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A Chinese Tower Becomes a Laboratory for the Future of Heritage

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A global experiment in Nanjing explores how technology is reshaping the relationship between people and the past.

NANJING, China, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For centuries, the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing was admired as one of the wonders of the medieval world. Built during the Ming dynasty, its glazed exterior and illuminated lanterns made it one of the most remarkable sights encountered by travellers to China. Long before photography or social media, it helped shape how the outside world imagined China.

Today, the challenge is no longer how to rebuild the tower. It is how to make it matter again.

The original tower was destroyed in 1856. Nearly 160 years later, a contemporary interpretation was built on its historic site. Today, the new tower is attracting international attention for a different reason. It has become a testing ground for one of the biggest questions facing museums worldwide: how can cultural heritage remain meaningful in the digital age?

To explore that question, the Great Bao’en Temple Ruins Museum launched the Digital Heritage Global Innovator Contest, an initiative supported by UNESCO that invites young innovators from around the world to rethink how people experience cultural heritage.

This year’s brief was unusual. Rather than designing a new exhibition or restoring the monument, participants were asked to rethink a centuries-old ritual: the tower’s nightly lighting ceremony. Could a tradition rooted in history become something that visitors actively shape rather than simply watch?

After two months of online collaboration, mentoring and judging, 36 young innovators from nine countries were selected from nearly 700 applicants worldwide to form nine interdisciplinary teams and develop their ideas on site in Nanjing this July.

Since its launch in 2024, the Digital Heritage programme has brought together more than 1,500 young innovators from 22 countries over three annual editions, creating an international network of designers, technologists and heritage practitioners exploring new approaches to preserving and reimagining cultural heritage.

“The Porcelain Tower has long been a symbol of cultural exchange, and its significance has never disappeared,” says Wang Wenxi, Director of the Great Bao’en Temple Ruins Museum. “Our role is not only to preserve heritage, but to create opportunities for each generation to engage with it in new ways.”

The experiment mirrors a broader shift taking place across the museum world. As artificial intelligence, immersive media and interactive technologies become increasingly accessible, cultural institutions are asking a different question. Preservation alone is no longer enough. Heritage also needs to be experienced, interpreted and, increasingly, participated in.

For Niall Hill, a lecturer at UCL and a member of the Digital Heritage mentoring team, technology is only the final step. “Contestants need to walk through a place, touch it, use their senses and experience it,” he says. “Through those experiences, they begin to imagine how those moments might translate into digital experiences, and how people might interact with heritage in entirely new ways.”

Among the projects, one proposal stood out. Echoes of a Thousand Lights, created by a team from China, Pakistan and Vietnam, transformed the mythical guardians carved into the tower’s glazed archways into interactive companions. Visitors carrying lantern-shaped devices could trigger light and sound responses, allowing the monument to respond as they moved through the space. The project was awarded first prize for its reinterpretation of a historic ritual as a shared public experience.

Other projects approached the question from different cultural perspectives. One installation used participants’ heartbeats to synchronise shared light ceremony between strangers. Another reinterpreted the maritime journeys of Zheng He through an interactive digital landscape inspired by the Grain Tree, exploring historical connections between China and the wider world.

The approach is not without its questions. As museums embrace digital technologies, critics have warned that immersive experiences can easily become entertainment, distracting visitors from the history they are intended to reveal.

For organisers in Nanjing, however, technology is not the destination. It is simply another way of helping people build emotional connections with heritage.

The experiment also reflects a broader ambition. Cities with deep historical roots increasingly face the challenge of keeping heritage relevant to younger generations. Nanjing is using its most recognisable cultural landmark as a place to test new forms of public participation, international collaboration and creative experimentation.

Six centuries ago, the lights of the Porcelain Tower helped shape how the world imagined China.

Today, the tower is doing something different. It is helping museums, designers and young innovators imagine what cultural heritage could become.

 

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DeTect Awarded Contract to Supply MERLIN™ True3D® Bird Detection Radar to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta

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The bird radar flight safety system will enhance the airport’s wildlife control program and provide real-time hazard risk alerts to air traffic control and airfield operations.

