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CEO TALK: "Innovation is a responsibility, not a luxury"
CEO TALK: "Innovation is a responsibility, not a luxury"

Observer

time2 days ago

  • Business
  • Observer

CEO TALK: "Innovation is a responsibility, not a luxury"

MUSCAT, JUNE 30 To Maryam al Aamri, innovation is not luxury - it is a responsibility. As the CEO of Matterz Group, Oman's first company dedicated to developing skills and behaviors through innovation, she is redefining how institutions and communities adapt, grow, and lead in an ever-changing world. Speaking to the Observer, Al Aamri said, 'I introduce myself as a woman committed to shaping Oman's future by embedding innovation at the heart of communities and institutions. Through Matterz Group, I focus on building integrated ecosystems that empower people, cultivate skills, and drive sustainable impact. I believe innovation is not a luxury, it is a responsibility we must all embrace to create a resilient, thriving society.' According to the entrepreneur, social innovation means applying creative, practical solutions to social and institutional challenges in ways that are sustainable and inclusive. 'At Matterz, we live by activating this concept by involving communities and organizations directly in designing the solutions they need, ensuring relevance, ownership, and long-term impact,' she commented. Her journey began in 2010, with Youth Vision, a platform specialised in social youth entrepreneurship dedicated to designing programmes and services that develop the skills of young Omanis and prepare them for future leadership. 'My journey began in 2010 with Youth Vision, rooted in a simple but powerful belief in the transformative potential of young people.' she recalled. 'Over time, this initiative evolved through continuous learning, listening, and experimentation. It matured into Matterz Group, a national platform committed to enabling institutions and communities to innovate, grow, and lead meaningful change.' As Matterz Group evolved, it brought together key subsidiaries under one umbrella. One such subsidiary is Innovation Hub, which focuses on designing solutions, while Skillerz, another arm, drives talent development. 'Bringing Innovation Hub and Skillerz under one umbrella was a strategic step to create a unified ecosystem. It reflects the belief that innovation requires more than just ideas it demands the skills and behavior needed to execute them. By merging talent development with innovation solutions design, we are equipped to better address complex challenges in a holistic and scalable way,' she said. According to the CEO, what sets Matterz Group apart is its commitment to turning innovation into a 'living competency' rather than just an occasional project. 'Matterz and Innovation Hub are committed to institutionalizing innovation rather than treating it as a side we observe clear gaps in critical innovation skills and readiness within many institutions. At Matterz, we work to close these gaps by designing programmes that enhance organizations' ability and youth alike to adapt, innovate, and thrive amidst complexity, ensuring that innovation becomes an embedded capability rather than an external dependency.' However, Al Aamri's work extends beyond the private sector. According to the CEO, she has participated in over 200 community driven programmes in Oman. One standout achievement was Matterz Group's contribution to developing the Corporate Innovation Guideline for government entities under Vision 2040. 'This project was not just about drafting a document; it was about empowering institutions to create internal DNA environments where innovation could thrive as a daily, sustainable practice, transforming how they lead, serve, and adapt in a fast-changing world.' Her work has earned her recognition beyond Oman. Earlier this year, Al Aamri was named the country's first female Global Distinguished Ambassador by the Global Innovation Institute (GInI). 'Being recognized as Oman's first female Global Distinguished Ambassador by the Global Innovation Institute (GInI) was both a responsibility and an opportunity. It highlights the importance of having Arab institutions and communities represented in global innovation conversations and opens new pathways for institutions in Oman to take a more influential role internationally. I hope it inspires more women to step into influence with purpose and confidence.' Al Aamri describes her leadership style as a balance between achieving measurable results with inspiring a broader vision for systemic change. 'I believe real transformation happens when communities and institutions build their own innovation capabilities, making innovation a way of life rather than a passing initiative. While I'm proud to inspire young women and change-makers, my priority is building systems and solutions that deliver impact. Inspiration becomes real when it's rooted in results—and when it empowers others to do even more.' Looking ahead, Al Aamri envisions the Matterz group expanding regionally and globally. But most importantly, she is focused on legacy. 'The legacy I aspire to leave is a resilient model that transforms innovation from isolated efforts into a dynamic, collective force shaping future economies and societies, transforming how we live, learn, and lead across generations.'

