in-one product offerings, but also reinforces our commitment to making affordable, sustainable energy accessible to every household. This is yet another testament to our mission of providing solutions that not only meet, but consistently exceed, the expectations of our customers and business partners. As a result, SUNBOX Home Lite is expected to measurably contribute to Turbo’s future growth and further extend and enhance our Company’s industry reputation as a customer-centric innovator of smart photovoltaic storage solutions.”

    About Turbo Energy, S.A.

    Founded in 2013, Turbo Energy is a globally recognized pioneer of proprietary solar energy storage technologies and solutions managed through Artificial Intelligence. Turbo Energy’s elegant all-in-one and scalable, modular energy storage systems empower residential, commercial and industrial users expanding across Europe, North America and South America to materially reduce dependence on traditional energy sources, helping to lower electricity costs, provide peak shaving and uninterruptible power supply and realize a more sustainable, energy-efficient future. A testament to the Company’s commitment to innovation and industry disruption, Turbo Energy’s introduction of its flagship SUNBOX represents one of the world’s first high performance, competitively priced, all-in-one home solar energy storage systems, which also incorporates patented EV charging capability and powerful AI processes to optimize solar energy management. Turbo Energy is a proud subsidiary of publicly traded Umbrella Global Energy, S.A., a vertically integrated, global collective of solar energy-focused companies. For more information, please visit www.turbo-e.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the business of the Company, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control, including the risks described in our registration statements and annual report under the heading “Risk Factors” as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Turbo Energy, S.A. specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    For more information, please contact:
    At Turbo Energy, S.A.
    Dodi Handy, Director of Communications
    Phone: 407-960-4636
    Email: dodihandy@turbo-e.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Scality sees record channel partner and revenue growth as demand for cyber-resilient storage soars

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, today announced significant growth of its global partner ecosystem, which has doubled in size year-over-year. A channel-first strategy fueled Scality’s exceptional growth rate, with Q4 2024 alone seeing a record breaking 60% of sales driven by the VAR community. Scality’s VAR channel is now the top driver of sales for the ARTESCA product line, augmenting the continued strong business growth seen through its strategic alliance with HPE. Coinciding with this impressive channel growth, Scality also announced winners of its second annual 2024 Partner Awards Program (listed below) that recognizes partners in global regions that have demonstrated outstanding promise and customer engagement.

    The Scality global partner ecosystem includes a range of VARs, Cloud and Service Providers, hardware alliance, application solution providers and strategic distributors committed to delivering industry-leading, cyber-resilient storage backup solutions to customers worldwide. The unprecedented growth of the company is 100% directly driven by its partner go-to-market strategy, which includes strategic partners such as HPE and Veeam Software, and now sees the VAR ecosystem playing a more prominent role in the company’s growth.

    “Our partners are essential to our success, and we’re committed to helping them grow by unlocking new revenue streams,” said Eric LeBlanc, Channel Chief & GM of Scality’s ARTESCA Business. “With 400+ channel partners and over 1,000 Scality certified partner personnel worldwide, we empower them through innovation, simplicity, and partner-focused solutions. Partners can sell both RING and ARTESCA, with ARTESCA specifically driving a high-velocity sales model for simple ransomware protection through industry leaders like Veeam, making it easier to drive incremental revenue and pipeline growth.”

    Scality partner milestones that contributed to doubling the company’s qualified pipeline which resulted in record sales in 2024 include:

    • The number of certified partners doubled in EMEA and APAC, significantly expanding the company’s global reach.
    • Signed 3 of the top worldwide distribution partners, including Ingram Micro, TD SYNNEX, and Arrow Electronics to bolster market presence.
    • The launch of the ARTESCA hardware appliance and the introduction of a Pay-As-You-Go pricing model through distribution created new revenue stream opportunities for partners. The Scality Cloud and Service Provider (SCSP) program allows partners to submit monthly consumption reports to Scality, enabling automated invoicing and streamlined agreements. Distribution partners operate this model seamlessly, ensuring efficiency.

    Scality expands ‘channel partner of the year’ honors in 2024
    To showcase the exceptional results achieved by partners, Scality also announced winners of its second annual global partner awards program. Building on last year’s initiative that honored 10 global partners, this year’s winners showcase 22 out of more than 400 worldwide partners as either a Top Performer or Rising Star Award winner this year. The expanded list of partner winners this year reflects the explosive growth of the company’s partner network. Ten partners were named as 2024 Top Performers, demonstrating their strategic alignment to Scality’s go-to-market objectives and resulted in direct contribution to revenue growth through successful sales engagements. These partners also helped customers go beyond immutability to achieve end-to-end cyber resilience with their backup storage solution. Twelve partners received the 2024 Rising Star nod, showcasing an exceptional commitment to growth and innovation. These partners also implemented effective marketing campaigns that drove growth in sales engagement. Please see the full list of Scality’s 2024 Partner Award winners below and here on LinkedIn.

    Scality is the only 100% software-defined storage company leading the Gartner Magic Quadrant for distributed file systems and object storage for nine consecutive years. Scality RING was recently ranked as #1 on the 2024 GigaOm Radar for Enterprise Object Storage — achieving the highest scores across Key Features, Emerging Features and Business Criteria categories, well ahead of 17 competing vendors. This market validation, coupled with Scality’s disruptive product innovation and partner-first growth strategy, has accelerated Scality solutions’ deployment, anchored by a growing list of global distribution partners and across a variety of industries, including banking, healthcare and government entities to name a few.

    Scality Partner of the Year Award Winners

    Top Performers
            ACP Gruppe
            ATK (Kazakhstan)
            Bechtle Schweiz AG
            C-DATA
            CONVERGE S.r.l.
            DTP Group
            MONT Azerbaijan
            M2 Technology Inc.
            Perfekt Pty Ltd
            Trustteam Belgium

    Rising Stars
            Autodata
            Infinitum S.A.
            Infradax
            IT Global
            NetPlans GmbH
            Novulutions, Inc.
            ODB Trade
            Roseware Corp.
            Savaco
            TeraSky
            Thein Digital s.r.o
            Virtualflex Solutions Limited

    https://www.scality.com/find-a-channel-partner/

    About Scality
    Scality solves organizations’ biggest data storage challenges for the new AI-era — security, performance, and cost. Designed to provide the strongest form of immutability plus end-to-end cyber resilience, Scality solutions safeguard data at five core levels for unbreakable ransomware protection. Delivering utmost resilience, Scality makes storage infrastructures limitlessly scalable in all critical dimensions. The world’s most discerning companies trust Scality so they can grow faster and execute AI data-driven ideas quicker — while increasing efficiency and avoiding lock-in. Scality S3 object storage software is reliable, secure and sustainable. Follow us on LinkedIn. Visit www.scality.com and our blog.

