The nanoelectronics research centre imec and Peira, a Belgium-based manufacturer of pharmaceutical and chemical research instruments, have jointly developed a slice-tilting instrument for in-vitro research on brain tissue. The new tool enables long-term studying of brain cultures through electronic stimulation and read-out, essential in getting insight into the functioning of the brain.

Manufacturers of transparent conductors have good reason to view the emerging OLED industry as a viable business opportunity, according to a new report from industry firm NanoMarkets.

Renesas Electronics will open a branch in Bangalore, India, in January 2011 with the aim of expanding the company’s overseas semiconductor business, particularly in emerging markets.

Laird Technologies has acquired Cattron Group International.

Smart technologies will eventually reduce doctors’ visits and hospital admissions among Australia’s ageing population, according to the academic behind a new bioelectronics degree at the University of Sydney.

Shipments of TFT LCDs for portable navigation devices and motor vehicle monitors (used in car navigation and in-console monitors) increased in the second half of 2009 and the first half of 2010.

Digicom has changed its name to Arrayware. The company decided on the change to complement its tagline 'Specialists in Field Programmable Gate Array firmware and design'.

Digi-Key Corporation has signed a worldwide agreement with Energy Micro to distribute its ultra-low-power EFM32 Gecko microcontroller products.

RF Micro Devices has been awarded a US$1.5 million R&D contract by the US Office of Naval Research to include the development of materials, device fabrication and high-power circuits, using gallium nitride (GaN) microelectronics.

RS Components will distribute Crydom products in Asia and will become Crydom’s first strategic partner in the Asia-Pacific.

A new equation developed, in part, by researchers at the University of Michigan could help to enable a wider adoption of organic semiconductors.

Researchers at Shanxi University in China have made progress in understanding the single-molecule magnet, which combines the classical macroscale properties of a magnet with the quantum properties of a nanoscale entity.

A group, led by Takhee Lee from Korea’s Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, has demonstrated a combination of materials and processing for a resistive memory circuit design.

Building and home automation are two of the biggest potential areas for expanding embedded technology, according to Andrew Tuft, managing director of Backplane Systems Technology.

Gresham Power Electronics has been awarded a major contract to supply specialist battery-charging equipment and batteries for new submarines for India. The contract will last until 2016 and is valued at approx $867,000.