CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nona Biosciences ("Nona"), a global biotechnology company advancing biologics discovery and development through innovative technology platforms, today announced the development of HCAbLM, the world's first language model specifically trained on fully human heavy-chain-only antibodies (HCAbs). HCAbLM was built on a large-scale repertoire comprising 31.8 million fully human HCAb sequences from 73 independently immunized HCAb transgenic mice. The study, "A foundation model learns the sequence and functional grammar of fully human heavy-chain-only antibodies," was published in bioRxiv.

From Binder to Drug Candidate: A Leap in AI Antibody Development

The main bottleneck in the current AI antibody field is no longer "whether an antibody that binds the target can be designed," but rather "whether the designed antibody can be manufactured at scale, whether it will aggregate, and whether it is stable"—that is, developability. HCAbLM was created precisely to address this issue. The model has learned the "sequence grammar" unique to fully human HCAbs—a set of underlying rules that determine whether an antibody can fold, exist stably, and ultimately become a drug. Conventional general-purpose models cannot capture this set of rules because their training data contain almost no HCAb sequences. HCAbLM fully demonstrates that a dedicated model trained on unique antibody sequence data can better translate "sequence space cognition" into "developability prediction."

A Dedicated HCAb Model Outperforms General-Purpose Protein and Antibody Models

The representations learned by HCAbLM demonstrate transferability to experimentally measured antibody properties, including size exclusion chromatography (SEC) purity, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC) behavior, and thermal stability, highlighting HCAbLM's potential in the evaluation and optimization of fully human HCAbs, going beyond mere sequence analysis.

In public benchmarks for cross-project developability prediction, HCAbLM, with only 366 million parameters, surpassed general-purpose protein large models including Meta's ESM-6B with 6 billion parameters, as well as previously leading antibody language models IgLM and AbLang, on two core metrics: SEC purity and HIC behavior.

The development of HCAbLM marks an important advancement in Nona's application of artificial intelligence (AI) to antibody discovery and development. By combining large-scale antibody repertoires with AI-driven modeling, Nona is building a foundation for more efficient and data-driven antibody design and developability assessment.

"The development of HCAbLM represents an important step in our efforts to apply AI to specialized antibody formats and unlock the value of large-scale antibody repertoires," said Dr. Di Hong, Chief Executive Officer of Nona Biosciences. "By learning the unique sequence characteristics of fully human HCAbs and demonstrating transferability to experimentally measured molecular properties, HCAbLM provides a new foundation for AI-enabled antibody discovery and development. We look forward to further integrating HCAbLM with Nona's technology platforms, and leveraging these capabilities to accelerate antibody discovery and development while empowering our partners to unlock new opportunities for next-generation biotherapeutics."

About Nona Biosciences

Nona Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of HBM Holding Limited (HKEX:02142), is a global biotechnology company committed to advancing biotherapeutic innovation through cutting-edge technology platforms and integrated solutions. Nona supports programs with its I to I® framework, from early-stage ideas through preclinical research and advancement toward IND and early clinic, spanning target validation and antibody discovery to early development.

Nona's proprietary Harbour Mice® technology platform generates fully human monoclonal antibodies in classical two light and two heavy chain (H2L2) format, and heavy chain-only (HCAb) format. The HCAb Harbour Mice® is the world's first fully human HCAb transgenic mouse with clinical validation. This unique platform offers exceptional versatility for diverse applications using fully human VH single-domain antibodies as a plug-and-play system, including bispecific antibodies, multi-specific antibodies, CAR-T therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), mRNA-based therapeutics, and more.

By integrating Harbour Mice®, single-B cell screening technology, NonaCarFx™ (a direct CAR-function-based screening platform), Hu-mAtrIx™ (an AI-driven drug discovery platform), Modalities-on-Demand® (a next-generation modalities solution), and end-to-end preclinical drug development services, Nona Biosciences is dedicated to driving the global invention of transformative next-generation drugs. For more information, please visit: www.nonabio.com.

SOURCE Nona Biosciences

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Moldova eGovernance Agency Launches Banking Use of EVO Digital Identity Credentials Built to European Standards

CHISINAU, Moldova, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital credentials from EVO, Moldova's integrated government app, are now accepted by four of the country's banks: Moldindconbank, FinComBank, EuroCreditBank and Victoriabank, allowing clients to identify themselves through EVO. This marks a broader expansion across the public and private sectors, as Moldova moves to make secure digital identity a standard way to access services nationwide while aligning with Europe's emerging digital identity ecosystem. Developed in line with the European Digital Identity Wallet framework, EVO is being built to support secure, consent-based and interoperable digital identity transactions, including future cross-border use.

The integration turns the digital documents already available in EVO into reusable credentials for everyday interactions with private-sector services. Identity is confirmed by scanning a QR code and choosing to share the information the bank requests. The verified data is transferred digitally, eliminating the need to present or photocopy a physical identity document and reducing manual data entry.

