MIDC News  | | Dr. Mark Rohrbaugh, director of the National Institutes of Health Office of Technology Transfer, addresses attendees of the MIDCís June 23 BIO reception |
MIDC Aims to Breed Cooperation
As any scientist will attest, optimal laboratory results depend on favorable environmental conditions. In its effort to promote business between Maryland and Israeli companies, the Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC) seeks environments conducive to success. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Conference, June 22-25 in Washington, DC, provided such an opportunity. Bringing together Maryland and Israeli decision makers, the MIDC recruited and hosted a delegation of Israeli biotechnology executives, university officials and venture capital figures attending BIO 2003. Additionally, nearly 150 Maryland and Israeli conference participants attended the MIDCís June 23 BIO reception, including Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development Aris Melissaratos and Uzia Galil, the man regarded as the ìfather of Israeli high technology.î The MIDC also arranged introductions between Maryland companies, such as Advancis, Celera Genomics and 20/20 Gene Systems, and Israeli firms, including Glycominds and Rafa Labs. BIO is the biotechnology industry's largest annual event; this year's conference attracted an estimated 20,000 participants. The event allowed Maryland to showcase its abundant life sciences resourcesóthe third largest industry cluster in the United States, and institutions such as the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
MIDC Match Yields Success
After being introduced to each other by the MIDC, Maryland-based IGEN International recently signed a distributorship agreement with Israelís Mercury Scientific and Industrial Products. No sooner had the ink dried on the contract than sales were being generated with a major order for IGENís products by an Israeli client of Mercuryís. ìI look forward to a long-lasting relationship with IGEN, and would like to thank the Maryland/Israel Development Center and its partner office in Israel, Trendlines International, for bringing our two companies together,î says Mercury General Manager Uri Shomroni. IGEN is a $56 million developer of diagnostic devices and technologies for the life sciences and clinical testing markets. Mercury is a major supplier to this industry in Israel.
 MIDC & The ASSOCIATED
Launch Networking Events
The MIDC and the Business and Professionals Division of The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore are initiating a new series of networking events for area business professionals interested in learning about new business opportunities and industry trends. The quarterly events will include networking with local business people, followed by brief-yet-informative discussions by industry leaders on pertinent business issues of the day. All events will be held from 5:00-6:30 PM in unique business locations throughout the greater Baltimore area. The first event will be held Wednesday, September 17, 2003, with Maryland Secretary of Business and Economic Development Aris Melissaratos. Save the Date! More information will follow.
Business & Other News - Conference Attracts Maryland/Israel Participation & Results
The Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International attracted numerous Maryland and Israeli companies to its annual conference, held in Baltimore, July 15-17. Marylandís Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) announced a cooperative agreement to co-develop electro-optical surveillance and targeting systems for unmanned aerial vehicles.
Other conference attendees included Maryland-based AAI Corp., BAI Aerosystems and Lockheed Martin, as well as Israelís Aeronautics Unmanned Systems. Pioneer UAV, a Hunt Valley, Maryland-based partnership between similarly-titled AAI and IAI, also participated.
The conference kicked off at a July 14 demonstration at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in southern Maryland. Governor Robert Ehrlich addressed over 4,000 people at the event, which was sponsored by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, a founding partner of the MIDC.
- BIRD Foundation Continues to Soar
The U.S. - Israel Bi-national Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation recently announced $9 million of investments in ten new projects. A partnership between the governments of the two countries, the BIRD Foundation supports technology collaboration between U.S. and Israeli companies. Among the projects receiving the organizationís support is one developing a genomic screening capability for cancer detection and one enhancing interactive digital television features.
The MIDC successfully sponsored BIRD Foundation collaborations in the past and urges Maryland and Israeli technology businesses to consider applying for BIRD financing. Introductions can be made to the Foundationís representatives; simply contact the MIDC. For more details about the BIRD Foundation, see www.birdf.com.
- IBM Israel Building New R&D Center in Haifa
IBM Israel is building a new research and development center in Haifa, which will operate in tandem with the companyís existing facility in this northern coastal city. The new operation will give special attention to logical design of ASIC chips, which are designated for predefined applications. The facility will also offer full design services for analog and digital circuits, including physical planning and design verification, and system-on-a-chip designs. The existing Haifa lab is Big Blue's largest R&D facility outside the United States. Altogether, IBM Israel employs more than 500 people at sites in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Rehovot.
