The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) has officially announced the unprecedented success of gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025, marking a historic milestone for the Southeast Asian gaming industry. Held from October 16-19 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, this strategic alliance between gamescom asia, the Asia-Pacific’s premier B2B exhibition, and Thailand Game Show, Southeast Asia’s largest B2C event, has firmly positioned Thailand as the region’s new gaming industry hub.
The event shattered previous records, generating a combined economic value exceeding THB 1.2 billion. It attracted 206,159 visitors to the Entertainment Area and welcomed 5,590 business professionals, developers, and investors from 81 countries in the Business Area. These figures underscore Thailand’s transformation from a robust consumer market into a global “Game Provider,” capable of offering end-to-end services ranging from content creation to full-scale production.
The event served as a catalyst for international collaboration, featuring participation from over 18 countries and regions, including Japan, South Korea, China, the US, and Australia. The exhibition floor hosted industry giants such as Bandai Namco, CAPCOM, HoYoverse, KONAMI, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Ubisoft, Xbox, Epic Games, and Xsolla.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, President/CEO of depa, emphasized that the event’s success reflects the strength of Thailand’s gaming ecosystem, currently valued at THB 35 billion. To sustain this growth, the government is advancing the Gaming Industry Promotion Act, designed to systematically enhance investment incentives, intellectual property protection, and talent development.
“With high-speed internet coverage exceeding 98% nationwide, stable 5G connectivity, and a domestic market of over 40 million gamers, we offer the ideal environment for investment,” stated Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon. “We are supporting this with concrete incentives, including Smart Visas for tech experts, tax exemptions for studio establishment, and streamlined ease-of-doing-business measures.”
The overwhelming response from global partners affirms Thailand’s potential not just as a market, but as a production base rich in high-quality human resources specializing in Animation, CG, VFX, and Game Development. The success of gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025 demonstrates Thailand’s readiness to drive the digital economy forward, creating long-term sustainability and opening global doors for Thai entrepreneurs.
For updates, visit www.depa.or.th or follow Facebook: depa Thailand
Tappy Technologies, the global leader in wearable payment solutions, is proud to announce that its secure tokenization technology is driving the launch of next-generation contactless payment bands by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) in partnership with Mastercard. Inspired by the adrenaline and precision of motor racing, these bands give consumers a unique way to celebrate speed, style, and convenience in everyday life.
Wearable contactless payments Racing Ahead
Racing spirit meets lifestyle innovation
Much like the world of motor racing where every second counts, these payment bands are designed for seamless performance. Embedded with Thales secure element chips and powered by Tappy’s tokenization technology, the bands allow users to tokenize their Mastercard cards issued by FAB through the Tappy Pay App. Once provisioned, the bands transform into secure payment devices that can be used at millions of contactless-enabled merchants worldwide.
Fast, frictionless freedom
This innovation means consumers can immerse themselves in experiences without worrying about carrying wallets or cards. Whether purchasing merchandise, refreshments, or celebrating with friends, the bands deliver a frictionless payment journey that mirrors the speed and energy of motor racing itself.
Wayne Leung, CEO of Tappy Technologies, said, “Motor racing is all about passion, speed, and precision – and that’s exactly what these payment bands represent. Consumers can proudly wear a stylish accessory while enjoying the convenience of secure, contactless payments powered by Tappy. Together with FAB, Mastercard, and Thales, we are redefining how lifestyle and technology come together to enhance everyday experiences around the world.”
About Tappy Technologies
Tappy Technologies is a global leader in wearable payment solutions, specializing in secure tokenization technology that transforms everyday accessories into powerful payment devices. Through partnerships with leading banks, payment networks, and lifestyle brands, Tappy enables consumers to enjoy seamless, secure, and convenient transactions anywhere contactless payments are accepted. With a mission to merge lifestyle and technology, Tappy continues to redefine the way people pay by embedding innovation into the things they love to wear. Learn more at www.tappytech.com.
Media Contact Details: Suboor Ahmed Tappy Technologies Limited COO suboor@tappytech.com
Tappy Technologies, the global leader in wearable payment solutions, is proud to announce that its secure tokenization technology is driving the launch of next-generation contactless payment bands by First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) in partnership with Mastercard. Inspired by the adrenaline and precision of motor racing, these bands give consumers a unique way to celebrate speed, style, and convenience in everyday life.
