Author: Erik Mellgren

Erik Mellgren is a Swedish journalist who worked for Xconomy Boston in 2008 as part of the Stanford Innovation Journalism Fellowship program. He is a 26-year veteran of Ny Teknik, a leading technology and innovation magazine in Sweden.

Some Future Secrets Revealed: An Update on Recorded Future

The future for most of us is a totally uncharted territory. The noble art of divining doesn’t seem to have made much progress since the days of the Delphic oracle more than 2,000 years ago. But Recorded Future, an American-Scandinavian startup founded by Swedish entrepreneur Christopher Ahlberg and headquartered in the Boston area, claims to … Continue reading “Some Future Secrets Revealed: An Update on Recorded Future”

Social vs. Manufacturing: Differences in American and Scandinavian Startup Culture

Are Americans more social and Scandinavians more interested in making things? These questions came to my mind when we recently compiled our annual list of Sweden’s 33 most innovative startups at Ny Teknik, a Swedish weekly magazine covering business, technology and science news. The companies in the finished list, as well as those (several hundred) … Continue reading “Social vs. Manufacturing: Differences in American and Scandinavian Startup Culture”

The Wireless Vineyard: A Former Intel Researcher Reinvents Irrigation in the Mountains Above Napa

The vines are standing in straight rows along the irrigation pipes at Camalie Vineyards, high on the side of Mt. Veeder, in Napa Valley. For each vine a smaller pipe, thinner than a soda straw, runs from the pipe into the earth and down to the roots. Here and there you can spot some yellow … Continue reading “The Wireless Vineyard: A Former Intel Researcher Reinvents Irrigation in the Mountains Above Napa”

Chu Singles Out FloDesign’s Efficient Wind Turbines at Climate Change Conference

[Editor’s Note: Erik Mellgren, a noted Swedish business and technology journalist who worked with Xconomy as an Innovation Fellow in 2008, sends this article from Stockholm, just as the United Nations climate change conference is winding down in nearby Copenhagen, Denmark.] Massachusetts startup FloDesign Wind Turbine was singled out by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu … Continue reading “Chu Singles Out FloDesign’s Efficient Wind Turbines at Climate Change Conference”

Baseball, the Red Sox, and the (Swedish) Innovation Economy

The Baseball World Cup qualification series started this week over here in Sweden, as well as in several other countries in Europe. South Korea, Canada, the Dutch Antilles, and Sweden will meet each other at a field in the Stockholm suburb Sundbyberg. The finals will take place at the end of the month in Italy. … Continue reading “Baseball, the Red Sox, and the (Swedish) Innovation Economy”

Venter Institute Gets $8.8 Million in Stimulus Funding

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) said today it is providing $42 million to The Human Microbiome Project’s three large-scale sequencing centers. One of the centers is J. Craig Venter Institute in Rockville, MD, with its headquarters in San Diego, which gets $8.8 million as part of the government’s economic stimulus package for research that … Continue reading “Venter Institute Gets $8.8 Million in Stimulus Funding”

Heading Home, Leaving Lobsters for Crayfish—But First a Nod to Shaker Innovation and Some Thoughts on Boston vs. Silicon Valley

Realizing that my visit to the USA is coming to an end in a few days, I spent the weekend hectically sightseeing around western Massachusetts and upstate New York. Even taking into account my big win—a net gain of $1.20 after expenses—at the Saratoga raceway, the most fascinating experience was my visit to Hancock Shaker … Continue reading “Heading Home, Leaving Lobsters for Crayfish—But First a Nod to Shaker Innovation and Some Thoughts on Boston vs. Silicon Valley”

Venture Returns Shrinking in 2008

Venture capital funds are still more profitable for their investors than the stock markets, according to new statistics released today bythe National Venture capital Association and Thomson Reuters. But their profitability decreased during the first quarter of 2008. One reason is the increased difficulty of making an exit in the current economic conditions. “The IPO … Continue reading “Venture Returns Shrinking in 2008”

IRobot to Send Army another $17.5 Million Worth of PackBots Under Its Hard-Won XBot Contract

IRobot, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IRBT]]) of Bedford, MA, announced today that the Army has ordered 220 of its PackBot 510 robots, worth a total of $17.5 million. The bots allow soldiers to detect and investigate explosive devices and other hazards while keeping a safe distance. The new order is the fourth that the Army has made under … Continue reading “IRobot to Send Army another $17.5 Million Worth of PackBots Under Its Hard-Won XBot Contract”

