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University of Utah to launch groundbreaking DARPA-backed critical minerals testbed

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The Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Testbed (SMART) initiative will provide a first-of-its-kind testing ecosystem to accelerate breakthrough technologies for rare earth elements and strengthen domestic supply chains.

SALT LAKE CITY, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of Utah, one of the nation’s leading research universities, is partnering with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to launch the Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Testbed (SMART), a major innovation platform designed to accelerate the United States’ capabilities in critical minerals and rare earth elements.

SMART will serve as a national hub for cutting-edge biotechnology research, providing organizations with tools to develop, test and scale breakthrough technologies, accelerating solutions that directly strengthen national defense and power the innovations of tomorrow.

The U.S. faces a growing need to strengthen its domestic supply of critical minerals and rare earth elements, the essential components of advanced technologies including electric vehicles, cellphones, renewable energy systems and national defense. Meeting this challenge will require bold new approaches for identifying, extracting and refining these materials.

With deep expertise in earth sciences, engineering and commercialization, the University of Utah is positioned to drive new research pathways and innovation models, advancing U.S. capabilities and helping shape the future of technology and manufacturing.

This effort builds on the University of Utah’s recent announcement of the Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, a university-wide initiative focused on expanding sustainable domestic supply chains through research, education and workforce development. Together, SMART and the institute position the university as a national leader in addressing critical minerals challenges from discovery to deployment.

“Necessity is the core driver of innovation. The U.S. desperately needs a testbed to accelerate our strategic material supply chain,” said Jakob Jensen, associate vice president for research at the University of Utah. “SMART is a state-of-the-art testing ecosystem that addresses a pressing need.”

“The launch of SMART reflects how the University of Utah is stepping forward to help solve one of the nation’s most urgent challenges,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. “By bringing together our strengths in science, engineering and policy, we are accelerating solutions that strengthen national security and build a more resilient, forward-looking critical minerals ecosystem.”

This first phase launches a larger, multi-phase initiative to expand national capacity in critical minerals research, development and deployment. Phase I will support DARPA’s Environmental Microbes as a BioEngineering Resource (EMBER) program, which is pioneering new ways to unlock America’s supply of rare earth elements. SMART is establishing a state-of-the-art benchmarking space on the University of Utah campus to accelerate the path from lab discovery to real-world solutions. Benchmarking infrastructure is often difficult to fund, yet it is essential for validating breakthrough technologies and determining their potential to scale.

“One of the biggest challenges in this space is not invention, but translation,” said Sha-Chelle Manning, chief of DARPA’s Commercial Strategy Office. “SMART is designed to reduce the risk of scaling new technologies by giving innovators a place to validate performance at meaningful scale, helping accelerate the transition from breakthrough science to actual capability.”

The testbed was developed in coordination and with the support of multiple Utah entities, including 47G, the Utah Mining Association and the World Trade Center. This collaboration represents a distinctive model for research-driven innovation and helps position the state as an ideal home for the lab.

“47G is proud to have played a key role in forging the relationships that made SMART possible,” said Aaron Starks, CEO and president of 47G. “This initiative is more than a research platform—it’s a testbed that will serve our local industry here in Utah while also advancing innovation and supply chain resilience nationwide. Our mission is to connect partners, align priorities and create collaborations that drive real impact.”

SMART is just the beginning. By investing in this platform, the University of Utah is helping position the nation as a leader in critical materials research and innovation. We welcome collaboration from industry, researchers and policymakers to expand this work and build a stronger, more resilient innovation ecosystem.

About the University of Utah
The University of Utah is the state’s flagship institution of higher education, with 18 schools and colleges, more than 100 undergraduate majors and graduate programs and an enrollment of more than 36,000 students. It is a member of the Association of American Universities—an invitation-only, prestigious group of 71 leading research institutions. Ranked No. 1 public university in the West by the Wall Street Journal, the U strives to be a model public university in delivering unmatched value in higher education and health care while making social, economic and cultural contributions that improve the quality of life throughout the state, the nation and the world.

