Tag: 3BL

CHARLOTTE, N.C., February 29, 2024 /3BL/ – Discovery Education now offers a new collection of engaging, high-quality digital learning resources to support observances of Women’s History Month. Since 1987 in the United States, Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society.

The following resources are now available for users of the award-winning Discovery Education Experience K-12 learning platform for Women’s History Month:

Womanica channel: Get to know the incredible stories of groundbreaking women whose legacies have stood the test of time. Womanica, a podcast series from Wonder Media Network, offers bite-sized audio biographies of women you may or may not know, but whose impact has changed the world. Gain inspiration and spark curiosity by listening to the contributions, successes, trials, and triumphs of phenomenal women from a variety of backgrounds including scientists, activists, actors, teachers, poets, philosophers, scholars, politicians, comedians, and more.Women in History channel: Celebrate the remarkable journeys of legendary women throughout history and learn contemporary stories of women changing the world today. This collection showcases stories of pioneering women who have fought for equality and advocated for meaningful change. Explore the impact women have had politically, in STEM, the arts, sports, leadership positions, and more.

Connecting educators to a vast collection of high-quality, standard-aligned content, ready-to-use digital lessons, intuitive quiz and activity creation tools, and professional learning resources, Discovery Education Experience facilitates the creation of engaging instructional experiences for all students.

In addition, for users of the award-winning Mystery Science service, the Celebrating Women in Science & Arts Collection offers open-and-go lessons that inspire students to see themselves in science. Mystery Science is an engaging standards-aligned science curriculum for grades K-5 designed to help students stay curious. In this collection of 45-minute engineering lessons, Mystery Guides lead no prep, open-and-go lessons with step-by-step hands-on activities exploring scientific phenomena using common classroom items.

“In my classroom, I ensure that all my students have no limitations on their curiosity,” said Renee Cunningham, the Media Coordinator at New Town Elementary School of Union County Public Schools in North Carolina. “I love knowing that I can always rely on Discovery Education for current and engaging resources that make it easy for me to integrate into a lesson plan.”

Discovery Education also offers many free resources educators can integrate into their Women’s History Month observances. Among the free resources are:

Career Profiles 

The Women’s History Month career profiles collection from the STEM Careers Coalition celebrates the careers of women leaders in STEM. The collection of dynamic, on-demand resources supports educators’ efforts to drive deeper student engagement by connecting classroom lessons to the real-world. Career profile videos show students a variety of STEM careers across engineering, chemistry, research, and technology.

The STEM Careers Coalition solves critical gaps in representation in the STEM professional workforce. The Coalition is an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations that has provided equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019. The Coalition will continue to ignite student curiosity and influence a diverse future STEM workforce and reach 10 million teachers and students by 2025.
 The career profiles from Girls4Tech – Mastercard’s signature science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program, supported by Discovery Education – are geared towards giving girls in middle and high school access to STEM resources and career exploration tools. Students are introduced to the topics of Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity via virtual video introductions to Mastercard’s cybersecurity specialists. Women role models will inspire girls to explore the possibilities of a STEM career.

Gamified Learning and Student Challenges

Maker High is an educational partnership with Goldieblox that makes science fun and accessible through teacher-led activities paired with a new game, Chem Lab Escape hosted on Roblox. Teach your students critical thinking and core concepts of chemistry that are the keys to solving this chemistry escape room. Chem Lab Escape empowers students to solve challenges such as combining elements and solutions to create chemical reactions and adding and removing heat energy to water to navigate an obstacle course.As the nation’s premier middle school science competition, the annual 3M Young Scientist Challenge invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.” Each year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge recognizes the grand prize winner, 10 finalists, four honorable mentions, and up to 51 state merit winners – nationwide and in Washington D.C. – who have demonstrated a passion for using science to solve everyday problems and improve the world around them. This year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge offers innovative ways for students to engage in science and engineering through new entry topics, including Robotics, Home Improvement, Automotive, Safety, AR/VR, and Climate Tech. Competition entries are accepted until the deadline on May 2, 2024.

“We’re on a mission to prepare all learners for tomorrow by creating innovative classrooms connected to today’s world,” said Robin Porter, Vice President of Digital Content at Discovery Education. “With this new collection of content created with trusted partners, educators and students have at hand engaging materials for Women’s History Month and beyond.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contact 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

Marathon Petroleum’s Vinvale and East Hynes fleets in California’s Los Angeles Basin have made a significant step toward reducing their carbon footprint and contributing to a cleaner future by transitioning both fleets entirely to renewable diesel. In 2023, two Marathon Petroleum Transport and Rail (T&R) fleets and two locomotives at the Marathon Petroleum Los Angeles refinery, which are supported by T&R, switched from using traditional diesel fuel to renewable diesel.