    Media Contact:
    Lisa Williams
    A3 Communications
    +1 339-788-0067
    lisa.williams@a3communicationspr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HSBC Leader Encourages York Businesses to embrace ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’

    Source: City of York

    HSBC UK’s Head of Technology Sector has encouraged York businesses to adapt to thrive in the climate of ‘functional disruptive change’ represented by the rapid development of AI.

    In his keynote address to over 60 businesses at the first York Tech Forum on 13 February, Roland Emmans from HSBC UK explored the fast-moving tech landscape and underlined the importance for businesses of all shapes and sizes of keeping pace with rapid technological change.

    Roland Emmans said:

    AI has vast potential to help businesses solve challenges and serve their customers better. The pace of change is increasing day by day, we need to embrace this change, its impact on technology, our teams and consumer demands.

    “A combination of great technology and great people is key – leveraging complementary strengths like AI’s processing power alongside expert human judgement.”

    The event, held at City of York Council’s West Offices headquarters on Thursday 13 February, began with a welcome from Cllr Pete Kilbane, the council’s portfolio holder for Economy and Culture, who reflected on how York’s tech sector has thrived in recent years.

    Cllr Kilbane highlighted major local developments, from the Institute for Safe Autonomy, a £45 million purpose-built facility which launched at the University of York in 2023, to the 6G Lab of the North, which works with the next generation of innovative telecommunications systems.

    Attendees also heard from Doug Winters, Founder and CTO of Isotoma Ltd, a York-based software development agency. Doug shared challenges and lessons from his business’ 20 year-journey, advising businesses that AI technologies, while useful for businesses, need to be used according to the situation, and are not a ‘silver bullet’ Doug also shared tips on the value of continuous planning throughout a project. 

    Cllr Pete Kilbane, Executive Member for Economy and Culture at City of York Council, said:

    We have big ambitions for York as a vibrant tech hub. Tech sector investment will bring well-paid jobs and marked economic benefits.

    “To truly embrace the benefits of rapid technological change, we need to help businesses in all sectors, from retail to rail, adapt to using technology to become more efficient, innovative, resilient and sustainable. This event is part of a series which includes our upcoming AI skills training for retail and hospitality businesses, delivered by our partners at the Coders Guild, and the Reignite events which have bolstered York’s status as a UNESCO City of Media Arts.

    “I’d like to thank all of our speakers and everyone who joined us for this inspiring and thought-provoking session. To find out more about how we can support businesses to grow and adapt to technological change, start a conversation with our Business Growth Managers at economicgrowth@york.gov.uk.”

    This event was funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Influence of Technology, Science Shapes Latest Show at Contemporary Art Galleries

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    While it’s true John Simon Jr. has a daily drawing practice, one he describes as meditative not just for clarity but also creativity, the artist might be best known for the digital art he’s produced, pieces sold in cyberspace and displayed on LED screens instead of canvas in places like the Whitney and Guggenheim.

    Among the first pieces of art sold as NFTs came from Simon, the 1997 work he titled “Every Icon,” because, as the squares in a grid of 32 by 32 change from black to white in a pattern shift that will take trillions of years to cycle through, the full image eventually will form the outline of any and all familiar pictures.

    Simon also is known for other pieces like “ComplexCity,” a series of digital works in which the street grid, traffic pattern, and height of skyscrapers continually shape shift, a representation of the constant change of a city.

    But Simon might not be as well known for his undergraduate degree in geology, his master’s in earth and planetary science, and an MFA in computer art.

    Artist John F. Simon Jr.’s “Traffic Jam” is part of “ComplexCity,” a digital work that explores contemporary urbanism through animated visual outputs containing abstract elevators, clogged intersections, and other interactive and dynamic forms. It hangs as part of the exhibition, “Data Infused,” at the Contemporary Art Galleries in UConn’s Fine Arts Complex. (Contributed photo)

    The place between art and science, that’s where early in his career Simon says he thought he’d be – “where art and science would kind of meld, where you’d see some sculpture, a painting, and things that are kind of like art done with a scientific concept that’s output in an artistic way.

    “But that was never deeply satisfying enough for me,” he says, “and I felt eventually that the categorization of science and art, this kind of academic categorization, was made to separate the two. My approach [now] is creativity.”

    And that’s something both scientists and artists must have in abundant supply.

    “If we look back to the Renaissance period especially, science and art weren’t as separate as they are now,” says Wendy Wischer, visiting director of UConn’s Contemporary Art Galleries, where a reimagined version of Simon’s “ComplexCity” is on display as part of the exhibition, “Data Infused.”

    “Artists and scientists do the same thing,” she says, summarizing a sentiment from writer K.C. Cole. “They start by observation and then recognize patterns that are often overlooked by others. That kind of imagination, seeking out of patterns, connecting threads of what may initially seem like separate entities is one of the things that artists and scientists do all the time.”

    “Data Infused” is Wischer’s first curation at the Galleries, after coming to UConn in the fall. In it, she’s included works from artists like Simon who’ve each studied subjects including computer science, architecture, graphic design, and artificial intelligence, all of which have influenced their creative outputs.

    Take Nettrice Gaskins, for instance, whose piece “Afro-Generative Tableaux Variations” uses AI to remix the colorful swirls that dance around the side profile of a Black woman who remains stationary in the center.

    “Variations,” Wischer explains, shows how AI moves through the variations of color and shape to help an artist, or an observer as in this case, assess the infinite options. Gaskins made the piece specifically for this show to give people a look at how AI aids in art making.

    Richard Garet used bits of sound in his two pieces, “Perceptual; Star” and “Perceptual; Glowing Wedge,” to create images of pulsing colors, then stripped away the auditory component, leaving only the moving image.

    The act of using what many would call scientific data for such artistic inspiration is what links the pieces, Wischer says, along with the fact that all the artists, as with Simon, maintain a traditional art practice that includes drawing and painting despite producing work that hinges on technology.

    That’s something, she says, that UConn graduate students asked for when she surveyed them about what they’d like to see in the gallery. AI, data visualization, and Afrofuturism topped the list. They also wanted to see novel ways artists make art and viewers consume it, such as those pieces sold as NFTs, or non-fungible tokens that live on the blockchain.

