Ten Local Kubota Dealers Serve as Equipment and Community Partners, Rewarding Each Unique Hometown Project with a $50,000 Grant

GRAPEVINE, Texas, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kubota Tractor Corporation today announced the ten community-based nonprofits that have been selected as winners of the 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud® grant program. Each organization will receive $25,000 in cash and $25,000 towards the purchase of Kubota equipment to support local initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods and empower communities.

Now in its sixth year, the Kubota Hometown Proud® program continues Kubota's commitment to investing in nonprofit organizations making a tangible difference in communities from coast to coast. The program supports a wide variety of projects, from community-supported agriculture and ag education to land stewardship, park beautification initiatives and more. Since its inception, the program has distributed more than $2.9 million in total funding and equipment to hometown projects nationwide.

"The Kubota Hometown Proud grant program reflects our deep commitment to supporting communities where our customers and dealers live and work," said Alex Woods, President of Kubota Tractor Corporation. "Our dealers are the heart of this program, and we believe in investing in programs that matter to their communities. With their support, we're able to deliver more than funding but also equipment and a long-term trusted partnership for ongoing success."

The 2026 program received more than 1,100 applications from communities across the country. After a rigorous review process, 10 grant winners were selected, representing diverse community needs from agricultural education and workforce development to food security, youth empowerment, and environmental stewardship.

Announcing the 2026 Kubota Hometown Proud Grant Winners:

- The Armored Church (Salisbury, N.C.) partners with Sink Farm Equipment. The Field of Honor Project will use a new Kubota compact tractor to develop and maintain a 20-acre community garden and gathering space honoring veterans.

- Friends of Greenfield Recreation (Greenfield, Mass.) partners with M.B. Tractor & Equipment. The Greenfield Grow and Go project focuses on beautifying the town of Greenfield; a new Kubota RTV will help mobilize its volunteer network to do more.

- Galloway Family Farm & Education Center (Ocean Springs, Miss.) partners with Lee Tractor Company. Galloway Farm's Adopt-a-Row project will use a Kubota sub-compact tractor to support community-based sustainable ag-education.

- HALTER – Healing and Learning Through Equine Relationships (Spartanburg, S.C.) partners with Blue Water Equipment Group. HALTER's Center for Wellbeing will use the grant to purchase a new Kubota RTV to maintain equine-assisted service facilities and expand access to healing and wellness services.

- Helpful Harvest Food Bank Inc. (Athens, W.Va.) partners with State Equipment, Inc. will use the Kubota Hometown Proud grant to purchase a new Kubota M4 utility tractor and implements to expand food production and increase access to fresh, nutritious food for families facing food insecurity.

- Impact Activity Center (Boonville, Mo.) partners with Farm Power Lawn & Leisure. The Reviving Sumner School project is transforming a historic school into a vibrant community hub; a Kubota compact tractor and zero-turn mower will help maintain the garden and green space.

- Moncus Park (Lafayette, La.) partners with Sammy Broussard Equipment Center. The Back 50: Community + Nature project will use a new Kubota compact tractor to enhance Moncus Park and provide community access to native habitats.

- Osseo Community Foundation (Osseo, Wis.) partners with Johnson Tractor. The Stoddard Park project revitalizes a community park and playground with the use of a Kubota utility vehicle to help with the build and maintenance.

- REACH Inc. (Klamath Falls, Ore.) partners with Pelican Tractor. The Ready Set Mow: Jobs & Mobility program will use new Kubota mowers to enhance and grow its landscape training and employment model for adults with developmental disabilities.

- Winding Branch Ranch (Bulverde, Texas) partners with Ewald Kubota to purchase a new Kubota utility vehicle and hands-on curriculum materials to expand agricultural education and experiences for communities throughout south-central Texas.

Each local Kubota dealer brings expertise, community commitment and equipment support that extends far beyond the grant period, ensuring these communities have a local partner and equipment resource. "We're honored to be part of this program that has a very direct local impact," said Joe Reister, Store Manager, at Pelican Tractor in Klamath Falls, Ore. "Kubota is providing a channel to empower our community, and it's incredibly rewarding."

The Kubota Hometown Proud grant program demonstrates the power of combining corporate investment with local dealer expertise and community focus. By empowering nonprofits with both funding and equipment and pairing each organization with a local Kubota dealer as an ongoing equipment and community partner, Kubota creates sustained impact in neighborhoods across America.

For more information about the Kubota Hometown Proud program, visit www.kubotahometownproud.com.

About Kubota Tractor Corporation

Kubota Tractor Corporation, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors producing up to 200 gross horsepower, performance-matched implements, compact construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, hay tools, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. Kubota is committed to supporting the communities where its customers and dealers live and work through the Kubota Hometown Proud® grant program and other community initiatives. For product literature, dealer locations or more information, contact Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, call (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], extension 900, or visit www.KubotaUSA.com.