How we did it

In 2021, Marathon Petroleum began transitioning its ARCO retail sites to renewable diesel. The terminals started replacing CARB diesel – a specific grade of diesel fuel required by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), with renewable diesel. The Marathon Petroleum fleets refuel their trucks at our load racks and have access to renewable diesel because we are supplying it to our customers. Now, 35 trucks are operating on renewable diesel in the Los Angeles area. In 2023, the rail team began fueling the locomotives at a 50-50 mixture with regular diesel and renewable diesel before completely transitioning to 100% renewable diesel.

“At first, drivers asked lots of questions about renewable diesel and if it would have some of the negative effects on the operations of the trucks like biodiesel did in the past,” said Timothy Sweeney, Transport Maintenance Supervisor. “We assured them that this was different. Since we have switched, the drivers haven’t seen any decrease in power, performance or operations.”

Why it matters

Renewable diesel is an alternative to traditional diesel fuel. Renewable diesel is made from a variety of renewable feedstocks such as vegetable oil, animal fats and waste cooking oils. It is processed to be chemically the same as traditional diesel and can be used to operate any traditional diesel engine without modifications.

NEW YORK and LONDON, February 29, 2024 /3BL/ – AccountAbility, a global ESG Consulting and Standards firm with a history spanning thirty years, has been recognized for the seventh straight year as a Leading Management Consultant by the Financial Times. The 2024 award, derived from survey and interview data, reflects the firm’s consistent endorsement by clients and peers in the industry.

“AccountAbility is extremely grateful to the Financial Times, Statista, our clients, and our peers to accept the FT award for the seventh consecutive year. Our continued inclusion in this distinguished ranking reinforces the ever-growing importance of sustainability/ ESG matters and their impact on the global business universe.

Our journey is shaped by the unwavering trust and invaluable support from our esteemed clients and peers. This award reflects our relentless pursuit of innovation, excellence, and the shared vision of our dedicated team. Together, we stride forward, not just in building better businesses but in fostering a culture of integrity, performance, and responsibility in organizations worldwide.“

– Sunil (Sunny) A. Misser, CEO of AccountAbility

AccountAbility is an expert sustainability / ESG consulting and standards firm that provides objective counsel to CEOs and Boards on improving their business performance. The firm is dedicated to innovating and advancing the global Sustainability/ESG agenda. It aims to enhance organizations’ practices, performance, and overall impact.

Operating on a global scale, the firm partners with businesses, investors, governments, and multi-lateral organizations to address ESG matters. It coordinates these efforts from its international offices in London, New York, Dubai, and Riyadh. For over thirty years, AccountAbility has partnered with leading multi-national organizations in various sectors, including finance, energy, healthcare, real estate, consumer goods, telecommunications, and technology. The firm operates in the UK, U.S., EU, Middle East, and Asia.

AccountAbility has been the recipient of multiple business and finance awards and was recognized by Capital Finance International (CFI.co) for a third consecutive year as Best ESG Strategy Development Partner in 2023 and by Forbes as One of the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms for 2023.

AccountAbility issues an annual global report on the Top Sustainability Trends facing businesses and guides leaders on ESG matters of significant priority for the future; found below:

The 7 Sustainability Trends 2023 Report

About Financial Times Leading Management Consultants 2024

The seventh annual FT rating of the leading management consultants is compiled by the Financial Times and Statista, a research company, highlighting the consultancies most recommended by their peers and clients. Results are based on surveys of consultants’ views of their peers and a client survey of approximately 1,000 senior executives who have previously used the services of management consultancies.

About AccountAbility

AccountAbility is a global consulting and standards firm that works with businesses, investors, governments, and multilateral organizations on ESG matters to achieve opportunities, advance responsible business practices, and transform their long-term performance. We focus on delivering practical, effective, and enduring results that enable our clients to succeed. Learn more at www.accountability.org.

Contact:

Mr. Gavin Doran 
AccountAbility 
Global Head of Marketing & Communications 
Phone: +1 850 502 3098 
Email: gavin.doran@accountability.org 
Web: www.accountability.org

Originally published on Rayonier.com

ABERDEEN, Wash., February 29, 2024 /3BL/ – Plywood is crucial in construction, but have you ever wondered how plywood is made? In this article, we explore how trees are transformed during the plywood-making process at a veneer mill in Aberdeen, Washington and the significance of the forest lifecycle in maintaining a sustainable supply of this essential resource, including:

What is plywood and what is it used for?What type of wood is used to make plywood?What are the steps to make plywood?What happens to the wood scraps in the plywood-making process?What happens to the land after trees are harvested for plywood?What is the importance of sustainable forestry in plywood production?

What is plywood and what is it used for?

Plywood is an incredibly important forest product used in the construction of all kinds of homes and buildings.

