Tag: 3BL

Lenovo’s Service Supply Chain team recently developed a proprietary, AI-driven process to generate an alert, called the Intelligent Excessive Pre-alert, that identifies high-density packaging within the company’s worldwide distribution hub in Suzhou, China. Once identified, that packaging is then reconfigured or replaced to be more efficient and environmentally friendly, yielding a reduced impact.

As a result of this innovation, Lenovo’s worldwide hub has made a real, measurable difference in advancing Lenovo’s sustainability goals: packaging materials were reduced by over 35% and related carbon emissions by 50,000KG, or the equivalent of 9000 trees, annually.

“As a tech company, innovation is a key tenet,” said Steven Chen, Executive Director, International Services Supply Chain, Lenovo, who helped pioneer the solution. “We always look at how we can use technology solve challenges of not just our customers, but also ourselves. This is a great example of how we’ve used Artificial Intelligence to help us identify and reduce excessive packaging of our products, and ultimately be more sustainable.”

The Muse Award is one of the leading recognitions for creativity in the world. The international competition recognizes designers “whose craftsmanship shift paradigms. Their ingenuity and thorough works leave others in awe, and in so doing redefine boundaries and scope – much like a muse.”

The award runs once a year with a strict panel of 42 professional experts in the International Award Association determining the winners.

The recognition is emblematic of Lenovo’s ongoing business transformation, streamlining operations and creating more intelligent solutions across the enterprise. Lenovo also continues to prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) excellence in everything, from supply chain operations to PC materials. Learn more in the 2022 ESG report.

About Lenovo

Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$70 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #171 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 75,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smarter technology for all, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into key growth areas including server, storage, mobile, solutions and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and sustainable digital society for everyone, everywhere. To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

Originally published by Ericsson.

In January 2021, Rogers Communications became the first operator to roll-out a national 5G standalone (SA) network in Canada. The implementation of Ericsson’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core has enabled Rogers to continue their commitment to investing in technologies and infrastructure to serve their business customers, large and small.

The roll-out process presented many challenges but with collaborative learning, development and implementation with Ericsson, the result is a highly capable and reliable, fully cloud-native standalone 5G Core network that is ready to be used by Rogers and their customers to harness the full potential of 5G and transform industries and organizations.

The challenge

As Canada’s only 5G national network, and the country’s largest wireless carrier, Rogers is considered a key contributor to the development of Canada’s digital infrastructure, delivering world-class networks and next generation technologies to both its consumer customers and forward-thinking enterprises.

The key drivers for Rogers core network transformation to cloud-native were:

Be first to launch 5G SA services in Canada and offer unprecedented flexibility and speed to meet current and future customer demands.Build a cloud-native foundation for all of Rogers next-generation core network functions, unleashing the power of the microservices architecture design paradigm in order to deliver seamless scalability, resiliency and super simple in-service upgrades to bring cutting-edge solutions faster than before.Set the base for network slicing deployments able to offer real-time, on-demand highways of 5G for entire industries and organizations.

The solution

The Ericsson products and solutions empowering Rogers 5G SA network are:

Ericsson Evolved Packet Core (EPC): The existing Ericsson Cloud Packet Core for EPC solution was upgraded to support 5G non-standalone services (NSA) and 4G services.

Ericsson Service-Aware Policy Controller (SAPC): Existing policy controller solution upgraded to cope with the first stage of the 5G network (to be later replaced by the new Cloud Core Policy Controller node).

Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G Core: Container-based cloud-native platform including packet core, unified and data management, policy, signaling controller, and exposure network functions.

Ericsson Cloud Infrastructure deployed in two steps:

Ericsson NFVI for the services’ launch: Cloud infrastructure including Ericsson Cloud Container Distribution (CCD) to support KubernetesEricsson CNIS is the definitive cloud infrastructure solution based on bare metal higher resource utilization and simplified operations.

Ericsson Cloud IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS): Supporting voice services, initially with EPS fallback and later voice over NR.

