The recent Supreme Court ruling on the Myriad Genetics patent dispute was monumental for the IVD market.  Its 17-year monopoly on BRCA testing for genetic risk for breast, ovarian cancer was brought to an end.  According to Kalorama Information, this decision couldn't have come any sooner. In my opinion, they're right.

In plain terms, the Supreme Court ruled that a company can't patent genes that naturally exist. On the other hand, genes that are developed by a company in a lab comfortably fall under intellectual property protection.  This is good news for the sake of innovation and progress in the Cancer Diagnostics market. Human genes can't be patented.  It should be common sense, but we all know that common sense isn’t always common.

Coming up with an idea for a new product can be exhilarating. Figuring out the product's commercial viability, though, involves a complex collection of factors that have to fall into place before that great idea lands in front of consumers and then takes off.

Shaping your approach to market research can make the difference between money well spent and money wasted.  Whether marketing for a market research firm or starting a new company, the right approach is vital to accomplishing your goals.  According to Greenbook, 35% of companies increased their market research spend in 2012.

Who hasn't heard about the millions of dollars being raised through crowdfunding initiatives? It certainly indicates demand for a product and encourages brand advocacy, but if you're looking at crowdfunding for any sort of business intelligence, you might be counting your chickens before they are hatched. 

Crowdfunding has been wildly successful since it's mainstream debut in 2006.  According to research firm Massolution, its market size is projected to grow to $5.1 billion by the end of 2013 and it's geographic expansion is isolated to the United States and Europe.  According to Go Get Funding, the U.S. and Europe account for 59% and 35% of worldwide crowdfunding capital.

My earliest memory of market research takes me back to Christmas shopping with my mom twelve years ago. We were paid ten bucks to give our opinions on our preference between Coca-Cola Classic and Pepsi (For the record, yours truly is a Coca-Cola Classic man). I did not have the slightest idea how to obtain business intelligence, but I did know what made a tasty beverage.

Introduced in April 2010, the iPad quickly zoomed to the top of the global electronics consumer market, and instantly earned millions of zealous users in America. Even the most jaded tech aficionados were mesmerized by the sleek, 1.5 pound, keyboard-free device. Thousands of Americans stampeded to Apple Stores coast to coast to purchase the iPad; more than 300,000 units were sold in the first few days of release.

Warmer weather and longer days motivated me to make my first trip of the season to Home Depot’s Garden Center. Like last year, stevia plants were for sale. Of course, I had to ask how they are selling, and the clerk assured me they are a hit.

Earlier that day I interviewed James Kremer, Executive Chef and Director of Food and Beverage at Country Club of Peoria, Peoria, IL, for an article I am writing on a topic for Culinology. He offered this from our conversation:

Take a look at how each group uses technology and it is evident that Baby Boomers and Millennials operate differently. From using iPads for notetaking during meetings rather than legal pads (Millennials), to preferring BlackBerry smartphones over iPhones (Boomers), it is clear that a generation gap exists. When you get into personal interactions....well.  I don't have enough fingers (or toes for that matter) to count how many times my parents have prefaced a personal anecdote with "Back in my day...."

Where the  workplace and consumer markets are concerned, generational translations define how we interact.  I've held numerous training workshops for my parents to show them how to competently operate their smartphones. Conversely, they taught me the intrinsic value of face-to-face communication over social communication via mobile apps.  For Millennials (those born in the period 1981-2000), this symbiosis is essential to the evolution of the global society and workforce.

The eating habits and dietary concerns of American consumers have shifted in recent years. Words and phrases like organic and gluten-free have invaded our daily vocabulary. The food and beverage market is constantly influenced by diet trends.  Historically, diets have changed with the times, which can have major impact on the the food and beverage industry.  Personally, I still enjoy a good steak and baked potato, but I also do so with the knowledge that it is not as healthy as I once thought it was (though I try to drown those thoughts in A1 steak sauce).

The downturn in public opinion of red meat in recent years has resulted in a rise of popularity of poultry. With comparable health benefits and less risk, poultry has become a power player in the food and beverage market.

Spend any time with Rob Kaminsky and you will find that he is a skilled listener who also loves to talk. He's very knowledgeable and well-versed on almost any topic, especially anything to do with Life Sciences, Healthcare and Medical Devices....and he can converse about them for hours. He is passionate about his work and his craft and cares deeply about his clients, or as he calls them, his partners.