A firm can obtain new products through acquisition of new product development efforts

(CNN) Five times stronger than steel , spider silk's unique qualities were recognized by the Ancient Greeks — and more recently, scientists have looked at applications from medicine to engineering. Now, one Japanese startup, Spiber , is exploring how spider webs could transform the textile industry. The biotech company started by making a spider silk replica in the lab and has since spun out its fabric range to include more sustainable alternatives to wool, cashmere and denim, says Kenji Higashi, head of business development at Spiber. The company's trademarked fiber, Brewed Protein, has been used in limited edition collections with brands including Japanese streetwear label Sacai and outdoor apparel specialists The North Face Japan. Currently scaling up production and getting ready for a full commercial launch of its textiles, Spiber hopes its technology will help to "solve some of the big global challenges that we're facing," says Higashi. … [Read more...] about Inspired by spiders, one Japanese startup is inventing a new generation of textiles

A news headline I recently came across summed up one part of the pandemic’s toll on society : “US worker productivity fell at the fastest rate in nearly 75 years.” advertisement advertisement This story demonstrated to me why, now more than ever, we’re barraged with stories offering “hacks” for greater productivity. “ Wake up at 5 a.m.” “Watch inspiring content.” “Take a cold shower.” Yet, clearly, as the above headline suggests, something is amiss and hacks alone aren’t quite cutting it. As one colleague, Jane, confided to me over lunch, “Aytekin, I’m just bone tired .” Which made me wonder, can we be more productive when our energy sources are depleted? As leaders, is productivity in itself, what we should be promoting? Or is it greater well-being? Can we really separate one from the other? advertisement advertisement It’s in asking these questions that have led me to further advocate for steady, consistent … [Read more...] about The 3 pillars of a happier and more productive workforce

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 22): The deployment of 5G in Malaysia is poised to benefit the end users in numerous areas and create jobs for the people as the rollout being placed on track. Prof Ir Dr Hafizal Mohamad, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said Malaysia could see the acceleration of new jobs with the advancement of the network, coupled with the new artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) applications, particularly in the education, agriculture and manufacturing sectors. Being one of the first countries in the region to build a 5G ecosystem, he said some prediction estimates that about 500,000 to 700,000 new jobs would be in place as the new 5G rollout progresses. “These new AI and AR applications are not possible with the current network unlike the 5G network. Therefore, we should be able to see quite a number of startups blooming soon to provide new services for 5G,” he told … [Read more...] about 5G network to draw vast benefits, create new jobs

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin In today’s highly competitive business environment, differentiation is often critical to success. For many leaders, it tops the list of concerns: Nearly 40% of CEOs surveyed for the University of Southern California Center for Public Relations’ 2019 Global Communications Report said that differentiating their brand from the competition is their most important communication goal for this year. Once the standard path to success, product or service innovation alone now very rarely provides long-term differentiation. Today’s technology makes it easy for competitors to quickly bring copycat products to market across a global playing field. Today’s leaders are therefore faced with the challenge of figuring out other ways to help their organizations stand out from the competition in distinctive ways. In his June 2012 Harvard Business Review article , leadership and organizational change expert Michael D. Watkins … [Read more...] about Brand Differentiation: How To Design Your Organization To Stand Out From The Competition

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Just because your business or brand isn’t in an inherently interesting category doesn’t mean your brand has to be bland and boring. While there is a huge number of exciting and trendy niches emerging, most industries have to contend with generating interest in what can feel like mundane, complex, or misunderstood spaces. Instead, it is the way a brand presents its narrative that truly makes it interesting. In a 2019 study about what they called the characteristics of brand coolness, the American Marketing Association said, “We find that cool brands have up to 10 characteristics: Consumers perceive them to be extraordinary, aesthetically appealing, energetic, rebellious, original, authentic, subcultural, iconic, high status and popular.” As long as a brand develops at least one of these major characteristics, it will create interest in even the most underloved industry. Even greater success will be secured by … [Read more...] about How To Build An Interesting E-Commerce Brand In A Boring Industry

