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iHuman Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

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BEIJING, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — iHuman Inc. (NYSE: IH) (“iHuman” or the “Company”), a leading provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

Revenues were RMB250.4 million (US$35.3 million), compared with RMB260.7 million in the same period last year.Gross profit was RMB178.2 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB181.0 million in the same period last year.Operating income was RMB21.9 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB39.1 million in the same period last year.Net income was RMB33.3 million (US$4.7 million), compared with RMB35.4 million in the same period last year.Average total MAUs[1] reached a record-high of 25.38 million, a year-over-year increase of 14.2%.

Fiscal Year 2023 Highlights

Revenues were RMB1,018.1 million (US$143.4 million), compared with RMB985.5 million in fiscal year 2022.Gross profit was RMB721.3 million (US$101.6 million), compared with RMB691.2 million in fiscal year 2022.Operating income was RMB159.9 million (US$22.5 million), compared with RMB111.6 million in fiscal year 2022.Net income was RMB180.9 million (US$25.5 million), compared with RMB109.8 million in fiscal year 2022.Average total MAUs were 23.04 million, a year-over-year increase of 16.0%.

[1] “Average total MAUs” refers to the monthly average of the sum of the MAUs of each of the Company’s apps during a specific period, which is counted based on the number of unique mobile devices through which such app is accessed at least once in a given month, and duplicate access to different apps is not eliminated from the total MAUs calculation.
[2] “Paying users” refers to users who paid subscription fees for premium content on any of the Company’s apps during a specific period; a user who makes payments across different apps using the same registered account is counted as one paying user, and a user who makes payments for the same app multiple times in the same period is counted as one paying user.

Dr. Peng Dai, Director and Chief Executive Officer of iHuman, commented, “As we look back on 2023, I am truly inspired by the accomplishments that we have achieved, especially considering the decline in China’s newborn population over the past few years. In response to the challenges posed by the declining birth rate, we have been actively expanding our presence in the international markets, diversifying our product portfolio, and developing products that cover a broader age demographic. These strategic efforts have helped us achieve remarkable progress. For instance, our globally-oriented app, Aha World, delivered impressive performance in 2023. By the end of the year, its YouTube and TikTok accounts collectively attracted over 200 million views. It also earned YouTube’s Silver Creator Award and rose to rank among the top three most popular children’s apps on the U.S. Apple app store in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, our flagship product, iHuman Chinese, has consistently held the No.1 spot in the top-grossing category for children’s apps on the Apple app store in China for iPad users for nearly 4.5 years, according to Appfigures, a reputable American data analytics company. This past year has been marked by revenue growth and sustained profitability, and we once again set a new record for average total MAUs in the fourth quarter which further solidified our position as an industry leader.”

“We are also thrilled to announce the acquisition of intellectual property assets related to “Cosmicrew” from Kunpeng, an animation production studio within the Perfect World Group. This strategic acquisition is expected to generate significant synergies with our business. Firstly, “Cosmicrew” is a popular cartoon adventure series that has established a strong presence in the children’s entertainment sector. The light-hearted and delightful nature of this cartoon IP seamlessly compliments our overall product style and aesthetic. With the IP already integrated into some of our products before the acquisition, we now have greater autonomy over our creative content. In addition, we now can expand our product range further by developing additional IP offerings and derivatives, including animations, toys, and more. At the market level, “Cosmicrew” is a popular cartoon with a large audience base, and this acquisition will enable us to further extend our market reach and engage with a broader audience.”

“As we continue to progress on our strategic initiatives, we remain fully dedicated to strengthening our core competencies through ongoing product enhancement. We have been enriching the content and functionality of our app products to elevate the digital experience of our users and have made further strides in integrating our online and offline offerings to create a more immersive and holistic journey for users. For example, we rolled out both multi-leveled physical books and a specially developed smart reading pen that complement our leveled English reading app, iHuman Fantastic Friends. This combination allows kids to explore captivating original English stories tailored to their proficiency level in physical and digital formats, offering them a flexible and simple reading experience while enhancing their understanding and engagement with the content.”

“In 2023, we further strengthened our comprehensive product suite, significantly expanded our international presence, and earned increased market recognition with several prestigious industry accolades. We achieved all these milestones despite a highly volatile and challenging macroeconomic climate, which I believe is a testament to the caliber of our products, the effectiveness of our strategies, and the resilience of our team in overcoming diverse economic challenges. As we enter 2024, I am filled with anticipation for the continued success that lies ahead.”

