Day: October 4, 2022

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IA et villes : ONU-Habitat et Mila lancent un livre blanc collaboratif sur l’utilisation et les enjeux potentiels de l’IA pour soutenir le développement de villes et d’établissements durables et humains

TORONTO, le 4 oct. 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ONU-Habitat, le programme des Nations Unies chargé de promouvoir l’urbanisation durable dans plus de 90 pays, et Mila, le plus important centre de recherche universitaire en apprentissage profond au monde, annoncent le lancement de leur livre blanc collaboratif. Ce document présente des observations et des recommandations sur la façon dont les systèmes d’intelligence artificielle (IA) pourraient être exploités pour soutenir le développement de villes et d’établissements humains durables sur les plans social et écologique.

Mila & UN-Habitat logo (CNW Group/Mila - Quebec AI Institute)

Conçu pour soutenir à la fois les gestionnaires et les praticiens en urbanisme, le livre blanc, qui s’inscrit dans la stratégie d’ONU-Habitat visant à promouvoir une démarche de transformation numérique axée sur les personnes, présente la valeur ajoutée et les défis actuels de l’IA dans les villes. Il fournit aussi un ensemble de recommandations pratiques pour améliorer la façon dont l’IA est utilisée afin de favoriser des villes durables et des collectivités inclusives.

Le document couvre les applications urbaines de l’IA dans un large éventail de secteurs (énergie, mobilité, sécurité publique, soins de santé, etc.) et aborde des thèmes importants, notamment les inconvénients et les risques de l’IA, des approches spécifiques et l’utilisation de l’IA urbaine en gouvernance urbaine.

Le livre blanc sera dévoilé à l’occasion d’un panel qui se tiendra au Urban Economy Forum 2022 à Toronto.

« L’intelligence artificielle, comme toute autre technologie, peut être une force qui accentue ou réduit les écarts sociaux; tout dépend de comment elle est utilisée. Nous avons la responsabilité collective d’utiliser et d’intégrer adéquatement les solutions d’IA en veillant à ce qu’il n’y ait pas de conséquences imprévues », déclare Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Directrice exécutive du Programme des Nations Unies pour les établissements humains d’ONU-Habitat.

L’objectif du livre blanc est de fournir aux autorités locales des conseils utiles pour évaluer les avantages et les inconvénients de l’IA afin de favoriser des collectivités locales durables. Les autorités locales prennent régulièrement des décisions au sujet de l’IA qui ont une incidence sur la vie des gens. Elles ont donc besoin d’outils pour évaluer où et à qui l’IA apporte une valeur ajoutée, et déterminer si son utilisation est appropriée dans un contexte donné. Le document sert de base de connaissances pour guider la prise de décisions en ce qui concerne l’engagement positif et l’utilisation de l’IA dans une optique de villes et d’établissements humains durables, intelligents et centrés sur les personnes.

« Comme toute autre occasion de transformation, l’intégration de l’IA dans les environnements urbains comporte des défis et des risques qui doivent être pris en compte et traités avec sérieux pour que l’IA puisse améliorer les sociétés », déclare Valérie Pisano, présidente et chef de la direction de Mila. « Ce livre blanc pourrait être un outil très utile pour les autorités locales qui, comme ONU-Habitat et Mila, se consacrent au développement responsable de l’IA. »

Visitez le site https://unhabitat.org/ pour accéder au livre blanc complet.

Principaux auteurs du livre blanc :

  • Jean-Louis Denis, professeur titulaire (UdeM)
  • Golnoosh Farnadi, professeure adjointe (HEC Montréal), membre académique principale (Mila), titulaire d’une chaire en intelligence artificielle Canada-CIFAR
  • Shaz Jameson, doctorante (Tilburg Institute of Law and Technology, UdeM, Mila)
  • Shin Koseki, professeur adjoint (UdeM), directeur (chaire UNESCO en paysage urbain)
  • Catherine Régis, professeure titulaire (UdeM), membre académique associée (Mila)
  • David Rolnick, professeur adjoint (Université McGill), membre académique principal (Mila), titulaire d’une chaire en intelligence artificielle Canada-CIFAR

Renseignements sur le lancement : 