    “Scientists are great at data visualization. But their role is to be removed from any kind of emotional or personal attachment,” Wischer says about the art-science connection. “Artists can come in and ask questions without having an answer. Art can provoke emotions. It can link personal experience with the scientific in a way that makes it more digestible.”

    Ira Greenburg – whose “CyberStructures” depicts a bird’s eye view of a computer’s architecture, its chips and cards and CPU rising and falling like the towers and low-rises of a city – not only writes the computer code needed to generate his work but uses AI to influence it as he processes the thousands of iterations technology provides.

    Wischer says all the artists in the show are at the forefront of using technology like AI in the development of their work. It’s one reason she hopes people from other departments at UConn outside Art and Art History visit the show.

    “I’m hoping there’s something for everyone and that it evokes a curiosity to learn more,” she says. “Whether someone is attracted to the digital and they find something new in the physical, or someone who is attracted to the physical finds something in the digital, one of my goals was to bring together these various communities.”

    And she means that literally.

    She’s arranged a series of artist talks to be held throughout the semester, starting with Simon in late January who drew about two dozen people to the Galleries for the show’s opening.

    Garet will visit Feb. 27, Gaskins on March 13, and Courtney Starrett and Susan Reiser wrap the series on April 3. The full exhibition closes April 25.

    Artist Ira Greenburg used creative coding and artificial intelligence to create “Cyberstructures,” a piece that considers computer architecture as a landscape. It hangs as part of the exhibition, “Data Infused,” at the Contemporary Art Galleries in UConn’s Fine Arts Complex. (Contributed photo)

    “I see the Contemporary Art Galleries as a place to bring together different ideas and be a little more experimental than it has in the past,” Wischer says. “This exhibition is a very traditional, polished exhibition. But we might have a rotating schedule that allows for a variety of experimentation that moves away from just a traditional gallery space.”

    That may include becoming home for the annual BFA show or serving as a place for graduate students to practice their own curation skills. It might be possible to host a show that coordinates with a specific class or have a visiting artist use the space as their workshop, in a sort of messy exhibition that gets revealed over time, she suggests.

    Though not all future shows will emphasize the use of technology as strongly as “Data Infused,” this semester the focus is on its influence.

    “We know that data doesn’t move people. Facts don’t move people, but there are other ways that people can be moved. Artwork is a way that somebody can enter at a more personal level and discover why this is important to them or the meaning behind it,” Wischer says.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Initiates Coverage on ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTM)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research, a leading equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has initiated coverage of ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNTM). The in-depth 32-page initiation report includes detailed information on the ConnectM Technology Solutions’ business model, services, industry overview, financials, valuation, management profile, and risks.

    The full research report is available below.

    ConnectM Technologies Inc. Initiation Report

    Highlights from the report include:            

                                      
    •    Diversified Innovative AI-Powered Platform Driving Scalable and Recurring Revenue Streams: At the core of ConnectM’s strategy lies its proprietary Energy Intelligence Network (EIN), which integrates AI-powered heat pumps, EV solutions, and distributed energy systems. The platform enables efficient cross-selling across diverse verticals, thereby enhancing customer lifetime value and lowering acquisition costs. This results in predictable, high-margin revenue streams derived from product sales, software subscriptions, and managed services agreements.

    •    Pioneering Leadership in the $2 Trillion Electrification Transformation: ConnectM is strategically positioned at the forefront of the global shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, tapping into a $2 trillion electrification market. Its early mover advantage is strengthened by a robust 10-patent IP portfolio and over 120,000 connected assets that drive powerful network effects and data intelligence. This pioneering stance not only differentiates ConnectM but also establishes a solid foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

    •    Robust, Vertically Integrated Business Model Fueling Consistent High Growth: ConnectM has achieved 20 consecutive quarters of revenue growth, with a current run rate projected at $26 million and break-even cash flow expected by 2025. Its vertically integrated approach, encompassing product design, AI technology, and owned service networks, minimizes dependence on third-party providers. Moreover, a shared revenue model with service partners further amplifies potential profitability while mitigating operational risks.

    •    Strategic Acquisitions Accelerating Synergistic Market Expansion: The company has strategically augmented its market presence through targeted acquisitions, including MHz Invensys, projected to contribute $15 million in revenue by 2027. Additional acquisitions, such as DeliveryCircle and Green Energy Gains, have significantly strengthened its foothold in last-mile logistics and building electrification. This well-defined M&A pipeline is potentially set to unlock further synergistic growth opportunities across the smart energy solutions landscape.

    •    Solid Financial Foundations Supported by Strong Institutional Backing: ConnectM benefits from robust institutional support, with shareholders as of recent filings including Cowen, Geode Capital, Polar Asset, and Jane Street, while insiders hold a significant 33% stake. The company’s de-leveraged balance sheet, achieved by a recent conversion of $13.7 million in debt to equity, reinforces its financial resilience. Furthermore, the secured $25 million in strategic financing positions ConnectM for continued expansion and technological innovation.

    •    Capturing Exponential Growth Prospects Amid Robust Market Tailwinds: The electrification of buildings, transportation, and distributed energy systems is still in its early stages, offering substantial exponential growth potential. AI-powered heat pumps, a key component of the EIN, represent an opportunity comparable to the EV market but with superior potential margins of 30–40% and lower competition. These favorable market tailwinds are expected to drive sustained demand and accelerate ConnectM’s expansion trajectory.

    •    Valuation: ConnectM is targeting the $2 trillion energy transition with its AI-powered Energy Intelligence Network (EIN), optimizing electrification, distributed energy networks, and smart mobility. Its platform-driven strategy positions it for accelerated growth, operational efficiency, and sustained profitability. We have assessed ConnectM’s valuation using a blended approach, incorporating discounted cash flow (DCF) and comparable company analyses. Under our DCF approach, we assumed a 12.5% discount rate and a terminal growth rate of 1.5% to estimate the present value of projected free cash flows. For the comparable company analysis, we utilized the EV/Revenue multiple of similar renewable energy products and technology companies to establish a market-based valuation benchmark. By integrating both these approaches, we have arrived at a valuation of $3.25 per share contingent on successful execution by the company.

    About ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc.  

    ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. is a vertically integrated holding company based in Marlborough, MA that provides digital platforms and services for electrification and decarbonization across the U.S., offering solutions for solar energy, HVAC, EV integration, and smart energy management.  

    About Diamond Equity Research

    Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

    For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com. 