- New Grant Program Promotes US/Israel ìBest Practicesî Training
The Technology Excellence Fellowship (TEF) Program of the U.S. Israel Science and Technology Foundation is offering competitive grants to cover a share of the costs of hosting mid-to-senior level managers and executives for six weeks of hands-on professional training in U.S. business practices. The TEF program encourages joint ventures and investment in the high tech sectors of the United States and Israel by facilitating partnerships between the U.S. and Israeli business communities. Providing a unique low-cost, low-risk opportunity to facilitate U.S. - Israeli partnerships, TEF helps American organizations form relationships with potential customers, distributors or partners who can assist in facilitating profitable international transactions. For more information see www.usistf.org/fellowship.html.
- Capital: Where to Find It
A new report, Alternative Business Funding in Israel, serves as a directory of financial sources available to Israeli companies. The report was created by Trendlines Capital Markets, an Israeli consultancy affiliated with the MIDCís representative office, Trendlines International. Viewable at www.trendlines.com, the document provides information about dozens of Israeli government funds, international and binational programs, and other foundations, all offering financial assistance to Israeli businesses.
 Economic News & Statistics
- Israeli high tech firms raised $482 million in the first half of 2003, according to a survey conducted by the Israel Venture Association (IVA). The figure is less than the $667 million raised during the same period last year. The IVA survey reviews capital raised by private Israeli high tech companies from Israeli venture capital funds and from other investors. It is based on reports from 130 venture investors, nearly half of which are American or European.
- According to the National Venture Association, Maryland ranked fifth among the 50 states for total venture capital investment in 2002, up from tenth in 2001. New Enterprise Associates, a Baltimore-based firm, was the top ranking venture investor in 2002 for the second year in a row. The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development was listed in the top 100 most active venture investors in the country
- Two studies outline Israelís ìeconomic freedom.î The Fraser Instituteís recent Economic Freedom of the World 2003 report ranked Israelís economy as the 56th freest of the 123 countries covered. The Heritage Foundationís 2003 Index of Economic Freedom listed Israelís economy more favorably, as the 33rd freest of the 161 countries surveyed. The studies listed the United Statesí economy as the third and sixth freest, respectively. Both reports analyze such variables as rule of law, property rights, government regulation and openness to international trade.
- Israelís spending on civilian research and development amounted to 4.2% of the countryís gross domestic product in 2002, according to Israelís Central Bureau of Statistics. The rate is among the highest in the world, surpassing such high R&D spenders as Sweden (4.1%), Finland (3.4%), Japan (3%) and the United States (less than 3%).
Upcoming Events
Follow the links under each listing to find out more
or to register for an event. September 1-4, 2003
Plasto Ispack
Tel Aviv
Plasto Ispack showcases the latest advances 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 provides participants with information on the latest advances in nanotechnology.
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, drawing visitors interested in all facets of agricultural science and industry.
http://www.agritech.org.il/ September 16-17, 2003
Military Electronics Show 2003
Baltimore, MD
The Military Electronics Show is a venue for designers and manufacturers of military systems to showcase their latest hardware, software and test equipment for government and military applications.
http://www.mes2003.com/home.html September 24-26, 2003
Global Homeland Security
Washington, DC
Global Homeland Security is a conference with workshops led by leading international homeland security experts from government and industry.
http://www.bioterrorism-defense.com October 1-3, 2003
National Summit on Security
Washington, DC
The National Summit on Security 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 15-16, 2003
AmCon Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
AmCon, the American Contract Manufacturers Show, brings together job shops and contract manufacturers with original equipment manufacturing professionals.
http://www.amconshows.com/Pages/bwi.html
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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 is an international conference and exhibition devoted to the electro-optic and microelectronic industries.
http://www.conexpo.co.il/microtech/ January 26-29, 2004
COMNET
Washington, DC
COMNET is a chance for buyers and sellers in the communications networking industry to connect with the newest technologies and meet the experts driving the industry.
http://www.comnetexpo.com/ March 2-5, 2004
SATELLITE 2004
Washington, DC
SATELLITE is the largest international conference and exhibition devoted exclusively to the business of global, commercial communications satellites.
http://www.satellite2004.com/ March 2-4, 2004
Medax
Tel Aviv
Medax, sponsored by the Israel Medical Association, brings together professionals and technologies in the medical equipment and pharmaceutical industries.
http://www.stier.co.il/SG_ENG/Medax/welcome_med.htm April 2-4, 2003
National Nanotechnology Initiative
Washington, DC
The National Nanotechnology Initiative coordinates 17 United States government departments and independent agencies active in supporting the research, development and commercialization of nanotechnologies.
http://www.infocastinc.com/NNI/home.htm
Copyright ©2004 Maryland/Israel Development Center ï 217 East Redwood Street ï Suite 1217
Baltimore, Maryland ï 21202 ï USA ï Ph: 410.767.0681 ï Fx: 410.333.4302 ï info@MarylandIsrael.org 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 † |
