【By 2Firsts, Shenzhen】On June 6th, 2Firsts, a global leading media and think tank in atomization technology, successfully held the "Global NGP Market Trends Forum" in Qianhai, Shenzhen. The forum, themed on "New Markets, New Opportunities," invited heavyweight guests from global regulation, market, design, product, and traditional tobacco fields to discuss topics such as US compliance trends, e-cigarette product innovation and differentiation, observations on emerging markets, HNB design trends, and the integration and development of traditional tobacco.
Alan Zhao, co-founder and CEO of 2Firsts, pointed out in his opening speech that 2025 is a key node for the global new tobacco industry to move from quantitative change to qualitative change. In multiple dimensions such as regulation, technology, and market, new trends are emerging and are expected to trigger an industry revolution that covers the entire world. The global new tobacco market is accelerating towards the "finals", with a clearer path to victory, and the cost of failure is unprecedentedly heavy. At such a critical moment of competition and opportunity, companies urgently need to accurately judge the direction, seize the initiative, and find certainty from uncertainty. It is for this reason that Alan Zhao emphasized that 2Firsts is committed to building a high-quality industry dialogue platform, providing industry insights and strategic support to help companies achieve global layout and technological breakthroughs.
Former FDA Official and Founder of ALINC Consulting, Rachael Schmidt: Market Opportunities and Strategic Guidance Under Emerging U.S Compliance Trends
Former FDA official and founder of ALINC Consulting, Rachael Schmidt, delivered the first presentation on "Market Opportunities and Strategic Guidance Under Emerging U.S Compliance Trends". She emphasized the significant differences between federal and state regulatory laws in the US, as well as the high uncertainty in local enforcement, urging companies to be cautious of regulatory pressures in the manufacturing process. Schmidt also suggested that the recent leadership changes at the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) could signal a potential shift in regulatory policies.
After the speech, she engaged in interactive discussions with the audience on topics such as the pre-market tobacco product application (PMTA) process, policy differences among states in the United States, and corporate strategies for addressing these issues.
ISPIRE Chief Financial Officer Yu Jie: New Technology, New Landscape, New Opportunities: How Age Verification Technology Empowering Compliance in the Vaping Industry
ISPIRE's Chief Financial Officer, Yu Jie, delivered a keynote speech on "New Technology, New Landscape, New Opportunities: How Age Verification Technology Empowering Compliance in the Vaping Industry." He introduced ISPIRE's innovative age verification system based on blockchain technology under its subsidiary IKE, becoming the first in the industry to complete the first PMTA component application and obtain FDA acceptance letter, driving technological compliance to become an industry consensus. He emphasized that this not only improves corporate compliance efficiency but also lays the foundation for building long-term "regulatory assets.
Eason Lin, the Director of Product at Firstunion Group: Starting From the Consumer to Achieve Differentiated Innovation
Firstunion Group's product director Eason Lin proposed the integration model of "wind direction line" and "market line" with the theme of "Starting from the Consumer to Achieve Differentiated Innovation". By connecting macro trends with consumer feedback, he guides product development direction. He pointed out that extreme compliance 2ML devices, AI visual oil tanks, adjustable experience devices, and other six major paths will become key breakthroughs in breaking homogenization, and he showcased the new CFU Experience series products on site.
2Firsts Co-Founder & COO Echo Guo: Introducing 2Firsts' Compliance Services for U.S. Market Entry
2Firsts co-founder & COO Echo Guo: "Introducing 2Firsts' Compliance Services for U.S. Market Entry." She emphasized that companies should view PMTA as a path to building regulatory assets, rather than just a market threshold. PMTA should not only be seen as an entry barrier, but also as a strategic path for companies to acquire regulatory assets and build a moat. Additionally, she unveiled the "PMTA Super Service Plan" launched by 2Firsts, providing full-process support for companies from strategic planning to technical submission, to help brands efficiently enter the compliant market.
German Hertz Flavors team: A Taste for Change: The Future of Tobacco Flavors
The German Hertz Flavors team, led by sales director Christine Vogelsang, Lorna Lopez, Hertz Flavors sales manager Mohammed Schelebi, and Stella Mönkediek, Hertz Flavors regulatory affairs manager, delved into the future trends of tobacco flavors in their presentation titled "A Taste for Change: The Future of Tobacco Flavors". The team analyzed the evolution of tobacco flavors from the perspectives of sensory science, regional preferences, and regulatory requirements. They pointed out that consumers' expectations for flavors are shifting from sweetness to more sophisticated experiences, and that regional customization and compliance design will be key to future innovation.
