Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has agreed with Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic HD) to make Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) a wholly owned subsidiary in order to strengthen its capabilities in mass-producing automotive batteries. The acquisition is scheduled to take place in late March.
Among Toyota-affiliated companies, currently PEVE, Toyota Industries Corporation, and Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc. (ownership: Toyota 51%, Panasonic HD 49%) mass produce batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), with the latter also making batteries for battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Toyota will continue collaborating with these companies in battery mass production and development.
In addition to HEV batteries, PEVE plans to begin producing batteries for BEVs and PHEVs. The company’s shift into mass-producing a wide variety of electric vehicle batteries will enable Toyota to respond flexibly to growing battery demand, while also helping to further boost mass-production competitiveness.
More competitive batteries will enhance the appeal of Toyota’s electric vehicle offerings and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality through a multi-pathway approach.
NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) has developed a technology that strengthens the security of supply chains by detecting vulnerabilities in software from the binary code(1) of executable files, without the need for source code. This technology automates part of the static analysis of software for which source code is not available, which previously had to be done by experts, thereby reducing the time for static analysis by 40%.
Background
In recent years, supply chains in all industries have been expanding and becoming more complex due to digital transformation (DX) and globalization. Under these circumstances, there is a growing concern about cyberattacks targeting vulnerabilities and malicious functions being introduced in the supply chain, which has made ensuring the safety of software throughout the supply chain an urgent issue. In particular, government agencies and critical infrastructure providers are required to take measures to prevent backdoors and other malicious functions from being introduced into their products and systems when procuring and installing products and systems in accordance with revised laws and regulations.This newly developed technology will enhance NEC’s risk hunting service(2) in which security specialists (*3) conduct security risk assessments of a customer’s software and systems while considering the impact on their business.
Technology overview
While general techniques for static analysis of software target source code, this technique performs static analysis on binary code, which is the executable form of software. In particular, it tracks which processes within the software use external data and detects suspicious implementations that may be backdoors capable of influencing the control of sensitive processes such as command execution.
Processing of this technology
Features of the technology
1. Software without source code can be inspected
In the past, source code was not available for some software, and in such cases, the means to check the safety of software were limited, such as manual inspections by experts. Since this technology can inspect binary code, it is possible to inspect the safety of software for which source code is not available.
2. Addresses concerns about build environment (*4) pollution
In the past, it was difficult to detect vulnerabilities and malicious functions introduced during the build process, even when source code was available, such as for in-house developed software. Since this technology inspects the binary code after it is built, it is possible to inspect for safety, including problems caused by the build environment.
3. Enables uniformity of inspection quality
In the past, it was difficult to inspect software, especially in binary format, and inspection quality tended to vary depending on the skill of the inspector. This technology automates part of the inspection process, thus reducing the need for human resources and ensuring a certain level of inspection quality. It also makes it possible to explain the safety of the company’s systems to third parties, such as regulatory authorities and shareholders, with evidence. Furthermore, the automation of part of the inspection is expected to reduce the time required for static analysis by 40%.NEC aims to apply this technology to risk hunting services by the end of FY2024. This will enhance safety inspections of software procured and delivered in the supply chain, contributing to the construction of safer and more secure systems and the strengthening of supply chain security.
(1) Data expressed only in binary numbers of 0s and 1s so that computers can process it directly. (2) Risk Hunting Service (Japanese text only)https://jpn.nec.com/cybersecurity/service/professional/risk_hunting/index.html (3) Security specialists (Japanese text only)https://jpn.nec.com/cybersecurity/advantage/specialist/profile2-2.html (4) An environment that converts source code written in a programming language and generates an executable file written in binary code.Share
About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.
To strengthen the promotion of urban sports that have been introduced in the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games, as well as to encourage public participation in sports activities, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will organise more urban sports programmes including 3-on-3 basketball, sport climbing, breaking, skateboarding and futsal across Hong Kong this year. Interested members of the public are welcome to join.
With a view to bolstering the participation of youth, the LCSD will launch a series of free promotional fun days with specific urban sports themes which are suitable for youths, such as Skateboarding Fun Day for Youth, Breaking Fun Day for Youth and 3-on-3 Basketball Fun Day for Youth. Relevant national sports associations will send qualified instructors to demonstrate the sports and teach participants basic skills on-site. Participants can also join a play-in session to experience the fun of urban sports and explore their sport potential.
For details of the urban sports programmes and the enrolment method, members of the public can visit the LCSD dedicated website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/USP/index.html), or make enquiries at any District Leisure Services Offices of the LCSD or recreation and sports venues with Leisure Link Services.
Singapore-headquartered regional law firm RHTLaw Asia has appointed Mr Yeong Wai Cheong as partner in the firm’s Real Estate practice.
Mr Yeong Wai Cheong, Partner at RHTLaw Asia and Mr Azman Jaafar, Managing Partner at RHTLaw Asia [L-R]
Wai Cheong brings extensive experience in real estate, banking and finance, representing Singapore-listed companies and banks, purchasers and vendors, developers, landlords and tenants across a range of domestic and cross-border financing and real estate matters.