SOURCE Kubota Tractor Corporation

Share this article

Customers Get Access to Industry-Leading John Hancock Vitality Program in Support of Longer, Healthier, Better Lives

BOSTON, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- John Hancock today expanded its protection portfolio with enhancements to both its protection indexed universal life solution (Protection IUL 26) and its term life insurance suite, expanding the range of options available for financial professionals to help address clients' evolving long-term planning needs.

Aligned with the Company's broader strategy to drive sustained, scalable growth in the U.S. insurance market and empower customer health, wealth, and financial well-being, the enhanced products strengthen John Hancock's protection portfolio and give financial professionals more ways to reach prospects, address a broader range of client needs, and help customers build greater longevity preparedness to help them live longer, healthier, better lives.

As Americans live longer, the need for more choice and flexibility in long-term planning is greater than ever. John Hancock's 2025 Longevity Preparedness Index, developed with the MIT AgeLab, found that U.S. adults scored an average 60 out of 100 in overall preparedness for longer lives. The findings reinforce that planning needs extend well beyond a single financial goal and can evolve across health, care, housing, community, and major life transitions—making access to a broader range of protection solutions increasingly important.*

"Financial plans are not one-size-fits-all. Today's consumers want confidence that their protection strategy can help support their loved ones for the long term, while also providing opportunities for future value growth in a way that works for them and their loved ones," said Hector Martinez, Head of Insurance, John Hancock. "With our enhanced protection portfolio, we are offering financial professionals a broader set of solutions to help them serve clients effectively and meaningfully over time with greater choice, growth potential, and future flexibility."

The updated Protection IUL 26 solution puts choice in clients' hands by giving financial professionals best-in-class optionality to introduce protection in the way that may best suit an individual's preferences with new optional guarantees and indexed growth potential.

The enhanced term portfolio offers three options spanning cost effective protection-focused coverage and solutions with expanded conversion flexibility. These options enable financial professionals to better match coverage strategies to individual client goals and provide a clearer pathway from temporary protection to permanent insurance as needs change.

"Term insurance plays a critical role in giving clients protection options that align with their needs wherever they are on their planning journey. With these new enhancements, John Hancock is offering meaningful options for financial professionals to support their clients at any stage, with greater choice, flexibility, and continuity as needs evolve," continued Martinez.

Through these solutions, eligible customers also get access to John Hancock's industry-leading Vitality program, which offers tools, technology, education, and rewards designed to help members live longer, healthier, better lives while offering financial protection for those who matter most to them.

Learn more at www.johnhancock.com.

About John Hancock and Manulife

John Hancock is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation, a leading international financial services provider that helps people make their decisions easier and lives better by providing financial advice, insurance, and wealth and asset management solutions. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as MFC on the TSX, NYSE, and PSE, and under 945 on the SEHK. Manulife can be found at manulife.com.

One of the largest life insurers in the United States, John Hancock supports more than ten million Americans with a broad range of financial products, including life insurance and annuities. John Hancock also supports US investors by bringing investment capabilities and retirement planning and administration expertise to individuals and institutions. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at johnhancock.com.

*The Longevity Preparedness Index was conducted online and by phone interview in English, sourced through the NORC AmeriSpeak Panel. The sample was a US representative sample comprised of 1,307 Americans, aged 18 and up, with specific oversamples of Non-Hispanic Black panelists, Hispanic panelists, and Non-Hispanic Asian American and Pacific Islander panelists to ensure adequate sample size for sub-group analysis. During analysis, survey responses were weighted to represent the US population. Survey data were collected from May 14th, 2025, to June 5th, 2025, with a median survey length of approximately 25 minutes per respondent. The Longevity Preparedness Index was developed in collaboration with MIT AgeLab and funded by John Hancock. John Hancock provided financial support for the research but did not influence the findings, methodology, or conclusions.

Guaranteed product features are dependent upon minimum premium requirements and the claims-paying ability of the issuer.

Protection IUL policies automatically include a no-lapse guarantee called the Death Benefit Protection rider which is optimized for a guarantee to life expectancy — or, if elected for an additional cost, an Enhanced Death Benefit Protection rider which is optimized for extended guarantees, through age 100 or beyond. Both technically provide a guarantee to age 121 if enough premium is paid. Each of these options guarantees that the policy will not default, even if the cash surrender value falls to zero or below, provided that the Net Death Benefit Protection Value remains greater than zero and policy debt does not exceed the policy value. Once terminated, the Death Benefit Protection rider or Enhanced Death Benefit Protection rider cannot be reinstated.

Some riders may have additional fees and expenses associated with them.

The life insurance policy describes coverage under the policy, exclusions and limitations, what you must do to keep your policy inforce, and what would cause your policy to be discontinued. Please contact your licensed agent or John Hancock for more information, costs, and complete details on coverage to help you determine if this policy is suitable for your needs. Availability of policies, features, and benefits may vary by state.

Vitality is the provider of the John Hancock Vitality Program in connection with policies issued by John Hancock.