  • Événement : panel sur le lancement du rapport intitulé « AI and Cities: Risks Applications and Governance » d’ONU-Habitat et de Mila à la quatrième édition du Urban Economy Forum (UEF4 ) on Sustainable Urban Finance. La séance d’ouverture qui aura lieu le lundi 3 octobre à 9 h (HAE) donnera le coup d’envoi de la quatrième édition du Urban Economy Forum (UEF4 ) on Sustainable Urban Finance.
  • Lieu : Toronto, Canada, au World Urban Pavilion (WUP) dans le quartier Regent Park et en ligne. Lien pour l’inscription gratuite : https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uef4-tickets-344374632797?discount=COMPLIMENTARY100
  • Heure du lancement : Le mardi 4 octobre 2022 à 16 h 45 (HAE)
  • Conférenciers :
    • Anna Jahn (modératrice), directrice, Politiques publiques et éducation, IA pour l’humanité (Mila)
    • Golnoosh Farnadi, professeure adjointe (HEC Montréal), membre académique principale (Mila), titulaire d’une chaire en intelligence artificielle Canada-CIFAR
    • Shaz Jameson, doctorante (Tilburg Institute of Law and Technology, UdeM, Mila)
    • Davild Rolnick, professeur adjoint (Université McGill), membre académique principal (Mila), titulaire d’une chaire en intelligence artificielle Canada-CIFAR
  • Renseignements sur le forum : https://www.ueforum.org/uef4
Au sujet d’ONU-Habitat 

ONU-Habitat est le programme des Nations Unies œuvrant à un meilleur avenir urbain. Sa mission est de promouvoir le développement durable des établissements humains sur le plan social et environnemental ainsi que l’accès à un logement décent pour tous. Le programme œuvre dans plus de 90 pays afin de favoriser des changements transformateurs dans les villes et les établissements humains par le biais de connaissances, de conseils politiques, d’assistance technique et de mesures collaboratives. Il travaille avec des partenaires pour bâtir des collectivités et des villes inclusives, sécuritaires, résilientes et durables tout en faisant la promotion de l’urbanisation comme une force transformatrice positive pour les personnes et les collectivités en vue de diminuer les inégalités, la discrimination et la pauvreté. Renseignements supplémentaires sur le programme : ONU-Habitat – Pour un meilleur avenir urbain | ONU-Habitat (unhabitat.org)

À propos de Mila

Fondé en 1993 par le professeur Yoshua Bengio de l’Université de Montréal, Mila est un institut de recherche en intelligence artificielle qui rassemble aujourd’hui plus de 1000 chercheurs spécialisés en apprentissage automatique. Basé à Montréal, Mila a pour mission d’être un pôle mondial d’avancées scientifiques qui inspire l’innovation et l’essor de l’IA au bénéfice de tous. Mila est une organisation à but non lucratif reconnue mondialement pour ses importantes contributions au domaine de l’apprentissage profond, en particulier dans les domaines de la modélisation du langage, de la traduction automatique, de la reconnaissance d’objets et des modèles générateurs.

Ekaterina Bezgachina (ONU-Habitat), ekaterina.bezgachina@un.org; Eric Aach (Cabinet de relations publiques NATIONAL pour Mila), eaach@national.ca

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1913491/Mila___Quebec_AI_Institute_AI_and_Cities__UN_Habitat_and_Mila_la.jpg

 

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Moore Nanotechnology Systems Opens Global Training and Process Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina

SWANZEY, N.H., Oct. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Moore Nanotechnology Systems (“Nanotech”), a leading global supplier of ultra-precision machining systems, announces the grand opening of their Global Training and Process Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mark Boomgarden, President and CEO of Nanotech shared, “Nanotech is very excited to announce the grand opening of our Global Training and Process Development Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although the initial focus of this facility is to provide customer-specific training and industry-leading process development, it also provides Nanotech incremental production capacity to meet the demands of a rapidly growing market.”

Nanotech purchased and recently completed the upfit of a 50,000 ft2 building located in the Northpark Corporate Park – Charlotte, NC.

Nanotech’s core technology and employee base is in Swanzey, New Hampshire, and this foundation is fundamental to the products and services in which they provide. But as the organization continues to grow, Nanotech needed to find an ecosystem to help foster and accelerate this growth, and the Charlotte region allows Nanotech access to a world-class university, an international airport, and a city with the infrastructure to support a global footprint.

