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Hong Kong Smart Apps Shine in Asia Smart App Awards 2024

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Hong Kong Sweeps Top Three in “Lifestyle, Social, and Entertainment” Category

Israel Wins Grand Award for Second Consecutive Year

HONG KONG, Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The “Asia Smart App Awards 2024” (ASA) held its Award Presentation Ceremony at New World Millennium Hong Kong Hotel on 11 September 2024. Organised by the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the ASA is well supported by partners from 16 other Asian countries/ regions as co-organisers. The ASA is dedicated to recognising the outstanding achievements of industry professionals in the smart app industry across Asia. It also provides an excellent networking platform for local smart app industry professionals and their counterparts in the region, with the aim to fostering the growth and development of the smart app industry, while encouraging Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries to strengthen the use of smart apps in combination of technology to expand room for development. 

The Israeli company Vitalerter Ltd, developer of the Vitalerter app, which won the prestigious “Asia Smart App Awards 2024” Grand Award, also took home the Gold Award in the “Public Sector and Social Innovation Enterprise Category”. The app provides continuous monitoring for bedridden individuals using a non-contact wireless sensor that transmits data in real-time to an AI system for analysis. When the system detects a potential danger, it immediately alerts on-duty nursing staff via mobile phone.

Hong Kong contestants demonstrated outstanding performance in the 2024 edition of the ASA, particularly in the “Lifestyle and Entertainment Category”. Blua Health by Bupa (Asia) Limited won the Gold Award and the “Special Mention Award – Best UX/UI Design.” Blua Health is Hong Kong’s first AI-powered, one-stop health app, allowing users to assess their health status anytime, anywhere, guide their healthy lifestyle, and earn reward points. The Silver Award went to the Solos AirGo App, which enhances the smart glasses experience by integrating AI-driven conversations, translation, fitness tracking, and health monitoring, boosting productivity and well-being. The Bronze Award was won by the O+O MetaEvent Hub, which connects online and offline activities, enabling remote participants to engage in exhibitions and seminars through virtual avatars. The AI chatbot provides 24/7 service and analyses visitor behaviour to help optimise future events.

In the “Business and Commercial Category”, the Gold Award went to AIM, Korea’s first AI-driven investment app, offering top-tier personal investment advisory services. Users can quickly open accounts and receive expert advice from the AI algorithm “Esther” to invest in global markets. The app has served 70,000 users and manages $1 billion in assets. Other finalists in the three categories came from Israel, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, and Vietnam.

This year marks the 10th edition of the ASA. Since its inception in 2013, the competition has received over 1,300 smart app entries from across Asia, making it a prestigious and widely recognised event in the industry. It has become an annual highlight of the smart app industry in Asia. This edition, the ASA returns with the theme “AppAIchemy: Chapter 10 of ASA Saga”, highlighting the vibrant development of smart app across various fields including artificial intelligence (AI). The WTIA is pleased to continue collaborating with 16 co-organisers from various Asian countries and regions, including Mainland China, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, to bring this timely event to further foster the growth of the burgeoning smart app sector in Asia. This edition’s ASA Award Presentation Ceremony and Summit took place on 11 September, bringing together the elites of the Asian smart app industry with the aim of promoting cooperation and development through exchanges and discussions, and driving innovation and the wider application of smart apps.

Officiating at this edition’s award presentation ceremony, Mrs. Lowell Cho, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries congratulated all the winners and encouraged Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries to leverage technology to drive industry development.

Keith Li, Chairman of the WTIA, also expressed during the award presentation ceremony, “It is with great pride and satisfaction that we commemorate the tenth anniversary of this prestigious Asian event. For this milestone edition, we have once again convened distinguished industry experts from 16 other Asian countries and regions here in Hong Kong, underscoring the international significance of this occasion. This edition’s theme centred on the exponential advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), and the competing smart apps have aptly demonstrated their capacity to drive rapid innovation and transform industry paradigms across diverse sectors. I am particularly impressed by the exceptional innovation and technical acumen displayed by all contestants. Among them, the finalists deserve special commendation, with their tireless efforts and ingenuity duly recognised and rewarded. The ASA not only celebrates technological achievement but also reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a hub for innovation in the smart app industry across Asia. We look forward to witnessing the continued growth and impact of these groundbreaking technologies in shaping our future.”

