Clean Energy Funds in First Fall in 6 Years: Report
Gerard Wynn, Reuters

Global investment in low-carbon energy dipped in 2009 after five years of annual increases fueled by a political response to climate change and high oil prices, a report found on Thursday. Public and private investment in clean energy dominated by wind energy dropped 6.5 percent... Read more...

Small Developments
Lee Bruno, Innovation Pipeline

The efficiency and elegance of materials occurring in nature have always been an inspiration to researchers. Trying to achieve similar results via nanoengineering, scientists are now working on nanoscale particles that automatically orient themselves into unique materials with powerful properties... Read more...

Wood-Based Synthetic Bone is Just Like the Real Thing
Clay Dillow, Popular Science

First, there was the wooden peg leg. Then came bone replacements made of various metals and ceramics. Now, in the 21st century, we're back to wood. But this ain't your average sea dog's pine prosthesis; researchers in Italy have found a way to turn wood into synthetic bone that's so similar to real bone that it never has to be replaced... Read more...

Our pick of Larta-alumni companies that are making the news and already on their way to making it big!

Bionext - São Paulo, Brazil

Larta's Global Bridge - Brazil participant and 2008 Life Sciences Venture Forum Presenting Company, Bionext, received $5.9 million to continue research on biocellulose for potential use in surgical repair of the brain and heart.

The funds Bionext received is a part of up to $200 million that the Brazilian government allocates each year in hopes to spark private-sector science. Read more...

Save the Date for the 2010 Ag Innovation Showcase
May 24-25, 2010 - Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO

The Ag Showcase is the leading annual global event for industry leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and investors. Held in St. Louis at the Danforth Plant Science Center, the world’s largest independent plant science research institute, the 2010 Ag Innovation Showcase will feature a wide array of innovative approaches to advancing productivity and sustainability in agriculture. Leading-edge technology sectors will represent ag-biotech, food and nutrition, alternative energy, informatics, animal health, and sustainable materials.

The two day conference will highlight up-and-coming entrepreneurial companies with solutions to the most pressing challenges facing agriculture, present opportunities for partnering, strategic deals, and collaborative business ventures between participants, as well as connect a prime network of entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and investors in the ag space.

12th Annual Corporate Venturing & Innovation Partnering Conference
February 23-25, 2010 - The Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach, CA

This annual event provides corporate investors with strategies to gain a competitive advantage through corporate venturing and innovation initiatives. Over two days, attendees will have an opportunity to share B2B alliance models, investment approaches, strategies to capture technology innovation from external sources, and insights on ways to enhance their corporate venturing initiatives.

LARTA members are welcome to register at the reduced rate of $1,195. To receive this special discount, please use the code LARCV and contact IBF at Cathy@ibfconferences.com

Visit our Events Calendar for a list of Larta's partners events.