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Cambridge CARES continues decade-long collaboration with Singapore universities with two decarbonisation projects

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The University of Cambridge’s first overseas research centre (CARES) hosted Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation (NRF) to view the centre’s technical capabilities for decarbonisation research.Local and international partners will advance research on non-fossil fuel-based pathways for Singapore industries.

SINGAPORE, Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore (CARES) is hosting two projects under the newly launched CREATE Thematic Programme in Decarbonisation supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF). The two projects will investigate non-fossil fuel-based pathways for Singapore’s chemical manufacturing industry and energy systems. The projects will advance new technology and ideas from existing work at CARES and aid in Singapore’s business transition away from petrochemicals towards a net-zero emissions target by 2050.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the NRF, Mr Heng Swee Keat toured the first of three laboratories for the programme to view the technical capabilities required for the various project teams, including CARES’ projects on the Sustainable Manufacture of Molecules and Materials in Singapore (SM3), and Hydrogen and Ammonia Combustion in Singapore (HYCOMBS).

As part of the lab demonstrations on decarbonisation, CARES showcased an additional ongoing activity with City Energy investigating hydrogen-rich town gas for residential and commercial cooking stoves.

Prof. Alexei Lapkin (CARES), Prof. Chiba Shunsuke (NTU Singapore), Prof. Ning Yan (NUS), Assoc Prof. Ming Joo Koh (NUS), Dr. Philippe Schwaller (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, EPFL), and Prof. Matthew Gaunt (University of Cambridge), Principal Investigators for SM3, share a joint statement:

SM3 will provide a path to a net-zero, high-value chemical manufacturing industry in Singapore. Its core goal is to address the dependency of the producers of performance chemicals on starting materials that typically come from fossil-based carbon sources. The SM3 team will develop effective synthetic methods that best convert cheap and abundant fossil-free raw materials into high-value molecules. SM3 will transform the production of functional molecules, such as medicines and agrochemicals, creating a new value chain for the sustainable chemical industry.

Prof. Epaminondas Mastorakos (CARES), Prof. Fei Duan (NTU Singapore), Prof. Kaoru Maruta (Tohoku University), Dr Nabiha Chaumeix (CNRS France), Asst Prof Zhang Huangwei (NUS), Principal Investigators for HYCOMBS, share a joint statement:

In the near future, Singapore may adopt hydrogen or ammonia as a possible carbon-free fuel for decarbonisation; however, this requires the development of new gas turbines and internal combustion engines. In project HYCOMBS, universities from Singapore, UK, Japan, France and Norway will work together to investigate the underlying combustion process of hydrogen and ammonia to minimise pollutants and accelerate industry innovation. We are grateful for the opportunity to work on this project that can transform how these zero-carbon fuels are utilised, benefiting Singaporeans and global environmental advancement.

Since 2013, CARES has been involved in research programmes with NTU and NUS as the University of Cambridge’s first overseas centre. One of its early flagship programmes, the Centre for Carbon Reduction in Chemical Technologies (C4T), has investigated areas from sustainable reaction engineering, electrochemistry, and maritime decarbonisation, to digitalisation.

By building on this foundation and leveraging the local talent pool, CARES has attracted new partners from international universities and institutes for SM3 and HYCOMBS. This includes EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, which will provide skills in the domain AI for chemistry. CNRS, the French National Centre for Scientific Research, from France, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Tohoku University from Japan will contribute technical equipment and key talent in hydrogen and ammonia combustion. The connection with CNRS will be further strengthened through the presence in Singapore of CNRS@CREATE – its only subsidiary abroad – which is part of the same CREATE research programme that CARES participates in.

Singapore’s compact, interconnected infrastructure, along with strong governmental support and initiatives such as the “Singapore Green Plan 2030” will provide an ideal base for rapid testing and knowledge transfer to industry. The international scope of SM3 and HYCOMBS positions Singapore as a central hub for sustainable technology development for the global economy.

View the media release by NRF on the launch of the SGD$90m Decarbonisation programme for more information on the nine projects under CREATE’s Decarbonisation Programme.

Annex A: Full list of PIs and their affiliated universities and/or institutions

About CARES

The Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education (CARES) was established in 2013 as the University of Cambridge’s first overseas research centre, bringing together researchers from Cambridge, Nanyang Technological University, and the National University of Singapore as part of the CREATE (Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise) programme. The flagship programme at CARES is the Centre for Carbon Reduction in Chemical Technology (C4T) programme which focused on decarbonising Singapore’s chemical industry and expanded in recent years to include additional themes such as digital transformation, and sectors such as the maritime industry.