The ASA 2024 has three award categories: Public Sector and Social Innovation Category, Business and Commercial Category, and Lifestyle and Entertainment Category. The gold winners of each award category were further assessed to determine the winner of “Asia Smart App Grand Award”, which was presented to Vitalerter Ltd.

The two special mention awards introduced in this edition, namely the Special Mention Award – The Best Start-up and the Special Mention Award – The Best UX/UI Design, were open to teams from Hong Kong and the 16 participating countries or regions, aiming to recognise innovative applications from start-ups and applications demonstrating excellence in user experience and interface design. ReCube Limited from Hong Kong won the Best Start-up Award with their application “ReCube”, which allows users to easily borrow and return reusable tableware at partner restaurants, while encouraging environmental protection through a points system, thereby promoting sustainable development in the community. As for the Best UX/UI Design Award, a smart app from another Hong Kong company, Bupa (Asia) Limited’s Blua Health outshone its competitors by utilising AI technology to provide personalised health management advice so that users can conduct health assessments anytime, anywhere through the app, and cultivate healthy lifestyle habits through a points reward system.

The lists of the Asia Smart App Awards 2024’s awardees* are as follows:

Asia Smart App Grand Award

Awardee: Israeli – Vitalerter (Vitalerter Ltd)

Public Sector and Social Innovation Category:

Gold Award – Israeli – Vitalerter (Vitalerter Ltd)Silver Award – Indonesia – paperless (PT Digital Kreasi Muslim)Bronze Award – Indonesia – Silang App (Silang.id)

Business and Commercial Category:

Gold Award – Korea – AIM (AIM Inc.)Silver Award – Vietnam – Store Optimizer (Palexy Company Limited)Bronze Award – Malaysia – Agmo EV Super App (Agmo Holdings Limited)

Lifestyle and Entertainment Category:

Gold Award – Hong Kong – Blua Health (Bupa (Asia) Limited)Silver Award – Hong Kong – Solos AirGo App (Solos Technology Limited)Bronze Award – Hong Kong – O+O Meta Event Hub (Chef Digital Limited)

Special Mention Award–The Best Start up

Awardee: ReCube, ReCube Limited (Hong Kong)

Special Mention Award–The Best UX/UI design

Awardee: Blua Health, Bupa (Asia) Limited (Hong Kong)

*Further details and full winner lists (including the list of Certificate of Merit winners) of each category of “Asia Smart App Awards 2024” are available on official website at https://bestasiaapp.hk. 

The Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA) organises the Asia Smart App Awards (ASA) 2024, the 10th edition following the success of past editions, with funding support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA). The ASA is dedicated to recognising the contributions of industry insiders to the smart app industry, provide a networking platform for smart app industry professionals from Hong Kong to other Asian countries and regions, encouraging growth and development of the industry.

The WTIA remains committed to enhancing the reach of these awards across Asia, bolstering the development of the local smart app industry, and facilitating local smart app talent in business expansion. The awards have drawn participants from an increasing number of Asian countries and regions, including Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, Cambodia, and Bangladesh.

In addition to the “Asia Smart App Awards 2024” Award Presentation Ceremony, the Asia Smart App Summit was held on the same day. The Summit convened expert representatives from 17 Asian countries and regions to engage in discussions about trending topics.

The organiser express its gratitude to the CCIDA for the funding and to all the partners, supporting organisations, and speakers for their strong support. The highlights of all events of the ASA 2024 will be uploaded to https://contest2024.bestasiaapp.hk/  for review.

Media Enquiry:

Market Hubs Holdings Limited

Lierence Li

Debbie So

+852 3998-4900

+852 3998-4900

lierence@markethubsgroup.com

debbie@markethubsgroup.com

About the Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association

The Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA), established in 2001, is a not-for profit, politically-neutral trade association dedicated to the wireless and mobile industry. The WTIA acts as a platform, an aggregator, and a community for industry professionals to learn and drive emerging wireless and mobile technologies, governance, and standards. It facilitates networking between like-minded professionals, boost interoperability between networks and devices, and strives to help all organisations apply these technologies to existing or new businesses. The WTIA also represents and is supported by digital industries pertaining to mobile such as digital entertainment, digital marketing & media, and start-up sectors. To know more about the WTIA, please visit http://www.hkwtia.org. 

