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China “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition Calls for College Students Worldwide

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CHONGQING, China, April 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Championship of the 8th China International College Students’ “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition (the “Competition”) will kick off on April 9 in Chongqing City, Southwest China. The Competition Championship and concurrent activities will be hosted by Chongqing University.

The Competition has been held for eight years since it was inaugurated in 2015, with the participation of nearly 39.83 million students. The number of participants continues to increase year after year.

As an essential starting point for deepening education of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Competition plays a vital role in college students’ overall development and industry-university-research integration.

The 8th Competition is a very good combination of education, science and technology, and talents. It is a powerful initiative to implement the latest deployment of China’s central government, gathering talents in an efficient way.

The first Competition, with the theme of “Realizing Dreams through ‘Internet+’ and Pursuing a Bright Future through Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, was organized by Jilin University in Northeast China in 2015. The Competition has three levels: school level, provincial level, and national level. The former Competitions consisted of projects of four categories: “Internet+” traditional industry, “Internet+” new business, “Internet+” public service, and “Internet+” technical support platform. In this year’s Competition, the projects have been broadened to New Engineering, New Medicine, New Agriculture, and New Liberal Arts.

With the first International Track launched in 2017, the Competition has attracted nearly 10,000 international startup projects from more than 120 countries and regions.

The track classification of “higher education, vocational education, and budding (middle school students)” which was added in the 5th Competition, continues, with the Youth Dream and industrial tracks included.

In the 6th Competition, the event was officially renamed China International College Students’ “Internet+” Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, with “Dare to differ, Dare to Win” as its theme. Since then, both the name and the theme have been kept in use up to date.

The Competition has attracted students from some of the world’s top 100 universities, with more focus on talent education and creativity since 2021. A new “Undergraduate Creativity Group”, a separate promotion channel, has been set up to ensure more in-depth participation of college students.

This year’s Competition attracted a record number of 4,554 colleges from 111 countries and regions. Compared with last year, both the number of overseas projects and the number of participants increased. Top universities such as Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London have set up teams to sign up for the Competition.

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Dialogue with Foreign Experts on Two Sessions

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BEIJING, March 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — As China’s important annual political gatherings, the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), known as the “Two Sessions,” will convene on March 5 and March 4 respectively. The Two Sessions are of enormous importance in the country’s political calendar, during which development targets will be determined for the year and beyond. The upcoming Two Sessions offer observers, especially foreign experts, a window into the idea and practice of whole-process people’s democracy, its openness to embrace international talent, as well their own expectations on this year’s meetings. On the eve of the Two Sessions opening, Science and Technology Daily had the opportunity to interview three foreign experts who shared their thoughts on China’s Two Sessions. As part of our commitment to providing diverse perspectives, each of them brought unique and valuable insights into China’s development and its role in global growth. We hope that this series of unique viewpoints will offer our readers a deeper understanding of China and the issues that matter to those who live and work in the country.

Gaining Useful Knowledge from China’s Development

Having been committed to strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Azerbaijan through language and culture teaching in both countries for many years, Dr. Agshin Aliyev, an Azerbaijani sinologist, has gained an insightful perspective on China’s rapid development at all levels.

He hails China as a country that assumes greater responsibility for enhancing regional connectivity and embracing a brighter future, especially with the launch of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013.

Azerbaijan is one of the first countries to join the BRI and is now an indispensable link in the Initiative.

“China and Azerbaijan have a very long history of cultural exchanges dating back to the establishment of the Silk Road. Now the cooperation between the two countries has been deepened since the BRI,” said Aliyev, adding that not only economic and trade cooperation, but also educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries are improved in leaps and bounds, and tangible benefits have been brought to their people.

Commenting on the upcoming Two Sessions, Aliyev emphasized their importance not only for the Chinese people, but also for the world. “The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the expectation of ordinary people. The Chinese government is made up of experienced politicians and administrators who understand the feelings of the people and work for the benefit of the people,” he said.

As China remains committed to its reform and opening-up policy, more fruitful results will be achieved in the future. The whole world will gain useful knowledge as China continues to share its experience in lifting millions of people out of poverty and mitigating climate change, said Aliyev.

Aliyev is a founder and head of the Department of Azerbaijani Language at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) and a visiting scholar at the Chinese Culture Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. He is also the founder and director of the China Research Center at Khazar University.