A further large programme began in October 2020 called the Centre for Lifelong Learning and Individualised Cognition (CLIC). CLIC brings together researchers from the University of Cambridge and NTU to focus on the science of learning. CARES is also a research partner in the Pharmaceutical Innovation Programme Singapore (PIPS), a public-private consortium that aims to develop full process automation in a laboratory to support R&D and manufacturing.

www.cares.cam.ac.uk    LinkedIn: Cambridge CARES

About CREATE (Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise)

CREATE is an international collaboratory housing research centres set up by top universities. At CREATE, researchers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds work closely together to perform cutting-edge research in strategic areas of interest, for translation into practical applications leading to positive economic and societal outcomes for Singapore. The interdisciplinary research centres at CREATE focus on four areas of interdisciplinary thematic areas of research, namely human systems, energy systems, environmental systems and urban systems.

More information on the CREATE programme can be obtained from www.create.edu.sg.

Annex A: Full list of PIs and their affiliated universities and/or institutions

Sustainable Manufacture of Molecules and Materials in Singapore (SM3)

Prof. Alexei LAPKIN (University of Cambridge), Prof. Shunsuke CHIBA (Nanyang
Technological University, Singapore), Prof. Ning YAN (National University of Singapore),
and Assoc Prof. Ming Joo KOH (National University of Singapore) are the Programme
Leads.

All other Principal Investigators are listed in alphabetical order with their universities and/or
institutions:

•         Asst Prof. Tej Salil CHOKSI (Nanyang Technological University)

•         Prof. Matthew GAUNT (University of Cambridge)

•         Prof. Saif KHAN (National University of Singapore)

•         Dr. Ewa MAREK (University of Cambridge)

•         Asst Prof. Philippe SCHWALLER (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne)

Webpage: https://www.cares.cam.ac.uk/research/sm3/

 

Hydrogen and Ammonia Combustion in Singapore (HYCOMBS)

Prof. Epaminondas MASTORAKOS (University of Cambridge), Assoc Prof. Fei DUAN
(Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), and Prof. Kaoru MARUTA (Tohoku
University) are the Programme Leads.

All other Principal Investigators are listed in alphabetical order with their universities and/or
institutions:

•         Prof. Siew Hwa CHAN (Nanyang Technological University)

•         Dr. Nabiha CHAUMEIX (Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique)

•         Dr. Sebastian DUCRUIX (Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique)

•         Assoc Prof. Akihiro HAYAKAWA (Tohoku University)

•         Prof. Nicholas MINESI (Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique)

•         Asst Prof. Youhi MORII (Tohoku University)

•         Prof. Hisashi NAKAMURA (Tohoku University)

•         Prof. Christine ROUSSELLE (Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique)

•         Prof. Nedunchezhian SWAMINATHAN (University of Cambridge)

•         Prof. Nicholas WORTH (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)

•         Asst Prof. Huangwei ZHANG (National University of Singapore)

 

Webpage: https://www.cares.cam.ac.uk/research/hycombs/ 

 

 

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SOURCE Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education in Singapore

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Air Products to Expand Integrated Gas Supply Network for Semiconductor Manufacturer in Taiwan

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33 minutes ago

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July 22, 2026

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New investment to support next-generation facility expansion

TAIPEI, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Air Products (NYSE:APD), a world-leading industrial gases company, today announced Air Products San Fu has been awarded a long-term agreement to support a semiconductor manufacturer’s expansion in Taiwan. The project will supply multiple new semiconductor fabs and back-end packaging facilities, supporting growing demand driven by artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Air Products San Fu will build, own, and operate four large state-of-the-art air separation units and bulk gas supply systems with new underground pipeline systems. The company will supply a range of industrial gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and helium to support the customer’s semiconductor operations.

The new underground pipeline systems will be connected to Air Products’ existing pipeline network in Taiwan, further enhancing supply reliability, operational efficiency, and resilience.  

“Air Products is honored to be selected by our strategic customer to support their continued growth, building on our proven track record and strong long-term partnership,” said Paul Yang, President, Air Products San Fu. “This project further reinforces our role as a trusted supplier in Taiwan and reflects our long-term commitment to grow with our customers. It also underscores our world-class performance in safety, reliability and operational excellence, which are critical to meeting the increasingly demanding requirements of the electronics industry.”

Air Products has been serving the Taiwan market through Air Products San Fu for more than 70 years and has established leading supply positions across key science parks with extensive pipeline networks. The company operates one of the world’s largest ultra-high purity nitrogen pipeline systems in Southern Taiwan and is the first gas company in Taiwan awarded ISO9002 and ISO14000 certifications. 

This latest project further strengthens Air Products’ integrated supply footprint across both front-end semiconductor manufacturing and back-end advanced packaging, reinforcing its position as a key supplier to the electronics industry in Taiwan.

