Volume 1.3

Maryland/Israel Development Center's Trade eNews - May/June 2003

MIDC/General Interest News

A New Business Resource from the MIDC
The Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC) has launched a new service on its website that allows companies to receive the latest business and technology opportunities in their fields. Be the first to find out about new prospects for collaboration and cooperation with a Maryland or Israeli company. Sign up today!

International Biotech Conference Draws Israeli and Maryland Companies
BIO 2003, the worldís largest biotech conference, is rapidly approaching. The conference, running from June 22-25, 2003 in Washington, DC, has a wide variety of events of interest to both Israeli and Maryland biotech professionals, including tours of National Institutes of Health and local biotech companies, matchmaking opportunities and networking events. Approximately forty Israeli companies will be attending this year. For more information on the conference, please visit the BIO website ; to find out how the MIDC is assisting companies for the conference, please visit our website.

MIDC Promotes Maryland At Israel Biotech 2003
MIDC representatives attended Biotech Israel, a bioscience conference highlighting the latest Israeli biotech developments and promising new companies, on May 13-15, 2003. Staff from our Israeli office discussed opportunities in Maryland with Israeli biotech representatives and promoted Israeli biotech to US businesspeople.

Associated Campaign Full Steam Ahead
The Associatedís 2003 Campaign is progressing well, but assistance is needed now more than ever. Itís easy to make a difference and improve Jewish life here, in Israel, and around the world by making a pledge, joining the phone campaign, or creating a long-term giving plan. Funds are used to support the MIDCís economic development work in Israel and Maryland, to promote programs in Baltimore that assist seniors to live independently, help high school students to go to college, aid Jewish educational institutions, and much more. Visit The Associated to find out more about how to help the Baltimore Jewish community.

Business and Other News

Violence Caused Israel's Worst and Longest Recession
The Palestinian uprising of the past two-plus years has caused Israel's worst and longest recession in its history. The last recorded recessions lasted only two years each: 1952-53; 1966-67, and 1988-89. While there are now initial signs of GDP growth, there has not yet been a recovery. Source: Globes
Human Genome Project Complete
The Human Genome Project, an ambitious multinational effort to determine the complete human genetic code, has been declared complete by the National Human Genome Research Institute at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. The project, which took 13 years and cost $2.6 billion, has identified 99% of the DNA base pairs which code for human life.
Source: Washington Post
Israeli Labor Union Strike Ends
The Histadrut, the Israeli labor union which represents 650,000 workers, negotiated an end to its strike with the Ministry of Finance. It was intermittently on strike from the end of April through mid-May to protest the Ministry of Financeís emergency economic plan. The strike varied in severity from closing the airport and government offices to a complete shutdown of all government services, from schools to banks to railroads to the electric and phone companies.
Source: Globes
Maryland University Charts Course to Pluto
The Johns Hopkins Universityís Applied Physics Laboratory of Laurel, Maryland is sending a probe to Pluto and the Kuiper belt, the first to ever travel to the planet farthest from the sun and the tiny mini-planets beyond it. The probe is scheduled to launch in January 2006 and may arrive as early as 2015. The laboratory will design, build, and manage the spacecraft while itís in flight.
Source: JHU News
Kiryat Gat Incubator Privatized
The MIDC's former "adopted" incubator in Kiryat Gat was recently privatized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Office of the Chief Scientist. Xenia Ventures will manage the incubator. Source: Globes
Israeli Wins Computing ìNobelî
Israeli scientist Adi Shamir won the Turing Award, the computing worldís most prestigious award, for his work in information security. Shamir was one of three scientists who developed an algorithm used to secure banking, Internet, and credit card transactions. He is the third Israeli and second Weizmann Institute scientist to win the award.
Source: Israel21C

Featured Industry: BioScience

Biotechnology is a vast field, encompassing everything from gene manipulation to drug development to creating new plants; it saves lives, promotes health, and improves agriculture. Maryland and Israel both excel in this brave new science due to their technological prowess, skilled workforces, and strong research capabilities. Marylandís biotech community includes the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins University, and over 300 public and private companies ñ itís the 2nd largest per capita industry cluster in the US. There are almost 20,000 Ph.D. scientists in Maryland; it has the highest per capita rate of Health Science Ph.D.s, and comes in second per capita in Biological and Agricultural Sciences Ph.D.s and overall rate of Ph.D.s and engineers in the population. In Israel, 35% of all civilian research is in the life sciences; it has the worldís highest per capita number of physicians. Israel has been a leader in agricultural biotechnology for decades, from pioneering drip irrigation to breeding the worldís top producing milk cows to creating new and improved fruits and vegetables.