Ericsson Orchestrator: To manage the complete lifecycle of Network Services, including design, instantiation, configuration, and upgrades.

CENX service assurance: Provide service topology, inventory, fault, and performance from all disparate systems, correlated into a single view enabling closed loop automation.

Ericsson 5G Radio Access Network (RAN): Antennas, radios, baseband (RAN Compute), and RAN software to enable incredible speeds and mobility.

Ericsson Spectrum Sharing: Software solution for the quick introduction of 5G over a wide area, leveraging 4G spectrum and existing Ericsson Radio System infrastructure.

Ericsson Carrier Aggregation: To extend the coverage of mid-band and high band 5G while enabling faster data speeds and enhanced performance.

The result

Rogers believes that it is only with the power of 5G technology that the boldest new ideas of today – smart cities, fully automated cars, real-time robotics, truly connected homes and much more – will be fully realized.

The main achievements from Rogers core network transformation for cloud-native and 5G SA are:

Deployed first nationwide 5G standalone network in Canada providing high levels of capability and reliability.Expanded Rogers extensive portfolio of services helping them reinforce their position as a driving force in Canada’s digitalization.Provided Rogers with means to empower their enterprise customers to develop new use cases that bring their production efficiency to whole new levels.Will enable developers to build applications that were not possible before, to accelerate technologies that will have a profound impact on the economy and society.

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United launches first-of-its-kind consumer education campaign focused on driving awareness of the benefit of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

Oscar’s five decades of trash experience on full display in original video, digital, social and out-of-home content that shows how garbage can help fuel the future of air travel

United customers can do their part too by tracking the estimated carbon footprint of their flight and contributing to supplement United’s investment in the new UAV Sustainable Flight FundSM when buying a ticket

United has already invested in the future production of more than three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world*

CHICAGO, March 2, 2023 /3BL Media/ – United Airlines today named Sesame Street‘s Oscar the Grouch as its first Chief Trash Officer as he and the airline celebrate his love of rubbish. United Airlines’ new, consumer education campaign is designed to promote the expected benefit of using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) more broadly.

The new campaign – which features Oscar in more than 30 pieces of original video, digital, social and out-of-home content – follows the iconic character’s journey from job listing to c-suite office starring alongside real United employees.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel that, on a lifecycle basis, reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel compared to conventional jet fuel alone. SAF is being made from used cooking oil and agricultural waste, and, in the future, could be made from other feedstocks including household trash or forest waste.† To date, United has invested in the future production of over three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world.*

Consumers can take action too – in a first among U.S. airlines, United now shows an estimate of each flight’s carbon footprint on a per economy seat passenger basis on its app and website, and travelers have the option to contribute to supplement United’s investment in the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, a first-of-its-kind investment vehicle designed to support start-ups focused on decarbonizing air travel by accelerating the research, production and technologies associated with SAF.

“United has invested in more sustainable aviation fuel production than any airline in the world, by far,” said United Chief Communications Officer Josh Earnest. “Every airline burns jet fuel to run their business, but no airline will solve climate change on its own. So United has enlisted Oscar to help us educate the traveling public of all ages about SAF and rally them to the cause of fighting climate change. From banana peels to fryer grease, Oscar is uniquely qualified to help us explain why trash could be the treasure that fuels the jets of the future.”

Starting today, people can follow Oscar’s journey as he stars in videos alongside real United employees. The integrated campaign includes interactive social-first elements, colorful spreads in Hemispheres® magazine and a unique film series, all of which were created to simplify a complicated topic in an approachable and entertaining way. Creative highlights include:

Film Series: Across multiple videos, United highlights Oscar’s work in his new role, such as a “BINtro” film showcasing his first day on the job. The film is part of a series that focuses on the importance of SAF. In an additional 90-second film, United Captain Tomica Adams breaks down how things like waste can help fuel air travel.Out of Home: United’s out-of-home content introduces the airline’s new hire in a larger-than-life format. The playful imagery features Oscar in aviation settings – from tarmac to onboard. The photos will pique people’s interest about how trash could one day help us fly toward a lower carbon future.**Digital/Social: Providing surround sound to the campaign, storytelling continues on social channels with bite-size edutainment videos, engaging Instagram Story features, emoji-filled Twitter threads and more to raise awareness of the SAF nitty-gritty. The social campaign will live on owned and paid social and digital channels.

