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Firefly Aerospace Awarded NASA Contract to Launch NOAA’s QuickSounder Spacecraft

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Set to launch on Firefly’s Alpha rocket in 2026, mission will kickstart NOAA’s next generation environmental satellite program

CEDAR PARK, Texas, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Firefly Aerospace, an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced the company was awarded a NASA Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) mission to launch the QuickSounder environmental satellite on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Scheduled to launch on Firefly’s Alpha rocket in 2026, the collaborative mission between NASA and NOAA is the first project supporting NOAA’s new Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON) program.

“The Firefly team is honored to support this critical pathfinder mission for the NEON program that will transform our nation’s weather forecasting and climate models,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly aerospace. “Our flight proven Alpha rocket that’s dedicated to serving the one-metric ton launch market is well suited to meet the needs of the NEON program, which requires fast, flexible, and direct launch services.”

NEON is the next generation environmental satellite system that will supplement and eventually replace NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System. The NEON program aims to launch small to medium-sized satellites with Earth-observing instruments more frequently to create a resilient constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that can be deployed quickly to enhance the nation’s weather forecasting, disaster management, and climate change monitoring.

Developed by the Southwest Research Institute, QuickSounder is the first environmental satellite to launch as part of NEON. QuickSounder will carry NOAA’s Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instrument that provides critical information about Earth’s atmosphere, such as temperature and moisture, within just 30 minutes of data collection to significantly improve NOAA’s weather prediction models for fires, floods, droughts, and more.

Launching from Firefly’s SLC-2 launch site at the Vandenberg Space Force Base, the QuickSounder mission will be Firefly’s second Alpha launch for NASA. Firefly’s Alpha rocket is the only commercially operational launch vehicle dedicated to serving the one-metric ton satellite market. The flight proven vehicle provides responsive, reliable, and cost-competitive launch services directly to customers’ preferred orbits.

About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space transportation company with launch, lunar, and on-orbit services. Headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners (“AEI”) focused on delivering responsive, reliable, and affordable space access for government and commercial customers. Firefly’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide the space industry with a single source for missions from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com.

Media Contact
press@fireflyspace.com

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SOURCE Firefly Aerospace, Inc.

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Agri-Food Tech Startups Led by Taiwan’s HAOSHi Attend SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 to Build Industry and Investment Connections

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TAIPEI and TOKYO, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A delegation of three food-tech startups led by Taiwan-based agri-food tech accelerator HAOSHi recently participated in SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, a global innovation event held in Japan. Through the exhibition and local industry engagement, the initiative aims to help Taiwanese startups establish partnerships with Japanese companies and explore potential investment opportunities.

SusHi Tech Tokyo has emerged as a key innovation platform in Japan, with a focus on urban development and technology applications. As Japan transitions into a super-aged society, demand for functional foods and precision health solutions continues to rise. In response, the Taiwanese delegation brought a focused approach to health and biotech applications, showcasing the R&D capabilities of Taiwan’s food-tech and precision nutrition sectors.

Ahead of the exhibition, HAOSHi worked with Sustainable Food Asia (SFA), a Japan-based organization engaged in sustainable food innovation, to arrange industry exchanges and company visits, giving the startups a more practical understanding of the local market. The trip also facilitated discussions between the Taiwanese teams and Japanese startups including Algalex, Eclipse Foods, and Morus, covering supply chain collaboration and market entry strategies. Through product demonstrations and tastings, the startups established initial business connections with companies in the cosmeceuticals, biotech, food manufacturing, and supply chain sectors.

The two organizations also co-hosted “Sustainable Food Night,” a networking event that drew around 30 representatives from established companies, startups, and investors. Discussions centered on collaboration opportunities in the agri-food tech sector across Taiwan, Japan, and Southeast Asia, with the broader aim of strengthening regional connectivity.

The three participating startups were Space Ark Bio, King Noodles, and Leeuwenhoek Laboratories, which specialize in fermentation applications, functional foods, and precision nutrition, respectively. Amber Lin, CEO of HAOSHi, said that the exhibition and in-market networking helped lay the groundwork for the startups to enter the market and support follow-up business discussions. The initiative also aligns with the goal of Startup Island Taiwan (SIT), which aims to connect Taiwanese startups more closely with the global innovation ecosystem.

 

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SOURCE HAOSHi Accelerator

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DB HiTek to Participate in PCIM 2026, Strengthening Its Presence in the European Market

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Europe’s largest power semiconductor exhibition to be held in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 9 to 11Showcasing latest developments in SiC and GaN, highlighting its power semiconductor capabilities

SEOUL, South Korea, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DB HiTek, a leading 8-inch pure-play foundry, announced its participation in PCIM (Power Conversion and Intelligent Motion) Europe 2026, the continent’s premier exhibition for power semiconductors. The event will take place in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 9 to 11 (local time), as the company continues expanding its presence in the European market.

