News from the life sciences and technology sectors north of Boston |
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The Boston Globe reports today that Cambridge-based Walden Robotics has raised $300 million to develop AI-enabled robots capable of performing complex tasks in real-world environments. The MIT- and Toyota-affiliated startup is part of a growing Boston-area robotics ecosystem focused on artificial intelligence, automation, and the future of advanced manufacturing. Read more. |
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Photo credit: Pat Piasecki/Walden Robotics |
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Phoenix Tailings (2 Henshaw Street, Woburn), recently received a conditional $500 million federal loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital (OSC). The funding is one of the largest federal investments yet aimed at rebuilding America's domestic rare earth supply chain.
Boston Business Journal reports on the funding and the company's plans to build a state-of-the-art "Freedom Facility," which will produce light and heavy rare-earth metals from concentrates, recycled materials, and other secondary sources.
The initiative will address bottlenecks and reliance on foreign mines to provide rare earths critical in the defense industry.
Nick Myers is co-founder and CEO of Phoenix Tailings. |
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A recent Bold Types column in The Boston Globe highlighted Medford-based startup Lithios (196 Boston Avenue), founded by MIT-trained chemical engineer Mo Alkhadra.
Lithios has secured an award of up to $20 million through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to help commercialize its lithium extraction technology. The funding will support construction of a pilot plant in Arkansas and could also help fund additional manufacturing operations in Massachusetts.
Lithium is a critical material for batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and other technologies. Lithios' lithium extraction technology is designed to use significantly less water and energy than traditional methods. |
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This year, Senopsys (800 West Cummings Park, Woburn) celebrates its 20th anniversary of helping pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies develop medicines that patients are more willing – and able – to take.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered at Cummings Properties since 2007, Senopsys helps ensure taste is never a barrier to taking medicine. It provides taste assessment and taste-masking expertise that guides formulation development, reduces development risk, and improves the patient experience.
Over the past two decades, Senopsys has supported programs for many of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies as well as emerging biotechnology innovators. The company's proprietary FlavorMetricsSM database – developed from controlled human sensory evaluations of investigational medicines – has become one of the industry's most comprehensive resources for understanding the taste characteristics of new drug candidates.
“Palatability should never be the reason a medicine fails,” said Jeff Worthington, founder and president of Senopsys. “For 20 years, our mission has been to bring rigorous sensory science into drug development so formulation teams can make confident, data-driven decisions early, when they have the greatest impact on timelines, cost, and patient outcomes.” |
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ICYMI: Boston Globe business reporter Janelle Nanos sat down with the president and CEO of Franklin Cummings Tech, Dr. Aisha Francis, as part of a series of interviews with business leaders on their career paths, work, and accomplishments, as well as their vision for Boston's future.
Based in Roxbury, Franklin Cummings Tech is two-year technical college focused on hands-on education and workforce training for careers in technology, engineering, and skilled trades. Watch the interview. |
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We love seeing our leasing clients collaborate. Tonight, C2I Accelerator in Woburn will host "Lab Ops with Hops: Scaling Operations with Science" in collaboration with Quartzy.
Kathryn Kosuda, CSO and co-founder at Terrestrial (1 Cummings Park, Woburn), Ryan Wenzel, co-founder and director of North American operations at CovalX (12 Gill Street Woburn), and Nandan Padukone, president of Aurimi Therapeutics, will join a panel discussion moderated by Sylvie Dao, director of product marketing for Quartzy. The panel will discuss:
- Strategies for transitioning fluidly from incubator benches to dedicated operational spaces
- Knowing when to transition from "scrappy R&D" to "institutional readiness" and avoiding operational danger zones
- Building a collaborative operational infrastructure that supports rapid growth without sacrificing scientific velocity
Tonight, 5:30 PM at 299 Washington Street, Woburn. Register. |
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Also tonight, North Shore Technology Council hosts its annual Summer Mixer at OLSON LEWIS + Architects in Manchester-by-the-Sea. The event will feature networking, connecting, and a conversation around the innovative environments that support companies as they grow, collaborate, and bring new ideas to life.
REON Technology will be on hand to demonstrate the capabilities of the company's Mobile Power Station, an impressive, near-silent energy storage solution.
Tonight, 5:00 - 8:00 PM at 17 Elm Street, Manchester-by-the-Sea. Register. |
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Massachusetts Innovation Network hosts its Summer Social later this month.
Enjoy refreshing drinks, light bites, and engaging conversations with innovators, investors, and ecosystem partners from across Massachusetts. No pitches, no presentations – just great people and meaningful connections.
Wednesday, July 29, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Register. |
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35 Cabot Road, Woburn - 35,276 SF |
In the heart of the Woburn cleantech, life sciences, and innovation cluster, this suite offers a mix of office, lab, R&D, and high-bay flex space. The office portion features more than 20 private offices, conference rooms, kitchen/break areas, and two showers. The lab space provides once-through air, VCT floor, vinyl-faced ceiling tiles, epoxy walls, skylights, interior glazing, and metal casework with resin counters and reagent shelves. |
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HVAC
- 20-ton make-up air unit
- 30-ton air handler unit with HEPA filters
- Dedicated split-system HVAC for IT room
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Equipment
- Cold room
- Biosafety cabinets
- Fume hoods
- Vacuum pump
- Laboratory casework & countertops
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Extensive electrical distribution including:
- 3,000A, @277/480, 3 phase (Suite A)
- 400A, @120/208, 3 phase (Suite R)
- 100 kW, 277/480-volt generator
- Dedicated outlets for client equipment
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Plumbing
- Fire suppression system
- IT room fire suppression system
- pH neutralization tanks
- Emergency eyewash & showers
- Floor drains
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*Subject to field verification |
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Tough Tech Neighbors Leasing with Cummings in Woburn Include: |
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Thank you to Senopsys for sharing its company news in this month's newsletter. Have an item to share? Contact Sue Howland, client engagement manager, at svh@cummings.com to suggest content for upcoming newsletters. We look forward to hearing from you. |
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