Meredith Corp. has taken a strategic stake in The Hyperfactory, an independent mobile-marketing specialist. The investment will help continue Meredith Integrated Marketing’s transformation toward offering comprehensive marketing services, especially in the digital marketing realm. It also will help accelerate Meredith’s consumer brand efforts in the mobile sector. The investment will not have a material effect on Meredith’s financial performance in fiscal year 2010. The Hyperfactory has more than 100 mobile technology and marketing experts on staff, with offices in Auckland, New Zealand, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Hong Kong, Sydney, Australia, and Hyderabad, India. Its clients include Coca-Cola, BlackBerry, L’Oreal, Vodafone, Disney and Kraft.

Researchers at Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory have won two 2009 R&D 100 Awards from R&D Magazine. The awards recognize the 100 most technologically significant products produced in the marketplace during the past year. A team of 10 Iowa State researchers won an award for their work in using a microscopic fungus to produce biodiesel from plant processing waste and two researchers with the Ames Laboratory and Iowa State won an award for Virtual Engineering Process Simulation Interface, a software application that will help engineers design the next generation of highly efficient and low-emission power plants. For a complete list of award winners, go to www.rdmag.com.

Kelly Ferguson has rejoined The Meyocks Group and will oversee the agency’s market analysis and strategy efforts, as well as serve on its management team. Ferguson most recently worked for AGDATA LP and oversaw a portfolio of clients in Canada. He worked for Meyocks as an account manager and database account manager from 1998 to 2002.

The University of Northern Iowa’s Executive Development Center is accepting registrations for its 2009 Professional Development Certificate Program. The program consists of 10 full-day sessions from Aug. 12 to Dec. 16 and is designed to help participants gain a comprehensive set of business skills. Topics include communicating and managing conflict, root-cause analysis, maximizing team performance and legal issues that affect business. The enrollment deadline is July 31, and the class is limited to 20 participants. Learn more at www.bcs.uni.edu/execdev.

Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, will discuss topics including the national health-reform debate and health-care issues affecting women and families at a conference tomorrow at Des Moines University. Hosted by the Iowa Initiative to Reduce Unintended Pregnancies, the event will highlight state, national and global health issues related to women and children. The public is invited to attend. Learn more at www.iowainitiative.org.