Tag: 3BL

Cummins

Cummins Magazine recently brought together Ann-Kristin de Verdier, Executive Managing Director of Distribution Europe, and Thierry Pimi, Vice President of Cummins International Distribution Operations, to discuss the strength of the Cummins business structure, the company’s approach to the energy transition, and plans to leverage diverse talent across the organisation.

Cummins’ new vice president of international distribution operations Thierry Pimi has begun implementing a bold three-pronged strategy for commercial success.

Thierry has identified three core areas of improvement: greater use of technology to improve efficiency and the customer experience; enhanced focus on delivering end-to-end value to the customer; and a drive to create what he calls “the right environment” by building diverse, inclusive and highly motivated teams.

Progress on these three action points is seen as vital to raise the already high bar of Cummins’ service levels and satisfaction among its customers across some of the world’s most important business segments, including data centres, mining, marine and power generation.

“We want to continue to make it easier for customers to do business with us,” said Thierry. “One of the ways to do that is to make sure we are constantly looking to improve our operational efficiencies. For instance, making sure the way we operate in our branches is as universal as possible for a seamless customer experience.

“We are investing very heavily, and Europe, under Ann-Kristin’s leadership, will be spearheading a modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that is going to revolutionise the way we do business.”

Ann-Kristin is in full agreement: “I’m tremendously excited about the transformation that’s coming for our processes and the tools available to us across Europe. It will allow our employees to spend more time with customers and unlock real value.”

Thierry, who was born in Douala, Cameroon and who has held a number of strategically important roles within Cummins, now presides over the company’s global Distribution Unit (DBU), a company-owned network of more than 15,000 employees spread across 190 countries and territories operating from around 460 locations.

It is the nature and scale of the Cummins network that makes the brand so attractive, especially to larger, multi-national businesses. “Whether it’s data centres, or power generation, or high-horsepower users, these customers see our network as the biggest plus because of the consistency in the quality and the capability which we have built around the world to support them.”

Ann-Kristin points out that in Europe, many Cummins customers export equipment outside of the region, and there is comfort in knowing there is product available that can fit into their equipment and which meets local needs and regulatory requirements.

“They can also be confident there is service support for their product wherever in the world it is being used, and we also operate a number of global account management contracts, which means we can collaborate more seamlessly than some of our competitors who have mostly independent distributors.

“The fact we’re one company makes doing business a lot more straightforward.”

Turning his thoughts to the great energy transition, Thierry says Cummins’ Destination Zero strategy offers a robust framework “but change will not be like flicking a switch”. Different applications will adopt the transition at different phases.

Ann-Kristin believes the distribution side of Cummins will have a key role to play. “Our customers know we have the expertise to help and guide them,” she says. “When the technology and the product is less mature, support needs are more intense and we provide highly skilled technicians during the ‘infant care’ period.

Thierry is confident Cummins will rise to any challenge presented by the drive toward clean energy, saying the company has earned an enviable reputation for reliability over the past 105 years.

While the competitive landscape is going to keep changing and the needs of Cummins’ customers are bound to evolve, Thierry is adamant one thing will remain constant and that’s the company’s focus on the customer experience.

“We don’t just want to make it easy to do business with the customer, we want to drive the customer loyalty, and we do that by competing on service and the customer experience. The role of our distribution network is to ensure the customer gets the value expected from a premium global brand.”

In Europe, Ann-Kristin’s focus is on making sure Cummins has the right support in every country across the region, “whether we have a local Cummins-owned branch there, or whether we have channel partners, whether it’s sales, application engineering, or aftermarket support”.

Ann-Kristin stresses the importance of stability in the network, knowing that some of the ‘traditional’ products Cummins sells today, particularly high-horsepower engines, could have long working lives.

“With regular servicing and the possibility of multiple rebuild cycles, these engines could be working for 20 years or more. Similarly, we can upgrade the electronics on our generator sets to prolong their life.

“Knowing the distribution network will be there for the full life of the product is really important, and we are fortunate to have some very long-standing and loyal service partners, including a lot of family businesses that go back generations, which also gives our customers added confidence.”

Thierry agrees: “These partnerships are part of the DNA of Cummins. When you find partners that have similar values, it helps to create a culture that sticks.”

The right environment for personal growth

Wherever Thierry Pimi has worked within Cummins, he has developed a reputation as a superb leader of people: someone who can bring the very best out of the individual and collective talent at his disposal.

In Ann-Kristin, he has found a fellow business leader equally committed to creating the best conditions for colleagues to showcase their skills and leadership potential.

“We call it creating the right environment,” says Thierry. “If we want to be the leading power solution provider in the next century and beyond, being able to design and deliver better solutions than our OEMS can do in-house, or than our customer can find from someone else, the key will be to have the most capable talent and skills.

“The world today is a global village, and we’re working on processes that will allow us to move the best and most appropriate talent to wherever they are needed, as seamlessly as we can. 

“I want us to be seen as one single distribution unit rather than a group of regional operations.”

Thierry revealed that he and Ann-Kristin had been working together on a multi-faceted programme to develop the skills of leaders and supervisors. The programme covers themes such as how to deliver constructive feedback, how to foster open communication, and how to be authentic and vulnerable. These skills and others form the basis of Cummins leadership behaviours.

