Category: 3. Business

Samsung recognised for AI leadership and accelerating adoption

 

Samsung Electronics today announced it has been recognised by Interbrand, a global brand consultancy, as the 5th-ranked global brand for the sixth year in a row. Interbrand releases its list of “Best Global Brands” each year. For this year’s list, Samsung recorded a brand value of $90.5 billion, upholding its position as the only Asian company to remain in the global top five since 2020.

 

According to Interbrand, Samsung Electronics’ evaluation was positively influenced by:

 

• Strengthened AI competitiveness across the company’s business divisions
• Enhanced customer experiences through unified integration across products
• Focused investment in AI-related semiconductors
• Execution of a customer-centric brand strategy

 

“Through AI innovation and open collaboration, Samsung has worked to ensure that more customers can experience AI in their daily lives,” said Won-Jin Lee, President and Head of Global Marketing Office at Samsung Electronics. “Moving forward, we will continue to focus on benefits for customers including in health and safety so that Samsung can grow into an even more beloved brand.”

 

Under the vision of “Innovation for All,” Samsung consistently strives to make AI accessible to more customers worldwide.

 

This year, Samsung reinforced its leadership in mobile AI with the continued advancement of Galaxy AI, aiming to make it available on 400 million devices within the year driving the democratisation of AI. In Consumer Electronics (CE), Samsung has expanded AI competitiveness by introducing AI technologies tailored to each product category, such as Vision AI and Bespoke AI.

 

Through open collaboration with diverse partners, Samsung has enhanced personalised AI experiences for customers, while also providing industry-leading security with Samsung Knox.

 

In semiconductors, Samsung has been addressing the growing demand for AI with a comprehensive portfolio across cloud, on-device, and physical AI. This includes actively responding with advanced products including HBM, high-capacity DDR5, LPDDR5X and GDDR7.

 

Beyond AI, Samsung continues to enhance the accessibility of its products and services and drive sustainable innovation across all business divisions. This includes energy savings through energy-efficient appliances connected via SmartThings.

 

Samsung’s Recognised Efforts in Each Business Division

 

Mobile

• Leading the mobile AI era and driving the popularisation of AI with Galaxy AI
• Strengthening foldable category leadership with the launch of Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7
• Enhancing customer trust through strengthened privacy and security technologies
• Expanding health services through advanced wearables, Samsung Health enhancements, and open collaboration

 

Networks

• Reinforcing leadership in AI-powered virtualized Radio Access Networks (vRAN) and Open RAN
• Consistently innovating technologies to support various 5G use cases, including high quality streaming and gaming

• Leading the technical standardisation of 6G

• Enhancing partnerships with customer companies and communicating the sustainability aspects of Samsung’s network technology

 

Visual Display

• Solidifying global leadership in TVs, soundbars, and gaming monitors
• Innovating viewing with rich AI features based on Vision AI
• Enhancing The Frame and Art Store services to deliver personalised art TV experiences
• Expanding content offerings through partnerships in TV Plus, entertainment, gaming, and music

 

Digital Appliances

• Maintaining global leadership in categories such as refrigerators and washing machines through consistent product innovation and advanced AI capabilities
• Providing differentiated convenience and advanced AI experiences through SmartThings integration
• Expanding Bespoke AI appliance leadership across energy efficiency, usability, performance, and design

 

Semiconductor

• Operating a diverse portfolio across cloud, on-device, and physical AI applications
• Maintaining leadership in mobile and automotive semiconductors, including DDR, SSD, LPDDR, UFS, and Auto SSD
• Continuing development and investment in innovative solutions like CMM-D and HBM
• Sharing vision and industry leadership through influential tech events

 

Interbrand’s Best Global Brands are ranked based on brand value evaluation, which involves a comprehensive analysis of the company’s financial performance and outlook, the influence of the brand on customer purchases, and brand competitiveness (including strategy, empathy, differentiation, customer engagement, consistency, trust, and more). The ranking is one of the world’s longest-standing brand value evaluations, widely recognised for its credibility.

For many companies, relocating pharmaceutical production capacities back to Europe is becoming a key strategic success factor. Saltigo, LANXESS`s exclusive synthesis subsidiary, helps pharmaceutical manufacturers strengthen their supply chains, meet regulatory requirements, and achieve sustainability goals in production. At CPHI Frankfurt 2025 (October 28-30 at the Messe Frankfurt), Saltigo will present solutions that will enable pharmaceutical companies to strengthen their supply chains through targeted reshoring, minimize regulatory risks, and produce more sustainably.

