We also use gossip to create alliances, as information is a coveted commodity.

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He will pursue strategic partnerships to share Fisker Automotive technology and create manufacturing alliances.

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It and other firms could create search alliances, should it come to that.

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With the LIHTC, the government would create incentives for powerful alliances of banks, nonprofit organizations and corporate investors to build low-income housing.

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Politicians will not dismantle the single market, but there is a lot they can do to meddle: doling out state aids, encouraging mergers and alliances to create national or European "champions", and taking an aggressive stance on foreign imports through things like anti-dumping complaints.

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"With the launch of BlackBerry App Generator Mippin and RIM are tearing down the barriers and finding new ways to encourage content publishers to create apps, " said Martyn Mallick, Vice President, Global Alliances and Business Development at Research In Motion.

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Then they invariably overlook the strengths of also-ran firms, which field large sales forces and often buy or strike alliances with biotech and other drug outfits that lack marketing muscle but create potential breakthrough products.

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"Enabling natural, intuitive, user experiences is fundamental to our vision of the connected vehicle, and providing our automotive customers with the tools to create those experiences is fundamental to our product strategy, " said Linda Campbell, director of strategic alliances, QNX Software Systems.

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