Robert Keynton, Dean of Engineering at UNC Charlotte added, “One of the advantages of having Nanotech expand their facilities here in Charlotte is that it strengthens our collaborations and our relationship, to include the hiring of our students.” Keynton continued, “But it also enables them access to the cutting-edge research our faculty are doing and to incorporate that knowledge into their systems.”

Nanotech continues to see significant growth as the requirements for optical systems become more and more complex and evolve from both real to virtual applications. The knowledge and process development required to support the manufacturing of these systems has also dramatically increased.

Scott Gerhart, Vice President Nanotech Sales and Service commented “Training and application support are fundamental to our product and service offerings, and in today’s markets, are expected by our customers.” Gerhart continued, “Because of this, our business depends on hiring the top talent available in the ultra-precision machining world. The students that are coming out of the Precision Manufacturing and Metrology Programs at UNC Charlotte are extremely well-prepared for the kind of roles we need to be successful at Nanotech.”

Paul Vermette, Vice President of Engineering stated, “As our customer’s continue to advance their in-house capabilities to meet the industry’s demanding product requirements, Nanotech continues to stay 1 to 2 generations ahead of the curve.” Vermette continued, “Our 5-year product & technology roadmap is built with customer input, which when combined with our internal investments, provides Nanotech the required strategic direction to achieve these goals.”

This new Nanotech facility is located at 6510 Northpark Blvd in Charlotte – fifteen minutes from both Uptown and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The facility was renovated in 2022, to include the buildout of Class 10k cleanrooms, sitting on 24-inches of concrete isolation pads, and temperature control to +/- 0.1 degrees C. Additionally, the facility was upgraded to include temperature controlled high-bay manufacturing space, and a state-of-the-art training complex to support customer engagement.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems (Nanotech) was founded in Keene, New Hampshire in 1997 as a stand-alone subsidiary of the Moore Tool Company. In 2010, the company relocated into a modern, purpose-built facility in Swanzey, New Hampshire and in 2020 opened a facility in Concord, North Carolina. For over 25 years, Nanotech has been a world leader in the design, development and manufacture of state-of-the-art ultra-precision machine tools and associated processes (single point diamond turning, micro-milling, micro-grinding and glass press molding) for the production of advanced optical components in consumer electronics, space, defense, aerospace, lighting, medical and automotive sectors. Moore Tool, founded in 1924 and located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has a long history in the precision and ultra-precision machine tool markets. Today, Moore Tool provides a complete line of high-performance CNC jig grinders, along with contract precision-manufacturing services certified to both ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D. Moore Nanotechnology Systems and Moore Tool are vertically integrated under the PMT Group.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems: www.nanotechsys.com
Moore Tool, Inc: www.mooretool.com

For further information, please contact: sales@nanotechsys.com

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AI and Cities: UN-Habitat and Mila launch a collaborative White Paper on the use and potential challenges of AI to support the development of people-centered sustainable cities and settlements

TORONTO, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — UN-Habitat, the United Nations organization working for sustainable urbanization in over 90 countries, and Mila, the world’s largest academic deep learning research centre, announce the launch of their collaborative White Paper offering insights and recommendations on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems could be harnessed to support the development of socially and environmentally sustainable cities and human settlements.

Mila & UN-Habitat logo

Aimed at supporting both urban managers and practitioners, the White Paper, part of UN-Habitat’s strategy to promote a people-centered approach to digital transformation, outlines the current value add and challenges of AI in cities and provides a set of practical recommendations to improve the way in which AI is used and promotes sustainable cities and inclusive inclusive communities.

The document covers urban applications of AI across a wide range of sectors (Energy, Mobility, Public Safety, Healthcare, etc.), and covers important themes including the trad-offs and risks of AI, the specific approaches and applications of urban AI in urban governance.

The paper will be unveiled during a panel discussion at the 2022 Urban Economy Forum (UEF) in Toronto.

“AI, like any other technology, can be a force that widens or reduces social gaps depending on how it is applied. We have a collective responsibility to appropriately use and integrate AI solutions and ensure that there are no unintended consequences.” says Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director at UN-Habitat.

The goal of the White Paper is to provide local authorities with the necessary guidance they need to weigh up the pros and cons of AI in fostering sustainable local communities. Local authorities regularly make decisions about AI that impact people’s lives, and need the tools to assess where and for whom AI brings added value and whether it is appropriate in a given context. The paper serves as a knowledge resource to help guide decision making with respect to the positive engagement with and use of AI  for smart and people centered sustainable cities and human settlements.