Min vows support to student's smart sanitary pad innovation
Min vows support to student's smart sanitary pad innovation

Time of India

time6 days ago

  • Health
  • Time of India

Min vows support to student's smart sanitary pad innovation

Vijayawada: IT and HRD minister Nara Lokesh met Mangalagiri-based student Vanama Vamsi at his Undavalli residence and congratulated him for his innovation in women's health. Vamsi, a second-year student of Vigyan College, Vadlamudi, developed a smart sanitary pad called Magna Pads, which won accolades at the national-level 'Startup Maha Kumbh', held in New Delhi in April. Lokesh appreciated Vamsi for representing Andhra Pradesh on a national platform and announced that the state govt would extend full support to take the innovation forward. "Vamsi's success is an example of how student innovations can contribute meaningfully to healthcare," he said, and promised help through the proposed Ratan Tata Innovation Hub in Amaravati. Vamsi stood first from South India and received a cash prize of 8 lakh. His invention, published in the Indian Journal of Patents, is designed not only to collect menstrual blood like conventional sanitary pads but also to reduce cramps during menstruation. The pad is coated with magnesium hydrogen, which absorbs into the body to provide pain relief. Each pad is expected to cost 25 and is currently undergoing first stage trials. Vamsi said the minister's encouragement boosted his confidence to take the innovation further. In the second phase of the project, Vamsi plans to integrate a detachable strip with the pad to detect conditions like PCOD and, eventually, early signs of cancer using a scanning device. He expressed hope that, with continued support from the govt and his mentors, his innovation could contribute to better menstrual healthcare for women.

AWS launches innovation hub to supercharge cloud and AI innovation in Asia Pacific
AWS launches innovation hub to supercharge cloud and AI innovation in Asia Pacific

Time of India

time7 days ago

  • Business
  • Time of India

AWS launches innovation hub to supercharge cloud and AI innovation in Asia Pacific