Ms. Vivien Weiwei Wang, Director and Chief Financial Officer of iHuman, added, “Our fourth quarter results ended 2023 on a positive note despite a turbulent global economic environment. While our fourth quarter results saw a marginal decrease year-over-year, it reflected a normalization from the exceptional fourth quarter performance last year, which was caused by a heightened demand driven by more indoor activities during the pandemic. From a full year perspective in 2023, despite the fact that everybody shifted back to regular routines and spent less time at home after the pandemic, we still achieved satisfactory growth as both revenues and MAUs increased compared to fiscal year 2022. We are also proud to announce our eighth consecutive quarter of profitability, with annual net income reaching RMB180.9 million. This achievement marks our second straight year of profitability since our IPO in 2020 and demonstrates that we have successfully charted a path of healthy and sustainable growth. The momentum we have sustained in our business operations has further solidified our financial position, which not only bolsters our capacity for ongoing growth and innovation, but also enables us to enhance returns to our shareholders through issuing a special cash dividend of US$0.02 per ordinary share, or US$0.10 per ADS. The approval of the special dividend by our board of directors reflects our confidence in our long-term growth potential and strong balance sheet. Moving forward, we will continue to execute on our strategic priorities and maintain a growth-oriented approach to create even greater value for our users and shareholders.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

Revenues

Revenues were RMB250.4 million (US$35.3 million), compared with RMB260.7 million in the same period last year.

Average total MAUs for the quarter were 25.38 million, an increase of 14.2% year-over-year from 22.22 million in the same period last year. The number of paying users[2] was 1.45 million.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB72.2 million (US$10.2 million), a decrease of 9.4% from RMB79.7 million in the same period last year, primarily due to decreased channel costs.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit was RMB178.2 million (US$25.1 million), compared with RMB181.0 million in the same period last year. Gross margin was 71.2%, compared with 69.4% in the same period last year.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were RMB156.4 million (US$22.0 million), an increase of 10.2% from RMB141.9 million in the same period last year.

Research and development expenses were RMB66.3 million (US$9.3 million), compared with RMB66.8 million in the same period last year.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB64.5 million (US$9.1 million), an increase of 40.8% from RMB45.8 million in the same period last year, primarily due to increased strategic spending on promotional activities and brand enhancement.

General and administrative expenses were RMB25.5 million (US$3.6 million), a decrease of 12.7% from RMB29.3 million in the same period last year, primarily due to payroll related cost-savings and other decreased expenses as a result of the continued optimization of our operational efficiency.

Operating Income

Operating income was RMB21.9 million (US$3.1 million), compared with RMB39.1 million in the same period last year.

Net Income

Net income was RMB33.3 million (US$4.7 million), compared with RMB35.4 million in the same period last year.

Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB0.63 (US$0.09) and RMB0.61 (US$0.09), respectively, compared with RMB0.67 and RMB0.66 in the same period last year. Each ADS represents five Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

Deferred Revenue and Customer Advances

Deferred revenue and customer advances were RMB318.6 million (US$44.9 million) as of December 31, 2023, compared with RMB379.1 million as of December 31, 2022.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents were RMB1,213.8 million (US$171.0 million) as of December 31, 2023, compared with RMB1,050.0 million as of December 31, 2022.

Fiscal Year 2023 Unaudited Financial Results

Revenues

Revenues were RMB1,018.1 million (US$143.4 million), an increase of 3.3% from RMB985.5 million in fiscal year 2022.

Average total MAUs were 23.04 million, an increase of 16.0% year-over-year from 19.86 million in fiscal year 2022. The number of paying users for the year was 4.27 million.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues was RMB296.9 million (US$41.8 million), compared with RMB294.3 million in fiscal year 2022.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit was RMB721.3 million (US$101.6 million), an increase of 4.4% from RMB691.2 million in fiscal year 2022. Gross margin was 70.8%, compared with 70.1% in fiscal year 2022.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses were RMB561.4 million (US$79.1 million), a decrease of 3.1% from RMB579.6 million in fiscal year 2022.

Research and development expenses were RMB257.5 million (US$36.3 million), a decrease of 17.8% from RMB313.5 million in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to cost savings in payroll-related expenses and outsourcing expenses.

