Malaysia, September 23, 2021 – After a four-month battle for the highest honor in The 3M Inspire Challenge, two students from The National University of Malaysia (UKM) were crowned Regional Champions today, triumphing over five other Country Champions from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. 

Following months of conceptualization and refinement under the mentorship from 3M volunteers, the team defeated a total of 121 undergraduate teams across the region.

SHAH ALAM, 23 September 2021: Niro Ceramic Group, the world's leading tile company, launches its newly extended tile collections, bringing today’s latest trends to life under its flagship Niro Granite brand to spruce up both commercial and residential spaces. The collections bring new additions to their innovative Slip Stop series — Pedregal and Legacy; and debut Niro Granite’s first large-format tiles, Vogue Grande. 

The Slip Stop feature is a revolutionary breakthrough technology that increases friction on glazed porcelain tiles when in contact with water, thanks to the infusion of a special material. These anti-slip tiles reduce the risk of slipping and injury in residential and commercial establishments. The smooth surface of the tiles in trendy designs paired with anti-slip features allow for greater versatility in planning and installation, resulting in an easier decision-making process. Tested with the Pendulum Test (P ratings), all tiles under the Slip Stop series achieved a minimum of P4 in the slip resistance test (P5 being the highest resistance). The tiles are also resistant to stains , indicating their suitability for residential and commercial floorings as they are easy to clean without regular special maintenance.

One thing that I have learned by working in a world-leading tech company is that with the advancements in technology, especially in recent times, simply being tech-literate today isn’t enough.

Which is why academic curriculums all over the world are incorporating skills like robotics and coding for children as young as the age of five. To outpace or at least to keep pace with technological evolution today, we have to bring ourselves beyond tech literacy to being tech-savvy. 

The pandemic-driven New Normal has pushed organisations past the tipping point. This was made clear in a global survey of executives conducted by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, which spoke about how the ongoing health and economic crisis has expedited the adoption of digital technologies among businesses by several years.