“Like any other transformative opportunity, integrating AI into urban environments comes with challenges and risks that must be taken and tackled seriously for AI to benefit societies,” says Valérie Pisano, President and CEO of Mila. “This White Paper could be a very useful tool for local authorities who, like UN-Habitat and Mila, are committed to the responsible development of AI.”

Visit https://unhabitat.org/ to access the full White Paper.

White Paper main authors: 

  • Jean-Louis Denis, Full Professor (UdeM)
  • Golnoosh Farnadi, Assistant Professor (HEC Montréal), Core Academic Member (Mila), Canada CIFAR AI Chair
  • Shaz Jameson, PhD student (Tilburg Institute of Law and Technology, UdeM, Mila)
  • Shin Koseki, Assistant Professor (UdeM), Director (UNESCO Chair in Urban Landscape)
  • Catherine Régis, Full Professor (UdeM), Associate Academic Member (Mila)
  • Davild Rolnick, Assistant Professor (McGill University), Core Academic Member (Mila), Canada CIFAR AI Chair

More details on the Launch event: 

  • Event: Panel on the launch of the “AI and Cities: Risks Applications and Governance” Report by UN-Habitat and Mila at the 4th Urban Economy Forum (UEF4) on Sustainable Urban Finance. UEF4 will start with the opening session on Monday October 3 at 9:00 a.m. (EDT).
  • Location: Toronto, Canada World Urban Pavilion (WUP) at Regent Park Powered by Daniels  and virtually. Free registration link : https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/uef4-tickets-344374632797?discount=COMPLIMENTARY100
  • Time of the Launch: Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at 4:45 p.m. (EDT)
  • Speakers:
    • Anna Jahn (moderator), Director of Public Policy and Learning, AI for Humanity (Mila)
    • Golnoosh Farnadi, Assistant Professor (HEC Montréal), Core Academic Member (Mila), Canada CIFAR AI Chair
    • Shaz Jameson, PhD student (Tilburg Institute of Law and Technology, UdeM, Mila)
    • Davild Rolnick, Assistant Professor (McGill University), Core Academic Member (Mila), Canada CIFAR AI Chair
  • More information about UEF4: https://www.ueforum.org/uef4
About UN-Habitat 

UN-Habitat is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate housing for all. It works in over 90 countries to promote transformative change in cities and human settlements through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action. It works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities while promoting urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. For more information, visit UN-Habitat – A Better Urban Future | UN-Habitat (unhabitat.org)

About Mila

Founded by Professor Yoshua Bengio of the University of Montreal, Mila is an artificial intelligence research institute that brings together over 1,000 researchers specializing in machine learning. Based in Montreal, Mila’s mission is to be a global hub for scientific advances that inspire innovation and development of AI for the benefit of all. Mila is a non-profit organization recognized worldwide for its significant contributions to the field of deep learning, particularly in language modeling, machine translation, object recognition, and generative models. For more information, visit mila.quebec

Media contacts: Katerina Bezgachina (UN-Habitat), ekaterina.bezgachina@un.org; Eric Aach (NATIONAL Public Relations for Mila), eaach@national.ca

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1913491/Mila___Quebec_AI_Institute_AI_and_Cities__UN_Habitat_and_Mila_la.jpg

 

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Moore Nanotechnology Systems Inaugura Centro Global de Treinamento e de Desenvolvimento de Processos em Charlotte, Carolina do Norte

SWANZEY, N.H., Oct. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A Moore Nanotechnology Systems (“Nanotech”), fornecedora global líder de sistemas de usinagem de ultra precisão, anuncia a inauguração do seu Centro Global de Treinamento e de Desenvolvimento de Processos em Charlotte, Carolina do Norte.

Mark Boomgarden, Presidente e CEO da Nanotech disse: “A Nanotech está muito contente com a inauguração do nosso Centro Global de Treinamento e Desenvolvimento de Processos em Charlotte, Carolina do Norte. Embora o foco inicial seja fornecer treinamento específico para o cliente e o desenvolvimento de processos líder da indústria, o local fornece também a capacidade de produção incremental da Nanotech para atender a demanda do mercado em rápido crescimento.”