Wearable contactless payments Racing Ahead
Racing spirit meets lifestyle innovation
Much like the world of motor racing where every second counts, these payment bands are designed for seamless performance. Embedded with Thales secure element chips and powered by Tappy’s tokenization technology, the bands allow users to tokenize their Mastercard cards issued by FAB through the Tappy Pay App. Once provisioned, the bands transform into secure payment devices that can be used at millions of contactless-enabled merchants worldwide.
Fast, frictionless freedom
This innovation means consumers can immerse themselves in experiences without worrying about carrying wallets or cards. Whether purchasing merchandise, refreshments, or celebrating with friends, the bands deliver a frictionless payment journey that mirrors the speed and energy of motor racing itself.
Wayne Leung, CEO of Tappy Technologies, said, “Motor racing is all about passion, speed, and precision – and that’s exactly what these payment bands represent. Consumers can proudly wear a stylish accessory while enjoying the convenience of secure, contactless payments powered by Tappy. Together with FAB, Mastercard, and Thales, we are redefining how lifestyle and technology come together to enhance everyday experiences around the world.”
About Tappy Technologies
Tappy Technologies is a global leader in wearable payment solutions, specializing in secure tokenization technology that transforms everyday accessories into powerful payment devices. Through partnerships with leading banks, payment networks, and lifestyle brands, Tappy enables consumers to enjoy seamless, secure, and convenient transactions anywhere contactless payments are accepted. With a mission to merge lifestyle and technology, Tappy continues to redefine the way people pay by embedding innovation into the things they love to wear.
Media Contact Details: Suboor Ahmed Tappy Technologies Limited COO suboor@tappytech.com
Digital Realty, the largest global provider of cloud-and carrier-neutral data centre, colocation, and interconnection solutions, today announced a partnership with BW Digital to strengthen cross-border DC-to-DC connectivity between Singapore and Indonesia.
(Left to Right: Johnny Sek, Commercial Sales Manager, Digital Realty; Hamid Maani, Chief Sales Officer, BW Digital; Jo Jo Kwong, Director, Strategy & Business Development, Digital Realty; Serene Nah, Managing Director & Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty; Govind Choudhary, General Manager, SEA & India, Digital Realty; Virginie Frouin, Chief Business Office, Connectivity, BW Digital; Florent Blot, Chief Business Officer, Datacenter & Value Added Services, BW Digital; Robert Ho, Director, Market Development, Digital Realty)
Under the agreement, the companies will jointly support the rollout of BW Digital’s Nongsa Changi Cable System (NCC), a new submarine system designed to connect Batam in Indonesia with Singapore, also overseeing its integration with Digital Realty’s SIN12 data centre on the Island State.
The undertaking is expected to provide access to vital cloud and connectivity hubs, particularly for enterprises expanding across Southeast Asia, strengthening cross-border connectivity, storage and compute, and supporting Singapore’s accelerating AI and digital transformation demands. This is strengthened by SIN12’s ability to support high-performance workloads at scale, giving enterprises confidence as they expand between Singapore and Batam.
Southeast Asia’s AI-Driven Infrastructure
By landing NCC in SIN12, BW Digital and Digital Realty hope to deliver faster, more reliable, and more sustainable data exchange between Singapore and Batam, which is emerging as a strategic hub for hyperscale and AI infrastructure.
As the first submarine cable to land directly in Nongsa Digital Park, NCC is expected to offer unprecedented resilience to Batam. It is designed to deliver more than 1.6 petabits per second (Pb/s) of new capacity and provide seamless DC-to-DC connectivity with less than 2 milliseconds (ms) latency to Singapore.
The collaboration is designed to integrate submarine cable landing facilities with Digital Realty’s global data centre platform, hoping to enable high-performance subsea connectivity, storage and interconnection within SIN12 and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) computing enablement via PlatformDIGITAL.
Furthermore, BW Digital’s customers may also be able to expand their connectivity ecosystems and scale AI workloads by establishing interconnections directly within SIN12, while reaping cost efficiencies by enabling seamless cross connects to other providers already hosted in the facility.
