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Governor Murphy and Princeton University President Eisgruber Announce Microsoft and CoreWeave as Founding Partners in NJ AI Hub

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Major Artificial Intelligence Hub Will Bolster State’s Innovation Economy

Microsoft, CoreWeave, New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and Princeton University Expected to Invest Over $72 Million to Support the Long-Term Success of the Hub

TRENTON, N.J., Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Governor Phil Murphy and Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber today announced that Microsoft and CoreWeave will join the State and Princeton as founding partners in the NJ AI Hub. The NJ AI Hub will serve as a state-of-the-art, collaborative ecosystem that integrates world-class research, innovation, education, and workforce development. As part of this investment in the NJ AI Hub, Microsoft will leverage its TechSpark program to provide expertise and resources for AI skilling and workforce development to create opportunities for innovation in New Jersey and the region.

The NJ AI Hub will help position New Jersey as a leading East Coast center for AI innovation. It will be located along Route 1 — New Jersey’s innovation corridor — at 619 Alexander Road in West Windsor, in space provided by Princeton University.

“As the AI industry rapidly evolves, it’s imperative that we capitalize on this moment in New Jersey. I’m incredibly proud of this partnership with the top leaders in the industry and higher education, which further establishes our state as a hub for cutting-edge AI innovation and talent,” said Governor Murphy. “AI’s economic and innovation potential is vast, giving us the chance to take our state to new heights. This partnership will not only solidify New Jersey’s position as a global technology leader, it will also attract high-paying, sustainable jobs for our residents, allowing for a stronger and more prosperous future for our state.”

“The addition of Microsoft and CoreWeave as founding partners of the NJ AI Hub demonstrates how government, higher education and the corporate sector are coming together to advance AI innovation and the regional innovation ecosystem — two of Princeton’s highest priorities,” President Eisgruber said. “I’m eager to see many of the state’s other excellent colleges and universities join this effort as its development continues.”

New Jersey has long been at the forefront of American innovation and AI is the next chapter of this journey,” said Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft. “By leveraging the strengths of the private sector, Princeton, and the state of New Jersey, our goal is to build a thriving regional AI economy that not only drives economic growth, but sets a new standard for research, development, and workforce development.”

“This collaboration represents the best of what private-public partnerships can achieve, bringing together the brightest minds from government, academia, the business community, and our team of experts to foster groundbreaking AI innovation in New Jersey,” said Brian Venturo, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at CoreWeave. “Together, we’re advancing the future of technology while driving meaningful economic growth and strengthening New Jersey’s role as a leader in the global AI landscape. New Jersey is our home, and we’re excited to continue our partnership with the state by making it a leader in AI advancement.”

“AI is rapidly evolving and New Jersey is capitalizing on this moment to cement our place as a national leader in the industry. By bringing together world-class leaders like Princeton, Microsoft, and CoreWeave, Governor Murphy is building upon the Garden State’s longstanding legacy in innovation and helping advance cutting-edge AI technologies,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The opportunity presented by AI aligns with Governor Murphy’s vision for cultivating high-growth sectors, with the goal of creating family-sustaining career opportunities. Showcasing New Jersey’s bustling innovation community, talent pool, and robust resources will help AI companies recognize the state’s value proposition for growing innovative companies of the future.”

Microsoft, CoreWeave, the NJEDA, and Princeton University are founding equity partners in the newly created NJ AI Hub. Together, they expect to invest over $72 million to support the long-term success of the Hub, including up to $25 million of non-binding commitment from the NJEDA.

A portion of NJEDA’s and CoreWeave’s committed funding will include a planned NJ AI Venture Fund that will support innovation commercialization through equity investments.

Microsoft, CoreWeave, the NJEDA, and Princeton University will focus on the following three pillars of programming at the NJ AI Hub:

Research and development:
The NJ AI Hub will help companies across a range of industry sectors integrate and apply AI in their businesses and use it to advance their research and development efforts. The Hub will focus on applications of AI in several industry sectors that have strong footprints in New Jersey such as the life sciences, clean energy and climate resilience, telecommunications and cybersecurity, and infrastructure and logistics. The NJ AI Hub will also actively engage New Jersey’s research universities on applied research in AI and will host events to connect companies developing and using AI tools with cutting-edge research and potential collaborators.Commercializing and accelerating innovation:
An AI accelerator will be operated at the NJ AI Hub, which will help facilitate the growth of the early-stage AI ecosystem in New Jersey. The accelerator will host cohorts of startup ventures and will provide them with essential support services such as workspace, compute power, legal assistance, and business development advice. In addition, these startups will have coordinated access to the NJ AI Hub’s corporate partners for mentorship and networking opportunities.Strengthening AI education and workforce development:
The Hub will work closely with New Jersey’s higher education community to promote high-quality talent development at all levels and will leverage the resources of Microsoft’s TechSpark program. By developing shared curricula, projects, and teaching tools for AI courses, training community college faculty in teaching AI, and creating upskilling opportunities to help workers across disciplines apply AI in their work, the Hub will coordinate efforts to build the State’s pool of AI talent. Ongoing collaboration with employers will ensure that education and training programs are providing trainees with industry-recognized credentials and in-demand skills for the workforce. The NJ AI Hub will also be able to connect employers with opportunities to host AI apprenticeships, develop customized upskilling training for their workers, recruit talent from New Jersey schools for jobs and internships, and partner with project-based AI courses at the college and graduate level.

