New Technology Network Optimizes Advancements in All Domains
General Atomics is reshaping its software enterprise for the future, merging efforts from across business lines into a single technology grid delivering all-domain response and information dominance.
The new Quadratix enterprise will bond GA’s large software workforce and extensive suite of systems under a unified umbrella, merging solutions for:
Autonomy, artificial intelligence and machine learning
Airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
Land-based advanced sensing
Sea-based threat detection
Space-based missions and satellite operations
Cyber exploitation
Unified data fusion and visualization
This new cross-functional collaboration is designed to promote interoperability across all GA product lines, providing streamlined options for customers hoping to capitalize on the breadth and depth of General Atomics’ expertise.
As one of the largest privately held defense companies in the world, General Atomics has been a disruptive force in aerospace and defense technology for decades, employing more than 1,000 software engineers, programmers and related experts. Our new Quadratix enterprise merges software efforts from across the company’s various affiliate divisions, including Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI); Electromagnetic Systems Group (GA-EMS); Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-III); and other General Atomics holdings.
The move offers new options for both current and future GA customers. One example is the unmanned aircraft delivered by GA-ASI, with its industry-leading Predator® series of UAS and future-forward autonomous jets, which will benefit from increased collaboration on autonomy, AI and ML produced by other GA divisions.
“We’ve transcended a one-for-one software build and arrived at an integrated suite of software solutions for our aircraft and our customers,” said GA-ASI CEO Linden Blue. “We’re moving out fast to meet our users’ toughest challenges by grouping these solutions together under the Quadratix umbrella.”
GA’s transformational technologies continue to revolutionize how global military forces address complex challenges and respond to evolving threats. From data processing, exploitation, and dissemination to data fusion and real-time situational awareness, our vertically integrated software teams work closely with our hardware engineers to build versatile, flexible systems that mesh seamlessly behind the scenes.
“Quadratix integrates across our full catalog of subordinate systems to command, control, collect, catalog, and communicate information and intelligence to customers,” said Blue. “Built from our existing integrated network of proven systems and subsystems, Quadratix is GA’s end-to-end solution for providing information dominance.”
About General Atomics General Atomics is a defense and diversified technologies company, founded in 1955 as a division of General Dynamics and acquired by the Blue family in 1986. GA and affiliated companies operate on five continents. GA and affiliates produce unmanned aircraft and airborne surveillance systems, satellite surveillance, electro-magnetic rail gun, high-power laser, hypervelocity projectile, and power conversion systems. GA is a leader in nuclear fusion research, next-generation nuclear fission and advanced materials technologies. The company occupies 8+ million square feet of engineering, laboratory and manufacturing facilities and comprises over 13,000 employees.
American Wave Machines, the global leader in world-class surf pool destinations, has begun commissioning PerfectSwell® in the heart of Brazil’s vibrant financial center São Paulo. AWM has partnered with JHSF, Brazil’s leading high-end real estate development company, on their second PerfectSwell® location, the São Paulo Surf Club. With the iconic Ponte Estaiada bridge as a backdrop, top Brazilian Pros Italo Ferreira and Miguel Pupo, along with AWM’s Rob Kelly, put the latest PerfectSwell® innovations through the paces. Commissioning will be completed in March.
“Our team has done an incredible job. Improvements in PerfectSwell® efficiency, performance, and maintainability are ongoing along with continuing wave design innovations. A lot of R & D went into maintaining ride length and guest beach space in a totally unique footprint,” said Bruce McFarland, CEO and Founder of AWM. “The effort has paid off and PerfectSwell® is working great. It’s an unsurpassed surf experience.”
Rob Kelly takes to the air at the newest PerfectSwell® pool in São Paulo. Photo Courtesy of Bruno Zanin.
WSL Surfer Miguel Pupo said “It’s a mind-blowing experience to surf in the heart of the city in another incredible JHSF venue design. There’s so much power in these waves. We surfed the McFly, an incredible air section, and the other new waves, they’re all addicting. I can’t get myself to get out of the water.”
“This is the fifth PerfectSwell® commissioning I’ve been a part of and it’s easily the most iconic destination created yet. There are several improvements that have exceeded expectations including our newest wave energy dampening system,” said Miquel Lazaro Cordero, lead engineer at AWM. “These improvements have made it possible for us to bring our highest performance surf in this dense urban environment.”
São Paulo Surf Club with the city’s iconic Ponte Estaiada bridge as backdrop. Photo Courtesy of JHSF.
About American Wave Machines American Wave Machines, Inc. is the inventor and developer of PerfectSwell® Surf Technology. AWM’s technology powers world class surf facilities and destinations backed by proven financials, extensive data capture, and stoked surfers. PerfectSwell® is the only sequence based, pneumatic surf technology on the market. Protected by over 50 patents worldwide, PerfectSwell® Split Peaks, Peeling Waves, Air Sections, and Wedge Barrels are all covered by AWM’s robust patent portfolio.