BW Digital’s in-progress NDP-1 data centre in Batam will further support Digital Realty’s customers with access to colocation and cloud connectivity options in Singapore+ (or SIJORI, the Singapore-Johor-Riau Growth Triangle), one of the region’s fastest-growing digital hubs.
This ‘AI Factory’ NDP1 data centre, with a capacity of 144MW and liquid cooling capabilities, is designed to feature direct on-ramps to BW Digital’s subsea cable landing station for low-latency and resilient links to regional markets.
At a signing ceremony in Singapore today, Serene Nah, Managing Director and Head of Asia Pacific, Digital Realty, said: “Subsea networks are central to Southeast Asia’s digital economy, and Singapore continues to serve as a critical gateway for regional data exchange. By integrating BW Digital’s Nongsa–Changi system into SIN12, we are working to deliver faster and more resilient connectivity to support customers as they scale next-generation workloads. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to strengthening the interconnection foundation that powers the region’s digital growth”.
Virginie Frouin, chief business officer, BW Digital said: “This partnership represents a major milestone for BW Digital, aligning with our mission to support digital transformation by bridging the gap between submarine cable infrastructure and land-based digital platforms in a way that is efficient, secure, and future-ready.”
“We are hoping to enable AI workloads, provide reliable, secure connectivity between Singapore and Batam, support for rising demand in cross-border data exchange, and ongoing collaboration with Digital Realty to empower customers with greater interconnection flexibility”.
About Digital Realty
Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data meeting place and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx®) solution methodology for powering innovation, from cloud and digital transformation to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Digital Realty gives its customers access to the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 25+ countries on six continents. To learn more about Digital Realty, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X.
About BW Digital
Headquartered in Singapore and part of BW Group, BW Digital develops, builds and operates digital infrastructure in high-potential markets.
Our vision is to create a sustainable digital ecosystem for cloud and AI workloads by combining data centres, connectivity and renewable energy.
Our main assets include the 15,000km Hawaiki submarine cable connecting Australia, New Zealand and the US since 2018, and the BW Digital Campus at Nongsa Digital Park, comprising the 144MW NDP1 data centre, the NCC submarine cable between Singapore and Batam and the Citra Connect terrestrial fibre network.
This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the APAC market, development plans in APAC, the company’s strategy, expected growth in digital transformation, and customer demand. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Magnolia, a leading global Digital Experience Platform (DXP) provider, is excited to announce that renowned software entrepreneur and industry veteran Luc Haldimann has joined its Board of Directors and stepped into the role of Chairman (President).
Luc’s appointment is a major strategic move as Magnolia ramps up efforts to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its platform, ensuring customers can deliver highly personalized and efficient digital experiences globally.
Luc Haldimann is a foundational figure in the enterprise software space. He’s a widely recognized strategic leader who successfully combines deep technical knowledge with sharp business acumen-a rare mix essential for guiding Magnolia through the current wave of AI-driven innovation.
Notably, Luc was the Co-founder and former CTO/Chairman of Obtree Technologies, a pioneering Swiss CMS company that built solutions for large websites and was acquired by IXOS Software in 2003. He’s also the founder of Unblu, a Swiss provider of secure and compliant conversational solutions for the global financial services sector. After leading Unblu as CEO for almost two decades, he will continue his executive career as Unblu’s Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). His firsthand expertise in the CMS business and enterprise software sales gives him a crucial edge in shaping Magnolia’s future.
“We are incredibly thrilled to welcome Luc Haldimann to our board as Chairman,” said Alain Kugelmann, Co-CEO at Magnolia. “Luc embodies that hallmark of Swiss quality and reliability-known for integrity, precision, and a pragmatic, long-term approach to scaling successful tech companies. His leadership will be vital as we implement AI to enhance content creation, customer personalization, and operational efficiency across our platform globally.”
“I have been watching Magnolia’s evolution in the DXP space for many years and am deeply impressed by its API-first foundation and global reach,” said Luc Haldimann. “The digital experience market is at a pivotal inflection point with AI, and Magnolia‘s technology is perfectly positioned to lead this transformation. I look forward to working with the board and management team to execute a strategy that continues to deliver precision, quality, and groundbreaking innovation to our customers worldwide.”
