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Franchising & Licensing Asia 2024 to Unlock New Horizons in Licensing and Tech-Enabled Franchising

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Presented by the Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore) and organised by Constellar, the 19th edition of Franchising & Licensing Asia will take place at Sands Expo & Convention Centre from September 12 to 14. Featuring over 300 franchise brands and licensable characters by 150 exhibitors, including international franchises from Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan region, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam, FLAsia 2024 is the region’s most international franchising event. 

Unparalleled Insights and Opportunities for Franchising & Licensing in Asia

Asia’s rapidly growing Gen Z population will become the highest consumer spending class globally by 2030, presenting vast opportunities as a target market for businesses to expand in Asia through franchising & licensing. With Asia already contributing over 30% of all franchised businesses worldwide, this region offers lucrative prospects for both homegrown and global brands, especially as the demand for quality products and services across sectors like beauty, wellness, education, and technology surges. As an entrepreneurial venture, franchising and licensing provides relative business stability and growth, and will appeal to financially-savvy younger generations with a lower-risk appetite.

Singapore’s pro-business environment provides a strategic launchpad and springboard for these ventures, making FLAsia 2024 a crucial platform for exploring partnerships and driving regional business growth. FLAsia 2024 will offer unparalleled opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to connect with leading brands looking to expand across the rapidly growing Asia Pacific consumer market, as well as thought leaders, business owners and decision-makers offering insights into building business resilience and scalability. FLAsia 2024 is supported by regional trade and franchising associations in Cambodia, China, Egypt, Philippines, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan area, Thailand and Vietnam.

Deep-Dive into the World of Brand and Character Licensing

For the first time, FLAsia 2024 features an expansive showcase of licensable brands and characters, as well as comprehensive content, to equip interested parties for the journey. Characters include those from the Marvel Universe, Pac Man, Sonic The Hedgehog, Tamagotchi and The Legend of Hei. Attendees can also connect with representatives from Avex Asia, Bandai Namco, Disney and XM Studios, among others, at the FLAsia Conference and gain insights into the evolving landscape of brand and character licensing.

The conference will feature two key panel discussions on brand and character licensing, highlighting the advantages of strategic collaborations and emerging trends that are reshaping the industry. The first session, “The Power of Brand Licensing: How Strategic Collaboration Can Help Scale Your Business,” moderated by John Ong, Executive Chairman of FT Consulting, will explore how innovative licensing models and partnerships can expand brand reach and drive growth. Panellists include Alex Baillie, Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Products, The Walt Disney Company, Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East; Ben Ang, CEO of XM Studios; and Winston Chan, Board Director of IPOS International and Chief Executive Officer of FT Consulting.

The second session, “Emerging Trends Shaping the Future of Brand Licensing: Disrupting Traditional Models,” moderated by Esther Wee, President of IIPCC Singapore and IP Consultant at RHT Law Asia LLP, will examine the impact of digital content, social media, technology, sustainability, and globalisation on brand licensing. The panel features Dr. Bryan Tan, Chief Executive Officer of COL Web, Edmund Low, Head of Licensing Division (APAC) at Avex Asia, and Tracy Lui, Senior Assistant Director of Marketing Communications at Mount Faber Leisure Group.

“Character and brand licensing offers exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs to leverage established brand equity, accelerating growth and market penetration,” said Mr Edmund Low, Head of Licensing Division (APAC) at Avex Asia. “By partnering with recognizable characters or brands, businesses can tap into existing consumer fandom, reduce marketing costs and enhance overall credibility. Embracing brand extensions not only fosters innovation through collaboration but also creates synergistic partnerships that drive long-term success. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore the vast potential of brand licensing as a strategic pathway to elevate their business ventures and achieve sustainable growth.”

Learn about the impact of Technology and how to build Tech-Driven Strategies in Franchising

The conference will also feature two pivotal sessions focused on navigating today’s complex business and franchising environment impacted by technology. In the session “Business Not as Usual,” Kok Ping Soon, CEO of Singapore Business Federation, will provide critical insights into the key factors that drive business success, offering actionable strategies to overcome barriers and build resilient, future-ready companies amidst rapid technological developments and a challenging operating environment.

Mr Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Business Federation (SBF) said, “In a ‘business-not-as-usual’ environment, SBF has supported our members by shaping solutions, allowing them to pivot quickly, maintain continuity, and adapt to unexpected challenges. SBF strives to empower our members with the necessary know-how and skillsets through the various initiatives such as driving internationalisation efforts, building on sustainability, and working with various partners to bring fundamental digital solutions to SMEs.”