About JHSF JHSF is a Brazil-based holding company and leader in the high-income real estate industry in Brazil, engaged in real estate development, shopping mall and fashion retail and hospitality and gastronomy. Founded in 1972, the company’s main area of operation and investment is in the high-income segment, with a focus on recurring income activities. The company, which has been publicly traded since 2007 and has its shares listed on B3’s Novo Mercado, operates in both the Brazilian market and other countries, such as the United States and Uruguay. It was the first company in the Brazilian real estate sector to prioritize recurring income assets, including the operation of shopping centers, an airport, and hotels, in addition to real estate projects. For more information visit jhsf.com.br
New investments will drive expansion of Graid Technology’s industry-leading data protection solutions across OEM and Enterprise markets.
Graid Technology, a leading innovator in GPU-based RAID for NVMe storage performance, today announced the successful closing of its $30 million Series B funding round. The round was led by HH-CTBC Partnership, a joint venture fund between Foxconn and CTBC, alongside Yuanta Ventures. The funding also includes participation from Delta Electronics Capital, Harbinger Venture Capital, and returning investors from Graid Technology’s 2022 Series A round.
Graid Technology Secures $30M Series B to Accelerate Growth in Data Storage & Protection Market
New investments will drive expansion of Graid Technology’s industry-leading data protection solutions across OEM and Enterprise markets.
This investment will drive global expansion, product innovation, and strategic partnerships, strengthening Graid Technology’s presence in enterprise and OEM markets while meeting growing demand for AI, machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
Graid Technology’s SupremeRAID™ product line eliminates traditional RAID bottlenecks by offloading RAID operations to the GPU, maximizing NVMe SSD performance and scalability. With thousands of deployments worldwide, SupremeRAID™ is enabling data centers, AI research facilities, media production, and financial institutions to optimize storage infrastructure while ensuring data integrity, redundancy, and resilience.
“This funding marks a significant milestone, not only in expanding our market reach but also in driving new innovations,” said Leander Yu, Founder and CEO of Graid Technology. “The backing of HH-CTBC Partnership, Yuanta Ventures, and other strategic investors reflects confidence in our vision. With their support, we are well-positioned to scale our technology and expand into new markets.”
About Graid Technology Graid Technology is transforming enterprise storage with SupremeRAID™, the world’s first GPU-based RAID solution. By offloading RAID calculations to the GPU, SupremeRAID™ enables enterprises to maximize NVMe SSD performance, delivering unprecedented speed, efficiency, and scalability for AI, ML, media, and high-performance computing workloads. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, with an R&D center in Taipei, Taiwan, Graid Technology partners with leading OEMs and global technology providers to redefine NVMe storage performance.
Government-Supplied Pilot Vehicle Interface Used for Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
General AtomicsAeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) achieved another major milestone in the development of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs) by flying U.S. government-provided autonomy software aboard a company-owned MQ-20 Avenger®. The demonstration was part of the Air Force Test Center’s all-domain test series called Orange Flag 25-1, which took place Feb. 19-21 at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The demonstration included the use of a government-provided Pilot Vehicle Interface (PVI), showcasing GA-ASI’s commitment to advancing its UCAV ecosystem through collaboration with partners and government entities and integrating cutting-edge technologies. Avenger is a jet-powered UAS used extensively by GA-ASI as a test bed for future Autonomous Collaborative Platforms.
GA-ASI also demonstrated the ability to rapidly swap between autonomy systems midflight over Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellites utilizing an autonomy product from Shield AI.
Orange Flag 25-1 is part of the larger Orange Flag Evaluation and Demonstration Event series. This event brought together various stakeholders to test and validate advanced aerospace technologies in realistic operational scenarios.
The government-provided autonomy software – known as a reference autonomy stack – was integrated into the GA-ASI Avenger and demonstrated autonomous flight operation capabilities focused on conducting air-to-air engagements. The government-provided PVI enabled seamless control and monitoring of the autonomy stack, highlighting the interoperability and flexibility of GA-ASI’s UCAV ecosystem. The Shield AI stack demonstrated autonomy skills for safe administrative phases of flight.
What the flights proved was that GA-ASI aircraft can quickly go from company-written software, to government-provided, to other vendors’ software as needed. This reinforces that the new generations of GA-ASI’s UCAVs can seamlessly get upgrades as fast as developers finish them. Just as a mobile phone can get new and better features with each update, so too can new UCAVs get more capable and more versatile.
“This demonstration marks a significant achievement in our ongoing efforts to operationalize autonomy for UCAVs,” said GA-ASI Vice President of Advanced Programs Michael Atwood. “Flying the government reference autonomy stack at Orange Flag 25-1 and utilizing the government-provided PVI underscores our commitment to delivering robust and adaptable autonomy solutions for the warfighter. We especially appreciate and salute the support we received from the 309th Software Engineering Group.”
The successful flight at Orange Flag 25-1 further validates GA-ASI’s dedication to maturing its open standards-based autonomy software ecosystem. By adhering to government-owned and maintained standards, GA-ASI ensures rapid integration of best-of-breed capabilities from third-party providers, enhancing the overall operational effectiveness of UCAV platforms.