    Disclosures:

    Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. for producing research materials regarding ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. and its securities, which is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security, however the views in the report reflect that of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for research engagement. As of 02/26/25 the issuer had paid us $17,500 (as part of $35,000 annual contract payable in three upfront installment payments for the first year of coverage), which commenced on 01/30/25 with the second and third installment of $8,750 due in the following two three-months period. Diamond Equity Research LLC may be compensated for non-research related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, press releases and other additional services. The non-research related service cost is dependent on the company, but usually does not exceed $5,000. The issuer has not paid us for non-research related services as of 02/26/2025. Issuers are not required to engage us for these additional services. Additional fees may have accrued since then. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities including the complete loss of their investment. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for ConnectM Technology Solutions, Inc. Please review initiation report attached for full disclosure page.  

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: January 2025: ELFA CapEx Finance Index Shows Demand Pulled Forward from Jan. to Dec.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • FORECAST: Growth in new business volumes suggests durable goods orders will contract by 3.8% in January.
    • Total new business volume (NBV) rose by $9.3 billion seasonally adjusted, a decline of 17.8% from December to January among surveyed ELFA member companies.
    • NBV year-to-date contracted by 6.4% from 2023 to 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis, and the year-over-year change declined by 10.6% on a non-seasonally adjusted basis.
    • Charge-offs (losses) dropped to 0.46%, the second decline in as many months.

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — “The latest CFI release showed that equipment demand was pulled forward from January to December, which caused volumes to underperform last month. Much of the overall decline came from the banking sector, which had a stellar yearend and a soft start to 2025. I expect conditions to normalize going forward, but risks to the outlook linger,” said Leigh Lytle, President and CEO at ELFA. “Global economic and political uncertainty remains elevated, which could weigh on equipment demand later this year as businesses decide to pause investment until tensions subside. As both aging receivables and charge-offs showed, the industry is well prepared for an extended period of uncertainty, or whatever else may be thrown its way in 2025.”

    New business volume growth dropped. NBV growth experienced its largest one-month drop on record, falling by 17.8% from December to January. While the percentage decline was sharp, the dollar amount of new business was only at its lowest since March 2023. New activity at banks and captives both experienced a monthly drop of more than 30%, while financing at independents grew by almost 9%. The dollar amount of new business was still above its monthly average from January through November of 2024, while new activity at captives declined to its lowest level since January 2017.

    Headcounts continue to decline. Employment in the equipment finance industry contracted for the third straight month, with the 12-month change dropping 3.5%. Employment at banks and captives continued to decline, while job gains at independents slowed.

    Credit approvals jump. The average credit approval rate increased to 75.9% in January, up 1.6 percentage points, the largest increase since October 2023. The rates for banks, captives, and independents all rose.

    Financial conditions remain healthy. Charge-offs dropped for the second consecutive month to 0.46%. The January decline brings the rate to just above levels experienced in the ten months prior to the November increase. Aging receivables over 30 days ticked up to 2.2% but remained low.

    “Despite macro-economic and political uncertainty, we anticipate companies will still look for creative financing solutions,” said Mitch Rice, CEO of Commercial Capital Company. “They’re seeking greater flexibility and simplified, frictionless processes to address their evolving needs. Recognizing this demand, the industry is undergoing a widespread focus on technological enhancement to deliver more efficient and effective solutions and services. We’re embracing this shift when it comes to process automation and utilizing artificial intelligence.”

    Industry Confidence
    The Monthly Confidence Index from ELFA’s affiliate, the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation, eased to 66.9 in February, as respondents grew slightly more pessimistic about conditions over the next four months.

    About ELFA’s CFI
    The CapEx Finance Index (CFI), formerly the Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), is the only near-real-time index that reflects capex, or the volume of commercial equipment financed in the U.S. It is released monthly from Washington, D.C., one day before the U.S. Department of Commerce’s durable goods report. This financial indicator complements reports like the Institute for Supply Management Index, providing a comprehensive view of productive assets in the U.S. economy—equipment produced, acquired and financed. The CFI consists of two years of business activity data from 25 participating companies. For more details, including methodology and participants, visit www.elfaonline.org/CFI.

    About ELFA
    The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) represents financial services companies and manufacturers in the $1 trillion U.S. equipment finance sector. ELFA’s 575 member companies provide essential financing that helps businesses acquire the equipment they need to operate and grow. Learn how equipment finance contributes to businesses’ success, U.S. economic growth, manufacturing and jobs at www.elfaonline.org.

    Follow ELFA:
    X: @ELFAonline
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/115191 

    Media/Press Contact: Catherine Lockwood, PR Manager, ELFA, catherine@360livemedia.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2b1a6575-a70f-4708-933c-8bc9d27c716f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public finance measures pragmatic: CE

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee today commented that the 2025-26 Budget proposes pragmatic measures to improve public finances and stressed that he has full confidence in Hong Kong’s development and future.

    In a statement, Mr Lee said Financial Secretary Paul Chan put forward a series of practical and effective measures on Hong Kong’s economic development and public fiscal consolidation, adding that the Budget will reinforce the Government’s financial strength, and create new momentum and new advantages for the city’s economic development.

    As part of its course of action, the Budget proposes nurturing new quality productive forces to strengthen the development of innovation and technology and artificial intelligence; speeding up the development of the Northern Metropolis and the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, fully leveraging the strategic position of “three centres and a hub”, further nurturing and attracting talent, upgrading industries with advantages, and accelerating the development of Hong Kong’s economy.

    He pointed out that such measures are consistent with the directions of the Policy Address.

    Mr Lee also indicated that the Budget puts forward realistic measures to enhance public finances, focusing primarily on strictly controlling government expenditures, supplemented by suitably increasing revenue, to steadily restore fiscal balance while taking into account the actual social situation and Hong Kong’s competitiveness.

    In addition to emphasising that the Budget aims to leverage market forces to promote infrastructure projects through innovative and diversified development models, he made it clear that government bonds will be issued to finance related projects.

    Despite a complicated and volatile external environment, the Chief Executive expressed his confidence that Hong Kong will be able to seize opportunities and continue to give full play to its unique advantages under the “one country, two systems” principle of having the strong support of the country while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world, and further strengthening its connection with both the Mainland and the world.

    “We will proactively integrate into and align with the country’s national development strategies, foster accelerated economic growth and improve people’s livelihood.

    “Like the Financial Secretary, I have full confidence in Hong Kong’s development and future.”