As a part of the collaboration, United Airlines is supporting Sesame Workshop through a donation to the nonprofit educational organization’s Welcome Sesame initiative. Sesame Workshop will also be included in United Airlines’ Miles on a Mission, where travelers will be able to donate miles to help support its global mission to help children grow smarter stronger and kinder.

“This campaign provided a special opportunity to showcase an iconic Sesame Street character, Oscar the Grouch, celebrating what he loves best – trash,” said Jennifer Ahearn, VP, Global Strategic Partnerships & Themed Entertainment, Sesame Workshop. “The amazing collaboration helps United Airlines explain in simpler terms the technology of turning trash into fuel in a fun and engaging manner.”

United will continue to bring this relationship to life for our customers and for the communities we serve, with more to come in the months ahead. For more information, visit united.com/ChiefTrashOfficer and download media assets here.

United’s Commitment to Net Zero Emissions by 2050

United aims to be 100% green by reducing its GHG emissions by 100% by 2050, without relying on traditional carbon offsets. In addition to the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, United has launched a SAF purchasing program called the Eco-Skies Alliance and established a venture fund – United Airlines Ventures – to identify and invest in companies and technologies that can decarbonize air travel. These strategic investments include carbon capture, hydrogen-electric engines, electric regional aircraft and air taxis.

The Federal Government Recognizes the Value of SAF

The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act includes the largest governmental climate change investments in U.S. history – a new blender’s tax credit specifically for SAF along with other critical incentives for clean energy and carbon capture – that will help spur an increase in SAF infrastructure and supply while lowering costs for SAF consumers.

The U.S. military currently uses nearly five billion gallons of jet fuel annually and the Department of Defense will use a jet fuel blend containing at least 10% SAF by 2028 because of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

And according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the country’s vast feedstock resources are enough to meet the projected SAF demand of the entire U.S. aviation industry.

About United

United’s shared purpose is “Connecting People. Uniting the World.” From our U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers. United is bringing back our customers’ favorite destinations and adding new ones on its way to becoming the world’s best airline. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Other Important Information

This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to, among other things, plans and projections regarding the company’s marketing strategy as well as the company’s ESG goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives and related business and stakeholder impacts. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical performance and current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future financial results, plans, objectives, goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, plans, objectives, goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, any failure to meet stated ESG goals, targets, commitments, strategies and initiatives in the time frame expected or at all as a result of many factors, including changing societal, market, competitive, regulatory or stakeholder expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect United’s business and market, particularly those identified in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Risk Factors” sections in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Risks and uncertainties related to United’s environmental compliance, climate commitments and climate strategy are further described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022—”We are subject to many forms of environmental regulation and liability and risks associated with climate change and may incur substantial costs as a result. In addition, failure to achieve or demonstrate progress towards our climate goals may expose us to liability and reputational harm.“

The statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release and except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, United Airlines undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. In particular, United Airlines reserves the right to change, amend, supplement or abandon some or all of the statements regarding goals, targets, commitments, strategies, initiatives, intentions and other statements from time to time without notice.

In addition, some of our disclosures in this press release are estimates or based on assumptions due to inherent measurement uncertainties. For example, United’s statement that it has already invested in the future production of more than three billion gallons of SAF – the most of any airline in the world is based on publicly announced future purchase agreements for SAF of certain airlines as of the date hereof.

