London, UK, June 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 2020 has been a year like no other in the world’s recent history. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the health and well-being of a global community, and, in doing so, has necessitated shifts in the way the world conducts business, engages with colleagues, and, at a personal level, connects with family and friends. The continued dedication and service of healthcare providers globally, despite the new demands placed on them as a result of the pandemic, cannot be overstated.
SNOMED International’s 2020 Annual Report, “A new chapter powered by a global coalition,” demonstrates the vast breadth of progress made possible by the will of a growing and committed community. The start of the year was marked by the delivery of necessary COVID-19 terminology to equip healthcare systems globally in their management of the pandemic, an activity which continued steadily throughout the year. Further, 2020 marked the first year of a new five-year strategy, the focus of which tackled many imperatives for the organization’s product and services enhancement and innovation.
The organization continued to strengthen its connections with Members through refreshed statements of the value SNOMED CT delivers to its complement of stakeholders, further underlining the case for investment in SNOMED CT — a product uniquely positioned to support innovation in medicine with artificial intelligence and personalized medicine playing an increasingly prevalent role in safe and informed care delivery.
As SNOMED International continues to satisfy the mission and vision that guide its new strategy, the organization is energized by the desire for innovation and commitment to excellence observed from Members, governance bodies and the SNOMED CT Community of Practice.
SNOMED International is proud of its collective achievements in 2020 and looks forward to sharing them with the global SNOMED CT community. Read SNOMED International’s 2020 Annual Report and contact info@snomed.org with inquiries.
About SNOMED International
SNOMED International is a not-for-profit organization that owns and develops SNOMED CT, the world’s most comprehensive healthcare terminology product. We play an essential role in improving the health of humankind by determining standards for a codified language that represents groups of clinical terms. This enables healthcare information to be exchanged globally for the benefit of patients and other stakeholders. A Member oriented organization, we are committed to the rigorous evolution of our products and services, to deliver continuous innovation for the global healthcare community. SNOMED International is the trading name of the International Health Terminology Standards Development
NEW YORK, June 01, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire — BAND Royalty today announces its placement in an editorial published by NetworkNewsWire (“NNW”), one of 50+ trusted brands within the InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”), a multifaceted financial news and publishing company for private and public entities.
To view the full publication, “NFTs Flipping the Script, Bringing Value Back to Music Artists,” please visit: https://nnw.fm/dvON4
Currently retail investors can only get exposure to the music industry by buying stock in a public music label, investing in funds that buy/sell music royalties, or via websites that auction royalty rights, often well into the six-figure dollar range. In what many perceive as a ground-floor opportunity, BAND Royalty is changing the landscape and making it accessible for retail investors to participate by owning NFTs.
After a private sale of music NFTs that generated almost $1 million, BAND launched its own NFT sales platform on its website, creating the first music NFT-only platform this month. The company opened up access to the first series of 3,000 BAND NFTs on its platform, staggering the release based on rarity. The company’s plan is to keep the NFT count tight, much like other popular NFT projects such as CryptoPunks and Hashmasks, both of which have had secondary market sales in the millions of dollars. The long-term intention is to have a maximum of 12,000 BAND NFTs across four different series to be released over the next 18 months.
About BAND Royalty
BAND Royalty lets music lovers and fans take their enjoyment of music to the next level by offering blockchain-secured BAND NFTs that enable holders to earn crypto from some of the world’s most popular songs. This unique opportunity allows individuals to share in income streams each time a song in the BAND music catalog is performed. The name BAND is derived from the initials of its co-founders, blockchain experts Barnaby Andersun (BA) + Noble Drakoln (ND).
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to BAND are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/BAND
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) NetworkNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. NNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness.
NNW is where news, content and information converge.
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BEIJING, May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — International Finance Forum (IFF) announced the release of IFF China Report 2021 (the “Report”) outlining important China’s policy initiatives and the global cooperation opportunities in the context of COVID-19 and beyond. 30,000 copies of the report have been issued to over 170 countries and territories.
The Report includes 31 contributions from world’s leaders, premier policymakers and financiers on global topics under the five themes: global economic growth in a post-pandemic era, the Belt-and-Road Initiative (BRI), green finance, global capital markets and fintech.
COVID-19 has caused significant disruption to the world economy. However, the ecological implication of the pandemic is as consequential as the economic one, as the public health emergency is symptomatic of a deeper economic problem that undergirds it. To tackle the issue, a shift of focus to “new green infrastructure” is the key, notes Han Seungsoo, Co-Chairman of IFF, Silk Road International Association (SRIA) Chairman.
“The mission of the SRIA must be realigned to mobilise the investment necessary to cope with the ‘new normal’ after COVID-19. Producing solar and wind power on a large scale across the wasteland along BRI route would help generate clean power for the East, which should be a priority for the SRIA,” he writes in the Report.
Underscoring the key measure for a rapid global economic rebound in the post-COVID era, Jim Yong Kim, the 12th president of the World Bank, says in the Report that infrastructure investment should be “one of the priorities in helping developing countries recover more quickly from the pandemic”. Marcos Toyjo, president of the New Development Bank, notes that “new infrastructure must answer the demands of the fourth industrial revolution.”
