Business development board of palm beach county, inc

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  Ken Kirby welcomed the cluster members and their guests to a record turn out!
  
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  Andrew Duffell was pleased to announce that the Business Development Board assisted a new company to do business in Palm Beach County. We welcome Disc Motion Technologies to Boca Raton. The company’s purpose is to design, patent, develop and commercialize the next generation of motion preservation devices to treat degenerative conditions of the lumbar and cervical spine. Disc Motion Technologies will create jobs with an average salary of $110,000
  
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  Review of BIO2006 in Chicago, April 9-13, 2006
  

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  Ed Wiley, PBCC, told the cluster that a new professor was to be starting soon at the college in the BioScience Program. In fact, she was actually discovered at the BIO2006 convention!
  
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  The members discussed continuing the success from BIO2006 with plans to participate in an Ambassador role for BIO2007. Andrew Duffell is the point person for sponsorship.
  
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  MD&M in New York, June 6-8, 2006 - Medical Devices and Manufacturing conference. Gary Hines will attend from the Business Development Board.
  
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  Ken Kirby informed the members of the upcoming Team Florida- United Kingdom Trade Mission, July 15-21, 2006. The mission invites Florida companies to London to explore the excellent opportunities in the United Kingdom. TransDermal Technologies, Ken Kirby president, will be sponsoring Governor Jeb Bush’s reception on Tuesday evening! The reception will be held in the Great Hall at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Click for photo. All interested companies may contact ibarrios@eflorida.com.
  
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  Update on Educational Initiatives:
  
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    Ed Wiley reports that PBCC is in full swing with plans for the new BioTech facility in Palm Beach Gardens. The ground is being excavated and prepared for the construction of 90,000 sq.ft educational space.
    
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    Fred Barch, Science Program Planner for the PBC school district, reported on the Biotech Academy. Seminole Ridge H S., Spanish River H S and Palm Beach Lakes H S will have several sections of Biotech curriculums. He also reported that a Student placed 1st in Florida and South Eastern U.S. BioGenius Competition and 1^st in the National Bio Dreaming Competition, awarding her with a necklace which contained a sample of her DNA.
    
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    Diane Reeves, FAU, stated that this summer FAU will hold a BIO Honors institute. At the institute, kids will work with FAU professors in the mornings and Scripps scientists in the afternoons.
    
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  The cluster addressed the question of what strengths does Palm Beach County have that entice companies to come here? Some comments included:
  
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    Scripps
    
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    Quality of Life
    
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    Life Science Cluster for the county
    
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    Clinical research
    
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  Sharon Bournes, 3i Implant Innovations, asked for assistance in finding qualified personnel. Doug Saenz, Workforce Alliance, provided an overview of what they provide and his contact information. He also sited that 3 companied are currently partnering with The Workforce Alliance in training programs for machining positions.
  
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  Rina Dukor, BioTools, suggested that a printed list of BIO companies be distributed at the cluster meetings, in an effort to allow the members to connect with existing Life Science companies and increase attendance and membership to the cluster.
  
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    Ed Wiley proposed informing the science community outside of Florida of our growing Life Science Cluster.
    
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  David Fater and Richard Cohen, ALDA & associates, recommend having a Scripps Update at each meeting.
  

Attendees were treated to 35 minute tour of the plant, machining areas, and packaging areas.

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  EDC will host the annual bioscience conference on May 17^th, 2006. The theme of the conference is "Bench to Bedside: South Florida Partnerships in Research & Medicine”, and the all- day event will take place at Nova Southeastern University, Davie Campus. To register, visit www.edc-tech.org/events.
  

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  2006 SBIR (small business engaged in innovative research) conference is slated or Jupiter- June 8/9. To register, visit www.floridaSBDC.com.