Magnolia sees Luc’s vision as a powerful reinforcement of its commitment to delivering top-tier innovation and expanding market leadership worldwide.
About Magnolia Magnolia is the composable experience platform that unites best-of-breed technologies into a powerful, central workspace. It empowers enterprise teams to manage every brand, product, channel, and experience from a single, intuitive interface. Leading global companies across finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and more choose Magnolia as their modern composable DXP.
Global Sales Leader to Drive Unified Strategy and Accelerate Customer-Centric Growth
Foundry, the leading global tech media, data, and marketing services company, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Gregory Anderson as Global Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With two decades of proven success driving sales performance across technology and media sectors, Anderson joins Foundry with a clear focus on enhancing the buyer journey and accelerating strategic growth globally.
Anderson joins Foundry from Informa TechTarget, where he most recently served as Chief Sales Officer at Omdia. During his tenure, he held several other key leadership roles, including positions leading sales and the integration of major acquisitions such as BrightTALK and Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG). He also spent eight years as VP of Sales for APAC at Informa TechTarget, where he helped expand regional operations.
“We are thrilled to welcome Greg to the Foundry team as our new CRO,” said Mike Finnerty, CEO of Foundry. “Greg brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record in our industry, making him uniquely positioned to build on the momentum we’ve created. His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our connection with the world’s most influential IT leaders and helping them make informed purchasing decisions.”
As B2B marketing evolves toward more human and personalized data-driven engagement, Foundry remains committed to helping technology companies connect with buyers in meaningful ways. By combining intent data with powerful storytelling, Foundry delivers experiences that resonate with buyers’ unique needs, foster trust, and build valuable relationships.
“I’m inspired by the opportunity to help shape Foundry’s next chapter alongside Mike and with the support of Regent, which truly understands the value of trusted editorial brands,” said Greg Anderson, Global Chief Revenue Officer of Foundry. “This role brings me back to what I love – partnering with technology marketers to connect their brands with buyers through trusted editorial channels. With Foundry’s respected voices and unique blend of digital and in-person communities, we’re positioned to be a reliable resource in a time of growing AI-driven misinformation. I’m excited to work with the team to uncover new growth opportunities and deliver solutions that help vendors reach, inform, and build trust with decision-makers.”
To learn more about Foundry’s technology marketing and buyer engagement solutions, please visit: foundryco.com.
About Foundry Foundry helps companies bring their visions to reality through a combination of media, marketing technologies and proprietary data on a global scale. Our platforms are powered by data from an owned and operated ecosystem of global editorial brands, awards, and events, all engineered and integrated to drive marketing campaigns for technology companies.
Foundry is one of the world’s leading tech media, data and marketing services companies, and is the proud owner of the global tech sector’s most revered media brands – CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, PCWorld, Tech Advisor and TechHive. To learn more, visit foundryco.com.
– The partnership will equip Laser Digital with Solidus Labs’ advanced detection capabilities to monitor trading behavior across exchanges, OTC markets, and DeFi venues – Backed by Nomura, Laser Digital was recently licensed by VARA under its Pilot Framework to offer OTC crypto derivatives
Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Group, and Solidus Labs, the category-definer for crypto-native trade surveillance and risk monitoring, today announced a partnership to deliver crypto-native on-chain and off-chain market surveillance.
Under this partnership, Solidus Labs will equip Laser Digital with advanced detection capabilities that monitor trading behavior across exchanges, OTC markets, and DeFi venues – reinforcing Laser Digital’s risk and compliance operations and supporting evolving regulatory expectations across jurisdictions.
Backed by Nomura, one of the world’s largest financial institutions, Laser Digital was established as a full-service digital asset firm to bring TradFi practices to crypto markets. The firm combines higher governance standards and risk management with crypto-native expertise, to manage institutional exposure to the digital asset ecosystem.
Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Jez Mohideen, Co-founder and CEO of Laser Digital, said, “Solidus Labs emerged as a suitable partner for us given their expertise in trade surveillance and deep understanding of digital assets. Their on-and off-chain detection capabilities, combined with an intelligence-driven platform, offer advanced safeguards that are critical to enabling secure institutional access to the on-chain ecosystem.”