Sales and marketing expenses were RMB199.5 million (US$28.1 million), an increase of 27.1% from RMB156.9 million in fiscal year 2022, primarily due to increased strategic spending on promotional activities and brand enhancement.

General and administrative expenses were RMB104.3 million (US$14.7 million), a decrease of 4.5% from RMB109.2 million in fiscal year 2022.

Operating Income

Operating income was RMB159.9 million (US$22.5 million), compared with RMB111.6 million in fiscal year 2022.

Net Income

Net income was RMB180.9 million (US$25.5 million), compared with RMB109.8 million in fiscal year 2022.

Basic and diluted net income per ADS were RMB3.43 (US$0.48) and RMB3.30 (US$0.46), respectively, compared with RMB2.06 and RMB2.03 in fiscal year 2022. Each ADS represents five Class A ordinary shares of the Company.

Special Cash Dividend

To deliver return of capital to shareholders, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) approved a special cash dividend of US$0.02 per ordinary share, or US$0.10 per ADS, to holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs as of the close of business on March 28, 2024 New York Time, payable in U.S. dollars. The aggregate amount of the special dividend will be approximately US$5.3 million. The payment date is expected to be on or around May 8, 2024 and May 15, 2024 for holders of ordinary shares and holders of ADSs, respectively.

Acquisition of IP Assets

The Company, through one of its consolidated affiliated entities, entered into an asset transfer agreement (the “Asset Transfer Agreement”) with Kunpeng, an animation production studio within the Perfect World Group (the “Transferors”). Pursuant to the Asset Transfer Agreement, the Company will acquire intellectual property assets related to “Cosmicrew” from Kunpeng, including copyrights and trademarks, among others, for a total consideration of RMB64.0 million. The consideration of the transaction was determined with the assistance of an independent third-party valuation firm. As the Transferors are related parties of the Company, the transaction has been approved by the Board and the audit committee of the Board, and is subject to customary closing conditions.

Exchange Rate Information

The U.S. dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release, except for those transaction amounts that were actually settled in U.S. dollars, are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into US$ in this press release is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of December 29, 2023, which was RMB7.0999 to US$1.00. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on the RMB amounts.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

iHuman considers and uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS, as supplemental metrics in reviewing and assessing its operating performance and formulating its business plan. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). iHuman defines adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS as operating income, net income and diluted net income per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses, respectively. Adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted net income per ADS enable iHuman’s management to assess its operating results without considering the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges. iHuman believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating the Company’s current operating performance and prospects in the same manner as management does, if they so choose.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, which possibly do not reflect all items of expense that affect our operations. Share-based compensation expenses have been and may continue to be incurred in our business and are not reflected in the presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures iHuman uses may differ from the non-GAAP measures used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates”  and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about iHuman’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the description of the management’s quotations in this announcement contains forward-looking statements. iHuman may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: iHuman’s growth strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract and retain users, convert non-paying users into paying users and increase the spending of paying users, the trends in, and size of, the market in which iHuman operates; its expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products and services; its expectations regarding its relationships with business partners; general economic and business conditions; regulatory environment; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in iHuman’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and iHuman does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

About iHuman Inc.

iHuman Inc. is a leading provider of tech-powered, intellectual development products in China that is committed to making the child-upbringing experience easier for parents and transforming intellectual development into a fun journey for children. Benefiting from a deep legacy that combines over two decades of experience in the parenthood industry, superior original content, advanced high-tech innovation DNA and research & development capabilities with cutting-edge technologies, iHuman empowers parents with tools to make the child-upbringing experience more efficient. iHuman’s unique, fun and interactive product offerings stimulate children’s natural curiosity and exploration. The Company’s comprehensive suite of innovative and high-quality products include self-directed apps, interactive content and smart devices that cover a broad variety of areas to develop children’s abilities in speaking, critical thinking, independent reading and creativity, and foster their natural interest in traditional Chinese culture. Leveraging advanced technological capabilities, including 3D engines, AI/AR functionality, and big data analysis on children’s behavior & psychology, iHuman believes it will continue to provide superior experience that is efficient and relieving for parents, and effective and fun for children, in China and all over the world, through its integrated suite of tech-powered, intellectual development products.

For more information about iHuman, please visit https://ir.ihuman.com/. 