Amazon Web Services ( AWS ), an company, today opened its first 8,000-square-foot AWS Innovation Hub in Asia Pacific (APAC), located at the AWS corporate office in downtown Singapore. This new innovation facility offers an immersive experience for CEOs and business leaders in APAC to interact with AWS and Amazon-wide technologies, and over 30 partner solutions across 50 real-world customer use cases for cloud technology. The experience culminates in AWS customers receiving a practical roadmap for accelerating their digital transformation, designed by Vision Builder, a proprietary AWS road-mapping solution powered by Amazon Nova. * Multi-million-dollar facility brings together cutting-edge technologies from AWS, Amazon, and partners around the world * AWS will host over 1,000 C-Suite leaders from across the region and 200 students from local tertiary education institutions at the Hub each year The AWS Innovation Hub aims to fast-track digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation and innovation for public and private sector organizations across APAC. The multi-million-dollar facility is an additional investment on top of AWS's commitment to invest US$9 billion into cloud infrastructure in Singapore by 2028. Each year, AWS plans to engage over 1,000 C-Suite leaders and business decision makers at the Hub on cloud and Gen AI technology-led innovation, and will provide 200 students from Singapore's tertiary education institutions an exclusive learning experience at the facility. The virtual and physical demos of existing and new technology solutions are co-built with AWS partners and customers to address top business challenges and can already be adopted by companies in the region. The AWS Innovation Hub builds on AWS's existing innovation offerings around the world such as the AWS Builders Studio in Melbourne where customers connect with AWS technologists to build, experiment, validate, and test prototypes before scaling. AWS also supports customers to accelerate their generative AI innovation through global initiatives, such as the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, where AWS's expert AI scientists and strategists bring deep industry and AI expertise to guide customers across the full AI lifecycle from ideation to enterprise-wide scale. Additionally, AWS brings startups, developers, investors, and industry experts together at the AWS Gen AI Lofts that are pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive experiences aiming to foster innovation. The AWS Gen AI Lofts visited Bengaluru and Seoul in 2024 and will be coming to Bengaluru and Osaka in 2025. "Technological innovation is critical to the growth of Asia, and we need innovation to transform customer experiences while also delivering real business value," said Jaime Valles, Vice President, AWS Asia Pacific & Japan. "The AWS Innovation Hub empowers our customers to convert big ideas into real business outcomes by combining our comprehensive cloud and AI technology, proven expertise from our network of over 140,000 partners worldwide, and Amazon's unique culture of innovation. Here at the Hub, our customers can build practical roadmaps to solve the region's most pressing challenges and opportunities in collaboration with AWS. From smart farming and personalized retail to emergency response and digitalized citizen services - the opportunities are endless, and we are excited to help accelerate the pace of digital innovation for the region." Experiencing cutting-edge technology that accelerates innovation At the Hub, a first-of-its-kind globally, AWS will curate bespoke innovation experiences for C-Suite leaders depending on their business needs and challenges. Guests will walk through three zones - Aspiration, Acceleration, and Action, ending with a clear digital transformation roadmap to be executed in collaboration with AWS and its partners. In the Aspiration Zone, executives can experience how the latest technologies such as generative AI, quantum computing, and virtual reality can transform APAC businesses and communities. In the Acceleration Zone, executives learn from Amazon's unique culture of innovation with examples of how Amazon has created long-term impact with technology solutions underpinned by a customer obsessed mindset and a strong purpose driven culture. The zone showcases AWS technical innovations, such as the cost optimized and efficient AWS Graviton, Inferentia and Trainium chips, and AWS Outposts, a fully managed solution that extend AWS infrastructure to on-premises or edge locations. Executives end their experience in the Action Zone in the Working Backwards Studio. Here, the customer discussion is summarized into a vision board by Vision Builder, a proprietary AWS road-mapping solution. Vision Builder can help customers visualize their