LABNOTESWeighed down with a torrent of information? We offer a sideways look at stories that caught the eye of Michael Kenward, our Editor at Large.
An enterprising anniversary for the Royal Society
While hard science, and the need to sell it to the public and to protect it from government cuts, has grabbed much of the attention surrounding the 350th anniversary of the Royal Society, the UK's ...read more.
The games that computers play
It may be the ephemeral nature of the business, but you don't see as many mentions of computer games when talk turns to high-tech businesses. This is, though, a massive money maker for the UK, ...read more.
The innovation sausage machine
"The previous government appeared to think of innovation as if it were a sausage machine. You're supposed to put money into university-based scientific research, which leads to patents and then spinout companies that secure venture ...read more.
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THE INNOVATION ADVOCATERich Hudson looks across Europe for new policies, programmes and pronouncements aimed at improving the climate for innovation. Rich has been a leading science and technology journalist in Europe for 25 years, first with the Wall Street Journal and now with Science|Business.
EU Tweets
The European environment chief, Janez Poto?nik, wins the prize as first Commissioner to set up a Twitter feed. It started Feb. 10, with the handle: Potocnik_Janez. “Thanks to all of you for your messages ...read more.
Time for a Bretton Woods of innovation - A declaration
Sign the call for a Bretton Woods of Innovation Science|Business will be presenting this declaration calling for greater international collaboration in innovation policy to world leaders and global institutions - indeed, calling for a Bretton ...read more.
Time for a CTO in Brussels
For decades, the European Commission has toyed with ideas on how to make its leadership more tech-savvy. Now, with a Nobel-winning physicist as energy secretary in Washington, and a geologist as premier of China, the ...read more.
THE EARLY INVESTORMary Lisbeth D'Amico has been covering the early-stage scene in Europe since the dot.com era, first as a Senior Editor with Tornado Insider, then later as a freelance business journalist. Besides writing for Science|Business, Mary Lisbeth has also contributed to numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal Europe, Business Week, Red Herring, Real Deals, and the Journal of Life Sciences
German early-stage shows effect of economic slump
The economic crisis has finally hit home in the German early-stage market. But will Germany's cleantech industry bail out the flagging economy? In the first quarter of the year, German VCs roughly halfed the amount ...read more.
Target Partners sees opportunities in German-speaking market
In spite of the economic crisis, selected funds for early-stage investment are coming together in Europe. Following Index Venture's announcement in March of a new early-stage fund, British entrepreneurs Brent Hoberman (lastminute.com) and Michael Birch (bebo) have also announced formation of ...read more.
New Dutch fund focuses on energy efficiency
First time VC funds may be having a hard time drumming up money, but one Dutch investor is betting on spotting opportunities in energy technologies. Late last year Albert Fischer founded Yellow & Blue Clean Energy Investments BV, a fund dedicated to ...read more.