For investor and media enquiries, please contact:

iHuman Inc.
Mr. Justin Zhang
Investor Relations Director
Phone: +86 10 5780-6606
E-mail: ir@ihuman.com 

Christensen

In China
Ms. Alice Li
Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
E-mail: alice.li@christensencomms.com  

In the US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
E-mail: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com 

 

 

 

iHuman Inc.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

2022

2023

2023

RMB

RMB

US$

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

1,049,999

1,213,767

170,956

Accounts receivable, net

79,614

60,832

8,568

Inventories, net

19,127

16,518

2,327

Amounts due from related parties

2,286

1,810

255

Prepayments and other current assets

102,765

89,511

12,607

Total current assets

1,253,791

1,382,438

194,713

Non-current assets

Property and equipment, net

9,205

6,169

869

Intangible assets, net

24,872

23,245

3,274

Operating lease right-of-use assets

12,782

3,648

514

Long-term investment

26,333

26,333

3,709

Other non-current assets

6,416

8,662

1,218

Total non-current assets

79,608

68,057

9,584

Total assets

1,333,399

1,450,495

204,297

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Accounts payable

24,206

22,139

3,118

Deferred revenue and customer advances

379,063

318,587

44,872

Amounts due to related parties

6,944

4,428

624

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

144,717

143,677

20,236

Current operating lease liabilities

6,123

1,927

271

Total current liabilities

561,053

490,758

69,121

Non-current liabilities

Non-current operating lease liabilities

2,894

1,933

272

Total non-current liabilities

2,894

1,933

272

Total liabilities

563,947

492,691

69,393

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Ordinary shares (par value of US$0.0001 per share,
   700,000,000 Class A shares authorized as of
   December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023;
   125,122,382 Class A shares issued and 121,722,467
   outstanding as of December 31, 2022; 125,122,382
   Class A shares issued and
119,704,787 outstanding as
   of December 31, 2023; 200,000,000 Class B shares
   authorized, 144,000,000 Class B ordinary shares
   issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and
   December 31, 2023; 100,000,000 shares
   (undesignated) authorized, nil shares (undesignated)
   issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and
   December 31, 2023)

185

185

26

Additional paid-in capital

1,079,099

1,088,628

153,330

Treasury stock

(7,123)

(16,665)

(2,347)

Statutory reserves

7,967

8,164

1,150

Accumulated other comprehensive income

10,497

17,955

2,529

Accumulated deficit

(321,173)

(140,463)

(19,784)

Total shareholders’ equity

769,452

957,804

134,904

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

1,333,399

1,450,495

204,297

 

 

 

iHuman Inc.

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)

For the three months ended

For the year ended

December 31,

September 30,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

2022

2023

2023

2023

2022

2023

2023

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Revenues

260,704

261,496

250,447

35,275

985,517

1,018,139

143,402

Cost of revenues

(79,707)

(74,871)

(72,201)

(10,169)

(294,343)

(296,868)

(41,813)

Gross profit

180,997

186,625

178,246

25,106

691,174

721,271

101,589

Operating expenses

Research and development expenses

(66,796)

(66,168)

(66,293)

(9,337)

(313,481)

(257,546)

(36,275)

Sales and marketing expenses

(45,811)

(53,994)

(64,511)

(9,086)

(156,916)

(199,504)

(28,100)

General and administrative expenses

(29,253)

(26,070)

(25,547)

(3,598)

(109,195)

(104,334)

(14,695)

Total operating expenses

(141,860)

(146,232)

(156,351)

(22,021)

(579,592)

(561,384)

(79,070)

Operating income

39,137

40,393

21,895

3,085

111,582

159,887

22,519

Other income, net

5,315

19,507

8,965

1,263

21,190

42,686

6,012

Income before income taxes

44,452

59,900

30,860

4,348

132,772

202,573

28,531

Income tax (expenses) / benefits

(9,019)

(7,984)

2,411

340

(22,953)

(21,666)

(3,052)

Net income

35,433

51,916

33,271

4,688

109,819

180,907

25,479

Net income per ADS:

   – Basic

0.67

0.98

0.63

0.09

2.06

3.43

0.48

   – Diluted

0.66

0.95

0.61

0.09

2.03

3.30

0.46

Weighted average number of ADSs:

   – Basic

53,205,925

52,747,426

52,740,067

52,740,067

53,307,044

52,810,587

52,810,587

   – Diluted

54,033,560

54,772,536

54,753,503

54,753,503

54,040,908

54,753,025

54,753,025

Total share-based compensation expenses included in:

Cost of revenues

168

67

64

9

348

299

42

Research and development expenses

2,564

1,160

1,115

157

6,377

4,055

571

Sales and marketing expenses

559

147

122

17

1,599

707

100

General and administrative expenses

1,757

1,105

817

115

4,720

4,374

616

 

 

 

 iHuman Inc.

