A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) today (August 23) said that the Inter-departmental Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel (Working Group) led by the EEB has given agreement-in-principle to another application of a trial project on hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) double-deck buses on August 20. To date, the Working Group has examined in stages a total of seven applications that have been determined to be valid, and has given agreement-in-principle to all of them.
The said project concerns an application submitted by Citybus Limited (Citybus). The trial project includes the setting up of a hydrogen refuelling facility at its bus depot in Chai Wan and the operation of five HFC double-decker buses. Citybus plans to arrange the operation of battery electric and conventional double-deck buses on the same route as the HFC double-deck buses, with a view to comparing their operational performances.
The spokesperson of the EEB stated, “Upon receipt of the application for the trial project in January 2023, the Working Group promptly initiated the examination process. Following the applicant’s enhancement of the designs and technical details of its proposal to ensure that the trial project can be carried out smoothly and safely, the Working Group gave agreement-in-principle to the application on August 20. According to the plan of the applicant, the trial project is expected to commence in the second half of 2024.”
Since March 24 this year, the Working Group has given agreement-in-principle to a total of seven valid applications of hydrogen energy trial projects. Thus far, all applications that have provided sufficient information to make such applications valid have been examined and processed by the Working Group. The Working Group will closely monitor the progress of the projects and maintain communication with the applicants so that they could optimise the trial projects based on the Working Group’s comments. The Working Group will also examine any new applications received in future, with a view to collecting more data and local operational experience from the hydrogen fuel trial projects as soon as possible, for the purpose of facilitating the formulation of relevant regulations, codes, standards, and technical guidelines for the local application of hydrogen fuel, as well as the planning for the necessary supporting facilities.
The Working Group is formed by the EEB, the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Development Bureau, the Security Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the Fire Services Department, the Transport Department, the Marine Department, the Planning Department, the Lands Department, the Buildings Department and the Architectural Services Department.
Project Hosts, a leading provider of turnkey compliance services for government and healthcare organizations, announced today that its GSS One – Azure, a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) authorized cloud platform, achieved three additional authorities to operate (ATOs), two for the United States Army and one for the Defense Counterintelligence Security Agency (DCSA).This brings the total number of ATOs for our GSS One – Azure to thirty-four (34) and indicates that our Cloud Compliance as a Service solution meets the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, availability and security recognized by the U.S. government.
Building on its 100% turnkey compliance as a service, Project Hosts has developed a FasTrack, a proven onboarding process for new cloud offerings, that enables an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) to get fully authorized in 9-12 months. This is less than half the time required for most alternative routes to achieve compliance, and Project Hosts does it at a considerably lower cost. This allows ISVs to get their solution to market more quickly and start making returns on their compliance investment. Project Hosts is uniquely qualified to provide these services as its GSS One – Azure is the only platform amongst other platforms listed in the FedRAMP marketplace to take full responsibility for hosting and managing compliance for 3rd party applications or cloud systems.
About Project Hosts: Project Hosts implements and manages security and compliance for the U.S. government and healthcare organizations. Project Hosts’ pre-audited environments offer turnkey solutions for achieving compliance, removing a key barrier to migration to the cloud. Project Hosts cloud environments hold certifications and authorizations from HITRUST, FedRAMP, StateRAMP and the DoD.
Contact Project Hosts, Inc. Erez Avidan Antonir 877-659-6055 projecthosts.com
Tokushukai Medical Group’s Shonan Kamakura General Hospital (SKGH) and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) are pleased to announce the commencement of a pilot project in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, the aim of which is to demonstrate the feasibility of lifelog-based* “health promotion and monitoring” services. The project began monitoring expecting and nursing mothers being treated at SKGH in late April 2023 and local Rotary Club members in late May 2023. It is being conducted jointly by SKGHand MC, in collaboration with a number of other entities, including NTT DATA Corporation (NTT DATA), Link & Communication Inc. (L&C), and Peace Tec Lab, Inc. (Peace Tec Lab).
The trials are being run primarily in the Muraoka-Fukasawa District, which spans the cities of Fujisawa and Kamakura. Considering that interests in this district have been engaged in discussions on urban development work that focuses on health-related innovations, this pilot project is a good fit. Its objectives are to help realize the shared vision of those interests to rebuild the district with advanced services and accelerate next-generation, health-monitoring capabilities that make effective use of personal health records.