The second session, “The Tech Advantage: Why You Should Choose a Tech-Driven Franchise,” moderated by Oliver Tian, Founder and Director of Oliver Tian Associates, will explore how technology is revolutionising franchising. Panellists Jeremy Choong of Jayvoxx Holdings, Keith Tan of Crown Digital, and Xiao Saunders of Xiao Saunders Consultation will discuss the benefits of tech-forward franchises, including higher profits, easier expansion, and a competitive market edge.

“Tech-driven franchise models allow entrepreneurs to tap into advanced technology to optimise operations and enhance customer experiences,” said Mr Keith Tan, CEO & Founder of Crown Digital Pte Ltd. “For instance, we combined AI and robotics to develop Ella the robot barista, a groundbreaking tech-enabled franchise opportunity that redefines the F&B landscape. Ella transforms the coffee experience by delivering consistent, efficient, and contactless service, catering to modern consumer needs. By investing in tech-driven franchises such as Ella, franchisees join the forefront of innovation, driving the future of automated retail globally.”

Apart from the above sessions, attendees can engage in interactive discussions and practical workshops that will provide them with comprehensive knowledge on franchising in Southeast Asia.

Connect with New and Established Franchisors Onsite

FLAsia 2024 will enable attendees with franchising intent to make more informed decisions as they connect with franchises onsite. These include 60 percent new franchises in beauty & wellness, education, food & beverage, health, and retail, such as Angel’s Pizza from Philippines; Café Bom Bom, EatPizza and Ediya Coffee from South Korea; 9.36 Wellness, Marrybrown and US Pizza from Malaysia; Appzdate, Dian Xiao Er, Logiscool, Organique and Shenmo Education from Singapore. Returning franchises include Fun Learner’s School, GoPizza, KC Group, Salady, The Jelly Heart and TungLok Group.

Find out more about the exhibitors in the Annex. To attend FLAsia 2024, sign up here.

For latest information on FLAsia 2024, connect on Linkedin and Facebook.

***

About Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore)

FLA (Singapore), one of the founding members of the World Franchise Council, was established in 1993 with the mission to nurture and develop Singapore’s franchising industry. An essential component of Singapore’s knowledge-based economy, FLA (Singapore) promotes and facilitates the use of franchising, licensing and branding as a growth strategy for Singapore enterprises, thus contributing to turning Singapore as a regional franchise and license hub. Through its partnership with Singapore government agencies and international franchise and license bodies, FLA (Singapore) also assists its members in their international development programmes. With an active growing membership of close to 150 companies, representing more than 250 strong brands, FLA (Singapore) is led and managed by a dedicated team of advisors, committee members and a full-time secretariat with the goal of supporting Singapore companies to expand internationally. https://www.flasingapore.org/ 

About Constellar

Constellar is Asia’s preferred partner for convening businesses, curating ideas and creating opportunities for sustainable business growth and global impact. Based in Singapore with a regional footprint in China and Malaysia, we curate and develop influential trade and consumer events for key industries, connecting global marketplaces in sectors such as fintech, industrial transformation and ESG. We also manage the Singapore EXPO, Singapore’s largest purpose-built venue for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE). Our vision is to be a global leader made in Asia, activating impactful networks to enable cross-industry collaboration and innovation through our holistic portfolio of intellectual properties (IP) in the MICE industry. Visit constellar.co for more information.

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Sungrow Launches PowerMatrix, Redefining System-Level PV-Storage Integration

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HEFEI, China, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sungrow, the globally leading PV inverter and energy storage system (ESS) provider, unveiled its next-generation PowerMatrix system for renewable energy applications, alongside a newly released technical white paper, at the Global Renewable Energy Summit (GRES) 2026.

At the event, Sungrow also unveiled the Matrix Inverter, the core product enabling the PowerMatrix system. The PowerMatrix system further integrates the MPPT Booster and the PowerTitan 3.0 energy storage system.

PowerMatrix: Redefining Power Systems for the Renewable Era
Solar PV is rapidly becoming a major power source, with global installations projected by BloombergNEF to reach approximately 655 GW in 2025. As renewable penetration increases, power systems are facing growing challenges in balancing supply and demand while maintaining system stability under dynamic operating conditions. However, existing power systems were not originally designed to effectively address these evolving challenges.

To bridge this gap, PowerMatrix establishes a new system paradigm for renewable energy systems. Built on five core innovations—multi-port topology, native PV-storage integration, distributed control, reconfigurable energy paths, and source-level grid-forming—it integrates PV, storage, grid, and loads into a unified, multi-node energy network, where energy can be dynamically routed, balanced, and optimized in real time.

As a result, this system-level redesign enhances system stability, improves cost efficiency, and increases energy efficiency across the entire power chain.

