With over 25 years’ experience in the technology sector, Mr. Sung will oversee Empower Semiconductor’s commercial strategy, drive sustainable business and revenue streams, and establish Empower Semiconductor’s footprint across Asia. With particular focus on China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan, Mr. Sung will ensure success and results in delivering Empower technology to customers throughout the region. Prior to Empower, Mr. Sung worked in various regional sales leadership roles across Asia Pacific including QLogic (acquired by Marvell), LSI Corporation (acquired by Avago), Broadcom, and TE Connectivity gaining outstanding sales, marketing, and leadership experience.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Empower Semiconductor team. Empower brings a unique technology in an industry segment (power management) that is desperately in need of a breakthrough to fuel further technological advancement (i.e. AI, Edge Computing, Cloud Based Datacenters, Mobile, AR/VR and Automotive). This role provides an opportunity to work with some of the industry’s best and brightest as we work towards integrating Empower Semiconductor’s world-class products in every device that is screaming for our technology”, said Joseph Sung, Vice President of APAC Sales. “Technology is moving at an incredible pace. As such, there is great demand across all sectors for Empower Semiconductor’s smaller, faster and environmentally sound power delivery solutions. It is the opportunity of a lifetime to make a significant and positive impact on humanity. I am looking forward to liberating every customer from the constraints of current offerings and empowering them with Empower Semiconductor’s innovative technology.”

Mr. Sala is joining the Empower Semiconductor team with over 20 years’ experience working in the technology sector for highly renowned companies including Avago Technologies and Acal Bfi. He will provide exceptional customer service while overseeing Empower Semiconductor’s commercial strategy, driving business and revenue streams, and establish Empower Semiconductor’s footprint across Europe, Israel, Middle East, and Africa. Prior to Empower, Mr. Sala worked in various positions across wireless and wired market segments within EMEA.

“I am delighted to be joining Empower Semiconductor as Director of Europe MEA sales. Empower Semiconductor has an extremely progressive, innovative, and diverse culture that I am honoured to be part of. I am looking forward to leading our team in the disruption and reshaping of the power management industry. In doing so, I will be addressing the Europe MEA technology market with Empower Semiconductor’s revolutionary products while targeting a wide range of applications such as mobile, AI, M2M, 5G, and data center”, said Diego Sala, Director of Europe MEA Sales. “The demand for electronics remains robust and making a strong recovery after a year heavily impact by COVID-19. Empower Semiconductor will play a key role to support customers as we continue to increase the availability of our Integrated Voltage Regulator and E-CAP silicon capacitor technology”.

“Diego and Joseph are joining the team at an incredibly exciting time for Empower Semiconductor as we begin to further expand our portfolio of Empower IVR, the world’s smallest and fastest voltage regulators, and our recently announced E-CAP silicon capacitor technology” said Steve Shultis, Senior Vice President WW Sales and Marketing at Empower Semiconductor. “They will bring exceptional value and insight to all of Empower Semiconductor’s stakeholders due to their vast experience across customer service, sales, and marketing in the semiconductor industry. Their years of experience will be the driving force of Empower’s best-in-class power management performance in the world’s smallest package throughout the APAC and EMEA regions.”

About Empower Semiconductor:
Empower Semiconductor was founded to solve fundamental problems in power density for data-intensive applications. Traditional power solutions require dozens of discrete components with big footprints, complex designs and deliver power inefficiently with poor response times and inaccuracies. Empower Semiconductor’s patented IVR technology integrates dozens of components into a single IC increasing efficiency, shrinking footprints by 10x and delivering power with unprecedented simplicity, speed & accuracy and with zero discrete components. The Empower IVR technology solves the power density challenge to address a wide range of applications including mobile, wearables, 5G, AI, and data center. In 2020 the capacitor technology platform was added to further address power density. E-CAP revolutionized the capacitor industry as the world’s smallest, highest performing, and incredibly reliable capacitor wearables, mobile, and SoC applications. The company is based in Milpitas, CA and is led by a team of highly experienced power experts and executives.

The press release Empower Semiconductor Appoints Two Industry Veterans to Lead Business Strategies in Asia and Europe comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

“Ginger’s experience in the semiconductor and electronics industries gives her a perspective that will contribute to Palma Ceia during an important phase for the company,” Jewell said. “Her extensive experience in managing financial operations at a range of businesses will have a strong impact as we manage Palma Ceia’s growth.”

“Palma Ceia’s technology, particularly the developments we’ve made in Wi-Fi 6, makes this a great company to join right now,” Lee said. “I’m excited to join such a talented and experienced team, with great technologists in China, Europe and the U.S.”

Before joining Palma Ceia, Lee was vice president and corporate controller with GTC Semiconductor. Earlier experience includes a range of financial management roles with companies such as Sun Microsystems, Synopsys, Cirrus Logic and IBM. Lee was also senior manager and practice director for Deloitte. She holds a BS degree in Business/Managerial Economics from the University of San Francisco.

