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A Decade of Driving Innovation: STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play Celebrates 10th Anniversary at Expo 2026

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STUTTGART, Germany, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play, founded in 2016, brings the automotive ecosystem together at Expo 2026 on July 2 in Stuttgart to showcase real startup–corporate collaboration projects and celebrate 10 years of accelerating mobility innovation. The event at the venue Im Wizemann will bring together over 1,500 guests, including board members and C-level executives from OEMs and suppliers, founders, investors, public officials, academia, media, and tech experts.

Open innovation is driving the European technology landscape forward. As a leading accelerator and innovation hub, STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play unites established corporate leaders with visionary startups to co-create cutting-edge solutions for the future. Expo 2026 will bring the tangible results of these collaborations to life through real-world use cases.

Founded by Mercedes-Benz, Plug and Play, ARENA2036, and the University of Stuttgart, STARTUP AUTOBAHN has become Europe’s go-to ecosystem for turning bold ideas into commercial automotive success. Guided by this year’s motto, “One Decade of Accelerating Mobility Innovation,” the Expo serves as a landmark gathering for the people who have shaped the platform’s history, bringing together top voices in mobility, new and long-term partners, and inspiring cross-industry speakers to celebrate how far the community has come.

The event features keynote speeches from board members and industry leaders, panel discussions, expert roundtables, workshops, innovation walks, and startup pitches. Attendees can also experience pilot project presentations, show car demos, and exclusive side events, all designed to address the most pressing challenges of the automotive industry, including the circular economy, Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation & industry 4.0, software-defined vehicles, sensor intelligence, and next-gen mobility ecosystems.

The speaker lineup features the most influential voices of innovation in mobility and those at the forefront of the automotive industry, including:

Ida Wolf, Vice President Innovations & Operations Development, Mercedes-Benz AG

Joachim Scharnagl, Member of the Executive Board, Procurement, at Porsche AG

Dr. Frank Nopper, Mayor of the City of Stuttgart

Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)

Juan Parra, President, Europe, DXC Technology; Georg Stellmann, VP, Chief Commercial Officer at Bosch Business Innovations

M. Gürcan Karakaş, CEO of Togg
Barrie Painter, Chief Sustainability Officer & Head of Global Marketing & Communications at Motherson Group

Saeed Amidi, CEO & Founder at Plug and Play

Kristie D’Ambrosio-Correll, CEO & Co-Founder of Dacora Motors

The event will culminate on the main stage with the presentation of the Plug and Play Global Innovation Award, celebrating the year’s most impactful collaborations across Mobility, Manufacturing, Enterprise, and Sustainability. Marking a landmark milestone this year, the platform will also debut the prestigious STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play Award—a special honor dedicated to a pioneering legacy project that has driven transformative, long-term industry impact over the past decade.

For more information about the event, visit the website.

About STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play

STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play is an open innovation platform that provides an interface between innovative tech companies and industry-leading corporations. The basis of the program is the partnership that develops between startups and the corporate business units. The two entities hold an equal footing from the get-go: together they evaluate the potential for a joint venture, move forward to pilot the technology, and work to achieve the ultimate goal – a successful production-ready implementation. Designed with the intention to exceed startup acceleration, STARTUP AUTOBAHN powered by Plug and Play moderates a community for collaboration with a focus on implementable results. Since its founding in 2016, the platform has successfully cultivated over 500 projects with more than 350 startups.

Founding Partners: Mercedes-Benz AG, Plug and Play Tech Center, University of Stuttgart, ARENA2036.

Anchor Partners: Porsche AG, DXC Technology, Motherson, Schaeffler, Bosch, NXP Semiconductors.

Ecosystem Partners: Eberspächer, Novelis, Sekisui, OPmobility, Togg, Huf Group, ZF Group, STMicroelectronics.

About Plug and Play

Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re in 60+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies, including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi.

Website:

www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/startup-autobahn

www.startup-autobahn.com

https://expo2026.pnptc.events

Contact for Press:

Julia Schimpf

PR & Communications Manager

j.schimpf@pnptc.com

Full version of the press release:

https://welcome.plugandplaytechcenter.com/hubfs/STARTUP%20AUTOBAHN%20Expo%202026/expo2026-pressrelease-full-en.pdf

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SOURCE Plug and Play

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Port Dickson, Kuala Terengganu and Cameron Highlands see rising family travel interest this school holiday, according to Agoda

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SINGAPORE, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Malaysian families are approaching the mid-year school holidays with a more flexible travel mindset, balancing convenient domestic breaks with growing interest in regional destinations across Asia, according to Agoda accommodation searches.

Based on Agoda accommodation searches that included at least one child, made between 1 January and 30 April 2026 for stays between 22 May and 7 June 2026, Malaysia ranked first among the top destination countries searched by Malaysian travellers, recording a 60% year-on-year increase. Regional destinations also saw search growth, with Vietnam up 85%, China up 51%, Singapore up 43% and Japan up 43%.

