Technology

The 4th BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize Award Ceremony Concludes with Great Success

Published

2 months ago

May 23, 2026

Scientific Research Achievements in Five Fields Showcase Hong Kong’s Strength in Innovation and Technology Commercialisation

HONG KONG, May 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 4th BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize Award Ceremony, organised by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation (HKATI) and title-sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited (BOCHK), was concluded successfully. The Ceremony was officiated by distinguished guests including Mr Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (NCCPPCC); Mr Zhang Yong, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Zhang Changwei, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK; Professor Tong Wai-cheung, Chairman of the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong; Professor Teng Jin-Guang, Chair of HKATI; and representatives from Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, and Science and Technology Bureaus of cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The award laureates in the five major fields have made research achievements that possess both international frontier and strong application value, making outstanding contributions to core technological breakthroughs and the commercialisation of research outcomes. The laureates are Professor Lin Dahua, in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, recognised for his systematic innovations in computer vision and multimodal intelligence; Professor Chan Kwan Chee Allen, in Life and Health, recognised for his outstanding contributions to the development of non-invasive diagnostic technologies using cell-free plasma DNA; Professor Yu Changyuan, in Advanced Manufacturing, recognised for his breakthrough in the research and applications of photonic information devices and systems; Mr Kwock Yin Lun Alvin, Ms Ip Pui Yin Michelle and Mr Zhang Yu Rex, in FinTech, recognised for their pioneering work in digital asset insurance and generative AI security; and Professor Lu Yi-Chun, in New Materials and New Energy, recognised for her pioneering contributions to aqueous batteries.

The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is a prestigious award in the field of innovation and technology in Hong Kong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Since its establishment, the award has consistently focused on major national strategic needs and Hong Kong’s research strengths, aiming to encourage researchers and innovation talent to drive the commercialisation of scientific and technological achievements. The number of nominations for this edition has increased significantly by more than 73% compared with the previous edition, reflecting the growing innovation and technology ecosystem in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area’s ability to gather high-calibre researchers and high-quality innovation projects. The laureates in each field will receive a cash award of HK$2 million, with a total prize pool of HK$10 million, fully sponsored by BOCHK.

At the ceremony, Professor Teng Jin-Guang, Chair of HKATI, delivered welcome remarks and stated: “This year marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The plan explicitly calls for moving faster to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, developing new quality productive forces, supporting Hong Kong to develop into an international innovation and technology hub, and building an international hub for high-calibre talents. It presents a historic opportunity for Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development. As the organiser, HKATI will closely align with the strategic deployments of the 15th Five-Year Plan, continue to fully support Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development, and leverage the influence of its awards to promote deeper integration of technological and industrial innovation — contributing to the building of Hong Kong as an international innovation and technology hub and to the nation’s goal of self-reliance and strength in science and technology.”

Mr Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the NCCPPCC, delivered opening remarks at the ceremony. He stated: “Since the establishment of the Innovation and Technology Bureau (now the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau) in 2015, Hong Kong has gradually moved away from short-term thinking and accumulated a solid foundation.” He envisions that with another decade of dedicated cultivation, innovation and technology will emerge by 2036 as a major pillar industry alongside finance, trade, and shipping, forging a new economic landscape for Hong Kong. He also advocates drawing on the close ‘government-industry-academia-research’ collaboration experience of places like Sweden. Finally, he extended his congratulations to the laureates of the 4th BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize, thanked Bank of China (Hong Kong) for its sponsorship, and encouraged different sectors to persevere persistently, injecting new impetus into Hong Kong’s development and helping the nation achieve the grand goal of becoming a world leader in science and technology at an early date.

Professor Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivered opening remarks at the ceremony. He stated: “The Government is leveraging HK$10 billion measures such as the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+), the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS), and the Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund (ITIF) to organically connect a complete pathway covering upstream R&D, midstream transformation and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, and downstream industrialisation. With clearer industrial policies, the Government aims to promote the development of the real economy and contribute Hong Kong’s strength to the nation’s drive to build a modern industrial system. The HKATI and BOCHK have continuously organised this award, building an important platform for research talents in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to showcase outstanding research achievements.”

Mr Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of BOCHK, remarked, “Technological innovation cannot flourish without the precise nourishment of financial resources. As a local bank with deep roots in Hong Kong for over a century, and serving as Bank of China Group’s Southeast Asia regional headquarters, BOCHK has always been at the forefront of serving as an “enabler” and “practitioner” of technological innovation, fully supporting the development of Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub. Looking forward, BOCHK will continue to join hands with sectors of society, and advance innovation by building a technology and innovation ecosystem that connects the government, investment community, research institutes and industry leaders. By leveraging financial resources to support technological advancements and pushing forward concrete measures to drive industrial upgrades, BOCHK aims to make greater contribution for Hong Kong’s better integration into the overall national development.”