Taking inclusiveness to a new level

Cummins has taken heart from being voted among the top 100 companies in Europe for building an inclusive workforce through its focus on diversity.

The influential Financial Times Diversity Leaders list for 2024 placed Cummins at number 76, helped by the launch of the Cummins Powers Women initiative.

While encouraged by the top 100 position, Thierry believes Cummins can go a lot further, helped by being committed to valuing difference.

“This is really the frontier today of where we are going,” says Thierry. “We are going beyond diversity and inclusion by admitting difference in the room. Valuing difference is about us getting to a point where we value, recognise and appreciate what’s unique and different about the other person.

“This is not just superficial. We are going beyond the cosmetic and beyond even the traditional understanding of diversity, equality and inclusion to a really new place, and that is something that makes me proud to be part of Cummins.”

Ann-Kristin says valuing difference is a core component of Cummins’ recruitment strategy. “Europe is inherently diverse, with so many different languages and cultures, but we can always do better at valuing differences.

“We must keep asking ourselves if we are doing enough to develop people at all different levels of the company, and with a broad set of skills and capabilities so they have opportunities across the region.”

Thierry Pimi

Before taking up his position as head of international distribution in July 2024, Thierry Pimi led the Cummins business in Africa Middle East. Before that, he ran Cummins Southern Africa distribution business.

Thierry is a mechanical engineer who joined Cummins in 2008 in the Corporate Strategy team at Columbus, Indiana where he led several projects involving growth, profitability, divestiture and acquisitions.

In 2011, he was appointed Africa Mining Territory Manager, and in 2014, he assumed the role of General Manager of Cummins North and West Africa Regional Operations, overseeing the deployment and consolidation of company-owned entities in Morocco, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.

Thierry is a staunch supporter of promoting local talent and has unleashed diverse and capable teams across the regions in which he has worked, combining seasoned industry leaders with exciting new hires equipped with strong local knowledge and solid regional culture.

He cites his mother and Nelson Mandela as his two most important role models.

Ann-Kristin de Verdier

Building strong relationships with regional distribution partners and driving business growth has been a recurring theme throughout Ann-Kristin’s career, which started in Sweden at Ericsson.

Her experience encompasses product development, project portfolio management, strategic marketing, sales and service operations.

Ann-Kristin currently leads a Europe-wide sales and service organisation that includes 15 wholly- owned distributors and more thar 200 local dealers. 

Ann-Kristin has an MSc in Automation Engineering from Chalmers, an MSc in Computer Science from Imperial College and an MBA from Stanford.

This article is part of the 2025 Edition Cummins Europe Magazine, to read more European articles click here

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 30, 2025 /3BL/ – Discovery Education, the creators of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world, today announced significant enhancements to the online, adaptive literacy program DreamBox Reading. These improvements broaden DreamBox Reading’s coverage to support all PreK-5 learners and expand educators’ abilities to develop students’ foundational skills and confidence in reading through personalized instruction.

DreamBox Reading by Discovery Education starts young readers off right with a highly engaging, systematic approach to literacy aligned to the Science of Reading. Built on the company’s patented Intelligent Adaptive Learning platform, DreamBox Reading captures data from student answers, strategies, and behaviors to personalize learning in real time.

This adaptivity ensures that students are met where they are with just-right instruction and fun activities. Using DreamBox Reading, students develop proficiency over foundational skills through learning experiences built around their own progress, performance, productive struggle, and age-appropriate play.

Among the latest enhancements made to DreamBox Reading are: 

• Expanded Access to Adaptive, Personalized Learning for Older Readers: DreamBox Reading now supports grades PreK-5, thanks to recently added content. The expanded solution includes more essential concepts and topics critical for learning to read, including foundational skills such as phonics, decoding, guided reading, and language skills such as vocabulary, spelling, word learning strategies, and more.
• Enhancements to the Student Experience: A new, motivating, age-appropriate learning environment has been created to engage upper elementary learners.
• Improved Teaching and Learning Supports: New professional learning and supports for PreK-5 educators are now available to maximize classroom impact.

DreamBox Reading by Discovery Education is certified as meeting the rigorous, evidence-based ESSA Tier IV standards as set forth in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This research and more can be found here.  

The enhancements to DreamBox Reading follow several product and content enhancements made to Discovery Education’s award-winning solutions and announced earlier this year. Taken together, the product improvements for Back-to-School 2025 empower teachers to create personalized learning experiences for all learners with inquiry, excitement, and exploration that will hold students’ attention while challenging them academically.

“Evidence shows that too many students in grades 3-5 have not yet mastered foundational reading skills,” said Lance Rougeux, Discovery Education’s Senior Vice President of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Engagement. “The latest enhancements to DreamBox Reading were made in response to educator feedback and empower educators to deeply engage these students in reading and put them on a personalized path to future success.”

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 LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

###

About Discovery Education  
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions support learning wherever it takes place. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and strategic alliances, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences that engage all students and support 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. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com. 

Contact 
Stephen Wakefield 
Discovery Education 
Phone: 202-316-6615 
Email: swakefield@discoveryed.com

At Inogen Alliance, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. As a global network of EHS, ESG, and sustainability consulting firms, our strength lies in combining local expertise with global insight to support clients worldwide. Our recent and upcoming events highlight the power of this collaboration in action, bringing together associate companies across continents to address pressing environmental and compliance challenges.

