Healthcare technology industry leaders gather in York Region to discuss public-private collaboration

YORK REGION, ON, May 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Medical and healthcare technology industry representatives from across the Greater Toronto Area will gather at the MedEdge 2012 Life Sciences business summit on Thursday, June 14 in The Regional Municipality of York.

Delegates will connect with local hospitals, healthcare organizations and business support networks to explore public-private collaboration and technology commercialization opportunities in the medical sector and gain insight into Ontario's healthcare technology acquisition landscape.

Centrally located in Greater Toronto, York Region is home to a cluster of more than 250 Life Sciences companies, three of Canada's fastest-growing hospitals and Ontario's largest Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) that serves 1.8 million people. Among the leading bio-pharma and medical technology companies located in York Region are Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Apotex, Smiths Medical, Drager Medical, PerkinElmer, Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Abbott Canada.

Discussions during MedEdge will also address Information Technology convergence within the local healthcare sector. Home to 3,600 Information & Communications Technology (ICT) firms, York Region has the highest per-capita concentration of ICT companies in Canada, including leading Healthcare IT solution providers such as IBM, Cerner Canada, Nightingale Informatix, Avaya, Philips Healthcare, Lexmark Healthcare and Alcatel Lucent.

MedEdge 2012 is co-hosted by The Regional Municipality of York, ventureLAB (York Region's non-profit Regional Innovation Centre) and the Town of Richmond Hill, in collaboration with York University. For further details, please visit investinyork.ca/mededge

QUOTATIONS

"Four of Canada's Top 10 corporate R&D investors are headquartered in York Region, a testament to the great degree of innovation occurring within our local business community."
Bill Fisch, Chairman and CEO, The Regional Municipality of York

"As Canada's fastest-growing large municipality and a leading North American technology hub, The Regional Municipality of York offers a superior business environment, coupled with a highly educated workforce, which together can translate into commercial success."
John Taylor, Chair of the York Region Planning and Economic Development Committee and Town of Newmarket Regional Councillor

"MedEdge is an excellent example of how The Regional Municipality of York works in partnership with our local municipalities and business community to support the significant growth in knowledge-based companies and jobs this region has been experiencing."
Doug Lindeblom, Director, Economic Strategy, The Regional Municipality of York

"MedEdge is a catalyst for advancing ideas, connections and innovation into commercial success in York Region's life sciences sector. Purchasing organizations will be exposed to local healthcare technology companies and make the contacts necessary to build strategic alliances and partnerships."
Jeremy Laurin, President and CEO, ventureLAB Regional Innovation Centre

About York Region

York Region, Greater Toronto's fastest growing region, is home to 1.1 million residents and 41,000 business establishments, making it Canada's sixth-largest municipality by population and Ontario's second-largest business centre.

Comprised of nine vibrant municipalities, York Region has earned a reputation as a premier business location in Canada, including major operations of 14 Fortune 100 companies, four of Canada's Top 10 corporate R&D investors, the country's highest per-capita concentration of ICT companies and many of Canada's industry leaders in technology, manufacturing and business services.

With a GDP of $43 billion, York Region's economy is larger than the economies of four Canadian provinces. York Region has the fastest growth rate among Canada's 10 largest municipalities with a workforce that is one of the youngest and most educated in the country.

Media Contact: Tim Paleczny, Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
905-830-4444 or 1-877-464-9675, ext. 1238 • Cell: 905-251-6413 • [email protected]

Founded in 1971, The Regional Municipality of York is made up of nine municipalities and provides services to 1.1 million residents and 41,000 businesses that employ 516,000 people

For more information, visit us at www.york.ca Follow us on: York Region @YorkRegionGovt