• Beckman Coulter Diagnostics formed a strategic collaboration with the University of California-Irvine in the first-of-its kind academic partnership for the company. The device maker will have access to UCI research in diagnostic platforms and the university to Beckman’s expertise in accelerating commercialization of technologies.
“This is a new type of industry collaboration, which aims to significantly change how industry and universities partner together,” said UCI Applied Innovation Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director Richard Sudek. Applied Innovation connects campus-based discoveries with OC’s business community. The unit is housed at the Cove, where Beckman Coulter will have an office.
• Huntington Beach-based Soberlink Healthcare LLC hired Newport Beach-based marketing agency Orange Label. Soberlink develops mobile breath alcohol detection technology designed to monitor the clinical treatment of alcohol use disorder. It received Food and Drug Administration clearance in 2016.
• U.S. venture funding hit a new record. Total dollars to venture capital-backed companies were up 2% in the second quarter over the first quarter, with $23 billion invested among 1,416 deals, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and CB Insights. The top three sectors for investment were IT, which snagged $8.9 billion, healthcare at $5.3 billion, and mobile and telecom at $3.4 billion.
— Sherry Hsieh