The eGovernance Agency opened EVO integration to public and private organizations on April 1, 2026. Since then, the ecosystem has expanded beyond the first banking integrations, with 30 relying parties at different stages of connection, including one of Moldova's largest telecommunications operators and the National Bank of Moldova. At least 20 organizations are expected to be operationally integrated by the end of 2026.

"Digital credentials become valuable when people can actually use them in real-life scenarios, and we're aiming for ubiquity. Banks are among the institutions where trusted identification matters most, so bringing EVO into everyday banking is an important milestone. Our next step is to expand this ecosystem across both the public and private sectors, while ensuring that what we build in Moldova is compatible with the digital identity infrastructure being developed across Europe," said Nicoleta Colomeeț, Director of the Moldova eGovernance Agency.

From national rollout to European interoperability

Moldova is developing EVO Wallet in line with European Digital Identity Wallet standards, while contributing its experience in digital credentials to their implementation, testing and cross-border interoperability. As a member of the WE BUILD consortium, Moldova works alongside European partners to validate digital identity credentials and help identify and resolve differences between national implementations. EVO has successfully tested its digital ID in the European PID format and its digital driving licence in the ISO mDL format with partners from France, Hungary, Austria and Belgium, while further interoperability testing in Moldova brought together teams from France, the Netherlands, Croatia, Romania and Ukraine.

For Moldova, an EU candidate country, digital identity is part of a broader transition toward European digital infrastructure. Following integration into initiatives such as SEPA and "Roam Like at Home", the development of an interoperable digital identity wallet extends that process to how citizens identify themselves and securely share verified information.

The Moldova eGovernance Agency leads the development of Moldova's digital public infrastructure and the transformation of public services. It develops and operates the national digital platforms that let citizens, businesses and public institutions interact securely online. Its work supports Moldova's European integration and transition to fully digital public services. EVO test certificates and the integration guide are available on the egov4dev public integration page.

SOURCE Moldova eGovernance Agency

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Recording of Minesto's presentation at Aktiedagen Stockholm 2026

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recording of CEO Dr Martin Edlund's presentation at Aktiespararna's Aktiedagen Stockholm on 15 September 2026.

The recording is available on Aktiespararna's YouTube channel:

Minesto – Aktiedagen Stockholm 15 September 2026

CONTACT:

Cecilia Sernhage, Chief Communications Officer

+46 735 23 71 58

[email protected] 

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Eucalyptus Resources Reminds TNR Gold Shareholders of Voting Deadline; Warns of TNR's Playbook to Disenfranchise Over 45% of Shares Supporting Change

- Eucalyptus Resources mails a reminder letter highlighting the stark choice before Shareholders

- Shareholders have until 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on September 17, 2026, to cast their vote on the GREEN proxy

- TNR's baseless allegations and posturing are a desperate response to the outstanding Shareholder support received by the Eucalyptus nominees, now in excess of 45%

- Shareholders with questions or who need voting assistance may contact Eucalyptus Resources' proxy solicitation agent, Laurel Hill Advisory Group, by calling 1-877-452-7184 (416-304-0211 outside North America), by texting "INFO" to either number, or by emailing [email protected]

NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Eucalyptus Resources Opportunities Fund 1, LP ("Eucalyptus Resources") which, together with its joint actors, Jon Christian Evensen ("JC Evensen") and Alicia Cauteruccio Evensen (together, the "Nominating Shareholders"), is the largest shareholder of TNR Gold Corp. (TSXV: TNR) ("TNR" or the "Company"), wishes to remind shareholders of the Company ("Shareholders") of the rapidly approaching deadline to join the now over 45% of shares already supporting the nominees put forward by the Nominating Shareholders (the "Eucalyptus Nominees") to enact positive change at TNR at the annual general and special meeting scheduled for September 22, 2026 (the "Meeting"). The deadline for Shareholders to vote on the GREEN proxy is 9:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on September 17, 2026.

Now is the time to choose the right path for your investment

Relatedly, Eucalyptus Resources announces it has mailed a reminder letter to Shareholders and filed it under TNR's profile on Sedar+, and can also be found at http://ABetterTNR.com/Reminder, underscoring the clear choice before Shareholders; the status quo ties Shareholders to the Klip "family business", destined to continue languishing without any progress on its royalty portfolio or the Shotgun Project while the Klips dilute your investment away and the Company's limited cash reserves are depleted on cash salaries and bonuses. The second path elects the Eucalyptus Nominees and restores control of TNR to its rightful owners - the Shareholders; the four independent and highly qualified Eucalyptus Nominees would be aligned with other Shareholders, with three of four nominees owning or controlling at least 800,000 shares each, and collectively over 37 million shares – all purchased in the market, rather than issued from the Company's treasury, like much of the Klip family's shares.

Shareholders have already had a preview of what this future could look like, with the market's extremely strong reaction to two key actions: JC Evensen's first public calls for change at TNR on June 5, 2025 and the filing of Eucalyptus Resources' Early Warning Report on March 27, 2026, each triggering two of the largest single-day gains in TNR's stock price over the previous five years and with substantially all of the positive return following JC Evensen's involvement.