Regional city destinations also remained part of Malaysian families’ school holiday plans. Tokyo recorded a 53% year-on-year increase in family travel search interest, while Phuket grew 44%, Singapore 43%, Bangkok 33% and Osaka 19%. The data suggests that while domestic destinations continue to lead school holiday travel interest, Malaysian families are also considering familiar regional destinations across Asia for the mid-year break.

At city level, however, the domestic travel story remains prominent, with Malaysian destinations appearing across Agoda’s top searched city list for the school holiday travel period.

Domestic destinations that demonstrated strong interest growth were Port Dickson, which saw a 172% year-on-year increase in family travel search interest, followed by Kuala Terengganu at 149%, Kuantan at 105%, Cameron Highlands at 100% and Genting Highlands at 85%. Other destinations including Malacca, Ipoh, Penang and Johor Bahru also continued to see strong family travel search growth during the school holiday period.

The increase in interest across these destinations points to the variety of school holiday breaks Malaysian families are considering. Coastal destinations such as Port Dickson, Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan offer beachside escapes without the need for long-haul travel, while Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands continue to appeal to families looking for cooler weather and short-break convenience. Food and heritage destinations such as Penang, Malacca and Ipoh also remained popular among family travellers.

“School holidays are no longer just about one big family trip. What we are seeing is Malaysian families searching across a wider range of travel options, from quick domestic breaks to regional destinations that are familiar, accessible and family-friendly,” said Fabian Teja, Country Director Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda. “The strong interest in both local getaways and regional destinations suggests that families are becoming more flexible in how they plan their holidays, whether that means a beach break in Port Dickson, cooler weather in Cameron Highlands or a city escape elsewhere in Asia.”

With access to over 6 million holiday properties, more than 130,000 flight routes and over 300,000 activities, Agoda makes it simple for travellers to compare prices and plan trips, whether they are looking for a quick domestic break or a family holiday further afield. For a wide range of family-friendly accommodation options, visit Agoda’s website or download the Agoda mobile app.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/port-dickson-kuala-terengganu-and-cameron-highlands-see-rising-family-travel-interest-this-school-holiday-according-to-agoda-302812994.html

SOURCE Agoda

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Digital Intelligence Powering Energy Storage, Driving a Greener Future: Sermatec Showcases Full-Scenario Energy Storage Solutions at Intersolar Europe 2026

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MUNICH, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sermatec made a strong appearance at Intersolar Europe 2026, presenting its comprehensive portfolio of energy storage products and intelligent energy management solutions. Demonstrating capabilities spanning core hardware, integrated systems, cloud-based energy management, utility-scale storage, and commercial & industrial (C&I) applications, the company reinforced its commitment to accelerating the global energy transition. During the exhibition, Sermatec also signed multiple cooperation agreements with international partners, further expanding its global business footprint.

Comprehensive Product Portfolio Covering the Entire Energy Storage Value Chain

At this year’s exhibition, Sermatec showcased a complete portfolio of energy storage solutions, highlighting its vertically integrated capabilities from core components and system integration to intelligent operation and maintenance.

For utility-scale applications, the SERLATTICE 7.04MWh Liquid-Cooled Energy Storage System delivers an industry-leading energy density of 477kWh/m², significantly reducing land occupancy while achieving a DC-side round-trip efficiency (RTE) of ≥95% for superior energy conversion performance.

Also on display, the SERLATTICE 6.26MWh Energy Storage System features an integrated AC/DC architecture that improves overall system efficiency by 2%. Supporting four-unit parallel configuration, the system incorporates intelligent thermal management technology that reduces auxiliary power consumption by 25%, substantially lowering lifecycle energy costs.

For commercial and industrial customers, the EASYCUBE 261kWh All-in-One Energy Storage Cabinet offers plug-and-play deployment and flexible parallel expansion, enabling efficient peak-valley arbitrage, renewable energy integration, and enhanced energy resilience.

Intelligent Energy Management Enhancing Operational Value

Beyond hardware innovation, Sermatec demonstrated its intelligent digital energy management ecosystem.

The Nebulos Intelligent Operation Platform seamlessly integrates hardware and software, enabling electricity trading participation and virtual power plant (VPP) aggregation to maximize asset value.

Complementing the platform, the MOFS Intelligent Early Warning Box provides non-destructive thermal runaway prediction 2–3 hours in advance, significantly enhancing battery safety through proactive risk prevention.

The exhibition also featured Sermatec’s key self-developed components, including the 430kW String Liquid-Cooled PCS, 104-String Active Balancing BMU, Battery Cluster Controller (BCC), and Battery Stack Management Unit (BSMU), demonstrating the company’s comprehensive in-house integration capabilities.

Proven Performance Across Diverse Global Applications

Reliable operation under diverse environmental conditions remains the ultimate benchmark for energy storage systems. From continental Europe to Mediterranean climates, Sermatec continues to validate its technology through an expanding portfolio of overseas projects.

In Bulgaria, Sermatec’s energy storage project optimizes investment returns through coordinated participation in electricity spot markets and ancillary services, demonstrating strong economic performance and fast grid response capabilities.

In Croatia and the Czech Republic, the company’s C&I storage solutions effectively address harsh winter temperatures and fluctuating industrial loads, ensuring uninterrupted power supply for critical manufacturing operations.

