Dept. of Commerce: Governor Doyle Signs Sister Agreement with Research Park in Germany

Contacts:
Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

FRANKFURT, GERMANY – Governor Jim Doyle today signed a Sister-Park Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the University Research Park in Madison and the Frankfurter Innovationszentrum Biotechnologie GmbH (FIZ) of Hessen, Germany. Hessen is Wisconsin’s sister-state.

“This agreement will help further the development of biotechnology companies in both states and build on a 25-year tradition of cooperation between Wisconsin and Hessen,” Governor Doyle said. “Biotechnology is a fast-growing industry in Wisconsin, and this cooperative venture will help us gain visibility in overseas markets.”

The objective of this agreement is to establish and nurture cooperation between the two parks, with the goal of promoting international business development and enhancing synergy among research, education and business activities. This MOU anticipates an ongoing, cooperative relationship between the two parks including data exchange, joint projects and enhanced information flow.

“This is an important agreement for the University Research Park because it furthers our strategy of international technology transfer,” said Mark Bugher, executive director of the University Research Park. “Most of the companies in the research park do business internationally, and we want to assist them in their efforts to reach emerging markets around the world.”

The FIZ will be the new hub for biotechnology in the heart of Frankfurt’s prosperous business center, the Riedberg. It is a central element in the collective strategy to re-establish Frankfurt and the Southern area of Hessen as one of Europe’s leading biotechnology regions.

The University Research Park, established in 1983, has served more than 100 tenant businesses. The mission of the University Research Park is to provide an environment that encourages technology development and commercialization. It has nearly reached capacity with its current space configuration.

Governor Doyle is leading a trade mission to Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic from November 8-16, 2005 to strengthen economic and governmental ties. Wisconsin exports nearly $50 million to Poland and the Czech Republic.