Insurance policies and/or associated riders and features may not be available in all states.

Insurance products are issued by: John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA 02116 (not licensed in New York) and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY 10595.

Policy Form: ICC25 26PIUL; 26PIUL

MLINY091026906-1

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE John Hancock

Share this article

Conifers Named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Standalone AI SOC Platforms 2026 Vendor Assessment

DALLAS and TEL AVIV, Israel , Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Conifers, developer of the CognitiveSOC™ agentic AI SOC platform, today announced it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Standalone AI SOC Platforms 2026 Vendor Assessment (doc # US54127026, September 2026).

The recognition comes as security operations face a new kind of adversary. Autonomous agents built on frontier models can now discover vulnerabilities and move across systems at machine speed. SOCs that run on disconnected tools and manual handoffs struggle to keep pace. Conifers built CognitiveSOC to connect threat intelligence, threat hunting, detection engineering, investigation, and remediation into one continuously adapting operating layer. Additionally, every CognitiveSOC decision comes with a reasoning trace analysts can inspect. Machine-speed actions stay within the permissions, policies, and approval thresholds that security teams define.

"Security teams don't need another tool that promises autonomy and delivers a black box," said Tom Findling, CEO and co-founder of Conifers. "When threats operate at machine speed, they need AI that shows its work, adapts to how their own organization operates, and acts within guardrails they set. We're proud to be named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape. In our view, it validates the discipline we've brought to building genuinely agentic AI for the SOC, rather than putting a new label on old automation."

CognitiveSOC has been proven in production across multiple Fortune 500 organizations and large service providers, operating in complex security environments at enterprise scale. These deployments have demonstrated measurable operational value while earning the trust required to use AI for increasingly critical security decisions and actions.

Recent Conifers research shows what's at stake when defenses fail to adapt. The Detection Blind Spot analyzed 14,652 detections in live enterprise environments. It found that 47% required attention before they could be trusted to work as intended, even though many appeared healthy in inventory-based reporting. The full report is available here.

About IDC MarketScape: 

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers. 

About Conifers

Conifers builds CognitiveSOC™, the agentic AI SOC platform that powers Resilient Cyber Defense. It connects threat intelligence, threat hunting, detection engineering, investigation, and remediation as one adaptive system on top of the security tools organizations already own. Organizations use CognitiveSOC to evolve their existing security operations into a continuously adapting operating layer capable of keeping pace with the frontier model era. Learn more at conifers.ai.

Media Contact:

Rachel Glaser

White City PR for Conifers [email protected] 

SOURCE Conifers AI

Share this article

-New cloud platform delivers utilities streamline sampling, testing, compliance documentation, and regulatory reporting-

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LabWare®, a global leader in laboratory informatics, today announces the launch of LabWare WATER, a new cloud-based compliance management solution designed specifically for smaller municipal water utilities to simplify increasingly complex water quality compliance.

Built on decades of experience supporting water utilities, LabWare WATER connects sampling, laboratory testing, documentation, and reporting within a single SaaS platform. The solution provides environmental laboratories and regulatory testing organizations with end-to-end visibility across the compliance lifecycle while reducing the administrative burden associated with spreadsheets, paper records, and disconnected systems.

"Water utilities face increasing regulatory demands while working with limited resources," said Chris Drillenburg, LabWare WATER Solution Owner. "LabWare WATER gives utilities an affordable, purpose-built solution that helps teams spend less time managing paperwork and more time protecting the communities they serve."

Designed for utilities that perform testing in-house, send samples to contract laboratories, or operate a hybrid approach, LabWare WATER supports every stage of the compliance workflow:

- Plan sampling schedules for monthly, quarterly, annual, and event-driven requirements.

- Collect samples with complete chain-of-custody documentation, labeling, and field instructions.

- Track samples through in-house, contract laboratory, or hybrid testing workflows.

- Review results and identify exceedances, missing results, overdue samples, and upcoming reporting deadlines.

- Report using centralized information rather than manually consolidating spreadsheets and files.

- Prove Compliance with rapid access to historical records, laboratory results, chain-of-custody documentation, and audit-ready reports.

By bringing schedules, sampling activities, laboratory results, compliance records, and reporting together in a single system, LabWare WATER helps utilities eliminate duplicate data entry, reduce spreadsheet dependency, improve traceability, and gain greater visibility into their compliance programs.

The launch expands LabWare's growing portfolio of industry-focused SaaS solutions, designed to provide faster deployment, reduced implementation risk, and a lower barrier to entry while retaining the flexibility and scalability expected from the LabWare platform.

"Many small and mid-sized utilities recognize the need to modernize compliance processes but struggle to justify the complexity and cost of traditional enterprise systems," Drillenburg added. "LabWare WATER provides a practical path forward, helping utilities remain audit-ready, reduce administrative workload, and focus more of their resources on delivering safe, reliable water to their communities."

