VOL   5
AUG 2010

Growing Business Between Fukuoka & North America

MILSTONE NEWS

GE and Intel have announced an agreement to form a joint venture to develop and market products and services promoting telehealth and independent living. The company will address the global challenges posed by an increased prevalence of chronic disease and sharply rising healthcare costs due to the aging population. The venture aims to use new technologies to decrease healthcare costs and improve quality of life.

GAME CHANGERS

Ideas for Confronting Environmental Issues
1) Paving America’s Roads with Solar Panels
»Solar Roadways: This company is developing solar panels for use in paving roads. Each mile of solar roadway is expected to cost 4.4 million dollars and generate enough electricity for 428 households. The technology can supply DC power to homes and businesses.

2) Generating Electricity by Purifying Wastewater
»Filtration Dynamics: Using its unique Centrifugal Wastewater Filtration System to produce energy from organic solids in wastewater, this company aims to generate energy surpassing the amount consumed in treatment of wastewater.

Microfinancing the Weak American Economy
»Kiva.org: Kiva.org mediates lending between individuals via a Web-based platform. Lenders decide whether to fund loans based on information posted by entrepreneurs who wish to borrow money.

FUKUOKA HIGHLIGHTS

Fukuoka and Busan Advance Toward Common Economic Zone

Fukuoka City and Busan City in South Korea have established offices within each other’s government buildings for promoting economic cooperation toward the establishment of a Fukuoka-Busan common economic zone as agreed upon in August 2009. The cities hope that the supranational economic zone will become the leading economic zone in Northeast Asia. » More

i³systems Provides iPad Application for Improving Work Efficiency

A research laboratory of Kyushu Electric Power has developed a clothing iron that uses induction heating technology similar to that used in cooking devices. The iron will be sold by Logical Product. The product uses only one-third of the electricity of standard irons. Within seconds of being removed from the special ironing board, the iron cools to a temperature that will not burn. » More

Yaskawa-kun, the Ice Cream-Vending Robot

The robot Yaskawa-kun, which has seven dual-action axles, has begun selling ice cream at Tokyo Summerland. The robot was designed by Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and Hakuhodo Inc. Its parody of music from the opera Carmen is a big hit. Yaskawa-kun is the world’s first humanoid service robot to serve ice cream. » More

CK Factory Sells Japan’s First Plug-in Hybrid Scooters

CK Factory (Dazaifu City) has begun marketing Japan’s first plug-in hybrid scooters. Equipped with both a gasoline engine and an electric motor, the scooters can go approximately 50 kilometers on a five-hour charge. » More

Kitakyushu City Enters International Water Business

Kitakyushu City has partnered with Metawater, a major company in water treatment, to develop a water business targeting the Asian markets. The project will make use of the city’s Water Plaza, which develops and manages Japan’s first advanced water circulation system and disseminates related technology. » More

" Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." - Pablo Picasso

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