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To me, it sounds a little like Monty Python and the search for the Holy Grail. Nevertheless, IBM and the University of Georgia have launched a research initiative to find the answer to the question of what is key to innovation -- great inventions, business models, technology and profit.

BOSTON Insert your own punch line: Hewlett-Packard Co., the technology company facing federal and state investigations for spying on board members and journalists, is co-sponsor of an award for "privacy innovation." Nominees are currently being accepted for the fourth annual HP/IAPP Privacy Innovation award, which Hewlett-Packard gives in conjunction with the Maine-based International Association of Privacy Professionals. According to the award's Web site, the prize was created to honor "strong and unique contributions to the privacy industry." "At present, there is not sufficient recognition for organizations that have embraced privacy as a competitive advantage, and as a business/governmental imperative," the...

Higher-ed accreditation practice does not have the trust it once had. Just because a school is accredited, it no longer means that the school can be relied on to deliver quality education. How many full-timers are there? It doesn't matter as much because they are not available. How many books are there in the library? It doesn't matter any more, because nearly all resources needed are now online. How much classroom space is there? It doesn't matter anymore, because students are taking classes online. How stable is the school financially? It matters a lot, because schools ought not be allowed...

"Universal Pen" creator Wang Jiang is a product of Microsoft's Research Lab in Beijing. Wang was a reluctant convert to the MS lab. He had to give up his position as a professor of psychology at Zhejiang University. In the end he developed the handwriting software used in Microsoft Tablet PCs; it can instantly take writing from a piece of paper and put it on a computer screen.... My dad used to say my writing looked like Chinese to him...but when I went to China, the Chinese couldn't read it either. Is it really possible a PC could read what...

Well, what do you know, Japan came up with an idea first, and it's America's turn to chase it. It's called design barcoding. A Tokyo-based company customizes bar codes for Japanese companies such as Wacoal, an apparel maker. Now, it wants to bring its business stateside. The idea is have bar codes with logos or images. These days, self-checkout counters are becoming hot, and millions of eyes are noticing those little lines as they turn and aim them at the scanner. Interesting idea, eh? Media buzz in Japan gave companies like Pacarc plenty of free publicity on the matter. I...

Grandma and Grandpa on the video game...never happens. The OL (Office Lady) hurrying home to play saber tea party...again, an unlikely scenario. Well, nothing lasts forever...cherry blossoms last only about a week, and that is what the Japanese like the most about them. Nothing lasts forever, especially beauty. There must be more to a person's worth than outside appearance. Companies change, too...or they should change. Last year, the video-game software and hardware industry brought in about $27 billion. For the past five years, Nintendo has been asking the question, "Why do people who don't play video games NOT play them?"...

The Six-Year Rule has begun. It promises to be anything but a quiet reign. As destabilized as the Florida state Senate is, the House appears frozen in place as a model of governing constancy through 2012. More remarkable, the next three House speakers -- "The Big 3," if you'll pardon the bombast -- show every sign of ruling with an aggressive unity and collective purpose that could force the rest of Florida state government to follow suit or openly fight them. Insiders say Speaker-designate Marco Rubio (R-Miami), Rep. Ray Sansom (R-Ft. Walton Beach) and Rep. Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) have...

President Bush's $50 billion, 10-year plan to re-energize basic research to compete with China and India has received raves from Silicon Valley and rare praise and promises of cooperation from Democrats. "Democrats agree," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, two words seldom heard in the Capitol. If the money materializes -- and many are skeptical about that -- it could prove a boon to the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and leading universities such as the University of California and Stanford. Bush proposed in his State of the Union address Tuesday to double funding for three core research...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2006 – President Bush cited the Defense Department's development of the Internet during a speech yesterday as an example of the ingenuity he hopes to promote through his American Competitiveness Agenda to ensure the United States maintains its leadership role in the world. Speaking to workers at the 3M corporate headquarters in Maplewood, Minn., the president used DoD's investment in the research and development that ultimately led to the Internet as a model for the innovation he hopes to spark nationwide. "I don't know if people realize this, but the Internet began as a Defense Department project...

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use. Battle over RIM design exposes practice Prompts calls for changes to U.S. law ARLINGTON, Va.—They're known as trolls and they turn the predator-prey relationship in the business world on its head. They are the weak who slay the mighty. Critics call them extortionists. Their homes in office towers give them the sheen of legitimacy, but some do their work in dingy basements or garages and then slip their weapons into the back of cluttered drawers. The ongoing BlackBerry battle between Waterloo-based Research In Motion and NTP Inc. of Arlington, Va., has...

The European Union’s antitrust chief Neelie Kroes said today she had not yet received all information on Microsoft’s offer to share software codes and comply with a 2004 EU antitrust ruling. She also told European politicians that the software giant could not charge fees for the server protocol and communication codes if it could not prove that the code was innovative. “If no such innovation … no remuneration can be charged by Microsoft,” she said. Microsoft Corp. has until February 15 to reply to the formal charge sheet the Commission sent in December over providing complete and accurate information...