    Mr Lee called on all sectors of the community to support this Budget.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sarbananda Sonowal unveils ₹4,800 crore plan to transform Assam’s Inland Waterways at Advantage Assam 2.0

    Source: Government of India

    Sarbananda Sonowal unveils ₹4,800 crore plan to transform Assam’s Inland Waterways at Advantage Assam 2.0

    “₹1,500 crore for Green Vessel Transition in Assam by 2030 under ‘Harit Nauka Scheme’”: Sarbananda Sonowal

    “World Class Water Metro Service in Guwahati and Dhubri with an investment of ₹315 crore”: Sarbananda Sonowal

    “Centre earmarks ₹120 crore for Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh”: Sarbananda Sonowal

    “Centre to develop riverine lighthouses along Brahmaputra with ₹100 crore investment:” Sarbananda Sonowal

    Posted On: 26 FEB 2025 4:46PM by PIB Delhi

    The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced an investment of more than ₹4,800 crore to transform the inland waterways sector of Assam at the Advantage Assam 2.0 in Guwahati, today. The investment is to enable the immense potential that the complex and dynamic waterways system of the state has to offer to propel the growth and development of the region towards realising the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat, Shri Sonowal asserted at the session on Assam’s Roads, Railway and Riverine Tourism on the second day of the investment summit.

     

    Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the country is cruising ahead towards realising the vision of Viksit Bharat. Assam along with the Northeast plays an integral part in propelling this journey to realise the vision of Modi ji. Inland Waterways plays a crucial role in this scheme of things as the visionary Modi ji planned its revival since 2014 from near obscurity and neglect of the past. With its rich inter web of riverine system in the region, especially in Assam with Brahmaputra (NW2) and Barak (NW16), the inland waterways aims at rejuvenating its ageless role as the main conduit of trade and commerce. Globally considered as futuristic, the inland waterways provides an opportunity to opt for a more economic, efficient and environment friendly mode of transporting cargo and passengers. With the launch of schemes like ‘Jalvahak’, the Modi government has been incentivising the businesses to switch to inland waterways, thereby, improving the economies of scale, decongesting the railways and roadways and enabling a conducive ecosystem that is vital for pivotal role Assam is set to play towards India’s ascendency to become world’s biggest and an Atmanirbhar economy by 2047.”

    At the summit, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal announced allocation of ₹1,500 crore for a planned transition into Green Vessels by 2030 under the ‘Harit Nauka’ scheme. An amount of more than ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked to facilitate cruise tourism and enhance cargo handling capacity by 2027-28 in NW2 and NW16. This includes construction of jetties with on shore facilities at Silghat, Bishwanath ghat, Neamati Ghat and Guijan along with construction of a new building for Regional Office, MSDC, Guest house and office space for ITAT at Fancy Bazar in Guwahati. An amount of ₹375 crore is pegged for development of Phase II of Ship Repair Facility at Pandu. In order to maintain fairway, the government has entrusted Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) to ensure assured draft of 2.5 meters from Bangladesh Border to Pandu in NW-2 till 2026-27. An amount of ₹191 crore has been earmarked for this, Shri Sonowal stated.

     

    Adding further, he said, “Advantage Assam has always served as a catalyst for the region’s economic revival, providing businesses with a strategic platform to expand their trade and investment opportunities. With the immense support that Assam has received from our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, we remain firmly committed to the holistic development of the economy of Assam and the Northeast. Among the various ongoing projects to enable inland waterways of Assam, we are also planning to transform the conventional vessels into Green Vessels under Harit Nauka scheme. This affirms the commitment of our government towards sustainable development, a milestone set by our dynamic leader Narendra Modi ji. Given the immense potential of riverine tourism in the state, we are developing an ecosystem including infrastructure and fairway for smooth, regular and viable operations. You may be happy to know that the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI), with its rich experience of dredging at the sea, has been entrusted with dredging the NW2, for the first time on any river in India.”

    The Union Minister also announced the development of Water Metro Service in Guwahati and Dhubri for an estimated investment of ₹315 crore. Based on the success of Kochi Metro Service, the feasibility study is being conducted for this. Shri Sarbananda Sonowal also announced deployment of two Electric Catamarans being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). A world class cruise terminal will also be built in Guwahati with an estimated investment of ₹100 crore. 

    In Dibrugarh, an estimated ₹120 crore has been earmarked for development of Regional Centre of Excellence (RCOE). Adding further to the capital development along the NW2, Riverine Lighthouses will be built at FIVE places — Bogibeel, Biswanath, Nimati, Pandu and Silghat — at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore. In addition, a sum of ₹150 crore has been earmarked for fairway development with LAD of 2.5 meters between Pandu and Bogibeel. TWO Cutter Section Dredger units will also be purchased for Brahmaputra (NW2).

     

    The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the riverine transportation including national waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), is implementing projects worth ₹1,010 crore along river Brahmaputra (NW2) and river Barak (NW16) in Assam. Among the major projects, the ship repair facility is being built at Panda with an investment of ₹208 crore while an alternate road from Pandu to NH27 is being built at an investment of ₹180 crore. New Inland Waterways Terminal (IWT) at Bogibeel as well as at Jogighopa —- with more than ₹66 crore and ₹82 crore of investment —- are being developed on Brahmaputra to ‘enable possibilities meet opportunities’, Shri Sonowal added.

    An investment of more than ₹646 crore has been earmarked to construct riverine infrastructure across Brahmaputra under the Sagarmala Scheme, the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. For Barak River, the Union Minister announced procurement of Survey Vessel, procurement of THREE Amphibian Dredgers, construction of Crane Pontoon and Gangway for proving Floating Terminal facilities in Karimganj, construction of Steel Pontoon and Gangway for providing Floating Terminal facilities at Badarpur among other projects.

    At this session, the Union Minister was joined by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma; Minister of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary, Fishery and PWRD, Govt of Assam, Krishnendu Paul; Chairman of IWAI, Vijay Kumar; High Commissioner of Singapore, His Excellency Simon Wong among other officials and corporate leaders from infra, railways and marine sector.

     

    ***

    G.D.Hallikeri / Henry

    (Release ID: 2106438) Visitor Counter : 32

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Akamai Arrival

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Declaration Form

    ALOHA AND WELCOME TO HAWAI‘I!

    Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to our unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Please help to protect Hawai‘i by not bringing harmful pests into our state.

    YOU ARE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW TO FILL OUT THIS AGRICULTURAL DECLARATION FORM FOR ALL INBOUND FLIGHTS FROM THE CONTINENTAL U.S. TO HAWAIʻI.