The Report also highlights the role of BRI in fostering sustainability in terms of global development through the Silk Road Fund and the joint efforts of member countries in promoting green transition. To accelerate the green transition, the Report calls on the BRI countries for setting up carbon-neutrality targets in line with global sustainability goals and enforcing environmental protection legislation.
About IFF
Established in 2003, the IFF is a non-profit and non-governmental unofficial international forum organization. Headquartered in Beijing, it is a high-level dialogue and academic exchange mechanism co-sponsored by business leaders and scholars in the global financial community and academic circles.
NAVASOTA, Texas, May 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global livestock semen sorting leader and innovator Sexing Technologies® (ST) has partnered with pioneering livestock artificial insemination company RAMSEM to establish Africa’s first semen sorting lab. The lab is at RAMSEM’s facility near Bloemfontein, South Africa.
The lab will produce fresh and frozen sex-sorted semen from sheep, goats and cattle. ST’s sex sorting method separates X chromosome (female) bearing sperm from Y chromosome (male) bearing sperm through a process called flow cytometry. This provides customers with semen that is more than 90 percent accurate for the desired gender and achieves conception rates comparable to conventional (unsorted) semen used for artificial insemination.
RAMSEM is a globally renowned leader in sheep and goat reproductive services, most notably the semen freezing and laparoscopic artificial insemination (A.I.) techniques introduced to South Africa in 1985 by Dr. Johan Steyn, one of the company’s founders. Since its founding, RAMSEM has expanded its service offerings to include embryo transfer (ET) and exporting sheep genetics worldwide. Dr. Johan Steyn remains on staff as head of the company’s laparoscopic A.I. and ET programs
“Ramsem is privileged to partner with Sexing Technologies, the most reputable name in the business of semen sorting services,” says Dr. Fanie Steyn, RAMSEM Managing Director and son of Dr. Johan Steyn. “This partnership introduced semen sorting to the African continent and is set to revolutionize the breeding industry for Southern African cattle, sheep and goats. ST’s cutting edge research and development work has resulted in its flagship sorted semen product, SexedULTRA, which is already producing results comparable to conventional fresh semen laparoscopic A.I. in South Africa.
“This partnership truly embodies RAMSEM’s motto that ‘experience plus technology equals results!’” Dr. Fanie Steyn adds.
RAMSEM also works to help conserve Africa’s wildlife. The company is providing semen freezing services to ARK Biotech for preservation of African Buffalo, Rhinoceros and Lion genetics. With the opening of the lab, RAMSEM will expand its partnership with ARK Biotech to include semen sorting and invitro fertilization services.
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Sexing Technologies® is the world leader and innovator and leader in livestock semen sex-sorting technology.
Colchicine could be considered as a treatment for non-hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 by PCR test and at risk of complications
MONTREAL, May 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) announces that the COLCORONA study results are published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. The article, which is entitled Colchicine for community-treated patients with COVID-19 (COLCORONA): a phase 3, randomised, double-blinded, adaptive, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, concludes that, given the lack of oral therapies available to prevent COVID-19 complications among non-hospitalized patients and the observed benefit of colchicine in patients with a PCR-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, this anti-inflammatory drug could be considered as a treatment for those at risk of complications.
“Given the current pandemic, while awaiting collective immunity through vaccination around the world, the need for treatments to prevent COVID-19 complications among patients who contract the disease remains”, said Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif, Director of the MHI Research Centre, Professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de Montréal and Principal Investigator of COLCORONA. “Our study showed that colchicine could be used to reduce the risk of complications for some patients with COVID-19.”
Colchicine is an inexpensive and readily available anti-inflammatory drug. Orally administered, it is currently prescribed to treat gout, Familial Mediterranean Fever and pericarditis. The COLCORONA study assessed colchicine’s potential to reduce the risk of COVID-19-related complications in outpatients over 40 years of age with at least one risk factor for disease progression.
The study’s primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of death or hospitalization in patients with COVID-19. Of the 4,488 patients enrolled, including those without a PCR-confirmed diagnosis, the primary endpoint occurred in 4.7% of patients in the colchicine group and 5.8% of those in the placebo group, a non-statistically significant result. For the 4,159 patients with a PCR-based diagnosis of COVID-19, the primary endpoint occurred in 4.6% of patients in the colchicine group and 6.0% of patients in the placebo group, a statistically significant result. Serious adverse events were reported in 4.9% of patients in the colchicine group and 6.3% of those in the placebo group. Notwithstanding these results, it is recommended that studies such as this one be replicated in non-hospitalized patients with a PCR-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Full study results are available here: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(21)00222-8/fulltext.
“The COLCORONA study expands on our knowledge of the role of oral, cheap and widely available repurposed drugs such as colchicine to treat people early on to prevent serious complications of COVID-19 and can help practitioners and their patients make informed treatment decisions,” said Yves Rosenberg, M.D., M.P.H., chief of the Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease Branch at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the United States National Institutes of Health.