____________________________ 
* Based on publicly announced airline offtake agreements for future purchases of SAF. 
† SAF currently must be blended with conventional jet fuel to meet regulatory requirements for use within the aircraft. 
** The use of SAF in combination with conventional fuel in accordance with current blending requirements results in lower carbon emissions on a lifecycle basis than conventional fuel alone. SAF is less than 0.1% of United’s overall fuel use.

While Valentine’s Day may be over, flowers are still “in season” across Musim Mas’ plantations because of their beneficial value to combat pests within oil palm plantations. Specks of yellow-orange flowers dot shrubs lining the roadside, forming a sea of yellow spots throughout Musim Mas’ estates.

These flowers are known as Cassia cobanensis. “It may seem like these pretty blooms were planted for aesthetic reasons, but they do much more than that,” said Ooi Ling Hoak, Head of Research and Development (R&D) at Musim Mas’ Estates Division. This article helps explain why flowers are a sustainable method to manage pest populations and reduce the need for chemical pesticides.

An agronomist by training, Ooi and his team of research personnel support the plantations by providing specialist knowledge to resolve agronomic issues.

How do pests affect oil palms?

Plantations are often plagued by pests, which can cause significant damage to the oil palm leaves. Oil palm trees use chlorophyll in leaves to create energy through photosynthesis. Fewer leaves mean less energy for the trees, which leads to reduced growth and subsequent reduction in oil yield.

These pests can be difficult to control using traditional methods such as pesticides, as they can quickly develop resistance and harm non-target organisms. Thus, using natural predators is becoming an increasingly popular and sustainable approach to managing oil palm pests.

“These flowers give us a biological way to combat leaf-eating pests in oil palm plantations,” explained Ooi. Cassia cobanensis provides nectar as food for parasitoids associated with the nettle caterpillar and bagworm, the common leaf-eating pests in oil palm plantations.

Parasitoids are typically insects that lay their eggs on or inside another organism and whose larvae develop by feeding on the host’s body tissues. It ultimately kills and prevents its host’s reproduction. This is the parasitic cycle which regulates the pest population in a plantation.

Besides Cassia cobanensis, other flowering shrubs in the estates include Euphoria heterophylia, Turnera subulata and Antigonon leptopus. These flowering shrubs host a range of predators of leaf-eating pests and hence are also helpful in pest control.

Beneficial plants are one of the methods in Integrated Pest Management

This biological method of pest control combining with minimal chemicals, also known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), forms a vital part of the environmentally-conscious agricultural practices in Musim Mas. IPM aims to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides and their associated environmental and health risks.

In addition to planting resistant varieties of crops, Musim Mas uses barn owls as part of our IPM program. Musim Mas has installed owl boxes in its plantations to attract barn owls, natural predators of rodents. Rodents can cause damage to crops and spread diseases, but the presence of barn owls helps to control their populations, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.

There is more that businesses can do to support HBCUs than look to them as simply talent pipelines or centers for recruitment. HBCUs need long-term, strategic investment to continue to educate and train the nation’s next generation of critical thinkers and innovators.

At the 2023 South By Southwest® Conference, Lydia Logan, VP of Global Education & Workforce Development at IBM, will explore how businesses and HBCUs can develop mutually beneficial alliances by sharing the work done by IBM, Jackson State University, and the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellowship.

“HBCUs are vital to developing our nation’s top Black STEM talent,” Logan said. “By co-creating programs and initiatives, like our cybersecurity leadership centers, we’re able to help to build capacity in the institutions, while addressing a critical need to fill gaps in the cybersecurity workforce pipeline.”

This session will take place on March 6 from 11:30am – 12:30pm CT.

Speakers:

Anthony Ashe, Modern Executive SolutionsThomas Hudson, Jackson State UniversityLydia Logan, IBMCrystal Moore, Brilliant Black Minds

Learn more here

GLOUCESTER, Mass., March 2, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Pure Strategies, a sustainability consulting firm empowering brands and retailers to realize meaningful environmental and social improvement, is offering an 8-month Nature Action Forum for Business to help companies progress on their nature programs.