Meanwhile, projects in Spain have successfully withstood high humidity and salt-laden coastal environments, validating the long-term reliability of Sermatec’s advanced protection design and intelligent thermal management technologies.

Localized Service Delivering Long-Term Customer Value

Sermatec believes localized service is more than the final step in customer engagement — it is a cornerstone of long-term competitiveness.

Leveraging its well-established service network across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, the company delivers comprehensive lifecycle support through a single accountable service framework, integrating extended warranties, performance guarantees, preventive maintenance, corrective repairs, and operational reporting.

This service model provides customers with transparent lifecycle costs, predictable financial performance, and dependable long-term operational support.

Partner Night Strengthens European Collaboration

On the evening of June 24, Sermatec hosted its annual Partner Night, bringing together key partners from across the European energy sector.

The event featured executive speeches, product presentations, solution sharing, and after-sales service discussions, creating an open platform for industry dialogue on energy storage innovation and emerging regional opportunities while strengthening long-term strategic partnerships.

Driving the Future of Intelligent Energy

From continuous technological innovation and diversified application scenarios to localized services and ecosystem development, Sermatec presented a comprehensive demonstration of its integrated capabilities at Intersolar Europe 2026.

Looking ahead, Sermatec will continue advancing its vision of becoming a leading intelligent energy operator, working together with global partners to accelerate the transition toward a smarter, more sustainable, and carbon-neutral energy future.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/digital-intelligence-powering-energy-storage-driving-a-greener-future-sermatec-showcases-full-scenario-energy-storage-solutions-at-intersolar-europe-2026-302812998.html

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5G-A Experience Monetization Forum Debuts Milestone Results to Accelerate Terminal-Network-Business Synergy

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SHANGHAI, June 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The industry forum “5G-A Experience Monetization: Terminal-Network-Business Synergy” concluded in Shanghai. Industry leaders from CAICT, GSMA, China Mobile, Huawei, 3GPP, GSMA Intelligence, and ecosystem partners gathered to discuss 5G-A commercialization, technology evolution, and ecosystem collaboration. The forum showcased several milestone achievements, strengthened industry consensus, and laid the groundwork for large-scale 5G-A deployment and the evolution toward the next-generation network.

High-Speed Rail Gets a 5G-A Upgrade

GSMA, China Mobile, and Huawei jointly unveiled the 5G-A High-Speed Railway Network Acceleration Service, redefining mobile connectivity services for railway passengers. Scheduled for commercial launch in China in August 2026, the package is built on a “1+3+5” framework:

One exclusive identity: A dynamic high-speed rail VIP logo displayed on smartphone screens through the UE Logo solution.

Three cutting-edge technologies: 5G-A high bandwidth and high-speed rail private network, AI-native core network, and wireless universal intelligent service processing units.

Five key service scenarios: Seamless support for live streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, AI calling, and AI office.

New Frameworks for Experience-Centric Operations

The forum also saw the release of two industry white papers:

UE Logo 2.0 White Paper: Co-published by China Mobile Research Institute and Huawei, this paper focuses on terminal-network-business synergy, intelligent analytics, scenario-based engagement, and precision marketing. It proposes an end-to-end service framework that connects user engagement with closed-loop marketing, creating a new paradigm of network awareness, service accessibility, and experience-centric operations.

Agentic Core White Paper: Released by GSMA Intelligence, the paper outlines an AI-native intelligent core network architecture. The framework unlocks four key monetization capabilities: superior user experiences, advanced services, network capability openness, and agent service assurance. It also supports the development of new agent-centric communications services and expands innovation opportunities.

Unveiling the “Connection Agent”

China Mobile Research Institute, Huawei, and GSMA Intelligence jointly introduced the Connection Agent and a “China Mobile Bixing Agent Platform” Intent Openness Gateway. Built on a scalable modular architecture, the gateway enables seamless interoperability among AI agents while providing dedicated network services for each connected agent, setting a new benchmark for intelligent connectivity.

The launch marks a transition from traditional rule-based service delivery to agentic service orchestration, paving the way for next-generation intelligent connectivity. The solution has already been deployed in selected regions across China to support the incubation of innovative services.

Driving Cross-Industry Collaboration

To further strengthen industry collaboration, the forum officially launched the Terminal-Network-Industry Collaboration Initiative, promoting coordinated development across technology, business, and ecosystem dimensions.

Technology: Accelerate terminal ecosystem adaptation and standards certification for broad interoperability.

Business: Focus on high-value application scenarios and explore diversified monetization models

Ecosystem: Bring together partners across vertical industries to build a collaborative community based on pooled resources, co-developed capabilities, and shared risks and rewards.

Looking ahead, industry stakeholders will continue advancing mobile AI collaboration technologies and strengthening the foundation for next-generation digital productivity. Together, they will drive the evolution of communications infrastructure into an intelligent platform for ubiquitous connectivity and cross-domain collaboration, opening new opportunities in the mobile AI era.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/5g-a-experience-monetization-forum-debuts-milestone-results-to-accelerate-terminal-network-business-synergy-302813004.html

SOURCE Huawei

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