The European Union’s record on innovation is so poor that it would take more than 50 years to catch up with the US, according to a survey presented by the European Commission on Thursday. The Innovation Scoreboard compares the performance of the 25 EU countries with the US, Japan and several other nations, and ranks them according to factors such as the number of science and engineering graduates, patents, research and development spending and exports of high-tech products. The survey finds that only four EU countries – Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Germany – can compete with the US and Japan...

(highlights are mine) 'Gathering Storm' Report Urges Strong Federal Action to Save US Science and Technology LeadershipA National Academy of Sciences study warns that without strong steps to improve federal support for science and technology, the quality of life in the US is threatened. For several years the reports have been stacking up in offices throughout Washington, DC. One is by the Council on Competitiveness, another is by the Electronic Industries Alliance, and still another is by the Business Roundtable. There are more than a dozen similar reports, all carrying the same basic message: The US is losing its competitive...

WASHINGTON - The federal government must make innovation in science and technology its top priority for economic growth, Rep. George Miller of California said Saturday in the Democratic Party's weekly radio address. Drawing on President Kennedy's leadership in the race to send men to the moon, Miller said demonstrated leadership is vital to promote innovation that advances health care, education and technology breakthroughs, as well as maintaining the country's competitive advantage. "America's leadership is being challenged today like never before," said Miller, senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee. "China, India, Korea and others are rapidly investing in...

New for your parish! Tired of all that silly old doctrine? Need to get rid of obsolete scriptural standards of theology and conduct so you too can “speak prophetically” like the really cool parishes? Got any leftover non-gender-inclusive bibles or 1928 prayerbooks? We at Anglican Innovations are proud to announce our new series of Angli-Can™ spiritual toilets for the disposal of outdated materials. Each Angli-Can is designed to handle centuries of dogmas and doctrines before requiring a service call.

An all-star cast of tech execs is demanding a raft of changes in government and social policies to spur innovation in the U.S.The only thing tech industry leaders love to talk about more than innovation is why it's in jeopardy. True to form, an all-star cast of Silicon Valley execs is renewing its perennial call for a raft of changes in government and social policies. At a Nov. 16 summit in San Jose, Calif., hosted by the bipartisan political-action network TechNet and moderated by public-television personality Charlie Rose, there was clearly more than a whiff of self-interest. TechNet members, who...

A new Australian magnesium alloy that's light, bright and shiny is exciting huge interest among manufacturers and designers around the world. Science and Technology:Research Contact: Professor Gordon Dunlop, General Manager Technology Development Advanced Magnesium Technologies Pty Ltd., PO Box 1364, Milton, BC, QLD 4064 International Telephone: +61 7 3510 4501 FAX: +61 7 3510 4525 Email: Gordon.Dunlop@am-technologies.com.au Website: http://www.am-technologies.com.au Print this storyemail this page to a friend TRANSCRIPT: BLANCH : The CAST Cooperative Research Centre and specialty magnesium products developer Advanced Magnesium Technologies have developed AM-lite, a featherweight, high-strength magnesium alloy, cheaper and 70 per cent lighter than zinc, which...

LONDON — Venture capital funding in the electronics and semiconductor sectors rebounded strongly in August as the deal flow and values belied its reputation as a month for vacations. EE Times' Venture Capital Counter (VCC) recorded 18 deals, which raised $229.80 million up from $180.15 million in July and far outstripping August 2004, when just $46.9 million was raised across 8 deals. Two California deals — Cortina Systems and Alloptic Inc. — each raised $30 million helping to drive up the average deal value. The deals recorded in August showed a typical geographical distribution with 13 U.S. deals, 5 in...

New Delhi: In a bid to make condoms more popular and acceptable in the country, the government is contemplating the introduction of "vibratory condoms". The vibratory condoms, both for men and women, have been developed by an NRI based in Chennai. "Vibratory condoms will have a battery-operated small chip in them which will enhance pleasure and thus increase acceptability," official sources said. The problem currently is that condoms aren't very popular in India even, though, the risk of HIV infections spreading is rising by the day, they said. Condom usage forms only four-five per cent of all contraceptive methods in...

A WOMAN has been arrested for trying to smuggle dozens of live tropical fish into Australia by hiding them under her skirt as she passed through customs. The woman, who has not been identified, was carrying the fish in a specially constructed apron with pouches to hold water-filled bags. Customs officials at Melbourne airport stopped the woman as she arrived on a flight from Singapore. They were alerted after hearing a "flipping" sound coming from her skirt. When she was searched the woman was found to be carrying 51 live tropical fish. "During the search customs officers became suspicious after...