Pure Strategies’ Nature Action Forum is accepting applications for a cohort of corporate sustainability professionals that will begin meeting in April 2023. 

Through the monthly web-based meetings, the members of the Nature Action Forum will:

Build knowledge about the drivers and approaches in a corporate nature strategyCreate their own action plan to advance a nature strategy that is suited for their businessAcquire skills, practical tools, and information to take their next steps

The engaging monthly discussions will cover topics including nature assessment approaches, target setting, implementation actions, and disclosure frameworks such as the Task Force for Nature-related Disclosures and others.

“When the new Global Biodiversity Framework was finalized at the end of 2022, business targets were included in the framework for the first time,” notes Tim Greiner, Managing Director and Co-founder of Pure Strategies. “Leading businesses know this is just one of the many drivers for the growing expectations to assess, act on, and disclose biodiversity impacts.”

Pure Strategies’ is offering sustainability leaders in businesses the Nature Action Forum’s unique learning opportunity to help companies take the steps toward a nature-positive future.

Applications and payment are due by April 7, 2023. Companies can learn more and apply here.

About Pure Strategies 
Pure Strategies has been transforming business through sustainability performance since 1998. Our team helps companies initiate and enhance existing sustainability programs by setting meaningful sustainability goals, devising effective management strategies, and making changes to products and supply chains that deliver value to the business and society. Our clients include Walmart, Ahold Delhaize USA, Seventh Generation, TAZO, Timberland, Everlane, MegaFood, Ben & Jerry’s, and over 100 others. Pure Strategies is proud to be a Co-Founder of The Chemical Footprint Project, a licensed GreenScreen® Consultant, The Sustainability Consortium registered service provider staff member, a pioneer member of the Science Based Targets Network Corporate Engagement Program, and a certified B Corp.

For more information, contact: 
Melanie Fleming 
Marketing Manager 
Pure Strategies, Inc. 
mfleming@purestrategies.com 
978-525-0487

I remember my excitement when I placed first at the China Chemistry Olympiad. At the time, I could only imagine where my love of Chemistry would take me.

As a high school student, my passion for Chemistry started almost 30 years ago. I remember my excitement when I placed first at the China Chemistry Olympiad (CChO). At the time, I could only imagine where my love of Chemistry would take me.

As part of the CChO in 1994, I met with faculty from Peking University, a public research university in Beijing, China. Meeting those professors inspired me to attend Peking University and study chemistry. Eventually, I would attain my Ph.D. and work for Dow in research and development. When I discovered that Dow partners with the Chinese Chemical Society to support the CChO, it felt like the best pieces of past, present and future coming together.

Reaching more than 150 million students

I’m proud we’ve supported the CChO for more than 10 years, the nationwide chemistry education program for high school students, which has reached 150 million students in the last decade. The CChO is part of the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), which is a competitive exam conducted at a global level.

The IChO competition took place in China earlier this year, also supported by Dow. A total of 326 students from 84 different countries joined the international competition through the themed exam of chemistry questions, including issues such as decarbonization and energy storage.

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Innovators

As a materials science company committed to decarbonization, we know imagining better depends on inspiring tomorrow’s innovators through science education. Being able to participate in the ’94 Olympiad was the inspiration I needed to pursue a career in STEM. It was the beginning of my journey, and I’m grateful for where my chemistry skills have taken me. Seeing its positive impact on my life, I wonder what innovations those millions of students will bring to life to solve the world’s most significant future challenges.

Dr. Zhihua Liu,

Associate Research & Development Director for Dow Consumer Solutions, Greater China

Gulf of Alaska Keeper (GoAK) is a nonprofit formed to address conservation and environmental issues in Prince William Sound (PWS) and along the northern Gulf of Alaska (GOA) coast. One of their primary goals is combatting marine debris in all its forms. Through their marine debris program, GoAK has conducted marine debris cleanups and monitoring projects in Alaska for over 20 years. By collecting marine debris monitoring data, GoAK can determine the annual coastal debris deposition. This data is shared with Congress, the Alaska Legislature, and federal and state resource agencies to help create policy and determine cleanup priorities.