Industry in transition: Return to Regional Value Chains

The European pharmaceutical industry is facing growing dependencies on Asia. China and India dominate the market for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API`s) and many of their precursors. This market concentration poses significant supply risks, particularly in the event of geopolitical tensions, export restrictions, or disruptions to global supply chains. To increase supply and production security, the European Union has launched several initiatives in recent years. These include the Critical Medicines Alliance, established in 2024, and the Strategic Report on Medicines Supply, released in February 2025. These initiatives aim to bolster the European production of critical medicines and their precursors, securing Europe`s long-term strategic independence in the pharmaceutical sector.

New platforms, such as the European Shortage Monitoring Platform (ESMP), and guidelines for preventing bottlenecks enable the EU to establish more resilient supply chain structures. For the industry, diversifying manufacturing locations is becoming a strategic priority, especially for regulatory starting materials (RSM`s) and complex intermediates, which often cause bottlenecks in the value chain.

Saltigo as a pioneer for resilient supply chains

Saltigo positions itself as a reliable partner for customized chemical syntheses and scalable production solutions in Europe. With sites in Leverkusen and Dormagen, Saltigo offers manufacturing in multipurpose facilities that combine the highest regulatory standards, short delivery routes, strict IP protection, and flexible capacities. Global raw material sourcing within the Group complements this setup of Western supply chains, ensuring more stable processes, lower costs, and shorter time-to-market.

Speed and scalability are decisive advantages. Saltigo can assess new projects technically within a few days and provide initial price estimates. This alleviates short-term bottlenecks in API production.

Saltigo`s technological spectrum includes advanced processes such as olefin metathesis, high-pressure hydrogenation, fluorine and phosgene chemistry, and continuous processes (flow chemistry). Close integration of process development, piloting, and commercial manufacturing enables efficient project transfer from laboratory to large-scale production.

Sustainability as a distinguishing feature

In addition to technological expertise, Saltigo is committed to transparency in its product carbon footprint (PCF). PCF data is available for many products, and the company develops net-zero routes for CO₂-neutral production upon request. In this way, Saltigo contributes to the climate goals of the pharmaceutical industry and strengthens the competitiveness of European supply chains.

Meeting place CPHI Frankfurt

At CPHI 2025, Saltigo invites employees of pharmaceutical companies and CDMO to learn about the latest technologies and services and discuss individual projects. “We support our pharmaceutical industry partners when their plants reach capacity limits or when they want to focus on high-value API synthesis,” emphasizes Christoph Schaffrath, Saltigo`s Head of Marketing and Sales.

Interested visitors can find Saltigo at CPHI Frankfurt 2025 in Hall 4.1, Booth K27. Appointments with experts can be arranged in advance or during the trade fair.

Further information about the trade fair can be found at https://lanxess.com/en/company/corporate-structure/subsidiaries/saltigo/cphi.

The international law firm Baker McKenzie has advised Return on entering a partnership with BESSMART Energies GmbH. As part of the collaboration, Return is acquiring four battery storage sites in Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony. The facilities are located at strategically important 110-kV grid nodes and have a total capacity of 310 megawatts (MW) and 670 megawatt-hours (MWh). Commissioning is planned from 2027.

“With this transaction, we were able to successfully support our client legally thanks to our extensive expertise and many years of experience in advising battery storage projects. The transaction highlights the strong interest in high-capacity energy storage in Germany,” comments Holger Engelkamp, lead partner at Baker McKenzie.

Claire Dietz-Polte, also lead partner, adds: “Our team has been advising investors and developers in the battery storage sector since 2020. The flexibility provided by storage is essential for the expansion of renewable energy in Germany. The scale of projects continues to grow – this transaction also includes large-scale batteries.”

“Battery storage at this scale is essential for Europe’s energy transition,” said Willem-Jan Schutte, CEO of Return. “With these strategically located sites, we are strengthening grid stability and accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels. We appreciate Baker McKenzie’s support in helping us move this transaction forward.”

Return is a leading independent European energy storage provider, with full ownership and control of advanced BESS systems that delivers intelligent renewable integration and strengthens the grid. The new sites are part of the company’s pan-European growth strategy. With an active development portfolio of over 8 gigawatts (GW) and plans to deliver around 5 GW of capacity by 2030, Return continues to strengthen grid stability and reduce dependence on fossil fuels across key European markets.

BESSMART Energies GmbH, based in Berlin, is an independent developer of battery storage systems with extensive experience in infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.

Baker McKenzie’s Energy and Infrastructure practice regularly advises utilities, infrastructure funds, industrial companies, developers and banks on battery storage investments and project development. Baker McKenzie advices throughout the project life cycle, including land securing, planning and permitting, EPC,O&M and marketing agreements, as well as financing.