This versatile material is made by bonding together many layers of thin sheets of wood veneer. Consumers choose plywood over other wood building materials such as solid lumber for several reasons:

Value: A sheet of plywood is more affordable than the same amount of solid wood.Strength: Plywood is a very durable wood product thanks to the manufacturing process, which layers wood veneer at varying angles.Uniformity: Because of the way they’re made, plywood panels can be depended on to come in the width, length and thickness expected without major defects.

What type of wood is used to make plywood?

There is softwood plywood, hardwood plywood and plywood made up of a combination of both. Firs, pines, oaks, maples, birches and other woods are all commonly used to make plywood.

At the Pacific Veneer Mill in Aberdeen, Washington, hemlock, Douglas-fir, spruce and sometimes pine are all types of wood used to make veneer sheets.

Troy Kalinoski, who purchases timber for the mill, says he prefers to buy hemlock wood, which is more affordable and helps the mill keep the overall cost of its product low. In this part of the country, hemlock also has less knots than Douglas fir, making a better quality wood.

“We’re probably anywhere from 80 to 85 percent hemlock,” he says. “Because of that, our product is coveted by certain customers in our marketplace.”

The veneer mill purchases wood from landowners like Rayonier; manufactures it into sheets; and then sells those sheets to a plywood mill. The plywood mill then fastens each thin layer of veneer together into the final product, using a powerful laminate material.

Finding the right wood for the veneer mill

“We try to grow the best logs for the mills that we possibly can,” says our Senior Timber Marketing Manager Kevin Pilemalm, who sells Rayonier timber to Pacific Veneer. “Our silviculture team has worked really hard to get good, straight, clean logs that grow fast. There’s not really a technique to grow every log on the job to a veneer quality. We have to go out on those jobs and find the veneer quality logs that are there.”

Veneer mill logs are more valuable than, for example, lower quality logs Rayonier would sell to a pulp mill. It’s the timber marketing manager’s job, along with the logging crew, to determine the best use for each log.

“Our guys in the woods are really crucial in picking those logs out and putting those sorts together,” Kevin says. “Then, when they come in here, we have the right product and the mill gets what they need.”

Kevin says fostering good relationships with customers like Pacific Veneer is key to the role of a timber marketing manager:

“We work really hard to maintain the relationships Rayonier has with our local mills. It’s a long-term relationship to keep this industry running.”

What are the steps to make plywood? A veneer mill tour.

To make plywood, a tree has to be debarked, steamed in a vault and then peeled into a long, thin sheet at the veneer mill. Those sheets are then graded and cut down to size, dried and stacked. Once the stacks are delivered to the plywood mill, the plywood manufacturing process continues. The veneer sheets are covered in a powerful glue called laminate and then stacked with the wood grain facing in perpendicular directions, which ensures the wood will be extremely strong.

The team at Pacific Veneer provided a tour in the video included with this article, showing the step-by-step process to making plywood sheets. Some manufacturers will make veneer and plywood at the same site. Pacific Veneer specializes only in the veneer manufacturing process.

Below we go into more detail about each of the following steps in how plywood is manufactured, including:

Step 1: Prepare the logs for peeling in a steam vaultStep 2: Peel the logs into thin sheets of veneer using a latheStep 3: Clipping and assessing the veneer sheetsStep 4: Drying, grading and bandingStep 5: Creating the final product at the plywood mill

Step 1: Prepare the logs for peeling in a steam vault

The first step is to prepare the log for peeling. The mill removes the bark, cuts the logs down to 100.25-inch-long blocks, and places them in steamy vaults.

“Once the vault is full, they go up and turn the water on and shut the door. We’re going to cook those blocks at 165 degrees for 16 hours,” says Plant Superintendent Dave Newberry.

The steam helps to break down the wood fibers, ensuring a smooth peel and a better-quality end product.

Step 2: Peel the logs into thin sheets of veneer using a lathe

Once the logs are properly steamed, they’re ready to peel.

A charger digitally assess each log, locating the perfect place to hold the log to produce the most veneer. A pendulum then swings back, picks up the log and places it in the lathe, rapidly spinning it.

The machine can peel anywhere from a 7-inch to a 27-inch diameter log. The resulting sheets will be anywhere between 1/200th and 1/10th of an inch thick. The machine can peel up to 14 logs per-minute.

The peeler operator listens to the sound of the lathe cutting the log to determine whether it is working properly.

Every two-and-a-half hours, at break time, the lathe blade is replaced with a fresh, sharpened blade. The mill employs a full time grinder operator, whose sole job is to re-sharpen blades for the lathe.

Step 3: Clipping and assessing the veneer sheets

Once the logs have been unraveled into long, thin ribbons of wood, they are moved by a conveyor belt into a rotary clipper.

A digital scanner assesses the wood for defects and directs the clipped to cut the wood into 54- and 27-inch sheets.