TNR's continued and tactics to threaten Shareholder democracy

Eucalyptus Resources also wishes to respond to the Company's September 15, 2026, press release where TNR abandoned any attempt to argue based on the record of its nominees or its plans for the Company. Instead, TNR ceded the debate for the opinions of Shareholders and moved entirely to meritless claims just one day after Eucalyptus Resources announced its nominees had the support of approximately 43% of the shares of TNR. Now that support has increased to over 45% of votes, Eucalyptus Resources unfortunately expects these tactics of desperation to continue and Eucalyptus Resources has therefore advised the British Columbia Securities Commission ("BCSC") of the Company's September 15th press release.

It is also telling that though the Company makes vague claims of support from Shareholders, it has not provided the number of proxies received in their favour. If TNR does not disclose the number of proxies it has received, Shareholders may assume TNR does not have the votes and has shifted even further from trying to win the vote to trying to subvert the will of the Shareholders.

Shareholders should be aware that TNR's actions are reminiscent of the playbook used by NorthWest Copper Corp. ("NorthWest") and its advisors (currently retained by TNR) in 2023 where NorthWest used allegations of joint actors and a related hearing at the BCSC to delay a contested annual meeting and seek an order prohibiting certain votes be counted at that meeting, among other remedies. After great expense for NorthWest and the dissidents, the BCSC rejected these tactics, stating the onus was on Northwest to provide "sufficiently clear, convincing and cogent evidence" of joint actor relationships as opposed to relying on speculation.

Eucalyptus Resources is concerned that TNR will continue to pull from the NorthWest playbook and purport to delay the Meeting at the eleventh hour. Eucalyptus is therefore calling on TNR to commit to respecting the will of Shareholders and to proceed with the Meeting as scheduled on September 22, 2026, without any interference on shareholder democracy.

Time is running out - Vote for a new, better version of TNR Gold – Vote FOR the Eucalyptus Resources Nominees on only the GREEN proxy TODAY

Shareholders can find the Meeting Materials under TNR Gold's profile on Sedar+ and at http://ABetterTNR.com. If Shareholders have questions, have not received the GREEN proxy, or otherwise need assistance they are encouraged to contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group by calling 1-877-452-7184 (416-304-0211 out-side North America), by texting "INFO" to either number, or by emailing [email protected].

About Eucalyptus Resources

Eucalyptus Resources LLC was founded in 2022 by Jon Christian "JC" Evensen and provides advisory services to both global investors and corporate clients in the natural resources industry as well as invests principal capital in the sector.

Advisors

Eucalyptus Resources has retained Farris LLP as its legal counsel and Laurel Hill Advisory Group as its strategic shareholder communications advisor.

SOURCE Eucalyptus Resources Opportunities Fund 1, LP

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HiTHIUM Launches Next-Generation Integrated Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Solution to Accelerate Sodium-Ion Industrialization

XIAMEN, China, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 16, HiTHIUM, a leading global energy storage technology company, officially unveiled its next-generation integrated sodium-ion energy storage solution at its "Powered Day in, Day out" launch event. The new offerings include the ∞Power N4.0MWh, a 4MWh sodium-ion energy storage system equipped with the high-capacity ∞Cell N785Ah sodium-ion battery. HiTHIUM also announced its plans to begin full-scale production and delivery in 2027. With a 30-year designed service life, the system provides an infrastructure-grade solution for sodium-ion deployment.

Drawing on integrated capabilities spanning materials, cells, manufacturing, system integration, station applications and lifecycle services, HiTHIUM is moving sodium-ion technology from validation toward large-scale deployment.

"Energy storage technologies must overcome two barriers to achieve large-scale deployment: affordability and availability," said Dr. Nazar Yi, Chief Technology Officer of HiTHIUM. Sodium is abundant and widely distributed, supporting resource security and supply-chain stability. As sodium-ion material systems, manufacturing processes and supply chain continue to mature, sodium-ion batteries can move from an energy technology to infrastructure.

Building on its integrated capabilities in R&D, manufacturing, quality and supply-chain development, HiTHIUM has transferred its expertise to sodium-ion development, from materials to station applications.

"We started from the most fundamental chemistry and materials, retracing the 30-year journey of lithium-ion batteries," said Dr. Aileen Wang, Director of Battery Research Institute. Following this mindset, HiTHIUM pursued integrated innovation in cell design and manufacturing processes, developing the ∞Cell N785Ah sodium-ion battery for energy storage. It features a 20,000-cycle service life, supports 2 to 8 hours storage durations, and is fully compatible with HiTHIUM's 1,000 Ah lithium-ion manufacturing platform, including cell and system integration production lines, supporting rapid sodium-ion production scale-up.

The ∞Power N4.0MWh features an original sodium-ion architecture comprising a stacked-cell design, dedicated BMS with SOC estimation accuracy of ≤2.5%, and compatibility with 800–1500V PCS. PCS rated-power utilization rises over 20% compared with HiTHIUM's previous-generation sodium-ion system, lowering the barrier for deployment.