Legal adviser to Return:
Baker McKenzie

Lead:
Projects/Energy & Infrastructure: Dr. Claire Dietz-Polte (Partner, Berlin)
Corporate/Energy & Infrastructure: Holger Engelkamp (Partner, Berlin)

Team:
Projects/Energy & Infrastructure: Dr. Janet Butler (Counsel), Dr. Maximilian Voll (Counsel), Nico Ruepp (Associate, all Berlin)
Corporate/Energy & Infrastructure: Ben Boi Beetz (Senior Associate, Berlin)

SBC

Local Democracy Reporting Service

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US regulators have approved the launch of a bank backed by a group of high-profile tech billionaires with ties to Donald Trump’s administration, seeking to fill a gap left by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

The bank, Erebor, was founded this year by Palmer Luckey, co-founder of military contractor Anduril, and Joe Lonsdale, head of venture capital firm 8VC and a co-founder of data analytics firm Palantir. Its early backers also include Peter Thiel’s venture firm Founders Fund and Haun Ventures, a crypto-focused investor.

Like Anduril and Palantir, Erebor’s name is a reference to JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Erebor is the “lonely mountain” whose treasures are reclaimed from the dragon Smaug.

According to its banking charter application, Erebor’s target market will be businesses that are part of the US “innovation economy” — particularly tech companies focused on cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, defence and manufacturing. It will also serve individuals who work for, or invest in, these companies.

“We want to be a stable, low-risk, reliable bank doing normal banking things without screwing everyone over with undue risk,” said a person close to Erebor.

Erebor was granted “preliminary and conditional” approval by regulators on Wednesday, just four months after its application for a national bank charter in June — a sign of the Trump administration’s initiative to lower regulatory hurdles and encourage new banking entrants focused on digital assets and services. The administration has encouraged new entrants to the banking sector including from technology groups, prompting a number of fintechs and cryptocurrency companies to seek bank charters this year.

The bank must still meet a number of requirements including checks on its compliance and security systems before it can officially open, which is expected to take several more months.

Luckey and Lonsdale were big donors to Trump in the 2024 presidential election, while Thiel was a backer of vice-president JD Vance. A person close to Erebor said there had been “no special treatment” from the Trump administration in the approvals process, adding that Luckey “had not been asked, nor made a single call in this capacity” to his contacts in the government.

Erebor is backed by $275mn of capital, the bulk of which is regulatory capital held in an account and will not be used for its operations. So far, all of its operations have been funded by Luckey, according to a person close to the matter. Its founders plan to raise more funding in the future to accelerate its expansion.

Its head office will be in Columbus, Ohio, with an additional office in New York, but it will offer digital-only customer service, marketing all of its products and services via a smartphone app and website.

Erebor’s co-founders decided to launch a bank after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023. SVB had been the main bank for US tech start-ups and their venture capital backers.

Luckey’s start-up Anduril, which makes drones, sensors and other military technology, banked primarily with SVB prior to its collapse, according to a person close to the start-up.

Cryptocurrencies known as stablecoins, which are pegged to real-life assets such as the dollar, are expected to be a significant part of the bank’s operations. The Trump administration has also reversed a number of rules from the Biden administration limiting banks from stablecoin transactions.

Erebor “getting approval so fast is a reflection of its extremely conservative business plan”, the person close to the launch said. The person added that Erebor was not going to be a “wacky, techno crypto bank”.

It will be run by co-CEOs Jacob Hirshman, who previously worked as an adviser at crypto group Circle, and Owen Rapaport, co-founder and CEO of digital assets software company Aer Compliance. Mike Hagedorn, former senior executive vice-president at New Jersey-based Valley National Bank, will be the bank’s president. Luckey and Lonsdale are not expected to be involved in the day-to-day running of the bank.

After taking the software industry by storm, generative AI is now moving into a broad set of industries, including manufacturing, where it is helping manage unpredictability and support real-time decision-making. Gen AI’s ability to codify, automate, and distribute organizational expertise may eventually reshape work structures from the shop floor to the C-suite. Already some companies are using it to analyze the flood of information generated in factories and to predict problems, simulate complex scenarios, and optimize processes in real time. By working with a wide range of manufacturing industry data—from maintenance manuals and machine automation code to complex diagrams, 3D drawings, and process data—gen AI has the potential to establish new ways for people and machines to collaborate.

Government debt across the world is on course to hit 100% of global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2029, according to analysis by the International Monetary Fund, the highest level since the aftermath of the second world war.

In its Fiscal Monitor report, the IMF said aggregate government debt had risen more rapidly than expected before the Covid pandemic, when policymakers stepped into protect citizens and bail out hard-hit businesses.

It urged governments to switch spending to growth-friendly areas such as infrastructure and education to help bolster the world economy and make debts more sustainable.

A 100% global debt-to-GDP ratio would be the highest since 1948, when the world’s large economies had been devastated by six years of war and the costs of rebuilding their ravaged countries.

The report named the UK as among the G20 countries whose ratio would peak above 100% of GDP on the IMF’s definition in the coming years – alongside France, Japan, Canada, China and the US.

The IMF said there were still upward pressures on spending in many countries – alongside a reluctance to impose tax rises on sceptical voters.

