World Briefing: Sep 22, 2003

HEALTH TECH Lab in a Box

NetImpact, a California-based health-care company, is applying technology to improve health-care delivery and disease control in Mali, one of the poorest nations in Africa. Earlier this year OnQ Africa B.V., a for-profit company in the Netherlands that invests private and public money in subSaharan health, telecom and education, awarded NetImpact a $125 million contract to install MDS 200, a portable disease-detection device, and NetCare 7.0, a software package that stores and analyzes medical data. MDS 200, which can run on battery or solar power in areas without electricity, instantly screens for viruses like HIV and Ebola in blood or water samples. Test results are routed to NetCare 7.0, which also lets clinicians quickly peruse system-recommended treatments. NetImpact will start equipping Malian hospitals with labs and computers early next year.

Blackout Profits For ABB

The lights went out in lots of places during the blackout of 2003, but they were burning brightly in Zurich, home of engineering giant ABB. The company expects to earn up to $2 billion as the U.S. reinvests in its glitchy power grid. ABB claims more than 60% of the market for the electric-transmission and -distribution equipment that needs renovation or replacement. "This isn't going to happen overnight," says Randy Schrieber, vice president of ABB's U.S. Power Technologies division. "But the impetus that the utility companies have shown from the blackout bodes well for us." This promising news and the streamlining instituted by Jurgen Dormann, the German CEO who was imported last year to save the nearly bankrupt company, have provided a jolt to ABB shares. Their price rose 75% from June to September.

AEROSPACE Still Out Of Orbit

One tech industry that hasn't rebounded this summer: satellites. In July Boeing booked a $1.1 billion charge against earnings for its scandal-marred military business, and former stalwart Loral Space & Communications filed for bankruptcy. Then in August a launch disaster in Brazil killed 21 technicians and jeopardized that country's program. "Unquestionably, the commercial-satellite market is depressed right now," says Chris Mecray, an analyst at Deutsche Bank. From 1996 to 1998, satellite sales grew 49.4%, but they have shrunk 2.4% in the past four years. Worse, hurt by the telecom bust and tough export rules, U.S. market share has plummeted from 64% in 1998 to 36% in 2002. How long will the industry be lost in space? Says Mecray: "It's fair to say that there's no rebound in sight."

ACADEMIA Prof. Rainmaker