Delegation Will Explore New Opportunities in Homeland Security Industry; State of Illinois to Sign Declaration to Encourage Technology Collaboration with Israel

CHICAGO ¬– Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich is sending off an Illinois delegation on Friday to Tel Aviv for the State of Illinois Trade Mission to Israel, a week-long trip to develop ties and opportunities between Illinois-based homeland security companies and Israeli homeland security industry leaders and firms.  The mission is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Homeland Security Market Development Bureau (HSMD) and comes as part of Opportunity Returns, the Governor’s comprehensive economic development strategy to create jobs and expand economic growth throughout Illinois.

“As the global economy continues to evolve, we must open doors for Illinois companies to build relationships with research institutions and businesses across the globe.  This trade mission to Israel provides a focused opportunity for Illinois companies to establish new trading partnerships in the robust homeland security sector with Israel’s leading science and technology providers.  We are also pleased to launch a business-focused fellowship program between Illinois and Israel that hopefully will attract the best and the brightest from both countries in order to commercialize research, develop products and create jobs,” Gov. Blagojevich said.

At the outset of the mission, a ceremony will be held to recognize Gov. Blagojevich’s signing of a new Declaration to Encourage Industrial R&D Cooperation in Biotechnology, Homeland Security, Life Sciences and Related Sectors.  The Declaration recognizes Illinois’ and Israel’s mutual interest in advancing common trade and investment opportunities, and also provides a framework for establishing specific programs to encourage scientific exchange and increase trade.  

The objective of the mission is to increase trade, investment and collaboration on R&D efforts between Illinois and Israel in high growth business sectors, such as homeland security and biotechnology.  Mission activities include technology demonstrations by leading Israeli centers for R&D and technology commercialization; working meetings with major Israeli defense and homeland security companies; conferences with Israeli business and industry leaders, such as the Israel Manufacturer’s Association and the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce; an “Invest in Illinois” seminar designed to attract Israeli firms interested in locating new facilities in Illinois; and one-on-one partnership development sessions between Illinois companies and potential Israeli trading partners.

Trade mission participants include State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston); representatives from Motorola Ventures, Cognitor, Inc., Hi-Grade Paint Co., the Kern Group, Botos Consulting, and the Action Marketing Group, Inc.; Margaret Larson, Director of Gov. Blagojevich’s Washington, D.C. Office; Matthew Summy, Deputy Director of the HSMD Bureau; Bret Johnson, Director of the Homeland Security Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Northwestern University.

“Illinois is very proud to have a strong partnership with the State of Israel, and this trade mission and new fellowship program will strengthen and deepen these ties and pave the way for stronger collaboration within the homeland security and life sciences sectors.  Illinois and Israel both possess rich research and development and business resources, and Gov. Blagojevich and I are excited about the many collaborative opportunities that we have yet to discover,” State Senator Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) said.

As a tangible way to establish real ties, the Israel trade mission will also become the start of the Illinois Business Applied Science Exchanges (IBASE), a new mutual exchange program that will make it possible for Illinois-based industry leaders to work in R&D settings in emerging markets, as well as for researchers and scientists from those markets to work in Illinois corporations for 3, 6 or 12 months.  The objective is to encourage commercialization of new technologies across both sectors.  The program will further match Illinois’ and Israel’s common strengths in research and business development and foster stronger, lasting economic ties.

“The United States and Israel have always been staunch allies.  In that spirit, The Consulate General has been promoting a variety of programs to enhance cooperation between the U.S. and Israel at federal, state and local levels.  We appreciate and fully support Illinois’ leadership in initiating missions, as well as the proposed Business and Science Exchange program directed to further develop and strengthen the professional, technological and commercial ties that will undoubtedly benefit the peoples of Illinois and Israel,” Barukh Binah, Consul General of Israel to the Midwest, said.

In April, Gov. Blagojevich welcomed an Israeli delegation to Chicago to participate in BIO 2006, the prestigious, international biotechnology conference, which helped lay the groundwork to develop partnerships with state and regional players in life sciences and related sectors.  Delegates from Israel included Dr. Eli Opper, Chief Scientist for the State of Israel, and Yair Amitay, Managing Director of the Israeli Industry Center for Research, who will now welcome the Illinois delegation during this visit to Israel.  

“Illinois has advanced as a real leader in the homeland security industry, and this trade mission to Israel will allow us to share our policies, innovation and research and development activity and establish ties for even more collaboration down the road.  Gov. Blagojevich and I look forward to working with more foreign delegations and promoting Illinois’ tremendous resources and opportunities for companies to grow and expand,” DCEO Director Jack Lavin said.
   
Gov. Blagojevich’s Opportunity Returns regional economic development strategy is the most aggressive, comprehensive approach to creating jobs in Illinois’ history.  Since a one-size-fits-all approach to economic development just doesn’t work, the Governor has divided the state into 10 regions – each with a regional team that is empowered and expected to rapidly respond to opportunities and challenges.  Opportunity Returns is about tangible, specific actions to make each region more accessible, more marketable, more entrepreneurial and more attractive to businesses.  It is about upgrading the skills of the local workforce, increasing the access to capital, opening new markets, improving infrastructure, and creating and retaining jobs.  Opportunity Returns is about successfully partnering with companies and communities, both large and small, to help all of Illinois reach its economic potential.