Through this new AI Hub, Microsoft will be bringing its TechSpark program to New Jersey. Founded in 2017, Microsoft TechSpark fosters inclusive economic opportunity across the US, including job creation and innovation, by working in communities and investing in local organizations. TechSpark operates across all 50 states and to date has helped secure more than $700 million in community funding for local innovation, trained 65,000 people in critical technology skills, and created 4,500 jobs.

Plans for an AI Hub were announced by Governor Murphy and President Eisgruber in 2023. Pending NJEDA Board approval, the NJ AI Hub will be supported through the NJEDA’s Strategic Innovation Center (SIC) initiative. The NJEDA has executed a non-binding term sheet to support the NJ AI Hub’s operating budget for up to five years. In total, the NJEDA is anticipated to invest up to $25 million to support the NJ AI Hub and the NJ AI Venture AI Fund.

For further updates, please visit the NJ AI Hub website at njaihub.org.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.

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EPWK HOLDINGS LTD. Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering

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XIAMEN, China, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — EPWK HOLDINGS LTD. (the “Company”) (NasdaqGM: EPWK), a company that connects businesses with great talents through innovative and efficient cloud-sourcing platforms, announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 2,750,000 Class A ordinary shares at a public offering price of $4.10 per share. The Class A ordinary shares start trading on Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “EPWK” on February 6, 2025.

The Company will receive aggregate gross proceeds of $11.275 million from the Offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days after the closing of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 412,500 Class A ordinary shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The Offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used for business development and marketing, research and development, exploration of new product and service offerings and the creation of an online global design center, and general corporate purposes and working capital.

Cathay Securities, Inc. acted as the representative of the underwriters, with Revere Securities LLC acting as co-underwriter (collectively, the “Underwriters”) for the Offering. VCL Law LLP served as counsel to the Company. Winston & Strawn LLP served as counsel to the Underwriters.

The Offering was conducted pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-269657) (the “Registration Statement”), previously filed with and subsequently declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 3, 2025. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the Registration Statement. A final prospectus relating to the Offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, electronic copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from Cathay Securities, Inc. at 40 Wall Street, Suite 3600, New York, NY 10005, or by telephone at +1 (855) 939-3888.

This press release has been prepared for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About EPWK HOLDINGS LTD.

The Company connects businesses with outstanding talent through an innovative and efficient integrated crowdsourcing platform, providing creative transaction services for small and medium-sized enterprises and suppliers. The Company was founded by Huang Guohua, former chief reporter of Fujian Daily Press Group, and conducts its operations through its subsidiaries and contractual arrangements with the variable interest entity in China. For more information, please visit the Company’s website: www.epwk.com

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations
EPWK HOLDINGS LTD.
Phone: +86 0592-5978725
Email: chenyanjun@epwk.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epwk-holdings-ltd-announces-pricing-of-initial-public-offering-302370388.html

SOURCE EPWK HOLDINGS LTD.

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SIMONA AMERICA Group Advances Sustainability Commitments with SBTi Validation As Part of SIMONA AG

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Reduction of CO2 emissions by 42% by 2030 (Scope 1 and 2)SIMONA’s contribution to restricting global warming to 1.5 degreesSignificant milestone in the execution of SIMONA’s sustainability strategy

ATLANTA, Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SIMONA AMERICA Group, a subsidiary of SIMONA AG, is proud to announce that the company’s ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This milestone underscores SIMONA’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint and contributing to the global effort to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

SIMONA first signed up to the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) at the beginning of 2024. The rationale behind this move was to ensure an effective reduction in the company’s carbon footprint, while also making a positive contribution to global climate change mitigation. In joining the SBTi, SIMONA has taken responsibility for the environment and set itself long-term goals that are both quantifiable and based on scientific principles.

As part of these science-based targets, SIMONA has pledged to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 42% in absolute terms by 2030, using 2022 as the baseline year. Additionally, the company has committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services by 51.6% per ton of manufactured product within the same timeframe. The SBTi has recognized these targets as ambitious and aligned with the latest climate science and objectives of the Paris Agreement.

“The SBTi’s confirmation of our climate targets is a significant achievement within our sustainability strategy. It illustrates that we are on the right track when it comes to making a genuine contribution to global climate change mitigation. Working closely with our partners and customers, we are doing everything in our power to achieve our goals in a determined and effective manner,” said Johannes Kappler, Head of Sustainability at SIMONA AG.

At SIMONA AMERICA Group, sustainability remains a top priority across all facilities, operations, and product offerings. Through the increased use of renewable energy, process efficiency improvements, and material innovation—including the expansion of the TERREFORM® line for the aerospace industry and the installation of more than 3,300 solar panels at the Archbald, PA facility—SIMONA AMERICA Group is actively contributing to the company’s broader carbon reduction goals.

