For Immediate Release
Contact: James Lamb (412) 394-3900 jlamb@iiofpitt.org
Delegation to Provide Opportunities for Global Growth in Life Sciences
June 29, 2006, Pittsburgh, PA – A life sciences delegation to Dublin and Belfast, scheduled for Nov. 10-18, will be led by the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh. It marks the Institute’s 13th business delegation to Ireland, and comes on the heels of UPMC Cancer Center’s recent announcement to partner with hospitals in Ireland to provide radiation treatments for cancer, beginning this year.
The delegation departs Friday, November 10 and returns Saturday, November 18. The program includes participation in BioIreland 2006, which will take place in Dublin, Ireland Nov. 12-14; visits to various centers of excellence in science and medicine around the island of Ireland, including Queens University’s new Centre for Cancer Research in Belfast; and daily business matching.
Supporting the program are the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, Pittsburgh Life Science Greenhouse, Pittsburgh Technology Council, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
“As a globally recognized leader in the life sciences industry, the Commonwealth is pleased to support the delegation and be a part of the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh’s ongoing dedication to creating long-lasting partnerships abroad,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky. “Governor Rendell's proposed 2006-2007 budget includes the Jonas Salk Legacy Fund that will provide $500 million in accelerated funding over the next two years to invest in bioscience research and commercialization activities.”
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said, "The life sciences industry is burgeoning in Allegheny County and Southwestern Pennsylvania. I appreciate the Ireland Institute's commitment to strengthening our region's life sciences companies and making their impact even greater."
Don Smith, Director of Economic Development for the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, agreed that, "Ireland has made a remarkable shift to a knowledge based economy and is one of the leading technology centers in Europe. The BioIreland Conference is a great opportunity to learn about successful initiatives on the island, and to facilitate strategic partnerships that help companies in our region access technology and the European Market."
Among the world-class presenters at BioIreland 2006 will be Dr. Mitchell Fink, Chair of the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Critical Medicine. Fink, a renowned scientist and entrepreneur said, “I was delighted to accept the invitation to be one of the speakers. The quality of this conference program, the opportunities for life science and biotechnology companies, and the access that the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh provide are hard to pass up. ”
Ronald Herberman, M.D., Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Centers, stated, “We are very pleased to be opening radiation treatment facilities in Waterford and Dublin, and I am hopeful that we can broaden our activities to also collaborate on cancer research in Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
Dan Rooney, Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, stated, “This initiative will encourage life-science companies to take advantage of the considerable resources available through the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh. It will help make expansion into the European market a reality and will of course also facilitate a greater interaction with members of the business community. It’s a win-win initiative for both Ireland and Pennsylvania.”
Secretary Yablonsky added, “In addition, Governor Rendell also proposed the $15 million World Trade PA initiative which will assist companies of all sizes to thrive in today’s global market and become a driving and competitive force in international trade and investment. Attracting foreign direct investment is vital to Pennsylvania's economy and the state is committed to providing international companies with the tools necessary to locate, invest, and create jobs in the Commonwealth."
Local companies that are interested in participating in the mission should contact James Lamb, President, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh at (412) 394-3900 or jlamb@iiofpitt.org
The Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh
The Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh’s mission is to promote mutual understanding of the Catholic and Protestant traditions in Northern Ireland and economic development throughout all of Ireland. The Institute fulfills its mission by providing quality programs in job training, economic development, leadership development, educational alliances and reconciliation. The Institute is a change-oriented organization that collaborates with industry, educational and government institutions in the development of all programs.
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