Octillion, Oakland University in solar power research deal
Auburn Hills-based Octillion Corp. Monday announced a sponsored research agreement with Oakland University to further the development of Octillion's NanoPower Window technology. In addition to working to advance the company’s solar photovoltaic technology -- in which chemicals are added to clear windows so that they produce electricity -- scientists and collaborating researchers will explore additional nanotechnology applications that may be derived from their efforts. Octillion president and CEO Nicholas Cucinelli announced the agreement at the 2008 Nanoscale Science and Engineering Conference at Oakland University. More.
Perrigo revenue, profit leaps
Allegan-based Perrigo Co. reported an 84 percent increase in net income on a 26 percent increase in revenue for the fiscal year ended June 28. Revenue rose to a record $1.8 billion, including $500 million for the fourth quarter, for the pharmaceutical and health care products firm.. Net income was $135.8 million or $1.43 a share. The company also posted record cash flow from operations of $248 million for the year. Management also announced expected net income for the fiscal year that has just begun at $1.90 to $1.98 per share. Revenue is expected to grow 13 to 18 percent. More.
Lithium-ion technology: more investment needed
Not surprisingly, speakers during last Friday’s Advanced Powertrain session at the Center for Automotive Research’s Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City were optimistic about the potential for lithium-ion batteries. But they agreed that further investment is needed to improve engineering, manufacturing and design aspects, according to AutoTech Daily. More.
Flint pharmacy joins effort to get expensive meds to the needy Swartz Creek-based Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Monday announced a new agreement with NeedyMeds.com, an online database listing available financial assistance programs for patients requiring support with drug access.Diplomat is a privately held health care organization focusing on complete medication management programs for patients with serious and chronic conditions. More.
MichBio turns to glossy magazine to tout life sciences industry
MichBio, the association for Michigan's biosciences industry, Monday announced it will publish a bi-annual magazine entitled BioMatters. The glossy, professionally written publication will be devoted to chronicling the discoveries, trends, issues and personalities that are shaping a growing and vibrant Michigan biosciences community. More.
New Web site says in East Dearborn, you can 'See the world in one mile'
The East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority is inviting local residents and visitors to explore the district’s international and eclectic offering of retail stores, ethnic food shops, restaurants and entertainment. The district is also home to the Arab American National Museum. A new web site, www.EastDowntownDearborn.com, developed by the EDDDA, highlights local businesses and upcoming events, including a free city-sponsored “Music Under the Stars” concert on Thursday, Aug. 21. More.
Ricardo sets diversification plans
Van Buren Township-based Ricardo Inc., the United States unit of the British automotive firm, Monday named a new executive in charge of diversifying the company into industries like renewable energy, government and military products and commercial vehicles. John Moloney was named vice president of business development and marketing to lead the effort. He has 22 years of business development, strategic planning, sales and marketing experience in the automotive, transportation, industrial and renewable energy sectors. More.
Ann Arbor's Thomson Reuters Healthcare in new deal
The Ann Arbor-based health care business of Thomson Reuters Monday announced it is working with Burlington, Mass.-based HealthGate Data Corp. on a new document lifecycle management application for its medical order set system. The Thomson Reuters system provides evidence-based order sets with more than 900 titles for 280 medical conditions. For hospitals, the enhanced Order Set Solution will streamline and accelerate order set management and governance -- the creation, review, management and updating of clinical order set content. Hospitals can use the enhanced solution to tailor evidence-based order set content to their own institutional protocols. More.
Terry Barclay is president and CEO of Inforum and the Inforum Center for Leadership in Detroit. Formerly known as the Women’s Economic Club, Inforum, one of the largest women’s business organizations in the United States, provides more than 2,200 members with opportunities to connect, forge alliances, discuss vital civic and business issues, and advance as leaders. Under Barclay’s leadership, membership has increased more than 300 percent and has expanded to include mid-Michigan and West Michigan. Corporate support for the organization has grown from 10 to 73 major businesses and Fortune 100 companies. Barclay also led creation of the Inforum Center for Leadership, a nonprofit education and research organization whose mission is to accelerate careers through a leadership development program that allows women to challenge themselves, take risks, and reach the next level. Read more.
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The Michigan Manufacturers Association in conjunction with NetXert, will launch MiManufacturingJobs.com, an industry-specific jobs portal Web site, on Labor Day.
Association officials say that despite job losses in manufacturing, the industry is projecting a shortage of skilled workers in the near future. And as manufacturing in Michigan evolves and competes against less-expensive foreign countries, the need to hire the brightest, most adaptable workforce has become more important than ever.
Even today, MMA members say they finding it difficult to fill skilled trade positions. Currently there are at least 250 of these positions available in our state, which are going unfilled. Using this site, industrial employers will be able to pursue qualified talent before they leave Michigan.