“We’re going to identify, weigh, and count every single piece of plastic and other debris that we find on our debris monitoring sites. We have about 150 categories of items, so all of that will be monitored and written down and then we can compare that to what we’ve seen in previous years,” said Patty M. Zwollo, PhD, Department of Biology, The College of William and Mary and the lead research biologist for GoAK-supported engagements.

As trash levels on Alaska’s gulf coast continue to rise, waste management, and the costs associated with it, have become major hurdles for ongoing cleanup efforts. With no local landfills, nor recycling facilities, in Alaska willing to accept marine debris, all the collected debris must be shipped at exorbitant costs to the Pacific Northwest.

“The difficulty with marine debris clean-up in Alaska is 33,000 miles of coastline. Half of Alaska you cannot reach by road, you’ve got to take a plane, you’ve got to take a boat, you’ve got to take a combination of different things,” said Lori Aldrich, Hazardous Waste Project Manager, State of Alaska.

Enter PYXERA Global, a non-profit organization who’s working toward a world where communities thrive by creating and sustaining inclusive, equitable, and regenerative systems. PYXERA Global has a long-time relationship with GoAK and knows the challenges they’re facing with waste management, especially when it comes to recycling. Through their collaboration, an all-star project team was formed: The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, CRDC (The Center for Regenerative Design & Collaboration), Dow, and FedEx. Together they worked to develop a sustainable solution to turn ocean trash into a usable product.

To determine whether the collaboration would be successful, plastic waste collected by GoAK was shipped via FedEx to a CRDC facility in Pennsylvania for further exploration. CRDC’s unique process allows them to transform historically hard-to-recycle plastic into RESIN8, a building material that can improve the performance of concrete and asphalt. Due to the success of this experiment, CRDC is now exploring options with Alaska to open a facility that can create this circular economy locally.

Learn more about this project and how FedEx transported this shipment as a part of the company’s FedEx Cares “Delivering for Good” initiative, in which FedEx lends its global network and unparalleled logistics expertise to organizations with mission-critical needs in times of crisis and for special shipments.

Source: Protected: Hero Overview – Keepers Of The North – Rivers Are Life

With this strategic effort, HARMAN is tapping into ACM’s real-world driving environments equipped with connected infrastructure and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) services for evaluating road-ready connected vehicle products through 5G and edge computing across a growing number of complex use cases, such as VRU protection and sensor share. 
 Multiple automotive-grade applications with end-to-end latency of under 50 milliseconds powered by 5G & MEC were successfully validated for real-world readiness during this field trial.

Originally published on HARMAN News Room

NOVI, Mich., March 2, 2023 /3BL Media/ – HARMAN, an automotive electronics technology company and subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on designing consumer experiences at automotive grade, announced at MWC Barcelona 2023 a strategic collaboration with the American Center for Mobility (ACM) to test real-world use cases of road-ready technologies, including Vehicle to Everything (V2X) enabled by roadside infrastructure and edge computing using 5G cellular to showcase ubiquitous connectivity between vehicles, people and infrastructure for enhanced safety and efficiency.

HARMAN develops many cutting-edge products and services for improving transportation efficiency and seamless mobility. But validation of the products and their inner-workings in real world environments and scenarios is challenging and is only feasible in facilities that can mimic this environment close to reality. ACM provides world class infrastructure to help validate complex products in real world conditions. ACM conducts real-world testing of 5G, V2X and MEC technologies.

ACM offers a one-of-a-kind global development center to advance safe, sustainable and secure mobility technologies. Central to its mission, ACM strives to accelerate the validation and commercialization of connected and automated vehicles by providing industry access to shared test facilities and smart infrastructure.

