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PolyU signs tripartite MoU with Dassault Systèmes and PAIEvo in Paris to advance cross-continental collaboration in research innovation
The signing ceremony was held earlier at Dassault Systèmes’ Paris-area headquarters. Witnessed by Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU; Mr Nicolas JEANNEE, Vice President 3DEXPERIENCE Edu of Dassault Systèmes; and Dr Kevin TSAI, Vice President of XtalPi and CEO of PAIEvo, the MoU was signed by Prof. Zijian ZHENG, Vice President (Knowledge Transfer) of PolyU; Ms Joanne LI, 3DEXPERIENCE Edu Sales Director of China, Dassault Systèmes;and Ms Ruyu WANG, Senior Director of External Affairs and Communications of XtalPi.
Under the collaborative framework, the three parties will jointly pursue a range of initiatives, including advancing the digitalisation of smart laboratories, expanding research and development (R&D) in new materials, developing proprietary computing capabilities and molecular simulation tools, building an ecosystem for new substance discovery, and nurturing relevant professional talent.
Prof. Christopher Chao remarked, “PolyU has been strengthening its research and knowledge transfer strategy in recent years, from establishing a robust network of Mainland Translational Research Institutes (MTRIs), setting up the incubation centres, InnoHubs, across Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, to progressively expanding our global footprint by building overseas innovation hubs, with Paris serving as our first stop in Europe. Meanwhile, we proactively align our research with industry demands, with market-oriented innovation at its core. This is the foundation of our close partnership with Dassault Systèmes. By bringing together the distinctive strengths of the three parties, this partnership enables us to fully leverage cross-sector and cross-border synergies among academia, research and industry. It will not only advance our respective development but also bring tangible benefits to society.”
Welcoming the delegations, Mr Nicolas Jeannée described the meeting as “highly meaningful”. He said, “This partnership connects not only Hong Kong and France, but also academia and industry. From the establishment of the Center of Excellence in 2025 to Dassault Systèmes’ official presence in Hong Kong in 2026, our collaboration with PolyU has continued to reach new heights. We look forward to working closely with our partners to generate more innovative outcomes and contribute to global digital transformation.”
Dr Kevin Tsai stated, “This strategic collaboration, formed through our subsidiary PAIEvo with Dassault Systèmes and PolyU, marks another important step for XtalPi’s journey toward the ‘Lab of the Future’. By integrating the strengths of the three parties in intelligent decision-making and Physical AI, virtual twin modelling, and cross-disciplinary academic research, we aim to accelerate the development of a self-learning closed loop encompassing intelligent design, physical experimentation, digital simulation and innovative applications, thereby advancing the R&D paradigm toward autonomous discovery.”
As a subsidiary of XtalPi, PAIEvo leverages XtalPi’s AI for Science platform, built on quantum physics, AI, and robotic experimentation, to systematically extend its proven R&D capabilities and technology strengths into key scenarios of new materials R&D. Dassault Systèmes, meanwhile, creates virtual worlds through its 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock-Up and Product Lifecycle Management solutions, reshaping the way products are designed, manufactured and supported.
The University’s collaboration with Dassault Systèmes began in 2003. What started as a software licensing relationship has gradually developed into a comprehensive and multi-layered partnership embracing research and talent development. Last year, this partnership reached a new milestone with the establishment of the Dassault Systèmes–PolyU Center of Excellence, the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region. Combining PolyU expertise in AI, robotics and materials innovation with Dassault Systèmes leadership in virtual twin technologies, the Center has laid a solid foundation for the company’s expansion in Hong Kong and has become an important platform for driving innovation in ‘AI + materials’ and ‘AI + virtual twin’.
The PolyU-Dassault Systèmes partnership also demonstrates the University’s proactive role in helping attract internationally renowned enterprises and talent to Hong Kong. Through the support of the HKSAR Government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), and with PolyU’s recommendation and support, Dassault Systèmes was selected as one of OASES’ sixth batch of 22 strategic enterprises, officially establishing its presence in Hong Kong and expanding its local operations. PolyU will continue to support Dassault Systèmes development in Hong Kong by strengthening links between the “AI + manufacturing” innovation ecosystems of Hong Kong and France, while also leveraging its strong network of translational research institutes and centres in the Chinese Mainland to facilitate the company’s further expansion there.
During its visit to Dassault Systèmes, the PolyU delegation toured “The Playground”, an immersive experience space showcasing innovative technologies and live demonstrations powered by the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform. The delegation also visited the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE Lab to learn more about the innovative products and solutions developed by startups nurtured by Dassault Systèmes. The three parties additionally held in-depth exchanges and discussions on the practical implementation of their future collaboration.
Hashtag: #PolyU
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Hong Kong probate resource HK Probate Lawyer launches free wills-education site HK Wills Help to help the public plan ahead in plain language
As Hong Kong’s population ages, the platform aims to lower the knowledge barrier around wills and estate administration and reduce future family disputes.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 July 2026 – HK Probate Lawyer (hkprobatelawyer.com), a Hong Kong resource on wills and estate law, today announced the launch of HK Wills Help (hkwillshelp.com), a new free public-education website that explains wills, the probate process, enduring powers of attorney and other end-of-life arrangements in plain language — helping members of the public, and elderly residents in particular, plan ahead and spare their families unnecessary difficulty.
