Science and Enterprise

Month: July 2010

  • GE Leads $200 Million Smart Grid Challenge

    GE and four venture capital companies unveiled a $200 million innovation challenge for ideas to improve and accelerate a smarter and more efficient electrical grid. The challenge is open to ideas from individuals or teams in business or other sectors. The ideas sought from challenge participants cover three broad themes … Renewable energy Grid efficiency…

  • Nanotechnology Gains Higher Profile in Personal-Care Industry

    A review of patents issued for new health and beauty products since 2003 shows an increasing reliance on nanotechnology to achieve breakthroughs in product design and performance. Between 2003 and 2009, the number of patents for health and beauty items making use of nanotechnology more than doubled, from 181 in 2003 to 367 in 2009.…

  • New Service Connects Investigators with Clinical Trial Sponsors

    CenterWatch in Boston, Massachusetts today unveiled a new service to help pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations (CROs) find and engage investigative sites worldwide to conduct phase I through IV clinical trials. Sponsors of clinical research have become more interested in recruiting investigators from more locations around the world. At the same time, says CenterWatch…

  • Semiconductor Partnership to Focus on Energy Technologies

    Semiconductor Research Corporation, a university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies has established a $5 million industry-university partnership to bring new energy systems and technologies to the marketplace. Founding industry members include ABB, Applied Materials, Bosch, First Solar, IBM, Nexans and Tokyo Electron. The new Energy Research Initiative will team companies from semiconductors and related…

  • Financing Deals: 12 July 2010

    Accuri Cytometers in Ann Arbor, Michigan completed a $6 million financing deal involving sale of preferred stock to a group of investors including Arboretum Ventures, Baird Venture Partners, Fidelity Biosciences, Flagship Ventures and the InvestMichigan! Program co-managed by Credit Suisse. The company plans to use the financing to expand its C6 brand cytometer into the…

  • Genzyme to Expand its Suburban Boston Campus

    Genzyme Corporation, a biotech company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, plans to double the size of its manufacturing and research facilities in nearby Framingham, according to a story by Scott Van Voorhis in yesterday’s Boston Globe. The plan involves doubling the size of that facility and adding up to 1,000 new jobs, according to a company executive…

  • U.S. Venture Capital Fundraising Drops by Half

    In the second quarter of 2010, 38 venture capital (VC) firms in the U.S. raised $1.9 billion, a decline of 49% compared to the first quarter of 2010 and the lowest level of financial commitments since the third quarter of 2003. These results were reported in a survey released today by National Capital Venture Association…

  • California Nanoparticle Ink Developer in Solar Cell Deal

    Innovalight, in Sunnyvale, California, will supply its silicon ink based on nanotechnology for JA Solar, a Chinese manufacturer of high-efficiency solar energy cells. The two companies will also co-develop solar cells that promise higher power-conversion efficiency. JA Solar has pilot tested Innovalight’s silicon ink since May 2010. Full commercial production is expected to begin later…

  • USPTO Seeks Comments on Strategic Plan

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is asking the public for feedback on its draft strategic plan for fiscal years 2010-2015. The 77-page document describes the agency’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. As described on the USPTO Web site, “The plan as fully implemented will enhance and accelerate the innovation and job growth needed…

  • U.S. R&D Companies Employ 27 Million Worldwide

    More than 27 million people worldwide worked at U.S. companies in 2008 that fund or conduct research and development, according to new statistics from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Solid majorities of the 27.1 million employees in those companies worked in the U.S. (68%) or for manufacturing companies (60%). In these companies, however, just under…