Showing Australian companies to the US

A significant number of Australian and New Zealand Biotech companies will showcase their wares to business angels and venture capitalists in San Fransisco mid-year.

Austrade is supporting the first Australian and New Zealand Association (ANZA) showcase to be held June 2-4, 2002 to promote access to the US market.

Australian and New Zealand companies participating in the showcase will present their business propositions to biotechnology and business services organisations.

Peter Lewis, Senior Trade Commissioner based in San Francisco said there is quite a lot of activity in the US venture capital market. With the downturn of the dot.com and mapping of human genome there is a lot more interest in biotechnology.

"Australia is seen as having good science in the biotechnology space." Lewis said two major US venture capital companies were recently in Australia hunting for good investments.

David Cannington, ANZA Tech Net Executive Director, said it’s an opportunity to make invaluable contacts, gain widespread exposure and make important in-roads to the US.

He said Australian and New Zealand companies should take advantage of the calmer economic climate in the US.

The ANZA Technology Network showcase coincides with Austrade's Fourth Silicon Valley's High Tech Tour June 5-7 2002 for companies.

"The High Tech Tour has developed a reputation as an intensive and all-encompassing learning experience for companies wishing to fast track their business in the US," said Lewis, who has been involved in this event since its inception.

"The three day tour is tailored for one-on-one meetings to cater to individual business needs of Australian and New Zealand company participants.

"For the first time there is a big push into environmental biotechnology looking at mine site remediation, and a number of companies are interested in the IP," he said.