COLCORONA (NCT04322682) is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, home-based clinical trial. It was conducted in Canada, the United States, Europe, South America, and South Africa. The study included 4,488 non-hospitalized patients over 40 years of age with COVID-19 at the time of inclusion, with at least one identified risk factor for COVID-19 complications (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, known respiratory disease, obesity). Patients were randomized to receive colchicine (0.5 mg twice daily for three days and once daily after) or placebo for 30 days.
The Montreal Health Innovation Coordinating Centre (MHICC) at the MHI coordinated COLCORONA, which was funded by the Quebec government, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Montreal philanthropist Sophie Desmarais, and the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, an initiative launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome and Mastercard. Montreal-based CGI, Dacima and Pharmascience were also collaborators in the study.
About the Montreal Heart Institute
Founded in 1954, the Montreal Heart Institute constantly aims for the highest standards of excellence in the cardiovascular field through its leadership in clinical and basic research, ultra-specialized care, professional training, and prevention. It houses the largest cardiology research center in Canada, the largest cardiovascular prevention center in the country, and the largest cardiovascular genetics center in Canada. The Institute is affiliated with the Université de Montréal and has more than 2,000 employees, including 245 doctors and more than 85 researchers. icm-mhi.org
About the Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center (MHICC)
The Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center (MHICC) is a leading academic clinical research organization and an integral part of the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI). The MHICC possesses an established network of collaborators in over 4,500 clinical sites in more than 35 countries. It has specific expertise in precision medicine, low-cost high-quality clinical trials, and drug repurposing. mhicc.org
About Pharmascience
Founded in 1983, Pharmascience Inc. is the largest pharmaceutical employer in Quebec. With its head office located in Montreal and its 1,500 employees, Pharmascience Inc. is a private pharmaceutical company with deep roots in Canada, and whose global reach spans across more than 60 countries. Ranked 47th among the top 100 Canadian investors in Research and Development (R&D), thanks to $49,5 million investment in 2018, Pharmascience Inc. is one of the largest manufacturer of generic drugs in the country. pharmascience.com
About CGI
Founded in 1976, CGI is one of the world’s largest information technology (IT) and management consulting firms. From hundreds of locations around the world, CGI offers a complete portfolio of services and solutions: strategic IT and management consulting services, systems integration services, intellectual property solutions as well as IT and business process management services in delegated mode. cgi.com/canada
About Dacima
Founded in 2006, Dacima Software Inc. is a leading innovator in Electronic Data Capture (EDC) software for clinical research. Dacima’s EDC software, Dacima Clinical Suite, is a fully feature EDC software application with integrated modules for patient randomization (IWRS), supply management, ePRO, eDiary, medical coding and eConsent. Dacima’s flexible and highly configurable EDC platforms allow for the design of all types of study designs including clinical trials, patient registries, observational studies and web surveys through an intuitive user-friendly web interface. dacimasoftware.com
About the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator
The Therapeutics Accelerator is an initiative launched by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard with support from public and philanthropic donors to speed up the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying, assessing, developing, and scaling up treatments. Its partners are committed to equitable access, including making products available and affordable in low-resource settings. www.therapeuticsaccelerator.org
Rodent Models Originating in China Can Be Imported Into Virtually Any Academic Vivarium Without Quarantine
RENSSELAER, N.Y., May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Taconic Biosciences, a global leader in providing drug discovery animal model solutions, announces a significant enhancement to the Taconic-Cyagen Model Generation Alliance allowing seamless importation of new genetically engineered models originating in China under the TruIMPORT™ umbrella.
Researchers at non-profit institutions play a critical role in drug discovery; however, outsourcing animal model generation can be cost prohibitive or a logistical challenge. Hurdles in accessing animal model resources can impede important research. Potential solutions to this problem have traditionally come with trade-offs. Depending on the country of origin, cost effective options can require a lengthy quarantine of the animals or additional breeding to ensure animals meet the required health standards for entry into the institution’s animal facility. These additional steps can cost the researcher both time and money.
Originally launched in 2018, the Taconic-Cyagen Model Generation Alliance (the Alliance) for academic and non-profit researchers leverages the talents of two industry-leading companies to create a solution uniquely tailored for non-profit research institutions. Taconic Biosciences has over 65 years of rodent model experience and Cyagen Biosciences is a China-based leader in model generation efficiency and a competitive cost structure. Since its inception, the Alliance has become a recognized leader in providing model generation services to academics and non-profit researchers. TruIMPORT™ represents an important evolution in this service offering. It allows animal models from China to be imported into United States and European animal facilities while complying with existing vivarium requirements. Providing a set of choices, TruIMPORT™ allows customers to access efficient model generation with several pricing options depending on desired delivery timeline, health standard, and cohort size.
“Our main goal is to solve problems for our customers,” shared Dr. John Couse, vice president of scientific services for Taconic. “While the Alliance has provided efficient model generation for years, importation concerns were a barrier for many customers. By creating multiple options under the TruIMPORT™ umbrella, customers can now import rodent models from China without quarantine regardless of the requirements of their vivarium.”