System architecture optimization reduces station footprint by 30% and delivers 24-hour comprehensive efficiency of over 88%. Its hybrid air-liquid cooling mode, AI-enabled thermal management and integrated meteorological monitoring use weather data to select economical cooling, reducing operating auxiliary power consumption by 30% and standby auxiliary power consumption by 50%. HiTHIUM's integrated engineering capabilities and pre-modularized design for simplified maintenance give the ∞Power N4.0MWh a 30-year service life.

"30 years means 10,950 days of validation—a long-term commitment to our customers," said Dr. Wang. "It means electrochemical energy storage can be viewed, evaluated and held to the service-life standards of infrastructure." HiTHIUM's sodium-ion technology will expand from utility-scale storage into commercial and industrial, residential and broader energy access applications, creating integrated solutions across scenarios. HiTHIUM also launched the ∞Edge Pioneer Program to test batteries and systems in extreme environments, disclose progress over the next three years, and progressively release ∞Power Next Technology Packages for Extreme Environments, advancing energy storage toward a LCOS of RMB 0.1 per kWh.

SOURCE HiTHIUM

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MASARY Studios Worked with BLO to Animate Typography and Reimagine a Classic Art Form for Modern Audiences with High-Powered Rear Projection

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Opera has long relied on translated subtitles to make its stories more accessible. Typically shown on small monitors near the stage or on the backs of seats, these can pull audiences out of the drama every time they look away. When Boston Lyric Opera prepared to debut its first production at its new Opera + Community Studios in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood, it invited MASARY Studios to help reimagine the role of translation. Working across scenic design, animation and projection, the MASARY Studios created "supertitles" to accompany the opera, integrating larger-than-life animated typography into the set that was powered by Epson large venue laser projectors, making the words part of the storytelling itself.

"Operas are sung in Italian, German and French, and translation has always been treated as a utility, something to be read rather than experienced," said Sam Okerstrom-Lang, co-founder of MASARY Studios. "You're listening and reading all at once, which can disconnect the viewer from the richness of the performance. Our goal was to make the supertitles expressive, to animate the type itself and embed it into the scenery, allowing the words to carry the emotion of the story rather than just explain it."

Setting the Stage for a New Kind of Translation

As neighbors in the same Fort Point building, Boston Lyric Opera saw MASARY Studios' projection and media expertise as an opportunity for its new theater and scenic design installation. The collaboration began not with a technical specification, but with the idea that translated text, traditionally handled away from the main stage, could become an integral part of the scenery. MASARY Studios designed animated typography for a story centered on three characters, with fonts styled and paced to match the emotion of each passage. The typography appeared in varying styles and moved in time with the singing, so the translation became expressive alongside the performance.

"We approached this as scenic design first and translation second, which meant the typography had to perform alongside the singers," said Okerstrom-Lang. "By stylizing and animating the phrases, and timing the text to the music, the words became an expressive scenic element through video projection."

"MASARY's work and their use of Epson technology brought a new dimension to the opera-going experience," says Bradley Vernatter, BLO's Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO. "In working with us – and legendary director and BLO Artistic Advisor Anne Bogart – the team cracked open the possibilities of text and supertitles as a performance element. The text design, animation and movement kept audiences inside the world of the show and underscored the emotional center of the work."

Putting More than Words to the Screen

The production required a projection system capable of maintaining color and contrast across two very different surfaces. Two Epson large venue 4K 3-chip 3LCD laser projectors, converged into a single image, carried the "supertitles" across the set. A third projector, the 10,000-lumen 4K EB-PQ2010W fitted with an ultra short throw snorkel lens, powered a rear-projected window built into the set. The window became a portal through which singers could perform, while lighting and projection transported audiences between scenes, settings and moments in time. This content ran through a media server, while the projectors' interchangeable lenses and Epson Projector Professional Tool (EPPT) enabled the design team to converge, warp and fine-tune each image from a browser rather than a handheld remote.

"Theater venues are often unforgiving, and you're always working around sightlines, throw distances and whatever is already hanging in the room," said Okerstrom-Lang. "When we discovered an HVAC unit in the theater that wasn't in the drawings and blocked our planned projector placement, we quickly re-rigged the system, swapped the lensing, and adjusted the image without compromising the design. What made the concept work was knowing the color and contrast would stay consistent no matter where the projectors ended up."

Ideal for theatrical spaces, Epson's large venue laser projectors offer interchangeable lenses and a lightweight design, allowing installation without heavy-duty equipment and easy adaptation in tight scenic environments. The color output and contrast ensure all content appears sharp and true to the design, supporting the wide range of scenic effects required for this project.

"It takes powerful, reliable technology to elevate a traditional art form with projection, pushing beyond what we thought was possible," said Okerstrom-Lang. "Working with Epson gave us the confidence to take that risk. We're hoping this opens up how titles and scenic design can work together, to support theatrical stories in whatever language it's sung."