Asaf Meir, Founder & CEO of Solidus Labs, added, “We are proud to partner with Laser Digital, a firm that is laser-focused on redefining the frontier of digital finance. 2025 is shaping up to be a defining year, bridging traditional finance and digital assets – and Laser Digital is at the forefront of that evolution. Solidus is the only provider able to support the advanced DeFi activities Laser is pursuing, and together we are helping set the gold standard for crypto-native market integrity.”
In August 2025, Laser Digital announced that it had become the first regulated entity under Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority’s (VARA) Pilot Framework to offer OTC crypto options, underscoring its commitment to offering structured solutions in regulated markets.
About Solidus Labs Solidus Labs is the category-definer for Agentic-Based Compliance in trade surveillance and risk monitoring. Founded in 2018 by Goldman Sachs veterans, the company merges Wall Street rigor, crypto-native innovation, and cybersecurity principles to reinvent compliance for the modern financial era. At the core is HALO, an AI-powered risk-based platform trusted by financial institutions, crypto firms, and regulators globally to drive proactive, intelligence-led oversight – across any product, venue, or asset class. www.soliduslabs.com
Contact: Trevor Davis Gregory FCA for Solidus Labs 443.248.0359 trevor@gregoryfca.com
About Laser Digital Laser Digital is a full-service digital asset firm specializing in Trading, Asset Management, Solutions, and Early-Stage Investing. Nomura established Laser Digital to provide new value in digital assets to its clients, bridging traditional and crypto markets. We are positioned uniquely in the market, combining institutional- grade framework and risk management. For more information, please visit: www.laserdigital.com For partnership inquiries: inquiries@laserdigital.com For media inquiries: media@laserdigital.com
Legal Disclaimer This is a marketing communication intended for professional investors in eligible jurisdictions only. It does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Forecasts are not reliable indicators of future performance. Capital is at risk. Please consult the relevant offering documentation before making any investment decisions.
Uniting the strength of Visa’s trusted infrastructure with HotelRunner’s deep presence in hospitality, this strategic preferred partnership sets the foundation for a new era of embedded finance in travel. By bringing Visa’s products directly into HotelRunner’s platform, this collaboration will enable seamless, secure, and scalable cross-border payments and settlements for thousands of travel businesses worldwide.
HotelRunner, a leading travel and hospitality technology platform, and Visa, a global leader in digital payments, have announced a global strategic preferred partnership to empower businesses of all sizes across the travel and hospitality industry. The collaboration brings together Visa’s trusted global infrastructure and secure cross-border payments capabilities with HotelRunner’s deep presence and extensive reach in hospitality technology. Solving the “last-mile” challenge in tourism and democratizing financial access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets, HotelRunner is collaborating with Visa to provide robust technology infrastructure and B2B connectivity that enables accommodation providers, from boutique hotels in Morocco to guesthouses in Bali, to get paid quickly and securely across borders.
By uniting their strengths, the two companies aim to accelerate economic growth across the global travel and hospitality ecosystem while delivering seamless, secure, and scalable financial solutions. This partnership sets the foundation for a new era of embedded finance with a specific focus on independent hotels by providing access to global payment rails.
“Travel runs on trust, and trust depends on secure, reliable infrastructure,” said Ali Beklen, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner. “By combining HotelRunner’s global hospitality network with Visa’s unmatched expertise, we are building the autonomous financial infrastructure of travel. This is not only about payments; it is about building the financial rails that will power the next decade of global tourism. We are reshaping the future of cross-border travel commerce, making it safer, smarter, and more inclusive for businesses worldwide.”
On this partnership, Arden Agopyan, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner, said, “HotelRunner has spent more than a decade building the digital backbone of hospitality. For too long, small and independent accommodations and travel agencies have been excluded from global financial flows and the payments economy. Together with Visa, we’re changing that. We’re combining our reach and reliable platform with one of the world’s most trusted networks to create a new standard for autonomous, secure, seamless, and scalable travel payments.”
