Media OutReach
Finals of 2025 China-ASEAN Specialized Event of 14th China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition successfully held in Nanning
As the premier sci-tech innovation and entrepreneurship competition in China, renowned for its high standards, large scale, superior quality, and extensive influence, the China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition has nurtured numerous innovative enterprises and outstanding projects with core competitiveness. It has contributed significantly to advancing China’s sci-tech innovation and industrial upgrading. The newly established China-ASEAN Specialized Event this year, leveraging Guangxi’s strategic position as an open front towards ASEAN, aims to promote technology transfer, achievement commercialization, and industrial collaboration between China and ASEAN.
Since its launch in September, the event attracted enthusiastic participation from over 130 high-quality projects nationwide. Competing projects focused on three key tracks, namely new generation information technology, biomedicine, and new materials, showcasing cutting-edge industry trends and robust technological capabilities.
After preliminary rounds, 30 outstanding projects, recognized for their innovation and potential for China-ASEAN cooperation and industrialization, advanced to the final stage to compete for top honors. The finals adopted an “on-site defense, immediate score disclosure” format. Each project had 15 minutes, comprising an 8-minute PPT roadshow and a 7-minute judge Q&A session. Each track’s judging panel consisted of five senior investment experts who provided professional evaluations.
The finals featured a gathering of elite talents and showcased cutting-edge technologies. The new generation information technology track included platform applications serving cross-border cooperation, such as the “ASEAN Premium Product Code” using blockchain for trusted cross-border commodity channels, and the “Cross-border Business Travel Security Assistant” providing comprehensive protection for China-ASEAN travelers. It also featured underlying technological innovations addressing industry bottlenecks, like charging pile testing equipment achieving localized substitution through multi-standard integration, and laser processing robots utilizing aerospace-grade precision manufacturing.
The biomedicine track delivered grassroots benefits, such as new ultra-saline-alkali-tolerant rice varieties transforming barren land into “granaries”, and agricultural microbial agents using ASEAN non-grain biomass for green cultivation. It also featured cutting-edge achievements, such as a high-throughput proteomics technology platform supporting precision medicine, and fully automated cell preparation equipment integrated with AI for intelligent cell drug manufacturing.
The new materials track focused on green recycling and cutting-edge breakthroughs, such as converting the industrial by-product fluosilicic acid into high-purity electronic materials, achieving the “transformation of waste into treasure”; and CO2 capture and separation membrane materials that provide efficient solutions for industrial emission reduction. In addressing critical bottleneck constraints, high-performance quantum dot films broke international monopolies through a cadmium-free process, while computing-in-memory chips utilized phase-change materials to achieve dual improvements in both computing power and energy efficiency.
Finally, the first prizes in the three tracks were awarded to: the “Haizhichen, Pangu AI Vision—ASEAN Industrial AI Vision Industry-University-Research Empowerment Platform” project of Qingdao Haizhichen Industrial Equipment Co., Ltd. (New Generation Information Technology); the “AI-based Full-process, Fully Automated, Hive-Modular High-end Complete Cell Preparation Equipment and Cell Drug R&D and Industrialization” project of Yunnan Huayang Biotechnology Group Co., Ltd. (Biomedicine); the “Novel MOFs High-Efficiency CO2 Capture and Separation Membrane Materials” project of Tianjin Hermes Technology Co., Ltd. (New Materials).
During the award ceremony, Nanning Zhongguancun Information Valley Science and Technology Service Co., Ltd. signed agreements with 14 companies intending to establish local operations. These companies included Beijing Gaihe Lepu Innovation Technology Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Hanggong Junte Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Zhongyi Technologies Co., Ltd., Shanghai Thaisen Electric Technology Co., Ltd., and Beijing Topsec Education Technology Co., Ltd. This signifies the transition of innovative achievements from the competition arena to industry, with these “sci-tech innovation seeds” taking root in Nanning’s fertile soil.
To further connect innovative achievements with industrial resources, the finals featured dedicated promotion and matchmaking sessions. Li Quan, Deputy Director of the Guangxi ASEAN Technology Transfer Center, systematically introduced the prospects and resources for Guangxi-ASEAN sci-tech cooperation, helping participating enterprises seize ASEAN market opportunities.Wang Jiehui, First-Level Investigator of Nanning New & High-tech Industrial Development Zone, delivered a summary for the event and expressed hope that participating projects would connect more resources to realize the cycle from “innovative idea – resource support – ASEAN implementation”. Li Haiyan, Deputy Director-General of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Nanning New & High-tech Industrial Development Zone, introduced the zone’s industrial ecosystem, business environment, and sci-tech innovation policies. Departments of Nanning New & High-tech Industrial Development Zone and financial institutions held one-on-one meetings with participating enterprises, addressing key issues like policies, markets, financing, and supporting facilities, providing clear pathways and solid support for project implementation.
