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In this issue:

  * Organic-Growth Strategy for Banks
  * Nanotechnology Intellectual Property
  * Biosensors for Process Control and Monitoring
  * Learning to Go
  * The Need for Systems Biology
  * Signals of Change
  * Healthy Market for Flat-Panel Displays
  * SkillSoft's Purchase of NETg
  * RFID Applications for the End Consumer
  * eLearning Meetings in Norway

	
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---------------------
 Recent Publications
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Organic-Growth Strategy for Banks

Customers gravitate more to banks than to any other type
of financial institution for financial products and
services. However, recent data show that banks'
preeminence in customers' lives is steadily eroding. Banks
basically have two choices for growing their business: Buy
their way to profitability through mergers and
acquisitions, or grow organically, by attracting more
customers and by doing more business with customers
through more product offerings. The latest MacroMonitor
report points out the advantages of pursuing the path of
organic growth. (Why Banks Should Win the Organic-Growth
Wars)
http://www.sric-bi.com/CFD/MR.shtml



Nanotechnology Intellectual Property

The development of intellectual-property (IP) strategies
for nanotechnologies is key to furthering the progress and
commercialization of nanomaterials and nano-based systems
and devices. Patents, trademarks, copyrights, maskworks
(to prevent unauthorized copying), and trade secrets can
all help a company enhance its market leadership and
competitive advantage. IP strategies can also provide
licensing revenue, increase a company's valuation, create
leverage in acquisition and merger deals, and provide an
IP portfolio map for investors. (November 2006
Nanomaterials Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/techList.shtml



Biosensors for Process Control and Monitoring

Biosensor-based devices play a role in various process-
control, monitoring, and food-production applications. But
because of the wide variations in manufacturing processes,
no single type of biosensor can fit the bill, and
customizing sensors to customer requirements is an
expensive option. This fact has ramifications for the
structure of the biosensor industry and for the commercial
opportunities available to players inside and outside the
industry. (November 2006 Biosensors Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/techList.shtml



Learning to Go

Only some 40% of workers sit behind a desk, so great
opportunities exist to use handheld or wearable devices to
support learning. However, few organizations have clearly
defined mobile-learning strategies, so most mobile
learners have to find their own content and solutions (for
example, by accessing educational podcasts). The challenge
is how to encourage this user-driven activity and improve
on it--without imposing structured, formal learning
material or unsuitable applications on mobile learners.
(October 2006 LoD Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/LoD/viewpoints.shtml



The Need for Systems Biology

Progress in medical science and biology increasingly
depends on understanding the complex interaction of
multiple factors in creating disease. New disease models
are necessary that can represent complete or system-level
understanding of disease pathogenesis. Moreover,
scientists in search of clinical solutions need to be able
to integrate haplotype, gene-expression, proteomic, and
metabolomic data. Systems biology provides the framework
necessary for such integrative science and research and
for the study of how molecular parts function collectively
as complex biological systems. (Systems Biology:
Initiatives and Prospects)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Scan/ScanMonthly.shtml



Signals of Change

Current farming practices will be unable to meet global
targets for biofuel use without affecting food prices and
the environment. As a result, opportunities exist for
biotech firms to produce efficient biofuel crops that
relieve such pressures. The latest issue of Scan[TM]
Monthly explores this and other signals of change,
including funding of technology development by
philanthropic organizations, use of virtual worlds to test
consumer reactions to products, growing interest in
creating greener buildings, and experimentation with new
short-form ads.
http://www.sric-bi.com/Scan/ScanMonthly.shtml



Healthy Market Growth for Flat-Panel Displays

The market for flat-panel displays (FPDs) is growing at a
healthy pace: One estimate suggests that 2006 revenue will
be 13% over that of 2005, reaching $84 billion. Liquid-
crystal displays are driving this growth, and television
will soon replace the PC monitor as the most important
application category. Other factors contributing to FPDs'
growth are digitization of terrestrial TV signals in
several industrial countries or regions, severe price
erosion of display panels, and increasing penetration of
mobile handsets in developing countries. (November 2006
Flat-Panel Displays Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/techList.shtml



SkillSoft's Purchase of NETg

SkillSoft's October 2006 purchase of NETg from Thomson
Corporation creates a major eLearning player with few
direct competitors. Both the companies are major suppliers
of catalog content to businesses and government
organizations, and both have numerous partnerships with
eLearning-tools companies, resellers, consultants, and
system integrators. Even so, increasing use of user-
created content and pressure from suppliers in India will
create tough market conditions for the new company.
(November 2006 LoD Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/LoD/viewpoints.shtml



RFID Applications for the End Consumer

Identifying beneficial applications of radio-frequency-
identification (RFID) technologies is fairly easy in
manufacturing, logistics, and supply-chain operations.
However, identifying applications that consumers will
consider useful and be willing to pay for is more
problematic. Marketers of RFID systems frequently
overestimate potential customer benefits or--worse--try to
sell consumers on the marginal benefits of business-
focused applications. Either approach is likely to turn
off consumers and cause companies to miss opportunities.
(RFID-Enabled End-Consumer Applications: The Good, the
Bad, and the Ugly)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Scan/ScanMonthly.shtml


---------------
 Presentations
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eLearning Meetings in Norway

At the October 2006 Games and Simulations conference in
Stavanger, Norway, Eilif Trondsen, director of the
Learning-on-Demand Program, discussed current and likely
future uses of games and simulations for learning and
training in industry, schools, and universities. During
his visit to Norway, Trondsen also gave a presentation on
eLearning developments at the country's premier business
school, Gbedriftsoknomisk Institutt.



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