About Palma Ceia SemiDesign

Palma Ceia SemiDesign (PCS) is a leading provider of communication IP and semiconductors for next-generation WiFi and cellular applications. With a focus on emerging WiFi and LTE standards, PCS targets the design of ICs for broadband, wireless, medical and automotive applications. Palma Ceia solutions are differentiated by low-power, high-performance and ease of integration. With operational headquarters in Hong Kong, the company has design centers in Cambridge (UK), Hong Kong (PRC), and McKinney, Texas (USA). Additional sales and support activities are located in greater China, Israel, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Visit Palma Ceia SemiDesign on the web at http://www.pcsemi.com.

Palma Ceia SemiDesign and the Palma Ceia SemiDesign logo are trademarks of Palma Ceia SemiDesign, a Cayman Islands corporation, and are protected by trademark laws of the United States and other jurisdictions. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

The press release Ginger Lee Named Chief Financial Officer for Palma Ceia SemiDesign comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Global investment to learning technology companies surged to a breathtaking $36.38 billion in 2020, up dramatically from the $18.66 billion invested in 2019 and more than double the $16.34 billion invested in 2018. The number of deals spiked from 896 in 2019 to 1,251 deals in 2020.

This whitepaper breaks out investments made to ten types of learning technology products: three legacy products and seven advanced learning technologies. The legacy products include Self-pace eLearning (asynchronous courseware), Digital ReferenceWare (test prep, audiobooks, videos, manuals, etc.), and Collaboration-based Learning (synchronous live online classes and tutoring)

The advanced learning technology products include AI-based Learning, Mixed Reality Learning (Simulation, AR, and VR), Game-based Learning, Cognitive Learning (behavior modification), Mobile Learning, Location-based Learning, and Education and Training Bots (both physical and virtual).

“Despite the massive funding going to Chinese companies, the US accounted for the highest amounts of funding,” comments Sam Adkins, the Chief Researcher at Metaari. “Just over $16.15 billion went to 611 US learning technology developers in 2020. This is 44.4% of all global investments made in 2020.”

There were very large investments made to online learning companies in China, but only to a few companies. A full 31.6% ($11.52 billion) of all global investments in 2020 went to just 125 Chinese companies. Yet, this funding was highly concentrated in just two companies: Yuanfudao and Zuoyebang. Combined, they garnered 50.8% of all funding going to Chinese learning technology developers in 2020.

“Combined, the US and China accounted for 76.0% of all global funding in 2020,” comments Adkins. “Yet, there are major differences in the investment patterns in China and the US. In China, investors pumped very large amounts into a relatively small number of companies and most of them offer live online classes.”

Investments in the US were much smaller than China but went to a large number of companies. The one striking thing about the investment patterns in the US is the keen investor interest in AI-based Learning companies. A total of $8.45 billion was invested in 287 AI-based Learning companies in the US in 2020. To put this in context, a full 83% of all global investments in AI-based Learning went to US companies. In sharp contrast, “only” $534.6 million went to just 22 AI-based Learning companies in China; a mere 5.3% of the total global investments made to AI-based Learning companies.

Investment in corporate-facing companies in 2020 nearly doubled compared to 2019; investment reached a breathtaking $10.39 billion in 2019. A massive $17.22 billion went to 702 corporate-facing companies in 2020.

Funding declined for consumer-facing learning technology companies in 2019 but rebounded dramatically in 2020. Funding dropped to $6.67 billion in 2019, but spiked to $13.48 billion in 2020.

In 2019, there were only 84 deals made with PreK-12 learning technology companies and investment fell to $855.32 million. This changed dramatically in 2020, with $4.39 billion going to 107 companies serving the PreK-12 segment. In 2020, funding to learning technology suppliers serving the global higher education segments surged to $1.09 billion.

The big winners in 2020 were AI-based Learning developers, Collaboration-based Learning (live online tutoring) providers, Mixed Reality Learning developers, and Mobile Learning edtech companies. But it was AI-based Learning that attracted the largest amount of funding by a wide margin.

An astonishing $3.67 billion was invested in 120 AI-based Learning companies in 2019. This pales in comparison to the $10.17 billion that went to 359 AI-based Learning companies in 2020. The vast majority (83%) of funding went to US startups.

Corporations (particularly healthcare firms) are the top buyers of AI-based Learning followed by federal government agencies across the planet. Companies and agencies are using AI-based Learning in cybersecurity training, pre-employment assessment, intelligent business simulations, augmented predictive analytics (also called insight engines), big data visualization, knowledge graphing, digital twins and digital employees, and a relatively new trend, AI-based IT operations and support (AIOps). AI has essentially reinvented the call center industry.

AI-based Learning is used in five major ways in healthcare: pathology, analytics, diagnosis, etiology (causation), and treatment (therapy). When enhanced with AI, platforms designed for all five become knowledge engines.

“Perhaps the greatest impact on AI-based Learning in the healthcare industry are the advances being made in precision medicine, clinical decision support, and in imaging diagnostics,” adds Adkins.

