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Alibaba International Wraps Up 2024 Global E-Commerce Challenge, Highlighting Youth Innovation

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HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group (“Alibaba International”) today concluded its Global E-commerce Challenge (GEC) 2024 with a global finals event in Hangzhou, China, spotlighting exceptional young innovators worldwide.

Launched in 2021, the GEC aims to attract and engage young talents globally to shape the future of e-commerce. The 2024 edition of the competition, focused on exploring ways to elevate online shopping with artificial intelligence (AI), was open for applications to university students and recent university graduates. Participants were tasked to develop creative solutions to address the current inadequacies of online shopping in areas such as personalization, visual and voice searches, and cross-border e-commerce. As they advanced through the competition, they received guidance and support from experts at Alibaba International and gained insights into the company’s AI initiatives as well as real-world e-commerce operations.

Since its kick-off in June, this year’s competition has drawn overwhelming responses from over 1,000 individuals in more than 500 teams, representing regions including Europe, the Americas, East Asia and Southeast Asia. After two rounds of rigorous selection, 11 teams consisting of a total of 39 participants advanced to the global finals held in Hangzhou today to compete for the top three spots. The finalists presented their AI-based proposals to a panel of industry experts, consisting of Kaifu Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International, who leads the company’s AI initiatives; Lillian Jiang, Chief People Officer of Alibaba International; Carlos Barrera, Chief Executive Officer of Lazada Philippines; Ying Peng, General Manager of AliExpress; and Jin Qin, Investment Director at Alibaba International.

Three teams were selected as the final winners following comprehensive evaluation based on criteria including AI-Driven Innovation (25%), AI Integration Capability (20%), Technical Execution (20%), Consumer Experience (25%), and Presentation Quality (10%). Team CrashCourse, comprising students from Singapore Management University, secured the first place for their innovative approach and outstanding teamwork and brought home an award of travel vouchers valued at US$10,000. Team The Echelon Group, consisting of students from Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland, College Park, and Team Saturdays, consisting of students from Bandung Institute of Technology, respectively won the second and third places and were awarded travel vouchers worth US$5,000 and US$3,000, respectively. Additionally, Alibaba International will offer internship opportunities to all participants who reached the global finals.

“The GEC 2024 has truly showcased the remarkable potential of our young talents today. Their innovative AI solutions have the power to transform the future of e-commerce, and we are thrilled to witness their energy and technical prowess here in Hangzhou,” said Kaifu Zhang, Vice President of Alibaba International.

“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to present our ideas to esteemed industry experts through the GEC 2024. This unique experience not only pushed our boundaries but also provided us with invaluable insights into digital commerce. Winning the challenge has been a humbling honor, and we are excited to apply what we have learned during the competition to drive innovation in the e-commerce industry,” said Zane Chee from Team CrashCourse.

The GEC 2024 global finals ended on a high note in an award ceremony, with representatives of Alibaba International welcoming the winners as interns with the company.

Sheryl Ho, Project Manager of Alibaba International GEC 2024, added, “We are incredibly pleased to have an opportunity to help nurture the next generation of global e-commerce talents through a global competition. The dedication and teamwork displayed by the participants are inspiring, and we are excited to welcome some of these brilliant young minds as interns at our company. We look forward to seeing their ideas make a real impact in the e-commerce industry.”

French student Melissa from Peking University, who interned at Alibaba International following last year’s GEC, remarked: “This thrilling internship journey has deepened my understanding of the Chinese market. The immersive experiences have also significantly boosted my professional skills, sharpening my edge in competitor analysis, data analysis, cross-team collaboration and problem-solving.”

For more information and updates on Alibaba International GEC 2024, please visit https://aidc-jobs.alibaba.com/GEC/index/program

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About Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group

Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group is dedicated to supporting the development of global digital trade with AI-powered technology. It operates various platforms with distinctive business models, covering multiple countries and regions around the world.

Media Contacts
Lingshan Lu
PR Manager
Alibaba International Digital Commerce
lulingshan.lls@alibaba-inc.com

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2026 Canton Fair Design Award Winners Showcase China’s Innovation Strength

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GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the 140th Canton Fair opens, the winners of the 2026 Canton Fair Design Award (CF Award) have also been announced. Winning products are now on display in Area D of the Canton Fair Complex, offering visitors a closer look at some of the latest advances in Chinese manufacturing and industrial design.

Among this year’s top honorees, a domestically developed high-performance sport motorcycle and an intelligent navigation capsule robot gastric endoscopy system received the Best of the Best Award, the competition’s highest recognition.

The Canton Fair also enhanced the visitor experience with a themed showcase area within the award exhibition. Built around four application-oriented concepts, namely Outdoor Pleasure, Smart Living, Cozy Home and Kitchen Elegance, the immersive displays demonstrate how innovative designs can be integrated into everyday life, helping visitors better understand the practical value behind these award-winning products.

This year, 4,218 products from 2,112 companies competed for the award. Following multiple rounds of evaluation, 222 products from 174 companies were selected.