Global Significance of Two Sessions

Professor Goh Hui Hwang has followed China’s Two Sessions for a number of years. As a Malaysian scientist living and working in China, Goh is fully aware of the significance of these meetings and their impact on China’s and the world’s future.

Goh explained that the Two Sessions, which are held in March each year, address significant concerns in various aspects of China, and the outcomes receive extensive attention both domestically and internationally. He believes that the purpose of the Two Sessions is to convey the suggestions and opinions of the Chinese people to the government, so that the party and government can truly comprehend the desires and ideas of the people and protect their tangible interests.

As an educator currently working at Guangxi University (GXU), Goh is particularly concerned about China’s significant steps in sci-tech innovation and talent cultivation. He hopes that the Two Sessions will address the way to expand funding for scientific research, which he sees as a key issue for foreign experts in China. He lauded the fact that China has intensified its efforts to promote international sci-tech collaborations and exchanges, and also established a variety of programs to support the brightest minds in an effort to become a global magnet for talent and innovation.

“Science has no borders,” said Goh, adding that the Chinese government’s efforts in fostering a healthy atmosphere for sci-tech innovation have attracted many scholars to China, including himself, to serve the sci-tech community. As a foreign expert, his perspectives showcased the importance of international exchanges and cooperation in addressing common issues and challenges.

Goh said the Two Sessions not only provide a platform for the government to listen to its people’s desires and ideas, but also play a vital role in shaping the country’s policies and decisions. He applauds the positive measures in China’s opening-up to the world, especially in talent exchanges. “This is a significant issue closely related to foreign experts,” he said.

China’s Democracy: Institutional Guarantee of People’s Power

Italian scholar Rocco Lacorte described his impression of China as “Democratic, promising and socialist.” He currently serves as an associate professor at Nankai University (NKU).

Based on his observation, Lacorte considered China’s whole-process people’s democracy covers all sectors of society through electoral democracy, consultative democracy, and community-level democracy. He said that this whole-process people’s democracy embodies the Communist Party of China’s innovation in advancing China’s democratic theories, systems and practices and guarantees the “principal position of the people.”

According to Lacorte, the NPC is different from the legislative systems in many Western countries. It is designed to provide “an institutional guarantee” for the people to wield power that they have gained after the revolution and developed through the years, creating a stable and vital balance system of political decision-making. As the Two Sessions approach, Lacorte expects that the focus will be on addressing key issues related to social and economic development, as well as environmental problems. He said that China is already ahead of the West in terms of green policies.

On China’s policies in promoting international cooperation, Lacorte applauded China’s contribution to common development via global initiatives such as Belt and Road Initiative. “It is essential to recognize that true development and security cannot be achieved by a single country alone, but require joint efforts of many countries,” he said, adding that, “Development and security are only true if they are true for all.”

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US proteomics sector set for shake-up as new IonOpticks tech unveiled

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IonOpticks to introduce the TS, a fully integrated column heating and interface solution for Thermo Scientific users

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — IonOpticks, a producer of high-performance chromatography solutions for the global research community, will introduce the new TS product range to the US market at US HUPO’s (US Human Proteome Organization) 19th Annual Conference in Chicago on 4-8th March, a renowned event attended by proteomics experts from around the globe.

IonOpticks’ new TS range was developed as a simple plug-and-play, fully integrated heating and source solution for Thermo Scientific mass spectrometer users, who have previously only been able to access the results achievable with IonOpticks Aurora Series columns by creating their own interface – a costly and difficult alternative.

“Researchers can now easily unlock the full potential of their mass specs through the launch of our new TS range. Thermo Orbitraps have been cited in roughly 85% of all publications related to proteomics in the last decade, so we’re excited to make our famed Aurora Series products easily accessible to this significant portion of the mass spec community,” says Xavier Perronnet, Managing Director at IonOpticks.

“We’re excited to be attending US HUPO, to meet with our peers and showcase how the TS, combined with our Aurora Series columns, can provide Thermo mass spec users the ability to supercharge the sensitivity of their existing instruments. Our columns enable researchers to delve deeper into their samples than ever before.” Mr Perronnet continues.

The combination of IonOpticks’ proprietary nanoZero® fittings and integrated emitter with the new TS range removes all pre- and post-column dead volume, maximizing the capacity of the chromatographic packed bed to separate samples. Further, the heating solution in the TS is reusable which saves users both time and money while reducing unnecessary waste.

