In today’s Bulldog wrapup of technology and life science news:

  • IBM’s Bluemix to help in NASA app hackathon
  • ​Microsoft and Google square off in a crucial patent battle
  • HondaJet preps for world tour
  • Wilmington’s nCino lands a new client
  • Informatica is going private in a deal worth over $5 billion

The details:

IBM’s Bluemix to help boost NASA apps development

Computerworld reports that IBM will be a key player in this weekend’s NASA hackathon known as Space App Challenge.

IBM is offering cloud computing support as well as Bluemix, which is geared to enable development across the cloud.

Read more at: http://www.computerworld.com/article/2906800/nasa-code-a-thon-uses-ibm-cloud-to-build-space-tech.html

Read about the challenge at: https://2015.spaceappschallenge.org/about/

“IBM is supporting the NASA Space App Challenge because we saw a great opportunity to contribute to an important cause,” said Sandy Carter, general manager of IBM’s Cloud Ecosystem and Developers, according to Computerworld. “Not only are we helping participants build applications that will be used to improve space exploration and life on earth – two initiatives that impact all of humanity – but we’re also helping them build their skills for cloud development while helping to cultivate an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields.”

  • Financial Times: Big patent showdown

The Financial Times is reporting that a big patent showdown today in a San Francisco federal court could have a huge impact on how patents are licensed.

The case stems from a Motorola Mobility patent Microsoft wanted to license. The patent is now owned by Google, which sold Motorola Mobility to Lenovo.

Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c8ebe298-dca3-11e4-a6f7-00144feab7de.html#axzz3Wi4ptkbg​

  • HondaJet to debut with world tour

The new HondaJet, which is built in Greensboro, will be introduced to the world through a multi-nation tour covering more than 26,000 miles later this month, Honda AirCraft said early Wednesday.

“The HondaJet world tour is a tribute to Honda’s challenging spirit to bring something truly innovative to business aviation,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “We are excited to introduce the HondaJet to Japan and Europe for the first time. As part of this special tour, we will conduct demonstration flights to share what Honda has accomplished through the power of dreams.”

The tour begins in Japan on April 25, will include 13 countries, and ends May 5.

  • nCino lands new client for banking services

Wilmington-based startup nCino has landed another client for its banking services: Georgia-based BankSouth.

“The Georgia-based bank has been looking to expand its regional footprint, but needed to first adopt more electronic processes and better leverage its employees’ expertise,” nCino says. “nCino’s Bank Operating System combines essential loan origination functions with customer relationship management (CRM), business process workflows and reporting dashboards in a single place to automate the entire lending process. For BankSouth, the implementation of nCino has resulted in a centralized loan platform, allowing increased flexibility to conduct loan approvals. With the ability to import documents, the bank has not run a paper file since day one of implementation and has armed key staff with tablets to approve loans from any location, without disruption.”

  • Informatica going private in $5.3 billion sale

Informatica Corp. is being acquired by private equity firms Permira funds and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for about $5.3 billion.

The Redwood City, California-based company helps other companies organize and store data.

Under the deal, shareholders of the data and software company will receive $48.75 per share in cash, a 6.4 percent premium to Monday’s closing price of $45.83.

The deal will take the company private and it is expected to be completed in either the second or third quarter.

Informatica shares rose $1.93, or 4.2 percent, to $47.76 in morning trading Tuesday. Its shares are up more than 27 percent over the past year.