November 19, 2014 – The Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) just returned from its second investment mission of 2014, this time to the United Kingdom. The purpose of this mission was to develop partnerships between UK science and research parks and companies based at Innovation Place in Saskatoon. SREDA met up with Consider Canada City Alliance (CCCA) on their European Road Show for the UK portion. The trip included stops in London, Manchester and Norwich.
In London, SREDA met with investors and businesses interested in investing in the Saskatoon Region. SREDA attended an investment seminar hosted by the Institute of Directors and the High Commission of Canada, as well as one-on-one meetings with UK companies in the technology and financial business sectors.
Manchester has growing technology and life sciences industries within the city’s region. Business leaders presented their strengths and opportunities for international collaborations. SREDA made connections with researchers in environmental technology in Manchester that have potential application in the Saskatoon Region.
SREDA headed to Norwich to visit the Norwich Research Park on the last day of the investment mission. With a strong emphasis on agriculture biotechnology and genomics, there is potential for exciting international collaborations between Norwich Research Park and companies at Saskatoon’s Innovation Place.
This investment mission to the UK supports the effort to increase trade and investment between Saskatchewan and the UK. In May 2013, Premier Brad Wall signed the UK-SK Action Plan aimed at increasing, amongst other things, trade and investment between SK and the UK.
In advance of the mission, SREDA and Innovation Place signed a partnership agreement to work together on developing relationships with science and technology parks in the United Kingdom. The goal of these relationships is to introduce companies at Innovation Place to companies at the Manchester Science Park and Norwich Research Park. Van Isman, President & CEO of Innovation Place states, “International partnerships between science and technology parks in the UK and Innovation Place will help facilitate opportunities for our tenants to connect with European business partners. These connections will support the ability of local Saskatchewan science and technology companies to grow and succeed globally.”
Innovation Saskatchewan provided support to SREDA on this investment mission. According to Dr. Jerome Konecsni, President and CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, “Building international collaborations between Saskatchewan and UK science and research parks fosters the innovation climate and opportunity for Saskatchewan companies to increase their competitiveness in a growing global market.”
“The Saskatoon Region is a great fit for companies looking to expand into the North American market, and we are always exploring new partnership opportunities for our local companies,” says Alex L. Fallon, SREDA President & CEO. “This investment mission to the UK is a great example of how SREDA partners with provincial organizations to help grow local companies and research projects on a global stage by introducing them to business partners and collaborators in Europe.”
About SREDA
Started in 1992, the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) Inc. was one of the first independent economic development agencies to be started in Canada. SREDA works with the City of Saskatoon, the province of Saskatchewan, the surrounding rural communities and more than 200 private sector investors to build and grow the region’s economy.
About the Consider Canada City Alliance
Incorporated in 2012, the Consider Canada City Alliance is made up of 12 of Canada’s largest cities—Saskatoon, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Québec City, Winnipeg, the Waterloo Region, and London. The alliance helps international companies determine the best strategies for business expansion.
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For more information contact: Alex L. Fallon President & CEO SREDA Office: (306) 664-0720 Email: afallon@sreda.com