The TS range was developed following the paradigm-shifting release of the Aurora Frontier – the first ever column to routinely generate over 10,000 protein identifications on a Thermo mass spectrometer – from a single sample and single species.

“The results that have been achieved with our Aurora Frontier have been outstanding and we’re proud to continue to develop products that enable us to ensure access to these gains is equal for all researchers,” says Dr Jarrod Sandow, Head of Product Development at IonOpticks.

“Thermo users continue to be top customers of our products, so we’ve worked hard behind the scenes to ensure these users can easily boost the performance of their existing instruments through a simple all-in-one heating and source integration system. One that requires no complex installation and is ready to use straight out of the box,” Dr Sandow adds.

IonOpticks is committed to ensuring the world’s best chromatography is available to all mass spec users. Alongside the TS, IonOpticks have also launched the SX, a fully integrated column heating and interface solution for SCIEX users.

About IonOpticks

IonOpticks produces high-performance chromatography solutions for the global research community.

We specialise in the development and manufacture of columns for analytical applications in liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and high-end proteomics. Our highly reproducible methods provide a unique ability to enhance the sensitivity of mass spectrometry sample analysis, enabling scientists and clinicians to discover more from their samples.

Our team are experts in a broad array of LC-MS platform technologies and are driven by the need to improve chromatographic performance in order to achieve data quality and deep proteome coverage on a whole new scale.

https://ionopticks.com/ / https://www.proteomicssolved.com/

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VIRNECT partners with DigiLens to bring cutting-edge XR technology to the industrial market

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VIRNECT will be able to offer a broader and more cost-effective alternative by partnering with DigiLens.

SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — VIRNECT, an XR technology solutions provider, has announced a strategic partnership with DigiLens, a leading developer of waveguide displays for augmented and mixed-reality devices. The partnership will allow VIRNECT to integrate DigiLens’ state-of-the-art technology into its XR solutions, delivering customers a new level of immersive experiences.

VIRNECT partners with DigiLens to bring cutting-edge XR technology to the industrial market
VIRNECT partners with DigiLens to bring cutting-edge XR technology to the industrial market

Key benefits of the partnership:

  • Increased accessibility to XR technology for businesses and consumers
  • Improved user experience through the combination of VIRNECT’s XR platform and DigiLens’s innovative lens technology
  • Enhanced performance and affordability of XR devices

The partnership between VIRNECT and DigiLens will bring new hardware options to VIRNECT’s offerings, providing cost-effective XR solutions for various applications, such as remote assistance and guided manufacturing. By integrating XR technology, customers have reported increased engagement and reduced cognitive load, leading to more effective training and fewer mistakes. In addition, with DigiLens ARGO, a wider range of customers can benefit from a safer and more efficient working environment thanks to XR-compatible options.

DigiLens is recognized for its advanced waveguide displays, providing clear and vivid augmented reality experiences. The company’s technology is based on proprietary holographic nanostructures, resulting in lightweight and compact devices with exceptional performance. The partnership with VIRNECT will allow both companies to bring these technologies to market in innovative ways.

“We are excited to partner with DigiLens, a leader in waveguide display technology,” said Tim Ha, CEO of VIRNECT. “By combining our expertise, we can offer innovative XR solutions to a wider audience. DigiLens ARGO will create new ways for people to learn, work, and communicate.”

According to The Insight Partners (March 14, 2022), the XR market is expected to grow from $28 billion in 2021 to $252 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 35%. This partnership aims to make XR innovation accessible and capitalize on this growth potential. The two companies are looking forward to exploring new applications and opportunities in the XR space.

As part of this partnership, VIRNECT is offering free XR content production to support the implementation of XR technology in various industrial applications aiming to facilitate the incorporation of XR technology and improve knowledge management in the industrial field. To learn more about this offer, visit www.virnect.io/free-xr-production-landing-page.

For more information, visit www.virnect.io for VIRNECT and www.digilens.com for DigiLens.

About VIRNECT
VIRNECT creates a better way to learn, work and communicate through XR. Its metaverse solution provides scalable and fast turnaround times with collaborative, end-to-end digital continuity solutions. VIRNECT has supported XR implementation in over 200 enterprises and government institutions, including LG Chemical, Samsung Electronics, KEPCO, and KAC.

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Newcomer Westbourne College joins top IB schools with first cohort

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25% of students achieve 43 points or more

SYDNEY, Jan. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Westbourne College has shot straight to the upper echelons of Sydney’s best academic schools with its first graduating class.