"MASARY Studios saw creative potential in what audiences had long accepted as a limitation, transforming translation into an expressive part of the performance," said Chris Teguh, product manager, Epson America. "It's inspiring to see how thoughtfully typography, music and scenic design were brought together, and we're grateful our projection technology could play a supporting role in bringing that vision to life. Projects like this demonstrate what can happen when artists are given the freedom and tools to explore new ways of telling stories and connecting with audiences."

For more information on Epson's large venue laser projectors, visit www.epson.com/largevenue.

About MASARY

MASARY is a Boston-based, artist-owned collective founded in 2015. The collective is a transdisciplinary studio reimagining environments through immersive, site-specific installations that blend sound, light, interactivity, and performance. MASARY's pieces ignite presence, provoke exploration, and spark connection. Through live percussion, electronic soundscapes, projection-mapped video, interactive devices, and performative interventions, they build layered, sensory-rich experiences. Whether activating public squares or theater halls, their work transforms place into purpose and audience into participant, leaving spaces resonant long after an artwork concludes.

www.masarystudios.com | @masary_studios

About Epson

Epson is a technology innovation and engineering company whose philosophy of efficient, compact, and precise innovation enriches lives and helps create a better world. The company uses technology and engineering ability to implement real-world solutions in precision innovation, industrial and robotics, office and home printing, and visual and lifestyle.

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the worldwide Epson Group generates annual sales of more than JPY 1.4 trillion. corporate.epson/en/

Epson America, Inc., based in Los Alamitos, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), X (x.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/epsonamerica) and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica).

EPSON is a registered trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2026 Epson America, Inc.

SOURCE Epson America, Inc.

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Nunery advocates for AI systems that evaluate Certificates of Insurance against an organization's specific requirements, reason across connected documents, produce traceable decisions, and preserve human oversight

Key Takeaways

- Grounding AI in an organization's specific insurance requirements is essential, but it is only part of what reliable certificate of insurance compliance requires.

- AI systems must reason across contracts, certificates of insurance, endorsements, schedules, amendments, and exceptions to evaluate the complete body of evidence.

- Accurate document extraction does not guarantee an accurate compliance decision because compliance depends on the relationships among requirements and supporting documents.

- Every AI-supported compliance determination should be traceable, explainable, and subject to human approval so it can withstand an audit, dispute, or claim.

- Organizations evaluating grounded AI compliance platforms should measure both false passes that leave risk uncovered and false failures that create unnecessary work.

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Kristen Nunery, CEO of illumend and founder of myCOI, is calling on business leaders to demand more from grounded artificial intelligence (AI) in Certificate of Insurance (COI) compliance. Nunery details her point of view in a new article titled "Grounding Is Half the Answer in COI Compliance." The issue affects organizations that rely on vendors, contractors, tenants, franchisees, and other third parties to maintain contractually required insurance coverage, including businesses in construction, commercial real estate, retail and franchising, and government.

Grounded AI is an approach that bases its outputs on defined, authoritative information rather than relying solely on the general knowledge acquired during model training. In COI compliance, that information includes an organization's contracts, leases, insurance requirements, vendor classifications, required endorsements and approved exceptions.

Nunery's position is that grounding AI in an organization's insurance requirements provides a standard for evaluating compliance, but it does not provide sufficient evidence to make a reliable decision. AI systems must also connect information across contracts, certificates, endorsements, schedules, and amendments—and explain how that evidence supports each determination.

Modern AI can accurately extract policy numbers, coverage limits, carriers, and expiration dates from certificates. The distinction, Nunery argues, is that document extraction determines what an insurance document says, while compliance analysis determines whether the full body of evidence satisfies the requirements for a specific vendor, contract, project, or business relationship.

"COI compliance is a document-relationship problem before it is a document-reading problem," Nunery said. "An AI system can read every individual document correctly and still reach the wrong conclusion if it cannot understand how the agreement, certificate, policy, endorsement, and schedule relate to one another."

What Grounded AI Means for COI Compliance

Grounded AI is anchored to a defined source of truth rather than relying on general information absorbed during model training. In COI compliance, the relevant source of truth includes an organization's contracts, leases, insurance requirements, vendor classifications, project standards, required endorsements, and approved exceptions.

Grounding changes the question the system answers. An ungrounded system may assess whether a vendor appears adequately insured, even though "adequately insured" has no universal definition. A grounded system evaluates whether submitted evidence satisfies the requirements governing that specific third-party relationship.

The key difference is that grounded AI evaluates insurance evidence against requirements established by the organization rather than relying on a generalized model-generated standard of adequate coverage.

"Grounding gives the AI the standard instead of asking it to invent one," Nunery said. "A system that cannot tell you where its definition of compliant came from does not really have one."

Why Is Grounded AI Only Half the Answer?

Even a system perfectly grounded in an organization's requirements can reach the wrong decision if it fails to connect all relevant evidence.

For example, a certificate may indicate that additional insured coverage is present while an attached endorsement covers only ongoing operations. If the governing agreement also requires completed operations coverage, approving the vendor based solely on the certificate could leave the organization exposed if a claim arises after the work has ended.