Smaller pieces with defects like large holes will drop off the conveyor into a pile that will be used either as plywood filler or it will be processed into wood chips.

A moisture meter scans the 54- and 27-inch sheets to guide how the wood veneer is sorted. There will be heart wood, sap wood, and super sap wood.

Each will be stacked in a separate pile because each will require a different amount of time in the dryer.

Step 4: Drying, grading and banding

The veneer needs to dry in order to prevent decay and improve the properties of the finished wood.

While some plywood mills purchase the veneer at this stage and dry it themselves, others want the veneer sheets in a dried condition.

“It’s basically like an oven,” Dave says of the industrial dryer. “Once the sheet comes through, it needs to be 8 percent moisture or less.”

Once they come out of the dryer, each sheet is graded and sorted depending on the size and quality of the wood.

The mill places a band around each stack of veneer wood and prepares it for the plywood manufacturing customer that will transform it into the final product.

Step 5: Creating the final product at the plywood mill

Once a plywood mill purchases the veneer sheets, they will be transformed into the final product found in lumber and hardware stores.

First, the veneer sheets will be glued. The sheets run through a “glue curtain” that coats them with the laminate, then they’re stacked together. The wood grain is rotated between layers, which gives the plywood strength and prevents splitting and shrinkage.

Next, the assembled layers of veneer will be pressed and heated. Using pressure and heat presses the glue into an even, thin layer.

Finally, the plywood panel will go through the finishing process, where it is cut to size, edges are squared and the plywood may be sanded into the final product.

What happens to the wood scraps in the plywood-making process?

Nothing goes to waste in the process of making plywood. For example, bark and wood scraps from the logs are used to fuel the wood-fired furnace that heats the steam vaults and the dryer. The peeler “cores,” which are small cylinders of leftover wood once the logs are peeled, are also put to good use:

“Our customers do various things with the peeler cores, from making pallet stock to possibly landscape timbers, and there’s various other products they might get used for such as fence posts,” Dave says.

What happens to the land after trees are harvested for plywood?

On Rayonier land, harvesting trees for products like veneer is just one step in the forest lifecycle.

Typically within the next one to two years, crews will replant the forest, placing several trees in the ground for every one tree that was harvested.

The next generation of trees will grow for about 40 years — capturing carbon, providing a home for wildlife, and countless other benefits — before it reaches maturity for the veneer and other products the next generation of people will need.

Why is sustainable forestry important in plywood production?

The sustainability of our world’s forests is paramount in ensuring we continue to enjoy all the benefits of the forest as well as a continuous supply of fiber for products like plywood.

We use 1000s of forest products in our everyday lives, including lumber but also lesser-known items that rely on tree fiber, such as medicines, phone screens, and bath products including toothpaste, shampoo and moisturizers. You can learn more about products made from trees and why trees are the best raw material for so many items in our ongoing #ItStartsWithTrees story series.

Through responsible forest management practices, we can strike a harmonious balance between meeting the demands of industry and preserving the ecological health of our woodlands.

Want to learn more about the process of making plywood?

Watch this long-form video by Engineering World of how the plywood manufacturing process works in “mega factories.”

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

A new mixed-use, affordable housing development is underway in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood. Go For Broke Plaza and First Street North Residences will provide 248 units of affordable housing plus approximately 40,000 square feet of commercial space that will house the Go for Broke National Education Center and local minority-owned businesses.

“This project is among the largest 100% affordable housing developments to be built in the City of Los Angeles,” said Little Tokyo Service Center Director of Real Estate, Debbie Chen. “Beyond that, it is the realization of a Little Tokyo community vision that has been decades in the making, ever since this site was taken from the neighborhood in the aftermath of Japanese American internment during World War II.”

U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance is the equity investor in the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) transaction and the two Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) deals related to the project, and is providing the construction debt for the LIHTC transaction. For this development, over $83 million in debt and over $85 million in equity financing was committed through the four different transactions.

A longtime partner of Little Tokyo Service Center since 2009, U.S. Bank has provided $466,000 through charitable giving programs over the years to support the important work they do. 

“It was a privilege to lean into this complex financial deal to help drive change,” said Impact Finance Business Development Officer Drew Hammond. “My hope is that the project will not only preserve affordability for Little Tokyo residents and legacy businesses, but also stand as a symbol of reclamation and celebration of Little Tokyo’s history.”

Little Tokyo is in downtown Los Angeles and is home to one of the largest Japanese-American populations in North America. Portions of the neighborhood were declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1995. The Go For Broke Plaza and First Street North Residences project site has been designed to wrap around and prominently display the Go For Broke Monument that commemorates Japanese Americans who served in the United States Army during World War II. Eighty of the 248 units for residents will be designed for people with special needs, including units for veterans and people with AIDS. Some of the small businesses will include retail shops and restaurants that have been in the area for generations.

