The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Economy launched a campaign this week promoting the recognition of intellectual property rights as a critical step in preventing unfair business practices.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in which Microsoft is defending itself against software development firm i4i over a $290 million patent infringement judgement. The case is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court next spring.

U.S. venture capital firms invested more than $5 billion in the emerging clean tech industry in 2010, according to a report from Ernst & Young. The figure is up from a mere $2.6 billion worth of investments in 2009, reflecting a growing interest in renewable energy sources.

IBM - a company that has become  synonymous with American innovation - recently unveiled its "Five in Five" list of innovations and technological breakthroughs that the world can expect over the next half-decade.

The U.S. House of Representatives last week spurned a bill aimed at expanding two federal research and development programs that, for several decades, have helped small tech-focused enterprises bring their innovations and intellectual assets to market. The bill had passed swiftly through the Senate.

Ossen Innovation, a Shanghai-based manufacturer of rare earth-coated steel materials, announced Wednesday that it has raised $22.5 million in its initial public offering this week.

In a debate that has provoked the ire of many participants, the Federal Communications Commission may adopt a series of "network neutrality" regulations proposed by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

Industry leaders gathered this week at the Energy Innovation 2010 conference in Washington, D.C., to discuss the current status of U.S. energy policy, its future and what measures can be taken to achieve energy independence.

Pointing out the tremendous difficulties businesses now face in information and intellectual property management, Connecticut-based research firm Gartner has released a report citing four key "innovation forces" IT leaders can exploit to tackle data and IP management challenges.

As California tries to maintain its position as the nation's leader in high-tech innovation and startup activity, Google has turned to small tech and innovation-focused firms to build the resume of its venture capital investment arm: Google Ventures.

Following a study released this week by the U.S. International Trade Commission outlining the growing problem of piracy and intellectual property theft in China, several critics, including a number of U.S. Senators, have begun speaking out against the country's failure to adopt effective anti-counterfeiting regulations.

A Kalamazoo, Michigan-based molecular diagnostics company has won the top prize in the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition, receiving a $500,000 cash prize and the esteem of taking the top spot in what has been referred to as the world's largest business plan competition.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology recently announced the implementation of a $20 million fund intended to boost technological and scientific innovation in China, while also hoping to improve collaboration with the industry and MIT itself.

In a speech delivered Tuesday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg insisted that investment in innovation and centrist economic policies are key to a nationwide economic recovery.

As cloud-based services increasingly become the foundation upon which modern enterprises are built, businesses are becoming more vulnerable to cyber attacks and data leaks.

Recent breakthroughs in medical science, genetics and biotechnology were recognized in a forum Wednesday rewarding the top innovations in the growing sector. The event, which was hosted by a panel of industry experts in Paris, France, generated a "Top 10" list of revolutionary innovations.

Although faltering after the global financial collapse of 2008, China has emerged from the recession poised to become a leading developer of high-tech enterprises and innovations.

If anything contextualizes the impact of a globalized economy, it is the financial collapse of 2008 - a catastrophic economic breakdown that rippled across the globe eliminating jobs and impeding growth in sectors from financial consulting to automobile sales to high-tech manufacturing.