DAILY BRIEF: Textile innovation, COVID-19 and flu test, water purification, cancer research, clean shipping and better sleep

Mobidiag has received a CE-IVD marking for its Amplidiag RESP-4 molecular diagnostics test for the rapid detection of some of the most prevalent respiratory infections, including COVID-19, flu A, flu B and RSV. The viruses cause similar symptoms, making it difficult for physicians to accurately determine which virus the patient has. Mobidiag’s Amplidiag RESP-4 assay quickly gives a diagnosis from one patient sample.

FCG Finnish Consulting Group is helping to develop the water supply in the Gaza Strip as part of a five-year project funded by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). FCG will bring its project management and water supply expertise to the construction of a waste-water purification plant that will convert waste water into irrigation water for agriculture. The plant will improve the availability of drinking water as it will not be used for farming. Solar panels will also be installed in the project to support the territory’s sustainable development. Image: FCG

The University of Eastern Finland will begin to conduct computational biology work for SpringWork Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing medicines for people with severe rare diseases and cancer. The multi-year research collaboration will focus on investigating the effector protein dynamics of a variety of KRAS mutations with the goal of guiding patient selection strategies and supporting the development of new therapies for patients with certain genetically defined tumours. Image: Tatu Pantsar

WE Tech Solutions has received an order to deliver its permanent magnet shaft generator solution for four liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers being built in South Korea by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. WE Tech’s solution will decrease the carbon emissions, fuel consumption and operational expenses of the vessels. The shaft generator comes with frequency drive technology and can produce all the electrical power needed for the vessel over a wide main engine speed range. Image: Unsplash

Finnish material innovation company Spinnova and the world’s largest wood pulp producer, Suzano, will make a joint investment of around 22 million euros to build the first commercial scale Spinnova production facility in Jyväskylä, Finland. The total investment including all the infrastructure is estimated to be some 50 million euros. Spinnova has developed a sustainable fibre out of wood and waste without using harmful chemicals, which will be available for global textile brands in 2022. H&M Group has recently joined other leading Nordic fashion brands in Spinnova’s partner network. Image: Spinnova

Our weekly Five From Finland series takes a look at some Finnish innovations that can improve sleep. The companies featured, Oura Health, QuietOn, Emfit, LullaMe and Light Cognitive, help people to get the important 40 winks with sleep sensing technology, noise cancelling earplugs, self-rocking mattresses and soothing light. Click the headline to find out for yourself. Image: QuietOn