Westbourne College Sydney is at the top of the league tables

Westbourne College Sydney is at the top of the league tables

With 25% of its students achieving 43 points or more in the IB Diploma (ATAR of over 99.3) and 19% achieving 44 points (ATAR 99.6), Westbourne ranks second only to Ravenswood on these measures based on data available at the time of writing.

A median score of 39 points (96.70 ATAR) places Westbourne equal 2nd on this measure, joining Redlands, Ravenswood and Kambala at the top of this ranking.

Launched in January 2021, Westbourne College Sydney offers a groundbreaking STEM-focused, IB-only, co-ed, future focused model, developed in the UK since 2007, which has seen it top the UK league tables since 2015.

Combining university links with real-world international experience – including access to world-leading business school INSEAD, group projects and exchange trips with UK peers – Westbourne is uniquely placed to deliver its mission: to prepare students for leadership roles, in STEM careers, on the global stage.

Founding Principal Ken Underhill:

“My congratulations to the Westbourne community for achieving such an excellent set of IB results. Their success is a ringing endorsement of their consistent efforts and testimony to the support of the staff and Westbourne model of academic excellence. To achieve these results in the first two years of our operation sets an excellent foundation for the College to build upon.”

Enquiries: Marie de Tito Mount, mariedetitomount@westbournecollege.com.au, 02 8088 0719 

Westbourne College Sydney www.westbournecollege.com.au

Westbourne College Sydney provides the best preparation for global STEM careers, enabling students to become future leaders. A unique global support mechanism benefits Sydney’s most ambitious STEM-focused students.

Offering a small-class, highly supportive, gender-balanced environment alongside competitive fees – AUS$23,500 per AY (2022) – socio-economic scholarships are available to ensure a balanced intake reflecting Sydney’s make-up and diversity.

Westbourne International www.westbourne.international | www.westbourneschool.com

The world’s first truly global network of academically elite schools. Colleges are co-ed, STEM-focused and deliver the IB.

With an illustrious 127-year history of academic excellence, Westbourne has been at the top of the UK league tables over the past seven years. Now replicating its model globally, Westbourne aims to rank in the top 3 in each of its markets within two years of results – and achieve 6-continent coverage by 2025, with Singapore and the US well advanced.

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Anycubic Holds Printing Camps with Yale Funbotics to Introduce Children to the World of 3D Printers

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NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Anycubic, a globally-renowned 3D printer company, wrapped up its Anycubic X Yale Funbotics 3D Modeling & Printing Camp on Dec 11. The company’s first education incubation project was held in collaboration with Yale Funbotics, with the aim of introducing 3D printing to children and how to build and use Anycubic 3D printers. The printing camp was also held in July and October and gave children an introduction to the world of 3D printers, an understanding of how a 3D printer works, and a general overview of 3D modeling, slicing, and 3D printer operations.

Introducing 3D printing to students  

Inspired by Anycubic’s vision — “For Freedom to Make” — the company’s 3D printing education incubation project was founded in Shenzhen on September 2, 2020. The project embodies Anycubic’s aspiration of helping everyone to achieve the freedom of creation and invention using 3D printing technologies.

http://bit.ly/3jTGKH4

The Anycubic X Yale Funbotics 3D Modelling Printing Camps were designed for 4th to 12th-grade students. All the camps ran virtually over Zoom, and each lasted for three days. On the first day, the students were taught to assemble their 3D printers, the Anycubic Kobra, which is auto-leveling and beginner-friendly. After this assembling process, students were able to gain a deeper understanding of how a 3D printer works.

The next day, the printing camp students learned how to model designs in CAD. In this section, mentors guided the students on how to design basic objects, how to slice and print their objects, and helping them solve problems as they came up. By learning how to model more complex items, the children learned that designing is an iterative process and continuous adjusting and troubleshooting is part of the design process.

On the last day, students learned how to slice, print, and troubleshoot their own models. This class showed the children how troubleshooting is part of the design process, and that when a print doesn’t work, it doesn’t constitute a failure but is simply a normal part of learning about 3D printers. This motivated students to try again – tweaking the measurements of the design, adding more support, and adjusting the printing temperature – increasing their satisfaction when the print does eventually work. 