PANAMA CITY, Fla., Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DeTect, Inc. has been awarded the contract to supply its MERLIN 7360 True3D Bird Detection Radar (BDR) to the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta. MERLIN is the most advanced and widely used bird radar system with over 600 BDRs worldwide in aviation safety and bird protection applications. The MERLIN technology was originally developed for and is currently used by the U.S. Air Force and NASA for detection and alerting of hazardous bird and drone activity on an around airfields, with systems currently used by commercial airports in Canada, the EU, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

The Jakarta system will include 7360 True3D radars at the ends of each of its two runways to provide full 3D 360-degree airfield and surrounding airspace, with automatic display and alerting of high-risk bird activity via monitors in the airport bird control team vehicles and at airfield operations and in the control tower. The system will be manufactured in the US, and the project will be managed by DeTect’s APAC Regional office in South Korea. DeTect’s CEO, Gary Andrews, said of this order, “We are gratified to have been selected by InJourney Airports to supply and support DeTect’s bird radar system technology at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), one of Southeast Asia’s busiest airports.”

ABOUT DETECT INC:
DeTect is a fully integrated radar company founded in 2003 with research, engineering and manufacturing facilities and offices worldwide. DeTect products include MERLIN™ BDR, HARRIER™ Security and Surveillance Radars, DroneWatcher™ Counter- UAS systems, MERLIN Bird Monitoring and Mitigation Systems, HARRIER Aircraft Detection Lighting Systems, and HARRIER Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight radars.  Since 2003, DeTect has manufactured and commissioned over 1100 radar systems in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia and New Zealand.

Reference sites:  https://detect-inc.com/   

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Selangor To Convene Asean Industrial Leaders at Government-Backed Techsphere Summit 2026

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Alex Capri and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing President Jacob Lee Chor Kok confirmed for the four-day summit as registration opens. 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Registration is now open for the Selangor Techsphere Summit 2026, a state-backed industrial technology platform taking place from 14 to 17 October 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Hosted by the Selangor State Government and delivered in collaboration with the Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre, the summit will bring together manufacturers, technology companies, investors, policymakers and researchers from Malaysia and across ASEAN. 

The Selangor Techsphere Summit returns as a key component of the Selangor International Business Summit 2026, supporting the state’s ambition to strengthen its position as a regional centre for advanced manufacturing, industrial innovation and technology-led investment. 

Powered by HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s leading industrial technology platform, this impressive four-day summit will feature an industry conference, technology showcase, curated business meetings and networking opportunities focused on the practical adoption of artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, smart manufacturing and advanced digital technologies. 

YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Bin Shari, Chief Minister of Selangor said:  

“Selangor has established itself as one of Malaysia’s most important industrial and investment destinations. As manufacturers respond to rapid developments in technology, sustainability and global supply chains, it is important that the government and industry work together to create the conditions for continued innovation and growth. 

“The Selangor Techsphere Summit provides a platform for businesses to access new ideas, technologies and partnerships while contributing to the next phase of Selangor’s industrial development.” 

Responding to Industry’s Most Pressing Priorities 

Manufacturers across Malaysia and ASEAN are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, modernise operations, strengthen resilience and respond to sustainability and workforce challenges. 

The Selangor Techsphere Summit 2026 will examine how artificial intelligence, industrial automation, robotics, smart manufacturing and advanced digital technologies can be applied across real-world industrial operations. The programme will also address semiconductor manufacturing, energy efficiency, workforce development, investment and regional industrial growth. 

These issues will be brought into focus by two newly confirmed speakers representing international and Malaysian industry perspectives. 

Alex Capri, a former US Treasury Department official and globally recognised authority on geopolitics and Techno-nationalism, has been confirmed as the opening-day keynote speaker, while newly appointed Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing President, Jacob Lee Chor Kok, will deliver the opening address on the second day of the summit. 

Manufacturers, technology providers, government agencies, investors, researchers and industry specialists will contribute practical perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping the region’s industrial future. 

Mike Nissen, Senior Commercial Director, Hannover Fairs Asia-Pacific said: 

“Industrial transformation is no longer simply about adopting individual technologies. It requires manufacturers to align technology, people, investment and long-term business strategy. 

“Through the support of the Selangor State Government and the global industrial network of HANNOVER MESSE, the Selangor Techsphere Summit will connect regional industry leaders with practical expertise, proven solutions and potential partners that can support their transformation journey.” 

Connecting Industry and Government 

Across four days, the Selangor Techsphere Summit 2026 will examine the major forces shaping the future of industry, with each day dedicated to a distinct business and operational priority:

Day 1 – Wednesday, 14 October: AI & The Digital Economy
Exploring the practical application of artificial intelligence and digital technologies across industry and the wider economy.Day 2 – Thursday, 15 October: Semiconductors & Microelectronics
Focusing on advanced manufacturing, automation and the technologies strengthening industrial productivity and competitiveness.Day 3 – Friday, 16 October: Green Tech & Smart Automation
Examining how manufacturers can strengthen operational resilience while responding to sustainability, energy and resource-efficiency priorities.Day 4 – Saturday, 17 October: Governance, Talent & TVET 4.0
Addressing the skills, workforce capabilities and leadership needed to support the next phase of industrial transformation.