Since its establishment in 2022, the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize is now in its fourth edition. Its Review Committee brings together leading scholars around the world, upholding rigorous professional standards across the five major fields and earning broad recognition for its fairness and integrity. At the same time, past laureates have actively promoted the commercialisation of research outcomes, science popularisation education, and collaboration among industry, academia and research institutions, attracting frequent media attention and generating growing social impact. Looking ahead, the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize will continue to bring together the strengths of research, industry and finance, support more promising research achievements toward real-world application, and inject sustained momentum into Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem.

For further information about the 4th laureates, please visit www.stip.hk.

High-resolution event photo selection link: https://v.pixcheese.com/s/tHTLNBFZsmv

About the BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize

The BOCHK Science and Technology Innovation Prize (STIP), established in 2022 by the Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation and title sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong), is a non-governmental merit-based award. The STIP aims to reward outstanding scientists and research teams in Hong Kong or in research-related corporations/organisations set up by Hong Kong institutions and located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, for their significant achievements in scientific and technological innovation and transformation. The STIP encourages them to serve the motherland, connect to the Greater Bay Area, and contribute to the world with its foothold in Hong Kong.

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SOURCE Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation

Technology

Monport MEGAS Brings Advanced LightBurn Features to Desktop CO2 Laser Engraving

Published

21 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

New 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver brings LightBurn’s advanced feature set — autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera placement — directly into the software, closing a gap most “LightBurn compatible” machines leave open.

SEATTLE, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As LightBurn continues to be the preferred software for makers, educators, and small manufacturing businesses, Monport is emphasizing the advanced workflow capabilities of its MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver. The system enables users to perform autofocus, wireless connectivity, and live camera positioning directly inside LightBurn, creating a more streamlined production workflow than the basic compatibility offered by many desktop laser systems.

The integration allows users to complete nearly every production step directly inside LightBurn rather than switching between multiple software applications.

The announcement positions the MEGAS as a candidate for best CO2 laser engraver among software-focused buyers: makers, Etsy and Shopify sellers, and small production shops who run LightBurn daily and have grown frustrated switching between a manufacturer’s app and the software they actually use to build and send jobs. The feature announcement coincides with Monport’s Summer Sale, which drops the MEGAS to $2,799.99 for a limited time.

Why “LightBurn Compatible” Doesn’t Always Mean Full Support

LightBurn is the industry-standard control software for hobbyist and small-business laser systems, but compatibility varies widely between machines. Many desktop CO2 laser engravers can send basic cut and engrave jobs to LightBurn, yet require a separate manufacturer app for autofocus, camera alignment or wireless setup—breaking the workflow and adding extra steps every time a job changes materials or needs repositioning.

Industry buyers researching a 70W laser engraver often discover this gap only after purchase: a listing says “LightBurn compatible,” but autofocus still means picking up a manual gauge, and camera alignment means opening a second piece of software just to preview where a design will land.

Going Beyond Basic LightBurn Compatibility

Many competing desktop laser systems support basic LightBurn functions for cutting and engraving. Advanced features such as autofocus, wireless camera positioning and complete wireless workflow integration, however, are often limited, and may require proprietary software, or are unavailable inside LightBurn itself.

The Monport MEGAS was engineered to provide these advanced functions directly within LightBurn, helping users spend less time switching between applications and more time producing finished products— one of the reasons Monport designed the MEGAS specifically for LightBurn power users.

Autofocus Without Leaving LightBurn

On the MEGAS, autofocus is triggered and confirmed directly inside LightBurn, so operators can set material height and start a job without switching to a separate focusing tool or app. For a 70W laser engraver running frequent material changes—from thin acrylic sheet to thicker basswood board—that single-window workflow removes one of the more repetitive steps in a typical production day.

Wireless Connectivity Simplifies Shop Workflow

The wireless connection also enables operators to send jobs to the machine without repeatedly reconnecting USB cables, making the workflow especially useful in classrooms, shared makerspaces and production environments where multiple computers may access the laser.

The MEGAS connects to LightBurn over Wi-Fi, removing the tethered USB connection many desktop CO2 laser engravers still require. That means the machine can be positioned away from a workstation and run jobs sent wirelessly, a common request among small-shop and classroom users managing limited floor space or shared equipment.