The difference that the 3D print camps made for Anycubic and Funbotics

Yale Funbotics is a non-profit organization that was founded to provide the resources, technology, and opportunities for under-represented youth to ignite their passion about STEM. The founder of Yale Funbotics, Pranav Avasarala, said:” Providing 3D printers to these students gave them a new avenue to unleash their imagination and fall in love with STEM. From pencil and phone cases to Harry Potter wands, the kids were thrilled by how much they could create and excited to experiment with new designs.

The Anycubic X Funbotics camps not only introduced and showed young students how much fun STEM is but gave them the opportunity and resources to pursue the field in the future. Funbotics plans to continue our partnership with Anycubic to promote STEM education in underrepresented communities. We are working on adding to the 3D modeling and printing curriculum to teach students how to print, assemble and program their own autonomous robots. We are also opening our Funbotics Lab Centers for students to come and work on their engineering projects. We are incredibly grateful to the Anycubic team – without your support, such a monumental impact would not have been possible.”

“3D printing technology is a powerful learning tool to enhance STEM Teaching and Learning and can involve people in active learning, design thinking, and problem-solving. We are excited to join Funbotics to promote STEM education with the 3D Modeling and Printing Camps. Seeing the students actively engaging in the design process, unleashing their imagination, and completing some real-world product design tasks with 3D printed prototypes makes us think, “3D printing is helping the youth change the world,” said James Ouyang, Vice President of Anycubic. “We have much appreciated the help from Yale Funbtics. These 3D print camps have established an excellent springboard for us to promote the incubation program overseas. We look forward to achieving more success in our future collaboration”.

About Anycubic

Anycubic is a leading company in the 3D printing industry that specializes in 3D printer R&D, manufacturing and sales, providing many affordable, high-performance, and smart printers for different customers, consumers, hobbyists, schools, and product designers. Since its establishment in 2015, we have been committed to propelling 3D printing technology to enable people from all walks of life to unleash their imagination and turn creativity into reality. For more information about Anycubic, please visit the company’s website.

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43rd Honda Prize Awarded to Dr. Hidetoshi Katori for His Invention: Optical Lattice Clock That Loses Only 1 Second Per 30 Billion Years

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TOKYO, Dec. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Honda Foundation in Tokyo held the 43rd Honda Prize Award Ceremony on November 17, 2022, where it awarded this year’s prize to Dr. Hidetoshi Katori, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo (Chief Scientist and Team Leader, RIKEN).

Photo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106338/202211290547/_prw_PI1fl_P9kwW68A.jpg

Hiroto Ishida, President of the Honda Foundation, commented, “Precise time measurement is becoming increasingly important in modern society. Dr. Katori’s invention, the optical lattice clock, is able to measure height differences of 1 cm using the relativistic effect that time moves more slowly where gravity is lower. We can anticipate that this will be important for disaster management, such as detecting volcanic magma rises, and pioneering new measurement technologies and research fields. In the spirit of the Honda Prize, Dr. Katori’s accomplishment is truly remarkable.”

Kazuko Matsumoto of the Honda Prize Selection Committee explained the selection process: “We asked 300 nominators from around the world and chose the winners from 27 groups of candidates from 11 countries. For selection, we considered not only the candidates’ goals and accomplishments but also how their inventions can improve people’s lives. Dr. Katori invented the optical lattice clock in 2001, which uses atoms trapped in an optical lattice to create an ultra-precise time standard. In contrast to the current international atomic time standard, cesium atomic clocks, which are accurate to about 15 digits, this new method can measure time to 18 digits. Dr. Katori was chosen for this award in recognition that the limitless possibilities of the technology fit with the idea behind the Honda Prize.”

Dr. Katori stated, “I am honored to receive the Honda Prize. I would like to thank both the Honda Foundation and selection committee. After decades of research, it has become important for me to leave behind results that will benefit mankind and society. While the research began out of curiosity, as it developed, I hoped to share it with society. I am thankful to have found a research field that has inspired me for so many years.”

He added, “I would like to make a smaller clock that measures in millimeters with 19-digit accuracy in 1,000 seconds. Along with downsizing and networking the clock, I have begun talking with geophysicists about targets for predicting volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Time measurement technology can be improved indefinitely, and these advancements will drive social change. Last year, I was asked to write the final chapter of a high school physics textbook. I imagine those students are now in university or working, where they are discovering real-world applications. I think it is time to pass the baton to the next generation of brilliant minds.”