GA-ASI continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing autonomy for UCAVs through a series of flight tests and collaborations with government and industry partners. These efforts are aimed at developing an autonomy infrastructure that enables rapid integration and validation of tactical software applications while maintaining safety of flight and providing warfighters with the most advanced capabilities possible. GA-ASI has been selected by the U.S. Air Force to build and fly the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
About GA-ASI General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable RPA systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With more than eight million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent situational awareness. The company also produces a variety of sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas.
Avenger, Gray Eagle, Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian, and SkyGuardian are trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., registered in the United States and/or other countries.
Micreos Pharmaceuticals AG (Micreos), a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, specializing in developing Engineered Endolysin therapies to target harmful pathogens that cause disease aggravation, has entered into a strategic partnership with Northway Biotech(NBT), a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) to develop scalable cGMP production processes for Micreos’ biologic therapeutic MEndoB, which is the first-in-class dual-active domain targeted medicine that will enter the clinic in the coming months as an investigational therapeutic to treat Atopic Dermatitis.
Micreos is focused on developing best-in-class targeted therapeutics to precisely target harmful pathogens that cause disease flares to help address significant unmet medical needs in dermatology and oncology.
As part of the partnership, Northway Biotech will apply its significant expertise in biologics manufacturing to develop a scalable GMP production process for Micreos’ engineered endolysin technology. The collaboration will also include developing and validating robust analytical methods, cell bank manufacturing, technology scale-up for cGMP Drug Substance generation, and IND/IMPD supporting documentation preparation, to ensure that the production of Micreos’ engineered endolysins complies with stringent regulatory standards for clinical trials.
Matt Regan, CEO of Micreos, stated: “This partnership with Northway Biotech marks a significant milestone for Micreos as we advance our engineered endolysins into scalable therapeutics for clinical trials. By developing targeted medicines that address the underlying pathophysiology associated with disease aggravation in conditions such as atopic dermatitis and cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma, and by leveraging Northway’s significant manufacturing expertise, we are poised to make a meaningful impact on patient care in areas of great unmet medical need.”
Prof. Vladas Algirdas Bumelis, CEO and Chairman of Northway Biotech, highlighted the mutual commitment to high-quality manufacturing: “We are honored to contribute to Micreos’ innovative engineered endolysin therapies. With a dedicated and highly experienced team in recombinant protein process development and scale-up, we aim to accelerate Micreos’ development by providing cGMP drug substance material available by the end of summer 2024.”
André Markmann, PhD, VP of Business Development at Northway Biotech, added: “Micreos’ engineered endolysins address critical healthcare challenges. We are excited to support Micreos in advancing their breakthrough therapy into clinical trials at a rapid pace while ensuring the highest standards.”
About MEndoB Micreos’ MEndoB is the first-in-class and potentially best-in-class dual-active domain, targeted medicine designed for optimum activity on human skin. It works through targeted enzymatic degradation of the targets cell wall, rapidly killing the harmful pathogen, but without triggering drug resistance or having any off target affects. Micreos’ engineering expertise has enhanced drug stability and activity but has also been validated to effectively penetrate biofilms, eliminate dormant & hard to kill pathogenic cells, and potentially deliver synergies with other medications. With demonstrated preclinical efficacy, MEndoB holds significant promise for treating chronic and difficult-to-treat conditions in dermatology and oncology.
About Micreos Micreos is a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing highly innovative, targeted therapies as a new way to treat chronic conditions in dermatology and oncology where there is a high unmet medical need. With its advanced engineering platform, Micreos is developing targeted medicines that selectively eliminate harmful pathogens while preserving the beneficial microbiome, paving the way for future indications in dermatology, oncology, and beyond.
About Northway Biotech Northway Biotech is a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) supporting customers worldwide. Its highly experienced and professional team executes projects at every stage, from cell line construction and process development to cGMP manufacturing of biopharmaceutical products. The company’s extensive expertise and vertically integrated service offering enables rapid execution of multiple projects from its state-of-the-art GMP facilities while ensuring full process and product compliance at all stages of research, development, and commercial manufacturing. Northway Biotech is a privately owned company founded in 2004 and operates locations in Vilnius, Lithuania; London, United Kingdom; and Waltham, MA, USA.
General Atomics (GA) today announced the strategic acquisition of North Point Defense, Inc. (NPD), a leading provider of Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) exploitation software and sensor integration, by General Atomics Integrated Intelligence, Inc. (GA-III), formerly known as General Atomics Commonwealth Computer Research, Inc. This acquisition enhances GA’s capabilities in the rapidly evolving SIGINT field, positioning the company to deliver advanced ISR solutions for air, sea, ground, and space platforms.
The new Quadratix enterprise will bond GA’s large software workforce and extensive suite of systems under a unified umbrella, merging solutions for: From concept to deployment, NPD delivers AI/ML-based autonomous signal processing and data dissemination solutions providing real-time actionable intelligence, supporting tactical and national mission priorities. “Joining GA represents an incredible opportunity to enhance our impact in delivering cutting-edge SIGINT solutions in support of national and tactical users,” said Bruce Benenati, President of NPD. “As part of a mission-focused organization with a proven track-record in tactical intelligence across the DoD and IC, we can accelerate innovation and deployment at scale. The integration gives our team access to unmatched operational expertise, resources, and a broader customer base. Together, we are poised to deliver even greater capabilities to those who depend on us in the field.”
