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US Media Contacts:
Alan Fogg
Fairfax County EDA
703-790-0600
afogg@fceda.org
Jenny Connorton
The MWW Group for Invest•UK
202-827-3762
jconnorton@mww.com
UK Media Contact:
Ross Clarke/David Wallen
LIVEpr
011 44 (0) 20 7630 1100
Fairfax@livepr.net
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
and Invest•UK Launch Transatlantic Technology Competition
U.S. Tech Companies Compete to Win Valuable Incubator Assistance in U.K. Market
March 17, 2003, Fairfax County, Virginia—The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) has joined with Invest.UK, the British Government’s economic development agency, in a competition that encourages technology, telecommunications and biotechnology companies in the U.S. and the U.K. to expand across the Atlantic.
Entries for “Touchdown 2003,” the third annual competition, will be accepted from April 2 to July 21, with winners announced in November. There will be one winner from the U.S. and one winner from the U.K.
The competition will be launched with an April 2 networking breakfast at PricewaterhouseCoopers offices LLP at Charing Cross in London.
Award Packages
The U.S. winner, which can be a technology, telecom or biotech company, will be awarded a choice of a U.K. 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 U.K. has a large network of business incubators and science parks that is an important link in that country’s technology and research and development sectors.
The British winner, which must be a biotech company, wll get a free year in the Fairfax County BioAccelerator, a bioscience business incubator that opened in late 2002 and has space for up to 12 companies.
Competition Benefits
“The competition over the past two years has been hugely successful,” said FCEDA President and CEO Gerald L. Gordon. “The Touchdown competition provides a unique opportunity for start-ups and middle-stage companies to position themselves in lucrative overseas markets ahead of their normal schedule.”
Alastair Newton, Director, Invest.UK, USA, said, "The ‘Touchdown 2003’ program is a great opportunity for U.S. enterprises looking to expand to the U.K. as a steppingstone into the key European market. Invest.UK, for whom building business ‘bridges’ in particular across the Atlantic is a top priority, is delighted to join with Fairfax EDA to promote this competition.”
Last Year’s Winners – U.S. and U.K.
Last year’s winners were Fairfax-based Enlightened Technologies Associates Inc. (ETA) and SmartBead Technologies Ltd. from Cambridge, U.K. ETA is developing lighted eyeglasses that help overcome sleep disorders, seasonal depression and jet lag. SmartBead has developed a system that uses microparticles etched with barcodes no wider than a human hair to tag and track molecules.
Sally Dobkin, Executive Vice President of ETA, said, “Winning the competition has enabled us to move up our timetable for business overseas. Having rent-free incubator space for a year at the York Science Park will be immensely beneficial in kick-starting our British venture.”
In addition, three 2002 competition entrants from the U.S. established contacts with science parks in the U.K.
Competition Organizers and Sponsors
Joining with the FCEDA and Invest.UK as competition organizers are the UK Science Park Association, UK Business Incubation, BritishAmerican Business Inc., BritishAmerica Business Association, Confederation of British Industry, and the UK Bio Industries Association. Sponsors are PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Cyril Leonard, HSBC, Penningtons, Taylor Wessing and South East (England) Economic Development Agency (SEEDA).
Enter to Win
U.S. and U.K. companies will qualify for the competition if they are seriously considering international business opportunities. U.S. companies should visit www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org to find application forms, or contact Alan Fogg at 703-790-0600 or afogg@fceda.org.
U.K. companies may call Mick Ryan, Fairfax County’s UK Marketing Director, at 0800-085-0969 or e-mail him at mick_ryan@dial.pipex.com.
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 offers a wide 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
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's headquarters in the United States is in New York City with regional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington DC; and branch offices in Phoenix and Seattle. Invest.UK provides free, confidential and expert advice on all aspects of establishing a presence in the UK.
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