MIDC/General Interest News MIDC Launches MarketReach America for Israeli ICET/Dual Use Technology Companies
Building on the success of the inaugural MarketReach America program in life sciences conducted in April, six of Israelís most promising ICET (information, communication and electronic technology) companies participated in the second MarketReach America program during the week of July 18-22, 2004. The purpose of the Maryland conference was to provide training and consulting to the companies about to enter the US market. A key component of the conference was the private consulting sessions for the Israeli entrepreneurs led by business advisors from the Maryland business community. Over 50 experts on various aspects of the market consulted with the Israeli entrepreneurs, contributing to their knowledge of the market and ìopening doorsî for them to key contacts throughout the country. The participating companies are now in phase two of MarketReach America, and are receiving professional business consulting in Israel from program co-sponsor The Trendlines Group in preparation for a U.S. business development ìroad showî in the winter. MarketReach America is a program of the Maryland/Israel Development Center and Trendlines of Israel. For more information please browse our website www.marketreachamerica.com. MarketReach America Participant Raises $4 million
Multi Gene Vascular Systems (MGVS), a participant in MarketReach Americaís Life Sciences program in April recently received a $4 million investment. Israelís Tamir Fishman Venture Capital and Ofer Brothers Hi-Tech Investments together with Europeís Fantine Group led the round. MGVS has developed a therapeutic technology that utilizes the patientís own vascular cells for stimulating the growth of new blood vessels. The technology is especially well suited to patients that cannot undergo angioplasty or conventional bypass surgery. The company also has developed a technology that employs bio-engineered grafts for use in bypass surgery and in hemodialysis access sites. MGVS is currently conducting toxicity studies and expects to begin clinical trials in the United States in early 2005.  Tax Breaks For Foreign Investors in Israeli Venture Capital Announced
For the first time, Israelís Ministry of Finance is granting exemptions on taxes to foreign investors in Israeli venture capital funds. The core rule stipulates that a tax exemption will be granted to a fund that invests at least 50% of its investment money in ìeligible investmentsî in Israel (that is, those companies with R&D facilities based in Israel). In addition, 30% of the investments must be in Israel-based companies with proprietary know-how, or in foreign companies that own Israeli subsidiaries with the latter holding proprietary know-how.
Business and Other News - Israeli Company Moves to Maryland
 Tesnet Group, headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel, recently relocated its North American office to Columbia, MD. The company has 15 employees.
Tesnet Group provides quality assurance services for information technology projects at all stages of implementation. The company specializes in software testing, developing solutions and marketing the testing tools of leading international companies. The companyís services include documents compatibility/tractability control, time schedule and budget control, project risk analysis, automated testing tools assimilation, and a host of other applications.
- Israeli Company Joins Maryland-Based Homeland Security Incubator
 Moozatech, an IT security firm with R&D headquarters in Tel Aviv, has been selected to join the Chesapeake Innovation Center (CIC) in Annapolis, the nationís first dedicated homeland security incubator. Out of 275 applicants, Moozatech was one of only fifteen chosen after a comprehensive review of the company, executive leadership, management and technologies.
Moozatechís technology determines breaches in networks, applications, policies and procedures by analyzing the physical and digital security. This comprehensive auditing approach allows customers to ìconnect the dotsî and create more effective defenses against the threats they face.
- NEA Invests in Maryland/Israeli Start-Up
 Israeli start-up Exent Technologies has raised $3 million in its third financing round from existing investors Concord Ventures and Baltimore based New Enterprise Associates (NEA). NEA owns 13% of Exent. Exent, whose US headquarters are in Bethesda, MD develops technology solutions for the digital delivery of online games and application software. Exent has raised $31.5 million to date. Itís shareholders include Geyser Business Enterprise, Time Warner (NYSE:TMX), Bezeq (TASE:BZEQ), Comcast Interactive Capital (CIC) and SingTel (SGX; ASX:SGT). Maryland Wins Fourth US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation Award
 A fourth project organized by the Maryland/Israel Development Center has been awarded a grant by the US-Israel Science and Technology Foundation, an alliance of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Israelís Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. The recent award is under the Foundationís Technology Excellence Fellowship program which brings to the U.S. selected mid- to senior level Israeli managers and executives for six weeks of hands-on professional training in U.S. business practices. Baltimoreís Sinai Hospital is the host institution for Dr. Shimon Scharf, President of Barzelai Hospital in Ashkelon, Israel. Dr. Scharf will be studying U.S. hospital administration practices and sharing information on preparations within Israeli hospitals for mass casualty terrorist attacks. The other three awards were a $3 million grant for a cooperative marine biotechnology research program which resulted in the creation of a new company, Advanced BioNutrition, of Columbia, MD, and two awards for the MIDCís MarketReach America program to provide training and consulting to Israeli life science and high tech businesses seeking to enter the U.S. market. The Maryland/Israel Development Center greatly appreciates the support of the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Foundation.
Upcoming Events
Follow the links under each listing to find out more
or to register for an event.
IN ISRAEL:
November 8-11, 2004
Telecom Israel 2004
www.telecom-israel.com November 11, 2004
Prime Ministerís Conference for Export and International Cooperation
Tel Aviv, Israel November 22-24, 2004
Israfood 2004
www.stier.co.il/SG_ENG/Israfood/welcome_israf.htm February 1-3, 2005
BioAnaliza 2005
www.stier.co.il/SG_ENG/Analiza/main_ana.htm February 1-3, 2005
Israchem 2005
www.stier.co.il/SG_ENG/Israchem/main_israc.htm March 22-24, 2005
High Technologies 2005 April 4-7, 2005
Building 2005 May 17-19, 2005
Biotech Israel 2005 - 4th National Biotechnology Week June 20-23, 2005
Technology ñ The 18th International Exhibition for Technology Developments June 22-24, 2005
Security Israel September 3-8, 2006
International Federation Information Processing - IFIP
IN THE MARYLAND REGION: September 27-29, 2004
Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Annual Meeting
Washington Convention Center
www.crf.org, attendance: 12,000 October 15-17, 2004
Natural Products Expo East
Washington Convention Center
www.newhope.com, attendance: 20,000 October 25-27
AUSA 2004 - Annual Meeting and Exposition
Washington Convention Center
www.ausa.org October 30 to November 2, 2004
The Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Washington Convention Center
www.icaac.org, attendance: 13,500 November 4, 2004
Greater Baltimore Committee Technology Gala
Baltimore Convention Center
www.gbc.com December 4-8, 2004
American Society for Cell Biology's Annual Convention
Washington Convention Center
http://www.ascb.org March 23-25, 2005
Satellite 2005
Washington Convention Center
www.pbimedia.com, attendance: 6,000 April 5-7, 2005
FOSE ñ Federal Office Systems Expo
www.FOSE.com, attendance: 30,000 May 17-19, 2005
Technet International 2005
Washington Convention Center
www.afcea.org, attendance: 10,000 For more information on any of these events,
please contact the Maryland/Israel Development Center.
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