A Nanotech comprou e recentemente completou a modificação de um prédio de quase 5 mil m2 no Northpark Corporate Park – Charlotte, NC.

A tecnologia central e a base de empregados da Nanotech estão em Swanzey, New Hampshire, e esta instalação é fundamental para os produtos e serviços que a empresa oferece. Com o crescimento da empresa, a Nanotech teve que encontrar um ecossistema para ajudar a fomentar e acelerar este crescimento. Em Charlotte a Nanotech tem acesso a uma universidade de categoria internacional, um aeroporto internacional, e uma cidade com a infraestrutura necessária para a sua presença global.

Robert Keynton, Reitor de Engenharia da UNC Charlotte acrescentou: “Uma das vantagens da expansão da Nanotech em Charlotte é a solidificação das nossas colaborações e do nosso relacionamento, para incluir a contratação dos nossos alunos.” Keynton continuou: “Além disso, viabiliza o a acesso à pesquisa de ponta que nossos professores estão realizando e a incorporação desse conhecimento nos seus sistemas.”

A Nanotech continua a ter um crescimento significativo com os requisitos de sistemas ópticos cada vez maiores e mais complexos, e a sua evolução para aplicações reais a virtuais. O conhecimento e o desenvolvimento dos processos necessários para apoiar a fabricação desses sistemas também aumentaram drasticamente.

Scott Gerhart, Vice-presidente de Vendas e Serviços da Nanotech, comentou: “O treinamento e suporte de aplicativos são fundamentais para as nossas ofertas de produtos e serviços, que hoje em dia são esperados pelos nossos clientes.” Gerhart continuou: “Por causa disso, a nossa empresa depende da contratação dos melhores talentos disponíveis no mundo da usinagem de ultra precisão. Os alunos recém-formados dos Programas de Fabricação e da Metrologia de Precisão em UNC Charlotte estão extremamente bem-preparados para o tipo de funções necessárias para o sucesso da Nanotech.”

Paul Vermette, Vice-Presidente de Engenharia disse: “Como os nossos clientes continuam a avançar suas capacidades internas para atender aos requisitos dos produtos exigentes da indústria, a Nanotech continua 1 a 2 gerações à frente da curva.” Vermette continuou: “Nosso plano de execução de produtos e tecnologia para os próximos 5 anos tem por base a contribuição do cliente, que, quando combinada com nossos investimentos internos, proporciona para a Nanotech a direção estratégica necessária para que possamos alcançar esses objetivos.”

A nova instalação da Nanotech está situada em 6510 Northpark Blvd em Charlotte – a quinze minutos de Uptown e do Charlotte Douglas International Airport. A instalação foi renovada em 2022 com a adição de salas limpas Classe 10k, em placas de concreto de isolamento de 24 polegadas, e controle de temperatura de +/- 0,1 graus C. Além disso, o espaço de fabricação passou a ter uma maior altura com controle de temperatura, e um complexo de treinamento de última geração para o maior envolvimento com o cliente.

A Moore Nanotechnology Systems (Nanotech) foi fundada em Keene, New Hampshire em 1997 como uma subsidiária autônoma da Moore Tool Company. Em 2010, a empresa se mudou para uma instalação moderna em Swanzey, New Hampshire, e em 2020 abriu uma instalação em Concord, Carolina do Norte. Há mais de 25 anos a Nanotech é líder mundial de design, desenvolvimento e fabricação de ferramentas de ultra precisão de última geração e processos associados (tornos de diamante de ponto único, micro moagem, micro trituração e moldagem por prensa de vidro) para a produção de componentes ópticos avançados para os setores de eletrônica de consumo, espaço, defesa, aeroespacial, iluminação, médicos e automotivos. A Moore Tool, fundada em 1924 e localizada em Bridgeport, Connecticut, tem uma longa história nos mercados de máquinas-ferramenta de precisão e ultra precisão. Atualmente a Moore Tool fornece uma linha completa de jig grinders CNC de alto desempenho, juntamente com serviços de fabricação de precisão de contrato certificados para ISO 9001:2015 e AS9100D. A Moore Nanotechnology Systems e a Moore Tool são integradas verticalmente sob o PMT Group.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems: www.nanotechsys.com
Moore Tool, Inc: www.mooretool.com

Para mais informações, contate: sales@nanotechsys.com

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Moore Nanotechnology Systems ouvre un centre mondial de formation et de développement de processus à Charlotte, en Caroline du Nord

SWANZEY, New Hampshire, 04 oct. 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Moore Nanotechnology Systems (« Nanotech »), un fournisseur mondial de premier plan de systèmes d’usinage ultra-précis, annonce l’inauguration de son centre mondial de formation et de développement de processus à Charlotte, en Caroline du Nord.