Jointly driving a green future for enterprises in Vietnam 

Hosted by Anew (China) & Cleantech (Vietnam) | May 30, 2025 | Hanoi, Vietnam 

In a powerful example of regional collaboration, Inogen Alliance associates Anew and Cleantech co-hosted an in-person event titled “Jointly Drive Green Future for Enterprises in Vietnam.” The conference welcomed representatives from multinational enterprises operating in Vietnam, with a focus on the latest trends and regulations in EHS & sustainability management.

The event began with an introduction to Inogen Alliance’s global-local model and core values; Respect, Trust, Collaboration, and Integrity, demonstrating how our network delivers tailored solutions through trusted local partners.

Key sessions included:

• Vietnam EHS Regulatory Update 2025 – Guidance for Chinese enterprises on upcoming compliance changes
• Industrial Wastewater Recycling – Advanced technologies and cost-saving strategies
• UL 2799 Certification – Insights into achieving zero waste to landfill
• Global Zero Waste Trends – Aligning with international certification standards
• VOC Removal Technologies – Practical solutions using Regenerative Thermal Oxidizers
• Expert Panel Discussion – Real-world experiences and strategies for sustainable enterprise development in Vietnam

The event was a strong reflection of our mission to empower enterprises with local knowledge and global support – helping businesses build greener, more compliant operations in Southeast Asia.

Upcoming webinar: the global EHS compliance challenge 

July 3, 2025 | 10:00 AM (UTC+1) | Online Webinar

Register Here

“The Global EHS Compliance Challenge: From Blind Spots to Full Visibility” is our upcoming global webinar focused on helping multinational organizations better understand and manage local EHS compliance across borders.

When headquarters rely solely on reports and policies, critical blind spots can arise, especially when operating across diverse regulatory environments. This 45-minute session will uncover common pitfalls and share real examples from companies navigating global EHS complexity.

What to Expect: 

• Why HQs often misjudge their compliance visibility
• Lessons from US, Japanese, and German HQs on overcoming regulatory differences
• Identifying high-risk vs. low-risk operations
• Moving from fragmented tools to centralized, audit-ready systems
• Live demo + expert insights from the Inogen Alliance network

Featured Experts: 

• Alizabeth Aramowicz Smith – VP, Antea Group (USA)
• Hiroshi Tachikawa – Managing Director, Propharm Japan
• Jannis Faupel – Senior Consultant & Partner, Baden Consulting (Germany)
• Theresa Schmidt – Senior EHS Consultant, HPC AG (Germany)
• Róbert Szücs-Winkler – CEO, denxpert (Hungary)

Join us to learn how companies like Vantage Data Centers, REWE Group, and Eglo are transforming their global EHS compliance strategies with the support of Inogen Alliance associates.

Register Here

By Kim Borges

“Who would’ve ever thought I’d walk out of prison and the Bureau of Justice would give me funding?”

There’s nothing conventional about Shawntelle Fisher – including her ideas.

When Regions gave me that $25,000, they didn’t know that 25 million dollars later, I would still be doing this.
Shawntelle Fisher, founder and CEO of the SoulFisher Ministries

In 2019, Fisher pitched the unique concept of employer workshops for justice-involved people to an independent judging panel to earn a $25,000 grant from Regions Bank. And at this year’s Regions Bank Community Convening in St. Louis, Fisher addressed the audience of 100-plus nonprofit leaders about the exponential growth her nonprofit The SoulFisher Ministries has realized since.

“When Regions gave me that $25,000, they didn’t know that 25 million dollars later, I would still be doing this,” she said. “We were really just getting on our feet; we were still struggling getting people to believe that people with criminal records were worth investing in.”

Not anymore.

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance has been a believer since 2018, investing millions to support SoulFisher’s AGAPE Reentry program and Successful Second Chances program focusing on workforce development, job search assistance and job placement for people transitioning back into the community following incarceration.

Continued funding from BJA has put us on the trajectory to be the national organization we’ve envisioned from the beginning.

“Continued funding from BJA has put us on the trajectory to be the national organization we’ve envisioned from the beginning,” said Fisher. “Just seeing that application was a motivator for something possible – to just do it and don’t look back.”

What else has Fisher been doing?

“Where do I start?” she said. “There are so many exciting things going on. The program Regions funded is still active and thriving. It’s becoming a pillar in the community around workforce development.”

The six-year journey represents more than organizational growth; it’s also involved significant personal reflection.

“Even when I was in prison, I was still a leader, just not the positive influence in my own community like I am today,” said Fisher. “I had everything in me to do what I’m doing today; all I needed was the support and guidance.”

Someone who’s delivered valuable support to Fisher and SoulFisher? Eric Madkins, Regions Community Development manager in Missouri.

These aren’t just services, these are lifelines restoring dignity, reducing recidivism and creating pathways to lasting success.

“Eric is our longest-serving board member,” said Fisher. “He’s been our treasurer; he’s our current vice-chair. Eric is ever present. When you see us, you see Eric. It’s an honor to have Regions supporting him through his service.”

Through his involvement, Madkins has seen the impact Fisher and team are making.

