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Last Updated: Feb 10, 2012 - 9:10 AM |
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Innovation
The Swedish Paradox, innovation, entrepreneurship and outcomes
We have reported in recent times on separate research that was done in the US and Europe, which confirms the crucial importance of entrepreneurship in developing startups and young firms because all net job creation is dependent on these firms of up to 5 years in age. Investments in knowledge do not automatically lead to innovation and economic growth. In Sweden, the observed low return for the considerable investment in research and development (R&D) and innovation is termed the Swedish Paradox.
Feb 10, 2012 - 8:51 AM
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Innovation
Improving competitiveness/ innovation in Eurozone's struggling peripheral countries
Last month we said in an article on Greece's potential to improve its dismal inward foreign direct investment record, that the World Bank's 'Doing Business 2012' rankings of the ease of doing business in 183 countries, put Greece at 100, behind Yemen and Vietnam and just ahead of Papua New Guinea. This compares with Italy at 87, just behind the former communist ruled Mongolia; Spain is at 44; Portugal at 30 and Ireland at 10. In recent times there has been a focus on how the struggling peripheral economies of the Eurozone can end decades of underperformance through improving competitiveness and what a focus on innovation could do for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
Feb 6, 2012 - 9:01 AM
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Innovation
Facebook files for an IPO; Claims 845m users
Facebook on Wednesday filed for an IPO (initial public offering) that is expected to value the eight-year old social media network between $75bn and $100bn. It is set for one of the biggest US stock-market debuts and hopes to raise an initial $5bn when it begins selling shares in coming months.
Feb 2, 2012 - 8:19 AM
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Innovation
Innovation/ Nanotechnology: Use of asbestos-like nanomaterials set to explode
Innovation and Nanotechnology: Nanomaterials - - materials just one billionth of a metre in size - - are used in an array of products including drug-delivery systems, cosmetics, and food additives. With the nanotechnology sector set to explode in coming years, there is a fear that there is insufficient knowledge on the greater exposure of workers, consumers, and the environment to asbestos-like nanomaterials.
Jan 27, 2012 - 8:34 AM
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Innovation
Finland's Nokia reports big loss in 2011
Finland's Nokia, struggling to gain a footing in the key smartphone market following its decimation by Apple, on Thursday posted bigger losses for both the full year of 2011 and for the fourth quarter amid slumping handset sales.
Jan 26, 2012 - 3:13 PM
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Innovation
Apple, the iEconomy, globalization and manufacturing outside the United States
Last November, Finfacts Premium examined the issues of globalization, employment, unemployment and the distribution of gains between the United States and mainly Asian countries from the development, production and distribution of Apple's phenomenally successful products. China only makes a few dollars from each iPhone produced but the preference of high tech for manufacturing outside the United States has received a lot of attention in recent times.
Jan 25, 2012 - 8:28 AM
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Innovation
Apple reports quarterly profit of $13.1bn - - one of the biggest in US corporate history
Apple on Tuesday reported results for the first quarter ending after the death of co-founder Steve Jobs, hitting new sales and profit records as demand for iPhone and iPad tablet devices soared. The world's most valuable tech company posted one of the most profitable quarters for a US corporation, at $13.1bn on sales of $46.3bn. ExxonMobil had a profit of $14.8bn in the third quarter of 2008 but on nearly $140bn in revenue to generate that income, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Jan 25, 2012 - 7:57 AM
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Innovation
Google fourth-quarter earnings disappoint
Google's fourth-quarter earnings rose 6.3% but missed analysts' estimates and shares in Google dipped 9.7% to $577.92 in after-hours trading, as both earnings and revenue were short of expectations.
Jan 20, 2012 - 8:21 AM
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Innovation
Three of the biggest names in US tech sector - - Intel, Microsoft an IBM - - grew more slowly in the latest quarter
Three of the biggest names in the US tech sector - - Intel, Microsoft an IBM - - grew more slowly in the latest quarter. Nevertheless, there was little sign of a broad spending slump despite concerns that flooding in Thailand and economic uncertainty could hit demand.
Jan 20, 2012 - 2:10 AM
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Innovation
US, Germany, Japan, China are leaders in business innovation; Germany excels at adding new ideas to products
The US, Germany, Japan and China are leaders where business innovation can flourish, according to a global poll of business executives in 22 countries. Germany is viewed as excelling at adding new ideas to products and its strengths in “mid-tech” engineering sectors such as machine tools and cars have made it the most self-confident large economy in business innovation.
Jan 19, 2012 - 8:42 AM
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Innovation
US multinationals' R&D hiring jumps in Asia; US lost more than quarter of high tech manufacturing jobs since 2000
US multinational companies have focused almost all their new hiring of researchers in Asia in recent years and the region is poised to overtake the United Sates in terms of the allocation of resources to R&D (research and development). Meanwhile, the US has lost more that a quarter of high tech manufacturing jobs since 2000 - - in sectors such as computers, communications, medical equipment, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and measuring devices.