Mark Boomgarden, président-directeur général de Nanotech, a déclaré : « Nanotech est très heureuse d’annoncer l’inauguration de son centre mondial de formation et de développement de processus à Charlotte, en Caroline du Nord. Bien que l’objectif initial de cette installation soit de fournir une formation spécifique aux clients et un développement de processus à la pointe de l’industrie, elle procure également à Nanotech une capacité de production supplémentaire pour répondre aux demandes d’un marché en rapide expansion. »

Nanotech a récemment acheté et achevé l’aménagement d’un bâtiment de plus de 4 500 m2 situé dans le Northpark Corporate Park, à Charlotte, en Caroline du Nord.

La technologie fondamentale et la base d’employés de Nanotech se trouvent à Swanzey, dans le New Hampshire, et cette base est fondamentale pour les produits et services qu’ils fournissent. Mais à mesure que l’organisation continue de croître, Nanotech a besoin d’un écosystème pour stimuler et accélérer cette croissance, et la région de Charlotte lui permet d’accéder à une université de classe mondiale, à un aéroport international et à une ville dotée de l’infrastructure nécessaire pour soutenir une empreinte mondiale.

Robert Keynton, doyen de l’ingénierie à l’université de Caroline du Nord à Charlotte, a commenté : « L’un des avantages de voir Nanotech étendre ses installations ici à Charlotte est que cela renforce nos collaborations et nos relations, afin d’inclure le recrutement de nos étudiants. » M. Keynton a ajouté : « Mais cela lui permet également d’accéder aux recherches de pointe que notre corps professoral effectue et d’intégrer ces connaissances dans ses systèmes. »

Nanotech continue d’enregistrer une croissance significative alors que les exigences des systèmes optiques se complexifient et évoluent des applications réelles aux applications virtuelles. Les connaissances et le développement des processus nécessaires pour soutenir la fabrication de ces systèmes ont également considérablement augmenté.

Scott Gerhart, vice-président des ventes et du service chez Nanotech, a commenté : « La formation et l’assistance aux applications sont essentielles à nos offres de produits et de services, et sur les marchés actuels, sont attendus par nos clients. » M. Gerhart a poursuivi : « Pour cette raison, notre entreprise dépend de l’embauche des meilleurs talents disponibles dans le secteur de l’usinage ultra-précis. Les étudiants qui ont complété les programmes de formation à la fabrication de précision et la métrologie de l’université de Caroline du Nord à Charlotte sont extrêmement bien préparés pour le type de rôles dont nous avons besoin pour réussir chez Nanotech. »

Paul Vermette, vice-président de l’ingénierie, a déclaré : « Alors que nos clients continuent de faire progresser leurs capacités internes pour répondre aux exigences de l’industrie en matière de produits, Nanotech continue de garder 1 à 2 générations d’avance. » M. Vermette a ajouté : « Notre feuille de route sur 5 ans en matière de produits et technologies est construite avec la contribution des clients qui, lorsqu’elle est combinée à nos investissements internes, fournit à Nanotech l’orientation stratégique requise pour atteindre ces objectifs. »