The TruIMPORT™ portfolio consists of three importation options: RapidRELAY™, RapidCHECK™, and RapidEXPANSION™. Customers can compare product specifications here to determine which represents the right combination of timeline, health standards, and deliverables to meet their needs.
About Taconic Biosciences, Inc.
Taconic Biosciences is a fully-licensed, global leader in genetically engineered rodent models and services. Founded in 1952, Taconic provides the best animal solutions so that customers can acquire, custom-generate, breed, precondition, test, and distribute valuable research models worldwide. Specialists in genetically engineered mouse and rat models, microbiome, immuno-oncology mouse models, and integrated model generation and colony management services, Taconic operates three service laboratories and six breeding facilities in the U.S. and Europe, maintains distributor relationships in Asia and has global shipping capabilities to provide animal models almost anywhere in the world.
About Cyagen Biosciences, Inc.
Cyagen Biosciences is a leading provider of comprehensive genetically engineered rodent model services. Cyagen utilizes a highly efficient process, including its proprietary AI technology, to design and deliver novel genetically engineered models with precision and competitive pricing. The Cyagen Transgenic Animal Center (CTAC) in China is a state-of-the-art, specific-pathogen free (SPF) barrier facility, which is both AAALAC accredited and OLAW assured. Cyagen has additional locations in the United States, Japan, and China. Since Cyagen’s founding in 2005, we have delivered over 78,400 animal models to researchers worldwide and have been cited in over 4,700 publications.
EGADE Business School brings diversity and prestige to the Council
RESTON, Va., May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) today announced that EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey has become the Council’s latest member. Located in Mexico, the EGADE Business School is selected for its world-class programs and international recognition in and beyond Latin America, adding great representation of the region to the global association that constitutes 229 top business schools around the world.
“EGADE Business School at Tecnológico de Monterrey has built a globally recognized reputation as the leading Latin American business education institution, committed to empowering entrepreneurial leaders who create shared value and transform society,” said Dr. Osmar Zavaleta, interim dean of EGADE Business School. “EGADE is committed to the exchange of ideas and best practices with our global peers and GMAC membership provides a valuable platform for enhancing that exchange other GMAC member schools”.
“The pandemic has taught us to be innovative and adaptive in a disruptive environment of an interconnected world,” said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. “We value the global vision and holistic approach that EGADE Business School brings and look forward to their contributions to the advancement of graduate management education.”
EGADE Business Schools is among a select group of institutions internationally to hold the “triple-crown” of excellence from the three leading global accreditation systems for business education quality assessment and continuous improvement: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of MBAs (AMBA), and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). For the fourth consecutive year in 2021, EGADE Business School topped the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking in Mexico and Latin America for its Full-Time MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Master in Finance programs and appears for the first time as the regional leader for its recently introduced Masters in Management.
To be considered for membership in GMAC, a school must maintain a selective admissions process; offer a master’s program in business administration, management subjects or equivalent; and demonstrate support of GMAC’s mission through the use of its products and services.
About GMAC™
The Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.
GMAC™ provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test™ (GMAT™) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.
GMAC™ also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC™ (NMAT™) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA). More than 7 million candidates on their business master’s or MBA journey visited GMAC’s mba.com last year to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC™, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com
Media Contact:
Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202-390-4180 (mobile) thsu@gmac.com
New website aims to better serve prospective students from the region pursuing a graduate business degree
RESTON, Va., May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™), the leading global association of business schools and administrator of the Graduate Management Admission Test™ (GMAT™), today announced the launch of the official GMATTM exam Chinese website, GMAT.com.cn. As the most widely used exam for graduate business school admissions and accepted by more than 7,000 graduate business programs worldwide, GMAT has been a leading assessment tool among the vast pool of talents in the greater China region for more than six decades.
Recognizing the growing interest in graduate management education (GME), GMAC established the microsite for prospective students from the region to access accurate, comprehensive, and authoritative information about the GMAT and GME in their native language more readily and comfortably. Through the localized and targeted content, the GMAT Chinese website, along with GMAT’s official WeChat account that went live earlier this year, provide the critical digital platforms to create and strengthen the connection between Chinese-speaking talents and the world’s leading business schools in the region and beyond, and filling an information gap in the market.
“China has over the years grown into the second largest region for GMAT, after only the United States,” said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. “As vaccines become more widely available and hope for economic recovery begins to take root, we expect to see more mobility and look forward to more Chinese students starting and returning to their journey of graduate business education in their own country or abroad, benefiting from the new Chinese-language platforms we are offering today.”
According to GMAC’s 2021 mba.com Prospective Students Survey Report published in March, the level of concern about the impact of COVID-19 has been declining over time. Specifically, the proportion of Chinese respondents reporting that they are extremely or very concerned has dropped from 71 percent in July 2020 to 48 percent in November last year. The report also found that the Chinese respondents planning to pursue an MBA outside their country are not changing their original plans despite the pandemic, with 89 percent planning to pursue their MBA in the United States and 55 percent in the United Kingdom, making these two countries their top destinations of consideration.
“The interest in and desire of Chinese business talents to pursue graduate management studies have not declined but only been put on hold,” said Yuan Ding, vice president and dean of CEIBS and a board director of GMAC. “The official GMAT Chinese website will help connect Chinese business talents all over the world with global business schools and leave no talents undiscovered.”