“This project is among the largest 100% affordable housing developments to be built in the City of Los Angeles.”

– Debbie Chen, Little Tokyo Service Center director of real estate

“This project is incredibly meaningful to the Little Tokyo community and provides much needed affordable housing,” said Impact Finance Senior Project Manager Suzanne Furay. “Not only has it been rewarding to work closely with Little Tokyo Service Center and all of the project collaborators, but within U.S. Bank, it’s a proud moment because multiple teams came together to meet the needs of our clients and the community.”

Construction is already underway and the development is expected to be completed in 2026.

“U.S. Bank provided a scale of investment and wholehearted commitment that was critical to ensuring First Street North’s success as one cohesive master planned development,” added Chen. “U.S. Bank’s appreciation for the entirety of the community vision and willingness to finance all the components of this project is worth celebrating. The efforts are an exemplar for how financial institutions can make a transformative difference in a place like Los Angeles.”

U.S. Bank’s total commitment to date for the broader Greater Los Angeles Area is $2.3 billion in debt and $1.56 billion in equity.

Written by Sudeepto Roy

Welcome to the Ecosystem Enablement blog series where we highlight key activities Qualcomm is driving around the world to help broader technology ecosystems flourish and the impact our programs are having in various emerging markets of the world.

In Vietnam, Taiwan and Africa, the Qualcomm ecosystem programs catalyzed innovation and intellectual property (IP) generation across the globe in 2023. Last year, we shared information about U.S. programs like The Inventor’s Patent Academy, as well as startup incubation, women’s entrepreneurship development and IP training in India. But our work didn’t end there. Dive into this update to see how we are empowering startups, championing entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds, and fostering IP awareness globally.

Vietnam

Launched in December 2019, Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge (QVIC), incubates startups in several transformational technologies. Collaborating with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, it fuels the growth of innovative, small-to-medium sized companies through Qualcomm technology, intellectual property and business expertise, while nurturing Vietnam’s technology ecosystem.

The QVIC program offers technology training, lab support, business coaching, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) mentoring and business development assistance, in addition to seed funding, monetary awards and financial incentives for patent filing.

To date, QVIC has incubated 29 startups in 5G connectivity, smart infrastructure, robotics and drones, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), agricultural technology, hospitality, healthcare, and multimedia technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR).

These startups have collectively raised more than $32M USD in funding, produced more than 25 commercial products, filed more than 87 domestic and international patents, and contributed to the realization of the Vietnamese Government’s Digital Innovation policies. In 2024, QVIC will incubate 10 more exciting startups from Vietnam.

Over the past 20 years, our presence in Vietnam has been transformative. Programs such as QVIC drive the rapid adoption of cutting-edge technologies — from 5G and AI/ML at the edge, to IoT and robotics — empowering local entrepreneurs and shaping the future of innovation in this key region of South-East Asia.

Learn more about the 29 Vietnamese startups incubated through the QVIC program

Taiwan

Since 2019, the Qualcomm Innovate in Taiwan Challenge (QITC) has nurtured 49 top-tier startups through five annual incubation cycles. These dynamic companies specialize in artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), extended reality (XR), edge computing, robotics, drones, smart infrastructure, healthcare, wearables, automotive and multimedia devices.

The key elements of mentorship program include helping startups strengthen their innovation and go-to-market plan, while helping them with rapid technology adoption and expansion of their product and services roadmaps. The startups are incubated at two innovation labs based in Taipei and Kaohsiung. Given Taiwan’s prowess in specialized semiconductors, compute and AIoT, the startups act as catalysts to the broader industry in quickly identifying monetizable use cases for advanced technologies.

Through close collaboration with Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), the vibrant Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA), Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and Kaohsiung Exhibition Center (KEC), the QITC program drives intellectual property creation, identifies regionally relevant businesses, helps startups go global and fosters skill development in key emerging technology areas.

Of note is the strong interest in intellectual property generation by Taiwanese startups. The startups have thus far filed 59 patents through the program’s incentives, but their patenting journey continued beyond incubation, and they have collectively filed over 327 domestic and international patents (with 133 granted), through their own efforts.

Learn more about the 49 Taiwanese startups incubated through the QITC program

Africa

In December 2022, we announced the launch of the Africa Innovation Platform, a suite of mentorship, education and training programs created to support the development of Africa’s emerging technology ecosystem. The platform provides resources and support for local universities, small-to-medium sized startups and grant participants, exposing them to Qualcomm Technologies’ engineers and its state-of-the-art capabilities suite for mobile platforms and technologies, including 4G, 5G, IoT, AI and machine learning.