GA-III is committed to providing a comprehensive suite of “out-of-the-box” hardware and software tools to meet mission requirements and expand the innovative intelligence capabilities within the GA group of companies. “The integration of NPD technologies into a division of GA-III is a strategic shift, enhancing GA’s ability to innovate rapidly and provide greater value to customers with end-to-end ISR solutions that are more efficient, effective, and technologically advanced.” said Brian Ralston, President of GA-III.
Baird served as the exclusive financial adviser and Miles & Stockbridge acted as legal counsel to North Point Defense on the transaction.
About General Atomics and General Atomics Integrated Intelligence General Atomics is a defense and diversified technologies company, founded in 1955 as a division of General Dynamics and acquired by the Blue family in 1986. GA and affiliates operate on five continents, and produce unmanned aircraft and airborne sensor systems, satellite surveillance, high power laser, hypervelocity projectile, and power conversion systems. GA is a leader in nuclear fusion research, next-generation nuclear fission and advanced materials technologies. The company occupies 8+ million square feet of engineering, laboratory and manufacturing facilities and comprises over 13,000 employees.
GA-III’s capabilities include spatio-temporal data management, advanced analytics, visualization tools, and computer vision, alongside AI/ML-enabled automated target recognition services. These capabilities support a wide range of national, tactical, and commercial/international applications, leveraging both commercial cloud and edge-based computing solutions and are fully integrated with GA Aeronautical Systems’ unmanned aircraft and airborne sensor systems.
– New exhibition zone highlights creative craftsmanship from around the world; results of two major design competitions announced today
The Hong Kong International Jewellery Show launches today (4 March) and runs until 8 March, showcasing a wide range of designs incorporating creative and cultural elements
The debut “Young Jewellery Designer Arena” showcases the creativity and craftsmanship of up-and-coming talents
The results of two major jewellery design competitions are revealed today. The International Jewellery Design Excellence Award features 80 worldwide award-winning pieces competing for the “Champion of the Champions”. The design that clinched both the Best of Show Award in the Open Group and the Craftsmanship & Technology Award in the Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition was a beautifully crafted ring inspired by Monet’s “Water Lilies”
The 41st Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opens today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and runs for five consecutive days, closing on 8 March. It runs concurrently with the 11th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show which opened on Sunday (2 March) at AsiaWorld-Expo and finishes on 6 March. This year’s twin jewellery shows have attracted some 4,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions, showcasing a spectrum of jewellery raw materials, finished products and technological tools, helping to create an international one-stop jewellery trading platform.
Leading the trend with innovative and fashionable designs The jewellery industry is increasingly focusing on fashionable styles, with innovative designs becoming key to helping products stand out in the market. For many years, the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show has provided an excellent platform for exhibitors to showcase their boundless creativity and exquisite craftsmanship. This year, Hong Kong exhibitor OSI Vitoria Jewelry (Booth: CEC GH-E08) introduces a floral necklace featuring a 62-carat emerald surrounded by more than 3,400 spinels, sapphires and diamonds, depicting the dazzling moment of fireworks lighting up the sky. Japanese exhibitor Jewelry of Raden & Urushi (Booth: CEC 1CON-016) presents a dragon-shaped brooch and pendant made of 18K gold, Akoya pearls, diamonds and mother-of-pearl, with intricate craftsmanship that imbues the design with life. Australian exhibitor Autore Pearls Pty Ltd (Booth: CEC GH-C32) showcases a vivid snake-shaped necklace that echoes the Year of the Snake, adorned with pearls, diamonds and gemstones. In the newly added Gold Jewellery Zone, Malaysian exhibitor Chl Innovation Industries Sdn Bhd (Booth: CEC 3E-D15) exhibits a durian pendant with distinctive local charm.
Many exhibitors keep their fingers on the pulse of jewellery trends and launch creative products incorporated with traditional cultural elements. Hong Kong exhibitor Zuri Jewelry Company Limited (Booth: CEC 1E-C18) capitalised on Hong Kong’s “panda economy” to introduce its “Panda and Bamboo” jewellery collection. Changzhou Yi’an Jewelry Co., Ltd (Booth: CEC 1CON-029) from Mainland China harnesses filigree inlay technique, an almost-lost craft that is part of China’s intangible cultural heritage, to create 18K gold wheatears – a piece that won the Best Design Award in the 2019 Tiangong Awards.
A new addition to this year’s show is the Young Jewellery Designer Arena, showcasing the creations and craftsmanship of up-and-coming talents to global buyers. The event also features 18 national, regional and industry pavilions, including the UK Pavilion led by British Jewellery & Giftware International with sophisticated jewellery pieces from eight British designers.
