Acquandas is a thin-film device manufacturer that’s now partially owned by brain-computer interface developer Synchron. Rodrigo Lima de Miranda founded Acquandas in 2012 based on microsystem technology he developed for his doctoral thesis, where he was trying to develop a shape memory material made with thin-film deposition. The Kiel, Germany-based contract manufacturer now uses the…
New U.S. chip development center to be created, in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending February 9, 2024, closed at 3,559.79 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 3.17% (or 109.24 basis points). Seventeen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.10% (Johnson & Johnson) to 10.86% (Eli Lilly & Co.) Eight RDWI members lost value the…
Deep Resolve – MRI Faster than ever before is the R&D 100 of the day
MRI scans face the challenge of balancing acquisition speed, image quality, and signal-to-noise ratio. Siemens Healthineers‘ Deep Resolve’s AI-powered reconstruction technology improves all three factors simultaneously, making scans faster and maintaining image quality. This technology generates actionable diagnostic insights that can save lives. With Deep Resolve, scan times can be shortened by up to 60%,…
Sparking innovation for research
From the University of Missouri For more than half a century, the University of Missouri has been a leader in nuclear science and engineering research thanks to the MU Researcher Reactor (MURR), the highest-powered research reactor at any university in the country. Building on MURR’s internationally recognized level of excellence, the university is looking into…
2024 R&D 100 Awards to open March 6th
The 62nd R&D 100 Awards program will open for submissions on March 6th, 2024. The program is focused on corporate, government, and academic R&D organizations across the globe, and has been referred to as, “The Oscars of Innovation.” First established in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards is the only S&T (science and technology) awards competition…
CHIPS Act monies to be finally distributed in this week’s R&D power index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending February 2, 2024, closed at 3,450.55 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 3.03% (or 101.59 basis points). Twelve RDWI members gained value last week from 1.00% (Oracle) to 20.51% (Meta Platforms). Thirteen RDWI members lost value last week from -0.87% (IBM)…
ZFP: Fast, Accurate Data Compression for Modern Supercomputing Applications is today’s R&D 100 of the day
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s ZFP is a new compressed number format for floating-point and integer arrays intended to reduce in-memory and offline storage and transfer time of large data sets that arise in high-performance computing (HPC). ZFP effectively expands available CPU and GPU memory by as much as 10 times; reduces offline storage by one…
Bio-inspired Silicone Sealant for Wet Surface Adhesion is the R&D 100 winner of the day
Inspired by mussels adhering to wet rocks, Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI) has invented a catechol-grafted silicone sealant with excellent bonds on hard-to-attach surfaces. The unique catechol groups in the silicone sealant system designed by NAMI can repel water molecules and form strong chemical covalent and physical electrostatic bonds on wet surfaces. In particular,…
Slow economic growth forecast in 2024, in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending January 26, 2024, closed at 3,348.96 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 1.56% (or 51.40 basis points). Fifteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.40% (Honda) to 9.30% (IBM). Ten RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.22% (AbbVie)…
Incheon National University researchers enhance the safety of lithium batteries
From Incheon National University: Lithium-ion batteries face safety concerns due to internal separator issues that often lead to short circuits. Scientists have now developed a method to improve the stability and properties of separators with a layer of silicon dioxide and other functional molecules. Batteries employing these separators demonstrated improved performance and reduced growth of…
Hemco’s AirFlow Monitor continuously monitors face velocity
The Hemco AirFlow Monitor is a device that continuously monitors the face velocity airflow of a fume hood. It allows you to select and calibrate the desired FPM velocity set point. In case the hood face velocity falls below the set point, an audible alarm and a visual red indicator light will appear, alerting you…
Shimadzu’s new mass spectrometer series provides eco-friendly elemental analysis
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments introduces the ICPMS-2040/2050 series of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometers that feature a proprietary advanced mini-torch system, a redesigned collision/reaction cell, and a high-performance quadrupole mass filter with enhanced resolution. The ICPMS-2040/2050 series is ideal for analyzing the concentration of inorganic elements in solution samples in environmental, pharmaceutical, clinical, food, chemical, and…
TSMC delaying U.S. chip plant startups, in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending January 19, 2024, closed at 3,297.56 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 0.70% (or 22.95 basis points). Fourteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.22% (Merck & Co.) to 3.43% (IBM). Eleven RDWI members lost value last week from 0.40%…