LabWare WATER is making its industry debut during WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans, where attendees can experience live demonstrations at Booth #8612. LabWare experts will showcase how utilities can modernize compliance workflows, improve operational efficiency, and confidently manage evolving regulatory requirements.

For more information about LabWare WATER, visit www.labware.com/WATER.

About LabWare

LabWare delivers laboratory informatics solutions that help organizations improve quality, maintain compliance, increase productivity, and accelerate digital transformation. Through its Enterprise Laboratory Platform and growing portfolio of SaaS solutions, LabWare enables organizations of all sizes to modernize laboratory and compliance operations with proven, configurable technology. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, LabWare serves organizations in more than 125 countries through a commitment to innovation, integration, community, and customer success. Labware.com

Media Contact:

Katie Zamarra

917-379-5422

[email protected] 

SOURCE LabWare

Share this article

New financing will fund the first customer deployments of standardized plasma diagnostic systems, giving fusion developers faster access to higher-quality, third-party-validated data.

TORONTO, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Daedal Systems, which develops standardized plasma measurement systems for the nuclear fusion industry, today announced it has raised US$4.035 million to industrialize its measurement platform and deploy its first diagnostic systems with pilot customers. OMERS Ventures led the round, with participation from Garage Capital, Panache Ventures, Ripple Ventures, MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund (IAF), and a group of angel investors.

Fusion developers need detailed plasma measurements to understand how their reactor designs perform. Companies typically build diagnostic systems in-house, even though measurement is not core reactor intellectual property. This duplicates work across the industry and diverts time, capital, and talent from the technologies that differentiate their reactors.

"After building and deploying plasma measurement systems at General Fusion, I saw the same challenge across the sector: every company needs high-quality diagnostics, but too much time and capital go into recreating similar systems in-house," said Henry Gould, founder and CEO of Daedal Systems. "Daedal was created to solve that problem by giving fusion companies access to standardized, high-quality plasma measurement systems that can improve the quality of their data and help them move faster toward commercialization."

Daedal will use the financing to build its first three diagnostic systems and deploy prototypes under contract with pilot customers. The company has a research partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Delivered as a service, Daedal's platform can adapt to different fusion machines and reactor approaches. By producing higher-quality data faster and independently validating technical milestones for investors and partners, Daedal allows fusion companies to focus on reactor development while reducing their reliance on lengthy peer-review timelines.

"Advanced plasma diagnostics were among the key enabling technologies that led to ignition and target gain at the NIF" said Dr. Johan Frenje, a Technical Advisor to Daedal Systems, referring to National Ignition Facility's historic fusion-ignition demonstration in 2022. "As fusion technology advances in the private sector, measurement solutions designed specifically for private-sector needs will be essential."

"While fusion remains nascent, realizing its significant long-term potential will require a broader ecosystem of specialized companies and world-class expertise," said Brian Kobus, managing partner at OMERS Ventures. "By building the measurement infrastructure the industry needs, Daedal can strengthen that ecosystem and attract the expertise required to advance this important technology."

Initially, Daedal will serve the fusion industry, with a longer-term ambition to become a major instrumentation provider for commercial fusion power and other industries that require advanced measurement systems.

For more information, visit https://daedalsystems.com/.

About Daedal Systems

Daedal Systems builds standardized plasma measurement systems for the global fusion industry, enabling high-quality, fast-turnaround measurements and an accelerated path to fusion commercialization. Founded by Henry Gould, Daedal is based in Toronto.

About OMERS

OMERS is a jointly sponsored, defined benefit pension plan, with more than 1,000 participating employers ranging from large cities to local agencies, and 665,000 active, deferred and retired members. Our members include union and non-union employees of municipalities, school boards, local boards, transit systems, electrical utilities, emergency services and children's aid societies across Ontario. OMERS teams work in Toronto, London, New York, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Singapore, Sydney and other major cities across North America and Europe – serving members and employers, and originating and managing a diversified portfolio of high-quality investments in government bonds, public and private credit, public and private equities, infrastructure and real estate.

Media contact:

Remy Pinson

(510) 556-8517

[email protected]

SOURCE Daedal Systems

Share this article

- Schneider Electric to display how automation and energy tech can strengthen resilience and modernize increasingly complex water management operations

- The company also releases its latest Modicon™ PLC enhancements, designed to strengthen cybersecurity and operational resilience for industrial automation and water operations.

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, will showcase automation and digital technologies at the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) 2026 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center held in New Orleans (September 26-30). As North America's largest annual water-quality exhibition, WEFTEC brings together more than 23,000 attendees and 950 exhibitors for 125 educational sessions.

The exhibition is happening as water and wastewater utilities are facing mounting pressure amid aging infrastructure, water scarcity, rising energy costs, workforce challenges, and escalating cybersecurity threats. Previous research from Schneider Electric found that 60% of U.S. leaders believe water-related risks will outpace all other infrastructure threats.

Against this backdrop, organizations across the water sector are looking to accelerate investments to modernize, digitalize, and boost cyber preparedness to ensure reliable service and long-term sustainability.

