DAILY BRIEF: Construction software, education, web hosting, industry and nasal COVID-19 vaccine

Finnish company MMD Networks has been acquired by fast-growing web hosting business Miss Group, under the Sweden-headquartered group’s ongoing buy-and-build strategy. MMD Networks, primarily a provider of shared hosting and related services, is the second acquisition Miss Group has made in Finland. It will add 6 000 small to medium-sized enterprise customers to Miss Group’s web hosting customer base. Image: Unsplash

Finland-based Language Clubhouse has partnered with Maythany School in Vientiane, Laos, to bring its digital early English language learning programme to preschool and kindergarten pupils. The partners also plan to introduce the programme to other kindergartens and even families, following a successful pilot at Maythany School. Language Clubhouse offers digital materials and courses for teaching English as an additional language to young learners and uses a creative and playful approach to inspire both the learners and teachers. Image: Language Clubhouse

Finnish construction technology company GBuilder has completed a two million-euro financing round led by Amavi Capital with participation from existing investors Butterfly Ventures and Vendep Capital. GBuilder’s product is a building information modelling (BIM) compatible software for residential and commercial developers that digitises construction management processes and serves as a collaboration platform between the developer, customer and contractor. The solution is already widely used by some of the largest residential developers in Scandinavia and a number of other European countries. Image: GBuilder

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, will deliver 12 fully automated straddle carriers to Patrick Terminals to replace some of the older fleet of Kalmar Autostrads used by the leading container terminal operator in Australia. Kalmar will also supply rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) and mobile equipment that will form the backbone of Vientiane Logistics Park’s new dry port in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Finally, Kalmar has secured an agreement with a Saudi Arabian petrochemical customer for a total of five reachstackers that will be used for storage, logistics and export activities at King Abdullah Port. Image: Kalmar

Rokote Laboratories Finland is moving towards the market launch of its nasal spray vaccine against COVID-19. The vaccine is based on research by two Finnish universities, including clinically proven gene transfer technology developed under the tutelage of professor Seppo Ylä-Herttuala at the University of Eastern Finland. The plan is to commence clinical trials in humans in the coming months in Finland. Read more about the novel vaccine by clicking the headline. Image: UEF/Raija Törrönen