Dr. Katori’s research on the optical lattice clock: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202211290547-O1-q1Q8Fm8A.pdf

Dr. Hidetoshi Katori: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202211290547-O2-696lCIe2.pdf

Official website: https://www.hondafoundation.jp/en

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Solar Cell Pioneer Wins the €1 Million Millennium Technology Prize

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HELSINKI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The 2022 Millennium Technology Prize has been awarded to Scientia Professor Martin Green of the UNSW Sydney, Australia, for his innovation that has transformed the production of solar energy.

The €1 million global award for technology, conferred every two years, recognised Green’s leadership in the development of the Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC). Since its development in 1983, the PERC has gone on to become the most commercially viable and efficient silicon solar cell technology for use in solar panels and for large-scale electricity production, accounting for almost 90% of the global solar cell market. 

Green developed the PERC with his team by improving the quality of both the top and the rear surface of standard silicon solar cells.  When sunlight – in the form of particles called photons – enters a cell, it excites the electrons within the silicon. In this excited state, electrons can move through the cell, creating electric current.

The improved surface of the PERC allows the electrons to maintain this excited state – or move freely – for longer, resulting in greater and more efficient energy generation. The PERC has helped increase the conversion efficiency of standard solar cells by over 50% in relative terms from 16.5% in the early 1980s to 25% in the early 2000s.

The innovation has greatly reduced the costs of using solar panels, making solar energy more affordable than fossil-based alternatives. PERCs can also provide an energy supply to homes without them needing to be connected to a grid, ensuring a reliable power supply for remote communities.

Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland and Patron of the prize, conferred the Millennium Technology Prize upon Green at a ceremony in Helsinki today.

Professor Green said: “It is a great honour to have been selected to receive such a prestigious prize. It not only recognises my contribution to photovoltaics [the conversion of light into electrical power], but also the achievements of my students and research colleagues at UNSW, as well as those of the broader photovoltaic research and commercial community.

“I believe the Prize will increase my credibility as a spokesperson for what needs to be done to address climate change. We need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to sustain the trajectory of human civilization on our shared planet. The pace of change is accelerating and the world will shift to solar and wind energy over the coming decade. I believe a huge transformation of historic significance is underway.”

Green and his team are currently working on combined cell technologies to reach 40% solar cell efficiency by exploring options such as stacking cells on top of each other. 

Green said: “Solar cells are increasingly being used to replace large power stations that use fossil fuels. In 2021, 20 countries or regions including Australia, Chile, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Vietnam and California (US) generated between 8% to 25% of their total electricity supply from solar energy, with this number growing quickly. 

“The rapid cost reductions in solar energy that my work has facilitated have come just in time, right at the point when the importance of acting immediately to address climate change has become overwhelmingly obvious.”

Professor Minna Palmroth, Chair of the Board of Technology Academy Finland, said: “Professor Green’s innovation has already and will continue to greatly enhance the quality of life for billions of people globally and enhance environmentally sustainable development, from national power grids to private housing.” 

Professor Päivi Törmä, Chair of the International Selection Committee of the Millennium Technology Prize, said: “PERCs can help us provide low-cost energy solutions and mitigate climate change. Continued research on solar cells is needed to replace their constituents that have limited supply, such as silver, with more abundant alternatives.” 

The 2022 ceremony celebrating Green’s innovation will be held alongside the Millennium Innovation Forum, also hosted by Technology Academy Finland, which runs from October 25-26. The Forum brings together internationally renowned experts to discuss how technology can solve the world’s greatest challenges. 

Speakers include Bellingcat’s investigative journalist and Executive Director, Christo Grozev, who implicated the Russian government in the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and is currently investigating war crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine. It also features Tim O’Reilly, Web 2.0 forerunner and Silicon Valley expert; and Marissa Mayer, ex-CEO of Yahoo, and Google’s 20th employee and first female engineer.

The innovation forum’s session on diversity in research and development will be hosted by Finland’s Research and Innovation Council, which is chaired by Finnish Prime Minister.

There will be a press conference with Professor Martin Green at 9:00 am EEST (UTC+3) on 25th October 2022, embargoed until 25th October 2022, 6.30 PM EEST (UTC+3). Professor Green will also deliver a lecture at 5:10 pm EEST (UTC+3) on 26th October 2022.