The Ongoing Story of the Route 128 Minicomputer Industry

When we are riding a bus along Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, a man strikes up a conversation with my wife and me. “You know, I’m a ‘DEC:ie,’ that’s what we used to be called when I worked for DEC, Digital Equipment,” he tells us. It’s been 10 years since the company ceased to exist, after … Continue reading “The Ongoing Story of the Route 128 Minicomputer Industry”

Biotech Lab Building Boom in Massachusetts

A huge new biotech lab complex is being planned for Burlington, MA, according to a report in the Boston Globe. The proposed $2 billion development is the brainchild of developer Patriot Partners, which is already building out the nearby 96-acre Lexington Technology Park at the site of the old Raytheon headquarters. If realized, the Burlington … Continue reading “Biotech Lab Building Boom in Massachusetts”

Philips Electronics to Move U.S. Headquarters to Massachusetts

The giant Dutch company Philips Electronics will move its North American headquarters from New York City to Andover, MA, according to reports in Andover’s Eagle Tribune and the Boston Globe. The move is expected to be announced at a press conference with representatives from Philips and governor Deval Patrick tomorrow. Philips’ healthcare division has had … Continue reading “Philips Electronics to Move U.S. Headquarters to Massachusetts”

Allied Minds Backs Precision Biopsy

Boston-based investment firm Allied Minds has founded a new medical device company, Precision Biopsy, in cooperation with the University of Colorado. The new firm is developing an “optical” biopsy needle for diagnosing prostate cancer; the device uses spectroscopy to differentiate between normal and malignant tissue in real-time. Allied Minds specializes in very early-stage investments in … Continue reading “Allied Minds Backs Precision Biopsy”

Even More Greenbacks for Evergreen Solar

Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESLR]]) of Marlborough, MA, seems to have struck the right tune with its customers. Today the company announced yet another long-term order for its photovoltaic solar panels, this time from German-based IBC Solar. The order, worth $1.2 billion, brings Evergreen’s total contractual backlog to nearly $3 billion. “This contract represents the single … Continue reading “Even More Greenbacks for Evergreen Solar”

Massachusetts Experts Expect Job Losses in Manufacturing Sector to Level Off, Possibly Reverse

For more than 60 years, the number of jobs in manufacturing has been on the decline in Massachusetts. But that trend is finally at an end, say the authors of a new report, Staying Power: The Future of Manufacturing in Massachusetts. The large employment losses are over because most of the firms that couldn’t survive … Continue reading “Massachusetts Experts Expect Job Losses in Manufacturing Sector to Level Off, Possibly Reverse”

Sand 9 Shrinks Electronic Clocks, Expands with $8 Million Round

Two local venture firms, Flybridge Capital Parners and General Catalyst Partners, have joined forces with Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, CA, and invested in Boston University spin-off Sand 9, a start-up founded in 2006 to develop “nano-mechanical resonators” for wireless devices. Flybridge led the $8 Million A series round. A resonator can be regarded as … Continue reading “Sand 9 Shrinks Electronic Clocks, Expands with $8 Million Round”

Spilling the Beans at the Taqueria

When I visited Palo Alto earlier this year, an attorney at a big law firm specializing in intellectual property told me about a mythical eatery in Silicon Valley—Mountain View’s Taqueria La Bamba. At lunchtime, a mix of suits and engineers line up outside the small Tex-Mex restaurant. According to the story, while they are waiting … Continue reading “Spilling the Beans at the Taqueria”

From Rags to Riches—Money-Paper Maker Crane Accepts First Investment

Could anything be a more secure investment than buying into the very paper that dollars and a bunch of other currencies are printed on? The over-200-year-old Crane & Co paper mill in Dalton, MA, has manufactured paper for U.S. dollar bills since 1879. Up until now, the company has been family-owned. But in order to … Continue reading “From Rags to Riches—Money-Paper Maker Crane Accepts First Investment”

MIT-Supported Energy Institute at Center of Abu Dhabi’s Dream City

During the last academic year, the entire faculty of a brand new university has enrolled at MIT, immersing themselves in the institute’s culture, values, and way of doing research. They are the staff of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in Abu Dhabi, which will admit its first post-graduate students in 2009. The institute … Continue reading “MIT-Supported Energy Institute at Center of Abu Dhabi’s Dream City”

Look Who’s Coming to the Investment Dinner—Diversity Increasing in Venture Capital, But Barely

The typical venture capital investor is still a white, middle-aged man. But the picture might be changing, albeit at a slow pace, according to a report released yesterday by Dow Jones and the National Venture Capital Association. In fact, the report notes, the percentage of VCs with ethnic backgrounds other than Caucasian is already slightly … Continue reading “Look Who’s Coming to the Investment Dinner—Diversity Increasing in Venture Capital, But Barely”