“These aren’t just services, these are lifelines restoring dignity, reducing recidivism and creating pathways to lasting success,” said Madkins. “People deserve the chance to rebuild their lives, and The SoulFisher Ministries makes that possible. I’m beyond proud to support an organization opening so many doors for our community.”

Despite all her success, Fisher will tell you opening those doors doesn’t always come easily.

“I still face challenges because I’ve been incarcerated,” Fisher said. “I’m doing things the world didn’t think I could do; that I didn’t know I could do. I just have to stay focused and remember God called me to do this. If it were easy, anyone could do it. It’s difficult but rewarding work.”

Seeing others thrive motivates Fisher to keep doing more – and to keep thinking unconventionally.

“We’re doing amazing work in St. Louis and lives are being changed because of it,” she said. “We believe restoration is possible and success is real.”

“Whenever I’m having conversations in the community and find out someone is doing something interesting, I say, ‘Do you want to come do that with our kids?’”

Through that one strategic move, Shawntelle Fisher introduced something new to SoulFisher’s six afterschool sites five years ago.

The Black Squares Chess Club, led by nonprofit Dream Builders 4 Equity, is focused on increasing access to chess to youth ages 6 to 18.

For youth served by SoulFisher, it’s become more than a hobby; it’s a passion.

“They’ve become chess wizards at all six sites,” said Fisher. “They absolutely love it, and it’s helps inspire their confidence. When the world tells them they can’t play chess, they know differently.”

Originally published o NRG Energy Insights

From potential power loss to property damage, extreme weather events can often stir up a lot of challenges and cause feelings of concern, stress, and uncertainty. However, despite its seemingly unpredictable nature, our teams work year-round to prepare for all kinds of severe climate – with the ultimate goal of protecting and supporting our customers. In this series, we will provide a comprehensive look at NRG’s extreme weather strategy, kicking things off with an introductory breakdown from Jon deJong, Manager, Load Analytics & Meteorologist.

Jon, what is load forecasting?

In its simplest sense, load forecasting is used to predict how much electricity and natural gas gets used based on different types of weather and customer characteristics. This can be for an entire region, like ERCOT, or for a group of customers, like our residential customers in Houston. We use historical data to help predict what the future may look like.

This is important because what we do supports system reliability and helps ensure that NRG’s supply meets the demands of our customers through typical and extreme weather conditions.

How do we define an extreme weather event?

NRG services customers across the U.S. and Canada, so we understand our customers are exposed to unique weather patterns, transmission systems, and structural differences specific to their respective regions. In other words, what constitutes as an extreme weather event in one location, may not have the same impact in a different location.

During Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the extremely cold temperatures across Texas may not have been seen as significant compared to the winter weather typically seen in colder regions. However, the bitter cold and wintry precipitation that Texas received impacted generation, natural gas, and transmission facilities, resulting in an unprecedented disruption of electric service.

The load forecasting team is constantly monitoring weather patterns and paying close attention to situations that show signs of impacting a large geographical area over a long period of time with difficult conditions. Heat waves or winter storms that affect multiple cities over the course of several days are a good example of this. There are exceptions (like hurricanes, which tend to severely affect a small area over a short window), but, in general, these events place prolonged strain on the grid, making them particularly important to watch.

How does extreme weather impact energy systems?

Each region is structurally prepared for the type of extreme weather they typically face. Plants in northern regions, for example, are built to withstand extremely low temperatures. These guidelines have been set in place by regulators and influenced by past events. While there is still a chance that a weather event can have an unprecedented effect, NRG works hard to ensure our facilities abide by standards that help us deliver reliable power to our customers.

It’s important to note that the impact of severe weather, though, is not limited to NRG and our domain.

When rough weather blows into town, it can also affect pipelines, meters, power lines, and other types of transmission and distribution infrastructure, disrupting the energy system’s ability to deliver power to customers. While suppliers, like NRG, do not have an active role in preparing these areas of the energy system for extreme weather, we coordinate with grid operators to make sure they have information about our facilities so that they get an accurate picture of how the overall grid is holding up.

In short, our load forecasting team is continuously watching weather, monitoring demand patterns, and working with our colleagues at the plants to help them deliver reliable power to the grid. Especially, as extreme weather is becoming an increasingly frequent phenomena and energy demand continues to grow, understanding severe climate events is crucial.

Along with load forecasting, NRG takes proactive efforts to assess risks and develop strategies to mitigate the impacts of weather events. In our next installment of Weathering the Storm, we will explore the innovative approaches our teams are implementing to ensure the reliability of energy supply in the face of an unpredictable climate. Stay tuned!

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance is once again seeking proposals from nonprofits and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) as part of its Access Capital program to invest in emerging developers.

The Access Capital program provides financial contributions to nonprofit organizations that are focused on developing, maintaining or expanding their technical assistance or training to better support developers.  

Recipients will be selected through an application process where nonprofits submit proposals describing how they could use additional capital for technical assistance or a training program with the goal of building capacity for developers. Once proposals are submitted, Impact Finance will select three to five recipients. Organizations with both existing and new programs are encouraged to apply.  

“Capacity-building and technical assistance programs are a vital first step for emerging developers,” said U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance senior vice president Torrence Moore. “The Access Capital program supports organizations that are providing these opportunities for developers, helping them learn, network and gain skills as they grow their businesses and ultimately get ready to take on capital.”