*Digitized personal records of daily life and activities
1. Project Background
In May 2019, SKGH, Shonan Health Innovation Park (Shonan iPark), and the governments of Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujisawa City and Kamakura City signed a memorandum of understanding to promote advanced, health-related innovations in the Muraoka-Fukasawa District, their joint objective being to develop the district into a center for cutting-edge health innovation. Up until recently, MC had been serving as an advisor, but it has now become more directly engaged in the initiative through this pilot project with SKGH.
2. Project Summary
(1) Health Monitoring Trials for Expecting and Nursing Mothers Together, SKGHand MC have equipped the hospital’s expecting and nursing mothers with wearable devices that record lifelog data (amount of exercise, quality of sleep, etc.). The hospital’s staff have been monitoring those data with the “Health Data Bank,” a health-management system developed by NTT DATA. The mothers have also been receiving advice via “Calomama Plus,” an AI-driven health app developed by L&C, regarding in-hospital prenatal and postnatal consultations, advanced postnatal home care, and so on. Furthermore, the mothers are being encouraged to take advantage of the subscription-based, “Alice Style Prime” product-sharing platform developed by Peace Tec Labs. The platform can facilitate postnatal care tailored to varying lifestyles by offering rentals of a wide range of products, including home electronics, fitness equipment, and childcare goods that are typically only used for a short time.
By creating a stress-free environment for expecting and nursing mothers to both deliver and raise their children, this project aims to address Japan’s aging society by promoting the growth of a younger population. It is also invested in the development of appealing services that meet the Muraoka-Fukasawa District’s new needs in urban development.
(2) Resident Health Improvement Trials This project also includes trials aimed at making the district’s residents more aware of their own health and verifying the feasibility of establishing lifelog-based services in the newly developed communities. Wearable devices have also been distributed to local Rotary Club members, whose daily lifelog data is being used in conjunction with a program on the Calomama Plus app that is designed to promote good health through proper exercise, sleep and nutrition. Residents are being encouraged to use both the program and other value-added services that were derived from it.
About Shonan Kamakura General Hospital (URL: www.skgh.jp)
Shonan Kamakura General Hospital opened in November 1988 with 368 beds. Dedicated to always meeting the region’s urgent medical needs, SKGHhas continued to diversify and grow its systems and capabilities. In 2021, it completed construction of a new cutting-edge medical center designed to treat those in need of advanced care, including proton therapy, PET and CT scans, regenerative medicine and so on. This year, SKGHcompleted construction of two more centers, one to provide emergency and critical care, and the other to treat victims of trauma. The hospital has now grown its general capacity to 669 beds.
About Mitsubishi Corporation (URL: www.mitsubishicorp.com)
MC works with its roughly 1,700 subsidiaries, affiliates and group companies to develop businesses all over the world. Spanning multiple industries and regions, these businesses are overseen by MC’s Industry Digital Transformation Group, Next-Generation Energy Business Group and 10 other industry-specific business groups: Natural Gas, Industrial Materials, Petroleum & Chemicals, Mineral Resources, Industrial Infrastructure, Automotive & Mobility, Food Industry, Consumer Industry, Power Solution, and Urban Development. Over the decades, MC’s operations have expanded from trading to include development, production, manufacturing and other activities, which it engages in together with its partners worldwide.
About NTT DATA Corporation (URL: www.nttdata.com)
NTT DATA is an IT services provider that is active in more than 50 countries. Its mission is work with its customers in leveraging information technology to reform businesses and solve societal problems, thereby contributing to a more affluent and harmonious future. The company’s services span everything from consulting to systems development and operations.
About Link & Communication Inc. (URL: www.linkncom.co.jp/)
Link & Communication is a healthtech company dedicated to the development of specialist-based health-support systems. To fulfill its mission to make our world a healthier place, it relies on its network of ICT professionals and healthcare specialists, which includes more than 10,000 nutritionists and registered dieticians across Japan. As a leader in the fields of food, health and nutrition, the company provides its customers with food and other general health-related advice and information.