Two major jewellery design competitions discover and nurture new talents The HKTDC has always put great emphasis on discovering and nurturing emerging talents to further elevate the standard of jewellery design. This year, it has once again joined hands with The Jewellers’ & Goldsmiths’ Association of Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers’ Association and the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China Ltd to organise the 7th International Jewellery Design Excellence (IJDE) Award and the 26th Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition (HKJDC) to identify new talents. The award ceremonies for the two competitions were held this morning and the winning entries will be on display at the Hall 1D and 1E Concourse throughout the International Jewellery Show.
Held for the first time since the pandemic, the 2025 IJDEAward received an enthusiastic response with 80 award-winning entries from nine countries and regions competing for the highest honour – the “Champion of the Champions”. The entries were assessed by an esteemed panel of judges with Lawrence Ma, Chairman of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show Fair Organising Committee, serving as chief judge and other members including representatives from L’ECOLE, School of Jewelry and the De Beers Group, among others. (See Table 1 for the list of selected winning entries from the 7th IJDE Award.)
The theme for this year’s HKJDC was “Lasting Brilliance“, encouraging participants to showcase the enduring allure of jewellery through their creations. The competition was divided into an Open Group and Student Group and received a total of 86 entries. The judging panel, made up of six professionals from diverse fields such as jewellery and design, selected the winning entries after careful consideration. (See Table 2 for the list of selected winning entries from the 26th HKJDC.)
Series of events enhance industry networking A jewellery networking reception is being held tonight to boost connections among participants, welcoming jewellery industry representatives and both local and international buyers. Salina Yan, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, will be the Guest of Honour. In addition, three jewellery parades will be held during the show, echoing its “Symphony of Sparkles” theme with displays of exquisite jewellery pieces. Over the course of the twin jewellery shows, more than 30 industry seminars, parades and other activities are being organised to further facilitate industry exchange.
About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.
Honouring the trailblazing women who are shaping, innovating, and leading the future of real estate this Women’s Month
– The invite-only event celebrated five trailblazing women whose innovative leadership is shaping the future of real estate across Asia – The honourees represented diverse markets, from Thailand to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, highlighting their unique contributions to the property sector – The evening spotlighted women breaking barriers, pioneering sustainability, and driving transformative change in the real estate sector
This Women’s Month, PropertyGuru, Southeast Asia’s leading PropTech company, recognises women driving meaningful change in real estate. Female leaders are actively reshaping skylines and redefining possibilities in the industry.
On December 12, 2024, the “Celebrating Power Women in Real Estate” event, which followed the annual PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES), paid tribute to these influential leaders. This exclusive gathering served as a testament to the resilience, vision, and impact of women in real estate.
Held at the luxurious Kandhavas Place at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, the VIP Cocktail Party honoured five extraordinary women whose achievements have laid the foundation for a more inclusive industry. As we mark Women’s Month, their contributions remind us that smart, innovative women are the future of real estate.
A showcase of women who lead the way
L-R: Hari Krishnan, CEO & Managing Director, PropertyGuru Group; Jessica Bianca Sy (Philippines); Ixora Ang (Malaysia); Dora Chng (Singapore); Vivin Harsanto (Indonesia); Asst. Prof. Dr. Kessara Thanyalakpark (Thailand); Jules Kay, GM, PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events
Dora Chng (Singapore)
As the Residential Director at GuocoLand, Ms. Chng has redefined the development of luxury living spaces in Singapore, shaping some of the city’s most prestigious properties. With nearly two decades of experience, she has driven the success of award-winning projects like Wallich Residence and Martin Modern, creating towering achievements in the region’s real estate landscape.
“As a leader in the real estate industry, I hope to create more opportunities for everyone across the entire spectrum,” she shared. She encourages women to seize opportunities as they come, advising, “Work hard to earn respect, enjoy the opportunities, and when they come before you, you must know when to grab them.” Beyond her own success, Ms. Chng is also passionate about mentorship, striving to foster a culture of learning, sharing, and continuous improvement within her company and across the industry.
Ixora Ang (Malaysia)
A leading lady of Malaysian real estate, Ms. Ang serves as the Managing Director for Marketing & Sales and Business Development at Tropicana Corporation. With over a decade of experience, she has brought innovation to property markets from Klang Valley to Langkawi.
“At Tropicana Corporation Berhad, one of our key mantras has always been to redefine the art of living, and this award, as well as this event, is a testament to how Tropicana feels,” she said. “A huge part of that is to redefine how we work—and that means creating space for women to take up leadership roles in the workplace.”
Her next-generation strategies serve as a blueprint for the future of real estate in Malaysia, and she champions leadership that is rooted in authenticity, bravery, and collaboration. “I live by the ABCs: Authenticity—bringing our true selves to the table and accepting others for who they are; Bravery—having the courage to take up space in a corporate environment and groom female talent; and Celebration via Collaboration—recognising that success is built together,” she emphasised.
Jessica Bianca “Jica” T. Sy (Philippines)
Ms. Sy, VP & Head of Design, Innovation, and Strategy at SMDC, has been building resilience into real estate development in the Philippines. Her work in integrating disaster risk reduction into property development has weathered storms and inspired progress.
