Category Archives: Technology

Bain Capital-backed Novopor Advanced Science acquires FAR Chemical; Expands US footprint

Novopor Advanced Science expands US footprint with acquisition of FAR Chemical; Strengthens global specialty chemicals platform

Hyderabad & Palm Bay, Jan 23: Novopor Advanced Science Private Limited, a Bain Capital portfolio company and global performance chemicals and material science CDMO, today announced its acquisition of FAR Chemical, a US-based leader in custom and complex specialty chemical manufacturing focused on Electronics, Aerospace & Defense, Coatings & Adhesives and other Specialty Chemicals, from its US parent CPS Performance Materials Group.

The acquisition of FAR Chemical is a key milestone in Novopor’s strategy to build an integrated specialty chemical platform that delivers end-to-end solutions to customers ranging from early-stage process development to commercial scale manufacturing. Integrating FAR Chemical’s deep expertise in complex chemistries and attractive end markets complements Novopor’s existing capabilities and expands its US presence.

“FAR Chemical’s deep expertise in differentiated, complex chemistries and long track record of working with global performance chemical and material science companies make it a strategic fit with Novopor’s mission to drive innovation and deliver custom solutions. This acquisition enhances our ability to support a broader range of chemistries, accelerate time-to-market for new products, and strengthen our presence in key high-growth markets,” said Radhesh Welling, MD of Novopor Advanced Science Private Limited.

“FAR Chemical is a respected operator with a proven track record in complex specialty chemical manufacturing. The combination of FAR Chemical with Novopor strengthens the platform’s technical depth, geographic reach, and ability to support customers across the full product lifecycle. This investment underlines our continued commitment to building market-leading businesses through strategic acquisitions and operational excellence,” said Saahil Bhatia, Partner of Bain Capital.

“FAR Chemical and CPS Performance Materials have established a differentiated platform grounded in deep technical expertise, an uncompromising commitment to safety, and a strong track record of delivering innovative solutions for customers with unique and challenging development needs,” said Justin O’Connor, President of FAR Chemical. “This partnership strengthens our ability to invest in advanced capabilities while maintaining the highest standards of safety and operational discipline and enhances our ability to support customers seamlessly from development through commercial-scale manufacturing. We are proud to join Novopor in building a platform defined by technical excellence, a safety-first culture, and an unwavering commitment to our customers.”

Novopor Advanced Science, backed by Bain Capital, has been executing a strategy of targeted investments and acquisitions to expand its global footprint and technical portfolio. In 2025, Novopor acquired Pressure Chemical Company, a Pittsburgh-based specialty chemical and high-pressure chemistry expert, broadening its development-to-manufacturing capabilities and reinforcing its presence in the US market. Additionally, Novopor inaugurated a state-of-the-art Pilot Plant Facility in Visakhapatnam, designed to bridge early-stage R&D with commercial-scale production and accelerate innovation across agrochemicals, performance materials, and specialty chemicals.

KPMG served as financial advisors, Alvarez & Marsal served as technical advisors, and Honigman LLP, Khaitan & Co and Clifford Chance LLP served as legal advisors to Novopor. Raymond James, Forvis Mazars and Thompson Hine LLP served as advisors to FAR Chemical.

Samsung India Teases AI-Powered Cooling Evolution with Bespoke AI WindFree Air Conditioners

 Bengaluru, India, Jan 23: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today unveiled an early preview of its upcoming cooling innovations, marking a meaningful evolution in how comfort, intelligence and energy efficiency will define modern homes

With the message “The future of AI AC is coming,” the brand is setting expectations for an AC advancement that moves beyond conventional home cooling.

The teaser spotlights the Bespoke AI WindFree™ Air Conditioner lineup, combining advanced AI technology, premium design and smart connectivity to deliver a more refined home cooling experience for Indian conditions

The range will feature WindFree™ Cooling, along with AI Fast & WindFree™ Cooling+, AI Energy Mode, Preventive maintenance and SmartThings integration for optimized performance, better energy management and seamless control.

DSCI Launches OT Cyber Security Lab with Rockwell Automation

DSCI Inaugurates Operational Technology Cyber Security Lab in Collaboration with Rockwell Automation to Strengthen Cyber Security Resilience

New Delhi, Jan 22: Data Security Council of India (DSCI), in collaboration with Rockwell Automation, today inaugurated an Operational Technology (OT) Cyber Security Lab at the DSCI premises, Nasscom campus, Noida. The lab was formally inaugurated by Chief Guests Mr Sarit Maheshwari – CEO, NTPC Green Energy Limited and NTPC Renewable Energy Limited; Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor, Former Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Dr R Ranjana, Director, Future Technologies, DRDO in the presence of Mr Stephen Ford, Global CISO, Rockwell Automation; Mr Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director – India, Rockwell Automation; and Mr Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI.

The initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s cyber security posture for critical infrastructure, smart manufacturing, supply chain security and industrial environments amid the rapid digitalisation of operational systems.

The OT Cyber Security Lab has been established to address the cyber security risks arising from the increasing convergence of digital technologies and operational systems in industrial and infrastructure environments. The facility is intended to support focused research and experimentation on cyber security challenges specific to OT, with an emphasis on strengthening security practices in real-world industrial contexts.

Inaugurating the lab, Shri Sarit Maheshwari – CEO, NTPC Green Energy Limited and NTPC Renewable Energy Limited, said,

“As we are witnessing a digitally transformed ecosystem, isolated systems until now have converged to more connected systems and security must be incorporated right from the design stage. Am glad to see initiatives such as the OT Cyber Security Lab by DSCI and Rockwell Automation which will pave the way and open access to start-ups for strengthening the OT ecosystem.”

Envisioned as a national-level facility, the lab will enable industry and startups to test and validate cybersecurity solutions against real-world OT use cases in a controlled setting. It will also support training and capacity building by providing hands-on exposure to OT security tools, architectures, and scenarios for professionals working across critical sectors.

Vinayak Godse, CEO, DSCI, said:

“The augmentation of OT Cyber Security Lab reinforces our focus on securing operational technology environments that underpin critical infrastructure and smart manufacturing. The lab will facilitate startups to innovate, test, and validate cybersecurity solutions in real-world OT settings. By providing a controlled environment for experimentation and learning, the facility will help address complex security challenges and enhance national preparedness against cyber threats. I would like to thank Rockwell Automation for working with us and bringing their global expertise in industrial automation and security to support this initiative.”

“As India digitises critical operations, OT resilience becomes a strategic imperative. Securing OT demands visibility, discipline, and continuous validation, and above all, collective action. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and it requires the commitment of companies, industry bodies, and the wider ecosystem to build truly secure and resilient operational environments. Our collaboration with DSCI translates global OT security expertise into actionable, India-ready capabilities, helping organizations assess risk, validate controls, and build resilient operations at scale. This facility advances rigorous testing and training so organisations can better anticipate threats and reduce risk across industries,” said, Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India 

The lab will bring together industry and startups to enable collaboration on emerging cyber threats affecting OT systems and critical infrastructure. Through this multi-stakeholder engagement, the facility aims to support practical approaches to securing industrial environments and improving national preparedness against OT-focused cyber risks.

Developed in cooperation with Rockwell Automation, the OT Cyber Security Lab has been successfully commissioned and tested, combining DSCI’s ecosystem-building approach with global expertise to deliver this capability for India.

Consistent Infosystems Launches Advanced Surge Protectors for Reliable Power Safety

New Delhi, Jan 22: Consistent Infosystems, one of India’s fastest-growing brands in IT hardware, networking, surveillance, and consumer electronics, has announced the launch of its latest innovation – Consistent Surge Protectors. Designed to offer dependable power safety and everyday convenience, the new range ensures enhanced protection for modern electronic devices across homes and workplaces.

The newly launched Consistent Surge Protectors are available in multiple variants to suit diverse user requirements. The range includes 4-port and 5-port models, offered with 1.5-meter and 3-meter cable lengths, providing flexibility for different installation setups and power access needs.

Engineered with advanced surge protection technology, the surge protectors are designed to safeguard sensitive electronic devices from power fluctuations, voltage spikes, and electrical surges. Their strong and durable build quality makes them suitable for daily usage, ensuring long-term reliability and safety.

Ideal for homes, offices, workstations, and commercial environments, the multi-socket configuration allows users to connect multiple devices simultaneously, such as computers, routers, printers, televisions, and other essential electronics  all while maintaining optimal power stability.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Yogesh Aggarwal, CMD and Co-Founder, Consistent Infosystems, said,

“With the introduction of Consistent Surge Protectors, we aim to provide users with a reliable and efficient power safety solution that complements today’s growing dependence on electronic devices. This launch reinforces our commitment to delivering high-quality, practical products that enhance everyday digital experiences.”

With this launch, Consistent Infosystems continues to strengthen its portfolio of power and connectivity solutions, offering products that combine safety, durability, and performance for modern technology-driven environments.