Background: a widespread gap in end-of-life planning
Hong Kong is steadily becoming an ageing society, yet many residents remain unfamiliar with making a will or with the estate-administration process. In practice, the absence of a valid will often makes probate more complex and time-consuming, and can more easily give rise to disputes among family members. At the same time, much of the available information is written in legal jargon that elderly and grassroots residents may find hard to follow.
HK Wills Help: turning complex law into information anyone can understand
HK Wills Help is built around a simple idea — explaining things in everyday language. It offers a series of free guides covering:
- what a will is, and how to make one that is valid;
- the probate process and the documents required;
- enduring powers of attorney and advance medical directives, as preparation before any loss of mental capacity;
- a directory of free will-drafting services across Hong Kong (District Offices, District Councillors and social-welfare organisations).
All content is free to read and is updated on an ongoing basis.
Supported by a professional legal resource
The new site is operated with the support of HK Probate Lawyer, which focuses on more complex matters — estate planning, cross-border estates, family trusts and contentious probate — for professional readers. The two sites are complementary, serving the general public and more complex planning needs respectively.
Quote
“Many family disputes over an estate aren’t really about how much money is involved — they happen because there was no preparation, and people didn’t know what options they had,” said [name / title], a spokesperson for HK Probate Lawyer. “What we wanted to do was take complex law and put it back into language Hong Kong people can actually understand, so everyone can make arrangements for their family early.”
Hashtag: #HKProbateLawyer #HKWillsHelp
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About HK Wills Help
HK Wills Help is a free public-education website that explains wills, probate and related end-of-life arrangements to Hong Kong residents in plain language. Website: https://hkwillshelp.com
About HK Probate Lawyer
HK Probate Lawyer is a legal-information platform focused on Hong Kong wills, probate and estate planning, covering the probate process, cross-border estates, family trusts and contentious probate. Website: https://hkprobatelawyer.com
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OPEC Fund provides US$50 million to SeABank to boost small business and climate finance in Viet Nam
The loan will help SeABank increase lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which account for around half of employment in Viet Nam but continue to face a significant financing gap. Part of the OPEC Fund’s funding will also support investments in energy efficiency, green buildings, rooftop solar and electric mobility.
OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “Small businesses are central to Viet Nam’s economy and an important source of jobs and growth. This financing will help more companies access the capital they need to invest and expand, while supporting practical climate solutions that can strengthen competitiveness and resilience.”
The new loan agreement strengthens the partnership between SeABank and the OPEC Fund that began in 2022 with a first loan in support of local SMEs, including women-owned businesses, as well as climate projects.
Le Thu Thuy, SeABank’s Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, said: “This financing marks an important milestone in our partnership with the OPEC Fund, reinforcing SeABank’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth. It also advances our role as a financial intermediary in mobilizing and channeling international capital to support Viet Nam’s sustainable development priorities.”
Hashtag: #SeABank
https://seabank.com.vn/The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
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DFT and OSMEP Invite Guangzhou Consumers to Discover Premium Thai Rice at “Thai Rice Roadshow”
The roadshow will bring together more than 28 Thai rice producers and rice product manufacturers to showcase and sell premium Thai rice and rice products, while raising awareness of Thai rice and promoting its consumption in the Chinese market.
Visitors will have the opportunity to discover the quality, diversity, and distinctive taste of Thai rice while meeting exhibitors from Thailand’s major rice-producing regions. Featured products include Thai Hom Mali Rice, White Rice, Thai Fragrant Rice, Glutinous Rice, and specialty varieties such as Riceberry Rice, Hom Nil Rice, and Sang yod Rice. The event will also feature the “Seven Stories of Thai Rice” exhibition, presenting the origins of Thai rice, traditional cultivation wisdom, unique characteristics, and nutritional value to help Chinese consumers gain a deeper understanding of Thailand’s rice heritage.
A major highlight of the event will be live cooking demonstrations by professional Thai chefs, with complimentary tastings of signature Thai rice dishes, including pineapple fried rice, lotus leaf rice, mango sticky rice, sticky rice with longan and goji berries, and banana sticky rice. Visitors can also purchase authentic Thai cuisine from Thai SELECT certified restaurants, a mark of authentic Thai ingredients and genuine Thai flavors.
Admission is free. Visitors are invited to explore, taste, and shop for premium Thai rice products throughout the three-day event.
To further promote Thai rice and encourage its consumption in Guangzhou, DFT will partner with three Thai SELECT restaurants—Mango Tree, Lian Restaurant, and Manmailai—to present the “Think Rice Think Thailand: Taste of Thai Cuisine” campaign from 18–24 July 2026. Customers ordering dishes from the Special Thai Rice Menu will be eligible for a lucky draw, with the grand prize of two round-trip air tickets between Guangzhou and Bangkok. Winners will also enjoy an exclusive Thai fine dining experience at Khao San Sek in Bangkok’s Song Wat district, created by Michelin-starred Chef Pichaya “Chef Pam” Soontornyanakij.
Hashtag: #DFT #OSMEP
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