Following its successful debut at PCIM in 2025—where the company held face-to-face meetings with dozens of customers to discuss process technologies and collaboration opportunities—DB HiTek is building on that momentum. With over 1,000 booth visitors last year and ongoing business discussions, the company expects these engagements to translate into tangible business results this year through continued partnerships.

At this year’s event, DB HiTek will present progress in its next-generation SiC (Silicon Carbide) and GaN (Gallium Nitride) processes. The company will also highlight its industry-leading BCDMOS (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) technology, a core strength of its power management portfolio. A robust schedule of meetings with global clients is already in place, reflecting continued growth in collaboration.

According to market research firm Yole Développement, the global SiC and GaN power semiconductor markets are set for rapid growth. The SiC market is projected to grow from approximately $4.8 billion in 2026 to $10.4 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21%. Over the same period, the GaN market is expected to expand from $900 million to $2.9 billion, reflecting a CAGR of 33%.

DB HiTek started MPW (Multi-Project Wafer) runs for its SiC and GaN processes in December 2025, producing samples for more than 10 customer products. These were delivered between March and April 2026. Customer evaluations are underway, with feedback to be incorporated into final process verification. Full-scale mass production is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Currently, DB HiTek maintains mass production relationships with approximately 400 customers, primarily focused on its flagship power semiconductor products. The company also works with a broad client base using specialized image sensor technologies, including X-ray, Global Shutter, and SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode). Its application mix is increasingly shifting toward industrial and automotive-grade products, reflecting growing demand from these sectors.

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SOURCE DB HiTek

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LG Display’s 27-inch DFR Gaming OLED panel wins SID’s ‘Display of the Year’

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SEOUL, South Korea, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LG Display, the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, announced that its 27-inch 540/720Hz Dynamic Frequency & Resolution (DFR) Gaming OLED panel has been awarded “Display of the Year” by the Society for Information Display (SID), receiving high acclaim for redefining the gaming display paradigm and accelerating market differentiation.

The “Display of the Year” award is SID’s most prestigious distinction, presented to the most groundbreaking display product launched during the previous year that is expected to lead the future of the industry.

This achievement recognizes LG Display’s new user-centered display paradigm. The product’s standout feature is the company’s proprietary DFR technology, which allows users to freely select the mode that suits their preferred gaming style.

High-refresh-rate mode particularly proves its value in game genres where rapid screen transitions are essential and victory is decided in a split second — like first-person shooters or racing games. By supporting an industry-leading refresh rate of 720Hz with HD resolution, this mode eliminates ghosting and motion blur even in the fastest scenes, enabling overwhelming gaming performance.

High-resolution mode provides an optimized visual experience for games based on stunning graphics. It simultaneously delivers QHD resolution and a 540Hz refresh rate. To overcome the conventional limitation where picture quality drops once the refresh rate exceeds 500Hz, LG Display applied a proprietary algorithm, securing the two core elements of a high refresh rate and high picture quality.

As a result, the panel obtained ClearMR 21000 certification, the highest rating from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA).

“Our goal is to continue leading the gaming display market by leveraging LG Display’s differentiated OLED technologies and relentless pursuit of innovation,” said Young-seok Choi, Chief Technology Officer of LG Display.

SID is the world’s largest display society with more than 7,000 industry experts, researchers, and professors. It hosts Display Week annually, featuring new technologies, product exhibitions, and academic presentations. SID Display Week 2026 will take place in Los Angeles, California from May 3 to 8.

※ LG Display 27-inch 540/720Hz (DFR) OLED Gaming Monitor Panel Specifications

Category

High-refresh-rate mode

High-resolution mode

Peak Brightness

1,500nits

1,500nits

Refresh Rate / Resolution

720Hz / HD

540Hz / QHD

Response Time

0.02ms

0.02ms

 

About LG Display
LG Display Co., Ltd. [NYSE: LPL, KRX: 034220] is the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, including thin-film transistor liquid crystal and OLED displays. The company manufactures display panels in a broad range of sizes and specifications primarily for use in TVs, notebook computers, desktop monitors, automobiles, and various other applications, including tablets and mobile devices. LG Display currently operates manufacturing facilities in Korea and China, and back-end assembly facilities in Korea, China, and Vietnam. The company has approximately 70,707 employees operating worldwide. For more news and information about LG Display, please visit www.lgdisplay.com.

Media Contact:
Joo Yeon Jennifer Ha, Team Leader, Communication Team
Email: hjy05@lgdisplay.com

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SOURCE LG Display

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