Innovation

At Design Shanghai 2025, ASKO, a century-old appliance brand, will unveil its latest collection, emphasizing the blend of technology and aesthetics. The “Breathing with Nature” themed exhibition, inspired by Scandinavian design, showcases sustainable practices and innovative solutions. The display includes an art installation by Chen Min, and forums exploring sustainable living. ASKO’s commitment to environmentally friendly design, evident in its dishwashers and washing machines, will be highlighted along with its accolades, including the Red Dot Design Award.

A young Chinese student sparked a viral sensation by using a printed QR code to pay for street food, demonstrating ingenuity in circumventing digital wallets. This highlights how digital payment methods, particularly QR codes, are integrated into daily life in China. QR codes’ efficiency and cost-effectiveness have revolutionized sectors like food service and tourism, streamlining transactions and improving consumer experiences.

The Linux Foundation and Meta highlight open-source AI’s (OSAI) pivotal role in driving innovation and enterprise adoption, with 94% of surveyed organizations using AI tools—89% leveraging open-source solutions. Cost efficiency fuels adoption: two-thirds of enterprises report lower deployment expenses versus proprietary systems, while omitting OSAI could triple corporate costs. OSAI enables over 50% operational cost reductions and sector-specific gains, including $290B in manufacturing and $260B in healthcare. Meta’s PyTorch exemplifies decentralized innovation, shifting governance to a nonprofit model and spurring external collaboration. The study projects 20% wage premiums for AI-skilled workers, positioning OSAI as critical infrastructure for economic resilience and competitive diversity across industries.

Innovent Biologics released its 2024 ESG Report outlining a five-pillar strategy—Excellent Governance, Advancing Public Health, Uncompromising Quality, Empowering Talent, and Sustainable Ecology. Achieving an MSCI AAA ESG rating (the only Chinese biotech recipient), it aligned with UN SDGs, expanded board diversity, and distributed RMB 3.6 billion in medicines to 200,000+ patients. The company maintained 100% GMP compliance, reduced energy use by 29%, saved 51,100 tons of water annually, and achieved 96.8% employee retention with 44.2% women in management roles. Its pipeline includes 13 orphan drugs and three New Drug Applications under review, underscoring its dual focus on innovation and sustainability.