There was a sharp spike in investments made to PreK-12 learning technology providers in India. Just under $3.0 billion ($2.96 billion) in capital flowed to 114 learning technology companies in India in 2020, but 38% of this went to just one company; the online education juggernaut BYJU’S raised $1.11 billion in five rounds in 2020.

Learning technology investments spiked in the UK and Germany in 2020 but declined in France and Canada compared to 2019. Investments rebounded in the Nordic Cluster, Israel, and Australia after declines in 2019. Investment activity is inherently unpredictable and nowhere is that more apparent than the rebounds and declines in 2020.

Latin America is again a hotbed of investment in edtech startups after three years of decline. In 2019, only $98.7 million was invested in just 12 learning technology companies in the region. That changed dramatically in 2020 with 23 companies raising $346.0 million in funding.

Eighteen edtech companies in Southeast Asia raised a combined total of $327.8 million in funding in 2019, up more than four times from the $75.5 million invested in 2018. This spiked dramatically in 2020 with $595.9 million going to 41 edtech companies in the region.

About Metaari

Metaari (formerly Ambient Insight) is an ethics-based quantitative market research firm that identifies revenue opportunities for advanced learning technology suppliers. We track the learning technology markets in 126 countries. We have the most complete view of the international learning technology market in the industry. Metaari focusses solely on advanced learning technology research on products that utilize psychometrics, neuroscience, location intelligence, game mechanics, robotics, cognitive computing, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality.

The press release Metaari Reports Massive Surge in Global Edtech Investment in 2020 comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Even as the world grapples with its worst crisis since World War II, some risks are more potent, deadly, and likely to change the course of world politics. These are Eurasia Group’s Top Risks for 2021, the firm’s annual prediction of the ten greatest threats to the trajectories of nations, global politics, industries and institutions. Unveiled each January, Top Risks helps investors, companies and the public anticipate and respond to opportunities wherever they invest or do business. The report is co-written by Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer and Chairman Cliff Kupchan.

The #1 risk for 2021 is “46*”—the opening of an era in which the occupant of the White House is viewed as illegitimate by roughly half the country. Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the outcome of an election that he declares was stolen is unique in American history, underscoring how divided America has become—and will remain.

“A superpower torn down the middle cannot return to business as usual,” write Bremmer and Kupchan. “And when the world’s most powerful country is so divided, everybody has a problem. The geopolitical recession—and our G-Zero world—will deepen as a result.”

Bremmer and Kupchan go on to argue that the strength of Trump’s base and political divisions in the US will force allies to consider the possibility that any commitments made by the incoming Biden administration could be overturned in four years with the election of another “America First” president.

Other Top Risks in the report include the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, the US-China conflict, data and cybersecurity, and distinct threats facing Turkey, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. The report also includes several “red herrings”—issues that, despite media attention, are unlikely to pose significant threats or drive instability in the coming year.

Top Risks has an impressive track record for being both early and accurate in its predictions. Eurasia Group’s 2020 Top Risks report, for example, correctly predicted a contested US election as its #1 risk.

Bremmer and Kupchan will host an on-the-record press conference call today, 4 January, at 10:30 a.m. EST/15:30 GMT to discuss the risks and take questions. To participate, please register here.

Below is a summary of all ten Top Risks for 2021. Please click here for the full report.

TOP RISKS 2021

When the world’s most powerful country is as divided as the United States is now, the G-Zero geopolitical recession is sure to deepen. The world needs the leadership and cooperation that an engaged and well-functioning superpower can help provide, because, just as the healthcare response to the coronavirus pandemic defined 2020, the economic response to its lasting damage will define 2021.

#1 – 46*

Following a 2016 Trump victory that many Democrats believe Russia helped him win, Biden’s term opens the era of the asterisk presidency, a time when every Oval Office occupant is seen as illegitimate by roughly half the country—and the lawmakers that election skeptics send to Congress. Most of the risk here is domestic, but the consequences of extreme polarization for democratic legitimacy extend well beyond US borders. Apart from a shared desire to contain China, Republicans and Democrats will disagree sharply—with each other and among themselves—over the objectives of US foreign policy. In addition, the size of Trump’s base, and the broadening of that base to include more minority voters, leaves allies and potential partners wondering whether the next “America First” president and foreign policy are just four years away.

#2 – Long Covid

In 2021, the lingering symptoms of Covid-19 will threaten not just lives but political stability and the global economy. Countries around the world will struggle to meet ambitious vaccination timelines, and the pandemic will leave a legacy of high debt, displaced workers, and lost trust. The distribution of vaccines will divide haves from have nots, both within and among nations, stoking anti-incumbent anger and public unrest in many countries. Some emerging markets will experience a debt crunch this year. With inflation and borrowing costs rising, they’ll have far less room than the US and Europe to cushion Covid’s economic blow.

#3 – Climate: net zero meets G-Zero

Climate policy will move from playground of global cooperation to arena of global competition. Across a range of clean technologies, China’s longstanding industrial policy approach will now face a much more aggressive climate push from Washington. Some parts of the clean energy supply chain will face bifurcation pressures like those seen in 5G. The push for net-zero emissions targets will create enormous opportunities for private capital, especially the growing pool of environmental, social, and governance dollars and euros, but winners and losers will be determined as often by political factors as by market forces.