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin An overwhelming number of U.S. registered voters say they support higher tariffs on goods imported from China. According to a poll released this week by Morning Consult, 73% of survey respondents said they support the U.S. government using trade remedies on China to protect U.S. industries and American workers with a similar high number — 71% — supporting the trade war tariffs imposed on $250 billion worth of China imports during the Trump administration. Even with inflation at levels not seen since the 1970s, American voters seem willing to force companies to import from elsewhere or make it locally instead. “I am not surprised by these numbers,” says Harsh Khurana, CEO of WeCultivate, a tech company funded in part by Mark Cuban , that works as a browser extension on Amazon AMZN to show consumers American-made products. “Tariffs hurt the American consumer more than they hurt China's manufacturing because the … [Read more...] about Sorry, China. Most Americans Support Higher Prices On Your Imports.

The self-propelled K-9 Thunder howitzer on the move [JOINT PRESS CORPS] To understand the Korean defense industry, the self-propelled K-9 Thunder howitzer might be a good place to start. The tank-like vehicle is a key piece of equipment in Korea and a hit with foreign purchasers. It is generally rated as one of the top 5 self-propelled howitzers globally, putting up a good fight against German, Chinese and Russian models. What makes it especially attractive as an export is the price: it costs about a third of the German offering. About the same bang for fewer bucks. The 155-millimeter self-propelled howitzer has been a success since its introduction by Samsung Techwin in 1999. Hanwha Defense recently won a 2-trillion-won ($1.5 billion) contract from Egypt in February and a 930-billion-won deal from Australia. To make one K-9, 700 separate bulletproof steel plates are needed, which require six rounds of wielding. Big surfaces are done by robots, but the small parts … [Read more...] about Korea defense exports: more bang for the buck

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin One of the most valuable assets your business has is its brand. Each year, Forbes evaluates the monetary values of the world’s most powerful brands . The top position is currently owned by Apple, and its brand is estimated to be worth $241.2 billion. This valuation reflects more than just the technology company’s products or services. A brand is what customers experience as they interact with each aspect of an organization—from the marketing they encounter before making a purchase, to the actual experience in using the product and even to the customer service whenever they run into issues. Having a positive brand experience is critical across the entire customer journey. With the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), more companies are seeking ways to automate and streamline key parts of the customer journey, which ultimately impacts the overall brand experience. In a recent PWC survey , 52 percent of … [Read more...] about Don’t Let A Misguided AI Strategy Sabotage Your Brand Experience

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The fact that the name of Liat Hayun’s company is “Eureka” says something both about her confidence and the problem the company is tackling. Eureka is the word the famous Greek scientist Archimedes is said to have uttered as he ran down the street in Syracuse (naked), having discovered the principle of buoyancy. The king had asked Archimedes for a way to test whether a crown provided him by a vendor was as full of gold as had been promised. Cybersecurity is weighty these days, too. Amid the war in Ukraine and growing concerns about Russian attacks on U.S. infrastructure, the constant evolution in the sector is more critical than ever – and the question of which governments and companies have access to the latest technology is critical, too. Shortly after Russia’s armies attacked Ukraine, three cybersecurity firms offered free protection to U.S. hospitals, for instance. Tel Aviv-based Eureka says it helps security … [Read more...] about A Palo Alto Networks Exec Emerges With Her Own Cybersecurity Startup, Just As The Wartime Stakes Are Rising

The Philippine government completed in 2021 the acquisition of two multi-role frigates worth P16 billion from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries. This year it will order six offshore patrol vessels from the same company. (Photo from the PHILIPPINE NAVY) MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will order six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for P30 billion from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to boost its capability to protect national interests, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. “I’m waiting for the Navy to finalize the terms of reference….We are close to issuing (the notice of award). I hope I can sign the contract before I leave office [on June 30]. The Navy has chosen Hyundai Heavy Industries to build the OPVs,” Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Navy anniversary on Friday. Boost inadequate fleet Hyundai’s OPV offer is based on the HDP-1500 Neo design, which was presented at the Asia … [Read more...] about Navy to order 6 more patrol vessels from South Korea