Think Big ideas and develop concrete transformation roadmaps with AWS. Vision Builder is powered by Amazon Nova, a new generation of generative AI foundation models that deliver frontier intelligence and industry leading price performance, designed to be easily accessible and customizable, and available on Amazon Bedrock. Limitless possibilities with advanced technologies The innovations featured in the Hub will continue to rotate and evolve in step with the rapid pace of technology evolution. This is particularly to address the most top-of-mind challenges and opportunities that businesses face in APAC. The Hub showcase includes: * An AI-powered farm-to-table system developed by urban agritech innovator Netatech. This groundbreaking solution integrates intelligent phenotyping, autonomous farm operations, and hyperspectral quality grading to deliver "AI-Verified Fresh" produce with precision, speed, and transparency. Built in Singapore, it is designed to be modular, scalable, and fully automated--paving the way for a global, zero-waste, freshness-first supply chain. * A mini bike manufacturing line with AWS's E-bike Smart Factory in action, demonstrating how manufacturers can overcome common operational challenges like inventory shortages, production bottlenecks, and quality control issues. The demo shows digital twin technology, generative AI-powered shop floor assistants, and Internet of Things applications developed by AWS and AWS Partners in action. * ST Engineering's AGIL Trust, an AI-powered suite designed to combat misinformation, is now available on AWS to enable rapid fact-checking, deepfake detection, and large-scale analysis of harmful narratives online. As an AWS Advanced Services Partner since 2019, ST Engineering brings extensive expertise in planning, migrating, deploying and optimising workloads on AWS, while customising applications to meet unique operational needs. * GS DAP® is an award winning blockchain-based platform by Goldman Sachs that reimagines the transfer of information and value in financial services. The platform provides end-to-end financial instrument issuance and lifecycle capabilities, helping to facilitate client-led transactions and optimizing capital markets workflows. * A Project Kuiper model rocket, Amazon's initiative to provide fast, affordable broadband to communities around the world that are currently unserved or underserved by traditional internet and communications options. To achieve this goal, Amazon will deploy thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) linked to a global network of antennas, fiber, and internet connection points on the ground. * Amazon Rufus , a generative AI-powered expert shopping assistant trained on Amazon's extensive product catalog, customer reviews, community Q&As, and information from across the web to answer customer questions on a variety of shopping needs and products, provide comparisons, and make recommendations based on conversational context. Other than the United States, Amazon Rufus is currently available in India and Japan in APAC, with plans for roll out extensively around the world. * An Amazon Robotics robot drive called Hercules helps employees by traveling around Amazon fulfillment centers to retrieve shelves of products and delivering them to employees, who then pick the items customers ordered for shipping. Amazon has developed, produced, and deployed more than 750,000 robots across its operations network. The goal of robotics technology within Amazon's operations is simple: pair employees with the right technology to make their workday safer, easier, and more productive, while delivering packages to customers faster than ever. Deloitte, a long-standing AWS Partner, is also showcasing technology solutions at the AWS Innovation Hub. "We are excited for leaders across APAC to experience the AWS Innovation Hub and Deloitte's suite of generative AI solutions tailored to the needs of legal and regulatory agencies, to empower them with greater productivity," said Lee Chew Chiat , Deloitte Singapore Technology & Transformation Leader. "AWS and Deloitte have been working together for over seven years to help organizations turn ideas into solutions that drive real-world impact across various industries - from health care and life sciences to financial services, manufacturing and the public sector. We look forward to continuing to support leaders in achieving their strategic visions based on a clear understanding of what the latest innovations can offer and how they can deliver meaningful impact and create lasting value." The AWS Innovation Hub is inspired by and aims to inspire customers with Amazon's Leadership Principles - Learn and Be Curious, Invent and Simplify, Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility, and most importantly, Think Big.