Delegates can select the day most relevant to their organisation or attend the full four-day programme for a broader view of the technologies, strategies and capabilities reshaping industry across Malaysia and ASEAN.

Across the programme, conference sessions, technology showcases, curated meetings and networking opportunities will connect perspectives from industry, government, technology and research.

Building on Regional Momentum 

The 2025 edition of the Selangor Techsphere Summit welcomed 1,535 attendees, 21 exhibitors and 39 speakers from more than 15 countries, reflecting growing regional demand for industrial technology expertise and stronger collaboration between government and industry. 

The 2026 summit will build on this momentum by creating further opportunities for knowledge exchange, technology discovery, investment engagement and regional business development. 

Registration Now Open 

Industry professionals, government representatives, investors, researchers, educators and technology leaders are invited to register for the Selangor Techsphere Summit 2026. 

Registration: https://selangortechsphere.com/ticketing-options/

Event Details 

Selangor Techsphere Summit 2026 
14–17 October 2026 
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia 
A key component of the Selangor International Business Summit 2026 
www.selangortechsphere.com 

Exhibition and Sponsorship Enquiries 

Mike Nissen 
Senior Commercial Director 
Hannover Fairs 
+61 (0)405 421 838 
mike.nissen@hannoverfairs.com.au 

About the Selangor Techsphere Summit 

The Selangor Techsphere Summit is an industrial technology and transformation platform connecting manufacturers, technology providers, government representatives, investors, researchers and industry leaders from Malaysia and across ASEAN. 

Powered by HANNOVER MESSE and held as part of the Selangor International Business Summit, the summit supports knowledge exchange, technology discovery, investment engagement and collaboration across the industrial ecosystem. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/selangor-to-convene-asean-industrial-leaders-at-government-backed-techsphere-summit-2026-302847967.html

SOURCE Hannover Fairs Asia-Pacific (HFAP)

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LX Pantos Strengthens Global ESG Leadership Through Its 2026 Sustainability Report

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Completes calculation and third-party verification of Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions across Korea and key overseas operationsExpands ESG disclosures to cover human rights, safety, working conditions, and training for global employees

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LX Pantos (President & CEO: Lee Yong-ho) has released its 2026 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress in advancing ESG management across its domestic and global operations.

The report covers nine material ESG issues identified through a double materiality assessment, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, energy, eco-friendly logistics services, customer value management, human resources management, information security, risk management, business conduct, and new growth engines and business diversification.

A key highlight of this year’s report is the expanded reporting scope, which now includes global worksites. The expansion reflects LX Pantos’s strong international footprint and the growing scale of its overseas operations.

On the environmental front, the company calculated Scope 1 direct greenhouse gas emissions and Scope 2 indirect greenhouse gas emissions from its domestic operations and key overseas sites. Third-party verification further strengthened the reliability of its environmental disclosures.

In the social area, LX Pantos collected and analyzed employee data from nine subsidiaries in Europe, covering human rights and labor, occupational health and safety, working conditions, education, and career development.

In governance, the report highlights progress in Jeong-do Management, the company’s ethics- and compliance-based management philosophy. LX Pantos recorded zero significant legal violations related to anti-corruption and fair trade rules and achieved a 100% completion rate for Jeong-do Management training in 2025.

The report was prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards 2021 and references global ESG frameworks including SASB, the UN SDGs, the UNGC, and the TCFD. An independent third-party assurance agency verified the report for accuracy and reliability.

In 2025, LX Pantos also earned a Bronze rating from EcoVadis, a B rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), LEED Gold certification for the MegaWise Cheongna Center, and an A+ rating under the Regional Social Contribution Recognition System administered by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Commenting on the release of this report, Lee Yong-ho, President & CEO of LX Pantos said, “LX Pantos is further advancing its sustainability management by expanding the scope of ESG management beyond Korea to our overseas operations. Under our ESG vision, ‘Value Deliverer for People and the Planet,’ we will continue to communicate with stakeholders in a transparent manner.”

■ About LX Pantos
Established in 1977, LX Pantos is a leading global logistics provider headquartered in Korea. It delivers comprehensive logistics solutions across sea, air, rail, and contract logistics through a worldwide network spanning more than 40 countries.
Learn more about LX Pantos online and follow it on LinkedIn.

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