Agora Partners with Sentino to Advance Physical AI Through Customizable, Retentive AI Agent Experiences

Bangalore, Jan 22: Agora, Inc. (NASDAQ: API), a global leader in real-time engagement and conversational AI, today announced a strategic partnership with Sentino to create a new AI Agent Platform for Physical AI—designed to help AI brands and device makers build long-term, emotionally engaging AI companions.

Built using Agora’s Conversational AI Engine, the platform combines real-time conversation with memory, emotion, and multimodal expression—moving AI beyond simple chat and toward daily companionship.

“The next frontier of AI isn’t just about intelligence; it’s about presence. By combining Sentino’s expertise in emotional depth with Agora’s real-time Conversational AI Engine, we are enabling developers to move beyond transactional interactions. We’re building the infrastructure for AI that doesn’t just answer questions, but connects with people in a meaningful, long-term way,” said Tony Wang, Agora’s Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer.

From Chatbots to Companions

Most AI agents are designed to respond. Few are designed to stay.

Agora and Sentino are addressing this gap by enabling AI agents to maintain presence, remember shared moments, and express emotion over time. The result is AI that users don’t just try once—but return to again and again.

A Simple, Scalable Ecosystem

• Agora provides the real-time AI infrastructure and overall platform design
• Sentino AI delivers agent personas and companion features on top of Agora’s conversational AI
• Customers can quickly launch AI-powered products without building core systems from scratch

This approach reduces complexity and speeds up time to market.

Four Core Features That Create Long-Term Engagement

1. Agent “OS” (Inner Thoughts): Always Present

AI agents automatically generate short, context-aware inner thoughts based on user interaction and idle time. These reflections give the agent a sense of ongoing presence—even when no conversation is happening.

Why it matters

• Agents feel alive, not silent
• Users form stronger emotional bonds and return more often

2. AI Diary: Remembering Shared Moments

AI Diary turns daily interactions into a short, persona-consistent diary entry—capturing meaningful events and emotions without any user effort.

Why it matters

• Builds a shared history between user and agent
• Encourages users to revisit past moments, increasing retention

3. Diary Illustration: Making Memories Visual

Each diary entry can include an automatically generated, crayon-style image that reflects the agent’s personality and the day’s story.

Why it matters

• Adds emotional depth without extra interaction
• Especially engaging for children, families, and lifestyle devices

4. Music Diary: Turning Memories into Sound

Music Diary transforms diary content into emotion-driven music that users can replay and revisit.

Why it matters

• Deepens emotional connection through sound
• Creates opportunities for premium content and subscriptions

Why Scenario-Based AI Works

Task-based AI solves problems. Scenario-based AI builds habits.

By focusing on daily experiences—memories, reflections, visuals, and music—the platform keeps AI agents emotionally relevant and continuously engaging.

Built for Real-World Use Cases

The platform supports a wide range of Physical AI applications, including:

• AI companions and lifestyle devices
• Education and language learning
• Fandom and brand avatars
• Meditation, reflection, and emotional guidance

Shared building blocks allow brands to expand their features quickly and easily.

Executive Perspective

“We are dedicated to building human-centric AI,” said Chris Chen, CEO of Sentino. “By transforming static characters into living assets, we are enabling IP holders to move beyond simple interactions and build sustainable, emotional economies with their fans.”

A Platform Designed to Grow Over Time

With ongoing updates and new companion scenarios, the Agora × Sentino platform is built to evolve—without disrupting existing products.

Shaping the Future of Physical AI

Together, Agora and Sentino are redefining Physical AI as AI that feels present, personal, and worth coming back to.

IIT Roorkee Signs Strategic MoU with AccelESG to Strengthen Innovation, Start-ups and Global Technology Collaboration

IIT Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India, Jan 22: Reinforcing its commitment to innovation-driven growth and global collaboration, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AccelESG India Private Limited, a leading platform focused on accelerating technology commercialization, start-ups, and industry-academia partnerships.

The MoU aims to foster collaborative engagement in areas such as deep-tech innovation, start-up mentoring, technology transfer, capacity building, and market-oriented research. Facilitated under the guidance of Prof. Abhyanand Singh Maurya, IIT Roorkee, the partnership will enable IIT Roorkee and AccelESG India Private Limited to support early-stage ventures, facilitate industry-linked research outcomes, and strengthen pathways for translating academic innovation into scalable solutions with societal and economic impact.