About the Asia Smart App Awards (ASA)

The Hong Kong Wireless Technology Industry Association (WTIA) organises the Asia Smart App Awards (ASA) 2024, the 10th edition following the success of past editions, with funding support from the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA). By uniting 16 co-organisers from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Israel, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, in addition to Hong Kong, the ASA carries this auspicious occasion to further encourage the development of the expanding smart app industry. For more details about the ASA, please visit www.bestasiaapp.hk.

About the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) established in June 2024, formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative industries with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaboration, promoting the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community to implement Hong Kong’s positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. CCIDA’s website: www.ccidahk.gov.hk.

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SOURCE The Wireless Technology Industry Association

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Victory Live Named Official Data and Analytics Provider of the Capital One Orange Bowl

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Partnership provides ticketing technology and analytics support ahead of the 2027 College Football Playoff Semifinal

ATLANTA, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Victory Live, a leader in ticketing technology and analytics, today announced a partnership with the Orange Bowl to serve as the Official Data and Analytics Provider of the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Under the agreement, Victory Live will provide ticketing data and analytics tools to support the Orange Bowl’s operational planning and ticketing strategies.

The Capital One Orange Bowl is scheduled to host a College Football Playoff Semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2027, at Hard Rock Stadium.

“The Orange Bowl has a proud history in college football and a lasting impact on South Florida,” said Sam Soni, founder and CEO of Victory Live. “We look forward to supporting the organization with technology and data insights to assist their ticketing operations. With a College Football Playoff Semifinal ahead, this is an exciting opportunity to work together on an event that means so much to fans and the community.”

About Victory Live

Founded in 2021 by Sam Soni, Victory Live is a technology platform specializing in sports and entertainment event management, ticketing software, data insights, and multi-channel distribution. Its end-to-end solution, Victory Live One, helps manage millions of tickets for live event rightsholders and ticket sellers across sports, concerts, and theatre. Victory Live’s marketplace is the industry leader in B2B ticket distribution and connectivity solutions. Learn more at www.victorylive.com. 

Press Contact:

Eric Nemeth
nemeth@ericpr.com
www.victorylive.com/

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SOURCE Victory Live

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Eastern Michigan University offers $4,000 scholarships to students who join marching band

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YPSILANTI, Mich., Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eastern Michigan University is offering eligible students a $4,000 scholarship to join the university’s Marching Band, giving students the opportunity to participate in one of EMU’s signature traditions while pursuing any academic major.

The scholarship provides $1,000 per year for four years and is available to all students who meet the marching band requirements. Students do not need to major in music to qualify.

“I’m thrilled that President Kelly and the executive leadership team have elected to pursue this opportunity at Eastern because it gives us an opportunity to attract more students and reward them for the countless hours they spend participating in a life-changing activity that they love,” said J. Nick Smith, associate director of bands and director of Athletic Bands at Eastern.

EMU’s Marching Band reflects the university’s broad academic community. Only about 40% of its members are music majors, while students in disciplines across the university make up the rest of the membership.

“As a two-time alum, I’m proud of our band and its continuous momentum over the years,” said EMU President Brendan Kelly. “EMU’s college experience is about finding and building community — that’s what our marching band is all about. I’m thrilled we can offer this scholarship to students who want to be a part of a movement they’ll remember and be proud of among people with shared interests for the rest of their lives.”

Known as the “Pride of the Peninsula,” EMU’s Marching Band has a 132-year history and provides students with opportunities to perform at athletic events and other university and community events. The ensemble also offers diverse musical and performance experiences, including collaborations with groups such as internationally known piano-rock duo and EMU alumni Drew & Kin and Grammy Award-winning artists such as The Temptations, featuring EMU alum Jawan M. Jackson, who joined the group in 2022.

Participation in the band also provides students with experiences that extend beyond the field.

“Students who participate with us develop deep ties to their education, lifelong friends, lessons in leadership, professionalism, time management, high expectations and advanced musicianship and marching skills,” said Smith. “We pride ourselves on providing our students life-changing experiences that develop their core being so that, upon graduation, they have a diverse set of skills that are immediately applicable to their careers.”

Students interested in joining the EMU Marching Band and applying for the scholarship should:

Apply to and be admitted to Eastern Michigan University: emich.edu/apply/Complete the marching band membership form: https://tiny.emich.edu/emumbAttend orientation and register for marching band.Receive the scholarship through their financial aid package once all requirements are completed.

The scholarship is available to students regardless of their intended major. For more information about the EMU Marching Band and scholarship opportunities, visit the band webpage. To view the band’s past performances, visit the band’s YouTube page.