Cette nouvelle installation de Nanotech est située au 6510 Northpark Blvd, à Charlotte, à quinze minutes du centre-ville et de l’aéroport international de Charlotte/Douglas. L’installation a été rénovée en 2022, pour inclure la construction de salles blanches de classe 10 000, dotées de plaques d’isolation en béton de 60 centimètres et avec un contrôle de la température allant jusqu’à +/- 0,1 °C. En outre, l’installation a été modernisée pour inclure un espace de fabrication de grande hauteur à température contrôlée, ainsi qu’un complexe de formation de pointe pour soutenir l’engagement des clients.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems (Nanotech) a été fondée à Keene, dans le New Hampshire, en 1997, en tant que filiale autonome de Moore Tool Company. En 2010, la société a déménagé dans une installation moderne et spécialement construite à Swanzey, dans le New Hampshire, et a ouvert une installation à Concord, en Caroline du Nord, en 2020. Depuis plus de 25 ans, Nanotech est un leader mondial en conception, développement et fabrication de machines-outils ultra-précises à la pointe de la technologie et en processus associés (fraisage au diamant mono-point, micro-usinage, micro-rectification et moulage par pression de verre) pour la production de composants optiques avancés dans les secteurs de l’électronique de grande consommation, de la défense, de l’aérospatial, de l’éclairage, de la santé et de l’automobile. Moore Tool, fondée en 1924 et située à Bridgeport, dans le Connecticut, est présente depuis longtemps sur les marchés des machines-outils de précision et de très haute précision. Aujourd’hui, Moore Tool fournit une gamme complète de rectifieuses CNC haute performance, ainsi que des services de fabrication de précision en sous-traitance certifiés selon les normes ISO 9001:2015 et AS9100C. Moore Nanotechnology Systems et Moore Tool sont des entreprises à intégration verticale de PMT Group.

Moore Nanotechnology Systems : www.nanotechsys.com
Moore Tool, Inc : www.mooretool.com

Pour tout complément d’information, veuillez contacter : sales@nanotechsys.com

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Seychelles made significant progress in promoting rule of law and good governance, says foreign minister

The 9th Seychelles-European Union (EU) Political Dialogue held on Tuesday, saw the tabling of pertinent topics covering a wide range of political, environmental and socioeconomic issues.

Allowing for an extensive dialogue reaffirming mutual interests and values between Seychelles and the EU, the political dialogue also promotes sustainable development and climate action, encourages development cooperation and strengthens strategic partnerships in key priority sectors.

The delegations debated on areas of economic, financial and social impact of global crises, governance, rule of law, human rights, environment, climate change, the Blue Economy and the Fisheries Partnership Agreement, peace and stability, and cooperation in international fora.

In his opening remarks, Seychelles’ foreign affairs and tourism minister and a co-chair of the event, Sylvestre Radegonde, said, “Our vision of Seychelles is that of a small dynamic island state, vibrant and full of opportunities infinite, with a diverse economic base and strong resilience in the face of external shocks and climate change.”

“For this dialogue, I would therefore like to invite you all to maintain the same vision for Seychelles as we present our perspectives and discuss the cooperation opportunities,” said Radegonde.

He added that on the national scene, significant progress has been achieved in promoting the rule of law and the principles of good governance, by reinforcing national legislation and tackling strategic deficiencies, particularly relating to tax governance, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption.

On his side, the EU Ambassador to Seychelles, Vincent Degert, said that the dialogue is an opportunity to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the EU and Seychelles.

“It is also an opportunity to discuss how we can further work together to overcome the many challenges that lie ahead, both in the region and in the wider global context. The EU-Seychelles partnership is clearly a strategic one. It has grown over the years and allows us to pursue broad and fruitful cooperation in many key areas of common interest,” said Degert.

The political dialogue is an extension of the current partnership between the EU and its member states and the member states of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS),

Held each year, it is organised under the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which promotes cooperation, trade and political dialogue between European Union and Small Island States.

This year’s dialogue included six local ministers and a number of high-level government officials. It also brought together ambassadors and representatives from nine EU Member States – Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Sweden – as well as a delegation of the EU Naval Force – Somalia Operation ATALANTA.

 

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Africa’s Pulse, No. 26, October 2022: Food System Opportunities in a Turbulent Time

African Governments Urgently Need to Restore Macro-Economic Stability and Protect the Poor in a Context of Slow Growth, High Inflation

WASHINGTON, Global headwinds are slowing Africa’s economic growth as countries continue to contend with rising inflation, hindering progress on poverty reduction. The risk of stagflation comes at a time when high interest rates and debt are forcing African governments to make difficult choices as they try to protect people’s jobs, purchasing power and development gains.

According to the World Bank’s latest Africa’s Pulse, a biannual analysis of the near-term regional macroeconomic outlook, economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is set to decelerate from 4.1% in 2021 to 3.3% in 2022, a downward revision of 0.3 percentage points since April’s Pulse forecast, mainly as a result of a slowdown in global growth, including flagging demand from China for commodities produced in Africa. The war in Ukraine is exacerbating already high inflation and weighing on economic activity by depressing both business investments and household consumption. As of July 2022, 29 of 33 countries in SSA with available information had inflation rates over 5% while 17 countries had double-digit inflation.

