Nanocellulose is making waves as a viable alternative to the more expensive high tech materials such as carbon fibers and carbon nanotubes. Its first creation in 1977 was inauspicious and likely accidental. A researcher at a pulp and paper mill asked the question “What would happen if I took some wood pulp and put it into a milk homogenizer?”

The conflict minerals—tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold – can be found in products ranging from smart phones and warheads to textiles and toothpaste. These elements are now regulated by the SEC, and US companies must be in compliance with the new regulations starting May 2014. Manufacturers are required to identify and track whether the source of these four elements originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) or the adjoining countries, regardless of whether the company acquired material directly from the DRC or through their supply chain.

Innovation is not a buzzword – it is critical to any company that wants to compete in today’s marketplace. If you really want to innovate you need to understand what it takes, on the management level, the team level, and the information level.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, has been used by the oil and gas industry for over a half century. Many wells require stimulation in order to promote greater recovery of tightly held hydrocarbons from deep subterranean formations.

Jules Verne captivated the imaginations of generations of readers describing the adventures of three explorers who dared to face the unknown in “A journey to the center of the earth.” Today, the need to identify and develop more sources of fossil fuel energy propels modern day explorers in the oil and gas industry to push the envelope of drilling environments. Drilling in Oklahoma is replaced with drilling in the Arctic. On-shore becomes off-shore, off-shore is now far off-shore.

Have you struggled to develop your search strategies for the state of the art evaluation? Are you finding yourself sorting through large amounts of data? This article outlines best practices for creating the state of the art evaluation under EU regulations.