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For Immediate Release
Contacts
Fairfax County EDA and Invest.UK Launch Transatlantic Technology Competition at London Networking Event
April 2, 2003 – London—The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) and Invest.UK, the British Government’s economic development agency, today launched this year’s “Touchdown” competition at a networking breakfast in London. The competition is designed to attract technology and biotechnology companies in the US and UK that are serious about transatlantic expansion. One US and one UK winner will be awarded incubator assistance enabling accelerated entry into the overseas market.
The breakfast at PricewaterhouseCoopers’ London office hosted more than 80 guests who discussed the exceptional opportunities and benefits the competition offers the winning companies. Ian Jones, the Deputy Group Chief Executive of British Trade International (BTI) and keynote speaker at the event said, “This unique competition provides smaller firms with the opportunity to expand internationally with confidence.”
The US victor will be awarded a choice of an incubator or science park that is best suited for the company’s international expansion plans. The final package will likely include one year’s free rent, management services; lab space and equipment; access to support staff, facilities and conference rooms, and access to valuable advice, skill sets and a ready-made business network. The British winner, which must be a biotech company, will be housed at the Fairfax County BioAccelerator, a bioscience business incubator that opened in January.
Dave Feldman, Vice Consul, Invest.UK, in Washington DC said, "From Invest.UK’s perspective, the Touchdown competition offers another viable route for US companies to enter the UK market and a way to take advantage of the incredible network of science parks and incubators across that region."
Qualifying technology companies seriously considering international business opportunities should visit www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org for further information or to access application forms. Company submissions for the competition will be considered through July 21. The two winners will be announced in November by a panel of expert judges.
Joining with Touchdown 2003 organizers FCEDA and Invest.UK are the UK Science Park Association (UKSPA), UK Business Incubation (UKBI), BritishAmerican Business Inc (BABi), British Trade International (BTI), and the Bio Industries Association (BIA). Competition sponsors are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, Cyril Leonard, HSBC, Penningtons, Taylor Wessing and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
Douglas Blausten in his role of chaiman Transatlantic Business Forum of BABi (BritishAmerican Business Inc); Ian Jones, Deputy Group Chief Executive of British Trade; and Gerald Gordon, President and CEO, Fairfax County EDA.
 
Left, Gerald Gordon, President and CEO, Fairfax County EDA and right, Ian Jones, Deputy Group Chief Executive of British Trade address the audience at the Touchdown 2003 launch.
ABOUT THE FCEDA (www.fairfaxcountyEDA.org)
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County, Virginia, as a business and technology center. The FCEDA offers a range of free services to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. The FCEDA has marketing offices in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo.
ABOUT INVEST.UK (www.investuk.org)
Invest·UK is the British Government's worldwide economic development agency, helping US companies set up in the UK or expand from a British base swiftly and smoothly.
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