Latest news with #NEDO
News18
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Manushi Chhillar's Return To Miss World As A Judge Marks An Emotional Homecoming
Last Updated: Manushi Chhillar returned to the Miss World 2025 stage as one of the judges. She was crowned as Miss World in 2017. In what can only be described as a beautiful full-circle moment, Indian actor and model Manushi Chhillar returned to the Miss World stage, but this time in a completely different role. At the 72nd Miss World 2025 pageant that concluded on May 31, 2025, at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, Manushi Chhillar was invited as one of the esteemed judges. The event saw Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszková of the Czech Republic crown her successor, Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand, as the winner. For Manushi, this represented a bittersweet and deeply meaningful return to the platform that catapulted her into global fame and recognition when she was crowned Miss World 2017 in China. What made Manushi's role as judge all the more celebratory was the fact that she was once on the opposite side of the very same panel. She took to her Instagram to express how honoured she was to act as a judge at Miss World. She wrote, 'From once being crowned to now judging the competition, honoured to return to the Miss World stage. It's tough being on either side, but felt so nervous and excited for the contestants! Reminded me of my days. An unforgettable night of beauty, purpose, and power, to have been invited onto the judge's panel." Take a look at the post here. Dressed in a red off-the-shoulder floral gown from NEDO by Nedret Taciroglu, Manushi looked like a dream. The red gown came with a fitted bodice that graduated into a voluminous skirt with a thigh high slit. With its floral embellishments and tulle details, the gown exuded a romantic flair. For Manushi, being on the judging panel was more than just a professional milestone, it was a deeply personal and symbolic full-circle moment. From once standing on the stage as a hopeful contestant to now helping crown a new Miss World, her journey reflected growth, resilience, and purpose. Witnessing another young woman's life transform in the same way hers once did stirred powerful emotions, making the experience both humbling and profound. Watch CNN-News18 here. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : fashion lifestyle Manushi Chhillar Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 02, 2025, 13:18 IST News lifestyle Manushi Chhillar's Return To Miss World As A Judge Marks An Emotional Homecoming
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Japanese Semiconductor Startup Secures $21 Million In Grants For Edge AI
EdgeCortix's Sakura-II module. As Japan races to develop its domestic semiconductor ecosystem, Tokyo-headquartered chip design startup EdgeCortix announced it received 3 billion yen ($21 million) from a government-backed agency to develop specialized chips that can power 'edge AI,' a rapidly growing field of AI that involves running applications on devices themselves instead of on the cloud. The fresh funds, in the form of a project award from Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), bring the five-year-old company's total funding to $86 million, including $49 million in non-dilutive government grants and $37 million in equity financing. It received a 4 billion yen ($27.7 million) subsidy from a separate NEDO program last November. Across three previous equity funding rounds, with the most recent being a $20 million raise in October 2023, the startup's investors include SBI Investment, a CVC unit of Japanese financial services conglomerate SBI Group; Monozukuri Ventures; Seoul-based VC firm Futureplay; and automotive chips maker Renesas Electronics, formerly under Japanese electronics giant NEC. Renesas is also a customer of EdgeCortix. 'Building systems that are significantly more performance-per-watt efficient for AI processing than the current status quo, whether that's GPUs or other types of systems, especially in constrained environments…that is a critical factor for almost all edge applications,' says Sakyasingha Dasgupta, founder and CEO at EdgeCortix, in a video interview. 'That essentially differentiates us from the broader edge AI market.' In addition to the startup's focus on optimizing energy efficiency, Dasgupta adds, what distinguishes EdgeCortix is its architecture, referring to the design and programming that powers chips. Its patented 'Dynamic Neural Accelerator' architecture is an IP core, akin to a 'brain' for AI computing that can direct processors within a chip and adjust the way its components interact. This IP core can be integrated with processors such as neural processing units (NPU), which are tailored for machine learning. The latest grant will finance the development of EdgeCortix's new chiplet, a type of chip that uses interchangeable components, as opposed to monolithic ones. Dubbed 'NovaEdge,' EdgeCortix's chiplet for edge AI is designed for high-performance generative AI inference and on-device learning, the company says. Founded in 2019, EdgeCortix operates as a fabless semiconductor company, meaning it does not own its own fabrication facility, or 'fab.' The NovaEdge chiplet will utilize a 12-nanometer node produced by billionaire Morris Chang's Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). EdgeCortix plans to commence mass production at TSMC subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM)'s facility in Kumamoto, Japan, by 2027. A plant of Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (JASM). With a wide range of applications, ranging from robotics to industrial automation, EdgeCortix's chips and