Based on this system, HARMAN and ACM are testing vulnerable road user (VRU) safety and video See-Through & Do-Not-Pass warning alerts using vision sensor share under real world conditions with varying degrees of constraints including weather, network capability, and road conditions. For example, See-Through provides an ultra-low latency real-time augmented video feed of a vehicle ahead of the “host” vehicle. This enables visibility, reduces driver anxiety, and increases safety while facilitating the host vehicle to perform a safe overtake maneuver using HARMAN 5G TCU and HARMAN Savari MECWAVE.

Through its engagement with ACM, HARMAN will enable automakers to test and experience their connected vehicles and demonstrate new mobility use cases with the potential to scale. Connected infrastructure plays an important role in the future of connected mobility, which can provide improved situational awareness to drivers and pedestrians, such as the notification of roadway hazards and traffic management.

“Now having the ability to test these real-world scenarios demonstrates HARMAN’s ability to combine fast, reliable 5G, V2X & MEC to deliver improved situational awareness between vehicles, vulnerable road users and infrastructure without the need for increased computing onboard every vehicle and personal devices,” said Ram Iyer, Senior VP of Connectivity at HARMAN International. “This industry collaboration will not only play a pivotal role in improving road safety but help us continue to bring immersive, automotive grade experiences to life for consumers with 5G.” 

“Making best-in-class infrastructure widely available through partnerships for automakers to test in real-world test environments embodies our approach at ACM,” said Reuben Sarkar, President and CEO for ACM. “5G, V2X & MEC at ACM will enable validation of an expanding set of safety-critical use cases using road-ready connected vehicle solutions.”

At MWC Barcelona 2023, HARMAN will unveil the results of this strategic collaboration with ACM, and showcase holistic, turn-key mobility products, including HARMAN Savari MECWAVE and HARMAN Savari StreetWAVE, that will have a tangible impact in improving the safety of drivers, passengers and the world around them.

ABOUT HARMAN

HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

About American Center for Mobility

ACM offers a one-of-a-kind global development center to transform the way industries advance safe, sustainable, and secure mobility technologies. Located in Southeast Michigan on over 500-acres at the historic Willow Run site in Ypsilanti.  ACM offers: an Advanced Mobility Proving Ground with test environments featuring specialized infrastructure, equipment, facilities and resources; An innovation and technology campus with an industrial tech park for the

co-location of mobility companies; Event and demonstration areas for showcasing mobility technologies and convening industry activities. For more information, visit acmwillowrun.org.

For more information, contact:

Dawn Geary
Director, Global Communications – Automotive
Tel: +1 248-463-0921
Dawn.Geary@harman.com   

© 2023 HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Harman Kardon, Infinity, JBL, Lexicon and Mark Levinson are trademarks of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. AKG is a trademark of AKG Acoustics GmbH, registered in the United States and/or other countries. Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

Suppliers of Whole Foods Market are empowering microentrepreneurs, primarily women, with economic opportunity. These generous brands fund microloans for entrepreneurs living in poverty so they can start or expand a small business, often home-based. With a small loan of around $200, an entrepreneur can purchase essential needs for their small enterprises, such as products for a food stand, equipment for a sewing business, or tools for a small-scale farm.  Profits from their microbusinesses provide these entrepreneurs the opportunity to lift themselves and their families out of poverty, one loan at a time. 

Celebrating the economic achievements of women in March

Every year, we celebrate the economic achievements of women microcredit clients on International Women’s Day in March during Women’s History Month. Supporting brands are invited to help further our mission by funding additional microloans. Brands that donate $25,000 in March to fund microcredit are recognized as members of Whole Planet Foundation’s Poverty Is Unnecessary Fund. This month’s generous donors include Lundberg Family Farms, MaryRuth’s, Schmidt’s, SheaMoisture and So Delicious. 