Stability Redefinition: From Compensated Stability to Inherent Stability
PowerMatrix ensures a stable, continuous power supply through coordinated multi-node operation. It supports high PV DC/AC ratios, high ESS capacity, and around 3,000 full-load hours annually.

In operation, the system ensures continuous power delivery under dynamic conditions through multi-path redundancy and dynamic reconfiguration, with node-level fault isolation allowing unaffected units to remain in service.

At the sub-array level, each unit operates as an independent solar-plus-storage system with grid-forming capability, supporting both grid-connected and islanded operation.

The system delivers millisecond-level response, including 10 ms voltage stabilization and 5 ms inertia response, significantly improving system resilience and recovery performance.

Cost Redefinition: System-Level BOS Reduction
The PowerMatrix enables system-level cost optimization beyond conventional equipment-level cost reduction. By consolidating functions previously distributed across separate devices and system layers, it reduces system complexity and engineering requirements, while enabling more flexible system expansion and cost optimization throughout the project lifecycle.

In a reference system designed for 1 GW of rated grid connection capacity, 8 GWh of installed ESS capacity, and 3,000 annual full-load operating hours in China, the PowerMatrix reduces total CAPEX by approximately $120 million compared to a conventional AC-coupled architecture, with savings across substation & transmission cable, ESS equipment, PV equipment, and other system components.

From an investment perspective, phased deployment and scalable expansion allow capacity to be built in line with project needs rather than requiring full upfront build-out, thereby reducing upfront capital pressure and better aligning investment with project development and demand growth.

Efficiency Redefinition: Full-Link Energy Optimization
The PowerMatrix enhances energy efficiency across the full energy chain:

PV Side: A high-density MPPT architecture with up to 28 MPPTs per MW enables finer string-level optimization, reducing mismatch losses under shading, orientation differences, and module aging conditions, and improving overall energy yield.Storage Side: Cell-to-plant SOC balancing increases usable energy capacity by approximately 8%.Conversion and Delivery: Direct PV-to-storage charging reduces multi-stage power conversion, improving energy transfer efficiency by up to 5%.

In addition, source-level grid-forming capability further enhances grid adaptability, supporting higher renewable penetration and reducing curtailment.

Scalable Across Applications
The PowerMatrix is designed for utility-scale, commercial and industrial (C&I), mining microgrid, and AI data center applications, to deliver a unified, scalable energy system capable of adapting to diverse operational requirements. Its system-level optimization enhances energy reliability, efficiency, and controllability across different use cases, supporting both grid-connected and off-grid scenarios.

“As renewable energy continues to grow as a dominant power source, the energy system is placing higher demands on the coordination and stability of solar and storage technologies,” said Lee Zhang, Sungrow Vice President and President of the Utility PV Inverter Business Unit. “Through the PowerMatrix, we aim to help advance this shift from standalone equipment integration to deeply coordinated system design, enabling solar-plus-storage to serve as an intelligent hub for future energy systems and making renewable energy a stable and dependable source of power.”

About Sungrow
Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 29 years. As of Dec 2025, Sungrow has installed over 1000 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The company is recognized as the world’s most bankable PV inverter and energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects across the globe, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experiences. At Sungrow, we’re committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com/en

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Zurich launches Global Capability Center in Hyderabad to power next-gen tech and AI

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HYDERABAD, India, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) today announced the launch of a new Global Capability Center in Hyderabad, reinforcing its focus on advancing technology and AI capabilities to transform insurance.

Zurich has appointed Amit Kalra as Head of Zurich Capability Centers, effective 1 July 2026. Based in India, he will shape the Group’s Capability Center strategy and oversee all locations globally. He will also lead the establishment and expansion of the Hyderabad center, supporting Zurich’s broader technology and AI ambitions. Mr. Kalra brings extensive experience in building and leading global capability centers as strategic enablers for complex, international organizations.

Cara Morton, CEO Zurich Global Businesses & Operations, said: “India is a key talent market for Zurich, and Hyderabad stands out for its depth of engineering expertise and innovation. This center reflects a shift in how we build for the future, strengthening our global technology and AI capabilities while giving highly skilled professionals the opportunity to work on solutions that make a real impact for our customers around the world.”

The Hyderabad center will act as a strategic extension of Zurich’s global operating model, with end–to–end ownership across engineering, data and core business operations. From day one, the center will embed AI–enabled ways of working into how solutions are designed, delivered and scaled across the Group. Designed as a purpose-built environment, the center allows Zurich to build modern, technology and AI–led capabilities without legacy constraints.

