ATLANTA IS CATCHING UP WITH CITIES LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND BOSTON AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR THE BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMEDICAL FIELDS, AND BECOMING A STOPPING-OFF PLACE FOR INTERNATIONAL DELEGATIONS INTERESTED IN BIOTECHNOLOGY, SAID CHANNING MERCER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE GEORGIA BIOMEDICAL PARTNERSHIP. THE U.S. IS A WORLDWIDE LEADER IN THOSE INDUSTRIES, WITH MORE THAN $9 BILLION IN REVENUES, HE TOLD GLOBALFAX IN AN INTERVIEW ON MAY 22.
HE RECENTLY MET WITH A BIOTECHNOLOGY DELEGATION FROM NORTHERN IRELAND, AND DISCUSSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOINT VENTURE AND EXPANSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL GEORGIA BIOMEDICAL COMPANIES INTERESTED IN ENTERING THE EUROPEAN MARKET THROUGH NORTHERN IRELAND.
TRADE DELEGATIONS FROM THE AUVERGNE REGION OF FRANCE, QUEBEC AND ISRAEL HAVE ALSO MET WITH THE PARTNERSHIP DURING VISITS TO ATLANTA, HE ADDED.
“WE HAVE WORKED A GREAT DEAL WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES, THAT WILL SOMETIMES GIVE US INFORMATION ABOUT COMPANIES LOOKING TO EXPAND TO THE U.S.,” SAID MR. MERCER.
IN ADDITION TO RUNNING PROGRAMS FOR ITS CURRENT MEMBERS, HE SAID, THE TRADE ASSOCIATION IS INVOLVED IN ATTRACTING INVESTMENT TO GEORGIA, AND ASSISTS RELOCATING COMPANIES IN FINDING SUITABLE REAL ESTATE AND RESEARCH EQUIPMENT. IT ALSO CAN CONNECT THEM TO RESEARCH FACILITIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, HE ADDED.
THE PARTNERSHIP WAS FOUNDED ON THE HEELS OF THE RELOCATION OF THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS FROM NEW YORK TO ATLANTA.
“WHEN CITY LEADERS WERE RECRUITING THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, THEY REALIZED THAT GEORGIA HAD NUMEROUS RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING THE GROWTH OF THE BIOMEDICAL INDUSTRY THAT WERE NOT BEING MARKETED,” MR. MERCER EXPLAINED.
THE PARTNERSHIP REGULARLY HOSTS DISCUSSIONS OF FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS AND OTHER SUBJECTS OF INTEREST TO ITS MEMBERS, WHICH INCLUDE COMPANIES LIKE SOLVAY PHARMACEUTICALS, THERAGENICS AND POREX TECHNOLOGIES; RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS EMORY UNIVERSITY AND THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION; AND FIRMS LIKE NATIONSBANK AND ARTHUR ANDERSEN THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SEEING THE INDUSTRY GROW, SAID MR. MERCER.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, CALL MR. MERCER AT (404) 817-5917; FAX (404) 817-4345.
BY BRIANA PEHLMAN