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SOURCE Eastern Michigan University

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Green Ammonia Market to Reach USD 5.10 Billion by 2035 as Renewable Hydrogen Contracts Support New Production

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LONDON, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The global green ammonia market was valued at USD 150.8 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 5.10 billion by 2035, according to Credence Research. The report states a 42.22% compound annual growth rate for 2025-2035. Asia Pacific held the largest regional share at 60.2% in 2025, while Latin America is the fastest-growing region at a modeled 54.11% annual rate. Market sizes, segment shares and regional allocations are Credence Research estimates.

Key Takeaways

Credence Research estimates market value at USD 150.8 million in 2025 and USD 5.10 billion by 2035, with a reported 42.22% CAGR for 2025-2035.Asia Pacific held 60.2% of modeled 2025 value. Latin America has the fastest forecast regional growth at 54.11%.Alkaline water electrolysis represented 73.6% of 2025 technology value.Fertilizers accounted for 68.3% of 2025 application revenue, the largest end use.Solid oxide electrolysis has the highest modeled technology growth at 63.37% annually, from a small base.Marine fuel is projected to grow fastest among applications, but its starting commercial base remains limited.

Scope & Segmentation – Green Ammonia Market

The market measures the selling value of ammonia made with electrolytic hydrogen powered by renewable electricity, including relevant renewable output from retrofitted fertilizer plants. It covers fertilizer, chemical feedstock, power and prospective marine fuel uses. It excludes conventional ammonia, blue ammonia made with fossil hydrogen and carbon capture, stand-alone electrolyzers, renewable generation equipment and downstream fertilizer products beyond the contained ammonia value.

By technology: Alkaline water electrolysis; Proton exchange membrane electrolysis; Solid oxide electrolysis.By application: Fertilizers; Industrial and chemical feedstock; Power generation; Marine fuel; Other uses including hydrogen carriers and refrigeration.

Read the full report and request a sample: https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/green-ammonia-market      

Why This Report Matters

Developers can separate announced electrolyzer capacity from renewable ammonia that has a committed buyer and a credible delivery schedule.Fertilizer companies and importers can evaluate the commercial importance of certification, fixed-price contracts and renewable electricity availability.Investors can assess why some projects advance with binding offtake while others remain exposed to cost gaps, policy changes and financing delays.

Market Overview

Green ammonia is produced using hydrogen generated from water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, followed by conventional ammonia synthesis. It can serve fertilizer and chemical demand without changing the basic molecule, but production costs and emissions depend on the power supply and plant operation.

Early commercial output is concentrated in China and a small number of European plants. Indian supply contracts and international offtake agreements are expanding the project pipeline. Marine fuel is a longer-term opportunity, with demand dependent on vessel technology, bunkering infrastructure and shipping regulation.

Market Insights

Alkaline water electrolysis represented 73.6% of 2025 technology value.Fertilizers accounted for 68.3% of 2025 application revenue, the largest end use.Solid oxide electrolysis has the highest modeled technology growth at 63.37% annually, from a small base.Marine fuel is projected to grow fastest among applications, but its starting commercial base remains limited.Asia Pacific represented 60.2% of 2025 value, reflecting early Chinese plant output and demand.

Key Attributes

Attribute

Details

Historical reference

2018-2025 (source report)

Base year

2025

Market size, 2025

USD 150.8 million

Market size, 2026 (source estimate)

USD 415.2 million

Market size, 2035

USD 5.10 billion

Reported CAGR and measurement interval

42.22% (2025-2035)

Largest regional share

Asia Pacific (60.2%, 2025)

Fastest-growing region

Latin America (54.11%)

Segments covered

Technology, Application

Geographic coverage

North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa

Market Segmentation

The segmentation below follows the current report taxonomy and separates products, applications and buyers to avoid overlapping revenue definitions.

By technology: Alkaline water electrolysis; Proton exchange membrane electrolysis; Solid oxide electrolysis.By application: Fertilizers; Industrial and chemical feedstock; Power generation; Marine fuel; Other uses including hydrogen carriers and refrigeration.

Market Drivers

Fertilizer producers can reduce reliance on fossil-based hydrogen by purchasing certified renewable ammonia or replacing a portion of their own feedstock. Long-term supply contracts can make the economics more predictable for producers and buyers.