“SIMONA has started its sustainability journey much like every other company—by gathering a baseline for carbon accounting,” said Autumn Werner, Sustainability Manager for SIMONA AMERICA Group. “However, with SBTi validation, we have also added accountability to ensure that our efforts lead to real emission reductions while supporting the global goal of restricting warming to 1.5 degrees.”

Werner further emphasized the importance of industry-wide collaboration in sustainability: “SIMONA’s work towards becoming sustainable doesn’t just stop at products—it extends to real efforts across all of our facilities to drive meaningful emission reductions. The SBTi validation keeps us on track and aligns us with the many other companies committed to measurable, science-based climate action.”

To achieve these ambitious targets, SIMONA AMERICA Group is implementing specific initiatives, including transitioning to green electricity, optimizing production processes, and increasing the use of sustainable raw materials. Additionally, efforts to integrate post-industrial and customer waste into new products further reinforce the company’s circular economy approach.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) was established in 2015 as a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It provides companies with the framework to set rigorous emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science.

As SIMONA AMERICA Group continues to advance its sustainability strategy, the company remains committed to meaningful, science-backed actions that drive measurable impact for the environment and the industries it serves.

About SIMONA AMERICA Group

SIMONA AMERICA Group is a diversified manufacturer of high-quality thermoplastic products designed to provide innovative solutions and world-class customer service throughout the United States. As a subsidiary of SIMONA AG, the company is dedicated to sustainability, excellence, and advancing material technologies across multiple industries.

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SOURCE SIMONA AMERICA Group

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Walter P Moore receives ACEC California top award for CAA ICON’s Intuit Dome

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Last night, the American Council of Engineering Companies of California (ACEC California) announced that Walter P Moore has won the prestigious Golden State Award for their work on the Intuit Dome located in Inglewood, California.

Intuit Dome realized owner Steve Ballmer’s vision for the NBA Los Angeles Clippers to play in an iconic venue within a complex that houses all team functions under a single roof. The 18,000-seat arena is the NBA’s most environmentally friendly arena and benefits the Inglewood community year-round. The venue anchors a 1.14 million-square-foot facility including state-of-the-art practice and training facilities, team offices, fan gathering spaces, and indoor and outdoor basketball courts open to the public. The distinctive diagrid shell roof, covered in diamond-shaped ETFE and PTFE fabric panels, is designed to resemble a basketball net, making Intuit Dome stand out from other NBA arenas.

Walter P Moore’s team of structural, enclosure, seismic, and construction engineering specialists blended their expertise to optimize the roof geometry, connections, and panel layouts to achieve the goals of strength, beauty, and practicality. Seismic safety was a concern because the site is 1.25 miles from the Newport-Inglewood Fault.

The team created an elegant and ingenious solution that allows the light diagrid shell to behave independently from the much stiffer main arena structure that supports it during a seismic event. They connected the diagrid shell to the arena roof at its top and then laterally supported it at node points down its height with innovative toggle-brace connections. The toggle-braces provide lateral and gravity support while allowing the shell to “swish like a hula skirt” around the more rigid brace frame structure. Intuit Dome also features an enormous one-of-a-kind “Halo” board, a one-million pound, 360-degree, double-sided video board with retractable end pieces that are suspended from the roof, along with state-of-the-art rigging and catwalk systems that enhance the venue’s capabilities.

Intuit Dome is a fully electric facility with sufficient solar panels and batteries to power the arena for an entire concert or basketball game. It is the first NBA arena to achieve LEED Platinum certification under LEED v4. Walter P Moore reduced embodied carbon in the concrete by over 20 percent by collaborating with the concrete supplier to obtain supply-chain-specific Environmental Produce Declarations for all concrete mixes; as a result, the concrete is 50 percent more energy efficient than required by the California Green Building Code.

The complex opened on budget and three months ahead of schedule in July 2024.

Congratulations, Walter P Moore, for capturing ACEC California’s 2025 Golden State Award!

Photographs of all Engineering Excellence Award-winning projects can be found at: 2025 Engineering Excellence Award Winners – American Council of Engineering Companies of California

About Walter P Moore
Walter P Moore is an international company of engineers, innovators, and creative people who solve some of the world’s most complex structural and infrastructure challenges. Providing structural, diagnostics, civil, traffic, parking, transportation, enclosure, technology consulting, and construction engineering services, they design solutions that are cost- and resource-efficient, forward-thinking, and help support and shape communities worldwide. Founded in 1931 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, Walter P Moore’s 900+ professionals work across 24 U.S. offices and seven international locations. For more information, visit www.walterpmoore.com, or follow Walter P Moore on LinkedIn, X (Formerly Twitter), Facebook or Instagram.

About ACEC California
ACEC California is a 70+ year-old, nonprofit association of private consulting engineering and land surveying firms. As a statewide organization, we are dedicated to enhancing the consulting engineering and land surveying professions, protecting the general public, and promoting use of the private sector professionals in the growth and development of our state. Follow us on Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | X (Formerly Twitter) | LinkedIn 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walter-p-moore-receives-acec-california-top-award-for-caa-icons-intuit-dome-302369770.html

SOURCE American Council of Engineering Companies, California

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