IBM today announced that Professor Cameron Seay, North Carolina Central University (NCCU), has been named the IBM Academic Initiative Professor Spotlight of the Month. The IBM Professor Spotlight is a monthly showcase award given to only one college or university professor across the globe, who in working with IBM, has demonstrated a long term commitment to teaching students mainframe and large enterprise skills.

Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg Tuesday, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt called for a shift in the EU away from spending on agriculture and towards innovation.

The University of Bristol Language Centre has been selected by CILT, the National Centre for Languages to take part in a project funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to design and deliver an innovative new language-learning programme. Entitled ‘Gateways into the Professions’, the project connects students with employers and professional bodies while they are still at university.

The 2nd region-wide innovation Festival (iFestival) will take place across the East Midlands between 7th March 2008 (the start of National Science and Engineering Week) and 18th April 2008.

In a commentary written by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and published in The International Herald Tribune, Schwab writes:

Günter Verheugen
Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry
Innovation and clusters as a way to growth and jobs

The Microsoft Healthcare Users Group (MS-HUG) and Microsoft Corp. today announced a call for entries for the 2008 MS-HUG Healthcare Innovation Awards. The contest, open to any healthcare organization, recognizes leadership in the use of technology to improve the quality and delivery of healthcare.

Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” We've all heard that famous Thomas Edison quote before. But did you know that Edison, one of the most productive inventors of all time, only received three months of formal schooling? Father to more than 1,000 inventions – including the phonograph, the light bulb and motion pictures – Edison was self taught and focused on continuously improving his intellect throughout his amazing career. His quote explains how he did it: with hard work.

Technology Review magazine has recognized two Georgia Tech researchers, Karen Liu and Xudong Wang, among the world’s top innovators under the age of 35. Selected from more than 300 nominees by a panel of expert judges and the editorial staff of Technology Review, the TR35 is an elite group of accomplished young innovators who exemplify the spirit of innovation in business, technology and the arts.

Alcatel-Lucent announced that its Bell Labs research organization has been honored with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s “Recognition of Excellence in Innovation” certificate.

Many stockholders wish they could look into a crystal ball to forecast a firm’s performance. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have found that they need something far less mystical to predict future innovations of firms. “The answer lies in the words of the CEO,” said Rajesh Chandy, professor of marketing at the university’s Carlson School of Management.

Opinions people have about innovations are influenced by the context in which they form their opinion. For example, opinions about a novel energy source like biomass are influenced by thoughts regarding other energy sources. The less knowledge, interest or time people have, the stronger this effect. Sustainable energy options must therefore be promoted in the right context says Dutch researcher Wouter van den Hoogen.