Graphene is the new buzzword in the global electronics industry and scientists at the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) have applied its unique properties to sniff out a deadly cancer-causing food toxin with high sensitivity, just like finding a needle in a haystack. The modified form of graphene (reduced graphene oxide) can easily bind to the protein-like structure of the toxin and give an enhanced signal compared to other materials. It is 100 times more sensitive than conventional sensors and displays certain interesting electrical characteristics which imparts additional selectivity to the sensor. (Courtesy: Ndtv.com)
Japanese investor Teruhide ‘Teru’ Sato is an investor with a difference. He started his first venture in 1997, a JV with Softbank and CyberCrach, and then BEENOS (formerly Netprice), one of the biggest Japanese conglomerates that is working in the space of e-commerce, marketplace and payment. From its seed accelerator division, it has invested in over 50 companies in Japan, and from its investment division, it has invested in over 85 companies globally. Recent investment has been in Tokopedia, one of the biggest marketplace businesses in Indonesia, which drew a funding of $100 million from Softbank and Sequoia Capital. He feels that India is playing a very key role in the international growth, in a way to present bigger opportunities. According to him, there might be large investments from his side happening in India, and hence has based a colleague out of Bengaluru, on a lookout for interesting ventures.
In the automobile news, Detroit emerged from bankruptcy last year, and a resurgence in manufacturing is seen as a major pathway to continued recovery. The federal bailout of GM and Chrysler helped bring the auto industry back from the brink, and today the Big Three US automakers, including Ford and the foreign competitors that have built American factories, are thriving. A confluence of factors — including public and private initiatives, high-tech incubators, philanthropic fundraising, an influx of venture capital and a craftsmanship movement — are bringing Detroit back from the depths of municipal bankruptcy and widespread unemployment, which stands at 7.8% in metro Detroit, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Leading-edge technology, innovation and entrepreneurship are reconfiguring Detroit's legacy as a place that makes stuff.
Israel is making further strides in the ever-popular and continuously growing 3D printing sector. A new initiative funded by the Office of the Chief Scientist hopes that the first titanium airplane parts will be 3D printed by the end of 2015. Another Israeli company Stratasys will be part of a project aimed at putting the first 3D printed car on the roads within two years. KOR EcoLogic will be in charge of the design end, building every inch of the car using computer aided design software. The design will then be turned into reality using RedEye On Demand and Stratasys printers, using only 40 extremely complex interlocking pieces, made possible by 3D printing. (Courtesy: nocamels.com)
Drones may one day transform the way parcels are delivered, crops monitored and suspects apprehended. Joshua Smith, a computer scientist, started a company Wibotic that plans to recharge Drones without them having to establish a physical connection with the plug. LaserMovie, another USA-based company, is developing a system to replenish the batteries of drones that are still aloft, using lasers and photovoltaic cells.
We need your input on any industry news, views and any observation about the industry around you. Your feedback will be useful to us to better inform our readers about a better tomorrow.
Comments (2)
Comment FeedExcellent article. Thanks for sharing.
RG Bhat more than 8 years ago
India in future ...
r parthiban more than 8 years ago