Mark Wen, the General Manager of Taiwan Miaoli Tobacco Industry: A New Chapter in Tobacco Aromatics: Integration Tradition with New- Generation Tobacco
The General Manager Mark Wen of the Taiwan Miaoli Tobacco Industry, delivered a keynote speech titled "A New Chapter in Tobacco Aromatics: Integration Tradition with New- Generation Tobacco." He proposed that in the future, the tobacco industry will present a situation where cigarettes, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes coexist. He emphasized that the capsule bursting technology is the key bridge for the integration of the two types of tobacco, and traditional companies need to actively embrace technological innovation to achieve product upgrades.
2Firsts Co-Founder & COO Echo Guo: From Legacy to Leap: Rethinking Cigarettes in the Age of NGPs
Echo Guo, Co-Founder & COO of 2Firsts, gave a second speech titled "From Legacy to Leap: Rethinking Cigarettes in the Age of NGPs" from a macro perspective to reexamine the interaction between traditional tobacco and NGPs. She pointed out that JUUL's nicotine salt technology is rooted in traditional cigarette logic, while KT&G is also innovating their traditional products by borrowing e-cigarette concepts. With increasing regulations and intensifying competition, the boundaries between the two are becoming increasingly blurred, and in the future, it will be necessary to break free from category thinking and rebuild the logic of brand and user relationships.
South African Co-Founder & Director of MISTLABS, T.D. Ryklief: South African's E-cigarette Market: Current Status and Trends
South African MISTLABS co-founder T.D. Ryklief delivered a keynote speech on the topic "South African's E-cigarette Market: Current Status and Trends " He pointed out that brands need to find a balance between "affordable price" and "premium experience" under the dual pressures of high taxes and limited consumer purchasing power. Open systems and disposable products each have their own supporters in the local market, and environmental sustainability and personalized demands are rising simultaneously, indicating considerable potential in the South African market. In addition, T.D. Ryklief connected with the audience on site to provide a more detailed introduction to the current situation and future trends in the South African market.
Leona Zhu, Editor in Chief of 2Firsts: Dubai Expo Participation Guide: 2Firsts' Experience and Strategy
Leona Zhu, Editor in Chief of 2Firsts delivered a keynote speech titled "Dubai Expo Participation Guide: 2Firsts' Experience and Strategy." She shared 2Firsts' practical experience in attending exhibitions, helping attendees quickly understand the key players and industry trends of the Dubai exhibition. She also shared valuable experiences on how to efficiently interact and collect information on-site.
Former Head of Design at BAT and The Winner of the Red Dot Award, Jonathon Lister: Design Trends and Future Opportunities within THP
Former Head of Design at BAT and the winner of the Red Dot Award, Jonathon Lister, delivered a keynote speech titled "Design Trends and Future Opportunities within THP." He pointed out that the core of future product design lies in creating an "experience ecosystem" that encompasses service, emotion, and function, rather than just focusing on visual aesthetics. Excellent design should seamlessly integrate into the user's daily life, emphasizing clean convenience, safety in use, and an emotional connection with consumers to build long-term brand loyalty and differentiation in competition. He emphasized that truly "smart products" solve real problems, rather than simply showing off technical skills.
Meanwhile, Jonathon Lister also interacted with the live audience through video chat, providing in-depth answers to questions concerning the evolution of design direction, user experience, and other issues of interest. He further shared his unique insights on future product trends.
This seminar also featured a special remote connection interactive session, where all online guests were able to engage in real-time communication with the on-site audience. This not only broke the limitations of physical space but also allowed professional perspectives from different global markets to respond to audience concerns in a timely manner, enhancing the depth and breadth of dialogue. Additionally, the seminar was live-streamed on WeChat Video Account "2Firsts" to reach more industry practitioners and followers who were unable to attend in person, further expanding the seminar's influence and industry linkage effects.
Audience feedback on the scene was generally positive, with many noting that the seminar content was dense and cutting-edge. Particularly, there was enthusiastic response to discussions on compliance trends in the American market, the adoption pathways for new technologies, and the evolution of design concepts. Attendees believed that this seminar provided a highly informative reference framework and practical guidance for companies at a critical juncture.
The seminar not only focuses on international trends but also presents a comprehensive discussion on technical compliance, product innovation, market layout, and aesthetic philosophy, showcasing the bridging value of 2Firsts as a global new tobacco think tank and service platform. In the future, 2Firsts will continue to promote in-depth dialogue across regions, tracks, and philosophies, injecting structural insights and executable solutions into the industry.
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Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn
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