Jan 18, 2012 - 8:10 AM
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Innovation
Danish wind energy giant Vestas sheds 2,335 jobs in response to Chinese competition/ slump in demand
Denmark’s push for a green Europe hit turbulence on Thursday as domestic wind turbine producer Vestas Wind Systems A/S announced 2,335 jobs' cuts -- almost 10% of its workforce - - in response to Chinese competition and a slump in demand.
Jan 13, 2012 - 8:31 AM
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Innovation
How serious is China's challenge to America's technology lead? Chinese to land on the moon, Americans on an asteroid
How serious is China's challenge to America's technology lead? Over the New Year's weekend, a pair of NASA spacecraft arrived back in the US from the first mission devoted to studying lunar gravity. America had established its dominance in the space race in July 1969 when the first humans landed on the lunar surface from Apollo 11 and days before last week's return of the NASA vehicles, China announced an ambitious five-year plan for space exploration that would move China closer to becoming a major rival at a time when the American program is in retreat.
Jan 6, 2012 - 8:22 AM
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Innovation
Landing a job at Google and employee screening in the age of high unemployment
Companies are employing challenging employee applicant screening techniques in the contemporary age of desperation when the ratio of applicants to jobs is very high in the advanced world. Google as in much else has popularised the use of brain teasers to separate what it sees as the wheat and the chaff.
Jan 4, 2012 - 6:59 AM
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Innovation
Finland excels with no private schools/ less study time; Korea's rote system brings results/ deaths
Finland is acclaimed as one of the rare countries that has managed to build a school system where all children learn well and most schools succeed. It has no private schools; study time is low compared with other countries and a master's degree is the minimum qualification for a teacher. In South Korea students also get impressive results in a culture where parents regard failure to gain entry to university a huge shame.
Jan 3, 2012 - 9:28 AM
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Innovation
Asia's R&D investment to surpass the Americas in 2012
Asia's R&D
(research and development) investment is expected to surpass that of the Americas - - the current global region leader - - in 2012. America's share of global R&D (research and development) spending is expected to fall to 31% in 2012 while China's is predicted to rise to 14%.
Dec 19, 2011 - 8:26 AM
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Innovation
Entrepreneurs, startups and job creation in the advanced economies
In past articles, we have highlighted how entrepreneurs in startups and young companies have a key role in job creation in advanced economies. People tend to see the term 'startups' as being synonymous with high tech but that sector is never more than a low-digit percentage of total annual startups.
Dec 15, 2011 - 8:42 AM
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Innovation
Report says no consensus among pharmaceutical companies on future strategy
The pharmaceutical industry is facing a period of profound change as the computer industry did in the early 1980s but analysts say there is no consensus among the leading companies on future strategy. This is important for Ireland as mainly US drugs and medical devices firms are responsible for 60% of merchandise exports.
Dec 13, 2011 - 8:15 AM
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Innovation
US cloud services provider Appirio to acquire Irish tech firm Saaspoint
US cloud services provider Appirio has announced that it will acquire Irish tech firm Saaspoint in order for Appirio to gain a physical presence in the UK and Ireland.
Dec 9, 2011 - 2:16 PM
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Innovation
Le Web in Paris comes with much hype but the European high tech startup scene has improved
Le Web conference, the biggest technology conference in Europe, opened in Paris on Wednesday. In these challenging economic times, governments seek salvation in entrepreneurship and high tech innovation and this year's gathering of more than 3,500 is reported to be up from 2,800 last year. As American venture capital slows, interest in European tech startups remains strong and countries continue to ramp up incentives that benefits researchers and entrepreneurs.
Dec 8, 2011 - 7:53 AM
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Innovation
More than half academic medical research suspect; Unable to reproduce findings in industry settings
We have recently written on the struggle of the big pharmaceutical companies to get better returns from their huge spending on research and development R&D). There is another serious challenge as they search for new drug solutions that would replace their patent-expiring blockbusters (annual sales of over $1bn). It is the experience that more than half of academic medical research findings cannot be reproduced in industry settings.
Dec 6, 2011 - 6:50 AM
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Innovation
IBM agrees to buy Dublin-based Cúram Software to enhance its Smarter Cities project
IBM has agreed to buy Dublin-based Cúram Software to enhance its Smarter Cities project. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Dec 6, 2011 - 6:20 AM
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Innovation
High Growth Firms: Growth ambitions are critical for an economy but most firms do not wish to grow - - Part 2
High Growth Firms: Growth ambitions are critical for an economy but most firms do not wish to grow.
Dec 5, 2011 - 5:58 AM
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Innovation
High Growth Firms: Typical founder is middle age and from the workforce - not college/ university - - Part 1
Startups and young companies are responsible for all net job creation in the US and other data shows that while high-growth firms in advanced economies make up a small percentage of total firms, they generate up to half of all new jobs and are able to maintain growth during a recession. Because a small number of firms create a huge number of jobs, it is important that policymakers understand more about them.
Dec 2, 2011 - 8:46 AM
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Innovation
US fraud and kickback fines have cost top drug companies $20bn since 2006
The cost of US fraud and kickback fines for top drug companies since 2006 is at $20bn and adding legal fees, the total would be at least double.