He has been consistently ranked as a “Recommended Lawyer” for Real Estate in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific for seven consecutive years. Dual-qualified in Singapore and Hong Kong, Wai Cheong has represented parties for the sale and purchase and financing of industrial, commercial and residential properties in Singapore and Hong Kong.
In addition to his prior stint at RHTLaw Asia, Wai Cheong was also previously the General Counsel for Asia for an European bank and the Head of Legal for Singapore for two European banks.
RHTLaw Asia Managing Partner, Mr Azman Jaafar, said, “Real Estate will continue to be an important sector for us given Singapore’s position as a global financial centre. We will continue to strengthen our practice with the addition of new talent to support our clients. Mr Yeong is a welcome addition to our team as we roll out our new ONERHT Client UX strategy together with our core multidisciplinary capabilities.”
About RHTLaw Asia LLP
RHTLaw Asia LLP is a leading regional law firm headquartered in Singapore with a network of offices in 15 jurisdictions in Asia, Oceania, Middle East and Africa under the ASEAN Plus Group (APG) comprising over 2,000 lawyers. We help clients understand the local challenges, navigate the regional complexity to deliver the competitive advantage for their businesses in Asia. We are also the Singapore member of the Interlex Group, a global network of leading law firms.
RHTLaw Asia collaborates with ONERHT, an integrated network of multidisciplinary professional services, through entities which are not affiliates, branches, or subsidiaries of RHTLaw Asia LLP. For more details, please visit www.rhtlawasia.com
For Mr Yeong Wai Cheong’s profile, please visit: https://www.rhtlawasia.com/people/yeong-wai-cheong/
About ONERHT
ONERHT is an integrated multidisciplinary platform of professional and specialist services. Since 2011, RHTLaw Asia’s founding team has developed a second engine of growth through ONERHT, an independent ecosystem of professional and specialist services, and networks, complementing RHTLaw’s full service legal offerings. For more details, please visit www.onerht.com
For media queries, please contact: Elliot Siow / elliot.siow@rhtgoc.com / +65 8375 0417
Thailand’s leading life-style real estate developer AssetWise PCL (ASW) has strengthened its partnership with Japanese real estate giant Takara Leben to launch a BHT 1.35 billion condominium in Bangkok’s Minburi neighbourhood. Atmoz Flow Minburi represents the third joint venture project in a two-year time frame between the two companies in a move that serves to underscore the viability they see in the ideally located development. Atmoz Flow Minburi is situated near the Pink Line MRT mass transit system and is easily accessible by the Minburi Market Station. It forms the first phase of the ASW’s WISEPARK community development that caters to life-styles of all generations and at same time reflects the company’s ‘We Build Happiness’ philosophy. Atmoz Flow Minburi is expected to be up and running in the fourth quarter of this year and starting to recognise revenue by then.
According to ASW Chief Executive Officer Kromchet Vipanpong, ASW holds a 51% share in Atmoz Flow Minburi venture with Takara Leben taking a 49% share. It follows on the heels of two earlier condominium projects collaborations between the Thai and Japanese firms – Atmoz Tropicana Bangna and Kave Seed Kaset Campus near Kasetsart University.
Takara Leben’s extended partnership with ASW this time around speaks volumes about their confidence in ASW and the potential of the Atmoz Flow Minburi on the location which is poised to become a new central business district with a centre of employment in the eastern Bangkok area.”The three ASW-Takara Leben joint venture projects are worth more than five billion baht and both sides are likely to take their partnership into future projects,” Kromchet said.
Atmoz Flow Minburi consists of 8-storey, 3 buildings with 739 units in total and is only 300 metres away from the Min Buri Market Station of the Pink Line MRT which is expected to be officially operational within this year.
Atmoz Flow Minburi comes with a complete common facility to meet the life-styles of residents of all generations for living together perfectly. It is the first project that embraces the ‘All Gen’ concept of room design that answers to the living needs of all ages. In addition, Atmoz Flow Minburi is also the first phase of WISEPARK’s development on a large plot of land that will evolve into a larger community.
Kazuichi Shimada, CEO of Takara Leben, said the company is looking for joint venture opportunities in real estate developments in Thailand, stemming from the experience of being a partner with ASW. “We have strong confidence in ASW whose management has committed to running good business while sharing the same business philosophy as ours, meaning adopting the design for living happily.”
Furthermore, the location of Atmoz Flow Minburi close to the Pink Line, and being surrounded by sources of employment and facilities such as industrial estates and hospitals constitute compelling reasons for Takara Leben to partner with ASW again.
Takara Leben (3492.T) is listed on the Japanese Stock Exchange and has engaged in more than 500 property development projects under the brands of The Leben, Nebel and Leben Platz. The company also has power plant and hotel businesses in Japan and expands investment in real estate to the ASEAN region such as Thailand and Vietnam.
ASW has developed more than 47 condominium and housing projects with all-encompassing life-styles under the brands of KAVE, ATMOZ, MODIZ, ESTA, and THE HONOR worth over BHT 49.9 billion with value of backlog stands at more than BHT 11.4 billion.
