The Open Source software movement has broken the stranglehold of expensive, proprietary products. Could the same thing happen in biotechnology?

Advances in neuroscience are opening up the treatment options for central nervous system diseases - at the same time as the ageing population is increasing the market for these products.

A laser physicist in Saudi Arabia has devised a workable optical diagnostic tool to detect early cancer - and is now looking for partners to commercialise the technology.

An unusual programme by the software giant to spin out its technology has netted nine sales to small companies - with more on the way.

Fujeribio Diagnostics, Inc., based in Japan, has bought Swedish CanAg Diagnostics, merging two leading biotechnology companies in cancer diagnosis.

Microsoft Corp. is spinning out some of its software technology to two small European tech ventures, as part of a program to speed development of innovations from its labs.

A team of researchers at ORNL has come up with the concept of nanofermentation, and, it seems, plans to use this as a trademark.

Europabio thinks that Europe is doing a poor job when it comes to investing in biotechnology.

On May 26, the US Patent Office issued a preliminary ruling on another long-running patent fight. This battle differs from other high-profile clashes as the challenger is taking on not a big corporate entity, but a broad community of IT researchers and academics.

The European Commission wants businesses to spend more on research and development - and to help encourage that, the agency is preparing a volley of government proposals for the Autumn.