Mass. Life Sciences Launches International Program
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has launched a new program for Massachusetts companies to partner with international firms.
Announced Monday at a convention in Chicago, the International Collaborative Industry Program (ICIP) allows the center to partner with Victoria, Australia; the Wallonia region of Belgium; Quebec; and Alsace in France to award funding to support projects "demonstrating innovative and collaborative research and development (R&D) in Massachusetts and in the partnering regions" the MLSC said.
The creation of ICIP stems from international demand to partner with Massachusetts life sciences companies advancing R&D for new products and processes intended for commercialization, according to the MLSC.
Companies in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics and bioinformatics are encouraged to submit project applications which are due in September. Winners will be announced in March 2014.
"No one country or region can address on its own the urgent health challenges that still face our global community," MLSC President & CEO Susan Windham-Bannister said Monday. "In Massachusetts, we believe that the life sciences breakthroughs of tomorrow will be grounded in new models of international collaboration, like the strategic alliances that we celebrate today."
The new initiative is the latest in the state's 10-year, $1-bilion life sciences investment proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2007. For the first round, MLSC has authorized up to $1.5 million for winning companies with grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000, and the companies must match the MLSC's funding. Agencies in the international company's region will fund their local winners.
The MLSC already has international partnerships with Israel, Northern Ireland, Catalonia and Finland.
For more information about ICIP, visit www.masslifesciences.com/icip or email icip@masslifesciences.com.
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