Live Camera Placement Inside LightBurn

An onboard wireless camera streams a live view of the work surface into LightBurn, letting users position and align artwork on pre-printed or irregular material directly on screen instead of manually measuring and test-firing the laser.

From Design File to Finished Product

For many laser users, efficiency is measured by how quickly a design becomes a finished product. With the MEGAS, users can import artwork into LightBurn, position the design using the live wireless camera, activate autofocus with a single click, and begin engraving without leaving the software.

By keeping every major production step inside one interface, the workflow reduces setup time, minimizes alignment errors, and simplifies repeat production for businesses engraving dozens—or even hundreds—of personalized products each day on their desktop CO2 laser engraver.

Real-World Material Performance

To demonstrate production versatility, during internal testing, Monport evaluated the MEGAS across several materials commonly used by Etsy sellers, gift businesses and production workshops:

Plywood — crisp engraved wooden signs with clean edgesAcrylic — polished awards and plaques with sharp detailLeather — high-contrast wallet engraving with minimal scorching

The testing demonstrates that a single desktop CO2 laser engraver can handle multiple product categories without requiring significant workflow changes.

Better ROI for Small Businesses

Monport also compared estimated material costs with typical retail pricing across four popular product categories:

Engraved plywood sign: Approximately $35 retail price with about $5 in material costs.Engraved acrylic award: Approximately $45 retail price with about $8 in material costs.Engraved leather wallet: Approximately $55 retail price with about $12 in material costs.

Based on estimated material costs alone, these products show potential material-cost margins of approximately 75% to 85%, before accounting for labor, packaging, shipping, platform fees and other operating expenses. Monport says the combination of higher-margin products, intelligent batch engraving, and a streamlined LightBurn workflow can help small businesses, Etsy sellers, and Shopify merchants recover their investment more quickly as production scales.

Built for Professional LightBurn Users

While M-Design Hub, Monport’s free Windows and macOS software, offers AI-powered image processing, one-click material settings and intelligent batch engraving, Monport says the MEGAS was equally designed for experienced LightBurn users who prefer complete control over every project.

Supporting both software environments gives creators the flexibility to choose an automated workflow for everyday production or LightBurn’s advanced tools for more complex engraving jobs—a combination Monport believes makes the case for the MEGAS as a best CO2 laser engraver choice regardless of skill level.

“LightBurn has become the workflow that thousands of makers and small businesses rely on every day,” said Monport CEO.

“Our goal with the MEGAS was to eliminate unnecessary software switching by bringing advanced features like autofocus, wireless connectivity and live camera positioning directly into LightBurn. That lets users focus on production instead of setup.”

Explore Advanced LightBurn Features on the MEGAS

Monport is positioning the MEGAS as an entry point for LightBurn users who want to explore the software’s advanced feature set without adding a second app to their workflow. Full setup guides and LightBurn configuration walkthroughs for the MEGAS are available on Monport’s website.

Summer Sale Pricing

As part of Monport’s Summer Sale this July, the MEGAS desktop CO2 laser engraver is available at a special offer price of $2,799.99—the limited-time promotional price on the machine to date. The discount is applied automatically at checkout; no promo code is required. The offer runs for a limited time or while supplies last and includes two complimentary laser marking spray bottles, used to prepare bare metal surfaces such as stainless steel for laser marking.

Availability

The Monport MEGAS 70W desktop CO2 laser engraver is available through Monport’s official website.

About Monport

Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Seattle, Monport designs desktop and industrial CO2 and fiber laser engraving and cutting machines for makers, small businesses and workshops, backed by U.S.-based technical support.

Media Contact:

Monport Laser
Email: official@monportlaser.com
Website: https://monportlaser.com

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SOURCE Monport

Technology

Tredence Launches Domain Native Forward Deployed Engineering to Close the Last Mile of Enterprise AI

Published

21 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

The FDE practice builds an elite class of engineers at the intersection of domain expertise and data & AI, solving enterprises’ hardest business problems.

BENGALURU, India and SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tredence, the world’s leading data & AI services company, today announced the launch of its Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE) practice, committing to build a dedicated pool of 200 FDEs over the next 12-18 months. Through this practice, the company intends to build the most domain-native engineering capability in the market, helping clients move faster from problem to impact.

Built to tackle high-impact challenges for Fortune 100 enterprises, Tredence’s FDEs are domain specialists first and engineers second. A Retail FDE understands markdown cycles and assortment planning. A supply chain FDE understands network constraints and demand volatility. A revenue growth management (RGM) FDE understands trade spend and price elasticity.