Nov 29, 2011 - 7:25 AM
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Innovation
Innovation: US companies lead world; France and Sweden are European leaders; No companies from China and India
Innovation: The US outranks the rest of the world for the number of world-class innovative companies while in Europe, companies in France and Sweden outrank Germany. China and India will have their time in the sun but in Asia, it is South Korea with its world ranking companies, which shows that it has avoided the 'middle income trap' - - a level of per capita income after rapid growth that can vary up to $18,000, where growth slows sharply.
Nov 28, 2011 - 7:41 AM
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Innovation
Are entrepreneurs more important than innovators?
Both entrepreneurs and innovators are important but only a small number of ideas can ever achieve commercial success. A market is needed and sometimes a product or service can create one.
Nov 23, 2011 - 3:13 PM
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Innovation
Jobs at US startups plunge; Less than 20% of high-tech startups in 2000 survived to 2009; Innovation in China
Job creation by startups - - new firms up to one year old- - and young firms, defined as up to 5 years old, is crucial for the American economy. These firms are responsible for all the net annual job creation in the United States each year - - but in March 2011, companies less than a year old employed 2.5m people according to the Department of Labor. The full article also looks at the falling cost of innovation and we provide here a link to a presentation on innovation in China.
Nov 22, 2011 - 8:34 AM
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Innovation
Hewlett-Packard posts 91% plunge in fourth-quarter profits
Hewlett-Packard on Monday posted a 91% plunge in fourth-quarter profits after taking a $3.3bn charge to close down its WebOS business.
Nov 22, 2011 - 8:05 AM
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Innovation
An entrepreneurial "epiphany" and the profits from tweaking an old business model
Our story is on an entrepreneurial "epiphany" which triggered phenomenal success in tweaking an old business model. It's one of the biggest parts of innovation.
Nov 18, 2011 - 8:43 AM
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Innovation
Consumers to save billions as some of world's biggest selling drugs set to go generic over the next two years
Some of the world's biggest selling drugs are set to go generic over the next two years, saving consumers billions.
Nov 17, 2011 - 7:12 AM
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Innovation
Entrepreneurs, fund raising and preserving equity in turbulent times
Given that the US startup market is used as a world template and the absence of useful Irish data, we look again at the experience of American entrepreneurs in the early years of developing businesses in these turbulent times. Despite the myths avidly absorbed by gullible politicians, most entrepreneurs neither depend on banks or venture capital firms to provide early stage funding. Nevertheless, the issue of preserving equity is of relevance to any startup whether in respect of outside investor stakes or dividing the cake between founding partners.
Nov 16, 2011 - 8:05 AM
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Innovation
IPO numbers plunge over past decade; Drop in profitability of young firms
During the past decade, the number of emerging, high-growth companies entering the capital markets through IPOs (initial public offering) has plunged relative to historical norms, transcending economic cycles and hobbling US job creation.
Nov 15, 2011 - 8:18 AM
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Innovation
Pharmaceutical giants cutting research budgets; Biotech is an industry with few winners
The world's pharmaceutical giants, mainly American companies, who are facing huge challenges as patents expire on blockbuster drugs, are cutting research budgets in response to big rises in spending over the past decade which have produced little bang for the big bucks spent.
Nov 11, 2011 - 8:21 AM
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Innovation
Innovation, patent quality and the business of patent trolls
Innovation requires a well functioning patent system but patent offices are being deluged with applications for inventions of dubious quality or minor improvements while what are termed patent trolls target tech companies for large shakedowns.
Nov 10, 2011 - 6:27 AM
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Innovation
The shale gas revolution -- a special report
The shale gas revolution -- a special report: From unbridled enthusiasm to extreme caution, when it comes to tapping shale gas reserves approaches vary widely. Energy security, export opportunities and environmental activism often combine in unexpected ways.
Nov 8, 2011 - 7:15 AM
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Innovation
United States has a poor record of creating business startups
The United States has a poor record of creating business startups despite the crucial role that startups and young companies have in job creation.
Nov 7, 2011 - 7:52 AM
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Innovation
Ireland and the aspiration of 'world class' universities; South Korea says it has too many university graduates
It's understandable why Irish university presidents would aspire to have the prestige of running what are termed 'world class' universities. These well-off individuals with the prospect of high pensions, have no skin in the game but when South Korea, a true world class knowledge economy, says it's producing too many university graduates, should we just follow the conventional wisdom?
Nov 4, 2011 - 7:27 AM
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Innovation
Innovation: Money cannot buy superior creativity
Innovation: There is compelling evidence that shovelling money into research cannot buy superior creativity. However, metrics on research and development (R&D) spending are seen as totem poles of success.
Nov 3, 2011 - 5:53 AM
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Innovation
Bruton launches €10m StartUp Fund to attract overseas entrepreneurs to set high tech/ financial firms in Ireland which will provide few jobs
The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today launched a €10m International StartUp Fund, aimed at encouraging overseas entrepreneurs to locate high tech/ financial firms in Ireland, which will provide few jobs.
Oct 27, 2011 - 2:46 PM
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