Desktop Metal to go public via reverse merger with a SPAC

Burlington-based Desktop Metal Inc. is the latest Massachusetts company to go public this year thanks to an accelerated procedure called a reverse merger.Not including more than a dozen life sciences IPOs this year, Desktop Metal is the fourth Massachusetts company to go public this year. Non-biotech companies that went public this year include daily fantasy sports betting company DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) which also went public via a reverse merger, Duck Creek Technologies (Nasdaq: DCT) and Amwell.The 3-D printing company announced Wednesday it will become a publicly traded company through a merger deal with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. In a release, Desktop Metal said early Wednesday it had signed a merger agreement with Trine Acquisition Corp. (NYS

Source: Desktop Metal to go public via reverse merger with a SPAC – Boston Business Journal

Korean Military to Buy 40 More Fighter Jets from U.S.

SEOUL — Korea will double the number of F-35 stealth fighter jets it will buy from the United States, including variants that will operate on the country’s first aircraft carrier, according to military sources.

Source: Korean Military to Buy 40 More Fighter Jets from U.S. (excerpt)

Thermo Fisher’s COVID-19 Test Could Have Inaccurate Results

FDA warned earlier this week that Thermo Fisher Scientific’s TaqPath test could have a risk of false results. This follows the Waltham, MA-based company exiting its bid to acquire Qiagen for $12.5 billion.

Source: Thermo Fisher’s COVID-19 Test Could Have Inaccurate Results

Homodeus Awaits COVID Home Testing Approval

Many of us have seen and even felt what it’s like to have a test for COVID-19. One Connecticut medical science company saw the national struggle to make tests available, so they took on the challenge.

Source: Guilford Company Awaits COVID Home Testing Approval

Acacia sampling 100G QSFP-DD coherent pluggable module

Acacia Communications Inc of Maynard, MA, USA (which develops and manufactures high-speed coherent optical interconnect products) is sampling new 100G coherent pluggable solutions specifically designed for optimization in edge and access applications with unamplified links up to 120km.

Source: Acacia sampling 100G QSFP-DD coherent pluggable module

Aptiv-Hyundai Motor Group joint venture rebrands as Motional 

The Boston-based joint venture between self-driving vehicle company Aptiv and Hyundai Motor Group is ramping up hiring in Boston, saying that the pandemic spurs a renovated interest in autonomous means of transportation.

Source: Aptiv-Hyundai Motor Group joint venture rebrands as Motional, hires in Boston – Boston Business Journal

COVID-19: FDA Opens Door for Rapid At-Home Testing

iRobot gets temporary extension of Chinese tariff exemption 

Bedford-based iRobot Corp. breathed a sigh of relief this week with the news that China tariffs won’t raise the costs of the company’s signature cleaning robots. At least, not yet.

Source: iRobot gets temporary extension of Chinese tariff exemption – Boston Business Journal

BAE Systems completes acquisition of military GPS business 

BAE Systems has completed its acquisition of the Collins Aerospace Military Global Positioning System business from Raytheon Technologies Corporation, bringing decades of experience, innovative technology, and an extensive installed base of products to the company.

Source: BAE Systems completes acquisition of military GPS business | Aerotech News & Review

Army Starts Construction On Prototype Lasers 

WASHNGTON: After years of lower-power field tests and more than one thousand hours of soldier feedback, the Army is on track to field-test two different types of high-energy lasers in 2022: a 50-kilowatt weapon to destroy enemy drones and incoming artillery rockets, and a 300-kW weapon that could potentially shoot down cruise missiles.

Source: Army Starts Construction On Prototype Lasers « Breaking Defense – Defense industry news, analysis and commentary

Raytheon to maintain DBR radar until EASR comes onboard

WASHINGTON – Shipboard radar experts at Raytheon Technologies Corp. will continue supporting an expensive surface-search radar system for large U.S. Navy warships until a suitable replacement comes online, under terms of a $9.7 million order announced Friday.

Source: radar shipboard replacement parts | Military & Aerospace Electronics

Taiwan can supply 90% of key technologies for space industry

Taiwan’s ecosystem is able to supply 90% of the key technologies needed to support development of a space industry, according to Lin Chun-liang, director general for National Space Organization under National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs).

Source: Taiwan can supply 90% of key technologies for space industry