Every document in that example could be read accurately. The incorrect decision would result from failing to connect the certificate and endorsement with the requirement established by the contract.

For businesses, this means accurate extraction is necessary but insufficient. A reliable COI compliance system must determine how information in one document changes, supports, limits, or contradicts information in another.

"Cross-document reasoning tells the system what the complete evidence means, while grounding tells it which requirements that evidence must satisfy," Nunery said. "Remove either one, and the resulting determination is a guess wearing a confident tone."

Nunery advocates for grounded AI systems that evaluate related insurance documents as one body of evidence. A system should determine whether a required endorsement exists, applies to the correct policy, names the appropriate legal entity or project, and satisfies the governing contract. It should also recognize when amendments, schedules, project requirements, or approved exceptions change the compliance decision.

In practical terms, grounding establishes the compliance standard, while cross-document reasoning determines whether the available evidence actually meets that standard.

Why Traceable AI Decisions Matter in COI Compliance

Nunery argues that every AI-supported compliance determination should identify which requirement applied, which documents were evaluated, and why the system reached its conclusion.

"A compliance determination that cannot be reconstructed is not defensible, however confident the system sounded when it made it," Nunery said. "Auditability should be treated as a fundamental requirement for grounded AI, not an optional reporting feature."

Traceability becomes critical during audits, contractual disputes, and claims. A confidence score or pass-fail label does not establish that the system applied the correct agreement, reviewed the relevant endorsements, considered approved exceptions, or evaluated the complete evidence.

A traceable COI compliance decision should allow a reviewer to reconstruct the path from the governing requirement to the supporting documents and the resulting determination.

Human oversight must also remain part of the process. AI can accelerate reviews and identify potential deficiencies, but a person should approve a determination before a third party is declared compliant—particularly when evidence is incomplete, policy language is unusual, or an exception applies.

Seven Questions to Ask a Grounded AI Compliance Vendor

Nunery recommends focusing less on the underlying AI model and more on the requirements, evidence, and controls surrounding it. Buyers should ask:

- Who defines "compliant" in the system?

- Are requirements configured before the system operates at scale?

- Does the system connect certificates with contracts, endorsements, and schedules?

- Can it distinguish missing evidence from deficient coverage?

- Is every determination supported by documented reasoning?

- Does a person approve the decision before a vendor is declared compliant?

- Which capabilities are available today rather than planned for the future?

Nunery also recommends measuring both false passes and false failures. A false pass leaves uncovered risk in an organization's portfolio, while a false failure creates unnecessary work by prompting teams to pursue vendors that were not out of compliance.

The two measures reveal different types of system error: false passes indicate potential risk exposure, while false failures indicate unnecessary operational work and third-party friction.

"A system that reports only one of those numbers is telling you half of what happened," Nunery said.

How illumend Uses Grounded AI for COI Compliance

illumend is an AI-powered third-party insurance compliance and risk management platform backed by myCOI's institutional data foundation. Nunery founded myCOI more than 16 years ago, and the company's experience includes reviewing 45 million documents, managing 1.2 million agreements, and identifying 2 million coverage gaps before they became claims.

During onboarding, illumend configures an organization's insurance requirements based on standards derived from its contracts and leases. The platform then evaluates submitted evidence against the defined requirements, reviews endorsements with each submission, identifies specific deficiencies, manages renewals, and documents the reasoning behind each determination. A person signs off before a third party is notified of its compliance.

The workflow is designed to connect four components of a compliance decision: the organization's requirements, the submitted insurance evidence, the reasoning used to evaluate that evidence, and human approval of the final determination.

"Grounding AI in an organization's requirements is the right place to start, but it is only half the answer," Nunery said. "Risk and compliance leaders should demand systems that understand the complete compliance picture, apply the correct requirements consistently, and produce decisions that can withstand scrutiny when an audit, dispute, or claim occurs.

DALLAS, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VertexOne, a leading provider of cloud software designed to revolutionize the customer experience within the energy and utility industry, announced today that American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility in the United States, has selected VertexOne's utility customer self-service and consumption analytics platform, VXconnect, to power a modern, mobile-first digital customer experience built for American Water's national size and scale.

The company, which serves more than 14 million people spanning 14 states, said they chose VertexOne for its deep utility-sector expertise, proven record of success with water utilities, and the maturity of its VXconnect platform. These strengths, American Water VP, Chief Customer Officer Matt Prine said, support the company's selection of a partner and platform ready to match its size and scope today, and capable of evolving alongside its customers and strategic priorities in the years ahead.

"American Water prioritizes customer experience for those we currently serve, as well as for new customers as our footprint continues to grow, and one of the strengths of the VXconnect platform is that it is built to scale," Prine said. "VXconnect's modular architecture means we can extend capabilities over time, onboard new customer populations efficiently, and maintain a consistent, high-quality digital experience for all customers across American Water's national footprint."