Each Tredence FDE brings that depth to the work of building and scaling agentic systems, applying deep engineering expertise to the business decisions that matter most, from pricing and promotions to the data and semantic foundations that power enterprise operations. They are platform agnostic by design, working across clients’ existing technology stack, including Databricks, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Snowflake, AWS, and leading frontier model providers.

Enterprise AI often struggles at the last mile, where data, systems, and business decisions must come together to create measurable value. Tredence’s Forward Deployed Engineers combine speed, powered by deep AI, data, and engineering expertise, with depth, built through years of domain experience, to turn AI into business outcomes faster.

“Enterprise AI is at an inflection point, and success now depends on combining AI-native engineering with industry depth to turn technology into real business outcomes. Our FDEs are designed to solve the hardest business problems, lead end-to-end AI transformations, and take ownership all the way from business problems to enterprise-scale deployment. That’s the level of accountability enterprise AI needs today,” said Shub Bhowmick, Co-founder and CEO, Tredence.

Why Tredence’s FDE Model Is Different-

More than a decade of deep domain expertise across industries
FDEs bring years of experience in supply chain, customer analytics, built through work with 100+ Fortune 500 clients.AI native engineering as the default way of working
FDEs build with AI from the start, reinforced by Tredence’s AI Forge program, which is centered on AI-first problem solving.Frontline ownership, powered by specialized teams
Tredence FDEs lead from the front, anchoring small, elite teams and owning everything from business problems to enterprise-scale deployment.Hands on depth across hyperscaler, frontier AI, and data platforms
Tredence FDEs help shape the very platforms they build on, with seats on the product advisory teams of leading hyperscalers and ISVs.

About Tredence

Tredence is a global AI and data science solutions provider focused on solving the last-mile problem in AI, the gap between insight creation and value realization. Tredence leverages deep domain expertise, advanced data platforms and accelerators, and strategic partnerships to provide tailored, cutting-edge solutions to its clients. The company has 4,200+ employees across the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Riyadh, Dubai, London, Toronto, and Bengaluru, serving top brands in Retail, CPG, Hi-tech, Telecom, Healthcare, Travel, and Industrials. For more information, please visit www.tredence.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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Technology

Fractus and Geotab settle U.S. patent litigation

Published

21 minutes ago

July 27, 2026

Additional agreements reinforce Fractus’ role in the IoT technologies ecosystem

BARCELONA, Spain, July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fractus, a pioneer in antenna technology and patent licensing, today announced that it has reached a settlement with Geotab, resolving the patent infringement litigation filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The terms of the agreement are confidential.

The settlement is an important milestone for Fractus in the connected fleet and transportation market. It brings an end to the dispute with Geotab and confirms the relevance of Fractus’ patented antenna technology in IoT applications where reliable wireless performance is essential.

Fractus also welcomes the growing list of its IoT licensees, which further strengthens Fractus’ position in the IoT ecosystem and demonstrates the growing value of its technology in fleet management, cargo visibility, and mobile asset monitoring.

Fleet telematics and cargo tracking are expanding quickly as transportation and logistics companies look for better visibility, safety, compliance and efficiency. According to Berg Insight, fleet management systems in active use in North America are forecast to grow from 19.2 million units at the end of 2024 to 33.2 million units by 2029. Berg Insight also expects the global installed base of tracking devices for trailers, containers and other cargo-carrying units to grow from 13.8 million units in 2024 to 26.9 million units by 2029.

In these markets, antenna performance is more than a technical specification. Connected devices must communicate across networks, frequency bands, countries and difficult operating conditions, often within space-constrained designs installed on vehicles or other mobile assets. Fractus’ patented antenna innovations help enable the compact, high-performance, multiband connectivity that these IoT devices require.

“We are very pleased to have reached this resolution with Geotab and to see Fractus’ technology gaining further recognition in the IoT market,” said Jordi Ilario, CEO of Fractus. “Fleet management, trailer monitoring and asset tracking are clear examples of how wireless connectivity is transforming transportation. These recent agreements are an important validation of our innovation, and they encourage us to keep building constructive licensing relationships with companies that value strong technology and intellectual property.”

About Fractus

Fractus is an early pioneer in the application of advanced geometry and mathematics to antenna design. The company’s patented innovations enable compact, high-performance, multiband antennas used across smartphones, IoT devices, network infrastructure, connected health and transportation applications. Fractus holds a portfolio covering more than 40 inventions and licenses its technology to leading companies across the wireless ecosystem.

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