Press Releases

Global digital entrepreneurship ecosystem index reveals stark gap between digital readiness and scaling capacity Leave a reply New global DEE Index shows that digital infrastructure alone no longer drives entrepreneurial success Report Cover Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index Report Cover Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index VIENNA, Jan. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Vienna Institute for Global Studies (VIGS), an independent interdisciplinary research institute based in Vienna, published the 2026 Global Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Index Report, offering one of the most comprehensive global assessments to date of how digitalization translates into entrepreneurial and economic outcomes across 170 economies. The findings point to a critical shift in the global innovation landscape. While digital infrastructure, connectivity, and basic digital skills have expanded rapidly worldwide, the ability of countries to convert these foundations into scalable entrepreneurial activity remains uneven — creating a widening gap between digital readiness and economic impact. The DEE Index, covering the period from 2017 to 2022, measures the systemic interaction between digital infrastructure, platforms, institutions, and entrepreneurial agency. The report finds that although global digital capabilities have improved markedly, startup scaling, access to venture finance, and innovation commercialization continue to lag. As a result, entrepreneurial scaling has emerged as the primary structural bottleneck of the global digital economy. High-income economies such as the United States, Denmark, and the United Kingdom lead the global rankings, benefiting from balanced ecosystems that combine strong institutions, deep capital markets, and mature digital platforms. At the same time, several emerging regions — including Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia — recorded the fastest relative growth, driven by foundational investments in connectivity and digital skills. “We are at a turning point in the global digital economy,” said Prof. Dr. Zoltán Ács, Director of the Vienna Institute for Global Studies. “Digital access is no longer the main constraint. The real challenge

ORUN Launches Heirs of Greatness in Casablanca, a Pan-African Platform Advancing Cultural Sovereign Leave a reply CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – EQS Newswire – 14 January 2026 – ORUN, a subsidiary of African Currency Network (https://ORUN.Africa), announces the launch of the first edition of Heirs of Greatness Day, a foundational initiative that brought together key players from the cultural and creative industries (CCI) in Casablanca. Conceived as a structuring activation, Heirs of Greatness Day is part of the deployment of a strategic platform combining vision, method, and action. The initiative aims to position CCIs as levers for sustainable development, cultural sovereignty, and African soft power. Held in a continental context marked by the Africa Cup of Nations and heightened international attention on the continent, the event affirms Casablanca as a symbolic crossroads where creation, transmission, and global projection converge. At the heart of this activation is The Sovereign Code, the foundational methodology developed by ORUN, structured around three complementary pillars: Memory, Structure, and Transmission. Serving as a true reference framework, The Sovereign Code informs all ORUN programs and seeks to transform African cultural heritage into sustainable value-creation systems that are measurable and enduring. Heirs of Greatness Day gives concrete expression to this methodology by highlighting the seven Houses of Art: Weaving, Foundry, Crochet, Tannery, Dyeing, Ceramics, and Tailoring. Designed as spaces for transmission, experimentation, and structuring, these Houses bring together master artisans, designers, and partners around a shared ambition: to create a dialogue between ancestral know-how and contemporary standards of creativity, quality, and responsibility. On this occasion, Roméo Moukagny (Gabon, Senegal), Kader Diaby (Ivory Coast), Anil Padia (Kenya), Jennifer Mulli (Kenya), Henri Philippe Maidou (Central African Republic), Sonia Ahmimou (Morocco, France), and Lucette Holland (Senegal, France) presented works and approaches embodying a rigorous vision of African creation, deeply rooted in local territories while fully oriented toward the international stage. The day’s program was designed as an immersive and narrative experience, blending institutional sequences, artistic installations, editorial exchanges,

MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC:MBAK) Nominates Dr. Konda Shiva to the Board of Directors Leave a reply SEOUL, South Korea and SHENZHEN, China and WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC:MBAK) has nominated Dr. Konda Shiva to the MBAK board of directors. Holder of 8 patents and author of a dozen peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Shiva’s extensive background in electrical energy storage and distribution innovation dates back to his post-doctoral work at the University of Texas with Nobel Laureate Prof. John Goodenough and his work in battery development with Nissan’s Battery Research and Development Center in Chennai, India. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AACCENOS Solutions Pvt. Ltd., he leads strategic initiatives in battery technology development, fast charging, and energy innovation for electric mobility and grid-scale energy storage applications. Dr. Shiva is uniquely positioned to leverage the rapidly expanding need for grid-scale electric energy as Middle Eastern countries ramp up transition to sustainable energy and build out of data centers. Dr. Shiva has a passion for translating cutting edge scientific research into commercially viable, scalable industrial solutions. He will bring this passion and demonstrated excellence to his role as an independent director on the MBAK board. MBAK Energy Solutions, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of non-fossil fuel energy products. The company has expertise in the design and production of lithium, sodium, and solid-state batteries for industrial, medical, portable electronics, and EV applications. Contact: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.mbakcorp.com Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure

New report from Meltwater and We. Communications reveals 90% of PR teams are integrating generative AI into their workflows Leave a reply SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Meltwater, a global leader in media, social, and consumer intelligence, in partnership with We. Communications, released its first annual State of PR Report, based on insights from more than 1,100 PR and communications professionals worldwide. The report highlights how PR teams are navigating rising expectations, evolving measurement demands, and using AI as a strategic advantage – while increasingly positioning themselves as strategic drivers of business value. Key takeaways from the report: AI is officially mainstream: Over 90% of PR teams have already integrated generative AI into their workflows for tasks like drafting press releases, optimizing content, and brainstorming, but only 13% say it’s highly integrated. AI can supercharge teams and reduce time-sinks: Teams reported reactive work, content creation, and measurement/reporting as their biggest time sinks. Conversely, they named identifying rising trends and issues and summarization of media coverage, as the areas AI can have the biggest impact on their efforts, illustrating the efficiencies that can be gained with greater AI integration. PR measurement is entering its next era: While foundational metrics such as reach and media volume are still widely used, there is growing momentum toward outcome-based measurement tied to business KPIs. More than one-third of PR professionals say aligning metrics to business goals is now a top priority. With insufficient resources and proving ROI cited as the top two challenges PR teams are facing, it’s key that evolving measurement is key. Budgets are flat, but expectations are higher: More than half of respondents expect little or no change in PR investment for 2026, despite increased demand for strategic impact. Leadership buy-in is key: Nearly 40% of PR pros report