A key voice for the Philippines at the United Nations Leaders’ Roundtables on Resilient Infrastructure Systems, she has demonstrated that her designs for change go beyond aesthetics—they are about impact and inclusion. “Allowing women to take part and take lead in projects is a huge factor in making sure that women feel empowered and can feel powerful in an industry that is typically male-dominated,” she shared. “We have seen large strides with more designers, real estate developers, and people around the industry truly supporting and being female-centric.”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Kessara Thanyalakpark (Thailand)
Dr. Kessara, Managing Director of Sena Development Public Company Limited, has been a leader in sustainable innovation, pioneering solar-powered real estate solutions in Thailand. With her unwavering focus on renewable energy, she has powered up sustainable real estate development in the kingdom while maintaining a commitment to high-quality housing. She received the 2022 Thailand Real Estate Personality of the Year award.
“It is important for all of us to try and help each other, to raise the bar for all women to see that there is no limitation on what women can do or achieve, even in an industry like ours,” she said, highlighting the importance of supporting and uplifting women in real estate.
Vivin Harsanto (Indonesia)
As Senior Director and Head of Advisory of JLL Indonesia, Ms. Harsanto has been a cornerstone of expertise for over 23 years. Her leadership in consulting has positioned her as a reliable advisor on Indonesian real estate. She also serves as the Chairperson of the independent panel of judges for the PropertyGuru Indonesia Property Awards, where she helps raise the bar for industry excellence.
“At JLL, we focus on creating equitable opportunities and fostering an inclusive environment,” she explained. “By empowering women, fostering collaboration, and providing mentorship, we not only raise the roof—we change the structure altogether.”
Celebrating women who build the future
Throughout the evening, attendees toasted to the accomplishments of these extraordinary women. The event showcased how empowerment, diversity, and inclusion work together to improve the industry.
Guests left the event with a clear takeaway: Women lead the way in shaping tomorrow’s cities.
The 2024 PropertyGuru ARES VIP Cocktail Party recognised the efforts women made in creating liveable communities, providing actionable insights, mitigating disasters and climate change, and developing sustainable, eco-friendly properties.
PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit (ARES) is the premier gathering of the industry’s finest minds, top-level business leaders and decision-makers. Designed to ‘educate, innovate and inspire,’ ARES focuses on advancements in property technology, green building, sustainability, diversity, inclusivity, and innovation. More than 500 registered in-person and virtual delegates, comprising real estate and proptech experts, climate heroes, sustainability champions, trendsetters, and tech startup executives from around the region and beyond participate to refresh thinking, exchange ideas and connect with peers at ARES, which features global keynotes, case studies, panel discussions, partner booths and networking lunch.
ARES is part of the exciting ‘PropertyGuru Week’ in December 2024, coinciding with the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final gala and presentation ceremony, which is joined by the region’s finest real estate developers and leaders, and watched by investors, agents, and consumers via livestream.
Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd. (TSXV: GMG) (OTCQX: GMGMF) (“GMG” or the “Company“) is pleased to provide the latest progress update on the Graphene Aluminium-Ion Battery technology (“G+AI Battery“) being developed by GMG and the University of Queensland (“UQ“) under a Joint Development Agreement with Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest metals and mining groups.
Notably, this update includes information about GMG’s G+AI Battery regarding:
Scaling with the Battery Innovation Center of Indiana, United States.
Electrochemistry Optimisation
1000 mAh Battery Cell Capacity Reached (Previously)
Battery Technology Readiness Level
Next Steps Toward Commercialisation and Market Applications
Next Generation Battery Performance
Important Milestones for GMG’s Graphene Aluminium-Ion Battery Development
Scaling with the Battery Innovation Center of Indiana, United States.
GMG is pleased to announce that it has signed a service contract with the Battery Innovation Center of Indiana (“BIC”) in the United States of America to support the next phase of development of the Graphene Aluminium-Ion Battery.
BIC is a collaborative initiative designed to incorporate leadership from renowned universities, government agencies, and commercial enterprises. BIC is a public-private partnership and a not-for-profit organization focusing on the rapid development, testing and commercialization of safe, reliable and lightweight energy storage systems for defense and commercial customers. BIC is a unique organization that has been leading battery cell development for world leading battery companies for over 10 years and has carried out over 500 battery development projects.
BIC’s mission is to accelerate innovation in the field of battery technology by providing access to the entire spectrum of R&D to commercialization, including low volume production, in a single 40,000 square foot facility, located in Newberry, an hour south of Bloomington, Indiana. Under one roof and with virtual connections to the research and manufacturing facilities of its partners, BIC has capabilities in all aspects of the battery life cycle.
Image 3: One of the BIC dry rooms including electrode coating equipment
By collaborating with BIC, GMG can take advantage of BIC’s technological capabilities and manufacturing facilities and avoid the capital cost of building a pilot plant, that can cost more than AU$10 million dollars, to produce sample cells in advance of mass production. Under its service agreement with BIC, GMG will pay for services rendered and retain all intellectual property of the development work. The service agreement with BIC will enable GMG to optimize BIC’s cell design and battery manufacturing equipment during its scale up of battery production, thereby delaying capital expenditures for manufacturing capacity until battery development is further derisked.