    Any person who defaces this declaration form, gives false information, or fails to declare, prohibited or restricted articles in their possession, including baggage, or fails to declare these items on cargo manifests is in violation of Chapter 150A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and may be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable, in certain instances, by a maximum penalty of $25,000 and/or up to one year imprisonment. Intentionally smuggling a snake or other prohibited or restricted article into Hawaiʻi is, in certain circumstances, a Class C felony punishable by a maximum penalty of $200,000 and/or up to five years imprisonment.

    One adult member of a family may complete this declaration for other family members.

    The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (“HDOA”) is committed to maintaining an environment free from discrimination, retaliation, or harassment on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability, or any other class as protected under federal or state law, with respect to any program or activity. For more information, including language accessibility and filing a complaint, please contact the HDOA Non-Discrimination Coordinator at (808) 973-9560, or visit HDOA’s website at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/non-discrimination-notice/#english

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Mavenir and O2 Telefónica Germany Strengthen Partnership with Multi-Year IMS Contract Extension for Cloud-Native IMS Services

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MUNICH and BONN, Germany, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider building the future of networks, today announces that it has strengthened its long-term partnership with Telefónica and its global operating companies, with the signing of a new five-year contract which will see O2 Telefónica Germany transition from Mavenir’s virtualized IMS (vIMS) to Cloud-Native IMS solution. The multi-year contract extension covers both fixed and mobile IMS networks serving O2 Telefónica Germany’s entire subscriber base.

    Mavenir’s cloud-native, web-scale IMS platform offers a foundational technology for next-generation mobile networks, supporting voice over LTE (VoLTE) and voice over New Radio (VoNR) on a common IMS core and facilitating voice continuity between 4G and 5G. Mavenir IMS services operate on any cloud – public or private – and are deployed as stateless microservices in containers, giving operators the ability to accelerate innovation and rapidly launch new services.

    In its recent independent Mobile Network Test 2025, industry trade journal connect rated O2 Telefónica Germany ‘very good’, which also reflects the high performance and service quality achieved with Mavenir’s vIMS solution.

    Matthias Sauder, Director Networks at O2 Telefónica in Germany, commented: “It was a natural decision to extend our successful technology partnership with Mavenir, which has helped us to deliver our best ever quality of service to our customers and optimize our investment in agile network innovation. Mavenir’s clear leadership in network functions virtualization led to its initial selection and has since delivered transformative new capabilities across our operations. As the world embraces the opportunities being created by artificial intelligence and automation to open interfaces for digital transformation, Mavenir’s Cloud-Native IMS will be a core enabling platform for our ongoing network evolution and unlocking new routes to value for our business and our customers.”

    Antonio Correa, Senior RVP Southern Europe, Caribbean & Latin America at Mavenir, added: “Across multiple live deployments, our enduring partnership with Telefónica continues to set the pace for software-speed network evolution and the roll-out of advanced virtualized technologies. As the recognized leader in cloud-native IMS, we see this multi-year extension of our delivery into O2 Telefónica Germany as an exciting opportunity to push forward the next-generation performance and service enhancements that we are uniquely capable of achieving, in collaboration with an operator strongly committed to connectivity innovation, excellence and inclusion.”

    Notes to the editor:

    • connect mobile and 5G network test, issue 01/2025: “very good” (909 points) for O2; a total of 2x “very good” (924 and 909 points) and 1x “outstanding” (970 points) were awarded. For more information, see www.o2.de/netz

    About Mavenir

    Mavenir is building the future of networks today with cloud-native, AI-enabled solutions which are green by design, empowering operators to realize the benefits of 5G and achieve intelligent, automated, programmable networks. As the pioneer of Open RAN and a proven industry disruptor, Mavenir’s award-winning solutions are delivering automation and monetization across mobile networks globally, accelerating software network transformation for 300+ Communications Service Providers in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. For more information, please visit www.mavenir.com

    Meet Mavenir at Mobile World Congress 2024, Barcelona, Mar 3-6, 2025.

    To explore Mavenir’s latest innovations and learn more about how Mavenir is delivering the Future of Networks – Today, visit us in Hall 2 (Stand 2H60).

    Mavenir PR Contacts:
    Emmanuela Spiteri
    PR@mavenir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon infuses AI in the network, accelerates Open RAN innovation with multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller deployment

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon infuses AI in the network, accelerates Open RAN innovation with multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller deployment

    NEW YORK – Verizon, in collaboration with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has successfully deployed multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) functionality in its commercial network. This deployment marks a significant advancement in Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) technology and demonstrates yet another way Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used in Verizon’s network to drive operational efficiency and ensure Verizon customers are always connected to the very best network experience. In this first multi-vendor deployment, Verizon integrated Samsung’s AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM) with Qualcomm DragonwingTM RAN Automation Suite’s RIC to integrate energy efficiency into its network. 

    “Verizon has been driving innovation in and adoption of O-RAN throughout the industry because we believe an open and standardized network drives more competition, more innovation, and increased supplier diversity,” said Adam Koeppe, Senior Vice President of Network Technology, Strategy, and Planning at Verizon. “Expanding on our industry-leading success with deploying O-RAN compliant radios and distributed units throughout our network, the introduction of the RAN Intelligent Controller will allow for greater flexibility and control over network operations.”

    What is a RAN Intelligent Controller enabled by O-RAN

    The RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC) is a software-based component within a mobile network’s Radio Access Network (RAN) that uses artificial intelligence and automation to optimize network performance by making decisions based on network conditions. It’s a key part of the Open RAN architecture, enabling the integration of third-party applications to enhance network capabilities.

    “As the world moves toward a more interconnected future with 5G and beyond, the expectation for us is to deliver seamless, high-quality network experiences while managing the complexities of modern mobile networks,” continued Koeppe. “RAN Intelligent Control is emerging as a key enabler of efficient, adaptive, and scalable network operations and fits within our growing portfolio of automation and orchestration capabilities on the network.”

    The RIC controls applications that manage numerous functions on the network called rApps that leverage data and insights from the RAN to improve various aspects of mobile communication, such as coverage, capacity, efficiency and service quality. Historically, automation platforms have been developed and run by the same vendors providing proprietary hardware and software in a closed ecosystem. However, with the evolution of the RAN Intelligent Controller, they are now being developed independently of specific vendors and deployed on virtualized, open platforms. Verizon can now efficiently manage intelligent solutions and applications like rApps utilizing open interfaces and standardized protocols from standards bodies such as 3GPP and the O-RAN Alliance, allowing for more flexible and scalable network deployment and management.

