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NIST to award up to $2.5M for business-to-business matching systems

Through 25 years of working with small and mid-size U.S. manufacturers, the NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers across the country have seen that these companies often need help finding technologies and business opportunities. To help meet those needs, NIST is offering up to $2.5 million in grants to MEP centers for pilot business and technology matching systems.

The smartest bulb in the box will talk to your smartphone, and it’s affordable, too

Engineers at GE have helped develop an affordable LED light bulb that can talk to its owners’ tablets and smartphones. The bulb, which starts at just under $15, contains a chip that can wirelessly connect to the Internet and communicate with users via a mobile app called Wink.

Saint-Gobain acquires U.S.-based Phoenix Coating Resources Inc.

Saint-Gobain has finalized the acquisition of Phoenix Coating Resources Inc., a company based in Mulberry, Fla. that manufactures ceramic ingots used to produce high-resistance thermal coatings on metal parts for the aeronautics industry. Phoenix Coating Resources Inc. will join Saint-Gobain’s Ceramic Materials business. The acquisition will enable Saint-Gobain to expand the range of coating solutions it provides to the aeronautics industry.

SiEnergy Systems awarded $2.65M in ARPA-E’s REBELS program to develop innovative SOFCs

SiEnergy Systems, an Allied Minds company commercializing low temperature thin film solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology from Harvard University, has been selected for $2.65 million in funding from ARPA-E. SiEnergy Systems is seeking to develop a thin film SOFC for the mobile and small power generation markets. 

Merck acquires Dutch liquid crystal windows specialist Peer+

Merck, the German manufacturer of high-tech products in the pharmaceutical and chemical sectors, acquired the Dutch specialist for smart window technology Peer+ for an undisclosed amount. Merck is further advancing the development of the future-oriented market for liquid crystal windows and is bolstering its position as the technology and innovation leader for liquid crystal materials also for applications far from displays.

PPG reaches agreement to acquire coatings company Comex

PPG Industries has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Consorcio Comex, S.A. de C.V., an architectural and industrial coatings company with headquarters in Mexico City. The transaction is valued at $2.3 billion and is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. The transaction adds architectural coatings presence for PPG in Mexico and Central America.

Kyocera’s accumulated solar module production exceeds 5 GW; 1.4 GW targeted for FY2015

Kyocera Corporation announced that its total accumulated production of solar modules since 1975 has exceeded the 5 GW milestone. For comparison, 5 GW of solar modules would be sufficient to supply individual 3.5-kW PV systems for more than 1.4 million homes. In the current fiscal year, the company is targeting annual production of 1.4 GW, up from approximately 1.2 GW in the previous fiscal year. 

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