The National Science Foundation funds Bruker NMR installation at The Ohio State University
Bruker Corporation, a provider of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy solutions for life and materials research, announces the successful installation of a 1.2 GHz NMR system at the National Gateway Ultrahigh Field NMR Center at The Ohio State University. Ultra-high field NMR is complementary to other structural biology technologies in that NMR can measure functional…
New NPL neutron facility boosts UK’s nuclear energy, defense, and fusion research capabilities
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has announced a new neutron measurement facility that will play a critical role in the safe and secure operation and continued development of the U.K.’s nuclear energy, defense, and fusion research sectors. The facility consists of a new particle accelerator and is one of only a few known facilities worldwide…
Brabender becomes part of Anton Paar, maker of laboratory instruments
Anton Paar, a maker of laboratory and process measurement technology, announces a new chapter in the company’s journey. At the beginning of 2024, Anton Paar took over the global sales and service network of Brabender, a company it acquired in August 2023. Anton Paar’s 37 global sales and service centers adds value for customers. These…
New Year brings new R&D collaborations, in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending January 12, 2024, closed at 3,274.61 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 3.16% (or 100.29 basis points). Eighteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.16% (AbbVie) to 5.63% (Microsoft) Seven RDWI members lost value last week from -0.16% (Roche Holdings…
PFAS — the collateral damage begins
I predicted collateral damage as regulators addressed PFAS. I was right. On December 1, the EPA effectively killed Inhance Technologies’ barrier packaging business. The press on the EPA action is pretty bifurcated. Most are taking a victory lap, cheering that a producer of PFAS will cease production. A minority ask what will replace the technology…
Forecast 2024: Pharma industry grapples with regulatory hurdles and AI opportunities
Heading into 2024, the pharma industry finds itself in uncharted waters. On the one hand, the sector’s commitment to R&D investment and innovation output is likely to remain strong, with tools based on AI, automation, and real-world data promising more streamlined drug candidate optimization. Additionally, the pharma sector is typically resilient in economic downturns. Financial…
Quantinuum provides RIKEN large-scale hybrid quantum–supercomputing platform
Quantinuum, the world’s largest integrated quantum computing company, and RIKEN, Japan’s largest comprehensive research institution and home to high-performance computing (HPC) center, have announced an agreement in which Quantinuum will provide RIKEN access to its highest-performing H1-Series ion-trap quantum computing technology. Under the agreement, Quantinuum will install the hardware at RIKEN’s campus in Wako, Saitama. The deployment…
Shimadzu’s new next-generation GCMS provides sensitivity, stability, and speed
Shimadzu Scientific Instruments introduces its next-generation gas chromatograph mass spectrometer — the GCMS-QP2050. Powered by advanced automated technology in a compact footprint, the GCMS-QP2050 features exceptional reliability, sensitivity, stability, and speed in an easy-to-use system. It can be partnered with Shimadzu’s high-end Nexis GC-2030 or compact Brevis GC-2050 to meet customers’ performance and space requirements.…
Gravity-free brassiere using bio-inspired shock-absorbing materials is the R&D 100 winner of the day
Developer: Nano and Advanced Materials Institute ( Co-Developer: Super Rich Moulders Limited Four K Knitters Limited NAMI has developed an innovative material that emulates spider silk, offering both flexibility for comfort and resistance to movement. The material features soft and hard segments, with the soft part providing elasticity and the hard portion delivering energy-absorbing capabilities.…
Overcoming the machine learning paradox: How the Allen Institute is scaling its computational research
Despite the buzz surrounding AI in the past decade, its implementation within scientific research organizations isn’t as pervasive as one might think. One of the reasons for this is that research organizations often face a staffing dilemma when it comes to managing large-scale computational research and computational analysis. Historically, most research organizations have employed scientists…
UCLA to build huge new research campus, in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending January 5, 2024, closed at 3,174.32 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 0.89% (or 28.11 basis points). Fourteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.07% (General Motors) to 7.52% (Merck & Co.) Eleven RDWI members lost value this past week…
PMOs: Changing the center of gravity in project management
In March of last year, the Project Management Institute (PMI) released its annual “Pulse of the Profession” report. Considered the world’s leading authority on project management, its 2021 report, “Beyond Agility,” documented that amid a global pandemic, a diverse range of companies around the world achieved successful project outcomes, comparable to or better than previous…