For more information, press conference details or interview requests, please contact:

Saiansha Panangipalli
Email: saiansha@curzonpr.com and millenniumprize@curzonpr.com;
Tel: +91 99715 74820

Q/A with Martin Green about PERC:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5qSa2GnIdH0clWpOHDXIxWZdKeiVUqx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107249428655872742154&rtpof=true&sd=true

Watch and download a video and photos about Professor Martin Green, the 2022 Millennium Technology Award prize winner: here.

About the Millennium Technology Prize:

The €1 million Millennium Technology Prize is the preeminent award focused on technological innovations for a better life. This includes work that improves human well-being, biodiversity, and wider sustainability. Overseen by the Technology Academy Finland, it was first awarded in 2004 and its patron is the President of the Republic of Finland. Winners are selected by a distinguished international panel of experts from academia and industry. Innovations must be backed up by rigorous academic and scientific research and fulfill several criteria, including promoting sustainable development and biodiversity, generating applications with commercial viability, and creating accessible socio-economic value.

Past winning projects range from DNA sequencing that helped to develop COVID-19 vaccines, to ethical stem-cell research and versatile, affordable smart technology. For other information, visit https://millenniumprize.org/. 

The previous winners of the Millennium Technology Prize are:         

  1. 2004 – Sir Tim Berners-Lee for the World Wide Web;
  2. 2006 – Professor Shuji Nakamura for the production of the first successful blue LED, the final step in creating a brilliant white LED;
  3. 2008 – Professor Robert Langer for his work in controlled drug delivery, the underlying technology behind mRNA vaccines. 
  4. 2010 – Professor Michael Grätzel for third generation dye-sensitized solar cells, which promise electricity-generating windows and low-cost solar panels;
  5. 2012 – Joint winners: Professor Shinya Yamanaka, for ethical stem cell research and Linus Torvalds for the Linux open-source operating system, which has become the basis of Android smartphones, tablets, digital television recorders and supercomputers the world over;
  6. 2014 – Professor Stuart Parkin, for developing increased data storage density, which has enabled a thousand-fold increase in the storage capacity of magnetic disk drives;
  7. 2016 – Dr Frances Arnold, for her work on directed evolution, which mimics natural evolution to create new and better proteins in the laboratory, and is being used to create green alternatives to fossil-based raw materials;   
  8. 2018 – Dr Tuomo Suntola, for atomic layer deposition (ALD), that enables manufacture of nanoscale thin material layers for microprocessors and digital memory devices, which has helped revolutionize smartphones.
  9. 2020 – Joint winners: Professor Shankar Balasubramanian and Professor David Klenerman, for the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology that can accurately determine the complete DNA sequence of an organism at a low-cost and in super-fast times and has helped researchers identify the underlying factors in individuals that contribute to their immune response to COVID-19.

About the Millennium Innovation Forum:

The Millennium Innovation Forum brings together people from business, academia, and the public sector to discuss new solutions to global problems. This year’s forum is hosted by Jason Palmer, presenter of The Intelligence podcast published by The Economist. Sessions include Diversity in RDI, Green Transition, Digital Transformation and Resilience. For information on speakers, sessions and watching the forum and Professor Green’s lecture online, visit: https://millenniumprize.org/events/millennium-innovation-forum/

To request press accreditation for attending the Millennium Innovation Forum, visit: https://e.eventos.fi/events/tapaus/millennium-innovation-forum/mif-media

About Technology Academy Finland:

Technology Academy Finland (TAF) awards the global €1 million Millennium Technology Prize and runs associated events and initiatives. It provides an international meeting ground for corporate life, academia, and policymakers, and promotes Finland’s position in the global community.

The following files are available for download:

PR Newswire

University of Technology Sydney (UTS) to visit Vietnam

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Opportunity for Vietnamese students to discover Australia’s number one young university[i]

SYDNEY, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Students interested in learning more about opportunities at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) are warmly invited to attend two informative events here in Vietnam. UTS is preparing Open Days in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with presentations from faculty, alumni, and staff.

University of Technology Sydney campus
University of Technology Sydney campus

The Open Days are a rare opportunity to experience the university and talk with academics and alumni without leaving Vietnam. They will include free sessions for students and their families covering study programs, student life in Sydney Australia, accommodation, tuition fees, scholarships, and career opportunities in Australia and around the world for UTS graduates.