Media contacts:
Amanda Ashley, Amanda.ashley@utah.edu, director, marketing and communications, Technology Licensing Office, University of Utah

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SOURCE The University of Utah

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DMCC Signs Strategic Partnership with Hong Kong Tinkam Capital to Drive Industrial Investment between Hong Kong and Dubai

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DMCC and Hong Kong Tinkam Capital (HKTC) sign strategic partnership to explore development of power and energy equipment production park in Dubai Collaboration aims to support industrial investment and Chinese company expansion in UAE across advanced manufacturing, energy and green tech sectorsPartnership reinforces growing UAE-China economic ties and Dubai’s advanced manufacturing ambitionsDMCC hosts over 1,000 Chinese companies in its district

DUBAI, UAE, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DMCC, the leading international business district that drives the flow of global trade through Dubai, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong Tinkam Capital (HKTC) to explore the development of a state-of-the-art power and energy equipment manufacturing park in Dubai, reinforcing industrial cooperation and investment between the UAE and China.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between both organisations to support the development of a power and energy equipment production park in Dubai while attracting upstream and downstream Chinese companies across the industry value chain in strategic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, green technology and energy.

Through the partnership, DMCC and HKTC will also facilitate knowledge exchange, promote industrial investment opportunities, and connect prospective Chinese enterprises with DMCC’s business ecosystem, reinforcing Dubai’s role as a gateway for Chinese company expansion and investment.

The high-level visit was facilitated by Wu Yufan (Elvis Wu), President of Longdy Group Greater China Region. The signing took place during a high-level visit to DMCC led by Guo Hongwei, Executive Deputy Director of the Management Committee of the New Quality Productive Forces Development Fund under the China Economic Reform Research Foundation, alongside Ye Xiongchang, Chairman of Hong Kong Tinkam Capital, and senior representatives from China’s advanced manufacturing, green tech, power and energy sectors. The delegation was welcomed by Ahmad Hamza, Chief Free Zone Affairs Officer at DMCC.

Ahmad Hamza, Chief Free Zone Affairs Officer, DMCC, said: “China remains one of DMCC’s most important strategic markets, with more than 1,000 Chinese companies now operating from our district and registrations growing at double-digit rates over the past five years. We welcome this partnership with Hong Kong Tinkam Capital that reflects our shared ambition to deepen commercial ties between the UAE and China while creating new opportunities across advanced manufacturing and energy infrastructure. By combining Hong Kong’s industrial expertise with Dubai’s world-class business environment, we are creating a platform to attract investment, strengthen industrial capabilities and support the next phase of economic growth.”

Ye Xiongchang, Chairman, Hong Kong Tinkam Capital, said: “This partnership reflects the growing momentum of the Dubai-Hong Kong investment corridor and creates a strong platform for deeper industrial collaboration between our two markets. Together with DMCC, we will explore opportunities to develop a world-class power and energy equipment manufacturing ecosystem in Dubai while supporting Chinese enterprises looking to establish and grow their presence in the UAE. By connecting industry, investment and expertise, we can help businesses access new markets and contribute to the region’s long-term industrial development.”

The MoU provides a framework for both organisations to cooperate on identifying investment opportunities, engaging prospective enterprises, sharing expertise and supporting projects that contribute to the development of Dubai’s industrial and energy ecosystem.

The agreement builds on the rapidly expanding economic relationship between the UAE and China. China remains the UAE’s largest trading partner, while DMCC is home to more than 1,000 Chinese companies operating across sectors including energy, technology, construction, financial services and precious metals and stones.

About DMCC
DMCC is a leading international business district that drives the flow of global trade through Dubai. We make it easier for our members to do business, helping them access the world’s fastest growing markets from a dynamic district that offers everything they need to thrive. This approach is why we are the preferred location for over 26,000 top multinationals and high-impact startups, contributing significantly to Dubai’s position as a global hub for trade and innovation. DMCC is where the world does business.

For more information, visit dmcc.ae.

About HKTC
HKTC is headquartered in Hong Kong, an international financial hub, and operates as a comprehensive financial group specializing in global asset allocation and cross-border capital management. The company focuses on two core areas—international trade and financial investment—and is committed to playing a pivotal role amid the ongoing transformation of the global economic landscape.