More than seven million candidates on their business master’s or MBA journey visited mba.com ― GMAC’s flagship graduate education resource and information portal ― to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process. GMAC is committed to supporting the goals of Chinese prospective students who wish to prepare and register for the GMAT exam.
About GMAC™
The Graduate Management Admission Council™ (GMAC™) is a mission-driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.
GMAC™ provides world-class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test™ (GMAT™) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment. GMAC™ also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC™ (NMAT™) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA). BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC™, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com
Media Contact:
Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202-390-4180 (mobile) thsu@gmac.com
First Public Viewing of Full Range of SEA Electric-branded Trucks Sets Framework for Company’s Growth in Global Electrification
SEA Electric at 2021 Brisbane Truck Show
The first-ever public appearance of the SEA Electric full range of operational-ready trucks was displayed at the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show — with the entire suite ranging from 4.5-tonne car licence through to 22.5-tonne three-axle rigids.
LOS ANGELES, May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The recent Brisbane Truck Show (May 13-16, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane, Australia) held a significant presence for global automotive technology company SEA Electric, showcasing the first-ever public appearance of a full range of operational-ready electric trucks utilizing proprietary SEA-Drive® power systems, new SEA Electric branding, and the announcement of senior global leadership taking the company’s helm throughout the Asia Pacific region.
The appointment of Bill Gillespie, president of Asia Pacific, and promotion of Glen Walker to vice president of Asia Pacific, bring a wealth of international transport industry and electric vehicle expertise to the region during a time of growth for SEA Electric worldwide. Following a recent US $42 million investment, SEA Electric is bringing electrification solutions and opportunities to nearly every corner of the globe, and in the United States it has added further assembly capacity, creating the current potential for approximately 60,000 units per annum. Further U.S. assembly, including in the area of batteries, is expected in the near future.
According to SEA Electric President and Founder Tony Fairweather, SEA Electric has not only created a low-cost delivery solution, but equally meaningful it has developed a medium voltage/lightweight power system with performance outcomes that exceed the internal combustion engine equivalent. “Our own SEA-badged trucks – including the SEA 300 and SEA 500 in Australia – are derived from OEM Semi Knock-Down kits, creating further efficiencies to pass on to our customer base whilst supporting rapid OEM expansion into this segment,” said Fairweather.
Gillespie’s new leadership role allows him to build upon the company’s momentum, which continues to expand on a worldwide basis. “The product showcased in Brisbane sets the framework for SEA Electric to seamlessly fold into OEM dealerships and fleets, bringing forth both new and repowered electrification options,” said Gillespie. The current three medium-size EV truck models are sold through a dozen authorized dealers in Australia, while more than 220 U.S. dealers are available to support the North American market needs.
SKD Assembly Provides Solutions Efficiency
Walker further explained the commercial arrangement as a Semi Knock Down (SKD) Assembly Operation – creating SKD ‘Glider’ kits – a first-of-its-kind three-way process that begins with the cab,
frame rails, wheels and axle components arriving in Australia, within containers from Japan, and upon arrival being assembled to provide a rolling chassis to support the appropriate proprietary SEA-Drive® power-system to create a completely assembled SEA Electric-branded vehicle. The vehicles are then ready for distribution.
But it is their SKD assembly operation’s efficiency that creates a real game-changer for SEA Electric and facilitates the solutions and productivity the company can provide. With consistency of assembly, and a process that provides multiple efficiencies, there becomes very little waste, often eliminating extra componentry that previously would have been discarded in other retrofitting processes.
“Our agreements in the U.S. go one step further,” said Walker. “We are utilizing SKD and local glider assembly to set the benchmark for ongoing programs in North America and other SEA Electric markets around the world.” As an example, when containers in the United States arrive for SKD assembly, all electrification is then performed by authorized upfitters, solely using SEA-Drive® power-system technology and branding. The process of building the trucks from SKD kits or glider chassis provides multiple advantages over the retrofit option, including lower cost, quicker build times, and less waste.
Bill Gillespie, President of SEA Electric Asia Pacific
Bill Gillespie joins SEA Electric as President, Asia Pacific, bringing a wealth of international transit industry and electric vehicle expertise to the region during a time of growth for SEA Electric worldwide.
The North American market, which recently became the new home for SEA Electric’s California-based headquarters, has the largest capability for upfitting capacity at 60,000 units annually. The addition of a Des Moines Technical Center and planned offices in Chicago, Brooklyn, and Miami before August this year represents SEA Electric’s commitment to the market.
With available volume and an ambitious capability to assemble the company’s SEA-Drive® technology, SEA Electric provides immediate and cost-efficient solutions that can be easily scaled to meet the needs for any fleet – whether new or existing delivery vehicles in need of new EV drive capabilities. The electrification of the yellow school bus industry is also in high demand in the United States.
Perhaps the most important business growth aspect of SKD kit and OEM glider assembly is the ability for the SEA Electric vehicle range to be available from a dealer network that provides complete sales, warranty, and service support.