About Peace Tec Lab, Inc. (URL: https://peaceteclab.co.jp/)
Based on its corporate philosophy to help create equal-opportunity societies by promoting the lending and borrowing of goods, Peace Tec Lab is engaged in a variety of businesses, including new product developments and work to strengthen business connections through its Alice Style product-sharing platform. In its aim to address physical-property-related societal challenges, the company is also involved in the building of SDG-compliant social infrastructure.
*The product, company and entity names mentioned in this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Inquiries:
Shonan Kamakura General Hospital Mail: kouhou@shonankamakura.or.jp
Mitsubishi Corporation Tel: 03-3210-2171
Link & Communication Inc. Mail pr@linkncom.co.jp
Peace Tec Lab, Inc. Tel: 090-9009-2448 / 080-3318-0550 Mail: pr@alice.style
Homelessness in America has reached horrendous volumes recently across the nation. Project PRC Corporation, a nonprofit organization focused on developing apartment communities, student housing, low to moderate income housing, and workforce housing, has announced the launch of a new fundraising campaign to help fight homelessness across America. The goal of the campaign is to raise $3,000,000 in tax-deductible donations to help 1,000 families this year with housing, food, educational programs, and hope.
“We’re excited to launch this new fundraising campaign to help address the housing crisis and provide assistance to those in need,” said Charles Williams, Chairman of The Board for Project PRC Corporation. “Our team is dedicated to creating new homes for Americans and helping communities grow and prosper. With the support of generous donors, we can make a significant impact on the lives of families across the country.”
The new campaign will provide donors with an opportunity to make an annual tax-deductible donation to support Project PRC Corporation’s mission. Donors can contribute to the campaign by visiting the organization’s website or mailing a check to Project PRC Corporation at projectprc.org/donate.
In addition to supporting the campaign financially, individuals can also help by sharing the news of the campaign with their friends and family on social media. By spreading the word, more people can learn about the organization’s mission and make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Project PRC Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. The organization has partnered with local and national organizations to help provide housing and support to families in need.
For more information about Project PRC Corporation and the new fundraising campaign, please visit projectprc.org.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (March 14) approved the first project under the Subsidy Scheme for Using Hotels and Guesthouses as Youth Hostels from the Hong Kong United Youth Association (HKUYA).
To help further meet the housing needs of young people and assist with their development, the Chief Executive announced in the 2022 Policy Address that the Government will explore ways to increase the supply of youth hostels, including subsidising non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels, with the target of providing about 3 000 additional hostel places within five years. To this end, the HYAB launched the Subsidy Scheme in early January 2023 to subsidise NGOs to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels.
The youth hostel under the first project approved under the Subsidy Scheme encompasses an entire hotel on Morrison Hill Road, Causeway Bay, with a total of 97 rooms, providing up to 194 hostel places. The project is launched by the HKUYA in collaboration with the Gale Well Group. The HKUYA will operate the youth hostel under the name of “BeLIVING Youth Hub”. One of the characteristics of the project is that it will provide a platform for young people to participate in social outreach activities by making good use of the talents and enthusiasm of the youth tenants, and establishing their sense of belonging to the community. It will also provide youth tenants with support and value-added services in respect of career planning, entrepreneurship and realising their dreams through the HKUYA’s membership network. Details about the project and the means of application can be found on the HKUYA’s website (www.belivingyouthhub.com/).
A spokesperson of the HYAB said, “In about two months since the Subsidy Scheme was opened for application in early January 2023, we have now approved the first project. This shows that the Scheme is supported by relevant stakeholders. In spite of the resumption of normal travel and the start of the travel industry’s recovery, there are still hotel operators which participate in the Scheme and collaborate with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in pursuing youth development. The HYAB will continue to collaborate with NGOs and relevant stakeholders who share our vision in inspiring our youths and brightening our future.”
Details about the Subsidy Scheme, including the guidelines for application and the application forms, have been uploaded onto the HYAB’s website (www.hyab.gov.hk/en/policy_responsibilities/Social_Harmony_and_Civic_Education/youth_hostel_scheme.htm). Relevant organisations can submit their applications to the HYAB by post, email or other means.