#4 – US-China tensions broaden

A shared desire in Washington and Beijing for stability in US-China relations will briefly ease headline tensions, but intensifying vaccine diplomacy and climate and tech competition will combine with longstanding frictions in other areas to further complicate their rivalry. Disagreements over trade, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the South China Sea will carry over into 2021. Collectively, these points of dispute will boost the risk of miscalculation and escalation toward crisis.

#5 – Global data reckoning

A slowdown or halt to the free flow of sensitive data across borders will raise costs for companies and disrupt popular apps and internet business models. This risk begins with the US and China, but it doesn’t end there. Even as the data-driven 5G and AI revolutions gain steam, other governments concerned about who is accessing their citizens’ data—and how—will erode the foundation of the open global internet. Business models for AI and other innovative tech sectors will suffer. App bans and other issues will hamper global cooperation on public health and climate challenges.

#6 – Cyber tipping point

There is no single factor that raises the risk of a major disaster in cyberspace in 2021. The digital realm, where any computer or smartphone can become an entry point for hackers and nation states, and criminals act with relative impunity, is too unpredictable for that. Instead, a combination of low-probability but high-impact risks and inexorable technology trends will make 2021 the year that cyber conflict creates unprecedented technological and geopolitical risk in cyberspace.

#7 – (Out in the) cold Turkey

Economic setbacks in 2021 and Turkey’s poor Covid response will leave President Recep Tayyip Erdogan struggling to win back voters disillusioned with his two-decade rule. These dynamics will stoke social tensions, prompt a crackdown against the opposition, and encourage Erdogan to launch more foreign policy adventures to fuel nationalism and distract his supporters. But this year, Turkey’s president won’t have international friends to shield him from the consequences.

#8 – Middle East – low oil takes a toll

Energy-producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa faced a collapse in global energy demand in 2020 that left governments from Algeria to Iran with less cash flowing into their coffers—even as the pandemic sickened citizens and weakened economies. 2021 will be worse, because energy prices will remain low. Many of these governments will cut spending, damaging vulnerable private sectors and fueling unemployment. Reforms will slow, and protests will grow.

#9 – Europe after Merkel

Angela Merkel’s departure later this year after 15 years as chancellor will drive the continent’s top risk in 2021. Europe faces an economic hangover from intensified lockdown restrictions in several countries, and Merkel won’t be there to encourage flexibility in the multilateral response. Without the German leader to serve as a strong and neutral negotiator, diplomatic efforts to resolve energy and territorial disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean will struggle, as will the UN process to address Cyprus issues. The EU position will become more hawkish as France pushes more member states to get tough with Turkey, raising the odds of diplomatic rupture.

#10 – Latin America disappoints

Governments in Latin America face intensified versions of the formidable political, social, and economic problems they were confronting before the pandemic. There will be no large-scale vaccinations until late in the year, and countries are poorly positioned to deal with another Covid wave before then. Political and economic pressures will intensify as Argentina and Mexico hold legislative elections in 2021, and voters in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru vote for president.

RED HERRINGS

Trump’s friends in trouble – Trump-friendly leaders such as Erdogan, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, the UK’s Boris Johnson, and Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu will engage with the new US president where they can.

Techlash in US – US lawmakers won’t declare war on the tech companies helping to restore post-pandemic growth.

Iran-US confrontation – Ties between the US and Iran will be neither as productive nor destructive as many fear.

***

ABOUT EURASIA GROUP:

Eurasia Group is the world’s leading global political risk research and consulting firm. By providing information and insight on how political developments move markets, we help clients anticipate and respond to instability and opportunities everywhere they invest or do business. Our expertise includes developed and developing countries in every region of the world, specific economic sectors, and the business and investment playing fields of the future. With our best-in-class advisory and consulting offerings and GZERO Media, the Eurasia Group umbrella provides the marketplace with a complete political risk solution. Headquartered in New York, we have offices in Washington, London, San Francisco, Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo, as well as on-the-ground experts and resources in more than a hundred countries. “Politics first” grounds our work: Politics is the lens through which we view the world, and we are committed to analysis that is free of political bias and the influence of private interests.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:

Gregory Roth

Director of Communications

Eurasia Group / GZERO Media

roth@eurasiagroup.net

The press release Eurasia Group Publishes Top Risks for 2021 comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, China, October 30, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - Ingenico Group, the global leader in seamless payment, announced that it has expanded its fraud detection and management capabilities with a new, real time solution that enables merchants to increase revenue by optimizing their acceptance rate and reduce customer churn. The new solution leverages sophisticated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology developed by the German-Israeli payment security company Fraugster to identify and separate fraudulent transactions from legitimate ones. This enables a new fraud protection insurance model, which means fraud is reduced to zero for merchants. If any fraudulent transactions slip through the solution, the costs are absorbed by Fraugster. As the solution is fully integrated into Ingenico’s platform, adding the fraud solution is simple and only requires one click activation with no additional technical implementation on the side of the merchant.