Air Products has served the global electronics industry for more than 40 years, supplying industrial gases safely and reliably to many of the world’s leading technology companies.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 85 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets and generating a cleaner future. The Company supplies essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, medical and food. As the leading global hydrogen supplier, Air Products develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world’s largest hydrogen projects. Through its sale of equipment businesses, the Company also provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers globally.

Air Products had fiscal 2025 sales of $12 billion from operations in approximately 50 countries. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and other factors disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/air-products-to-expand-integrated-gas-supply-network-for-semiconductor-manufacturer-in-taiwan-302831489.html

SOURCE Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

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Air Products to Expand Integrated Gas Supply Network for Semiconductor Manufacturer in Taiwan

Published

33 minutes ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

New investment to support next-generation facility expansion

TAIPEI, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Air Products (NYSE:APD), a world-leading industrial gases company, today announced Air Products San Fu has been awarded a long-term agreement to support a semiconductor manufacturer’s expansion in Taiwan. The project will supply multiple new semiconductor fabs and back-end packaging facilities, supporting growing demand driven by artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

Air Products San Fu will build, own, and operate four large state-of-the-art air separation units and bulk gas supply systems with new underground pipeline systems. The company will supply a range of industrial gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and helium to support the customer’s semiconductor operations.

The new underground pipeline systems will be connected to Air Products’ existing pipeline network in Taiwan, further enhancing supply reliability, operational efficiency, and resilience.  

“Air Products is honored to be selected by our strategic customer to support their continued growth, building on our proven track record and strong long-term partnership,” said Paul Yang, President, Air Products San Fu. “This project further reinforces our role as a trusted supplier in Taiwan and reflects our long-term commitment to grow with our customers. It also underscores our world-class performance in safety, reliability and operational excellence, which are critical to meeting the increasingly demanding requirements of the electronics industry.”

Air Products has been serving the Taiwan market through Air Products San Fu for more than 70 years and has established leading supply positions across key science parks with extensive pipeline networks. The company operates one of the world’s largest ultra-high purity nitrogen pipeline systems in Southern Taiwan and is the first gas company in Taiwan awarded ISO9002 and ISO14000 certifications. 

This latest project further strengthens Air Products’ integrated supply footprint across both front-end semiconductor manufacturing and back-end advanced packaging, reinforcing its position as a key supplier to the electronics industry in Taiwan.

Air Products has served the global electronics industry for more than 40 years, supplying industrial gases safely and reliably to many of the world’s leading technology companies.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) is a world-leading industrial gases company in operation for over 85 years focused on serving energy, environmental, and emerging markets and generating a cleaner future. The Company supplies essential industrial gases, related equipment and applications expertise to customers in dozens of industries, including refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, medical and food. As the leading global hydrogen supplier, Air Products develops, engineers, builds, owns and operates some of the world’s largest hydrogen projects. Through its sale of equipment businesses, the Company also provides turbomachinery, membrane systems and cryogenic containers globally.

Air Products had fiscal 2025 sales of $12 billion from operations in approximately 50 countries. For more information, visit airproducts.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this release and are not guarantees of future performance. While forward-looking statements are made in good faith and based on assumptions, expectations and projections that management believes are reasonable based on currently available information, actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors, including the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025 and other factors disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/air-products-to-expand-integrated-gas-supply-network-for-semiconductor-manufacturer-in-taiwan-302831489.html

SOURCE Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

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UOB partners Visa to launch new Visa Infinite tiers across ASEAN in landmark multi-market launch of such scale

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33 minutes ago

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July 22, 2026

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More than 300,000 cardholders will enjoy expanded suite of premium benefits as UOB strengthens its regional leadership in premium payment solutions.

SINGAPORE, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UOB has partnered with Visa, a global leader in digital payments, to relaunch several card products across its five key markets (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam) under Visa’s newly introduced premium card tiers, Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private.

UOB is progressively upgrading its suite of affluent and high-net-worth (HNW) card solutions to the new Visa Infinite tiers, reinforcing the Bank’s leadership in premium card innovation. With the relaunch, more than 300,000 UOB Visa Infinite cardholders across ASEAN will be upgraded to higher card tiers, giving them access to an expanded suite of premium benefits. All other cardholders will continue to enjoy their existing privileges, with no downgrades across the portfolio. Eligible UOB Visa Infinite cardholders will be notified of their new card tiers via UOB’s official channels from September onwards, with no action required from them.