accompanying software have recently gained traction in the defense industry. Earlier in May, the startup inked an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense's venture-oriented Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to use EdgeCortix's products for defense technologies, including AI-powered vision and generative AI. In December, the DIU had announced it would launch a new effort to accelerate the adoption of generative AI in both warfighting and enterprise management. Specifically, on the battlefield, edge AI may help quickly process sensitive information in environments with limited network connectivity or potential cybersecurity threats. Tech giant Palantir–cofounded by billionaires Peter Thiel, Alexander Karp, Stephen Cohen and Joe Lonsdale–has developed a range of edge AI offerings for military purposes, including Skykit, a backpack-sized server that can act as a fully operational intelligence unit for soldiers, analyzing data from sensors on drones and surveillance equipment. In the nascent field of edge AI, the decentralization of AI represents 'a profound shift in the technological landscape,' according to a report published in February by consulting firm Deloitte. Such computing developments may be particularly effective for use cases 'requiring rapid responses or operating in disconnected environments,' including smart home devices, autonomous vehicles, wearable health monitors, and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) systems. Global spending on edge infrastructure is projected to grow from $25.3 billion in 2022 to $55.6 billion by 2027, the report added, citing research from the International Data Center (IDC). A Palantir Technologies Skykit on display. Japan's government-backed investments align with broader efforts to bolster domestic chip design and manufacturing, with the aim of establishing greater independence for advanced AI technologies. Last November, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced a $65 billion plan to invest in the country's chip and artificial intelligence industry by 2030, according to local media. Central to these efforts is the state-backed chipmaker Rapidus. In March, the Japanese government pledged an additional $5.4 billion to Rapidus, bringing its total government subsidies or grants to around $11.5 billion. Headquartered in Tokyo and backed by industry giants, including financial services groups MUFG Bank and SoftBank, electronics makers NEC and Sony, Toyota, and telecoms provider NTT, Rapidus aims to launch commercial production of 2-nanometer chips—some of the world's thinnest and most advanced—by 2027. A major link in the global semiconductor supply chain, Japan is also home to industry giants including billionaire Uchiyama family's Lasertec, which manufactures chip testing equipment; KKR-backed chip production equipment maker Kokusai Electric; Bain-backed Kioxia, Advantest (chip testing equipment); and Sumco, a silicon wafer supplier.
Associated Press
12-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Izuma Networks Partners with SoftBank Corp. to Participate in NEDO's Post-5G Infrastructure Development Project
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Izuma Networks is proud to announce its participation in the 'Hyper-Distributed Computing Technology Development' project, part of the 'Post-5G Information and Communication System Infrastructure Enhancement Research and Development Project' led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). This participation is made possible through a partnership with SoftBank Corp. NEDO, an independent administrative agency under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), plays a central role in promoting innovation and technological advancements to address social and industrial challenges in Japan. This project aims to develop a next-generation digital infrastructure capable of supporting a hyper-digitalized society. By advancing hyper-distributed computing technologies, Izuma Networks is contributing to the realization of a system where vast and diverse data sets are processed quickly and efficiently at optimal locations. These capabilities are essential for AI-driven innovations, enabling real-time analytics, decision-making, and system responsiveness in industries such as smart cities and autonomous driving. The incorporation of AI technologies, combined with hyper-distributed computing, ensures the efficient utilization of computational resources and enhanced scalability, leading to significant advancements in automation, optimization, and intelligent data processing. This, in turn, supports digital transformation (DX) and accelerates innovation across various sectors. Additionally, the optimization of data processing workflows reduces energy consumption, contributing to environmental sustainability and the achievement of carbon neutrality. Through this initiative, Izuma Networks is driving the development of advanced technologies essential for building next-generation digital infrastructure. Our solutions empower businesses and society to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. For investors, this initiative demonstrates Izuma Networks' robust technical capabilities and strong growth potential. For businesses, our solutions represent a powerful tool to enhance competitiveness and innovation in a digitally interconnected world. Izuma Networks was proud to be among the 30 startups selected, of more than 600 candidates, to pitch at the Global AI Pitch Summit in January at the Plug-n-Play Tech Center, where CEO Ed Hemphill discussed how Izuma is bringing AI models to the edge in the OT (Operational Technology) space. For further information, please refer to SoftBank Corp.'s official press release.