Marylandís and Israelís strengths in biotech offer both companies and researchers a unique opportunity to collaborate. Check out some of the links below to find out more about whatís going on in this industry:

Economic News and Statistics

Despite a down economy and budget shortfalls, Marylandís credit rating remains at the highest level of AAA, attesting to its sound financial management. It is one of only eight states with that rating.
Israel has the highest rate of credit card use in Europe. 75% of adults in Israel have credit cards, with an average of 1.2-1.3 cards per person and 11 transactions a month. (Globes)
Maryland has the 2nd highest concentration of doctoral scientists and engineers among the states. The State is also ranked first in mathematical sciences and health sciences, and second in biological and agricultural sciences, for employed doctoral scientists per 100,000 employed workers (National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Labor)
Israelís GDP fell 3% in 2002. The standard of living fell 2.5% in 2002. (Globes)

Upcoming Events

Follow the links under each listing to find out more
or to register for an event.

June 22-25, 2003
BIO 2003 - International Biotech Conference and Exhibition
Washington, DC
Sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, the conference is the worldís largest gathering of biotech professionals, expected to draw over 20,000 visitors this year. Israel is sending a delegation of as many as 40 companies.
http://www.bio.org/events/2003/
June 23-26, 2003
17th International Exhibition for Technology Developments
Tel Aviv
This event is Israelís largest and most prestigious technology exhibition, including all forms of tech and hi tech companies.
http://www.israel-trade-fairs.com/2000/technology/index.html
July 1-3, 2003
Security Israel 2003
Tel Aviv
In 2002, 145 exhibitors and 13,500 visitors exhibited at Security Israel, the largest security product exhibition in Israel.
http://www.securityisrael.com/
July 8-11, 2003
Wireless Communications Association International
Washington, DC
Sponsored by the premier trade association for wireless companies, this conference is the worldís largest business conference and exhibition devoted to wireless broadband.
http://www.wcai.com/
September 1-4, 2003
Plasto Ispack
(10th International Exhibition for Plastics, Rubber & Packaging)
Tel Aviv
Over 55,000 visitors are expected at this event, which is dedicated to showcasing the latest advancements in the plastics, rubber, and packaging industries.
http://www.plasto-ispack.com/2003/index.html
September 8-10, 2003
World Nano-Economic Congress
Washington, DC
The World Nano-Economic Congress is a partnership between the worldís leading nanotech business information company, CMP Cientifica, and IIR, the worldís largest international conference organizer. The congress provides participants with information on the latest advances in nanotech and multiple opportunities to network with other nanotech companies from around the globe.
http://www.iirusa.com/nano/
September 15-18, 2003
Agritech Israel
Tel Aviv
Agritech Israel is regarded as one of the most important agricultural exhibitions in the world. Past exhibitions have drawn as many as 65,000 visitors interested in all facets of agricultural science and industry.
http://www.agritech.org.il/
October 1-3, 2003
ISC East
Washington, DC
The National Summit on Security (International Security Conference and Exhibition) is the only show in the U.S for both electronic and physical security serving both the commercial and residential markets.
http://www.isceast.com
†
October 20-22, 2003
BioSecurity 2003
Washington, D.C.†
BioSecurity is an international conference and exhibition featuring the latest developments in biosecurity, in government, defense, science and technology, public health, academia, medicine, law enforcement, and public policy.
http://www.biosecuritysummit.com/
October 28-30, 2003
Microtech 2003
Tel Aviv
Microtech 2003 is an international conference and exhibition devoted to the electro-optic and microelectronic industries.
http://www.conexpo.co.il/microtech/

Israeli Office ï Trendlines ï Shorashim ï D.N. Misgav ï 20164 ï ISRAEL
Ph: 972-4-958-3323 ï FX: 972-4-958-3325 ï†postmaster@trendlines.com

†