Allied Minds Finances Harvard-Northeastern Startup

In March, we wrote about local investment firm Allied Minds, which has a strategy of investing very early in technology developed in university research labs. Today, Allied Minds announced that it has invested in CryoXtract, a startup launched by researchers from Harvard University and Northeastern University. The inventors of the technology around which CryoXtract was … Continue reading “Allied Minds Finances Harvard-Northeastern Startup”

Looking at the World Through a Paper-Towel Tube: the Future of the Mobile Web Browser

If you want to search the Internet, you’ll probably use your PC rather than your cell phone. But that’s likely to change in the future, I was told the other night at this month’s Mobile Monday Boston event, which focused on how to make better Web browsers for mobile devices. This month’s venue was Orange … Continue reading “Looking at the World Through a Paper-Towel Tube: the Future of the Mobile Web Browser”

Boston VCs Beam $13 Million into California Firm Out to Bridge Cellular and WiFi Networks

Two Boston area venture capital firms, Castile Ventures and Battery Ventures, both of Waltham, MA, have invested big in Agito Networks, a mobile technology company based in Sunnyvale, CA, the companies announced today. Castile led the $13 Million series B round, which also includes Japan’s ITX International. Battery led Agito’s $9 million Series A round … Continue reading “Boston VCs Beam $13 Million into California Firm Out to Bridge Cellular and WiFi Networks”

Seeding Labs Kickstarts Science in Developing Countries

Late last year a fire destroyed the biochemistry department at the Southern University of Chile and dealt a severe blow to its researchers. But thanks to Seeding Labs, a non-profit based in Cambridge, MA, the labs might soon be up and running again. The organization collects discarded lab equipment, sorts and packs it, and ships … Continue reading “Seeding Labs Kickstarts Science in Developing Countries”

Consortium to Bring Massachusetts-Style Clinical Research to Italy

The newly-formed Clinical Research Consortium of Massachusetts has signed an agreement with the government of the Lombardy region in northern Italy to help make the area more attractive to drug companies seeking to do clinical research. Today, Italy only has a small sliver, about two per cent, of the multibillion-dollar European market for clinical trials. … Continue reading “Consortium to Bring Massachusetts-Style Clinical Research to Italy”

Immunogen Sells Stock, Raises $25M

Biopharma company ImmunoGen, (NASDAQ: [[ticker:IMGN]]), of Waltham, MA, announced today that it has sold 7.8 million shares at $3.20 per share to Ziff Asset Management. ImmunoGen, which is expected to net approximately $24.7 million after expenses, has six anti-cancer drugs in clinical testing, four of them through collaborations with other pharma companies.

$600M More for Evergreen Solar

Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ESLR]]) has signed two new long-term orders, valued at approximately $600 million, bringing the company’s total contractual backlog up to $1.7 billion. The new orders, combined with two similar multiyear contracts announced last month, represent more than 65 per cent of the capacity in Evergreen’s Devens, MA, plant.

Open-Source Startup Pushes Mail to Millions of Phones

Castile Ventures of Waltham, MA, together with Nexit Ventures, Walden International, and HIG Ventures, have invested $12.5 million in Funambol, a firm based Redwood City, CA, that develops open source e-mail software for mobile phones. There are billions of cell phone users in the world, but only a tiny slice of us use our handsets … Continue reading “Open-Source Startup Pushes Mail to Millions of Phones”

Genzyme Applies for Approval of Stem-Cell Harvesting Drug

Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme (NASDAQ: [[ticker:GENZ]]) announced today that it has applied for approval in the United States and the European Union of a new drug, Mozobil, that would aid the treatment of lymphoma and other cancers. The company plans to launch the drug in 2009 and expects it to eventually bring in $400 million per … Continue reading “Genzyme Applies for Approval of Stem-Cell Harvesting Drug”

Report Promises Multi-Billion-Dollar Future for New England Clean Energy Cluster

In four years’ time, New England can get $1 billion more in new cleantech investments, claims a report from the New England Clean Energy Council and the consulting firm Topline Strategy. There’s one catch, though. In order to lure the investors, the region has to create a cluster of cleantech companies along the lines of … Continue reading “Report Promises Multi-Billion-Dollar Future for New England Clean Energy Cluster”

Stratus Launches Software for Sky-High Reliability

Computer users are a seasoned breed, accustomed to less-than-perfect service from their machines. That applications suddenly freeze, forcing you to restart your PC every once in a while, is just a reality of modern life. But for a lot of businesses it’s vital to have a high reliability in their computing systems. If a banking … Continue reading “Stratus Launches Software for Sky-High Reliability”