AWS Launches Innovation Hub to Supercharge Cloud and AI Innovation in Asia Pacific
AWS Launches Innovation Hub to Supercharge Cloud and AI Innovation in Asia Pacific

Korea Herald

time7 days ago

  • Business
  • Korea Herald

AWS Launches Innovation Hub to Supercharge Cloud and AI Innovation in Asia Pacific

SINGAPORE, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazon Web Services (AWS), an company (NASDAQ: AMZN), today opened its first 8,000-square-foot AWS Innovation Hub in Asia Pacific (APAC), located at the AWS corporate office in downtown Singapore. This new innovation facility offers an immersive experience for CEOs and business leaders in APAC to interact with AWS and Amazon-wide technologies, and over 30 partner solutions across 50 real-world customer use cases for cloud technology. The experience culminates in AWS customers receiving a practical roadmap for accelerating their digital transformation, designed by Vision Builder, a proprietary AWS road-mapping solution powered by Amazon Nova. The AWS Innovation Hub aims to fast-track digital and artificial intelligence (AI) transformation and innovation for public and private sector organizations across APAC. The multi-million-dollar facility is an additional investment on top of AWS's commitment to invest US$9 billion into cloud infrastructure in Singapore by 2028. Each year, AWS plans to engage over 1,000 C-Suite leaders and business decision makers at the Hub on cloud and Gen AI technology-led innovation, and will provide 200 students from Singapore's tertiary education institutions an exclusive learning experience at the facility. The virtual and physical demos of existing and new technology solutions are co-built with AWS partners and customers to address top business challenges and can already be adopted by companies in the region. The AWS Innovation Hub builds on AWS's existing innovation offerings around the world such as the AWS Builders Studio in Melbourne where customers connect with AWS technologists to build, experiment, validate, and test prototypes before scaling. AWS also supports customers to accelerate their generative AI innovation through global initiatives, such as the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, where AWS's expert AI scientists and strategists bring deep industry and AI expertise to guide customers across the full AI lifecycle from ideation to enterprise-wide scale. Additionally, AWS brings startups, developers, investors, and industry experts together at the AWS Gen AI Lofts that are pop-up collaborative spaces and immersive experiences aiming to foster innovation. The AWS Gen AI Lofts visited Bengaluru and Seoul in 2024 and will be coming to Bengaluru and Osaka in 2025. "Technological innovation is critical to the growth of Asia, and we need innovation to transform customer experiences while also delivering real business value," said Jaime Vallés, Vice President, AWS Asia Pacific & Japan. "The AWS Innovation Hub empowers our customers to convert big ideas into real business outcomes by combining our comprehensive cloud and AI technology, proven expertise from our network of over 140,000 partners worldwide, and Amazon's unique culture of innovation. Here at the Hub, our customers can build practical roadmaps to solve the region's most pressing challenges and opportunities in collaboration with AWS. From smart farming and personalized retail to emergency response and digitalized citizen services – the opportunities are endless, and we are excited to help accelerate the pace of digital innovation for the region." Experiencing cutting-edge technology that accelerates innovation At the Hub, a first-of-its-kind globally, AWS will curate bespoke innovation experiences for C-Suite leaders depending on their business needs and challenges. Guests will walk through three zones – Aspiration, Acceleration, and Action, ending with a clear digital transformation roadmap to be executed in collaboration with AWS and its partners. In the Aspiration Zone, executives can experience how the latest technologies such as generative AI, quantum computing, and virtual reality can transform APAC businesses and communities. In the Acceleration Zone, executives learn from Amazon's unique culture of innovation with examples of how Amazon has created long-term impact with technology solutions underpinned by a customer obsessed mindset and a strong purpose driven culture. The zone showcases AWS technical innovations, such as the cost optimized and efficient AWS Graviton, Inferentia and Trainium chips, and AWS Outposts, a fully managed solution that extend AWS infrastructure to on-premises or edge locations. Executives end their experience in the Action Zone in the Working Backwards Studio. Here, the customer discussion is summarized into a vision board by Vision Builder, a proprietary AWS road-mapping solution. Vision Builder can help customers visualize their Think Big ideas and develop concrete transformation roadmaps with AWS. Vision Builder is powered by Amazon Nova, a new generation of generative AI foundation models that deliver frontier intelligence and industry leading price performance, designed to be easily accessible and customizable, and available on Amazon Bedrock. Limitless possibilities with advanced technologies The innovations featured in the Hub will continue to rotate and evolve in step with the rapid pace of technology evolution. This is particularly to address the most top-of-mind challenges and opportunities that businesses face in APAC. The Hub showcase includes: Deloitte, a long-standing AWS Partner, is also showcasing technology solutions at the AWS Innovation Hub. "We are excited for leaders across APAC to experience the AWS Innovation Hub and Deloitte's suite of generative AI solutions tailored to the needs of legal and regulatory agencies, to empower them with greater productivity," said Lee Chew Chiat, Deloitte Singapore Technology & Transformation Leader. "AWS and Deloitte have been working together for over seven years to help organizations turn ideas into solutions that drive real-world impact across various industries – from health care and life sciences to financial services, manufacturing and the public sector. We look forward to continuing to support leaders in achieving their strategic visions based on a clear understanding of what the latest innovations can offer and how they can deliver meaningful impact and create lasting value." The AWS Innovation Hub is inspired by and aims to inspire customers with Amazon's Leadership Principles – Learn and Be Curious, Invent and Simplify, Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility, and most importantly, Think Big. For more information about the AWS Innovation Hub and to request a visit, go to: About Amazon Web Services Since 2006, Amazon Web Services has been the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud. AWS has been continually expanding its services to support virtually any workload, and it now has more than 240 fully featured services for compute, storage, databases, networking, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, security, hybrid, media, and application development, deployment, and management from 114 Availability Zones within 36 geographic regions, with announced plans for 16 more Availability Zones and five more AWS Regions in Chile, New Zealand, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, and the AWS European Sovereign Cloud. Millions of customers—including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies—trust AWS to power their infrastructure, become more agile, and lower costs. To learn more about AWS, visit About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth's Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth's Best Employer, and Earth's Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit and follow @AmazonNews.