"Water providers are facing significant challenges from aging infrastructure, growing cyber threats, and increased pressure on resources," said Sophie Borgne, Water and Environment President, Schneider Electric. "By adopting and deploying open, software-defined automation and technologies to secure industrial systems, organizations can harden critical infrastructure, future-proof operations, and leverage the agility of modern software to enable quicker, data-driven decisions throughout the water ecosystem."

Open software-defined automation and secure-by-design technological architectures are leading the charge in helping water organizations maintain continuous service, optimize plant and network performance, and equip teams with the data they need to make faster, more informed decisions across the water cycle.

At WEFTEC, the critical technologies and services enabling electrification, automation, and digitalization for water operations will be on full display (Booth #4641), including:

- The newly launched Modicon™ release advances cybersecurity across the automation architecture, certified to IEC 62443-3-3 Security Level 2 (SL2), with enhanced capabilities including encrypted firmware, network authentication, and role-based access control. Together, these enhancements help strengthen the cyber resilience of Modicon M580 CPUs, related communication cards, and Modicon Ethernet switches while unleashing the cybersecurity capabilities of the Modicon Edge I/O NTS Distributed I/O platform.

- Cybersecurity Solutions, which provides OT security assessments, cybersecurity program and policy development, and managed security services with continuous monitoring, threat detection, and response.

- EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert, which offers flexible, open software-defined automation for efficient plant upgrades and operations.

- TeSys™ Tera, which provides motor protection, control, and monitoring to help reduce equipment failures, energy costs, and asset wear.

- An Altivar™ Process ATV680 low-harmonic drive, which supports fluid-handling applications such as pumping, aeration, and dosing, with real-time intelligence and automated diagnostics.

- EcoStruxure™ Water Advisor, which is water management software covering the complete water cycle through connected data and predictive analytics for smarter decisions.

- AVEVA™ CONNECT, which integrates organizational data, applications, and systems into a centralized environment to achieve fast, reliable integration to enable quicker, data-driven decisions.

The partner ecosystem is critical to Schneider Electric's work in the water sector. CITI, Inc., a Charlotte, North Carolina-based Vessco Water Platform Partner specializing in industrial automation and control systems integration, has achieved Alliance Master status, the highest system integrator tier in Schneider Electric's Alliance Partner Program for Industrial Automation. The designation recognizes CITI's technical expertise, project delivery, and commitment to Schneider Electric technologies. It also strengthens collaboration to help water and industrial customers modernize aging control systems, improve operational visibility, and move toward open, interoperable automation architectures. CITI provides control systems integration, PLC and SCADA software development, and in-house UL-certified control panel construction for water and wastewater, industrial, and municipal applications across the Southeastern United States.

Throughout the event, Schneider Electric will also be available to discuss the tech, partnerships and projects designed to improve water and wastewater efficiency, reliability and resilience.

Schneider Electric at WEFTEC 2026

- Modernize Without the Rip-and-Replace: How Open, Software-Defined Automation Is Transforming Water Utilities, Monday, Sept. 28, 10–10:45 a.m. CT, Product Launch Theatre on the WEFTEC show floor. A fireside chat moderated by Jacob Thompson of Schneider Electric with Fabrice Meunier, VP, Industrial End Users and Software, North America, Schneider Electric, and Leonardo Jurado, President, CITI, Inc., on how water utilities are modernizing critical operations with EcoStruxure™ Automation Expert while keeping the hardware they already have.

- In-booth sessions, Booth #4641, 11–11:30 a.m. CT, including:

- Roadmap to OT Cyber Protection, Monday, Sept. 28

- Accelerating Digital Transformation in the Age of AI: Lessons from Leading Utilities, Tuesday, Sept. 29

- Start Small, Think Big: Using Proofs of Concept to Guide Modernization, Wednesday, Sept. 30

Executives attending WEFTEC 2026 include:

- Sophie Borgne, Water and Environment President

- Sielen Namdar, Water and Environment Segment Leader, North America

- Greg Magdanz, VP, OEM Sales, North America

- Fabrice Meunier, VP, Industrial End Users and Software, North America

- Julia Hull, VP, Industrial Business and Strategic Accounts, North America

About Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. Its technologies enable buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The portfolio includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory. With 160,000 employees and 1 million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is consistently ranked among the world's most sustainable companies.

Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog

Learn more about Advancing Energy Tech on Schneider Electric Insights.

SOURCE Schneider Electric

Share this article

Gotion Secures 75% of Saudi Arabia's First Utility-Scale BESS Tender

Chinese battery maker takes 75% of capacity with 25-year system life and desert-engineered storage technology.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has awarded China's Gotion High-Tech 6 GWh in the kingdom's first utility-scale battery storage program—about 75% of the total tender, signaling how seriously Saudi Arabia is pursuing its 2030 energy transition goals. The G1 project totals 2 GW/8 GWh and is valued at roughly $1.16 billion. Gotion secured all three core sites—Al Muwayah, Haden and Al Kahafa—each 500 MW/2 GWh, making it the largest single technology supplier.

