THIS MONTH
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Innovate 2006 will showcase the support that is available from the Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) in the United Kingdom (UK) and launch the Government's new technology programme. Taking place on 2 November 2006 in London, UK, the exhibition will include the KTNs and other organisations showing technologies such as advanced materials, sensors, electronics and photonics. The KTNs are an important conduit for business to engage with Government and research organisations. Keynote speeches on the UK Department of Trade and Industry’s new technology strategy will set out its priorities for research and development investment. In addition to finding partners for innovation, the event offers delegates a series of workshops addressing subjects such as Bioscience and Health Care, Commercialisation of Nanomedicine and Advanced Materials. Visit the web site to register. www.innovate2006.co.uk
Turnover up despite the strike
The German medical technology association, BVMed, reports that turnover for its members was up in the first half of 2006. Showing growth of 3.8% compared with 2.9% at the same time in 2005, the highly promising start to the year was damaged by the doctors’ strike in the second quarter. Now ended, the strike has had a negative effect on patients as well as industry. The association believes that procedures have fallen by an average of 10%. The impact has been most noticeable in the areas of surgery and cardiology. BVMed has called on the German government to introduce "flexible equalising mechanisms" to catch up on the delayed operations. www.bvmed.de
Health care is wireless
The wearable wireless patient monitoring markets in Europe are expected to experience rapid growth in the next four to five years. The obvious benefits of these devices have already led to wireless networking being widely adopted by heath-care facilities in Germany, France and the United Kingdom, according to the report from Frost & Sullivan. Further technological advances that enable superior product development will boost uptake. For example, technological progress is likely to dispel concerns over the reliability of vital-signs data transmitted over shared wireless networks. Currently, there are several competing platforms and the report advises developers to come together in cooperation rather than promote competition. “There needs to be a consensus with regard to the wireless models required, interoperability issues and security standards that should be used in these devices,” says research analyst, Aarati Ajay. www.frost.com
Nanocomposites use to surge
By 2010, demand for nanocomposites will grow to 350 million pounds and continue to rise to reach a value of US$15 billion by 2020, says Freedonia. Demand for nanotubes alone will exceed US$ billion. The coming market breakthrough for nanocomposites will be fuelled by falling prices of nano-materials and composites, as production levels increase and technical issues concerning dispersion of nanoadditives are overcome. Nanocomposites based on commodity plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) will dominate the market. www.freedoniagroup.com
Clean-room standard
A newly published standard covers the classification of airbourne molecular contamination (AMC) in clean rooms and controlled environments. AMC is expressed in terms of airbourne concentrations of specific chemical substances. BS EN ISO 14644-8:2006 provides a protocol to include test methods, analysis and time-weighted factors within the specification for classification. www.bsonline.bsi-global.com
Bad day for NHS care
The decision to give DHL and Novation control of almost one-third of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) medical supplies and equipment market has been met with dismay. “This is a bad day for patients and the NHS,” said ABHI Director General, John Wilkinson. He observed, “In most markets the competition authorities get uneasy when one player gets around 25% market share. Here we have a company that says that it has control of around 33% of the supply market to the NHS and is aspiring to achieve 80 to 90%. This will put DHL/Novation in a position of considerable power over hospitals and suppliers and could create a dangerously anti-competitive environment.” He continued, “This whole deal has been conducted in virtual secrecy with minimal consultation or parliamentary scrutiny, and with no evidence produced on how this new regime will benefit patients or the taxpayer." ABHI is the British Healthcare Industries trade association. For more details, go to www.abhi.org.uk.
Help with adhesives
The Adhesives Design Toolkit is an online resource offering information and advice on designing and testing adhesive joints. The Toolkit has seven interactive modules addressing areas such as adhesive selection, stress analysis, forensic analysis, and preparation and testing. Run by the National Physics Laboratory, TWI, MERL and ESR Technology, the site aims to be a hub for anyone interested in adhesive technology. www.adhesivetoolkit.com
Debating future health care
Eucomed, the European medical technology association, is hosting “Vision 2020 – Apocalyptic or Velvet Revolution in Health Policy Thinking?” on 12–13 October 2006 in Milan, Italy, The event will be analysing future health-care resource allocation from a European as well as global perspective. www.eucomed.org