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(Amounts in thousands of Renminbi (“RMB”) and U.S. dollars (“US$”)

except for number of shares, ADSs, per share and per ADS data)

For the three months ended

For the year ended

December 31,

September 30,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

December 31,

2022

2023

2023

2023

2022

2023

2023

RMB

RMB

RMB

US$

RMB

RMB

US$

Operating income

39,137

40,393

21,895

3,085

111,582

159,887

22,519

Share-based compensation expenses

5,048

2,479

2,118

298

13,044

9,435

1,329

Adjusted operating income

44,185

42,872

24,013

3,383

124,626

169,322

23,848

Net income

35,433

51,916

33,271

4,688

109,819

180,907

25,479

Share-based compensation expenses

5,048

2,479

2,118

298

13,044

9,435

1,329

Adjusted net income

40,481

54,395

35,389

4,986

122,863

190,342

26,808

Diluted net income per ADS

0.66

0.95

0.61

0.09

2.03

3.30

0.46

Impact of non-GAAP adjustments

0.09

0.04

0.04

0.00

0.24

0.18

0.03

Adjusted diluted net income per ADS

0.75

0.99

0.65

0.09

2.27

3.48

0.49

Weighted average number of ADSs – diluted

54,033,560

54,772,536

54,753,503

54,753,503

54,040,908

54,753,025

54,753,025

Weighted average number of ADSs – adjusted

54,033,560

54,772,536

54,753,503

54,753,503

54,040,908

54,753,025

54,753,025

 

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NUH WINS GOLD AT IHF AWARDS 2026 FOR GREEN OPERATING THEATRE PROGRAMME

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 NUH won Gold and received an Honourable Mention for its sustainability efforts at the International Hospital Federation Awards 2026, alongside presentations of its green surgical initiatives, digital health and organisational improvement initiatives at the World Hospital Congress.

SINGAPORE, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The National University Hospital (NUH) has won the Gold Award (Low Carbon Healthcare) for its Green Operating Theatre programme at the International Hospital Federation (IHF) Awards 2026. The hospital also received an Honourable Mention (Hospital Sustainability Acceleration) for its system-wide approach to embedding sustainability across healthcare delivery and hospital operations.

The awards were presented at the 49th World Hospital Congress in Seoul, where NUH is also sharing other initiatives in environmental sustainability, digital health and organisational improvement.

Professor Aymeric Lim, Chief Executive Officer of NUH, said: “Healthcare must become more sustainable without compromising patient care. Our teams have shown that simple, practical changes on the ground, from the way we run our operating theatres to how we use resources, can make a real difference. This recognition belongs to the multi-disciplinary teams and partners who turned ideas into everyday practice, and who continue to improve how we care for our patients.”

Advancing low-carbon healthcare by reducing the environmental impact of surgical care

NUH’s Green Operating Theatre (OT) programme began with efforts to reduce the use of high-carbon anaesthetic gases. What started as a targeted decarbonisation initiative has since grown into a hospital-wide programme that brings together clinicians, nurses, operations teams and facilities staff to drive sustainability across surgical practices, resource use, waste management and energy management.

The programme has achieved a 99 per cent reduction in the use of desflurane, a high-carbon anaesthetic gas, and delivered annual energy savings of about 660,000 kWh by optimising operating theatre ventilation during non-operating hours.

Surgical teams redesigned instrument sets used for high-volume knee replacement procedures to better reflect routine requirements, reducing emissions by almost 10,000 kg CO2e annually while also cutting water use and sterilisation workload. Efforts have also been made to reduce unnecessary consumables and expand medical recycling streams.

Collectively, these initiatives have generated valuable insights that NUH has actively shared through inter-cluster platforms and collaborations, helping to inform the adoption of low-carbon practices across Singapore’s public healthcare system.