MiManufacturingJobs.com offers job seekers an opportunity to target the largest labor market in Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 19 percent of Michigan's labor market is employed in the manufacturing sector, second only to the "health care, educational services and social assistance" category, which stands at 22 percent.
In addition, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth measured the average yearly earnings for manufacturing workers to be $50,581, which is $17,777 more than the average Michigan worker's salary.
Using MiManufacturingJobs.com, applicants can tap into this lucrative market. Students can also seek temporary employment and internships through the site.
Note: For information on how you can sponsor content in the Blue Box, contact Dan Keelan at (248) 455-7380 or dkeelan@cbs.com.
THE WORLD IN TECH
Qwest, unions agree on new contracts Qwest Communications International Inc. and negotiators for its largest union have tentatively agreed on a contract about a day after the previous one expired, both sides said Monday. Denver-based Qwest came to terms on a three-year deal with the Communications Workers of America, which represents about 20,000 of its employees in 13 states. Qwest also agreed with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which represents the company's employees in Montana. Details of the two contracts were not released, but CWA organizing coordinator Al Kogler said they include pay and pension increases and higher costs for health care. More.
Forget HD DVD: Toshiba focuses on improving today's DVDs
After losing out in the battle to define the high-definition successor of the DVD, Toshiba Corp. has turned its attention to the next best thing: the DVD. On Monday, the Japanese electronics company is releasing a new DVD player that it says does more than previous models to improve the look of DVDs on high-definition TVs. The XD-E500 will sell for a suggested price of $149.99, twice as much as regular "upconverting" players, which also improve the look of a DVD, but it is less than half the price of a Blu-ray player. More.
TV remains top source of news, but online grows
Fewer Americans are reading newspapers and are instead getting their news online, but television remains the leading source of news in the country, according to a new survey. Not surprisingly, younger people tend to get more of their news on the Internet, while older folks use traditional media such as television and newspapers, the Pew Research Center's biannual survey on news consumption habits said. Pew said the results show an increasing shift toward online news consumption, but that there is now a sizable group of a more engaged, sophisticated and well-off people that use both traditional and online sources to get their news. More.
Electronic Arts won't extend Take-Two deadline
Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. is retracting its hostile bid for smaller rival Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., but a deal - and a friendly one at that - is likelier than ever. Take-Two, best known for the popular "Grand Theft Auto" video game series, confirmed Monday it expects to sign a confidentiality agreement with EA to begin formal discussions about "strategic alternatives." EA had said earlier it wouldn't extend the Monday night deadline for its $2 billion tender offer to buy Take-Two. The companies have been unable to agree on a price for the past six months. More.
Stocks: Techs dip as financial losses flatten Wall Street
Technology stocks put in a weak performance Monday, with sector leaders closing with losses on a day that was mostly quiet aside from the latest events in Electronic Arts Inc.'s efforts to acquire Take-Two Interactive Software. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index ($COMPQ) fell 35.54 points or 1.4 percent at 2,416.98. The Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 Index (MSH) fell 8.38 points, also 1.4 percent, to 577.73, while the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index ($SOX) fell 6.49 points or 1.7 percent to 369.94. The Amex Pharmaceutical Index (DRG) fell 2.9 points or 0.9 percent to 314.93, while the Amex Biotechnology Index (BTK) fell 16.84 points or 1.9 percent to 866.4. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ($INDU) fell 180.51 points or 1.5 percent to 11,479.39. The S&P 500 ($SPX) fell 19.6 points or 1.5 percent to 1,178.6. General Motors Corp. plunged 7 percent, and financial stocks tumbled again as well. Shares of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell sharply, with the former down 22 percent and the latter down 25 percent. Financials led the way down on the S&P 500, with the sector losing 3.7 percent, followed by consumer discretionary, off 2.2 percent, and information technology, down 1.6 percent. September crude closed 90 cents lower to end at $112.87 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, retreating from an earlier high above $115. The U.S. dollar was mostly lower after strong gains in the past couple of weeks and ahead of the latest data on inflation due Tuesday.
A couple of local extras: Troy's Altair Engineering sets the dates and keynoters for its big annual PLM conference; and a study involving the University of Michigan shows the effects of climate change on animal diversity. Elsewhere: Google releases a near-final version of its Android cell phone software; Google is also testing mobile ads for YouTube; IBM launches 'Green Sigma,' a business consulting service for companies that want to go green; John McCain's new tech platform does not support Net neutrality; one of the MIT students involved in the Massachusetts subway hack defends his work; a report says royalties may soon sink my favorite music site, Pandora; a very interesting potential weapon that offers politicians plausible deniability; and Gartner predicts strong growth in IT spending.
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