As the total global eCommerce market continues to grow, so do the costs associated with online fraud and chargebacks. This is particularly true for international merchants, because cross-border payments have significantly higher risk of fraud than domestic payments do. Increasingly, sophisticated cyber criminals also take advantage of the shift to mobile payments, where fraud losses are higher as percentage of revenue. In addition to monetary losses, online fraud also brings with it the risk of potentially severe reputation damage. Consumers are less inclined to shop at merchants that have been associated with fraud. Yet merchants who implement overly strict fraud rules risk rejecting legitimate customers, leading to further monetary and reputation loss.

As a global Payment Service Provider, Ingenico not only processes online and mobile payments, but also provides value-added services to further optimize merchants’ financial flow. The new fraud solution offers merchants a choice of two products that each target a side of the risk management coin.

#8226; The Fraud Free Product: Made for merchants who have a chargeback problem. This product covers CNP losses for merchants who have high chargeback rates.

#8226; The new Fraud Free+: Made for merchants who have an acceptance rate problem. This product not only covers merchant’s chargeback losses but also increases their acceptance rates and revenue by accepting more good customers.

Automated risk management and reporting provide transparency as well as instant, detailed feedback on performance – allowing in-house risk teams to focus on other tasks.

“Fraud is a fact of life for online merchants, but that doesn’t mean they have to just accept it. At Ingenico, we reduce exposure to fraud to a minimum with efficient tooling and expertise,” said Gabriel de Montessus, VP Retail Global Product and Marketing for Ingenico Group. “Artificial Intelligence is the future of fraud prevention, and this solution will help our merchants improve their performance.”

“This partnership combines Fraugster’s innovative technology and disruptive vision with Ingenico’s experience, global merchant portfolio and ability to execute at scale,” said Max Laemmle, CEO and founder of Fraugster. “Independently, we each have a piece of the puzzle. Together, we will take that next step and reduce online fraud to zero for merchants.”

To help merchants understand the true cost of fraud and address common questions about the use of AI in fraud prevention strategies, Ingenico and Fraugster developed a comprehensive report that can be downloaded free of charge at https://www.ingenico.com/press/fraugster

About Ingenico Group
Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the world’s largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the world’s best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise.
www.ingenico.com twitter.com/ingenico

About Fraugster
Fraugster Ltd. Is a German-Israeli payment security company leading the future of fraud prevention with Artificial Intelligence. With the vision to create a fraud free world, we have designed and built a proprietary Artificial Intelligence technology that not only eliminates payment fraud but also maximizes revenues for e-commcerce merchants. We have been operating across the globe since 2016 and are currently responsible for tens of billions of dollars for our clients. Our products are used and trusted internationally by leading payment companies.
www.fraugster.com twitter.com/fraugster

The press release Ingenico Introduces AI-Powered Zero Fraud Solution comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

Hong Kong, February 7, 2017 /Xinwengao.com/ - The 15th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) today unveiled its lineup of 25 outstanding film projects to be presented from 13 to 15 March 2017. The projects were selected out of over 350 submissions from 14 different countries and regions, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan.

This year’s selections include projects by young directors developing their first feature films, with an unprecedented increase in the number of women filmmakers. Most of the films are family-driven projects that touch on contemporary social issues, while others explore topics such as non-traditional families, marriages in upheaval, and the complexities of parent-child relationships. Shortlisted projects this year also include two genres not usually seen at HAF: science fiction and gothic thriller.

As one of the most recognized film-financing platforms in Asia, HAF continues its role in connecting filmmakers and their upcoming film projects with internationally prominent film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors, buyers, and funders for potential co-production ventures.

Five Hong Kong Projects to Be Presented

This year, the shortlisted projects include five from Hong Kong: veteran filmmaker Derek CHIU Sung-kee’s No.1 Chung Ying Street, a drama that examines the 1967 riots in Hong Kong; Sunny CHAN’s Man on the Dragon, a comedy-drama about five middle-age men who compete in a dragon boat championship to regain the braveness and passion of lives; Impossible Split, from TOM Chung-sing, which tells the inspiring story of bowling athlete WU Siu-hong, who achieved world championship status despite being haunted by a fatal disease. The film is produced by award-winning director Adam WONG, whose films The Way We Dance and She Remembers, He Forgets both received critical acclaim, and whose project Trains in the Night was presented at last year’s HAF.

The Goddess, from Sobel CHAN Ka-lok, pays homage to classic 1930s Chinese films and focuses on the issues of Hong Kong’s public-education system, the lives of Mainland immigrants and conflicts between mother and daughter. CHAN’s League of HK Movie Heroes was selected as one of the five finalists of the HAF/FOX Chinese Film Development Award at the 11th HAF in 2013. Completing the lineup of Hong Kong projects is Forget You, Still Love You?, about a couple whose troubled marriage finds focus again after a husband is diagnosed with a devastating illness, from co-directors Kenneth LAI Siu-Kwan and Paul SZE Pak-Lam, both of whom participated in last year’s HAF with the thriller Hypnotize the Jury.

