The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending September 13, 2024, closed at 3,924.01 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 2.95% (or 112.59 basis points). Seventeen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.30% (Volkswagen AG) to 14.26% (Oracle). Eight RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.85%…
This week in R&D: BMW & Toyota’s hydrogen EV alliance, Moderna’s R&D spending scrutinized, and Nvidia’s AI data center investment
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending September 6, 2024, closed at 3,811.42 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was down -3.99% (or -158.42 basis points). Two RDWI members gained value last week from 0.37% (Oracle) to 2.61% (Sanofi SA). Twenty-three RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.52%…
Where Harris and Trump stand on the future of American science
[Updated on September 16, 2024 with new details from FactCheck.org] The current Biden-Harris administration and Project 2025, a potential blueprint for a second Trump term, offer starkly different visions for the future of American science. Conversely, Project 2025—a conservative policy roadmap from a think tank featuring input from multiple former government officials — proposes a…
This week in R&D: AMD puts R&D centers in Taiwan cities, Northvolt relocates battery operations to its Sweden R&D center
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending August 23, 2024, closed at 3,947.43 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 1.78% (or 68.94 basis points). Twenty-two RDWI members gained value last week from 0.11% (Meta Platforms) to 7.23% (Ford Motor). Three RDWI members lost value the previous week from…
Slip and slide into reinforcement learning with the Frozen Lake challenge
Remember when DeepBlue mastered chess and AlphaGo conquered the game of Go, the board game with more moves than particles in the known universe? Or what about when cars learned to drive themselves? Reinforcement learning (RL) plays an essential role in each of these examples. RL is having a significant impact on R&D across an…
AMD raises earnings forecast to $4.5B, after continuously doubling revenue; NSC to feds: increase AI spending
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Santa Clara, California, announced last week that its data-center revenue more than doubled year over year, exceeding Wall Street analyst’s estimates. The company also raised its forecast for this year’s sale of AI chips to more than $4.5 billion, an increase of 13% from its forecast three months ago. While this…
OpenAI unveils SearchGPT test version; Tesla’s humanoid robot to debut in 2025
OpenAI, San Francisco, announced last week that it is launching a test version of their long-awaited search engine. SearchGPT will cite news sources such as News Corp. (publisher of the Wall Street Journal) and the Atlantic magazine (published by the Emerson Collective/publisher is Laurene Jobs — Steve Jobs’s widow). OpenAI has also struck partnerships with…
An interactive 3D map of global innovation hubs
Silicon Valley is still where it’s at in terms of R&D. Yes, the region has cut roughly 45,000 tech jobs since 2022, but its dominance in research and development remains unchallenged, based on data from The 2023 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. And despite the layoffs, many tech companies have reported significant revenue growth. NVIDIA…
Shanghai gets $1.4B boost from Huawei for 5G/6G and autonomous vehicle research
Shanghai residents can now hail a ride in a completely driverless robotaxi, part of China’s aggressive push to lead the autonomous vehicle race. The development is a milestone for China’s autonomous vehicle industry, as Shanghai joins other major cities like Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou in allowing robotaxis to operate without safety operators physically present in the…
Flying cars could take off in China, subsea power project aims to link Morocco to UK in this week’s R&D World roundup
While a massive underwater power cable promises to bring renewable energy from Morocco to the UK, high above the streets of Guangzhou, China, another futuristic vision is taking flight: flying cars. These ambitious projects underscore a global surge in research and development, as evidenced by the latest R&D World Index (RDWI). The R&D World Index…
Infineon Technologies to build an R&D center in Taiwan; Car makers are halting EV targets as sales wane in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending June 28, 2024, closed at 3,821.08 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 0.94% (or 35.45 basis points). Thirteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.28% (IBM) to 5.91% (Ford Motor Co.). Twelve RDWI members lost value the previous week from…
World Forest maps tree fingerprints; Stellantis moves EV production out of China in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending June 14, 2024, closed at 3,771.30 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 1.72% (or 63.98 basis points). Nine RDWI members gained value last week from 0.37% (Novartis) to 9.70% (Oracle). Sixteen RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.35% (Cisco)…
China opens roads to self-driving cars; Taiwan insists on global talent for Nvidia expansion in this week’s R&D Power Index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending June 7, 2024, closed at 3,707.32 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was up 2.44% (or 88.31 basis points). Seventeen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.08% (Alibaba) to 7.45% (Oracle). Eight RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.10% (Sanofi…