Embedding sustainability into everyday healthcare delivery

NUH received an Honourable Mention for its organisation-wide approach to embedding sustainability into hospital planning and operations.

Guided by the IHF Sustainability Accelerator Tool, NUH integrated sustainability into leadership oversight, strategic planning and everyday decision-making, strengthening efforts in Appropriate Value-based Care, virtual care, procurement, workforce engagement and environmental stewardship.

This system-wide approach to advancing a sustainable healthcare system has been recognised internationally. In 2025, NUH became the first hospital worldwide to receive the Joint Commission International-Geneva Sustainability Centre’s Healthcare Sustainability Certification. This year, it was the only hospital in Singapore to be accorded the highest 5-Leaf distinction in Newsweek-Statista’s World’s Greenest Hospitals index.

A new model of rehabilitation care

Recognised as one of the top three healthcare innovations selected for the International Hospital Federation’s i-to-i Innovation Hub Awards 2026, the NUH Virtual Rehabilitation Centre (VRC) is helping to extend rehabilitation beyond hospital walls.

Developed as a virtual-first rehabilitation ecosystem, the VRC combines personalised patient education, self-management tools, AI-enabled telerehabilitation, remote monitoring and digital rehabilitation pathways to support patients throughout their recovery journey. By enabling rehabilitation to continue beyond traditional clinic visits, the VRC improves access to care, strengthens patient participation in recovery and allows therapists to focus their attention on patients with more complex rehabilitation needs. The digital home exercise programme, for instance, supports around 2,000 patients and records about 21,000 logins each month, freeing up the equivalent of 66 physiotherapist workdays annually for direct patient care.

The innovation demonstrates how technology can be used not simply to digitise existing services, but to transform how rehabilitation is delivered at scale.

Helping doctors work smarter with electronic medical records

NUH also presented results from its Great Epic Transformation (GET) programme at the 49th World Hospital Congress in Seoul. The hospital-wide programme trained specialist doctors to personalise their Epic electronic medical record (EMR) workflows, using customised note templates, order sets and shortcuts to work more efficiently.

Nine months after training, participating doctors spent 10.2 per cent less time in the EMR each day, equivalent to more than 33 hours saved per doctor annually, while time spent placing orders fell by 26.5 per cent. Twelve of 13 efficiency measures improved across both medical and surgical specialties. Based on annual estimates, the overall efficiency gains are valued at more than S$91 million a year.

The programme is being extended to allied health professionals and pharmacists across NUHS, with a target of reaching more than 2,000 healthcare professionals by the end of 2026.

About the National University Hospital (NUH)­

The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore’s university hospital. While the hospital at Kent Ridge first received its patients on 24 June 1985, our legacy started from 1905, the date of the founding of what is today the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the medical school.

Our unique identity as a university hospital is a key attraction for healthcare professionals who aspire to do more than practise tertiary medical care. We offer an environment where research and teaching are an integral part of medicine, and continue to shape medicine and transform care for the community we care for.

We are an academic medical centre with over 1,200 beds, serving more than one million patients a year with over 50 medical, surgical and dental specialties. NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore to provide trusted care for adults, women and children under one roof, including the only paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme in the country.

The NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore. For more information, visit www.nuh.com.sg

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SOURCE National University Hospital (NUH)

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NEXCOM NGFW platforms secure growing traffic across modern academic networks

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TAIPEI, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — NEXCOM, a leading supplier of network appliances, is helping academic institutions strengthen network security as digital learning expands across cloud platforms, AI-powered tools, remote access, and connected campus services.

As educational environments become more distributed, academic networks must support growing traffic and diverse connections while protecting sensitive data and maintaining reliable access to learning resources. NEXCOM’s Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) platforms provide a centralized security layer for inspecting and controlling traffic across campus and remote environments.

Learn more about securing digital learning environments in the joint case study.

Centralized Security for Digital Learning

On campus, NGFW platforms can inspect traffic between academic networks and external resources as students and faculty access learning platforms and web services. For remote users, secure VPN connectivity supports authorized access to internal resources while enabling centralized security policies.

“Every new digital service in education adds value for students and educators, but it also adds traffic, connections, and another layer of security responsibility,” says Allan Chiu, VP of Networking and Communication Solutions at NEXCOM. “The challenge is making sure security keeps pace without slowing down the learning experience. NEXCOM’s NGFW platforms provide the performance and scalability needed to secure modern, highly distributed academic networks.”

