Current News
For Immediate Release

Philadelphia, PA - August 21, 2003 - Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) is a co-sponsor of the Bio/Pharm 2003 Annual conference September 19-20, 2003 at the Radisson Valley Forge Hotel in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Ben Franklin is among 37 co-sponsoring organizations in the U.S. and other Pacific Rim countries including the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia, the Scientist, Volpe and Koenig P.C., and the Taiwan Bio Industry Organization.

Taiwan has set a goal of establishing itself as the Asian Pacific center for R&D, manufacturing, and operations in the bio/pharm industry. In order to meet this goal, Taiwan has announced an initial commitment to invest $4.8 billion into the bio/pharm industry.

"Taiwan has a combination of strengths, entrepreneurial spirit and a highly educated workforce. [We] plan to establish R&D and marketing partnerships with many foreign biotechnology companies and gradually transform into a gateway for these companies to extend their business in Asia," said Minister Ching-Yen Tsay, Minister of State, Taiwan. Minister Tsay, who is traveling to southeastern Pennsylvania in mid-September, is leading a delegation of 40 investors, top executives, and government officers to partner with institutions, companies and organizations.

"Having supported the growth of southeastern Pennsylvania's biotech and life sciences industries for two decades, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania is proud to cosponsor Bio/Pharm 2003 -- bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, corporations, and industry leaders. This opportunity will strengthen our collaborative relationship and establish new partnerships with regional and international organizations," said RoseAnn B. Rosenthal, President and CEO, BFTP/SEP.

"This conference is designed with maximal opportunities for interactions among the participants, and it will facilitate the formation of partnerships, critical to the advancement of the bio/pharm industry," said Dr. Chris Pak, Conference Co-chair and President & CEO of Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc. "We are very excited to have Minister Tsay, the Honorable Governor Rendell, Pennsylvania (invited), Professor Da Hsuan Feng, Vice President for Research & Graduate Education of the University of Texas at Dallas, and many international and national executives, entrepreneurs and government officers in attendance."

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP/SEP) is dedicated to growing the region through science, technology and entrepreneurship. Now commemorating 20 years of innovation excellence, Ben Franklin provides entrepreneurs and established businesses the capital, talent, and expertise they need to compete. Like its namesake, Ben Franklin invests in, builds upon and delivers solutions that grow communities and create new wealth by supporting today's technological ideas and tomorrow's scientific discovery.