Schneider Electric launches first Innovation Hub in Africa
Schneider Electric launches first Innovation Hub in Africa

Zawya

time24-06-2025

  • Business
  • Zawya

Schneider Electric launches first Innovation Hub in Africa

Schneider Electric, the global leader in energy management and automation, and recognised sustainability leader, has unveiled its first Innovation Hub in Africa – a milestone development that forms part of the company's long-term investment on the continent. Located at Schneider Electric's new, state-of-the-art English-speaking head office in Midrand, Johannesburg, the Innovation Hub is a testament to the company's continued commitment to Africa and its valued partners. Furthermore, it brings Schneider Electric's vision for sustainability and digitalisation to life, ensuring that customers, partners, and stakeholders across the continent have direct access to groundbreaking innovations that can transform industries and drive meaningful progress. The Innovation Hub also joins the ranks of Schneider Electric's over 40 registered global Innovation Hubs, standing shoulder to shoulder with its international counterparts, offering the absolute latest in technology and sustainable solutions. Like its global peers, the hub is a fully interactive environment where visitors can explore the company's integrated solutions spanning critical segments such as energy, buildings, data centres, industry, and power and grid. 'We are building an ecosystem that thrives on collaboration, innovation, and relevance to the African context, one that values local talent, fosters local partnerships, and drives local solutions. The Innovation Hub is an important step forward in enabling our customers and partners with leading technologies that can shape Africa's future while advancing global sustainability ambitions,' says Canninah Dladla, Cluster president for English-speaking Africa at Schneider Electric. A tailored, engaging experience The Innovation Hub offers a fully customised and guided experience for every visitor, ensuring they interact with the newest innovations in the Schneider Electric portfolio. Visitors are introduced to the company's story through an interactive touchscreen before exploring tailored spaces, including: - The Software Portfolio, featuring AVEVA Operations Control, eTAP, and various EcoStruxure software solutions. - Industrial Automation Solutions, showcasing live conveyor systems, EcoStruxure Plant and Machine control units, sensors, and industrial intelligence. - Building Solutions, demonstrating advanced control technologies for access, lighting, HVAC, and room management. - Power and Grid Solutions, featuring Schneider Electric's acclaimed SF₆-free AirSet switchgear, protection relays, and microgrid solutions. - Secure Power displays, including a live server room demonstrating Schneider Electric's data centre and UPS solutions. Designed as a flexible, evolving space, the Innovation Hub constantly adapts to ensure the latest innovations from Schneider Electric are always on display. The hub is also accessible to partners, consultants, and system integrators, who can book the space to demonstrate specific solutions to their clients. Each session can be tailored to showcase industry-specific applications, ensuring that businesses and stakeholders receive real-world insights into how Schneider Electric's technology can drive success. The Innovation Hub is backed by a team of skilled Innovation Hub managers and operations specialists, ensuring expert guidance and a tailored visitor experience. Additionally, Schneider Electric is expanding its global Innovation Hub Ambassador Programme, training even more employees to bring a wealth of expertise from across the organisation, enhancing every visit to the facility. Designed for sustainability The Innovation Hub is housed within Schneider Electric's new English-speaking headquarters, which truly represents the pinnacle of sustainable building design and operations. With a 20% smaller footprint than its previous premises, the headquarters delivers significant sustainability gains, including: - 37% lower energy consumption per month. - 34% less water usage per month. - 32 tonnes of CO₂ emissions reduced monthly. Further amplifying its environmental performance, the headquarters boasts a 200 kWp rooftop solar installation, mitigating 15 tonnes of CO₂ emissions each month. Also, plans are underway for a full microgrid solution with battery energy storage (BESS), reinforcing Schneider Electric's drive toward renewable and sustainable energy practices. Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Buildings Operation and Power Monitoring software seamlessly integrates into the Innovation Hub, providing intelligent control over lighting and HVAC systems in customer-facing areas. Through the Innovation Hub, Schneider Electric is undoubtedly strengthening its commitment to its partners and customers across the continent, ensuring that Africa's industries benefit from the very best in technology, innovation, and sustainability.

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