This will be the fifth year of the program. From 2021 to 2024, Impact Finance awarded $1.2 million to 19 organizations. 

The deadline to apply is July 31, 2025, and the next round of financial contributions will be distributed in the fourth quarter of 2025.  

For more information or to obtain a copy of the request for proposals, email BusinessImpactGroup@usbank.com.

Originally published on 3M News Center

From technological advances to globalization and economic uncertainty, the pace of change has never been faster.

3M recently completed an in-depth study to understand what technologies will most influence the future of how we live, work, and interact within our communities.

Six major technology themes rose to the top: AI and computational technology; immersive technology; nanotechnology; energy technology; environmental technology; and electronics technology. These technologies will fundamentally help drive future material and digital science advancements, moving us from what’s here today, to what comes next.

“Out of 80 anonymized proposals, through ranking and rating, 30 prominent technologies were identified and clustered under these six technology themes” explained Ben Watson, R&D strategy leader, Corporate Research Labs, who led the ‘Technologies for the Future’ team effort.

3M’s innovations align with the six major technology themes and are expected to drive future material and digital science advancements, moving us from innovations for today to what’s next. 

“3M’s pursuit of creative ingenuity and our culture of global collaboration allows us to constantly redefine the boundaries of materials science,” says John Banovetz, executive vice president and chief technology officer at 3M. “Our deep expertise enables us to tackle current challenges in mobility, safety, workforce dynamics, and energy, and to envision a future shaped by groundbreaking innovations.”

AI, computational technology and nanotechnology: A new age of innovation is coming to shape the Future of Mobility 

With 1.3 billion vehicles on the road, mobility and how we get around is a constant driver for change and innovation. The steady growth of the EV market has been a key driver for materials innovation across the automotive industry, influencing everything from batteries and interiors.

What the world needs now

3M is addressing challenges in the automotive industry through innovations in thermal management and battery materials, adhesives, and display technologies. For instance, 3M Glass Bubbles make composite materials lighter, 3M battery solutions include thermal management materials that help dissipate heat and insulate components and 3M adhesives enable efficient disassembly of EV battery packs, reducing waste and facilitating recycling. Additionally, 3M optical films improve in-cabin displays and vehicle connectivity, boosting efficiency and safety.

AI will make finding materials, like new nanocomposites, even easier. We expect these new materials to help drive efficiency, reducing overall vehicle costs while improving usability and performance.

Tomorrow’s possibilities 

“AI-enabled material discovery can help to identify high-performance materials with new applications for battery efficiency and longevity, that can address range concerns by improving the overall performance of EV batteries and power,” says Tom Clausen, Global Lab Director, Computer Science at 3M.

Additionally, we can expect to see the development of ultra-high refractive index nanocomposites, that can help to improve display efficiency, while new passive thermal management materials will reduce the weight and cost of active cooling systems for passenger comfort.

Electronics and environmental technology: Connecting safe work habits with future innovations 

Health and safety are essential for businesses, workers and communities to thrive and safety concerns span multiple environments. In manufacturing and industrial settings, worker safety experts are increasingly turning to technology for new solutions to long-standing risks, like hazard detection and prevention on the job.

What the world needs now

3M has a legacy of developing safety solutions, such as the 3M N95 respirator, which became vital during the COVID-19 pandemic. 3M also offers virtual reality modules for safety training and high-performance reflective road materials to enhance visibility and safety.

Tomorrow’s possibilities

“Advances in AI are enabling smarter factory systems that optimize production, boost efficiency, and enhance safety by monitoring conditions and adapting operations in real-time,” says Brian Brooks, Senior Staff Scientist at 3M.

“Factories will increasingly integrate cyberphysical materials — smart materials that detect changes in temperature, pressure, light, or stress and respond automatically.”

With embedded sensors, microchips, or wireless links, these materials will interact digitally with factory systems, helping ensure workplace safety, efficiency, and security.

“Advanced materials will also be developed for use in extreme environments, to enable durable and reliable components in advanced transportation and energy applications, helping to reduce the risk of failures and helping to keep workers in those environments safe,” says Matt Frey, Senior Staff Scientist in 3M’s Corporate Research Materials Lab.

Energy technology: Advancing tomorrow’s energy economy 

As global demand for reliable and affordable energy surges, countries are accelerating investments in power generation, grid modernization and energy efficiency to meet their energy goals. Accelerated demand is driving an interest in new materials and scalable, efficient solutions for challenges including grid stability and reducing energy loss in the built environment.

What the world needs now

3M is at the forefront of developing materials science innovations that enhance energy security and grid resilience. For example, 3M’s advancements in electrical infrastructure, such as 3M ACCR (Aluminum Conductor Composite Reinforced) technology, enable the transmission of more electricity over longer distances without the need for new transmission towers. Additionally, 3M’s hydrogen catalyzer technology plays a crucial role in the production of green hydrogen, a clean energy source.

Tomorrow’s possibilities

“We anticipate the continued and accelerated integration of solar energy technologies directly into building surfaces, transforming structures into power generators and significantly reducing the carbon footprint of urban areas,” says Bill Weber, Director of Business Development, 3M Ventures.

Moreover, Silicon Photonics technology can optimize resource use by enabling efficient data transmission with lower power consumption, supporting edge-based AI deployments, and reducing energy demands in data centers and communication networks.