The collaboration aligns closely with national initiatives such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Startup India, Make in India, and Digital India, while also contributing to global priorities around sustainable innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge-based economic development.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said,

“This partnership with AccelESG reflects IIT Roorkee’s strategic focus on transforming cutting-edge research into real-world impact. By strengthening industry and start-up linkages, we aim to create an ecosystem where innovation seamlessly transitions from laboratories to society, contributing to national development and global technological progress.”

Mr. Sanjay Commera, Chief Executive Officer, AccelESG India Private Limited, said,

“The signing of this MoU with IIT Roorkee marks an important milestone in our mission to build strong, outcome-driven innovation ecosystems. Partnering with a premier academic institution enables us to accelerate the translation of research-led ideas into scalable technologies and startups. This collaboration will foster meaningful engagement between academia, industry, and entrepreneurs, aligned with India’s national priorities and the global innovation landscape.”

Under the agreement, joint activities may include start-up acceleration programs, innovation challenges, mentorship initiatives, collaborative research projects, and knowledge-exchange platforms. The partnership is also expected to provide IIT Roorkee students, researchers, and start-ups access to wider industry networks, global best practices, and commercialization support.

This strategic association further strengthens IIT Roorkee’s role as a leading institution driving innovation-led growth, supporting India’s transition towards a knowledge-based and globally integrated economy, and addressing complex societal challenges through technology and entrepreneurship.

ASUS Records Strongest Growth Momentum in South India, Posts 25 Percent YoY Growth in 2025 and 40% Cumulative Growth

Bangalore, India, Jan 22: ASUS, the Taiwanese tech giant, today announced robust performance in South India, achieving sustained growth over the last three years and reinforcing its position as one of the fastest-growing PC brands in the region. Between 2023 and 2025, ASUS recorded ~40% cumulative growth, maintaining a strong upward trajectory despite a challenging and volatile market environment.

In 2025 alone, ASUS delivered 25% year-on-year growth across South India, significantly outperforming the broader PC market. According to GfK, even as the overall market declined post-pandemic, ASUS strengthened its market share, reflecting strong brand pull, channel execution, and category leadership.

“Each region in India requires a tailored go-to-market strategy, but our vision remains unified: to make state-of-the-art technology accessible to more consumers. From AI PCs to premium gaming and consumer notebooks, our focused efforts have driven consistent growth in southern India, even in a volatile market. As we move into 2026, our priority will be scaling further, with a sharper focus on AI PCs and the premium segment,” said Arnold Su, Vice President, Consumer & Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India.

Among southern states, Tamil Nadu led the growth, contributing 35% of the region’s expansion, driven by strong offline presence and exclusive store performance. Kerala followed with 25% YoY growth, supported by festive demand and channel execution, while Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka delivered steady gains of 23% and 8% YoY, respectively.

From a category perspective, consumer notebooks (NB) remained the primary growth driver, contributing 57% of total volumes, followed by gaming PCs (NR) at 40%. Gaming notebooks, in particular, performed strongly in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, reinforcing ASUS’ leadership in high-performance and enthusiast segments.

The quarter’s performance was further boosted by robust festive demand and ASUS’ extensive retail network, which helped capture higher share across regional markets. Recognizing the importance of experiential retail in India, ASUS also launched the ROG Labs gaming-first premium experience format in Bengaluru, enhancing brand engagement with consumers.

Despite a declining overall market, ASUS’ consistent outperformance demonstrates its ability to grow faster than the industry and strengthen market share, solidifying its position as one of South India’s fastest-growing PC brands.

Perfios Achieves ISO/IEC 42001:2023 Certification for Artificial Intelligence Management System

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Perfios.ai, India’s leading B2B SaaS TechFin, today announced that it has been certified with ISO/IEC 42001:2023 – world’s first Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS) standard. Perfios is among the few BFSI-technology companies globally to attain this internationally recognized standard for its responsible AI-based solutions.

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification is an internationally recognized standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS) and is awarded following a rigorous independent external audit. The certification validates Perfios’ governance across the entire AI lifecycle including risk management, transparency, human oversight, and continuous monitoring.

Perfios has deeply embedded AI capabilities into its platforms to handle:

• Intelligent Digitization: Automated processing of KYC, financial, and healthcare records.
• Advanced Security: Deepfake and liveness detection for Video KYC and fraud prevention.
• Risk Intelligence: Real-time shell-entity detection and behavioural risk analysis.
• Decision Automation: AI-driven underwriting and complex financial decisioning support.

“Achieving ISO/IEC 42001:2023 reinforces our commitment to delivering AI that is not only innovative and scalable but also explainable, secure, and compliant with global ethical standards,” said Mohit Srivastava, CISO, Perfios. “This reflects our dedication to embedding responsible AI practices across the entire lifecycle of our tech-led solutions. This certification provides customers, partners, and regulators with the assurance that Perfios’ AI-driven products meet the most stringent international requirements for safety and transparency.”