Third Wave Means Extra Power For Hologic

Medical device and diagnostics company Hologic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:HOLX]]) of Bedford, MA, hopes to accelerate its growth in the diagnostics market. To that end, the company today announced an agreement to put up $580 million to buy Third Wave Technologies (NASDAQ: [[ticker:TWTI]]), which develops molecular diagnostics, especially for HPV, human papilloma virus. Hologic specializes in women’s … Continue reading “Third Wave Means Extra Power For Hologic”

The Conscientious Consumer’s Cell Phone Guide to Shopping

If you’re concerned about global warming, what breakfast cereal should you buy to support the company with the best record on greenhouse gas emissions? Soon, you might be able to make informed decisions on issues like that right in the supermarket aisle. “All you’ll have to do is to take out your cell phone, scan … Continue reading “The Conscientious Consumer’s Cell Phone Guide to Shopping”

Ten Cities Drive New England’s Digital Economy

Ten cities, mainly inside the famous Route 128 belt around Boston, dominate New England’s digital economy, according to a survey released today by MITX, the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange. With more than four-fifths of the total number of employees, Massachusetts dominates the digital marketing, media, and technology industry in New England, the report said. … Continue reading “Ten Cities Drive New England’s Digital Economy”

Now That’s Real Cloud Computing: AeroSat Gets $14 Million To Take Broadband Wireless to the Skies

Soon, transatlantic flights may no longer be a safe haven from the daily grind of e-mail and the Web. AeroSat, an aviation communications company based in Amherst, NH, has developed a broadband antenna system that could allow passengers to connect to the Internet, use cell phones, and watch live television while flying. AeroSat’s technology can … Continue reading “Now That’s Real Cloud Computing: AeroSat Gets $14 Million To Take Broadband Wireless to the Skies”

Syntonix, Biovitrum Test New Hemophilia Drug

Specialty pharmaceutical company Biovitrum of Stockholm, Sweden said today that it has begun human clinical tests of its new anti-hemophilia drug, a recombinant form of a blood-clotting protein called Factor IX that it is developing in collaboration with Waltham, MA-based Syntonix. The company said it had initiated dosing studies of the drug on patients with … Continue reading “Syntonix, Biovitrum Test New Hemophilia Drug”

Proteomics Company Wins North of Boston Business Plan Prize

In case you haven’t heard enough about business plans lately (think MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Competition, the Ignite Clean Energy Competition, and the $200K MIT Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Prize), here’s another bit of news that might have passed unnoticed: Differential Proteomics, a biotech startup based in Beverly, MA, recently won the $10,000 first prize in the … Continue reading “Proteomics Company Wins North of Boston Business Plan Prize”

Gotuit and Lifetime Let Viewers Call the Shots

If you think the director got it wrong, well go ahead and change the movie. That is the basic idea behind a new service, offered by cable television channel Lifetime, using technology developed by Gotuit in Woburn, MA. Lifetime’s “Movie Mash-up” works like video clip-art. You drag scenes from the channel’s movie library, combine them … Continue reading “Gotuit and Lifetime Let Viewers Call the Shots”

Xanthus Sold for $52M

British drug company Antisoma reported today that it has picked up Cambridge, MA-based Xanthus Pharmaceuticals for about $52 million in shares. Xanthus focuses on therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases and has five drugs in clinical development. One of them is an oral cancer drug that is already marketed outside the U.S. by Bayer-Schering Pharma.

Al Gore Eyeing Big Investment in Clean Energy Prize Winner

It’s been a big week for FloDesign Wind Turbine. On Monday the company placed first in the MIT Enterprise Forum’s Ignite Clean Energy Competition, winning $100,000 in cash and services. On Tuesday, the company netted an additional $200,000 in cash by winning the MIT Clean Energy Entrepreneurship Prize Competition. Which means that the company, a … Continue reading “Al Gore Eyeing Big Investment in Clean Energy Prize Winner”

Backstage at Energy Idol: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of the 200K Energy Prize

Last Thursday, I met Chad Lovell, a first-year student at MIT, standing in a small lobby on the third floor of a State Street office building in downtown Boston. It was the day of the semifinals of MIT’s Clean Energy Entpreneurship Prize competition, which carries a $200,000 award for the best business plan. Lovell, one … Continue reading “Backstage at Energy Idol: A Glimpse Behind the Scenes of the 200K Energy Prize”