“These trends compromise poverty reduction efforts that were already set back by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa. “What is most worrisome is the impact of high food prices on people struggling to feed their families, threatening long-term human development. This calls for urgent action from policymakers to restore macro-economic stability and support the poorest households while reorienting their food and agriculture spending to achieve future resilience.”

Elevated food prices are causing hardships with severe consequences in one of the world’s most food-insecure regions. Hunger has sharply increased in SSA in recent years driven by economic shocks, violence and conflict, and extreme weather. More than one in five people in Africa suffer from hunger and an estimated 140 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2022, up from 120 million people in 2021, according to the Global Report on Food Crises 2022 Mid-Year Update.

The interconnected crises come at a time when the fiscal space required to mount effective government responses is all but gone. In many countries, public savings have been depleted by earlier programs to counter the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, though resource-rich countries in some cases have benefited from high commodity prices and managed to improve their balance sheet.

Debt is projected to stay elevated at 58.6% of GDP in 2022 in SSA. African governments spent 16.5% of their revenues servicing external debt in 2021, up from less than 5% in 2010. Eight out of 38 IDA-eligible countries in the region are in debt distress, and 14 are at high risk of joining them. At the same time, high commercial borrowing costs make it difficult for countries to borrow on national and international markets, while tightening global financial conditions are weakening currencies and increasing African countries’ external borrowing costs.

This challenging environment makes it essential to improve the efficiency of existing resources and to optimize taxes. In the agriculture and food sector, for example, governments have the opportunity to protect human capital and climate-proof food production by re-orienting their public spending away from poorly targeted subsidies toward nutrition-sensitive social protection programs, irrigation works, and research and development known to have high returns.

For example, one dollar invested in agricultural research yields, on average, benefits equivalent to $10, while gains from investments in irrigation are also potentially high in SSA. Such reprioritization maintains the level of spending in a critical sector, while raising productivity, building resilience to climate change, and achieving food security for all. Creating a better environment for agribusiness and facilitating intra-regional food trade could also increase long-term food security in a region that is highly dependent on food imports.

 

Source: World Bank.

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Senior officials among nine dead in Somalia car bombings

MOGADISHU, Nine people, including senior regional officials, were killed in twin car bombings claimed by Al-Shabaab in central Somalia on Monday, police said, as the government escalates an offensive against the militants. 

Two cars packed with explosives were detonated minutes apart outside local government offices in Beledweyne, a city at the heart of recent offensives against the Al-Qaeda-linked militants who control swathes of Somalia.

“The initial information we have received confirms the death of nine people” including the health minister of Hirshabelle state, where Beledweyne is located, and a deputy district commissioner, said Mohamed Moalim Ali, a local police commander, with 10 others injured in the “suicide attacks.”

Somali forces and “international security partners” have been waging an aggressive counterinsurgency in recent weeks, with the government on Monday announcing the killing of Abdullahi Yare, a top Al-Shabaab operative, in a joint air strike on Saturday in the south of the country.

“This leader… was the head preacher of the group and one of the most notorious members of the Shabaab group,” the ministry of information said.

A co-founder of Al-Shabaab with a $3 million US bounty on his head, Yare was believed to be next in line to take over the leadership of the movement from its ailing chief Ahmed Diriye, according to the ministry.

The US Africa Command said Monday that it carried out a drone strike targeting Al-Shabaab two days earlier in coordination with Somalia’s federal government.

“The command’s initial assessment is that the strike killed an Al-Shabaab leader and that no civilians were injured or killed,” it said in a statement.

Last month, the US military said it had killed 27 jihadist fighters in an air strike near Bulobarde, the main town on the road linking Mogadishu to Beledweyne.

Somalia’s recently elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has vowed an all-out war on the jihadists, after a string of deadly attacks, including a 30-hour hotel siege in the capital Mogadishu that killed 21 people.

Al-Shabaab, which claimed responsibility for the bombings, has waged a bloody insurrection against the Mogadishu government for 15 years and remains a potent force despite an African Union operation against the group.

The group last week claimed responsibility for a bomb blast that killed a top Somali police officer near the Al-Shabaab-controlled village of Bursa, some 30 kilometres north of Mogadishu.

 

Source: Nam News Network