The Qualcomm Make in Africa (QMIA) startup mentorship program is an equity-free mentorship program that has identified promising early-stage startups keen on applying advanced connectivity, AI and processing technologies to innovative end-to-end systems solutions, including hardware, and provided these companies with business coaching, access to engineering consultation for product development, and guidance on protecting IP. Ten startups from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Rwanda were selected from an applicant pool of more than 550 from 34 countries. These startups represent several industry areas, including electric vehicle (EV) transportation, precision farming, rapid composting, continuous glucose monitoring for diabetes, AI-based medical imagery analysis, and computing.

Upon completion of the mentorship phase, the startups participated in a finale event on Dec 11, 2023 to showcase their products and services in front of African industry, governments, academia and cellular operators. In addition, we announced a patent filing incentive and a Social Impact grant.

Another program launched for African inventors is a free, online IP education program in collaboration with South African Law firm, Adams and Adams, called Learn To Protect Africa, which provides comprehensive training on intellectual property fundamentals, including patents, copyrights, trademarks and IP integration into business models

To implement the Africa Innovation Platform, our representatives have engaged and collaborated with governments, trade associations and other key stakeholders throughout the continent, including the African Telecommunications Union (ATU). We look forward to engaging with 10 more African startups as part of its 2024 startup mentorship program.

Learn more about the 10 African startups incubated through the QMIA program

Our Global Technology Ecosystem: Nurturing Innovation, IP Generation and Entrepreneurship

I believe that Qualcomm is the world’s leading mobile technology innovator. As we stride forward in research and development, our vision extends to long-term investments that catalyze technology growth worldwide and fuel an intricate ecosystem. From science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent to universities, startups and government initiatives, we sow seeds for tomorrow.

Our commitment to regional innovation takes tangible form through incubation and mentorship programs. These nurturing grounds cultivate startups in vital tech domains. Guided by Qualcomm Technologies’ engineering expertise, these fledgling ventures incorporate advanced technologies. Business coaching, IP programs and strategic trainings propel them toward success. Remarkably, our programs take zero equity, nor ownership in the IP generated by the startups to protect their innovations.

Since 2016, our startup initiatives have incubated or mentored 220 startups. These emerging markets — India, Taiwan, Vietnam and Africa — witness a surge of design talent, robust supply chains and local manufacturing prowess. Here, startups harness the power of 4G, 5G and hybrid AI. Their end-to-end IoT applications span healthcare, smart cities, agricultural technology, smart homes, automotive, advanced computing, semiconductor design, XR, wearables, robotics and drones. As the digital tide rises, Qualcomm’s legacy of fostering innovation is unwavering.

Learn more about our global ecosystem enablement programs

Sustainability is coming to a course near you, thanks to support from the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business (Center) at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business. An initiative known as the Faculty Educational Innovation Community, led by Professor Ravi Subramanian, provides support to faculty for implementing sustainability into their courses and pedagogy. The ultimate goal of the community is to serve students interested in acquiring sustainable business competencies in Scheller programs, from undergraduate to graduate and executive education.

In May 2022, Subramanian was tapped by the Center to serve as faculty director of educational innovation. Subramanian previously served as director of the Steven A. Denning Technology & Management Program and as a member of the Georgia Tech Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. He also has been closely involved in Scheller Executive Education. Center Faculty Director Beril Toktay said, “The role will be dedicated to enhancing education and the student experience. Ravi brings all the pieces that are so important to faculty leadership and to conceptualizing and realizing programs.”

Read the full story on the Scheller College Website.

Originally published on Essity Newsroom

Hygiene and health company Essity recently published its Annual Report for 2023 on essity.com.

“We leave an eventful year behind us in which we have focused on increasing profitability and created a stable platform for profitable growth. Through innovation, restructuring, efficiency improvements and price increases, we achieved an adjusted profit of SEK 18.9bn – the highest profit ever – while also increasing net sales to SEK 147bn. We have undertaken to accept the offer in respect of all shares in Vinda. It is a very attractive offer for Essity and our shareholders and provides us with a product portfolio with higher and more stable returns,” says Magnus Groth, in his CEO message.

Read the complete CEO message and about Essity’s strategic priorities, earnings and leading sustainability work in the Annual Report for 2023, which is attached to this press release and can be downloaded at essity.com.

The Annual Report also contains a cohesive Sustainability report structured in accordance with Essity’s Sustainability Playing Field, which summarizes the company’s social and environmental sustainability priorities. The sustainability report was designed with consideration of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

NB: This is information that Essity is obliged to make public pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, on February 28, 2024, at 08:00 CET. 
Karl Stoltz, Media Relations Director, +46 70 942 63 38

Download Essity’s Annual Report for 2023 

Strong corporate governance is foundational to all that we do. It helps maintain trust in our company and brands, enabling us to create long-term shareholder value.