    Enhancing Network Performance with AI-Powered Solutions

    In this first multi-vendor deployment, Verizon integrated Samsung’s AI-powered Energy Saving Manager (AI-ESM) with Qualcomm® Dragonwing RAN Intelligent Controller to integrate energy efficiency in its commercial network. The joint work demonstrated the operation of a multi-vendor ecosystem and resulted in energy savings.

    • Samsung’s AI-ESM enables Verizon to maximize network energy efficiency and facilitates a more sustainable approach without compromising network performance and user experience. It identifies various site environments, learns traffic patterns by location and time of day, and evaluates the extent of impact on network performance—helping to find the optimal threshold value.

      This solution automatically switches off cell or transmission paths within a cell site during periods of low traffic (when traffic load is below threshold value) to conserve power, and turns them back on when data traffic increases again (when traffic load reaches threshold value). By applying this, Verizon was able to achieve an energy savings gain of 15% on average, with a maximum of 35% per sector during low traffic periods in a variety of field tests.

    • The Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite builds programmability to enable a vendor-neutral rApp marketplace. The RAN Automation Suite DML (Data Management Layer) provides applications with RAN AI Services, including HNN (Hybrid Neural Network) and DNN (Deep Neural Network) technology, for AI-Driven RAN Management.

    “We believe that virtualization is the key to realizing the true benefits of AI. Samsung’s software-based vRAN provides the most optimal foundation to apply and utilize AI technology,” said Magnus Ojert, Senior Vice President & Head of US Networks Business, Samsung Electronics America. “Leveraging the large-scale vRAN network that Verizon and Samsung have built together, we will continue to maintain our competitive edge in the AI era, advancing AI-powered solutions to create a positive impact on the environment around the world.”

    “We are thrilled to extend our longstanding relationship with Verizon through this groundbreaking multi-vendor RAN Intelligent Controller deployment, leveraging the Qualcomm Dragonwing RAN Automation Suite,” said Ofir Zemer, VP, Product Management, Qualcomm Israel Ltd. “By enabling a vendor-neutral rApp marketplace, empowered by a set of RAN AI services, we are jointly fostering a diverse ecosystem and supporting a path of democratizing RAN AI.”

    Qualcomm and Qualcomm Edgewise are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: State of Play: AI Governance | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025

    Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

    Despite the proliferation of AI governance frameworks, fragmentation and lack of coordination have hindered the responsible innovation, development and deployment of this technology.

    With AI’s global impact, how can we reduce governance gaps and foster a collaborative and interoperable approach?

    Speakers: Samir Saran, Arvind Krishna, Arthur Mensch, Clara Chappaz, Abdullah AlSwaha

    The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.

    This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.

    The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.

    World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
    Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
    YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
    Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
    X ► https://twitter.com/wef
    LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
    TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
    Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF

    #Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gy6pSRP5vU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Budget: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Budget: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation
    Budget: Accelerating Development through Reform and Innovation
    **************************************************************

         The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, unveiled today (February 26) his 2025-26 Budget. He noted that while geopolitical situation might bring risks, technology reform and artificial intelligence (AI) development are remoulding the global landscape, leading to the emergence of new industries, new forms of business, new products and new services. He stressed that Hong Kong must seize the opportunity to make the most out of this critical window to speed up development, establishing the new before abolishing the old. He also emphasised that transformation and innovation will lead the way into the future, and the Government is poised to fast-track the high-quality development of Hong Kong’s economy.      The Budget presents a series of measures aimed at accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces. On innovation and technology (I&T), the Government will promote Hong Kong into an international exchange and co-operation hub for the AI industry. Through frontier research and real-world application, the Government will endeavour to develop AI as a core industry and empower traditional industries in their upgrading and transformation. To spearhead and support Hong Kong’s innovative research and development as well as industrial application of AI, the Government will establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute and launch the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme (Manufacturing+). On finance, the Government will continue to take forward reforms to the listing regime, host the Hong Kong Global Financial and Industry Summit, and formulate a plan this year on promoting gold market development.      To seize the opportunities brought about by the rapid advancement of innovation and technology, the Budget highlights the need to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, which is an investment in Hong Kong’s future. The Government will continue to accord priority to providing resources for this initiative, which primarily includes providing large tracts of I&T land at the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone, together with San Tin Technopole; adopting an innovative mindset in piloting “large-scale land disposal”; developing a data facility cluster at Sandy Ridge; as well as identifying suitable sites in the Northern Metropolis for the construction of conference and exhibition facilities.     On the promotion of tourism, funding will be allocated to pursue the concept of “tourism is everywhere” and implement the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0. A study will be conducted on the development of the waterfront and former sites to the south of the Hung Hom Station into a new harbourfront landmark, including a yacht club.     Regarding land supply, Mr Chan announced that the Government will not roll out any commercial site for sale in the coming year in view of the high vacancy rates of offices in recent years to allow the market to absorb the existing supply. The Government will also consider rezoning some of the commercial sites into residential use and allowing greater flexibility of land use. To tie in with the relevant work, the deadline for completing in-situ land exchange for commercial sites in the town centre of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area will be extended.     Mr Chan proposed a reinforced version of the fiscal consolidation programme to focus on strictly controlling government expenditure, supplemented by increasing revenue, to restore fiscal balance in the Operating Account, in a planned and progressive manner, within the current term of the Government. For 2025-26, the executive authorities, the legislature, the judiciary and members of the District Councils, including members of the civil service, take a pay freeze. The Government will step up the Productivity Enhancement Programme; compared with 2023-24, the recurrent expenditure in 2027-28 will record a cumulative reduction by 7 per cent and deliver a saving of $27.3 billion. By April 2027, about 10 000 posts of the civil service establishment are expected to be deleted within this term of Government. The Government will also deliver more efficient public services to citizens through leveraging technology, streamlining processes and driving the digital transformation of public services. In the Budget, it is proposed to adjust two transport subsidy schemes, namely putting forward the “$2 flat rate cum 80 per cent discount” in the Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme), and raising the threshold for receiving the subsidy under the Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme from $400 to $500, with the prevailing subsidy cap at $400 per month remaining unchanged. He will uphold the “user pays” and the “affordable users pay” principles as far as practicable while increasing revenue, including increasing the air passenger departure tax, and reviewing the tolls of government tunnels and trunk roads. The Government will suitably expand the size of bond issuance on the premise of maintaining healthy public finances and use the funds raised on infrastructure works in a proper and flexible manner to invest in Hong Kong’s future and create value for society.     Mr Chan concluded that he has full confidence in and high expectations for the future of Hong Kong, because Hong Kong people are intelligent, creative and tireless in contributing to the economic development. More importantly, he is confident due to the staunch and unwavering support received from the country and Hong Kong people’s profound insight into the major development trends of the future, as well as the city’s enviable and advantageous position.     For more details on the 2025-26 Budget, click here.

