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For immediate release
Alan Fogg, Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600 (o) or 571-213-5065 (m)
Deadline looms for Fairfax County/U.K. transatlantic incubator competition
Fairfax County, Virginia, July 14, 2003—Fairfax County technology companies have one week left to enter Touchdown 2003, a competition designed to help companies expand into the British and European markets. The competition is being organized by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) and Invest.UK, the British Government’s economic development agency. The deadline to enter the competition is July 21.
The victor will be awarded a choice of an incubator or science park that is best suited for the company’s international expansion plans. Seventeen incubators and science parks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are participating in the competition.
At the same time, U.K. biotechnology companies can enter to win a place in the Fairfax County BioAccelerator business incubator. Fairfax County is home to 4,600 technology companies, including 35 from the U.K.
Qualifying companies seriously considering international business opportunities should visit www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org for further information or to access application forms. A panel of judges will rate the entries. Winners will be announced in November.
Dave Feldman, Vice Consul, Invest.UK, in Washington D.C. said, "The Touchdown competition offers another viable route for U.S. companies to enter the U.K. market and take advantage of the incredible network of science parks and incubators across that region."
“The competition provides a wonderful opportunity for start-ups and smaller bioscience companies to launch themselves into potentially the biggest market in the world well ahead of their normal schedule,” said FCEDA President and CEO Gerald L. Gordon.
Joining with Touchdown 2003 organizers FCEDA and Invest.UK are these sponsors: UK Science Park Association (UKSPA), UK Business Incubation (UKBI), BritishAmerican Business Inc (BABi), British Trade International (BTI), Bio Industries Association (BIA), PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC, Cyril Leonard, HSBC, Penningtons, Taylor Wessing and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
In a similar competition in Germany, eight German bioscience companies are vying for space and services at the Fairfax County BioAccelerator.
ABOUT THE FCEDA (www.fairfaxcountyEDA.org)
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority promotes Fairfax County, Virginia, as a business/technology center. The FCEDA has marketing offices in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo.
ABOUT INVEST.UK (www.investuk-usa.com)
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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