Lundberg Family Farms

Lundberg Family Farms, a leading grower of organic rice and maker of best-selling packaged rice and rice snacks, returns as a member of the $25,000 Poverty is Unnecessary Fund supporting Whole Planet Foundation’s mission. To date, they have helped fund more than 630 microloans to create income-generating opportunities for microentrepreneur families around the globe. These loans help a microentrepreneur to start or grow a small business in their communities.

“Our family knows firsthand how the seed of an idea can grow into a business that can help families and communities flourish,” says fourth-generation family member Brita Lundberg. “We’re honored to pay it forward by supporting Whole Planet Foundation so we can all keep growing together for generations to come,” says Lundberg Family Farms Team.

MaryRuth’s Organics

Woman-founded MaryRuth’s Organics renews their support of Whole Planet Foundation with an additional contribution of $25,000 in March. Their deep mission to make supplements accessible to all falls right in line with Whole Planet Foundation’s mission to provide microentrepreneurs with access to microcredit. To date, MaryRuth’s has helped create more than 1,280 opportunities for microentrepreneur families around the globe to lift themselves out of poverty. 

“MaryRuth Ghiyam founded MaryRuth’s Organics in 2014 with her mother, Colleen. And while the company is still fairly new, it has a bigger purpose. MaryRuth’s was created to help others reach their goals and achieve their dreams by being empowered to take their health and wellness into their own hands”, writes the MaryRuth’s Team.

SheaMoisture

SheaMoisture is a global beauty and personal care leader committed to serving the Black community through strategic investment and community give back. SheaMoisture recognizes the power of entrepreneurship in addressing racial inequality with the belief that commerce can bring true economic independence. Every year SheaMoisture reinvests at least 1% of net sales directly into economic opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and Black business owners. Every purchase provides investments that support funding for Black-owned business, entrepreneurial education, crisis response, equitable purchasing, and ethical sourcing. SheaMoisture develops no compromise beauty products that help every member of the Black community live their healthiest, most beautiful lives. Shea butter is one of the brand’s core ingredients, praised for its hydrating and nourishing properties, and sourced from women-led cooperatives in West Africa, providing fair wages and creating economic opportunities. SheaMoisture supports Whole Planet Foundation and a shared mission to reinvest back in our communities globally. To date, SheaMoisture has funded more than 430 microloans for entrepreneurs around the globe living in poverty.  These microloans help create income-generating opportunities for those that are in most need of a hand up. 

Schmidt’s

Jaime Schmidt started making natural products in her Portland kitchen back in 2010. She felt frustrated with the lack of effective natural products in the marketplace, so she decided to make her own.  Today, this woman-founded company, in partnership with Whole Planet Foundation, is paying it forward by helping fund microloans for women microentrepreneurs around the globe. With their renewed support, Schmidt’s is funding additional microloans for those living in poverty around the global.  To date, Schmidt’s has helped fund more than 2,290 income-generating opportunities for entrepreneurs, primarily women. 

So Delicious

Since 2015, So Delicious has been committed to funding opportunity through Whole Planet Foundation. As a repeat donor, their $50,000 commitment this year will help fund an additional 270 microloans for entrepreneurs living in poverty. With a small microloan, low-income entrepreneurs can start or develop a business, often home-based, to support themselves and their families. “So Delicious Dairy Free is on a mission to show what’s possible when everyone has an equal seat at the table. This means advocating for a more inclusive economy and creating economic opportunities for marginalized communities. We are proud to support Whole Planet Foundation and their mission to alleviate global poverty through microfinance”, says Virginia Kelly, VP of Marketing for So Delicious Dairy Free.

Whole Planet Foundation’s $25,000 donors believe Poverty is Unnecessary. That’s why they support our mission to empower microentrepreneurs like Hamdiya, pictured above, with income-generating opportunities. Hamdiya is a microcredit client of Whole Planet Foundation’s microfinance partner Future Eve Foundation in Egypt. Learn about Hamdiya featured above and how you can help support our work at wholeplanetfoundation.org.