The contract marks the first international large-scale deployment of Gotion Grid, its utility-scale storage system. Gotion says its edge is not price but engineering for extreme conditions. The system operates from -30°C to 55°C, uses a desert-optimized thermal management system that maintains full output during sandstorms and cuts high-temperature degradation by 40% versus conventional systems. It offers a 25-year design life, 25% longer than the industry average of 15–20 years, eliminating mid-life equipment replacement—a key factor for BOO contracts requiring 20-plus years of operation. An AI-powered battery management system enables intelligent dispatch, proactive safety warnings and full lifecycle diagnostics. All three sites can be remotely operated and integrated into Saudi Arabia's 380 kV backbone grid.

For investors, the award signals three shifts. Saudi storage procurement is moving faster than expected; G1 is awarded and G2 is underway, positioning Gotion for further phases. Competition is increasingly focused on lifecycle economics and extreme-environment performance over upfront pricing. Gotion is also building a regional footprint: roughly 9 GWh across the Middle East and North Africa, including a 1.5 GWh BESS in Egypt with a planned 3 GWh local manufacturing base, and a 1.2 GWh Morocco project with ACWA Power. Globally, its cumulative system-level storage projects exceed 10 GWh, including a 281 MW/843 MWh solar-storage project in Australia under construction and expected to reach commercial operation in 1H 2027.

The Saudi award does not appear to be a one-off. As renewable penetration rises and grid stability becomes a priority, G1's technical standards are likely to carry weight in future tenders. The question for Gotion is whether it can convert its early lead into sustained regional market share.

Share this article

Heidi II puts agents to work on visit admin, giving clinicians more time with patients

Heidi II brings agentic capability into existing clinical workflows, moving from documenting the visit to doing the routine work around it with clinician supervision.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heidi, the AI Care Partner for leading clinicians and health systems globally, today unveiled Heidi II, a new version of its platform that acts on the administrative work surrounding every patient visit rather than documenting the visit alone.

Heidi currently supports 2.8 million patient visits every week globally, surfacing around 10 million follow-up tasks. Until now, those tasks were handed back to the clinician. With Heidi II, these tasks can be acted on with the introduction of several new capabilities: Agents, Memory, and Peer-reviewed research.

Administrative work is consuming an increasing share of clinical time across health systems globally. The average doctor spends 8.7 hours a week, or 16.6% of working hours, on administration, with tasks scattered across the four to six systems typically used during a patient visit. The work that surrounds care is increasingly competing with care provision itself.

Heidi was built to alleviate that burden. Its Scribe has supported more than 175 million visits and 67 million clinical hours globally, while Heidi Evidence has answered more than 10 million queries since launch. Since February 2024, Heidi has surfaced more than 400 million follow-on tasks. Heidi II is designed to take the next step: acting on that work rather than simply identifying it.

"This is the culmination of our work at Heidi," said Thomas Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO of Heidi. "We started inside the visit by capturing the note and gathering the care context. Now Heidi can create the tasks and complete them from referrals and chart prep to arranging follow ups. It handles that work as a partner, while clinical judgement and approvals remain with the clinician."

Heidi II starts where a clinician would

With the new Home, Heidi opens on a clinician's day, bringing patients, sessions and tasks together with the relevant context already loaded. Clinicians can attach sessions, patients and sources as references, or upload external files to provide additional context.

From there, clinicians can ask Heidi to complete a task in plain language. Heidi spins up an agent that plans, and executes the work, then returns the result for review without needing to be re-prompted at every step. Early use cases include pre-charting a full day's patients, performing evidence based analyses on a practice's visits or referral communications, and running panel sweeps to identify patients due for immunisations, blood tests, screening or recalls.

"Heidi does the preparation I used to squeeze in between patients," said Raymond Brown, MD, Capital ENT & Sinus Center. "It loads my schedule, finds the pathology results in the chart, and writes a pre-visit note I can read in thirty seconds."

Agents can be saved and scheduled as Routines, either for an individual clinician or an entire practice, and run across a patient list rather than one patient at a time.

Heidi II can also use the computer like a member of the care team, acting across the systems a practice runs on: the record, the calendar, the inbox, the portal, even systems you never thought possible. When Heidi cannot complete a task, it says so and explains why.

Clinical judgement stays with the clinician

Agents in healthcare need supervision and should be met with friction. In Heidi II, every agentic run is designed around that principle. Clinical judgement remains with the clinician, with approval controls applied according to the workflow and settings configured by the clinician or organisation. Heidi II's capabilities are staged by region and setting, with dedicated internal clinical safety teams reviewing features through a clinical risk lens before and after release.

