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Eight Fairfax County companies vie for space
in U.K. business incubators
Seven U.K. bioscience companies to vie for space in Fairfax County incubator; Judges today begin ranking record number of annual Touchdown competition entrants
Fairfax County, Virginia, July 31, 2003 – Eight Fairfax County technology companies have entered the annual Touchdown competition organized by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) and Invest.UK, the British government’s economic development arm, to win space in a British business incubator or science park. At the same time, seven biotechnology companies from the United Kingdom are vying for space and free business services at the Fairfax County BioAccelerator, the FCEDA’s bioscience business incubator.
Judging panels composed of U.S. and U.K. business executives today begin ranking the companies that entered the Touchdown 2003 competition. Winners will be announced in the fall.
Nineteen science parks and business incubators in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are participating this year as possible touchdown points for the Fairfax County companies.
The Virginia companies that will be judged for acceptance into a U.K. incubator are:
- 4FrontSecurity, Reston – security solutions
- Advanced Radio Corp., Reston – radio frequency equipment
- Brickstream, Fairfax – software
- BTC Management, Springfield – software
- Cell Block Technologies, Fairfax – wireless communication products
- Defywire, Reston – software
- Drawing Room Design and Construction, Great Falls – construction and home technology management
- Epiance, Herndon - software
The U.K. companies that will be judged for the Fairfax County BioAccelerator are:
- Biopta, Glasgow – drug testing systems
- BlueGnome, Cambridge – software
- British Golf Components, Leeds – golf club technology
- Cybula, York – bioinformatics technology development
- Gentronix, Manchester – biosensor systems
- Pro2kem, Dundee – polymer analysis
- ProImmune, Oxford – reagent development
“We are thrilled with the diversity of industries represented by the companies entering the competition," said Dave Feldman, Vice Consul of Investment for Invest.UK. "Because of financial incentives, a business-friendly environment, and the UK's a strong network of incubators and science parks, we attracted both early- and mid-staged companies."
“The number of entries shows companies on both sides of the Atlantic realize the value of moving into new markets,” said Gerald L. Gordon, president and CEO of the FCEDA. “Fairfax County is the right place for British companies to locate in the U.S. because of our location near Washington, D.C., our technology base, our work force, schools and quality of life.”
Award Packages
The U.S. winner will be awarded a choice of a U.K. incubator or science park best suited for the company’s international expansion. The package will likely include one year’s free rent, management services; lab space and equipment; access to support staff, facilities and conference rooms, access to valuable advice and a ready-made business network. U.K. business incubators and science parks are an important link in that country’s technology sectors.
The British winner, which must be a biotech company, will get a free year of rent and business development services in the Fairfax County BioAccelerator, a bioscience business incubator.
Competition Organizers and Sponsors
Joining with the FCEDA and Invest.UK this year as competition organizers are the UK Science Park Association, UK Business Incubation, BritishAmerican Business Inc, Confederation of British Industry and the Bio Industries Association of the United Kingdom. Additional sponsors are Cyril Leonard, HSBC, Penningtons, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Taylor Wessing, the South East England Development Agency, and Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP.
About Invest.UK
Invest.UK (www.investuk-usa.com) 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. Invest.UK provides free, confidential and expert advice on all aspects of establishing a presence in the UK.
About the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA)
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) promotes Fairfax County, Virginia, as a business and technology center. The FCEDA assists businesses by identifying possible sites and facilities, and is a source for demographic and economic statistics. The FCEDA has marketing representatives in London, Frankfurt and Tokyo.
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