“Our collaboration with HotelRunner demonstrates how together we can drive innovation across the B2B travel ecosystem. By combining Visa’s trusted global payments network with HotelRunner’s hospitality platform, we’re enabling travel businesses to connect, transact, and grow more seamlessly and securely. Together, we’re helping to unlock new opportunities, and strengthen the global travel ecosystem” Tania Platt, Global Head of B2B Travel, Visa.
Operating globally, this collaboration will bring Visa and HotelRunner together with key travel companies in Europe, APAC, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. This partnership is set to deliver innovative embedded and autonomous finance services supporting millions of travel businesses worldwide.
Contact Information Suheyla van Taarling Director of Marketing & Growth suheyla@hotelrunner.com
The Company’s Funding Will Accelerate Developing of the World’s First Distributed Quantum Computers Using NanoQT’s Proprietary Nanofiber-Cavity
Nanofiber Quantum Technologies, Inc. (NanoQT), a quantum computing company pioneering ultra-low-loss nanofiber cavity-QED interconnects for quantum processors, today announced the first closing of its $14 million Series A financing. Phoenix Venture Partners (PVP), an existing investor, led the round with participation from Brevan Howard Macro Venture Fund, a new investor. WASEDA University Ventures, Inc. (WUV), JAFCO Group Co Ltd, Mirai Creation Fund III (SPARX Asset Management Co., Ltd.), and Keio Innovation Initiative, Inc. (KII), each existing investors, also participated.
NanoQT’s Proprietary Nanofiber-Cavity
The financing follows more than US$20 million in government R&D grants across Japan and the United States that support NanoQT’s roadmap. “An interconnect engineered for QPUs is the missing link in today’s market and will soon be a major bottleneck to achieving scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing,” said Masashi Hirose, Ph.D., CEO and Co-Founder of NanoQT. “Our proprietary nanofiber-cavity interconnect is highly demanded not only for scaling up quantum computing but also for integrating QPUs with quantum communication capabilities.”
“We are delighted to continue supporting NanoQT’s breakthrough,” said Nobi Kambe, Ph.D., Managing General Partner at Phoenix Venture Partners (PVP). “NanoQT has demonstrated steady R&D progress, and we believe the company will deliver a disruptive impact in the quantum computing and networking field.” “NanoQT is the best positioned in the quantum field to disrupt interconnects.”
Why It Matters The quantum interconnect is an emerging, critical device class-essential not only for modularizing quantum processors but also for extending them into networked and communication-enabled systems. NanoQT’s approach is an ultra-low-loss nanofiber cavity that functions as an end-to-end fiber-optic interconnect, enabling extremely efficient conversion of qubit signals into photonic signals-a capability fundamentally grounded in cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED).
NanoQT’s initial product is highly engineered for neutral-atom QPUs, which today represent one of the most scalable quantum computing architectures. Yet these systems will face per-unit scalability limits within a few years. NanoQT’s interconnect provides a path beyond those limits, while also positioning the company to address the emerging quantum repeater market, which is essential for building long-distance quantum networks.
Use of Proceeds and Next Milestones
Demonstration of a distributed quantum computing system using NanoQT’s interconnect and standard fiber links
Productization of the nanofiber cavity-QED interconnect for neutral-atom QPUs
Expansion of engineering and manufacturing capacity in College Park, Maryland, and Tokyo
About NanoQT NanoQT is a quantum-hardware company building ultra-low-loss nanofiber cavity-QED interconnects that physically integrate with quantum processors to enable modular and networked quantum computing as well as compatibility with quantum communication. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with operations in College Park, Maryland and Tokyo, Japan, NanoQT combines Japan-born engineering excellence with a global commercialization strategy.
– Driving IP financing and unlocking opportunities for start-ups
Co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the 15thBusiness of IP Asia Forum (BIP Asia Forum), together with the 17thHKTDC Entrepreneur Day (E-Day), will be held from 4 to 5 December at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). The two flagship annual events will bring together innovators, investors, professionals, and policymakers from around the world. Through a series of activities, the two events will foster cross-sector collaboration, and help strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a regional intellectual property (IP) trading centre, and an international innovation and technology hub.
Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director said, “Hong Kong is the ideal platform for IP trading, backed by its sound legal system, deep capital markets, and robust IP protection regime. With the BIP Asia Forum, the HKTDC continues to drive IP commercialisation, facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration, and reinforce Hong Kong as a regional IP trading centre. Held concurrently, E-Day continues to adopt the theme ‘Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight’ which focuses on start-up growth and innovation and provides a networking and matching platform for entrepreneurs and investors. Together, the two events create strong synergy – from supporting start-ups to facilitating the commercialisation of IP – help translating innovation into real-world applications, thus further advance Hong Kong’s innovation and technology, and IP development.”
BIP Asia Forum spotlights IP financing In recent years, IP has become a strategic asset leveraged by businesses to scale up and expand. Under the theme “Leverage IP to Finance Business Growth”, this year’s BIP Asia Forum brings together more than 100 speakers to explore IP’s potential for corporate development and financing.
Sophia Chong, HKTDC Executive Director and David Wong, Director of Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government will officiate at the opening ceremony of the two-day forum. A keynote session on “IP Valuation and Financing” will examine how IP can be converted into a viable source of capital. Speakers include Ying-ying Cheng, Head (Banking Supervision), Banking Supervision Department of Hong Kong Monetary Authority; Winnie Tung, Chairperson, Commercial Banking Committee of the Hong Kong Association of Banks; Lewis C Lee, Founder and CEO of Moat Metrics, Inc.; Terence Koh, Managing Director and Head of Telecommunications, Media and Technology at United Overseas Bank Limited; and Sung-tae Ha, Director of IP, Valuation and Management Center of Korea Invention Promotion Association. They will share insights from multiple perspectives, including market developments, policy support, valuation practices, cross-sector collaboration, as well as strategies to integrate IP financing into the broader financial ecosystem, unlocking the growth potential of innovation-driven enterprises.
The theme of IP-driven investment shapes the first session of this year’s Global Tech Summit, titled “Unlocking Value: Intellectual Property and Investment Opportunities in AI Innovations” – investors will share key AI investment trends and explore the future landscape of IP within AI Innovation. Speakers include Lucas Shia, Associate Director (Investment) at Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited; Teddy Lui, Chief Commercial Officer of the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund; Warren Li, Head of VC and Startups, North Asia at Google Cloud; and representatives from Aberdeen Investments, Eastspring Investments, Invesco, and Fidelity International.
In the special address on the afternoon of 4 December, the Chief Executive of the HKSAR, John Lee, and Li Shengjun, Deputy Head of the Patent Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration will deliver keynote remarks.
Diverse thematic sessions push forward creativity and innovation The plenary session, titled “Propelling Sustainability with IP”, will focus on IP’s strategic role in accelerating sustainability and elevating industry standards. Speakers include Dr Lorenz Kaiser, Senior Legal Counsel at GE Aerospace; Krishna Singhania, Senior IP Counsel at Maersk; and Dr Pratheeba Vimalnath, Lecturer in Innovation, Intellectual Property and Sustainability, University of Exeter Business School, UK. The breakout session “Opportunities and Risks of Data Licensing” will touch on data copyrights, privacy compliance, cross-border data flows, and regulatory environment. Speakers include Professor Daryl Lim, H. Laddie Montague Jr. Chair in Law and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at Penn State Dickinson Law, and Shun Cheng, Director of AI & Cloud Technology Intellectual Property Rights Department at HUAWEI Technologies.
The “IP Economy” is another highlight, featuring Mark Kingston, CEO and Co-founder of Libertas Brands (holding exclusive global rights of “Fuggler”), and Perry Chung, Executive Director, Strategic Development and Commercial Operations of Ocean Park. They will share how to leverage online-to-offline IP closed loop to boost revenue, expand customer reach through IP collaboration, and integrate cultural elements to enhance IP sustainability.
Another breakout session “IP-driven Transformation of Hong Kong Brands” will examine how local brands leverage IP to transform their business models, enhance brand identity, market penetration, and diversify into new business streams. Speakers include Raymond Leung, CEO of Camel Vacuum Flasks; Steve Ng, Founder of TINY; and Crystal Wong, Deputy Head of Commercial and Brand of Hong Kong Tramways.