Learn more about student life in Australia

Activities on the day will include:

  •  Presentations, career workshops, and mock classes with UTS academics
  •  Information booths where visitors can consult with faculty members and explore pathway options with UTS College
  •  Exclusive support and rewards offered by UTS and partners in Vietnam
  •  Opportunities to meet representatives from Australia’s Trade and Investment Development Authority
  •  UTS staff and alumni available for questions

Why students choose UTS

A degree from UTS prepares graduates for the real world. Major projects, group work, simulations and industry case studies are a core component of each degree. This real-world focus is the result of close ties with industry – industry partners help the university to shape cutting-edge course content. Students graduate ready to deliver real solutions to the challenges of today and tomorrow.

Generous scholarship program

With up to A$12 million awarded to international students each year, UTS offers one of the most generous scholarship programs in Australia. Financial support ranges from academic excellence awards to full-award scholarships, helping international students to thrive at UTS.

Career support for international students

Because studying in Australia presents challenges and opportunities for international students, UTS offers a range of services to help them develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed at university and beyond. Created with input from industry, graduate recruiters, and faculty experts, these programs, events, and resources are relevant, with an emphasis on ‘real world’ employability.

Event details, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

UTS Open Day Hanoi:
1.30-5.30pm, Saturday 22 October
Hilton Hanoi Opera
1 Le Thanh Tong
Phan Chu Trinh Ward
Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
Register at https://bit.ly/3M8CVI5

UTS Open Day Ho Chi Minh City:
8.30am-12.00pm, Sunday 23 October
Eastin Grand Hotel Saigon
253 Nguyen Van Troi Ho Chi Minh City
Thanh pho Ho Chi Minh 10

Register at https://bit.ly/3rvcbIl

About UTS and UTS College
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a leading university of technology with global impact and among the top 150 universities in the world. With more than 340 diverse programs for study and research, UTS prepares students for the challenges of today and tomorrow through its future-focused and industry-connected approach to learning. Its location in Sydney’s innovation precinct, Tech Central, places it in the heart of Australia’s tech economy – where creativity meets technology.

Students often begin their UTS experience with UTS College, the pathway to UTS, which offers English Language programs, Diploma courses (undergraduate pathways in Business, Communications, Design & Architecture, Engineering, IT and Science) and a Pre-Master’s Program.

PR Newswire

Chula Launches “Microbes to Clean Marine Oil Spill Bioproducts”

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BANGKOK, Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Chula Faculty of Science has developed bioproducts to clean up marine oil spills from a research on oil-eating microbes while getting ready to expand to industrial-scale production for ecological sustainability.

The bioproducts to clean sea oil spills
The bioproducts to clean sea oil spills

Major marine oil spills that leave residual pollutants have detrimental effects on the economy, tourism, as well as the marine environment in the long run. One solution is oil-eating microbes bioproducts developed with clean technology by the Center of Excellence in Microbial Technology for Marine Pollution Treatment, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr. Onruthai Pinyakong.

Concept Origins
“Usually, managing oil spills starts with physical methods, like oil booms, or oil dispersants followed by biodegradation, which is slow and unpredictable. So, if the biodegradation process can be accelerated, it should bring about major benefits,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Onruthai who then turned to “oil-eating microbes”.

Thailand — the source of quality and diverse microorganisms
To accelerate the biodegradation process, sufficient quantities of effective oil-eating microbes developed into bioproducts with a long shelf life must be used.

Thailand has high biodiversity — a good source of pollutants-degrading microorganisms. Pollutant eating and biosurfactants producing microorganisms were thus selected from previously contaminated sites with high biodiversity such as marine sediments, sediments from mangrove forests, as well as water or soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. They were then cultured and multiplied while ensuring that the isolated microorganisms are not pathogenic, and safe for users and the environment. The isolated toxins-digesting microbes, aka oil-eating microbes, were then developed into 3 types of lab products:

  • Ready-to-use liquid formula suitable for contaminated sand or soil.
  • Microbial product pellets suitable to treat contaminated soil or sand while promoting aeration and biodegradation.
  • Microbial immobilization suitable for contaminated water.

Expanding research into industrial production

This research has received widespread feedback and support from both the public and private sectors who give much importance to the Bio-Circular-Green Economic Model which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

If these bioproducts to clean marine oil spills can reach commercial-scale production and use, they will be part of the BCG Economy using truly clean technology, which the research team is ready to transfer to investors and interested parties to collaborate and develop in the future.

For more information, visit https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/84839/