Richmond, Virginia—my home since 2002—is smart enough to know where the smart money in science is: Richmond is actively recruiting Israeli science and research firms.
Like college sports scouts eyeing fresh stars from the sidelines, officials from the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park are actively looking to recruit Israeli science and research companies to Richmond.
They want to uncover ones that would be interested and financially able to set up shop in Virginia, which could serve as a hub for entering the enormous U.S. market for health care, drugs and biotech-related products and services.
Research park President Robert T. Skunda and others from the downtown campus made two trips to Israel in October. Even though the country has suffered from decades of violence and conflicts with its neighbors, Israel is considered one of the top research spots in the world.
“Without a doubt the technology that we are seeing over there is truly incredible,” Skunda said. “They have some really innovative stuff, and they have some stuff that is potentially very market ready.”
It is too early to tell whether the park’s recruitment will pay off in the long run, but there are some early signs of success, Skunda said.
Park officials have evaluated roughly 30 companies that could start a relationship with the biotech park, which is affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University. The firms also could partner with university-related organizations — notably the VCU Medical Center — and companies scattered throughout central Virginia.
This will be great for Richmond, for Virginia, and for the local Jewish community’s mothers. Think of the son- and daughter-in-law material to be imported along with those Israeli science firms!
Maybe they’ll do some exchanges of people in both directions. My area is quite cat-friendly.
Only Jewish mothers are hopeful?
By the memory of Liviu Librescu, the hero of the VT massacre … I’m sure that out of that sane act by a good man, many Virginians think well of Israelis.