UOB is currently Visa’s largest card issuer in ASEAN[1] and brings an unparalleled regional footprint and customer base, serving over 8.5 million customers across the region. As the first Visa issuer across ASEAN to execute a launch of this scale across multiple markets, UOB and Visa are setting a new benchmark for regional card offerings, delivering elevated privileges and experiences to affluent cardmembers in the region. This collaboration is timely as affluent spending in ASEAN experiences strong growth. The number of new UOB affluent cardholders[2] grew over 10 per cent year-on-year in 2025, while card billings for this segment surged more than 25 per cent in the same year.

Visa unveiled its refreshed Visa Infinite offering in Asia Pacific on 16 July 2026, reimagined for the evolving needs of today’s affluent consumers. Anchored in a three-tier card suite, the enhanced platform introduces greater flexibility, personalisation and differentiated benefits across the affluent spectrum. In addition to Visa Infinite, the portfolio now includes the newly launched Visa Infinite Privilege and Visa Infinite Private, enabling issuers to deliver more tailored value propositions, experiences and rewards to distinct customer segments within a unified premium framework.

Selected top-tier UOB cardholders across the region will enjoy access to enhanced platform privileges and UOB-exclusive curated experiences, tailored to their respective Visa Infinite tiers. This aligns with UOB’s sharpened customer segmentation approach and enhanced card value propositions, aimed at serving the unique needs of customers by offering exclusive privileges tailored to their lifestyle preferences.

Mr Pratik Bhattacharjee, Head of Group Cards and Payment Products, UOB, said, “As UOB continues to sharpen our customer-centric operating model, we are focused on serving our customers more holistically across the wealth spectrum. Our partnership with Visa marks a significant milestone in this journey, allowing us to deepen our engagement with affluent customers by curating exclusive experiences that money cannot buy. As we continue strengthening our offerings to cater to each customer’s aspirations and lifestyle, our goal is to connect with them through life moments and opportunities that truly matter.”

Mr. T.R. Ramachandran, Head of Products & Solutions for Asia Pacific, Visa, said, “The affluent segment is one of the fastest-growing consumer segments in Asia Pacific, with expectations evolving alongside it. Today’s affluent consumers are seeking experiences that are more personalised, seamless and relevant to their lifestyles. The refreshed Visa Infinite portfolio is designed to meet these changing expectations, and through our partnership with UOB, we are extending these enhanced experiences to affluent customers across Southeast Asia.”

Greater personalisation through tiered privileges

With Visa’s enhanced Infinite tier segmentation, selected cardholders will benefit from more tailored services, differentiated privileges and elevated experiences that reflect their evolving lifestyle needs. This includes access to curated regional and global lifestyle offers as well as premium destination-based travel and dining privileges worldwide as part of the base membership. In addition, selected cardholders will get exclusive access to top-tier concerts and global sporting events like FIFA World Cup™, and reserved entitlements to key lifestyle offerings under Visa Infinite Privilege. At the highest tier, Visa Infinite Private offers bespoke invitation-only experiences highly personalised for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Leveraging its deep understanding of affluent customers across the region, UOB will complement Visa’s refreshed benefits with exclusive privileges, curated experiences and value-added offerings tailored to the unique preferences of its cardmembers. For example, selected cardholders will be able to enjoy specially-customised luxury travel experiences and privileged access to curated series of rare timepieces.

Paired with the Bank’s unparalleled regional connectivity, advisory excellence and One Bank ecosystem, this partnership with Visa aligns with UOB’s aim to bring together banking, wealth and lifestyle holistically to all customers. This also furthers the Bank’s ambition to become the Bank of Choice for aspiring customers across ASEAN.

-END-

About UOB

UOB is a leading Asian bank with a global network in Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America. Operating through our head office in Singapore and banking subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, we have a global network of more than 470 branches and offices in 19 markets. Since its incorporation in 1935, UOB has grown organically and through a series of strategic acquisitions. Today, UOB is rated among the world’s top banks: Aa1 by Moody’s Investors Service and AA- by both S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings.

For more than nine decades, UOB has adopted a customer-centric approach to create long-term value by staying relevant through its enterprising spirit and doing right by its customers. UOB is focused on building the future of ASEAN – for the people and businesses within, and connecting with, ASEAN.

The Bank connects businesses to opportunities in the region with its unparalleled regional footprint and leverages data and insights to innovate and create personalised banking experiences and solutions catering to each customer’s unique needs and evolving preferences. UOB is also committed to help businesses forge a sustainable future, by fostering social inclusiveness, creating positive environmental impact and pursuing economic progress. UOB believes in being a responsible financial services provider and is steadfast in its support of art, social development of children and education, doing right by its communities and stakeholders.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at www.visa.com.sg 

[1] Largest card issuer by total billings

[2] Includes UOB Reserve Card, UOB Zenith Card and UOB Visa Infinite cards

 

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SOURCE UOB

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