SEA-Drive®
SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive® electrification technology adapts to a large range of OEM truck and commercial vehicle platforms and has been proven in the field with millions of real-driving miles to date.
SEA-Drive® Power-Systems
SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive® power-systems come in a variety of configurations for all-electric models with a GVM range of 4.5t through to 26t (i.e., 9,990 lbs. to 57,500 lbs. GVWR). Each are designed for 3,000 charge cycles based on a full overnight charge, if applied five days per week, and can result in optimum performance for 10 years.
The Brisbane Truck Show highlighted five new SEA-Electric-branded truck models, including the launch of the SEA 300-45 EV and the SEA 300-85 EV. Both models are fully ADR compliant and assembled in Melbourne for Australian distribution.
The Future for SEA Electric
While SEA Electric’s roots originate in Australia, along with various manufacturing and technology capabilities, the company’s North American growth brings a business model that can be replicated in Europe, as well. Current U.S. upfitting facility locations include Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Indiana, and California.
SEA Electric SEA M5 EV
The SEA M5 EV Vehicle chassis shown in this urban delivery truck utilizes SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive® powertrain platform for Class 5 vehicles. The unit carries a 5-year warranty on batteries and a system warranty of 3 years or 50,000 miles.
On the heels of its recent US $42 million equity financing announcement, SEA Electric also closed its latest purchase of 1,000 electric vehicle batteries from long-time technology partner Soundon New
Energy Technology. This important transaction supports SEA Electric’s proprietary SEA-Drive® 70, 100, and 120 major power-system models. While most of the initial units are slated for the United States, the balance will go to SEA Electric inventories in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, as well as the company’s first entry into the European market.
About SEA Electric
Global automotive technology company SEA Electric was founded in Australia in 2012, creating its proprietary electric power-system technology (known as SEA-Drive®) for the world’s urban delivery and distribution fleets, as well as front powered school bus applications.
Glen Walker, SEA Electric Vice President, Asia Pacific
As Vice President Asia Pacific for SEA Electric, Glen Walker leads the APAC operational activities for the company, with nearly two decades of experience within the automotive and transport sectors in Australia.
Widely recognized as a market leader in the electrification of commercial vehicles on a global basis, SEA Electric commands a global presence, deploying product in six countries including USA, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, and South Africa with collectively more than one million miles of independently OEM-tested and in-service international operation.
The company’s global sales, after-sales and engineering are represented in all subsidiaries, whilst North America, home to the company’s headquarters, has the largest upfitting capacity for SEA Electric at 60,000 units per year.
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“صون الكرامة في رواية القصص”، مبادرة أطلقتها دبي العطاء، وإكسبو 2020 دبي، ووزارة الخارجية والتعاون الدولي، وتدعم رؤية دولة الإمارات المتمثلة في تعزيز الكرامة البشرية في جميع أنحاء العالم
منتدى “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص” ينعقد في 10 ديسمبر 2021 في إكسبو 2020 دبي، أول إكسبو دولي يُقام في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا وجنوب آسيا
Bangladesh – Nomita Mondal watering mangrove saplings in Pachim Dhangmari, adjacent to Sundarbans Mangrove Forest, Banishanta, Dacope, Khulna, Bangladesh. Credit: BEDS
دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، 25 مايو 2021: أطلقت كل من دبي العطاء، وإكسبو 2020 دبي، ووزارة الخارجية والتعاون الدولي في دولة الإمارات، مبادرة “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص”، التي تسعى إلى إنشاء نظام يعزز فهم وممارسة رواية القصص التي تصون كرامة الجميع وتحافظ عليها وتساهم في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة.
تتم رواية آلاف القصص يومياً بغض النظر عمن يرويها وكيف يتم سردها. حيث تفتقر العديد من هذه القصص إلى المصداقية والشفافية أو أن تكون مدفوعة بدوافع خفية تخدم سردًا محددًا مسبقًا. هذه ليست سوى بعض العقبات القليلة التي تعترض طريق رواية القصص الصادقة والكاملة والتي تصون الكرامة في السياقات التنموية والإنسانية. ومن أجل وصول الرواية – سواء كانت مرئية أو مكتوبة أو منطوقة – إلى الجمهور، فإنها تمر بعملية طويلة من التصفية والمراجعة والتحرير التي تؤدي أحيانًا إلى تغيير المحتوى والمعنى الأصلي وتجعله شبه خيالي. وهذا بدوره ينتهي برسم صورة خاطئة للمساهمين فيها والذين لا يعرفون في كثير من الأحيان مكان عرض قصصهم المصورة أو المكتوبة والغرض من استخدامها.