As the center grows, Zurich will recruit specialists across cloud and platform engineering, data and AI, application development, cybersecurity and quality engineering. Teams will be responsible for the full lifecycle of their solutions – from design, to build, to execution – and will contribute directly to global platforms and solutions.

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London’s Top Restaurants Named at Inaugural OpenTable Awards, Including New ‘Icons’

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OpenTable unveils its first-ever Restaurant Awards winners, including the new ‘Icons’* list spotlighting the restaurants defining London dining todayWinners include BRUTTO for the Icons list, Singburi for Opening of the Year and The Plimsoll for Gastropub of the Year

LONDON, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — London’s dining powerhouses have been revealed, as OpenTable names the favourite restaurants shaping the city’s food scene at its first-ever OpenTable Restaurant Awards. The winners span across three categories; OpenTable Icons*, Restaurateurs’ Choice,** and People’s Choice.** 

Hosted by Chef and social media personality, Poppy O’Toole, the awards took place on 27th April high in the London skyline at Landing Forty Two, welcoming key figures from the food, drink, and hospitality industry.

At the centre of the Awards is OpenTable’s new ‘Icons’*, 26 culinary landmarks shaping London’s dining culture. Spanning long-standing institutions, MICHELIN-starred restaurants and modern favourites, the list was hand-selected by an OpenTable-appointed panel of critics and industry experts who live and breathe the city’s food scene.

The 2026 OpenTable London Icons:

64 Goodge Street | Andrew Edmunds | Blacklock Soho | Bouchon Racine | Brawn | BRUTTO | Chez Bruce | CORE by Clare Smyth | Da Terra | Darjeeling Express | Donia | Hawksmoor St Pancras | Humble Chicken | JUNO Omakase | MAMBOW | Moro | Portland | Restaurant Gordon Ramsay | Rita’s | Scott’s Mayfair | St. JOHN Smithfield | The Clove Club | The Ledbury | The Plimsoll | The Quality Chop House | Trinity

OpenTable Icons has a designation within the website and app, making it easier for diners to discover and book the ‘of the moment’ restaurants. 

Beyond the Icons list, the awards honoured standout performers across categories voted for by diners and hospitality professionals.

The People’s Choice (Voted by Diners):

Bucket List: The LedburyGastropub of the Year: The PlimsollOpening of the Year: SingburiNeighbourhood Gem: St. JOHN SmithfieldStandout Service: Rita’s

The Restaurateurs’ Choice (Voted by the Industry):

Everyday Hero: David Moore, Pied à TerreUp & Coming: Dara Klein, Tiella Trattoria & BarInnovation Award: Three SheetsImpact Award: BubalaRestaurant Design: Berners Tavern

Awards host Poppy O’Toole said, “It was a privilege to celebrate the chefs, front-of-house teams and restaurateurs whose passion keeps London’s dining culture so vibrant. From neighbourhood gems to destination dining rooms, the OpenTable Restaurant Awards winners show the breadth, creativity and resilience of the city’s restaurant scene today.” 

“Our first-ever OpenTable Restaurant Awards winners are the places defining London’s culture right now, setting global standards and creating experiences that stay with diners long after they leave,” said Laure Bornet, Senior Vice President of International Growth at OpenTable. “At a time of real pressure for the industry, celebrating and backing the people and places raising the bar matters more than ever, and we’re proud to champion these standout spots to diners.”

The Icons were selected by a panel of judges including: Adam Hyman, Owner of CODE Hospitality and The Good Food Guide, Ben Benton and Freddy Clode, Hosts of The Go-To Food Podcast; Ben Lippett, Cook and Food Writer; Jenny Lau, Writer and Community Chef; Jimi Famurewa, Food Writer, Restaurant Critic and Broadcaster; Lorraine Copes, Founder and CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality and Seema Pankhania, Food Content Creator and Author. 

You can find the full list of Icons here and award winners linked here. A selection of high-res imagery is available here

NOTES TO EDITORS

*OpenTable Icon Methodology: The ‘Icon’ designation and associated restaurant nominations are determined by an OpenTable-appointed industry panel via a qualitative assessment of a pre-determined shortlist. This shortlist is generated through a combination of data-informed insights (diner reviews, ratings, and platform signals) and expert input from local specialists. This process represents a subjective assessment rather than an objective ranking or exhaustive list. Eligibility is merit-based and requires no purchase or commercial participation, and payment to OpenTable does not influence the likelihood of nomination or selection. All selections are discretionary, final, and binding. 

**OpenTable Restaurant Awards Terms & Conditions: https://www.opentable.co.uk/c/awards-london/terms/ 

About OpenTable:

OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), helps more than 65,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats a year. OpenTable’s world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion. 

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