HKTC keenly identifies the opportunities presented by the reconfiguration of emerging industries, actively leverages Hong Kong’s unique role as a super connector, and adheres to highly compliant international operational standards to professionally guide China’s high-quality production capacity toward global deployment. We are not merely capital providers but also architects for industrial implementation—providing robust momentum for Chinese enterprises’ establishment and growth in overseas markets through innovative financial instruments and comprehensive capital services.

Especially in high-potential growth markets such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, HKTC has established a robust resource network and localized service capabilities. Leveraging world-class trade hubs like the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) as strategic pivot points and capitalizing on its exceptional ecosystem that aggregates global resources, we assist China enterprises in overcoming geographical constraints to precisely align advanced production capacities with the economic development needs of host countries. Throughout this process, HKTC consistently adheres to the philosophy of “co-deliberation, co-construction, and shared benefits,” emphasizing deep integration with local economies to achieve long-term win-win outcomes for Chinese capital, Chinese technology, and host country development, thereby truly enabling Chinese production capacities to take root and flourish overseas.

In the future, HKTC will continue to collaborate with world-class partners such as DMCC to empower more enterprises to access the fastest-growing markets globally, serving as a vital financial bridge that facilitates seamless economic circulation between China and the world economy.

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SOURCE Dubai Multi Commodities Centre

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TGT Technology at MWC 2026: Focus on Edge Intelligence to Build the “Hub” for Global Information Services in the AI Era

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SHANGHAI, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From June 24 to 26, TGT Technology made its debut at the 2026 MWC Shanghai under the theme “AI-Empowered, Edge Intelligence,” showcasing its strategic transition from a “connectivity service provider” to a “leader in omnichannel intelligent connectivity solutions.” As a globally leading cloud communications (AIoT) service platform, TGT Technology is redefining the infrastructure landscape of the edge intelligence era.

TGT Technology’s booth remained consistently bustling, drawing significant attention from global customers, telecom operators, and industry partners.

Focusing on “Cloud Communications + Edge AI” to Build an Autonomously Evolving Intelligent Entity

“In the AI era, the efficiency of data flow determines the boundaries of intelligence,” said Mr. Henry Zhang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of TGT Technology. Leveraging global connectivity data accumulated from tens of millions of endpoints, TGT Technology’s global cloud communications (AIoT) service platform is evolving from a passive connectivity pipeline into a “decision-making brain” with autonomous learning capabilities.

TGT has built a unique “cloud-edge collaboration” architecture: the cloud efficiently schedules massive amounts of data, while the edge performs real-time inference and decision-making at the endpoint, effectively addressing the three core challenges of latency, bandwidth, and privacy and security. Its proprietary vertical-domain agents can proactively sense scenario requirements, enabling end-to-end intelligence—from intelligent scheduling of network resources to dynamic optimization of connectivity strategies—and providing global enterprise customers with continuously evolving intelligent connectivity capabilities.

Deep integration of “cellular + satellite” expands coverage across land, air, and space

The large-scale implementation of edge intelligence begins with ubiquitous connectivity. Through strategic partnerships with leading global satellite operators, TGT Technology has established a layered connectivity architecture comprising “near-field Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, wide-area 4G/5G, and airspace MEO/LEO,” achieving continuous coverage from the ground to low altitudes and up to high altitudes.

vSIM/eSIM Technological Innovation: Connecting Millions of AI Devices

Through its independently developed vSIM/eSIM technology suite, the TGT platform has connected millions of AI devices, covering a diverse range of categories, including smartphones, portable mobile devices, smart wearables, in-vehicle devices, and industrial IoT gateways. As one of the few platforms in the industry to offer a complete technology suite—including CloudSIM, SoftSIM, eSIM, and iSIM—TGT Technology is emerging as a critical foundation for AI infrastructure.