GMG is very pleased to work with BIC on this next phase in the development of GMG’s next generation battery.
Electrochemistry Optimisation
The Company is currently optimising the G+AI Battery pouch cell electrochemistry – which is a standard battery development process step (please see Battery Technology Readiness Level section below).
The Company has developed significant knowledge regarding the electrochemistry of the pouch cells since achieving the targeted 1 Ah cell capacity in February 2024.
The challenges faced by the G+AI Battery during this phase of its maturation are very similar to other battery chemistries that have been developed into mass production – including Lithium-Ion batteries.
The performance of the pouch cells will be communicated upon successfully producing a repeatable and 3rd party tested 1000 mAh+ battery pouch cell.
The Company is confident it can meet its overall timeline on the battery cell roadmap as seen in Figure 1 and as previously communicated.
Make Cell The major components of the G+AI Battery are seen below in Figure 3: Cathode: Graphene, binder and solvent (water or another solution) layered on a metal foil cathode substrate. Anode: Aluminium foil Electrolyte: Aluminium Chloride and ionic fluid (Urea or another solution) Separator: Separator
Figure 3: Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery Components
These are assembled in a standard step by step process – which is documented in the Company’s operation manual of procedures for the Battery Development Process.
There are many different variations that can be trialled in a cell design which can include, but are not limited to, the following as seen in Figure 4:
Anode foil types and thicknesses
Improving cycle life
Cell assembly processes
Processing of the graphene for the Cathode Slurry
Coating of the Cathode Slurry
Variations in the Electrolyte
Charging and Discharging algorithms
Optimise nominal voltage and capacity
Types of Separators (different materials, suppliers and thicknesses)
Typically, 5 of each battery design is made which ensures a statistical depth to the testing.
A total of 250 individual scientific experiments in pouch cells and near 1000 individual pouch cells were made from 2023 till the present date. The basic modelling of the battery is complete and the Company is now working on dynamic modelling of the battery to support multi variant optimization analysis.
Test Cell Performance Once the Cell Performance is measured (on the charging/discharging stacks) there are certain performance parameters that are observed which include, but are not limited to, the following: – Capacity (mAh) – Nominal Voltage (Volts) – Number of Charging and Discharging Cycles (number) – Physical expansion or contraction of the cell – Physical changes to the cell
This data is then recorded and linked to the cell design and assembly process used to make the cell.
Compare Cell Performance The objective of this step is to understand what design and cell assembly parameters, in an isolated test, have a repeatable causal change in cell performance.
Each Sprint usually focuses on a single variable in design or cell assembly – an example of a 3-week Sprint program is seen in Figure 5.
Review Optimisation Options Upon reviewing optimisation options for the next Sprint, there are many parameters to consider. Often one design parameter of the cell or assembly process will positively improve one cell performance outcome but have a negative impact on another. As the Company optimises various performance outcomes of the battery cell – some of which are shown in Figure 6 – the Company needs to consider the various potential trade-offs on other performance outcomes.
Propose Next Cell Design (repeat Step 1 again) Once the Company has selected the design of the Cell parameters, it needs to test for optimisation. This involves repeating step 1 until a final design or variable is chosen.
Acquires Mineral Claims Contiguous to the Swanson Gold Project, Québec
LaFleur Minerals Inc. (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF) (FSE: 3WK0) (“LaFleur Minerals” or the “Company“) is pleased to provide an update on its plans to restart production activities at its 100%-owned Beacon Gold Mill in Val-d’Or, Québec, Canada (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The Beacon Gold Mill is located in a highly prospective mining region for gold exploration on the mineral-rich greenstone Abitibi Belt, an area with over 100 historical and currently operating mines.
BEACON GOLD MILL IS FULLY PERMITTED
The entirely refurbished Beacon Gold Mill was last fully operational in early 2023 when the price of gold was USD$1,800 per ounce and has been under care and maintenance since that time. As gold approaches a record price of USD$3,000 per ounce, the goal of restarting the Beacon Gold Mill in the coming months is an exceptional opportunity for LaFleur Minerals to also target the custom milling of mineralized material from nearby gold deposits that surround the Beacon Mill. LaFleur Minerals demonstrates significant upside potential by ultimately generating revenue at the current elevated gold prices, with the restart of the Beacon Mill targeting a potential annual production scenario of approximately 30,000 to 40,000 ounces of gold based on the current mill capacity. The Company is currently finalizing the restart costs for the Beacon Mill and expects to have all permits and updates completed by the end of Q2 2025.
The entire LaFleur Minerals team has been collectively working toward a successful restart of the Beacon Mill. With the current increase in the price of gold and the fully-permitted Beacon Mill that lies within the prolific Abitibi Gold Belt in the Tier 1 mining district of Val-d’Or, Québec, LaFleur Minerals has a great opportunity to eventually produce gold at Beacon with gold prices at record levels. LaFleur Minerals is now approaching the finish line on many of the fundamental pieces that support this goal including assessing nearby advanced gold deposits and initiating discussions with neighbouring mining companies that could utilize the Beacon Mill to process their bulk samples and future mineralized material through a custom milling agreement for numerous gold deposits in the Val-d’Or region surrounding the Beacon Mill (Figure 3).