“Looming expenditures on defence, natural disasters, disruptive technologies, demographics, and development add to public spending demands. All these pressures and demands come together with sharp political red lines against tax increases and diminished public awareness of fiscal limits,” it said.

The IMF argued that emerging economies in particular could struggle to manage their debt burdens – even with much lower debt-to-GDP ratios than their developing country peers.

“Many emerging markets and low-income countries face tougher fiscal challenges, despite their relatively low debt,” it said. The IMF added that as many as 55 countries were experiencing debt distress, or at high risk of distress, despite having debt-to-GDP ratios below 60%.

Campaigners have called for the IMF to play a greater role in tackling unsustainable debt, arguing that the current debt restructuring process, known as the Common Framework, is too slow and cumbersome, as well as hard to qualify for.

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For the UK, the IMF forecasted total public debt would peak at 105.9% of GDP in 2029, before declining slightly, to 105.4% in 2030. After the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, changed her fiscal rules last year, she now targets a different definition of debt.

At a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday, where policymakers have gathered for the IMF’s annual meetings, its deputy director for monetary and capital markets, Athanasios Vamvakidis, said Britain was in the sights of bond market investors.

“Clearly markets are concerned about the UK economy, and we have seen more volatility in the UK compared to other advanced economies,” he said.

Westpac is tightening conditions on its savings account for younger customers as growing numbers of banks make it harder to earn advertised interest rates on their deposits.

The bank has joined smaller competitors in changing interest-related restrictions on some accounts – despite the Reserve Bank of Australia leaving interest rates on hold in September.

Conditional accounts, such as Westpac’s Life account, help banks access customers’ money and finance their lending business at a discount, according to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission analysis, because two in three savers miss out on their headline interest rate.

In November, Westpac will quadruple the number of transactions required to achieve the full 5% rate for 18 to 29-year-olds with Life accounts, from five a month to 20.

Customers who fail to deposit and increase their balance each month already see their interest slashed to just 0.25%. Savers who meet those conditions but make fewer than 20 payments from a linked spending account will see their rate drop to 4.25%.

The changes push customers who spend and save with different institutions to move all their banking to Westpac, according to Andrew Grant, associate professor at the University of Sydney business school.

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“The only way you’re going to get [the 5% rate] without making a conscious, costly, time-consuming effort [to] achieve that goal is by just using it as your main bank,” Grant said.

Westpac holds about a fifth of all Australian households’ deposits and about a fifth of home loans.

Locking in younger customers would deliver Westpac more future home loan business, while deterring savers from shopping around for better rates at other banks, reducing competition, Grant said.

Some customers, deterred by the difficulty of reorganising their finances, told Guardian Australian they planned to focus their spending on the bank.

“I could change my savings setup so I don’t use this Westpac account that has that condition, but I think it’s more likely I’d have to just be very vigilant,” one 21-year-old student, who did not wish to be identified, said.

The changes will also broaden account eligibility to include 18 to 34-year-olds. A Westpac spokesperson said the changes would ensure those who chose to spend and save with the bank were rewarded.

Restrictive conditions have become more common in Australia over the past 20 years and now apply to more than half of the savings options in online database Finder.

While Westpac is the only bank requiring 20 transactions, nine other banks now require savers to spend each month to get their full interest, according to the financial comparison site Mozo.

Bar chart showing how banks have slashed the base interest for savings

Over the past decade, banks have reduced the base interest component on conditional accounts while making their no-strings alternatives less attractive. While bonus accounts in September offered annual interest of 4.05%, as they did in 2013, regular accounts offered just 1.3%, compared to 2.35% in 2013, RBA data shows.

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Strings attached

Some banks have added requirements to accounts that once had no strings, such as ANZ’s Plus account and Ubank, NAB’s youth brand, which has regularly changed the conditions on its savings account.

From October, Ubank customers will receive no interest unless they deposit more than they withdraw each month. Customers had previously only been required to deposit $500, which they could withdraw as they wished.

Interest tiers have also been simplified to apply to balances up to $1m. The Ubank chief product officer, Andrew Morrison, said the changes made accounts easier to use and responded to customers’ desires to grow their savings.

Others have tightened existing restrictions, with AMP and Unity upping the amounts by which customers must grow their accounts in 2025, according to Canstar analysis.

Up, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s youth brand, began requiring that customers avoid withdrawing money or face slashed interest as part of a package of changes in September. The bank’s chief executive, Xavier Shay, said the changes were in response to customer demands.

Stricter requirements make it more costly for customers to access their money, according to Andrew Hingston, lecturer in personal finance at the University of New South Wales.

“Even withdrawing a small amount, like $200 to pay a bill … you’re forgoing quite a bit of interest to do that,” Hingston said.

“Not having a requirement to grow, that was a lot more flexible, a much better system.”