Learn more: https://en.tugegroup.com/
Partnerships: sales@51tgt.com

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SOURCE TGT Technology

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HashKey Exchange Launches New Flagship Crypto Trading App

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HONG KONG, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HashKey Holdings Limited (3887.HK), a comprehensive Asian digital asset group, announced a landmark global product and brand strategy launch with a new flagship Crypto Trading App featuring a “multi-site unification” model now made available to users.

The two previously separate applications (HashKey Exchange and HashKey Global) have been successfully merged into a single portal. Under strict compliance boundaries, this upgrade integrates core jurisdictional hubs including Hong Kong, Singapore, the Middle East (Dubai), and Bermuda. The company enters into a new phase of efficient synergy across core compliant markets in Asia and worldwide, serving as a key operational milestone for its core “Asia Connect” strategy at the product infrastructure layer.

In the early stages of the compliant virtual asset industry, licensed exchanges typically operated under regional “siloed” models due to varying legal and regulatory requirements across countries. The core of the “multi-site unification” lies in “unified entry, localized compliance.” Users can now download a single application to seamlessly manage their compliant accounts across the Hong Kong, Global, Singapore, or Middle East regions within the same App based on their respective KYC (Know Your Customer) and KYB (Know Your Business) credentials. While front-end interfaces are aggregated, underlying services remain strictly bound to local regulatory frameworks through rigorous localized management. Regional features within the App are accessible only to users meeting specific local criteria and users in unauthorized countries or regions cannot access restricted station features, streamlining user interaction paths while clearly adhering to compliance redlines.

With the official launch of the new App, HashKey Exchange has standardized its service dimensions for each site according to the latest local licensing qualifications. By adding and deeply integrating multi-regional sites, the platform offers investors a secure, compliant, and diversified global digital asset trading ecosystem.

HashKey Hong Kong (Base Hub): Focuses primarily on spot trading with robust OTC capabilities—supporting fiat on/off-ramps for 4 fiat currencies and around 40 digital assets. Additionally, it features a wealth management section covering various tokenized assets and compliant on-chain financial products, catering to both retail and Professional Investors (PI) with competitive asset allocation options.

HashKey Singapore: Focuses mainly on OTC block trading and supports opening same-name virtual accounts. Minimum OTC orders start at $10 USD, with single-transaction caps up to $50 million USD for corporate clients and $8 million USD for individual clients across 21 cryptocurrencies.

HashKey Middle East: Provides spot trading and proprietary brokerage services.

HashKey Global: Focuses on derivative trading scenarios, serving international compliant users while strictly isolating restricted local jurisdictions.

Alongside expanding its service footprint, the App has undergone comprehensive feature upgrades. The new system integrates a Web3 wallet service portal isolated from centralized exchange operations, offering users a compliant gateway to explore the on-chain ecosystem.

For institutional users seeking high-security asset allocation, the unified HashKey Exchange App delivers rigorous cybersecurity protection backed by multi-jurisdictional licensing. Driven by ongoing technical upgrades, the platform maintains industry-leading digital asset insurance coverage to safeguard a smooth and secure trading experience. From its roots in Hong Kong to deep anchors in financial hubs like Singapore and the Middle East, HashKey Exchange is weaving fragmented footholds into a seamless, fast, global compliant trading network. Moving forward, HashKey Exchange will continue using the Pan-Asian region as its core connection to expand the boundaries of financial infrastructure for compliant digital assets.

About HashKey Exchange

HashKey Exchange is a digital asset exchange under the listed company HashKey Holdings Limited (3887.HK), dedicated to setting new benchmarks for virtual asset exchanges in compliance, fund protection, and platform security. Hash Blockchain Limited (HashKey Exchange) is among the first batch of licensed retail virtual asset exchanges in Hong Kong. It currently holds Type 1 (Dealing in securities) and Type 7 (Providing automated trading services) licenses under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (SFO), as well as the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO) granted by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong. HashKey Exchange has obtained ISO 27001 (Information Security) and ISO 27701 (Data Privacy) management system certifications. In compliance with laws and regulations, HashKey Exchange does not provide services to users in Mainland China, the United States, and certain other jurisdictions.

HashKey Exchange News Release & Advertising Standard Terms and Disclaimer

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SOURCE HashKey Exchange

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