The ASEAN Session, co-organised by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Intellectual Property Department of the HKSAR Government, will focus on patent commercialisation, discuss how to accelerate the translation of research outcomes, promote innovation collaboration and advance technology transfer between ASEAN economies and Hong Kong.
E-Day ignites innovation momentum As the HKTDC’s flagship start-up event, E-Day continues under the theme “Where Start-up Dreams Take Flight”, with a strong commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and providing tailored support and development opportunities for start-ups. E-Day combines an exhibition with business matching and a series of seminars, and serves as a dynamic platform that brings together innovators, investors and ecosystem partners, helping start-ups expand networks, exchange knowledge, explore collaboration opportunities and accelerate business growth globally.
E-Day will spotlight six technology verticals – Artificial Intelligence, Health Tech, Cyber Security, Construction and Logistics, Spatial Computing and Sustainability. The event will feature more than 350 start-ups, innovation projects and start-up support organisations. The Digital Policy Office will set up the “Innovation Hong Kong Pavilion”, showcasing 30 award-winning projects from the Hong Kong ICT Awards (HKICTA). The pavilion hosted by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau will feature over 40 start-ups supported by the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as members of the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area. In addition, the Hong Kong Exporters’ Association will once again co-organise the annual Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions with Geneva Palexpo, featuring more than 130 innovative projects from across Asia. Nine universities in Hong Kong will also exhibit their latest research outcomes and start-up ventures, fostering collaboration between academic and industry.
E-Day’s seminar programme will cover four main tracks: Inspirational Masterclass, Start-up 101, Uncovering Hidden Gems and Global Tech Summit, with discussions spanning hot topics such as artificial intelligence, green energy, deeptech, sustainable fashion and youth entrepreneurship. A highlight on the first day, “T-Chat: From Labs to Battlefield: Navigating Deep Tech Commercialisation and Global Scale”, will present Yeye Xiao, Innovation Consultant Manager & Central Asia Lead at Hello Tomorrow, the world’s largest deeptech start-up community based in France; Dr Paul Wang, Director of the Techno-Entrepreneurship Core at The University of Hong Kong; Edith Yeung, General Partner at Race Capital; and Kenny Oktavius, Co-founder and CEO of Point-Fit Technology. The speakers will discuss how scientific research can be effectively translated from the laboratory to the marketplace, driving commercialisation and accelerating global expansion.
To fully leverage Hong Kong’s unique role as a bridge between the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and overseas markets, a roundtable titled “Empowering GBA Startups to Expand into ASEAN with Hong Kong as a Super-connector and Super Value-adder” will focus on opportunities for GBA start-ups to expand into ASEAN and international markets. The speakers, including Intan Zalani, the Consul (Trade) of Malaysia in Hong Kong; Peter Mok, General Managers of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub; and Stephen Chan, Partner of Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, will analyse how the city’s financial strength, legal expertise and strategic support can facilitate cross-border collaboration in innovation and technology.
The HKSAR Government and industry organisations are joining forces to support youth and SME development. A dedicated session, “Launch of HKICTA Winner Circle cum Winners Sharing Session”, hosted by the Digital Policy Office will focus on innovation leadership. Outstanding winners of the Hong Kong ICT Awards will discuss how technology can promote the development of smart city. A fireside chat titled “Crafting the Next-Gen Wardrobe: Innovation for a Sustainable Future”, will explore how new technologies are reshaping sustainable fashion, driving the integration of aesthetics and environmental responsibility and transforming the future of the fashion industry.
“Start-up Express International” will return this year and continue to attract promising overseas start-ups to establish a presence in Hong Kong and use the city as a springboard to access regional markets. The programme is supported by partners from Australia, Chinese Mainland, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and other economies, and 10 outstanding start-ups were selected earlier this year. The winning start-ups will join a sharing and networking session on 4 December, the first day of E-Day, to present their entrepreneurial journeys.
DesignInspire will be held concurrently with BIP Asia Forum and E-Day from 3 to 6 December at the HKCEC. The event will bring together numerous local and international design superstars and provide an exciting design experience for the industry and the public. The three events aim to create synergy and generate more business opportunities for the industry.
About the 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 the Chinese Mainland, 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.