At the heart of VXconnect is a dedicated mobile app, a first for American Water and a response to how customers expect to interact with the services they rely on every day: giving customers the power and convenience to manage payments, view usage, and request services on their own terms, whenever and wherever it works for them.

Additionally, conservation and usage analytics will deliver personalized insights that support both customer satisfaction and American Water's broader sustainability goals, while electronic billing and digital communications advance a more connected, paperless experience.

"This is not just a technology upgrade, but a strategic investment in meeting our customers where they are, providing the high-quality service they expect and deserve," American Water Senior Director, Customer Operations and Project Delivery Lead, Takisha Walker said. "Our mission is to deliver safe, clean, reliable, and affordable water and wastewater services, and that mission also extends to how we deliver the customer experience."

VertexOne and VXconnect provides American Water and its customers control over their accounts and enables the company to support customers more effectively when they need information or help. The result is exceptional customer experience that, in turn, builds a confident, strong and lasting positive customer relationship.

"American Water sets the standard for what a modern water and wastewater utility can be and represents the next step in VertexOne's commitment to shaping the future of utility customer experience," VertexOne Chief Operating Officer, Keith Ahonen said. "Because we're not just providing American Water a platform, we're helping them better serve their expanding customer base. VXconnect was designed with that exact goal in mind: to unify, scale, and deliver a customer experience that keeps pace with the utilities who define and lead the industry."

About VertexOne

VertexOne is the leading provider of cloud-based SaaS solutions, powering the next generation of customer experience for utilities, energy retailers and energy transition providers. With more than 30 years of experience and 400 customers in the cloud, we capitalize on our deep expertise to provide a wide range of innovative solutions for digital transformation, revenue optimization, and data-driven efficiency operations surrounding the customer. We empower our clients to deliver a compelling customer experience, reduce costs to serve, increase operational efficiency, and improve customer satisfaction. For more information on how VertexOne allows you to enhance the digital customer experience, improve revenue management and leverage data analytics, visit vertexone.ai.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 19 military installations. American Water's approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

CONTACT: Niki Lindquist, 214-576-1046, [email protected]

SOURCE VertexOne

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Trackonomy Systems, the Physical AI company, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Identiv's IoT label business. The combined organization will operate as Trackonomy Group, bringing together three businesses (semiconductors, smart labels, and end-to-end solutions) that each compete openly in their own markets and together form the industry's only vertically integrated Physical AI supply chain.

Going forward, Trackonomy Group will operate three independent businesses:

- Semiconductors (InPlay): a leader in next-generation Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) semiconductor technology, delivering ultra-low-power, highly integrated SoCs that make intelligent connectivity possible at massive scale.

- Labels (Identiv): a leading manufacturer and solution provider of NFC-, RFID-, and BLE-enabled IoT labels, with world-class design, engineering, and high-volume manufacturing capabilities serving customers across the globe.

- Solutions (Sentient): the pioneer of the smart label category, with the industry's broadest patent portfolio and a product line that removes the hurdles on the path to full Physical AI digital transformation: multi-radio readers for in-building, transit, and final mile; label-application robotics; camera tunnels; certified high-security APIs; and the cloud-native Sentient Platform.

Three strong businesses, one powerful group

Each of the three businesses operates independently, with its own customers, partners, technologies, and market position. InPlay continues to supply its BLE SoC solutions to a broad range of device and label makers worldwide. Identiv remains the customer-facing brand for its NFC, HF RFID, and BLE-enabled IoT business, sourcing from multiple chip suppliers and serving its global customer base with the same teams, relationships, and open partnership model built over many years. Sentient continues to deliver end-to-end smart tracking solutions to enterprises in logistics, aviation, healthcare, high-value goods, and defense. It also remains one of the industry's largest buyers of chips and labels, as demand for its solutions continues to outstrip available manufacturing capacity.

Independence is by design. It keeps each business agile, competitive, and focused while giving customers choice and flexibility. The group provides deep financial strength to invest and grow, and the ability to partner with the largest companies in the world. Together, the three businesses orchestrate nearly 20 million shipments daily and are on a path to more than 200 million connected assets. Backed by Trackonomy's know-how and intellectual property portfolio, and by a global manufacturing engine that can be committed at scale, each business is materially stronger, advancing an offering that spans from silicon to cloud.

"Bringing together the capabilities of Trackonomy, Identiv, and InPlay gives us a unique foundation on which to build the next generation of Physical AI," said Dr. Erik Volkerink, co-founder and chief executive officer of Trackonomy. "Our objective is not to fold these businesses into one another. Each will keep winning in its own market on its own merits. We started this category almost a decade ago, and we're excited to help the smart label ecosystem in any way we can."

The group's immediate focus is continuity for employees, customers, and partners, and for ongoing projects across all three businesses.

"We are excited to become part of the Trackonomy Group," said Manfred Mueller, newly appointed CEO of the Identiv business. "With the strength of the group behind us, we can broaden our portfolio and bring more to the table for all of our customers."