Speaking on behalf of HAF, Mr. Jacob WONG, Curator of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society and Director of the HAF commented, “We are thrilled to receive HAF submissions worldwide with extremely high quality, offering distinct perspectives on a diversity of vibrant topics. The review process is, as expected, arduous yet exhilirating, and we are very proud of the dedication and persistence of our creative film talents.”

Women Directors Shining at the 15th HAF

Nearly half of the 25 selections consist of projects from female directors, including Femme Fatale, a dark comedy about two women whose parallel lives touch and collide, the first feature from Japanese documentary filmmaker MIYAKE Kyoko; and Made in Bangladesh, the first-ever HAF project from Bangladesh, about garment workers’ rights, from Rubaiyat HOSSAIN.

Other projects include Pawns With No Return, a touching story about fate bringing together an old man and a young boy, from CHEN Yi-Jung of Taiwan; I AM A BANANA!, an East-meets-West cross-cultural romantic comedy, from Honey B SINGH; and Rainbow Mountain, the second feature from Degena Yun of China, a drama about two Mongolian women from different generations whose lives cross paths throughout time and history. Degena’s critically acclaimed first feature, A Simple Goodbye, was presented at the 13th HAF and awarded The Spirit of Asia Award in Tokyo International Film Festival 2015.

Two more documentaries from women directors include The Grassland of Narangerel, which examines environmental challenges in Inner Mongolia, from YING Weiwei of China; and the Israeli-German co-production Leftover Women, from co-directors Shosh SHLAM and Hilla MEDALIA.

Exploring Family Dynamics and Science Fiction Genres

Family dynamics come into focus for several projects this year, including Ten Thousand Happiness from Chinese director Johnny MA, in which the sudden divorce of grandfather from an elite family in China sets off a chain of reaction, forcing each member to evaluate their own relationships with love and happiness; Indian filmmaker Shashwati TALUKDAR’s The New Wife, a Himalayan gothic thriller tale about a young bride’s discovery of the secrets harboured by her respectable new family.

The Asadas, the third feature from NAKANO Ryota of Japan, a drama with humor based on an original story inspired by the photographer Masashi Asada; and Chantou, Australian director Grant SCICLUNA’s gay-family drama about a couple who discover that their adopted Cambodian daughter is a victim of human trafficking.

Other projects include Restore Point from Robert HLOZ, a science-fiction murder mystery set in the future. It is the first sole Czech-Republic project feature to be presented at HAF. Also, an as-yet-untitled project commissioned by the Nara International Film Festival in Japan from director Ida PANAHANDEH and Japanese producer KAWASE Naomi, will be a free modern adaptation of a work by Shakespeare.

The HAF/FOX Project Award Presented to Drifting Lives

Sharing the same vision to encourage quality Chinese-language projects, HAF is pleased to continue its collaboration with FOX International Productions (FIP) and FOX Networks Group (FNG) Asia to present the “HAF/FOX Project Award” to suspense murder-mystery. Drifting Lives, from first-time director Danlly LI of China. The project will receive a cash award of US$10,000 (approx. HK$78,000) and a Development Contract with FOX. The award has established since 2012 to develop Chinese feature films with regional appeal, through providing support and nurture for promising scripts.

Ms. Cora YIM, SVP, Head of Chinese Entertainment and Territory Head of Hong Kong, FOX Networks Group Asia said, “With the support of HAF, we have the privilege to work with up-and-coming creative talent and being introduced to a new generation of emerging talent. We are absolutely thrilled to identify the potential cinematic storytellers who offer unique perspectives of Chinese-language cinema.” As one of the judges, Ms. Xian LI, Director of Production, Creative Development and Global Production of FOX International Productions also said that Asian cinema, especially Chinese-language cinema is one of the most significant markets for FOX. “We look forward to working with more talented filmmakers in this region to create exciting high-quality films.”

Extending Awards and New Partnerships

The 15th HAF will present a total of ten awards, amounting to HK$1,372,000 (approx. US$176,700) in cash and value in-kind. HAF is also proud to announce our new sponsor, mm2 Asia Limited to present an award to encourage and support Chinese-language film projects with a cash prize of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900).

“mm2 excavates stories in various Chinese speaking territories, turns them into movies with both artistic and commercial sense,” Mr. Melvin ANG, Chairman of mm2 Asia Limited said. “Through collaborating with HAF, the leading film platform in Asia, we are able to meet and support new pioneers in the Asian film industry.”

HAF is also delighted to extend collaboration with iQIYI for the third year with an award to encourage and support young film talents from Chinese-speaking territories. One cash award of HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,900) will be presented to an outstanding Chinese-language feature film project with commercial qualities. Other award sponsors include Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, China Film Foundation — Wutianming Fund For Young Talents, G2D Co. Ltd., Paris Coproduction Village, White Light Studio and Wouter Barendrecht Film Foundation.