Ethiopia – A #SecondChance student in rural Ethiopia reads and does homework at home by candlelight. Credit: Luminos Fund
ولدت مبادرة “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص” من الحاجة إلى توحيد أصوات صانعي المحتوى والمحررين والصحفيين والمصورين وصانعي الأفلام ورواة القصص والمساهمين وتزويدهم بالوعي والمعرفة العملية، والتي ستمكنهم من التقاط اللحظات ورواية القصص دون المساومة بكرامة الإنسان. ولسد هذه الحاجة، أطلقت هذه المبادرة سلسلة من المشاورات العالمية قبل عام، لالتماس وجهات النظر من قبل ممثلين عن قطاعات متعددة حول سرد القصص ضمن السياقات التنموية والإنسانية، ووضع مبادئ “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص” والموافقة عليها. إضافة لكون هذه المبادئ أداة إرشادية، يتم توظيفها أيضاً لحشد الجهود للجمع بين مختلف القطاعات ذات العلاقة من جميع أنحاء العالم لتشكيل حركة عالمية، الأمر الذي سيغير بذلك القواعد في الحفاظ على كرامة الإنسان وتعزيزها من خلال سرد القصص.
Guatemala – Adolescent girl student eager to take part in class as part of a bigger program that is set to elevate the voice and opportunities of adolescent girls in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras. Credit: Global Fund for Children
وتوجه هذه المبادئ التأسيسية أيضًا تطوير دليل مرجعي عملي يسهل الوصول إليه عن “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص”، والذي يوفر إرشادات ودراسات حالة لأفضل الممارسات. ويتم حالياً جمع وجهات النظر والأفكار من رواة القصص والجهات الفاعلة ذوي الخبرة، من حكومات ووكالات الأمم المتحدة، ومنظمات دولية ومحلية غير حكومية، ومجتمع مدني، بهدف مد هذا المورد القيم وإطار العمل الخاص به.
وفي خطوة لإدراج “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص” بشكل فعلي في السياسات والممارسات اليومية بين مختلف وكالات التنمية الدولية ورواة القصص في قطاعي التنمية والأعمال الانسانية، أنشأت دبي العطاء مع كل من إكسبو 2020 دبي، ووزارة الخارجية والتعاون الدولي في دولة الإمارات تحالفاً لمبادرة “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص”. ويمثل هذا التحالف شبكة من الرواد الذين يقدمون الدعم إلى المبادرة عن طريق الدعوة لحشد الجهود أو الدعم العيني أو توفير المعلومات لمخرجات البرنامج. يشمل التمثيل في التحالف مجموعة متنوعة من وجهات النظر من المنظمات، والأفراد، والحكومات القادرة على مشاركة أفضل الممارسات انطلاقا من خبراتها على أرض الواقع ضمن سلسلة من سياقات التنمية.
Liberia – Mary, a #SecondChance student in @LuminosFund’s Liberia program, smiles alongside her classmates prior to the pandemic. Luminos has helped 152,051 out-of-school children experience joyful learning and catch up. Today, Luminos classrooms in Liberia have reopened safely. Credit: Luminos Fund
وقالت معالي ريم بنت إبراهيم الهاشمي، وزيرة الدولة لشؤون التعاون الدولي، المدير العام لمكتب إكسبو 2020 دبي: “في وقت الحاجة الأمسّ إلى منصة توحد الجميع، سيجمع إكسبو 2020 العالم بروح من الأمل والتفاؤل، عبر مد الجسور واتخاذ خطوات ملهمة لصنع مستقبل أفضل لنا جميعا. وسيوفر البيئة المواتية لدعم (صون الكرامة في رواية القصص)، فيما نوحد مواردنا لإرساء أعلى المعايير وزيادة تأثير هذه القصص التي نختار أن يعرفها العالم. وتجسّد المبادرة أيضا التزام دولة الإمارات بدعم سرد القصص بمسؤولية من أجل خير البشرية، فضلا عن دورها المحوري في الجهود الإنسانية والإنمائية الدولية على نطاق أوسع”.
وتأكيدا على أهمية رواية القصص ضمن سياق التنمية، قال الدكتور طارق محمد القرق، الرئيس التنفيذي لدبي العطاء وعضو مجلس إدارتها: “تعد رواية القصص أداة اتصال قوية في المجالين التنموي والإنساني. القصص، سواء المرئية أو المكتوبة منها، توفّر وسيلة لفهم وجهات النظر المختلفة، ويمكن أن تكون دافعا للعمل. ولهذا السبب إنه من المهم بالنسبة لنا كمجتمع عالمي معالجة السرد غير المسؤول للقصص، وهي ممارسات تُركت بدون معالجة لفترة طويلة جدا، وهو ما أعتقد أنه نتيجة عدم وجود إرشادات متاحة على نطاق واسع وشاملة بشأن أفضل طريقة لرواية قصص تصون كرامة الجميع. وأدعو جميع رواة القصص، والحكومات، والوكالات، ومؤسسات المجتمع المدني للانضمام إلينا في هذا الجهد لغرس فهم وممارسة مشتركَين لرواية القصص، التي تجمعنا وتذكّرنا بإنسانيتنا المشتركة”.