Immersive technology: Bridging skills gaps with technology

The National Association of Manufacturers reports that the skills gap could result in 2.1 million unfilled manufacturing jobs by 2030. This gap is driven by changing workforce attitudes, with 75% from a recent global survey viewing manufacturing jobs positively and 74% recognizing the need for enhanced technology skills, but nearly that same amount 70% in the U.S. are concerned that automation will replace those jobs. To combat the labor shortage and challenge concerns around automation, companies are turning to technology like integrated robotics, immersive technology, and AI.

What the world needs now

As a leading global manufacturer and science company, 3M is committed to advancing economic development by supporting job creation and inspiring the next generation of STEM talent through careers in manufacturing. 3M addresses workforce needs directly through our many partnerships and through initiatives like its Manufacturing and Academic Partnerships (MAP) program and its partnerships with SkillsUSA and WorldSkills.

Tomorrow’s possibilities 

“Immersive technologies such as Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) can generate 3D scenes from regular photos and videos. These technologies could greatly improve how we train employees to operate in a physical environment, like a factory setting,” says Kevin Gotrik, Research Specialist, with 3M’s Corporate Research lab

Special materials that can be read by Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) systems can also help create digital versions of real-world objects, track their movements, and display virtual objects, blending physical and digital workspaces for efficiency and safety.

Moving beyond the expected

Jayshree Seth, 3M’s chief science advocate and corporate scientist, emphasizes that while 3M’s analysis targets future technologies, unforeseen breakthroughs can reshape our perception of possibilities. These “wildcards” might involve advances in quantum computing, the convergence of biological and digital technologies, or surprising material discoveries.

By embracing six major technology themes, 3M is not only advancing current progress but also preparing for future innovations. With a focus on collaboration and creativity, 3M is dedicated to making a positive impact and building a better world for all.

Originally published on May 14, 2025 on LinkedIn

May was Mental Health Awareness Month!

At Sysco, we recognize that supporting mental health is essential to building a strong, inclusive workplace. We’re proud to introduce Food for Thought, our Mental Health Colleague Resource Group, created to champion mental well-being across our organization.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month—and in alignment with this year’s theme, Turning Awareness into Action—the CRG is hosting a series of internal events and sharing tools to reduce stigma, foster education, and encourage meaningful support.

By investing in mental health, we strengthen our teams, our culture, and our impact.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 76,000 colleagues, the company operates 340 distribution facilities worldwide and serves approximately 730,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2024 that ended June 29, 2024, the company generated sales of more than $78 billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, can be found at www.sysco.com.

 For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoFoods. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

View original content here.

On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, The Georgia Chamber hosted a panel, Innovations in Georgia Forestry, that explored the ways companies in Georgia engage with Georgia’s forestry industry, and the impact this has on Georgia’s economy. 

Moderated by Burt Fealing, executive vice president, Southwire Company, LLC, the panelists included John Mulcahy, senior vice president, Georgia-Pacific, Matt Hestad, senior vice president, Georgia Forestry Association, and Katie Childers, director of State and Local Government Affairs, Delta Air Lines. 

John, along with the other panelists, discussed emerging opportunities in Georgia’s forestry industry and how companies such as Georgia-Pacific are encompassing components of the industry into their projects and strategies.

Georgia-Pacific believes businesses exist to help people improve their lives, with quality products and services they need, and they want to provide them responsibly. The company works to be a good steward of resources, understanding the impact of our businesses, and creating innovative ways to mitigate them. 

Watch the panel to learn more. Innovations in Georgia Forestry | Future of Energy & Sustainability 2025 GA Chamber

About Georgia-Pacific 
Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries are among the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of bath tissue, paper towels and napkins, tableware, paper-based packaging, cellulose and building products.  Our familiar consumer brands include Angel Soft®, Brawny®, Dixie®, enMotion®, Quilted Northern®, Sparkle® and Vanity Fair®. Georgia-Pacific has long been a leading supplier of building products to lumber and building materials dealers and large do-it-yourself warehouse retailers. Its Georgia-Pacific Recycling subsidiary is among the world’s largest traders of paper, metal and plastics. The company operates more than 150 facilities and employs approximately 30,000 people directly and creates more than 80,000 jobs indirectly. For more information, visit: gp.com/about-us. For news, visit: news.gp.com. Follow Georgia-Pacific on LinkedIn, Meta, Instagram, X and YouTube.

As we look ahead to the next decade of mobile connectivity, now is a good time to consider how security needs could evolve:

• Advancements in connectivity, compute and AI bring unprecedented opportunities, but they also demand robust security measures to protect our digital future.
• As the world’s leading wireless innovator, our vision is to continue creating a secure, adaptable and trustworthy mobile ecosystem that meets today’s challenges and is prepared for tomorrow’s threats.
• We are working to establish a robust trust framework for 6G on top of the existing secure 5G foundation that would facilitate a secure, resilient and adaptable network infrastructure, capable of withstanding modern cyber threats and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of communications.