Heidi becomes the connective tissue across clinical tools

Heidi II is designed to work across the systems clinicians already use. Peer-reviewed research from content partners such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Wiley, Cochrane and more, alongside BMJ Group's clinical decision support information, will bring the evidence base directly into every chat, with citations that journal subscribers can follow to access the full article. New connectors allow Heidi to work with existing practice systems, from pulling appointment lists and answering questions from the EHR, to reading and writing appointments and clinical mail, or following a practice's documented process from an SOP.

Heidi's ambition is to double the world's capacity for care, and Heidi II is the next chapter. For practices, that means less time spent on low value work. For patients, it means clinicians can deliver more complete care that is timely and high quality. This isn't built simply for clinicians who want to go home earlier. It is built for clinicians who want to work at the frontier of care, with Heidi bringing more clinical context to every decision.

Heidi II begins rolling out on September 29 in English and French, followed by additional languages. These product capabilities will not be available in the UK or EU. Clinicians and care teams can find out more at heidihealth.com.

About Heidi

Heidi is building an AI Care Partner to expand clinical capacity by supporting every stage of care delivery. Heidi II is the platform that brings it together: Scribe for clinical documentation, Evidence for trusted medical research at the point of care, and Dictate for voice-to-text, now joined by agents that take on the administrative work around each visit; while Remote, Heidi's hardware device, pairs with Scribe for reliable audio in any room. Together, Heidi supports around 2.8 million patient interactions each week in 110 languages from 190 countries.

Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Heidi has raised US$436.6M from global investors including Blackbird, General Catalyst, LocalGlobe, Point72 Private Investments, Headline, Phoenix Court's growth fund Latitude, Possible Ventures, Glitch Capital and Archangel. Heidi aligns with leading international healthcare and privacy frameworks, including NHS requirements, GDPR, HIPAA, and the Australian Privacy Principles, and maintains enterprise-grade security certifications including ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, Cyber Essentials Plus, and AI Governance certification ISO 42001.

SOURCE Heidi

Share this article

ISC2 Appoints Brionne Dawson as Executive Vice President for Advocacy

New advocacy leader will ensure cybersecurity professionals have a strong voice in policy discussions shaping AI adoption, cyber resilience and workforce development

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ISC2 – the world's leading nonprofit member organization for cybersecurity professionals – today announced the appointment of Brionne Dawson as Executive Vice President for Advocacy. Dawson will lead ISC2's global advocacy efforts, strengthening engagement with policymakers, industry leaders, members and partners. She also will guide ISC2 strategy to advance the cybersecurity profession by helping to shape the policy environment for a safe, resilient and inclusive digital economy.

"Cybersecurity professionals are on the front lines of protecting our economies, communities and daily lives, yet their perspectives are not always reflected in the policies that shape their work," said Scott Beale, CEO, ISC2. "Brionne understands how to bring people together across government, industry and partner ecosystems, and her leadership will help ISC2 advocate for the policies and partnerships needed to grow, support and strengthen the global cybersecurity workforce."

This position is particularly important as government, industry and the workforce debate how to keep society safe from the cyber risks of AI.

Beale added, "AI safety promises are only as strong as our ability to put them into practice. Cybersecurity professionals are essential to testing, securing and monitoring these systems, and they need a stronger voice in the decisions shaping how AI is built and deployed."

Dawson brings more than two decades of experience across technology policy, government affairs, international relations and commercial diplomacy at a time when policymakers are increasingly focused on strengthening cyber resilience, addressing the cybersecurity skills gap and ensuring the profession has a voice in decisions shaping AI, digital trust and the future of secure innovation. She joins ISC2 from Google, where she led international government affairs for emerging markets across more than 120 countries and later served as Head of Middle East and Africa. Her work included artificial intelligence policy and adoption, cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital trade, cross-border data flows and digital infrastructure.

"As AI reshapes our economies and societies, the professionals responsible for securing these systems must have a seat at the table when the rules governing them are written," said Dawson. "I'm excited to help bring the cybersecurity workforce's expertise into closer dialogue with government and industry—and to build the skills, institutional capacity and trust needed to ensure technological progress creates opportunity and security for all."

At ISC2, Dawson will serve on the Executive Leadership Team and report directly to the CEO. Her work will focus on advancing practical pathways into cybersecurity, promoting globally recognized skills-based credentials, supporting continuous professional growth and ensuring policy reflects the realities of the people doing the work to build a safe and secure world. She will be an advocate for the workforce to governments worldwide and cybersecurity employers. Dawson will bring cybersecurity practitioners' perspectives into policy discussions on securing AI systems, defending against AI-enabled threats and equipping cybersecurity professionals to turn AI governance principles into everyday practice.

Earlier in her career, Dawson served as a Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and as Senior Director at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's U.S.-Africa Business Center. She also held leadership roles at USAID and the National Democratic Institute, building partnerships across government, industry, international institutions and civil society.