This strong governance begins at the top. Our board of directors applies their strong, diverse and relevant skills to provide meaningful oversight of the company and its execution of the IGNITE strategy, demonstrating active engagement with the issues most important to investors.

Our governance practices extend to transparency in our disclosures, robust board risk management oversight mechanisms, board oversight of human capital matters and corporate culture, as well as a commitment to hearing perspectives from our varied stakeholders. The following are some examples of strong governance practices at Clorox:

Regular board refreshment, with average tenure of approximately five years. We seek diverse skills, backgrounds and experiences that support the company’s strategy, which also results in a diverse board mix of both longer-tenured and newer directors.Strong shareholder-friendly practices, including the right for shareholders to nominate candidates and the right to call a special meeting, assuming certain ownership thresholds and other qualifications are met.Consideration of stakeholder feedback, with subsequent enhancements to our governance processes, including public disclosure in alignment with stakeholder-preferred reporting frameworks, incorporation of a third-party facilitator into our board evaluation process, and creation and expansion of our ESG Data Hub, the central repository for key information about our ESG performance and reporting approach.Active board oversight of human capital and culture matters, including through engagements with employees via site visits and town halls; oversight of engagement survey results and follow-up actions; and regular updates on ESG activities in town halls, community events and companywide communications.Annual mandatory training for Clorox teammates on our Clorox Code of Conduct, which outlines our expectations in areas.

Our New ESG Governance & Structure

In fiscal 2023, we created a new internal ESG governance structure and hired our first full-time vice president and head of sustainability to lead ESG work. The governance structure starts at the top with oversight from our board and senior management team. Our ESG Executive Committee determines strategic considerations to ensure we continue our ESG leadership, while the ESG Steering Team, led by our head of sustainability, drives sustainability initiatives, including reporting and executing against our ambitious IGNITE ESG goals. An ESG Disclosure Committee also reviews key ESG reporting, as well as processes, data controls and systems to assist the company in providing transparent and accurate disclosures and satisfying regulatory reporting requirements.

Our ESG governance structure and related processes include a system of mechanisms to further integrate our IGNITE ESG goals into our business units, allocate resources and assign decision-making authority and accountability. This enables us to better set ESG targets and measure performance. The structure also helps identify and mitigate risks associated with ESG issues such as resource dependency, resource scarcity and physical business disruption.

Additional fiscal year 2023 highlights include: 

Published our Climate Action Plan this fiscal year, disclosing progress against our science-based targets for scope 3 emissions (categories 1 and 11) in our annual report, and disclosing all scope 3 categories relevant to our business, on our ESG Data Hub.In anticipation of new disclosure regulations, we continued to strengthen our ESG data controls for priority metrics by implementing a formal ESG certification process, strengthening standard operating procedures and enhancing formal review checklists.Enhancing protocols and processes for data privacy and security to reduce risk and maintain consumers’ trust.

Even as the external environment is constantly evolving, we’re committed to continuously evaluating our approach to governance as we drive toward our IGNITE goals and strive to achieve our integrated ESG ambitions.

View the full 2023 Annual Report.

Subaru owners love to support their communities all year round. Here are ways to give back in every month of the year.

Giving back can be all year long. Our guide offers an idea for every month of the year, from making gift bags for seniors to organizing a trash cleanup in your neighborhood.

JANUARY – Bring Food to Someone

The next time you make a soup or casserole, consider doubling the recipe and bringing it to a new parent or ill person in your community. It can be dropped off with a note of encouragement, and even if they do not use it that day, it’s something they can freeze for later. 

Not sure who could use the support? Check with local food pantries or religious and community organizations. They might have a list or word-of-mouth suggestions.

FEBRUARY – Support Local Foster Care Children

Reach out to local foster care groups to find out what the needs are for the children in their care. If it’s possible, giving gifts with the child’s name on it (such as a gift like a blanket or mug) can be particularly meaningful, as children may share things or may not have their own items, especially ones with their names on them. 

To find your local foster support organization, use the National Foster Care & Adoption Directory and search for Foster Youth Services and Supports in your state.

MARCH – Use Your Vehicle To Help Those In Need

Seek out programs that bring food to or otherwise help folks like the elderly or people undergoing treatment. Some programs volunteer to drive people to health appointments if they don’t have their own car or family member to help, instead of leaning on public transit or paying for a taxi.

For example, the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery® program has volunteers who provide free rides to treatment for cancer patients, noting that transportation barriers are the most common reason for missing appointments.

Nourishing Hope, a food pantry in Chicago, has a community of volunteers who can drive for deliveries or act as personal shopping assistants. See if organizations in your area have similar programs. It’s a great way for Subaru owners to involve their children and volunteer.

