Top European Biotech, Pharma Executives Gathering to Discuss San Diego Strategic Business Partnerships

SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2014 – Senior executives from leading European biotech and pharma companies will discuss how public and private sector organizations in San Diego can best engage with them at a June 22 event sponsored by the European American Enterprise Council (EAEC) and CONNECT.

The 4-7 pm event, held at Co-Merge, 330 A Street, downtown San Diego, is also the precursor transatlantic kickoff party for the BIO International Convention, which starts the following day. Sponsors include the Government of Canada, Bank of the West and San Diego-based law firm Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP.

"This is an ideal opportunity for local and regional businesses – and the media – to learn more about how European biotech and pharma companies want to work with San Diego governmental agencies and the business community," said Sebastien Torre, president of EAEC. "And as a global life sciences hub, San Diego is in a unique position to establish significant trade and investment partnerships with many of these European companies."

Panelists include:

- Melissa Fitzgerald, Senior Director, Global Scouting - Pfizer's External Research & Development Innovation Group;
- Nicholas Green, President and CEO, Therapure Biopharma, Inc.;
- Jonathan Usuka, Director, Global Business Partnering, Signal Pharmaceuticals, LLC;
- Michael J. Kinkelaar, Partner, Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch, LLP (moderator)

The European American Enterprise Council™ is a private member-driven organization and network with eight US and EU chapters that promotes transatlantic cooperation, collaboration and business between European and North American companies, institutions and economic regions while fostering Innovation, international trade, investment and entrepreneurship. EAEC spearheads the annual USA Week Europe, which will be held in Bilbao, Spain in November, and serves as the West Coast representative of the Enterprise Europe Network, funded by the European Commission.

CONNECT is a regional program that catalyzes the creation of innovative technology and life sciences products in San Diego County by linking inventors and entrepreneurs with the resources they need for success. Since 1985, CONNECT has assisted in the formation and development of more than 3,000 companies. CONNECT is modeled in 50 regions worldwide and convenes an annual global summit of regional technology accelerators to foster cross-border collaboration and commercialization.

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