About Trackonomy

Trackonomy is a San Jose, California-based Physical AI company and the only group in the category spanning proprietary semiconductors, high-volume smart label process technology and manufacturing, and end-to-end solutions — with each business serving the broader market on an open basis. Trackonomy pioneered the smart label category nearly a decade ago and has grown into the market leader, holding the industry's broadest smart label patent portfolio and anchoring a thriving ecosystem of partners, manufacturers, and solution providers. A World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer award winner, Trackonomy employs more than 500 people worldwide, with a global footprint spanning three factories and five R&D centers across Asia, Europe, and the USA. Together, Trackonomy's technologies orchestrate more than 20 million shipments daily across logistics, aviation, healthcare, defense, and retail. The Group operates three independent businesses: InPlay (Ultra-low-power wireless SoC), Identiv (RFID- and BLE-enabled IoT label products), and Sentient (end-to-end smart tracking solutions spanning label applicators, camera tunnels, reader infrastructure, and a cloud platform). Privately held, Trackonomy has raised over $250 million and is backed by prominent venture capital firms and investors, including 8VC (launched by the co-founder of Palantir), Kleiner Perkins, Koch Disruptive Technologies, and In-Q-Tel, among others. Learn more at Trackonomy.ai

SOURCE Trackonomy Systems

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Experienced cancer philanthropy leader joins LUNGevity as Foundation strengthens its commitment to funding research, advocacy, and programs that improve outcomes for people with lung cancer.

BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation announced that Sam Rogers has joined the Foundation as Chief Development Officer. Rogers brings nearly two decades of leadership in cancer philanthropy and nonprofit fundraising to LUNGevity at a key time for progress in lung cancer.

The appointment reflects LUNGevity's commitment to growing the philanthropic investment needed to accelerate its mission and change the trajectory of lung cancer. As advances in early detection, precision medicine, and treatment create new opportunities to help people live longer and better, LUNGevity is focused on ensuring that promising science moves forward, patients can benefit from progress, and momentum is not lost because of a lack of resources.

"Driving meaningful change in lung cancer requires bold ideas, strong partnerships, and the resources to turn possibility into progress," said Andrea Ferris, president and CEO of LUNGevity Foundation. "Strengthening our development leadership will help us build on the generosity and commitment of our existing community while creating new opportunities for philanthropic partnership. Sam brings deep experience connecting donors and partners with opportunities to make a meaningful difference, and his leadership will help us expand what is possible for people living with lung cancer."

As Chief Development Officer, Rogers will lead LUNGevity's comprehensive fundraising strategy, building on the Foundation's fundraising programs and longstanding donor and partner relationships to expand and diversify philanthropic support. He will focus on growing sustainable support for the Foundation's work across the lung cancer continuum, from advancing early detection and precision medicine to accelerating research, improving access to clinical trials, supporting survivorship, advocating for policies that benefit the lung cancer community, and ensuring patients and families have access to trusted information and support.

"There has never been a more important time to invest in lung cancer," said Rogers. "Scientific advances are creating opportunities that would have been unimaginable not long ago, but realizing their full potential requires sustained investment. I'm excited to join LUNGevity and work alongside its community of patients, researchers, clinicians, advocates, donors, and partners to grow philanthropic support and deepen engagement to accelerate progress and help ensure that people with lung cancer can live longer, better lives."

Before joining LUNGevity, Rogers spent four years in senior leadership at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Foundation, driving philanthropic strategy and establishing pathways for sustainable growth.

Earlier in his career, Rogers spent more than eight years at the Lymphoma Research Foundation, where his work spanned multiple fundraising channels, marketing, and patient communications. He earned both his Master of Science and bachelor's degrees from The New School.

Rogers joins LUNGevity as the Foundation builds on a strong philanthropic foundation and decades of investment in lung cancer research addressing the needs of people affected by the disease at every stage, from early detection through treatment and survivorship.

About LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation is transforming what it means to be diagnosed and live with lung cancer. While many organizations focus on one aspect of lung cancer, LUNGevity works across research, advocacy, and patient support, because lasting progress requires connecting all three.

As the largest nonprofit funder of lung cancer research in the United States, LUNGevity drives progress in early detection, more effective treatments, and the next generation of researchers. We empower people diagnosed with lung cancer and their caregivers with scientifically vetted information, resources, and community and advocate for policies that improve access to screening, biomarker testing, treatment, and high-quality care for all.

By connecting scientific discovery, patient experience, and advocacy, we help ensure research reflects what patients need, breakthroughs reach the people who can benefit from them, and patient voices help drive meaningful change.

Our vision is a world where no one dies of lung cancer.

Please visit www.LUNGevity.org to learn more.

About Lung Cancer in the US

- About 1 in 19 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime.

- More than 229,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, with a new diagnosis every 2.3 minutes.

- It is estimated that close to 65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people with no tobacco exposure or only past tobacco exposure.

- More lives are lost to lung cancer than to the next two deadliest cancers (colorectal and pancreatic) combined.

- Only 28% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, but if it's caught before it spreads, the chance of 5-year survival improves to 65%.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation

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