SwRI’s demonstrates ultra-low emissions from hydrogen-fueled heavy-duty engine
From Southwest Research Institute Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has completed the development of a hydrogen-fueled Class-8 demonstration vehicle, built as part of its industry-supported H2-ICE consortium. The central focus of the demonstration includes Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) development producing ultra-low NOx and CO2 emissions while still providing enough torque and power for most heavy-duty…
SAKOR Technologies provides automated hydraulic cam phaser test stand
SAKOR Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of high-performance dynamometer systems, announces that it recently provided a performance test stand for validating designs for new hydraulic variable timing cam phaser systems for a major international provider of powertrain components. Powerful and flexible, the cam phaser test stand will be used for research and development on engine timing…
Research at VW’s Innovation Hub drives advances in EV range, recycled vehicle materials
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is boosting its automotive research in the United States to further accelerate electric mobility and sustainable transportation innovation. The company continues to center strategic areas of research in dedicated technology units across the country, as well as foster co-innovation with universities and federal research facilities. One key unit is in…
Southwest Research Institute develops device to test friction, wear associated with EV fluids
From Southwest Research Institute A Southwest Research Institute team has developed a mechanical testing device to analyze fluids and lubricants formulated for electric vehicles. The team modified a commercial tribology testing device to give it the capability to evaluate the impact of electric currents in fluids, measuring the wear and friction on the automobile parts…
Plastic to metal, steel to aluminum — the future of welding and lightweight vehicles
Making vehicle structures out of a combination of metals and plastics could make them dramatically lighter, stronger, safer, and more environmentally friendly than the all-steel or all-aluminum approaches that dominate today. But how to join all those materials together quickly and cheaply has been a sticky problem. A University of Michigan lab is developing solutions.…
Ohio grows into a globally recognized R&D hub
By Gordon Feller With top-notch universities, federal research institutes, leading companies from nine major industry sectors, and 14 top-ranked hospital systems, Ohio is a “quiet giant” of innovation in industrial sectors and life science. Ohio has the fifth-highest number of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies — and is home to more than 120 NYSE/Nasdaq…
SwRI develops automated shuttle for campus tours, research
From Southwest Research Institute Southwest Research Institute, a developer of software and systems integration for automated vehicles and robotics, has deployed an automated shuttle at its 1,500-acre campus. Capable of ferrying up to 14 passengers, the shuttle features algorithms, sensors, cameras and software that SwRI developed through internal research. “It is rewarding for our engineers…
R&D 100 winner of the day: Catalyzed Diesel Exhaust Fluid (CAT-DEF)
SwRI’s CAT-DEF is a novel technology that reduces harmful NOx and CO2 emissions from diesel-fueled vehicles and will help automotive manufacturers meet new EPA requirements and reduce air pollution emissions. This technology is revolutionary in that it is a new way of improving an existing fluid on-board a diesel vehicle, reducing NOX emissions and fuel…
Carmakers reorganizing for EVs, in this week’s R&D power index
The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending March 4, 2022, closed at 5,058.27 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was down 2.21% (or 114.22 basis points) from the week ending February 25, 2022. The stock of 10 RDWI members gained value from 0.18% (Oracle) to 4.79% (Eli Lilly & Co.).…
The chemical cost of salting our roads
By Mark Jones We are addicted. We know it is bad, but we can’t stop. It rusts our cars, destroys our bridges, damages our plants, yet, when it snows, we throw the salt. Ten inches of snow debilitated the Washington area in early January, closing a section of I-95. Snow closed roads, both in the…
Science at Work: Electric vs. conventional Vehicles – which are greener?
by Argonne National Laboratory Join Argonne experts as they explore the best ways to measure greenhouse gas emissions Wednesday, March 2, 2022, 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM EST Are electric vehicles (EVs) really better for the environment than conventional ones? With 30 EV models to be introduced this year, many are asking this same question.…
Invention addresses the problems of running a red light at traffic intersections
By Steve Martin, Purdue Research Foundation An invention from Purdue University and the Indiana Department of Transportation that uses wireless communication devices could save lives at high-speed traffic signals. Principal research analyst Howell Li and transportation research engineer Jijo Mathew of the Joint Transportation Research Program in Purdue University’s Lyles School of Civil Engineering have…