The successful event vividly demonstrated the concept of “innovation without borders, cooperation for shared future”. It served not only as a “touchstone” and “amplifier” for sci-tech innovation projects but also as a “connector” and “accelerator” for China and ASEAN to share development opportunities and promote industrial upgrading. In the future, more innovative forces are expected to gather via this platform, fostering more cross-border cooperation outcomes and jointly writing a new chapter in China-ASEAN sci-tech innovation cooperation.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
GoTyme Bank becomes the first digital bank in the Philippines to enable Apple Pay, expanding secure and seamless digital payments for 10 million customers
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 August 2026 – Paymentology, the leading global issuer processor, today announced the successful launch of Apple Pay for GoTyme Bank in the Philippines. Through this launch, GoTyme becomes one of the first issuers in the Philippine market to enable Apple Pay, giving 10 million customers an easy, secure and private way to pay using their Apple devices.
As one of the country’s fastest-growing digital banks, GoTyme continues to accelerate its digital payments strategy by expanding secure, seamless and convenient payment experiences for Filipino consumers. Customers can now securely add their GoTyme debit card to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments in stores, within apps and online wherever Apple Pay is accepted.
Apple Pay uses industry-leading tokenisation technology, meaning card numbers are never stored on devices or shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, with every transaction authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or a device passcode, providing an additional layer of security while delivering a fast, frictionless checkout experience.
Nate Clark, President and CEO at GoTyme Bank commented: “At GoTyme Bank, we’re constantly looking for ways to make banking simpler, safer and more rewarding for our customers. Bringing Apple Pay to GoTyme Bank customers in the Philippines gives them an easy and secure way to pay wherever they shop while continuing to earn rewards points on all their transactions. This is another step in our commitment to making everyday banking more beautiful and convenient for our customers.
The launch comes as digital payments continue to reshape the Philippine economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), digital payments now account for more than half of all retail payment transactions, as consumers increasingly embrace mobile-first banking and contactless payments. Meanwhile, smartphone penetration continues to rise, supporting growing demand for digital wallets and tokenised payment experiences. As digital commerce accelerates, enabling secure mobile payments through services such as Apple Pay is becoming an increasingly important differentiator for financial institutions.
Minh-Ha Truong, Head of Growth, APAC at Paymentology, added: “As a long-standing partner to GoTyme, we’re proud to support another significant milestone in its growth journey. Bringing Apple Pay to market demonstrates how modern, cloud-native issuer processing enables digital banks to rapidly deliver innovative payment experiences while maintaining the highest standards of security, scalability and performance. Together, we’re helping shape the future of digital payments in the Philippines.”
The launch further strengthens GoTyme’s position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital banks and highlights the value of Paymentology’s cloud-native issuer processing platform in helping banks and fintechs rapidly introduce innovative payment capabilities that meet evolving customer expectations.
Hashtag: #Paymentology
https://www.paymentology.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/paymentology/
https://x.com/Paymentology
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
New Documentary Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun From Discovery to Debut on August 20 in Southeast Asia
Set against the sun-drenched landscapes of southern Taiwan, Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun highlights how the people of Liugdui have thrived alongside the land for over 300 years. Following local scholars, farmers, and artisans, the documentary explores how this community adapts its deep-rooted traditions—from water stewardship to food heritage—in response to environmental and economic change, offering vital modern insights on sustainability, rural revitalization, and cultural continuity.
Across three episodes—Water, agriculture, and food—the documentary explores how the people of Liugdui blend tradition with modern innovation. Viewers meet groundwater experts, farmers pioneering sustainable crops, and artisans repurposing local materials like betel nut, alongside culinary practitioners who preserve Hakka identity through ancestral rituals, communal feasts, and family traditions that unite generations.
Audiences will discover a community that views tradition not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve. From innovative groundwater management and botanical dyeing to ritual feasts and modern interpretations of Hakka cuisine – the documentary celebrates the creativity, resilience, and values that have sustained Liugdui for centuries.
Under the Hakka Liugdui Sun premieres in Southeast Asia on Discovery Channel, Thursday, August 20 at 7:10pm; TLC Channel, Monday, August 24 at 7:10pm; and Discovery Asia, Tuesday, August 25 at 9:25pm.
Hashtag: #Discovery
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About Discovery Channel
The launch press conference broke away from tradition with a vibrant runway show featuring celebrity “Hot Spring Travel Navigators,” including acclaimed chef Edward Lee from Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, visual identity creative director Yen Po-Chun, TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Taiwan Chairman Kazuma Otsuka, and actor-host Andrew Chau. Together with local businesses, they showcased regional agriculture, specialties, and lifestyle products.
The official launch celebration kicks off on September 4 at Guguan Park in Taichung, featuring a themed parade with over 500 participants and the lighting ceremony for the Lishan–Guguan Light Art Festival, which stars a massive eight-meter “OhBear” light installation. The festivities continue on September 5 with a guided tribal trekking tour in Guguan, offering participants an exclusive NT$500 accommodation discount.
To promote four-season wellness tourism globally, the campaign partners with the East Asia Hot Spring Association for an international symposium on September 4. Key promotions also include complimentary LINE POINTS for new followers, curated packages starting at NT$299, and a flash sale of 800 limited NT$1 Hot Spring Vouchers for the Double 11 Shopping Festival. Furthermore, cross-sector collaborations offer half-price entry to national forest areas, limited-edition Taiwan Railway bento boxes, and Guanziling mud spring skincare products to enrich the travel experience.Hashtag: #TaiwanFourSeasonSprings
https://www.trimt-nsa.gov.tw/zh-tw/
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