Since the foundation for secure connectivity was established with 3GPP Release 15, 5G security has been continuously enhanced. Each subsequent release strengthened the security of the connectivity we rely on today. With the rise of massive parallel computing, AI tools trained on large datasets and quantum computing, which all make for more capable threat vectors, the importance of securing connectivity, compute and AI has never been stronger. As efforts to shape 6G within the 3GPP ecosystem gather momentum, now is the time to look closer at securing the future of mobile connectivity.

Welcome to the seventh installment of the 6G foundry series, where we explore 6G native security, robust trust frameworks and quantum-safe security to build a secure 6G on top of the existing secure 5G foundation that is resilient against known and imaginable future threats.

6G native security

In this section, we look at ways to fundamentally improve security in the 6G access stratum (AS), which includes the radio access network (RAN) and the user equipment (UE). By addressing key areas such as secure control messages, enhanced mobility security, flexible user plane (UP) security termination points and user identity privacy, we aim to build a resilient 6G foundation.

Secure control messages

Ensuring the confidentiality and authenticity of control messages is key to building a secure foundation for 6G. 5G AS security currently defines security at the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer to safeguard control plane traffic for the radio resource control (RRC) protocol and UP traffic such as internet protocol (IP). However, there is no security protection for control messages at the lower layers, such as medium access control (MAC) elements (CEs). Manipulation of these elements can degrade or disrupt the link, such as with timing advance, transmission configuration indicator and buffer status report messages. Additionally, side channel information leakage, such as UE mobility patterns, has been shown to be possible (e.g., in the paper “Stealthy Location Identification Attacks Exploiting Carrier Aggregation (SLIC)”). Radio link control (RLC) and PDCP status reports are also currently not protected, where manipulation can potentially lead to packet loss, unnecessary duplication or radio link failure.

To counter these possible threats, 6G AS security could be improved by incorporating MAC layer security alongside the existing PDCP security to ensure comprehensive protection of all control messages and UP traffic.

Enhance security for RAN mobility

Security for RAN mobility is a potential enhancement for 6G native security, focusing on a robust key hierarchy for enhanced forward security¹ during mobility. In the current 5G framework, key changes are facilitated by the Xn interface (i.e., RAN-based mobility necessitate RRC signaling, with the source gNB supplying the key to the target gNB via the Xn interface). Additional RRC signaling for intra-cell handover at the target gNB is therefore required to support forward security. However, this process could delay key separation between gNBs and impacts the preparation of the gNB key (KgNB) at multiple gNBs for features such as subsequent L1/L2 triggered mobility (LTM).

To address these challenges, 6G key change procedures could be enhanced with forward and backward security² by design, with vertical key derivation for a change in gNB during handover. This approach ensures the connection at the target gNB node remains secure even if the keys at the source gNB node are compromised. Additionally, supporting multiple concurrent AS key preparations at different RAN nodes (gNBs) will enhance the overall security and flexibility of the 6G network.

Bring flexibility to user plane security termination points

UP data could be made more secure by allowing different UP termination points tailored to specific application or service needs. In the context of 5G, a UE might connect to multiple centralized unit user plane nodes (CU-UPs) of a gNB, each corresponding to a different protocol data unit (PDU) session. However, this setup introduces potential security threats, such as the lack of key separation when multiple user planes are configured for a single UE, particularly for different PDU sessions or network slices. Moreover, binding the UP security key of a CU-UP to a centralized unit control plane (CU-CP) managed key (i.e., KgNB) can lead to frequent key changes especially for highly mobile UEs, which will incur significant signaling overhead for low-complexity Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

To resolve these issues, we propose designing 6G AS security to support key separation for different UP termination points based on network deployment, UE mobility patterns and service security requirements, while maintaining protocol consistency to the UE and enabling service-specific configurations.

Improve user identity privacy in the RAN

A key aspect of 6G security is keeping user identities private, which includes the privacy of RAN temporary identities (RNTIs). In 5G networks, a cell-RNTI (C-RNTI) is assigned during the random access channel (RACH) procedure and updated during mobility events. However, long-lasting C-RNTIs (e.g., if the device remains connected at the same cell) can expose UEs to passive eavesdropping, revealing side-channel information such as the type of UE or active services through over-the-air traffic analysis. Additionally, targeted attacks may occur if a C-RNTI is linked to a UE’s personal identifiers, like phone numbers or social media accounts.

To mitigate these risks, in addition to the strict reallocation of globally unique temporary identifiers (GUTI) and I-RNTIs for each connection introduced in 5G, we propose to support more frequent C-RNTI reallocations in 6G for connected UEs without necessitating a new RACH procedure. This is for enhancing privacy and reducing the likelihood of tracking and targeted attacks.

Also important to protecting user identity is maintaining the privacy of subscription permanent identifiers (SUPI). In 5G, the subscription concealed identifier (SUCI) calculation relies on elliptic curve integrated encryption scheme (ECIES), which is expected to be replaced by post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in 6G. PQC algorithms, while promising, have large public key and cipher text sizes, resulting in substantial SUCI sizes. For example, a PQC algorithm such as Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism (ML-KEM) would result in 100s of additional bytes of overhead compared to ECIES used in 5G.

As we investigate the adoption of PQC algorithms for generating SUCI, a symmetric key-based approach for 6G that leverages USIM credentials could minimize SUCI size overhead. This method involves sending an encrypted private mobile subscription identity (PMSI) to the UE during the authentication and key agreement (AKA) procedure, with the UE using the PMSI in subsequent attach or registration processes, ensuring robust and efficient privacy protection.

