Two regional research projects called among nation’s 10 best

Princeton researchers test their system for speeding Web access with low-cost, low-power laptops being targeted for use in developing regions. The researchers are, from left: Anirudh Badam, Larry Peterson, Vivek Pai and Marc Fiuczynski. Another collaborator, KyoungSoo Park, is not shown. (Photo: Frank Wojciechowski)

Two research projects were listed among the nation’s top 10 emerging innovations by Technology Review magazine.

The 2009 version of the annual list from the MIT-published magazine, considered the oldest technology publication in existence, recognized a technique for improving Web access for people in developing nations and a method for more cheaply and quickly sequencing DNA.

The first was the product of Princeton University researchers and the second by a group from BioNanomatrix, a University City biotech firm.

See more about the projects after the jump.

Read more

Ben Franklin Technology Partners invests $2 million in regional companies

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania announced yesterday plans to invest $2.05 million in 11 companies in and around Philadelphia.

The regional partner of the statewide economic development network bought $750,000 worth of three Philadelphia companies and spent the rest on eight groups in the ‘burbs.

In a struggling economy, that’s good news. Technology companies funded by BFTP boosted the gross state product by an estimated $9.3 billion from 2002 to 2006, according to a study released by the Pennsylvania Economy League last month.

The largest investment was $400,000 for BioNanomatrix, a University City developer of analytic and imaging platforms that aim to reduce the time and cost used to analyze DNA. BioNanomatrix has previously received $250,000 from BFTP.

Read more