Work in Progress Laboratory

In addition, HAF creates the “Work in Progress Laboratory” as a significant new initiative to help directors and producers securing post-production funds through meetings with distribution agents and film festival programmers. Representatives from shortlisted projects will be invited to present their work at HAF. The WIP Lab will assist interested industry professionals to set up individual meetings with them to obtain further collaboration details. The shortlisted projects will be announced later in February.

Media and Guest Accreditation for HAF

Journalists worldwide are cordially invited to join this premier film financing platform in Asia. Media accreditation will be opened for online application at http://society.hkiff.org.hk/en/press_accreditation_media.php from 23 January 2017 to 5 March 2017. Successful applicants will be given access to HAF, in addition to joining our official networking events, screenings, seminars or other special activities.

Film financiers, investors and participants can register and schedule appointments with filmmakers of the shortlisted projects at http://www.haf.org.hk/guest.php before 5 March 2017.

A complete list of the selected projects for the 15th HAF and HAF/FOX Project Award can be found in Appendix 1. For more information about HAF, please visit the official website at http://www.haf.org.hk/ and HAF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hafhkiffs/.

About The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF)

The Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF) is widely recognized as an established film financing platform in Asia. The HAF brings Asian filmmakers with upcoming film projects to Hong Kong for co-production ventures with top film financiers, producers, bankers, distributors and buyers. Attracting more than 1,000 filmmakers and financiers from at least 35 countries and regions, around 25 to 30 projects are selected annually to participate in the three-day event.

HAF has partnered with international organisations to provide a range of opportunities to participants. Previous partners include iQIYI (China), Fox International Productions (Greater China) (US), Cinemart (the Netherlands), Asian Project Market (South Korea), Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (Taiwan), New Cinema Network (Italy) and others. Cash and in-kind awards to the value of around US$150,000 are made with support from Create Hong Kong and Film Development Fund among others.

Past participants include China’s JIA Jiangke, JIANG Wen, LU Chuan and NING Hao; Hong Kong’s Peter CHAN, Stanley KWAN, Ann HUI, Fruit CHAN and PANG Ho-cheung; Taiwan’s TSAI Ming-Liang, WEI Te-Sheng, CHUNG Mong-Hong and Leon DAI; Japan’s KORE-EDA Hirokazu, KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, KAWASE Naomi and IWAI Shunji; South Korea’s PARK Chan-wook, KIM Jee-woon, BONG Joon-ho and IM Sang-soo; as well as Thailand’s Apichatpong WEERASETHAKUL, Ekachai UEKRONGTHAM, Nonzee NIMIBUTR and Pen-ek RATANARUANG.

About The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society Limited (HKIFFS)

Uniting the World through Film

The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (HKIFFS) is a charitable, non-profit and non-governmental organisation dedicated to the discovery and promotion of creativity in the art and culture of film.

Committed to the development of a vibrant film culture in Hong Kong and Asia, the Society organises two annual flagship events in March and April: “Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF)” and “Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF).”  “HKIFF Cine Fan”, a monthly screening programme features a variety of curated contemporary, retrospective and thematic showcases was also launched in April 2013.

Through its year-round programmes, the mission of the Society is to strengthen global appreciation of Asian and Chinese film culture and to promote inspiring films from around the world, enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong. Passionately believing in the power of films to unite cultures and generations, the HKIFFS is devoted to giving thousands of film lovers around the region direct access to the world’s most inspired films all year round.

About FOX International Productions

Fox International Productions (FIP) builds upon 20th Century Fox’s industry-leading international motion picture activities and upon parent company 21st Century Fox’s unparalleled global media reach by aligning all the company’s international film productions under one banner. FIP also complements Fox’s worldwide film releases with films sourced through partnerships with international producers, filmmakers, financiers, and strategic production & distribution agreements.

About FOX Networks Group

FOX Networks Group (FNG) is 21st Century FOX’s international multi-media business. We develop, produce and distribute 300+ wholly- and majority-owned entertainment, sports, factual and movie channels in 45 languages across Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FNG’s core channel brands include FOX, FOX Sports, FOX Life, FOX+ and National Geographic Channel. FNG’s movie channels include FOX Movies, FOX Movies Premium and SCM (formerly Star Chinese Movies). Our non-linear brands include FOX Play, FOX Play+ and Nat Geo Play. These networks and their related mobile, non-linear and high- definition extensions, reach over 1.825 billion cumulative households worldwide. In addition, FNG owns and operates two production studios and produces thousands of local programming hours for its wholly owned channels and third parties.

The press release The 15th Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum Project Announcement comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

“The cycling data is impressive, especially as the reliability has exceeded the specifications from mobile phone makers by up to100x” said Dr. David Howard, TowerJazz Executive Director and Fellow. “The monolithically integrated chip is designed for reliability and manufacturability, and is taking full advantage of our standard semiconductor process tooling and MEMS process experience.”