Robust trust frameworks

Establishing a robust trust framework for 6G would facilitate a secure, resilient and adaptable network infrastructure, capable of withstanding modern cyber threats and ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of communications. In this section, we look at some key areas of focus at Qualcomm Technologies for achieving such a framework: isolated UE security contexts at each network function, zero trust architecture (ZTA) based on NIST tenets and robust security setup via message digest.

Isolate UE security contexts at each network function (NF)

5G NAS messages are securely exchanged between the UE and the AMF. However, the current architecture has a single NAS security termination point at the AMF, which presents limitations and potential threats. For instance, there is no generic secure communication channel between the home public land mobile network (HPLMN) and the UE when the UE is roaming, which necessitates the HPLMN relying on the visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) when delivering certain updates to the UE (e.g., UE policies). Additionally, there is no forward security with AMF relocation, meaning the source AMF knows the NAS key at the target AMF and beyond. Furthermore, the establishment of independent and isolated UE security contexts at different network functions such as the session management function (SMF) cannot be supported, resulting in a lack of end-to-end security support with the UE. Such limitations and threats are due to the 5G security anchor function (SEAF) being collocated with the AMF and only being used for initial AMF key derivation.

As with AS security supporting forward security, potential 6G NAS security enhancements include an independent 6G SEAF for supporting forward security in the AMF or, more generally, for network function relocation. Furthermore, a separate security anchor at the HPLMN would support secure communication between the UE and the HPLMN when roaming, providing a generic way for the HPLMN to configure roaming UEs and enhancing home network control. Introducing an independent SEAF can further facilitate end-to-end secure communication between the UE and various network functions.

Implement zero trust architecture

Zero trust architecture (ZTA) is built on the NIST zero trust tenets. In the context of 5G, ZTA work by 3GPP is limited to the Core Network, while O-RAN’s ZTA work focuses on the RAN. A gap analysis has been performed in 3GPP as well as in O-RAN Alliance, introducing some enhancements in the 5G system. For example, security event data and log collection, and exposure to a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system are being defined. Security evaluation and policy enforcement relies on proprietary solutions, which are out of the standard’s scope.

For 6G, developing architecture and features toward enabling ZTA is important, with potential enhancements needed to meet NIST Tenet 5 and 6. This includes evaluating the security states of the 6G system and introducing new functional elements, such as a new network function (NF). A converged RAN-Core network architecture and a common architecture for 3GPP and O-RAN need to be considered for unified security management of the 6G system, keeping in mind that ZTA is an incremental and continuous process.

Ensure robust security setup via message digest

In 5G AS security, common radio configurations and parameters, such as the master information block (MIB) and system information block (SIB), are not protected, potentially susceptible to false base station (FBS) attacks. The use of digitally signed system information has been discussed in the 3GPP as a possible solution. With the adoption of PQC algorithms, such signature will require thousands of bytes of additional overhead (e.g., at least 2420 bytes for module-lattice-based digital signature algorithm (ML-DSA)), and that compares poorly to current maximum SIB1 size being under 400 bytes. Apart from information broadcasts, RACH and RRC setup messages exchanged prior to the security mode command (SMC) are also not protected, leading to potential risks. Manipulation of message contents before the SMC can result in the UE being misconfigured, and adversaries can relay traffic without being detected by the UE or RAN, making the system susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks.

To enhance 6G AS, we propose including a message digest computed from the messages exchanged in the SMC, similar to how TLS computes a transcript hash as described in RFC 8446 section 4.4.1. Upon detecting an error, the system can determine whether to continue or release the connection, thereby improving the overall security and integrity of the communication process.

Quantum-safe security

As quantum technology progresses, traditional public key algorithms relying on the computational hardness of certain algorithms, such as integer factorization and discrete logarithm problems, face increasing threats. In particular, Shor’s algorithm, which efficiently solves integer factorization and discrete logarithm problems, necessitates the development of PQC algorithms. NIST is currently standardizing these algorithms, ensuring security readiness for the Quantum era. Additionally, quantum properties enable a quadratic speed-up in unstructured database searches, posing risks to symmetric key algorithms. To counter this threat, 256-bit symmetric key algorithms like AES-256, SNOW5G, and ZUC-256 are essential for 3GPP air interface security, along with Authenticated Encryption with Additional Data (AEAD). As we move toward 6G, resilience against quantum attacks gains importance, requiring the adoption of PQC and 256-bit algorithms to safeguard communication security.

Making connectivity synonymous with security and trust

Advancements in connectivity, compute and AI bring unprecedented opportunities, but they also demand robust security measures to protect our digital future. At Qualcomm Technologies, our vision is to create a secure, adaptable and trustworthy mobile ecosystem that meets today’s challenges and is prepared for tomorrow’s threats. By addressing opportunities across the 6G radio access stratum and the RAN protocol stack, we are laying the groundwork for a resilient and secure future.

Join us as we help shape the next decade of mobile connectivity with 6G. Stay tuned for more updates from the 6G Foundry.

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^References:

^{1. Forward security protects the connection at the handover target RAN node against compromises of keys at the source RAN node.
2.  Backward security prevents the target RAN node from accessing the key used at the source RAN node after handover.}