IDx, Topcon sign exclusive AI platform agreement

Coralville company IDx, the first FDA-cleared autonomous AI diagnostic system, announced a new agreement with ophthalmic device manufacturer TopCon to scale delivery of the IDx diagnostics system for market, reports the Corridor Business Journal. The agreement grants exclusive rights to IDx in the U.S. as the only autonomous AI company…

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FUNDED LATELY: SwineTech

SwineTech: $1.5 million in the company’s second round, completed in June. Participating: AgVentures Alliance, Quake Capital and InnovaMemphis. The June round added eight additional full-time jobs to SwineTech, co-founder/CEO Matthew Rooda confirmed, adding that “a majority” of funding came from Iowa and Minnesota. SwineTech is planning an expansion through North…

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Eight small businesses recommended for grants

The Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program is designed to support successful Iowa-based grant applications through the Small Business Administration. One component of the program provides up to $50,000 in financial assistance to companies – $25,000 upon receipt of an SBIR or STTR award and $25,000 upon…

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2018 Iowa AgTech Accelerator cohort reunites at Borlaug Symposium

Organizers celebrated the Iowa AgTech Accelerator’s second cohort on Tuesday with a little reunion at the 2018 Borlaug Dialogue. Representatives of the accelerator’s five startups pitched their agtech businesses to attendees at the annual Norman E. Borlaug International Symposium, hosted by the World Food Prize Foundation at the Downtown Marriott.“Their focus…

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Work begins on new UI brain sciences building

Groundbreaking began on Monday at what will be the new Psychological and Brain Sciences building at the University of Iowa, reports Radio Iowa. The six-floor, $33 million project will replace the former Seashore Hall, with basement classrooms and lecture halls for UI students, department chair Mark Blumberg said. Blumberg expects…

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Iowa State University researchers developing new use for wax made from soybean oil

Researchers at Iowa State University are turning to wax made from soybean oil as a potential biodegradable alternative to standard industrial paraffin wax, ISU reports. If successful, the product could reduce waste from the nearly 3 billion pounds of paraffin-coated boxes that end up in landfills every year. Lead researcher…

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IowaBio, TAI team up for candidate forums in governor’s race

Members of the Technology Association of Iowa and the Iowa Biotechnology Association have two chances to hear candidates for Iowa’s governor office speak on issues around the state’s technology and bioscience industries. TAI and IowaBio will host both forums – one with Fred Hubbell on Sept. 21, and one with…

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IowaBio, TAI to host gubernatorial candidates at two separate tech/bioscience forums

Members of the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI) and the Iowa Biotechnology Association (IowaBio) have a chance to attend two gubernatorial candidate forums in Cedar Rapids, focusing on science and technology issues in Iowa, TAI announced Friday. Candidates Fred Hubbell, Democrat, and incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds, Republican, will participate in…

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Wells Fargo incubator expands to sustainable agriculture technologies

First launched in 2014, the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) is now partnering with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to promote sustainable agriculture technologies, Wells Fargo announced on Tuesday. The expansion will support technology developing and commercializing technology that reduce agriculture’s carbon, energy and water impact, said Mary Wenzel,…

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ISU researchers receive $2 million grant for mathematical agricultural models

The National Science Foundation awarded a five-year, $2 million grant to researchers at Iowa State University who developed a new machine-learning and mathematical modeling to plant breeding and farm management practices. Researchers plan to focus on three areas: harnessing mathematical models to better predict traits of crops; genomic selection, or…

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