PRESS RELEASE

California Deals See ABHI Forge Deeper U.S Relations

The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) has partnered with Southern California’s leading business accelerator OCTANe and the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce in a strategic three-way collaboration, to provide trade support for HealthTech companies.

The partnership will see UK companies connect with one of the US’s most diversified technology communities in Irvine and the wider Orange County area, to develop their market entry and growth strategies.

ABHI CEO Peter Ellingworth said: “This particular district of Southern California is a real Health Technology hub and we are actively exploring opportunities for British businesses in the area. By creating these sustainable two-way trading bridges, HealthTech companies can bring significant benefits to patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Through its International Membership scheme, ABHI will also support California-based companies navigate the UK’s healthcare market, to help drive growth and investment in the UK.

OCTANe’s business expansion programmes provide advice and guidance as well as access to capital for growth stage companies. Commenting on the news, OCTANe’s President & CEO, Bill Carpou added: “By connecting ideas and people with resources and capital, OCTANe has created one of the nation’s most dynamic ecosystems for driving technology growth. We are uniquely positioned to link UK companies to this environment and to help guide them as they explore this world-class marketplace.”

The announcement follows a recent business tour to the UK by OCTANe and the Greater Irvine Chamber. Linda DiMario, Greater Irvine Chamber’s Executive Vice President, charged with Economic Development & Tourism added: Following our second visit to the U.K. in February, we are excited to more concretely establish a working relationship with ABHI, its membership and the UK’s HealthTech community. Irvine/Orange County is at the core of Southern California’s world-renowned life science industry and the epicentre for medical device and health care innovation. We hope that this agreement will encourage UK-based companies to explore, connect and engage with the region as they consider expansion into the U.S.”

These two strategic relationships add to ABHI’s comprehensive US market entry programme, which has seen the association develop partnerships with key business groups in America’s most important centres for commerce. In November 2017 the association announced its Innovation Hub at Austin’s Dell Medical School and 2018 sees a series of trade missions to Texas, California and Pennsylvania.

ENDS

About ABHI

The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the industry association for the medical technology sector in the UK. ABHI’s mission is to champion the benefits and use of safe and effective medical technologies to deliver high quality patient outcomes. With 270 members, ABHI leads the advocacy of the industry in order to advance access to medical technology. Our membership includes some of the leading multinational businesses in the sector in the UK right the way through to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

For further information, visit the ABHI website: www.abhi.org.uk

About OCTANe

OCTANe is committed to building the SoCal of Tomorrow by driving innovation and growth by connecting people, resources and capital. The organization has helped more than 800 companies via the LaunchPad™ SBDC accelerator. LaunchPad™-certified companies have received more than $2.2 billion in investment and equity exits. OCTANe annually welcomes more than 7,000 people to its programs and events. More than 2,000 business leaders throughout the region are OCTANe members. For further information, visit the OCTANe website: www.octaneoc.org

About the Greater Irvine Chamber

The Greater Irvine Chamber is the largest, most productive and forward-looking business organization in Southern California. Our 1,000 members and community partners are engaged in sustaining the master-planned vision that underpins Irvine’s prosperous economy, high quality of life and 21st century industry sectors – life sciences, information technology and advanced manufacturing. Actively engaged in leading business growth, the Chamber is dedicated to improving and growing the economic vitality of Irvine and Orange County and helping businesses grow and thrive. The Chamber leads the area’s economic development activities including highly impactful legislative business advocacy, destination sales and promotion, business attraction and business retention initiatives, 21st century workforce development programs and international outreach embracing export assistance and foreign direct investment work.

For further information, visit the Greater Irvine website: www.greaterirvinechamber.com

In today’s competitive environment, emerging life sciences companies face unique challenges – the need to attract key talent, make connections with funding and industry experts, and conserve capital while working to bring innovative products and treatments to market. “CLSA and OCTANe are thrilled to create a program that strengthens emerging Southern California life sciences companies and supports more of the innovations that save lives here and around the world,” said Sara Radcliffe, President and CEO of the California Life Sciences Association.

OCTANe and the California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) understand your business. “We are excited to partner with CLSA to help companies leverage the network, resources and comprehensive support services of both organizations to grow and scale their business in Southern California,” said Cara Davidoff, Manager of Strategic Initiatives at OCTANe. “We will expand our existing network to build a broader coalition of like-minded organizations that want to elevate innovation throughout all of Southern California,” added Bill Carpou, CEO of OCTANe.

Companies that take advantage of the Growth Accelerator Program will receive dual membership benefits such as:

• Access to more than 100 thought-provoking programs, round-tables and networking events throughout California, available free or at a deep discount to Members;
• Up to 80% savingson lab equipment, employee benefits, cyber security, and other key business resources through CLSA’s Power Purchasing program;
• Legislative round-tables, advocacy working groups, and other small-company opportunities to impact policy initiatives;
• Up to 35% savingson local, regional, and national conferences and seminars;
• Incubation and acceleration programs specifically designed to support early-stage companies;
• Portal accessto advisor/investor services, business tools and industry intelligence; and
• Early access to the eagerly-anticipated CLSA Life Sciences Industry and CLSI Workforce Trends Reports.

For more information, please visit us at www.AccelerateOCTANeCLSA.org

About OCTANe

OCTANe is building the SoCal of Tomorrow by connecting people, resources and capital to drive technology industry growth enabling new company creation and new jobs in Orange County. Its members represent Orange County technology executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians, and strategic advisors, all working together to fuel innovation in the OC. The organization has helped more than 800 companies via the LaunchPad™ SBDC accelerator. LaunchPad™ companies have received more than $700 million in investment and equity exits. These investments have supported the creation of more than 3,500 new jobs in Orange County. OCTANe annually welcomes more than 6,000 people to its programs and events. More than 2,000 business leaders throughout the Orange County region are OCTANe members. For more information, visit www.octaneoc.org.

About California Life Sciences Association (CLSA)

California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) is the leading voice for California’s life sciences sector. We work closely with industry, government, academia and other stakeholders to shape public policy, drive business solutions and grow California’s life sciences innovation ecosystem. CLSA serves biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics companies, research universities and institutes, investors and service providers. CLSA was founded in 2015 when the Bay Area Bioscience Association (BayBio) and the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) merged to create the state’s most influential life sciences advocacy and business leadership organization. Visit CLSA at www.califesciences.org, and follow us on Twitter @CALifeSciences, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInand YouTube.

Contact:

Cara Parchment

Media Relations Manager

cara@octaneoc.org

Elizabeth Gibson

Senior Director, Marketing & Programs

egibson@califesciences.org