Large renewable energy resources and improving electrolyzer supply support new plants in China, India and prospective export hubs. Project economics still depend heavily on utilization and electricity costs.

Cross-border contracts create a clearer financing route than nonbinding project announcements. Importers that require renewable fuel certification can anchor investments in production and shipping logistics.

Regional Analysis

The following regional shares represent Credence Research estimates of 2025 market value. They are not independently audited supplier sales totals.

Asia Pacific | 60.2% share in 2025

Operating Chinese plants and Indian fertilizer procurement programs underpin the largest base. Japan and South Korea are potential import markets for certified supply.

Europe | 26.7% share in 2025

Pioneer projects and stringent certification requirements support premium demand, while high energy costs encourage some buyers to seek imports.

Middle East and Africa | 8.0% share in 2025

Saudi Arabian and other coastal projects seek to pair renewable power with export infrastructure, but project schedules remain important.

North America | 3.3% share in 2025

Electrolytic ammonia remains a small share of supply, with some producers favoring carbon capture on conventional plants.

Latin America | 1.8% share in 2025

Chile and Brazil have strong renewable resources and potential fertilizer or export demand, producing the fastest modeled regional growth from a small base.

Market Challenges

Renewable ammonia generally costs more to produce than conventional ammonia. Intermittent wind and solar power complicate operation of the synthesis loop and can require storage or grid balancing.

Many proposed projects lack binding buyers, permitting or funding. Uncertain global shipping rules can delay marine-fuel demand, so developers often prioritize fertilizer and chemical customers first.

Future Outlook

The strongest near-term projects are likely to be those with verified renewable electricity, certification and binding offtake. China remains an early production center while India and Gulf projects could expand exports later in the decade.

Marine fuel demand may eventually diversify the customer base, but the timeline is uncertain. Investors should distinguish operating tonnage from proposed capacity and account for power variability, shipping costs and policy risk.

Competitive Landscape

Envision Energy, State Power Investment Corporation and China Energy Engineering are linked to operating Chinese renewable ammonia projects. AM Green, ACME Group and NEOM Green Hydrogen Company are export developers, while Yara and Iberdrola participate in European pioneer projects. Air Products is a NEOM co-owner and contracted offtaker, not simply an independent ammonia producer. Fortescue is excluded from the active producer list because it canceled selected hydrogen projects in 2025. No reliable comparable company-by-company green ammonia revenue ranking is available.

Key Players

Envision EnergyState Power Investment CorporationChina Energy EngineeringAM GreenACME GroupNEOM Green Hydrogen CompanyYara InternationalIberdrolaAir Products (offtaker and co-owner)

Recent Developments

Feb. 27, 2026: Envision announced a commercial shipment of green ammonia from its Chifeng facility in China to LOTTE Fine Chemical in South Korea. The company described the cargo as an end-to-end renewable ammonia delivery.

Jan. 12, 2026: Uniper and AM Green signed a binding long-term agreement for up to 500,000 metric tons a year of certified renewable ammonia from India, with initial deliveries expected from 2028.

Report Coverage

The study analyzes market size, the base-year product and application mix, regional demand, technology adoption, competitive positioning, constraints and dated industry developments. It also examines commercialization, customer economics and the factors that could change the pace of adoption through 2035.

Forecasts and regional shares are proprietary Credence Research model estimates. Company announcements and regulatory materials are used for industry context; they do not independently validate the modeled global revenue totals. The report’s market definition and exclusions should be considered when comparing it with broader adjacent industries.

Read the full report and request a sample: https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/green-ammonia-market

Related Reports

Green Hydrogen MarketBlue Ammonia MarketRenewable Methanol MarketSustainable Aviation Fuel MarketHydrogen Storage Market

About Us

Credence Research Inc. is a global market intelligence and consulting firm founded in 2015. It provides quantitative market research, competitive intelligence and strategic advisory services to organizations assessing new products, investment decisions and regional opportunities. The firm combines primary and secondary research with industry interviews and structured market models.

Its research spans industrial technology, semiconductors, energy, health care, consumer markets and other sectors. Credence Research evaluates market size, segmentation, growth drivers, supply-chain risks, regional policy and competitive positioning to help clients make evidence-led decisions.

Contact Us

Credence Research Inc.
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Pune – 411027, India
Europe: +44 7453 598 606 | North America: +1 6282 627 656
Email: sales@credenceresearch.com

Website: Credence Research

 

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