Paul Ténière, CEO of LaFleur Minerals, stated, “We continue to make great progress in achieving key operational readiness milestones at the Beacon Mill, including ongoing inspections of all equipment and systems and ensuring an adequate supply of spare parts. The highly experienced team at ABF Mines has been diligently working to finalize a detailed plan and the cost to restart the mill with results expected within the next few weeks. We also continue to meet our environmental monitoring and sampling requirements under our permit to operate, which includes completion of fish and wildlife studies within the tailings storage facility (TSF) as required under both provincial and federal environmental regulations. Our consultants are also working with us to evaluate required upgrades to the TSF as we move towards restarting production at the Beacon Mill.”
The Swanson gold project is over 15,000 hectares in size and includes several prospects rich in gold and critical metals previously held by Monarch Mining, Abcourt Mines and Globex Mining. The consolidated Swanson Gold Project covers a major structural break that hosts the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin gold targets and numerous other showings which make up the Swanson gold project. The Swanson gold project is easily accessible by road with a rail line running through the property, allowing direct access to several nearby gold mills and further enhancing its development potential. The Swanson gold project has had in excess of 36,000m of drilling.
The Swanson Gold Deposit hosts:
Indicated Mineral Resource:
2,113,000 t with an average grade of 1.8 g/t gold, containing 123,400 oz of gold.
Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate:
872,000 t with an average grade of 2.3 g/t gold, containing 64,500 oz of gold.
(MRE source: NI 43-101 technical report, effective September 17, 2024, filed on the Company’s SEDAR+ profile).
The Swanson Gold Project is located within 50 km of the Company’s fully-permittedBeacon Gold Mill, and includes:
A mining lease which can be permitted for bulk sampling and future mining scenario.
Jolin target (Au): Historical Mineral Resource Estimate (source: GESTIM -1996, GM62629 – historical estimate not compliant with NI 43-101)
Bartec target (Au): Historical Mineral Resource Estimate. (source: GESTIM – DV 87-01 – historical estimate not compliant NI 43-101)
Recent Exploration Activities:
High-resolution airborne magnetics and VLF-EM geophysics program:
Completed over the entire Swanson Gold Deposit.
Oriented soil geochemistry and prospecting program:
Conducted by IOS Géosciences (IOS), with final assay results pending.
A total of 166 line-km will be surveyed in February 2025 at 200 m line spacings.
This will cover the Swanson, Bartec, and Jolin deposits, all of which are advanced gold targets with current and historical mineral resources.
LaFleur Minerals is currently working with its consultants to expedite permitting of the Swanson Gold Project with a focus on evaluating its potential to supply mineralized material to the Beacon Gold Mill.
LaFleur Minerals is also completing an IP ground geophysics survey on its Swanson Gold Project and is planning an aggressive drilling program for this spring and summer to increase the existing mineral resource for the project including incorporating the Bartec, Jolin, and other gold targets. Other ongoing work includes evaluating the open-pit mining potential of the mining lease at the Swanson gold deposit and planning to advance to a Pre-Feasibility Study and mine permitting.
ACQUIRES ADDITIONAL CLAIMS ADJOINING THE SWANSON GOLD PROJECT
The Company is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a Property Purchase Agreement with third-party arm’s length vendors (the “Vendors“) dated February 28, 2025 (the “Agreement“). Under the terms of the Agreement, the Company is entitled to acquire 100% interest to 17 mining claims covering approximately 699 hectares (the “Claims“) contiguous with the Company’s Swanson Gold Project (“Swanson“) in the Barraute region, north of Val-d’Or, Québec. These Claims are located east of the Swanson gold deposit and mining lease held by LaFleur Minerals.
The acquisition terms for the Claims consists of a cash payment totaling $15,000 and the issuance of 150,000 common shares of the Company to the Vendors within 7 business days of approval of the Agreement by the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE“). The common shares issued under the Agreement are subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring four (4) months and one day from the closing date.
For further background information on the Beacon Gold Mill and Swanson Gold Project please refer to the Company’s website and recent videos at the following link: https://lafleurminerals.com/valdor.
LAFLEUR MINERALS ATTENDING PDAC CONFERENCE IN TORONTO – MARCH 2 TO 5
Connect with LaFleur Minerals CEO, Paul Ténière, Technical Advisor/Exploration Manager, Louis Martin, and Senior Advisor, Jean LaFleur, March 2 to 5 at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre for a 1-on-1 meeting to discuss the Company’s recent developments and plans moving forward for its Swanson Gold Project and Beacon Gold Mill. Contact info@lafleurminerals.com to book in advance.
Figure 1: Photo of interior of Beacon Mill currently undergoing detailed inspections for restart
All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared and approved by Louis Martin, P.Geo., Technical Advisor to the Company and considered a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.
