GPF, Science Center Team Up to Help Entrepreneurs; CONNECT GREATER PHILADELPHIA Will Accelerate Science, Technology Commercialization 8/16/2002
From: Heseung Ann Song of Osiris Group, Inc., 215-966-6108, hsong@osiris-inc.com; or Karen Hanson of Greater Philadelphia First, 215-575-2200, khanson@gpf.biz PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16 -- Greater Philadelphia First (GPF) and the Science Center announced today the establishment of a major new joint initiative designed to make it easier for science and technology entrepreneurs to start, grow and expand their businesses by linking them with needed business, academic and other resources. Modeled on UCSD CONNECT in San Diego, Calif., the new initiative will be known as CONNECT Greater Philadelphia and housed within the Science Center. "We see this as key to growing the Greater Philadelphia region's knowledge-based economy," said Sam Katz, CEO of GPF, the region's leading business and civic leadership organization. "Finding ways to leverage science and technology discoveries as engines of regional economic growth is one of GPF's highest priorities." Science Center President Jill Felix said CONNECT was a natural extension of the Science Center's mission and will serve as an invaluable one-stop shop for science and technology entrepreneurs and start-up companies. "Our goal is to accelerate the growth of new startups by linking all the resources, ideas and expertise in the region with science and technology entrepreneurs who need them," Felix said. "CONNECT will act as a regional clearinghouse and catalyst, connecting entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed." The idea for CONNECT began with GPF and its mission to transform the region into one of the nation's leading centers of knowledge. GPF's "Six for Success" agenda, launched in February 2002, is a series of initiatives aimed at achieving this goal. According to Katz, it was out of this effort that GPF became aware of the highly successful UCSD CONNECT program in San Diego. "We have been looking at other successful efforts across the country to promote new technology businesses, and when we find the best practices, we think are needed here, we try to make it happen," Katz said. "When we decided to replicate CONNECT in Greater Philadelphia, the Science Center emerged as a natural choice," Katz said. "Rather than create another organization, we want to maximize the resources that are already in place." According to Felix, the Greater Philadelphia region has a wealth of university and private laboratories. "Every day in these labs, world-class researchers develop new and innovative technologies," Felix said. "The Science Center's mission is to help grow today's new ideas into tomorrow's new products. When we are successful, we create jobs and regional wealth from these ideas." "One of our main focuses has been to work with and nurture new technology companies," Felix said. "In addition to a range of services for large technology companies, the Science Center already provides incubation and acceleration space for new information technology and biotech companies, as well as intensive support services for these startups." Katz emphasized that the major focus of CONNECT will be to create jobs and economic opportunity for the region. "We always say that the next great regional company - the region's newest, largest employer - has yet to be born," Katz said. "Our hope is that with CONNECT and our partnership with the Science Center we can ensure that next great enterprise takes root here in Greater Philadelphia." ------ Greater Philadelphia First: GPF, the region's business and civic leadership organization, is an association of chief executives of Philadelphia-area companies and nonprofit organizations. Established in 1983, GPF is committed to boosting the economic competitiveness of Greater Philadelphia by promoting policies and actions that enhance the regionms attractiveness to knowledge-based industries and their workers. http://www.GPF.biz The Science Center: The Science Center is a consortium of 34 regional academic and scientific institutions, and is the oldest and largest urban research park in the world. The Science center has helped over 250 startup become successful companies in the last decade alone. http://www.UCSC.org |