Cavendish’s first generation MEMS products, which include the CK301, are innovative RF tuners specifically designed to overcome the antenna performance challenges experienced in today’s LTE smartphones, which have to support an ever growing number of operating modes and frequency bands. In addition, larger displays and batteries, and ever thinner form-factors further constrain the antenna volume available in smartphones. Antenna Tuning is one of the most promising solutions to enable multiband antenna performance, but existing tuning solutions do not provide the characteristics required to make it work efficiently. Cavendish’s RF tuners provide an industry leading ‘Q-Factor’ (>200), are very low loss (dB), and enable the required tuning ranges so that RF designers can meet LTE radio performance requirements. In addition, Cavendish’s antenna tuner is only 2mm2 in size and does not require other components, which makes it easy to implement in even the most challenging form-factors.

Cavendish’s upcoming MEMS products will address the performance needs of LTE-advanced RF front-end components such as power amplifiers, filters and switches, to enable demanding next generation LTE carrier-aggregation and WiFi co-existence solutions.

“We have dedicated ourselves to build RF MEMS products that are optimizing smartphone radio platforms, and can be mass produced using basic CMOS processes,” said Dennis Yost, President and CEO of Cavendish Kinetics. “During this development, TowerJazz has been an invaluable technology and process partner with its advanced MEMS foundry know-how. With TowerJazz’s process expertise, we have been able to achieve our goals of manufacturability, quality and reliability, and are now in the enviable position to be able to supply many tens of millions of devices per month to support the large and rapidly growing LTE mobile device market,” Yost added.

“We are proud that Cavendish Kinetics was able to take full advantage of our MEMS Foundry enablement solutions,” said Russell Ellwanger, CEO of TowerJazz. “The RF MEMS market is an important growth area for TowerJazz, and the successful collaboration with Cavendish expands our leadership position in this nascent market. Now, Cavendish is in a position to mass produce a highly reliable CMOS-MEMS solution, utilizing the proven TowerJazz high volume manufacturing capability.”

About Cavendish Kinetics
Cavendish Kinetics (www.cavendish-kinetics.com) provides high-performance RF tuning solutions for mobile device manufacturers in the global wireless industry. As the world’s leading expert on RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) design and manufacturing, Cavendish has achieved a breakthrough—applying its patented MEMS technology and manufacturing processes to solving tough radio-frequency (RF) connectivity problems, particularly for 4G and LTE. Privately held, Cavendish is based in San Jose, CA, USA, and has offices in Korea, Taiwan, China and The Netherlands.

About TowerJazz
Tower Semiconductor Ltd. (NASDAQ: TSEM, TASE: TSEM), its fully owned U.S. subsidiary Jazz Semiconductor, Inc. and its fully owned Japanese subsidiary TowerJazz Japan, Ltd., operate collectively under the brand name TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader. TowerJazz also owns 51% of TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Company, Ltd. (TPSCo) through a joint venture with Panasonic Corporation. TowerJazz manufactures integrated circuits, offering a broad range of customizable process technologies including: SiGe, BiCMOS, Mixed-Signal/CMOS, RF CMOS, CMOS Image Sensor, integrated Power Management (BCD & 700V), and MEMS capabilities. Through TPSCo, TowerJazz offers best of class 65nm CMOS image sensor dark current and quantum efficiency performance as well as 45nm digital technology. TowerJazz provides a world-class design enablement platform that enables a quick and accurate design cycle. TowerJazz also offers Transfer Optimization and development Process Services (TOPS) to IDMs and fabless companies that need to expand capacity. To provide multi-fab sourcing for its customers, TowerJazz operates two manufacturing facilities in Israel, one in the U.S., and four in Japan. For more information, please visit www.towerjazz.com.

Safe Harbor Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary from those projected or implied by such forward-looking statements. A complete discussion of risks and uncertainties that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements included in this press release or which may otherwise affect TowerJazz’s business is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in Tower’s most recent filings on Forms 20-F, F-3, F-4 and 6-K, as were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and the Israel Securities Authority and Jazz’s most recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, as were filed with the SEC, respectively. Tower and Jazz do not intend to update, and expressly disclaim any obligation to update, the information contained in this release.

###

TowerJazz US Company Contact: Lauri Julian | +1-949-715-3049 | lauri.julian@towerjazz.com
TowerJazz Investor Relations Contact: Noit Levi | +972-4-604-7066 | noit.levi@towerjazz.com
Cavendish Company Contact: Lars Johnsson | +1-408-480-8520 | lars@cavkin.com
Cavendish Media Contact: David Worthington / Fusion PR | +1-212-651-4219| david.worthington@fusionpr.com

The press release Cavendish Kinetics’ RF MEMS Tuner, Fabricated at TowerJazz, Sets New Industry Benchmark by Passing 50 Billion Cycle Testing comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.

RSS Feeds

Syndicate all of Xinwengao's Great News and Content

Reliable Information

Xinwengao’s corporate clients distribute their data, news, and content across China. These companies are Primary Sources, and therefore the top means by which you can receive this critical data.

Fast and Easy

Hong Kong, China, October 11, 2013 /Xinwengao.com/ - Simply embed the RSS feeds into your application to immediately gain access to all the press releases that Xinwengao distributes.

The press release RSS Feeds comes from Xinwengao.com press release distribution and journalist media database service in China.