The award-winning products reflect several key trends shaping the next stage of Chinese manufacturing. Innovation remains a defining theme, with breakthrough technologies ranging from upper limb motor function assistance and enhancement system to exoskeleton robots, underscoring the growing momentum of high-end manufacturing.

Meanwhile, intelligent technologies continue to gain traction across industries. Smart products account for more than 30% of this year’s winners, with AI-powered glasses, intelligent conference terminals and smart healthcare devices extending AI applications across home, office, medical and outdoor environments.

Sustainability is also becoming increasingly embedded throughout the product lifecycle. Green products represent over 40% of the winning entries, while innovations such as integrated energy-saving panels and sugarcane paper demonstrate how environmentally conscious practices are being incorporated into product design, materials selection and manufacturing processes.

Established in 2013, the Canton Fair Design Award is widely regarded as a benchmark for design innovation in China’s foreign trade sector. The award recognizes products that combine design excellence with commercial value, promoting the transformation and upgrading of Chinese manufacturing and supporting high-quality trade development. Entries are evaluated across five dimensions: innovation, quality, functionality, aesthetics and sustainability.

For more convenient attendance, please click here for pre-registration:
https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

 

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SOURCE Canton Fair

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InstaMall Launches Same-Day Fashion Delivery Experience, Bringing 80+ Brands to Shoppers’ Doors in Miami

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First-of-its-kind shopping app pairs artificial intelligence with same-day delivery, bringing luxury
and contemporary brands directly to customers’ doorsteps 

Featured luxury and contemporary brands include AllSaints, John Varvatos and Aritzia

MIAMI, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — InstaMall, a first-of-its-kind shopping app offering same-day delivery and access to real-time inventory across luxury and contemporary fashion, launches today in Miami, Florida. Now available via iOS and Android, InstaMall provides access to more than 80 contemporary and luxury fashion brands across Miami’s five premier retail clusters, including Balmain, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Ganni, Coach, Diesel, Reformation, Aritzia, Cult Gaia, Prada and more. InstaMall will add more brands within the app in the coming weeks and seasons. 

Sitting at the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, InstaMall brings inspiration and purchase together through a more dynamic way to discover and shop for fashion. The experience combines access to luxury and contemporary brands with the convenience of same-day delivery, bringing the speed customers have come to expect across categories like food and groceries to fashion while maintaining the brand experience retailers and shoppers expect.

Within the app, customers will have access to InstaMall’s AI-powered stylist and virtual try-on features, making it easier to browse, discover and shop styles online. InstaMall’s AI Stylist serves as an intelligent shopping assistant that responds to customers’ preferences in real time. Customers can use the AI Stylist to receive product recommendations, build outfits, ask questions and discover new styles, while its virtual try-on feature allows them to visualize select items on themselves before making a purchase.

“InstaMall was founded on the belief that the convenience customers have come to expect from same-day delivery should extend to the way they shop for fashion,” said Elliot Aboud, Founder and CEO of InstaMall. “As fashion and technology continue to evolve together, we saw an opportunity to create a more seamless shopping experience that brings customers closer to the brands they love, combining a curated assortment, AI-powered styling and virtual try-on with the ease and convenience of same-day delivery.”

Prior to founding InstaMall, Elliot Aboud helped build the Aroma360 and Hotel Collection brands, overseeing the launch of the first retail store and expanding the retail footprint to more than 30 stores across the United States and two in Dubai. InstaMall is bringing fashion and luxury to the next generation with its seamless shopping experience and wide selection of brands.

Customers can download InstaMall through the Apple App Store or Google Play, or by going to instamall.co.

About InstaMall 

InstaMall is a same-day fashion shopping and discovery app reimagining how consumers shop for luxury and contemporary brands. Sitting at the intersection of fashion, technology and commerce, InstaMall brings inspiration and purchase together in an experience that gives consumers a more dynamic way to discover and shop. Where on-demand delivery has long existed for categories like food and groceries, InstaMall brings that same convenience to luxury fashion for the first time, delivering the same day without compromising the brand experience fashion retailers and their customers expect. The company launched publicly in Miami on October 16, 2026, and plans to expand nationally. For more information, please visit instamall.co.

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PTC to Announce Fourth Fiscal Quarter and Full Year 2026 Results on Wednesday, November 4, 2026

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BOSTON, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) will release its fiscal 2026 fourth quarter and full year results on Wednesday, November 4th after the stock market closes. As previously announced on October 5th, 2026, PTC entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Schneider Electric. In light of the pending transaction, PTC is suspending quarterly earnings conference calls and is no longer providing quarterly or annual guidance.

The earnings press release and accompanying financial data tables will be accessible on the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at PTC Investor Relations.

About

PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) is a global software company that enables manufacturers and product companies to digitally transform how they design, manufacture, and service the physical products the world relies on. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, PTC employs over 7,000 people and supports more than 30,000 customers globally. For more information, please visit www.ptc.com.

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Michael Maguire
mmaguire@ptc.com
investor@ptc.com

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SOURCE PTC Inc.

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