APRIL – Organize a Trash Cleanup

Get your neighborhood school or neighbors involved and organize a day to clean up. Whether it’s the side of the road or a local beach or park, reducing the amount of plastic and trash on the ground in your community makes a big impact, both for peoples’ enjoyment and to help wildlife thrive.

This is another great activity to pair with children and the entire family – you might find your kiddos pay more attention in the future to where their garbage goes. Earth Day is a great reason to organize an event, but you can continue the effort all year. Contact your local Subaru retailers to see if they are organizing a cleanup event; many do.

MAY – Help Make Graduations Special

Think outside the box about how to make the graduation season special for local youth. In San Francisco, 8th grade teacher Sara Mokhtari Fox knew that the 2023 graduation season was important to those approaching 8th grade graduation – her students had all missed their 5th grade graduation and end-of-year celebrations during the 2020 pandemic.

So, they planned a special graduation ceremony, Fox says, adding that donations from a local retailer, Putnam Subaru of Burlingame, helped fund the graduation ceremony and provided tickets to a theme park.

For local grads near you, consider donating funds for a celebration or offering to gift a special meal.

JUNE – Donate Blankets to Hospitals

At the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center at Ashe Memorial Hospital in Jefferson, North Carolina, they see about 130 patients per month, many of whom have six- to eight-hour chemotherapy sessions, and blankets help to keep them warm throughout this process.

Becky Pearson, the foundation director of Ashe Memorial Hospital, says blanket donations make a big difference. “When patients are receiving an infusion in the Jo Anne Poe Cancer Center at Ashe Memorial Hospital, a very common side effect is feeling very cold,” Pearson says. She says that handmade blankets are lovely, and the hospital has no restrictions on how they are made other than patient preferences for soft and cozy materials – nothing scratchy.

Reach out to your local hospital’s oncology unit manager to see if they accept these items.

JULY – Make Gift Bags for Seniors

Looking for a family-friendly volunteer activity? Make gift bags filled with items like hand lotion, candy treats, writing supplies or craft items and a homemade card for seniors in nearby nursing homes. This is especially meaningful for those who may not have family nearby to visit them. Loop in your kids with brainstorming and shopping.

AUGUST – Fulfill Needs for Classrooms

Find out whether your local school has any unaddressed needs – most do! These might be requests from teachers’ wish lists that weren’t entirely filled at the beginning of the year (many teachers make Amazon lists with items needed for their classrooms) or bigger projects that could use a financial donation.

Some schools may also have their students fill out lists that community members can supply, including both needs and wants. Subaru partners with AdoptAClassroom.org, which connects school needs with support.

SEPTEMBER – Fulfill Neighbors’ Wishes

Look at local “Buy Nothing” groups for inspiration. During the year, these Facebook groups, also called “Gifts and Wishes,” focus on neighbors giving and receiving free items to reduce the environmental impacts of buying new.

These posts can often include – or maybe you can spearhead – links of what people need for the holidays. Facebook groups can include anonymous requests from users, which can help protect individuals’ privacy while still making it possible to donate and help.

OCTOBER – Volunteer to Help, or Adopt, a Dog

October is Subaru Loves Pets® month, and many retailers partner with local pet shelters for adopting events. In Charlottesville, Virginia, Flow Subaru partnered with the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in 2023. The sales manager of the retailer, Joe Diggs, ended up finding a new family friend.

He had lost the family dog, Charlie, months earlier, and was considering adoption. Stopping by with his wife and 2-year-old daughter, they met a dog called Ted that had been left at the shelter as a stray and was having a tough time adjusting to the bustling shelter. Ted loves “basking in the backyard sun,” Diggs says. “He has been a member of our family since the moment he walked through the door.”

If adopting a dog isn’t in your future, consider volunteering or donating food or other needed supplies to an animal shelter.

NOVEMBER – Donate a Turkey or Tree

Donate holiday decorations, such as a Christmas tree. Some cities have groups that organize a donation. The Christmas Tree Project, for instance, pairs families who cannot afford a tree with people who’d like to donate one. This can brighten a home and everyone’s spirits!

For Thanksgiving, consider donating a turkey to a local family or kitchen. But check their suggestions for how to give back first – Feeding America® advises that a frozen turkey shouldn’t be dropped off unless a local food bank is requesting donations for them.

DECEMBER – Commit to Shopping at Local Businesses  

Create your own 12 Days of Supporting Local Businesses. Make a plan to find gifts or meal ingredients at local shops in your area. For bonus good-neighbor points, post about your actions on social media to inspire others to do the same.

It takes some planning, but it can be a good exercise to find out what’s offered near you and to intentionally explore and find places that support local shop owners instead of ordering everything online. (Plus, it reduces the environmental impacts from shipping items!)    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alison Bowen is an award-winning writer and editor whose work has covered a wide range of topics, appearing in publications including the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times  and the Los Angeles Times.