     
    Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2025Issued at HKT 17:30

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Improving the Government’s human resources planning

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Mrs Regina Ip and a written reply by the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, in the Legislative Council today (February 26): Question:     It is learnt that the number of posts in the civil service establishment dropped from around 193 000 as at March 31, 2022 to 191 742 as at September 30 last year, while the civil service strength fell from around 176 000 to 172 499. On the other hand, there are views that the Government may further enhance its administrative efficiency by making good use of innovative technology and improving the existing human resources planning. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:(1) whether the Government will review the existing establishment structure and integrate posts with similar or overlapping functions as appropriate; if so, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that;(2) given that as indicated on November 20 last year in its reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council, the Government had started to provide a generative AI document processing copilot application (the AI application) developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center for internal trial use by government staff to perform document processing work like drafting, translation and summarisation of documents, of the following information regarding the AI application: (i) the government departments using the AI application on a trial basis, (ii) the percentage of government documents drafted with the assistance of the AI application out of the total number of government documents and (iii) the Government’s savings in time and manpower costs after using the AI application;(3) whether the Government will further utilise the AI application to handle more routine document processing work so as to further release manpower; if so, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that;(4) whether the Government has currently formulated policies and measures to streamline the government structure and enhance administrative efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and(5) whether the Government will consider setting up a high-level steering committee to assist itself in reviewing on a regular basis the establishment and functions of various government departments, as well as the application of various innovative technologies in government departments, and to make recommendations on the addition or deletion of posts within the establishment; if so, of the details and the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that?Reply:President,     Regarding the question raised by Hon Mrs Regina IP, we have consulted the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, and our consolidated reply is as follows: (1), (4) & (5) The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) has been committed to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service, encouraging various policy bureaux/departments (B/Ds) to regularly review and appropriately deploy their manpower to effectively implement government policies and initiatives.     To strictly control the civil service establishment and ensure the sustainability of public finances, the Government has implemented the zero-growth policy in the overall civil service establishment since 2021-22. B/Ds have improved their work efficiency through re-organisation of work and internal redeployment, etc. It is anticipated that by March 31, 2025, the civil service establishment will have reduced, on a cumulative basis, by approximately 2 000 posts from the level as at end-March 2021.     The adjustment of the civil service establishment must adhere to the two principles of stability and sustainable development, balancing the manpower requirements of B/Ds to effectively provide existing and new services and the need to streamline the civil service. The current term Government will continue to strictly control the growth of the civil service establishment and optimise the use of manpower resources through the application of technology, for serving the society and citizens with dedication.     We have all along been mindful of the functions of different grades and ranks as to whether they are very similar or largely overlap, and will make adjustments or consolidation accordingly. We are also mindful of the need to update and adjust the functions of certain grades due to technology advancement. For instance, the demand for typing services has significantly dropped following the prevalence of the use of computers. As a result, the Government stopped the recruitment of Typists more than two decades ago and gradually re-appointed the serving Typists as Clerical Assistants through the In-service Appointment Scheme (IAS) and the provision of appropriate training. Apart from the continued delivery of clerical services, those Clerical Assistants re-appointed from Typists also provide frontline customer services and carry out various supporting work at B/Ds. After multiple rounds of IAS and through natural wastage, the number of Typists, which once exceeded 3 000 at its peak, has been successfully reduced to some 120 at the end of last year. The functions of the Typists now remaining have also been adjusted. In addition to handling Chinese and English clerical work through the use of word-processing softwares, they perform data entry or other clerical duties in law enforcement departments or departments which process large amounts of personal data (e.g. Inland Revenue Department).     Individual civil service grades whose future manpower needs are uncertain, such as those with surplus staff or those undergoing institutional reviews, are classified as “Controlled Grades” by the CSB. These grades require the CSB’s approval before open recruitment, which is not lightly granted unless they have clear prospect for development and the demand for manpower is obvious and certain. Under these “controlled” circumstances, B/Ds must seek alternative solutions to handle the responsibilities of these grades, including integrating the duties of the “Controlled Grades” with other grades.     The above-mentioned work has been carried out by the Government on a long-term basis without a fixed timeline.     The operation of B/Ds and the work of civil servants must keep pace with the times. The Supplement to the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address has set out the initiative of promoting the adoption of management measures and digitalisation among B/Ds to reprioritise and re-organise their work, capitalise on technology solutions, and streamline work processes, with a view to optimising the use of the civil service manpower resources. With assistance from the Digital Policy Office (DPO), the CSB will drive these initiatives among B/Ds in 2025, with a view to deploying human resources more appropriately and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the civil service. The DPO will continue to lead various B/Ds in applying innovative technologies and accelerating the development of digital government. The DPO will also actively support the above-mentioned measures of promoting digitalisation for optimising the use of civil service manpower resources, thereby enhancing government efficiency and services.(2) & (3) The Government has started the pilot use of a generative artificial intelligence document processing copilot application (the Application) developed by the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center (HKGAI) under InnoHK since mid-2024 to assist government officers in handling document processing tasks such as drafting, translation, and summarisation of documents. The DPO has invited all B/Ds to arrange their officers of different grades to participate in this pilot use exercise.     The Application is currently at the development stage. The purpose of conducting the pilot use exercise is to collect the government officers’ feedback on using the Application according to their operational needs, thus facilitating HKGAI in further training and optimising its large language model and the Application. The DPO does not, at the current stage, maintain information on the percentage of documents processed in the pilot use against all the government documents, as well as the time and manpower costs saved. In the longer term, the Application will help reduce the manpower required for government officers to handle general document processing tasks, allowing manpower to be deployed to other areas of need, thereby creating maximum value.     The DPO will continue to co-ordinate with various B/Ds to extend the pilot use of the Application to more government officers in handling the tasks of drafting, translation, and summarisation of documents, and through the collection of user feedback, to assist HKGAI in optimising the Application’s performance in handling document processing work.

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