Canada's most populous province may be slacking in innovation, according to a report studying workplace innovation by the Task Force on Competitiveness, Productivity and Economic Progress.

At its annual SmartCamp World Finals in Dublin, Ireland, this week, IBM announced Streetline Inc. as the 2010 Global Entrepreneur of the Year. The firm was among more than 600 worldwide tech-focused startups to participate in the competition.

General Electric announced the first 12 winners of its $200 million Ecomagination innovation competition Monday at a conference in New York City. The winners will receive investments totaling $55 million.

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation along with the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation released its annual rankings of states best equipped to compete in an innovation-based world economy.

At the seventh annual Creative World Forum, four prominent figures in the energy industry discussed how the U.S can forge ahead as a leader in energy innovation, while also promoting new sources such as gas, solar and biofuels.

As part of the tech company's ongoing efforts to boost computer innovation worldwide, Intel has announced it will invest $77 million through 18 new investments. The deals span 11 different countries including Brazil, China, Germany, India, Israel, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan, Ukraine and the United States.

Growing fears that China may surpass the United States in innovative technologies, especially renewable energy, are grounded in legitimate facts. For one, Chinese patent filings are expected to eclipse the United States by the end of next year, according to Reuters, and the country has already become the second largest contributor to international science journals.

China's recent emergence as a preeminent innovator in the science and technology sectors has come as a bit of a sting to many of the world's top economies and innovative powers.

To add to the intensifying battle between U.S. phone manufacturers for control of the smartphone market, Motorola is counter-suing Microsoft, alleging the tech company's personal computer, server, mobile phone and Xbox products infringe on 16 different Motorola patents.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced Wednesday it is extending a green technology incentive program aimed at spurring continued innovation in the renewable energy industry.