Dawson serves on the Advisory Board of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She is a Fellow of the International Career Advancement Program, and she was named by New America among 35 Black American experts in U.S. national security and foreign policy.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts in International Business from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Dawson also holds certifications in AI governance and agentic AI, including from Harvard University and the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

About ISC2

ISC2 is the world's leading member organisation for cybersecurity professionals, driven by our vision of a safe and secure cyber world. Our more than 270,000 certified members, and associates, are a force for good, safeguarding the way we live. Our award-winning certifications – including cybersecurity's premier certification, the CISSP® – enable professionals to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities at every stage of their careers. ISC2 strengthens the influence, diversity and vitality of the cybersecurity profession through advocacy, expertise and workforce empowerment that accelerates cyber safety and security in an interconnected world. Our charitable foundation, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, helps create more access to cyber careers and educates those most vulnerable. Learn more, get involved or become an ISC2 Candidate to build your cyber career at ISC2.org. Connect with us on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

© 2026 ISC2 Inc., ISC2, CISSP, SSCP, CCSP, CGRC, CSSLP, HCISPP, ISSAP, ISSEP, ISSMP, CC, and CBK are registered marks of ISC2, Inc.

Media Contact:

Jarred LeFebvre

Senior Director, Global Communications

ISC2

[email protected]

SOURCE ISC2

Share this article

New Global Survey from Kiva by The Harris Poll Finds an Affordability Crisis Is Putting Everyday Giving to the Test

U.S. and UK respondents overwhelmingly identify today's financial pressures as preventing philanthropic giving, leading to an increasing demand for accessible, small-dollar contributions

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiva, the global nonprofit expanding financial access and economic opportunity, today announced the results of a new Harris Poll survey of over 3,000 adults across the United States and the United Kingdom. The study found that persistent cost-of-living pressures have created an affordability crisis, with more than 4 in 5 adults in both the U.S. (85%) and UK (86%) identifying at least one factor that has prevented them from donating, or donating more, over the past six months. Yet despite these constraints, people are still finding a way to give, with 77% of U.S. and 80% of UK adults donating money in some way during the past six months.

These findings reflect broader headwinds tracked by Giving USA, which found that even as total charitable giving reached a record $617.20 billion, giving by individuals has fallen from roughly 80% of total contributions in past decades to just 64% today, as everyday households face mounting cost-of-living pressures.

"I'm not surprised that given the increasing cost-of-living, donors today are concerned about how their contributions are being used." said Vishal Ghotge, CEO of Kiva. "The findings show that despite tight budgets, the desire to give remains strong. People are choosing to give where they see clear impact while being realistic about how much they can contribute. To be effective, nonprofits must provide that transparency while welcoming participation at any level — be it $25 or whatever feels sustainable for a given individual"

This demand for intentionality is driving a fundamental shift in what donors expect from the organizations they support. Roughly three-quarters of adults in the U.S. (74%) and UK (76%) believe focusing on giving that produces a measurable, long-term impact is more important than focusing on immediate, short-term impact. Furthermore, about 7 in 10 adults in the U.S. (71%) and UK (69%) agree that simply writing a check to a charity does not solve an issue; donating time and connections to address the issue does.

This heightened demand for accountability comes alongside growing donor frustration with traditional fundraising models. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (72%) and two-thirds of UK adults (67%) agree that most charities focus too much on requesting donations and not enough on proving measurable, long-term impact. At the same time, global donors are identifying clear priorities for their giving, with more than two-thirds of adults in the U.S. (70%) and UK (69%) agreeing that donating to climate-impacted communities is more critical today than ever before.

As donors seek realistic alternatives to traditional check writing, the path forward is centering on accessibility, smaller-dollar contributions, and collective action. Nearly three-quarters of adults in the U.S. (74%) and UK (73%) say making smaller dollar ($25 or less) recurring donations feels more sustainable than making one large donation. In addition, roughly 3 in 5 adults in the U.S. (58%) and UK (60%) say contributing through a group donation feels more impactful than giving alone.

"The real secret to Kiva's model is the powerful interplay between small-dollar givers and larger philanthropic efforts," added Ghotge. "Everyday lenders provide the grassroots momentum, but larger institutional partners and major donors act as the catalyst for impact at scale. When larger capital matches and compounds those crowdfunded dollars, it creates true collective action, turning these investments into permanent economic independence."

For more details on the global survey findings or to learn more about Kiva's model, visit kiva.org.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Kiva from August 28 to September 1, 2026, among 2,019 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and 1,001 UK adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For the U.S. study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For the UK study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 3.4 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. These credible intervals will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest.

About Kiva

Kiva is a global nonprofit founded in 2005 with a mission to expand financial access and help underserved communities thrive. Kiva unlocks capital for borrowers through crowdfunded loans supported by individuals worldwide. Kiva partners with businesses and organizations to make an even greater impact on communities around the world, one loan at a time. Join Kiva to create a financially inclusive world, where all people hold the power to improve their lives. Over two million people have invested $2.6 billion in real dreams and real opportunities, spanning more than 90 countries and over 6 million borrowers.

Press Contact:

Julia Tisdal, The Sway Effect

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Kiva

Share this article