Pakistan – The Citizens Foundation (TCF) students in a school playground in Qayyumabad, Karachi, Pakistan. Credit: TCF/Zoral Naik
وستشمل المبادرة منتدى “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص”، الذي سيُقام في إكسبو 2020 دبي في 10 ديسمبر 2021 ضمن فعاليات الحدث الدولي الممتدة على ستة أشهر. وسيمثل المنتدى منصة مؤثّرة للجهات المعنية الرئيسية، بما في ذلك أعضاء منظمات المجتمع المدني، والحكومات، والقطاع الخاص، والوكالات الدولية، فضلا عن المناصرين، والناشطين، ورواة القصص، ليجتمعوا معا ويوافقوا بشكل جماعي على الخطوات للمضي قدماً لتوثيق مبادئ “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص”، وتبنيها، واعتمادها، وإدراجها. وسيتحقق ذلك عبر سلسلة من الجلسات العامة ومعرض يقدم أفضل الممارسات في سرد القصص المتمحور حول الكرامة، بما في ذلك فعاليات جانبية تشمل مؤتمرا صحفيا.
ويشكل المنتدى جزءا من برامج الفعاليات التي يغتني بها إكسبو 2020 والتي تجسد روح “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص” وتحتفي به طيلة فترة انعقادها. ونُظمت سلسلة الفعاليات، التي تشمل مواضيع ثقافية، واجتماعية، واقتصادية، وبيئية، وأخرى ذات صلة بدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة، بالتعاون الوثيق مع الهيئات الإماراتية، والمشاركين الدوليين، والمشاركين غير الرسميين، والمنظمات الدولية، والشركاء التجاريين، فضلا عن أنها تسعى إلى الحصول على التضامن في التحديات العالمية، وتسليط الضوء على المجالات ذات الاهتمام والأهمية للمشتركَين، وضمان إرث هادف محليا، وإقليميا، ودوليا.
Rwanda – A group of students representing the student business club within their school community in Rwanda as part of the “Educate!” program. Credit: Educate!
وعلى المدى الطويل، ستنشئ “صون الكرامة في رواية القصص” بيئة إيجابية تعزز العلاقات طويلة الأمد بين القطاعين العام والخاص، والقطاع الإنمائي، والقطاع الإنساني، عبر وضع رواية القصص في صلب تبادل المعرفة، وإشراك الجهات المعنية، وتنمية القدرات، لإلهام رواة القصص وتوفير المعلومات لهم. ولتحقيق ذلك، تدعو دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة الأطراف الفاعلة والشركاء العالميين لأن يصبحوا دعاة لهذه المبادرة المحورية من خلال التعهد بالإلتزام بالمبادئ العشرة لرواية القصص الرقمية.
حول “دبي للعطاء”
منذ تأسيسها، تعمل “دبي العطاء” – جزء من “مبادرات محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم العالمية”- على توفير فرص التعليم السليم للأطفال والشباب في البلدان النامية من خلال تصميم وتمويل البرامج الطموحة التي تتسم بالفاعلية والاستدامة ,والقابلة للتوسع. وحتى اليوم، نجحت المؤسسة الإنسانية العالمية التي تتخذ من دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة مقراً لها في إطلاق برامج تعليمية لمساعدة ما يزيد عن 20 مليون مستفيد في 60 بلداً نامياً.
Tanzania – A chef pauses from his work at the campsite in Lake Natron, Tanzania. Photographer: Nicola Bailey
وتلعب “دبي العطاء” دوراً رئيسياً في المساعدة على تحقيق الهدف الرابع من أهداف التنمية المستدامة للأمم المتحدة، والذي يهدف إلى ضمان التعليم السليم المنصف والشامل للجميع وتعزيز فرص التعلم مدى الحياة للجميع بحلول عام 2030، من خلال دعم برامج تنمية الطفولة المبكرة والحصول على التعليم الأساسي والثانوي السليم، والتدريب التقني والمهني وتدريب الشباب، وكذلك التركيز بشكل خاص على التعليم في حالات الطوارئ والأزمات الممتدة. علاوة على ذلك، تتبنى دبي العطاء نهجًا استراتيجيًا لتحسين مستوى إلتحاق الطلاب ونتائج التعلم من خلال نموذج متكامل للصحة المدرسية والتغذية الذي يتكون من أنشطة التخلص من الديدان المعوية في المدارس، والتغذية المدرسية، وتوفير المياه والمرافق الصحية والنظافة الشخصية في المدارس.
دبي العطاء هي عضو في إدارة التواصل العالمي التابعة للأمم المتحدة (UN DGC)، فضلاً عن كونها منظمة غير حكومية مسجلة تحت إشراف دائرة الشؤون الإسلامية والعمل الخير (IACAD)، الجهة المنظمة للأنشطة الخيرية في دبي. وتعتبر المنظمة الإنسانية العالمية التي تتخذ من الإمارات العربية المتحدة مقراً لها مخولة بجمع التبرعات من خلال التبرعات المباشرة أو حملات جمع التبرعات، فضلاً عن إستخراج جميع التصاريح من دائرة الشؤون الإسلامية والعمل الخيري.
يعتبر العمل التطوعي أداة قوية بالنسبة لدبي العطاء من أجل إشراك أفراد المجتمع في مواجهة تحديات التنمية. تجمع دبي العطاء كافة أطياف المجتمع الإماراتي من خلال مجموعة كبيرة من المبادرات التطوعية والتوعوية المرتبطة بمهمتها العالمية.