Globally, regulators are placing increased emphasis on AI ethics and accountability within the financial services industry. Perfios, already compliant with ISO 27001, ISO 27701, CSA STAR Level 2, and SOC 2 Type II standards, continues to stay ahead of evolving regulatory expectations.

Each year Perfios successfully undergoes 450+ audits and due diligence reviews. The ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification further strengthens Perfios’ position as a global leader in responsible AI governance in the BFSI sector and reinforces its strategic focus on delivering the highest levels of assurance, trust, and transparency to customers.

Visionet Achieves Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (AEMSP) Status

New Delhi, India, Jan 21: Visionet announced today that it has successfully completed Microsoft’s Azure Expert Managed Services Provider (AEMSP) audit, earning elite status within Microsoft’s global partner ecosystem. Fewer than 150 partners worldwide currently hold this designation, out of more than 400,000 Microsoft partners.

The AEMSP designation recognizes partners that demonstrate advanced delivery maturity, operational excellence, and a sustained commitment to helping customers transform, manage, and optimize Microsoft cloud solutions at scale. Achieving this status validates Visionet’s long-term investment in Microsoft technologies and its capability to support complex, enterprise-grade cloud transformation initiatives.

With AEMSP status, enterprises benefit from deeper alignment with Microsoft’s Azure engineering teams, priority escalation paths, faster issue resolution, and enhanced support for mission-critical workloads.

Kamran Ozair, CEO of Visionet, said:

“Earning AEMSP status is a significant milestone for Visionet. It reflects the depth of our Microsoft expertise, the rigor of our delivery practices, and our focus on helping enterprises achieve real business outcomes. This recognition positions us to scale our impact and support customers as they modernize operations and adopt AI responsibly.”

Visionet serves organizations across regulated and high-complexity industries, providing cloud, data, AI, and customer experience solutions built on Microsoft technologies. The AEMSP designation strengthens Visionet’s ability to deliver secure, governed, and scalable cloud services aligned with business priorities.

Kunya Baramy, Business Head, Cloud & AI, Visionet, added:

“AEMSP is not just a certification—it validates how we design, govern, and operate Azure at enterprise scale, especially as customers accelerate AI adoption. This status provides access to Microsoft-backed operating models, funding programs, and proven governance frameworks, reducing execution risk and accelerating time-to-value.”

Bijo Chacko, Global Cloud Delivery Head, Visionet, said:

“We thank our customers for trusting us with their most critical Azure environments. This recognition reflects the strength of those partnerships and our disciplined approach to running cloud operations at scale. Our focus remains on reducing risk, improving resilience, and enabling modernization with confidence.”

The AEMSP designation underscores Visionet’s role as a trusted Microsoft partner, delivering practical, human-centered solutions that drive secure, scalable, and AI-ready cloud adoption.

Team Global Express expands partnership with HCLTech to transform logistics operations with AI

 SYDNEY and NOIDA, India, Jan 21: HCLTech, a leading global technology company, has been selected by Team Global Express, the largest multimodal logistics organization in Australia and New Zealand, to accelerate digital transformation with AI-powered solutions.

HCLTech’s partnership with Team Global Express has grown rapidly. The new agreement consolidates the logistics major’s multi-vendor IT landscape into a single, strategic partnership with HCLTech as the trusted advisor to drive efficiency, innovation and data-driven decision-making.

HCLTech will be responsible for end-to-end managed IT services for Team Global Express across applications, hybrid cloud infrastructure, networks, cybersecurity, digital workplace and service management. AI Force, HCLTech’s GenAI-driven platform for service transformation, will drive automation, enhance compliance and elevate customer experience across Team Global Express’ operations.

“We are delighted to onboard HCLTech as our strategic technology partner,” said Danny Gravell, Chief Innovation Officer, Team Global Express. “Their deep domain expertise, innovative approach and commitment to operational excellence will play a vital role in modernizing our IT landscape and strengthening our ability to serve customers across Australia and New Zealand.”

“This partnership marks a significant milestone for HCLTech,” said Sonia Eland, Executive Vice President and Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, HCLTech. “Our comprehensive suite of solutions, powered by advanced AI and automation, will enable Team Global Express to accelerate transformation, enhance customer experience and drive long-term value creation.”

The partnership reinforces HCLTech’s credentials as a trusted technology leader in enterprise transformation and digital innovation.