Scalable Platforms for Network Security

NEXCOM’s portfolio provides scalable platforms for firewall, edge security, secure remote access, and demanding network security workloads. Key platforms include:

NSA 7160R: A 2U high-performance security platform powered by dual Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors, with eight PCIe 5.0 expansion slots and throughput of up to 1.6 Tbps.FTA 5190: A compact 1U edge server powered by Intel Xeon 6 SoC technology, designed for reliable connectivity and security at the network edge.

About NEXCOM

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, NEXCOM is shaping the future of AI-powered networking with its software-defined solutions. Through its Network and Communication Solutions (NCS) unit, NEXCOM delivers cutting-edge platforms for Cybersecurity, OT Security, SD-WAN, SASE, Load Balancing, 5G uCPE, edge AI, and more. NCS specializes in professional design and manufacturing services, enabling reliable and scalable network infrastructures for businesses of all sizes. With a focus on innovation, NEXCOM’s solutions empower customers worldwide to build resilient, high-performance networks tailored to the demands of tomorrow’s connectivity challenges.

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SOURCE NEXCOM International Co., Ltd.

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Forrester’s 2027 B2B Go-To-Market Predictions: AI Agents Will Influence 75% Of B2B Purchase Decisions

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To remain competitive, providers must strengthen customer trust, substantiate value claims, and offer human expertise and guidance

SINGAPORE, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — According to Forrester’s (Nasdaq: FORR) 2027 B2B go-to-market predictions, business buyers will increasingly deploy AI agents to handle tasks across the buying process, from supplier discovery and information gathering to contract-renewal analysis. While truly autonomous buying will remain concentrated in high-volume, low-risk, and repeatable purchases, the ubiquity of these agents will require providers to ensure that their systems and sellers can respond with speed, accuracy, and consistency.

Forrester’s B2B Predictions reports, covering topics including B2B go-to-market strategy, business buyers, and content and creative, offer forward-looking insights to help executives and their teams anticipate change, reduce uncertainty, and make confident decisions ahead of market shifts. Key highlights from the 2027 B2B go-to-market predictions include:

Buyers will double their human interactions to validate AI-generated recommendations. As AI becomes the primary interface for researching products and providers, buyers will encounter more AI-generated recommendations, synthetic content, automated outreach, and agent-mediated interactions. Since AI cannot fully judge service provider fit, feasibility, trust, or accountability, buyers will require conversations with provider teams and trusted third parties including analysts, customer references, and partners to confirm and validate buying decisions.Two-thirds of providers will lose deals because buyers cannot verify claims. Buyers already use AI-assisted search and analysis tools to gather information about products and vendors, synthesize provider claims, and fact check. As the reliance on these capabilities continue to advance, go-to-market teams will need to act fast to restructure content discovery for AI tools, including providing credible and consistent proof points that AI tools can index and validate.Most CMOs will cut programs or accept reduced capacity after overestimating AI gains. As pressure intensifies to reduce personnel costs with AI, marketing leaders will eliminate as many as 25% of roles in anticipation of productivity gains that fail to meet expectations. As a result, they will have to choose between cutting program budgets to restore capacity through rehiring, contractors, or agency support or accept reduced execution with a smaller team. In either case, lower campaign investment, weaker execution, or both will reduce marketing’s overall value contribution.

“In 2027, the defining challenge for B2B go-to-market leaders will be to make deliberate choices about what to automate and where human judgment still matters,” said Sharyn Leaver, chief research officer at Forrester. “As AI becomes ubiquitous across the buying process, B2B leaders that pair AI-driven speed and convenience with transparency, control, and trust will extract the most value from AI.”

Resources:

Download Forrester’s 2027 Predictions guide for B2B go-to-market.Register for Forrester’s webinar exploring the key trends reshaping B2B go-to-market strategies in 2027.Learn how to turn these predictions into action through Forrester’s global B2B events and research programs.

About Forrester
Forrester (Nasdaq: FORR) is one of the most influential research and advisory firms in the world. We empower leaders in technology, customer experience, digital, marketing, revenue, and product functions to make confident decisions in an AI-driven world and accelerate growth through customer obsession. Our unique research and continuous guidance model helps executives and their teams achieve their initiatives and outcomes faster and with confidence. To learn more, visit Forrester.com.

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SOURCE Forrester

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