Mid-Atlantic-Russia Business Council and Innovation Philadelphia Host
2nd Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week

Philadelphia, PA - The Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council and Innovation Philadelphia will host the 2^nd Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week (RANIT) in the Mid-Atlantic States in June 18-30, 2005. The Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, scientists, venture capitalists, and established corporations within the United States and Russian technology communities. Based on the remarkable success of the inaugural RANIT and the evident potential for tremendous growth of this undertaking, the decision was made to expand the event and make it semi-annual. John F. Street, the Mayor of Philadelphia, officially proclaimed the Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week in Philadelphia.

The 2^nd Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week will open in Philadelphia on June 18, 2005. The Russian delegation will take part in several world-scale events, including BIO 2005 Annual International Convention and Corporate and Channel Computing Expo 2005. 

From June 19 to June 22 the delegates will take part in BIO 2005 Annual International Convention, a preeminent biotechnology convention with an expected 20,000 biotechnology and life sciences professionals and top leaders from organizations around the world coming together to highlight the future of biotechnology. This yearâs conference is hosted by the tri-state region of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. More than 18,000 biotech executives, investors, journalists, policy makers and scientists from more than 60 countries are expected to attend. The program includes more than 150 educational sessions and workshops on topics including industrial and environmental applications, finance, science, manufacturing, food and agriculture, vaccines and business development, as well as over 1,000 speakers.

The MARBC will co-host ãBusiness Opportunities in Russia" Seminar jointly with the World Trade Center of Central Pennsylvania on June 24 at the Harrisburg Hilton in Harrisburg, PA. This seminar will discuss the various issues relevant to successful business partnerships with Russia, including regulation, law, finance, and accounting matters.

The 2^nd RANIT will conclude at the Javits Convention Center in New York City with an extensive Russian program organized by the Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council at Corporate and Channel Computing Expo 2005, one of the biggest and most significant technology events in the U.S. Bringing corporate and channel buyers together with the computer industry's premier manufacturers and channel partners, in the nation's most dynamic business marketplace for the purchasing of technology, is the mission of this new major industry event. Responding to a vacuum in the marketplace created by the recent cancellation of several technology events throughout the United States, the H.A. Bruno, LLC acquired certain assets of the former CeBIT America show, produced by Deutsche Messe AG. Tens of thousands of decision makers from several technology sectors are expected to visit the show, and several hundreds of industry leaders will participate in the exhibition. Planning of the event will include cross-marketing opportunities with the leading associations, trade and business media and thought leaders of the technology world. The Russian delegation will participate in two days of panel discussions and will take part in the exhibit for the duration of the event. The Kickoff Seminar of the Series: "Russian Science and Technology Opportunities for U.S. Businesses" is also scheduled to be a part of the Russian program at C3 EXPO on June 29. This series of six seminars will be held in the Mid-Atlantic region in June-December 2005. Included in these sessions will be presentations by U.S. corporations with significant technology transfer collaboration experience in Russia.

"The focus of Russian-American Technology Week is to help introduce Russian companies to the Mid-Atlantic Region's local technology, business and venture capital communities," said Val Kogan, President of the Mid-Atlantic Russia Business Council. "The Semi-Annual Russian-American Technology Week will help match advanced Russian technology and engineering talents with American entrepreneurial and managerial skills. We hope it will ultimately establish the Mid-Atlantic Region as a major partner for Russian technology companies and a premier center of Russian-American technology cooperation. "

For information about the Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Weeks in 2005, please contact Val Kogan, Mid-Atlantic-Russia Business Council, by phone: (215) 708-2628, email: val@ma-rbc.org, or visit the MARBC website at: http://www.ma-rbc.org.

About Innovation Philadelphia. Innovation Philadelphia is a public/private partnership created to expand the wealth and the workforce of the Greater Philadelphia Region's Innovation Economy by growing, attracting, retaining, and connecting technology-based businesses and workforce in the Region.

Innovation Philadelphia accomplishes this mission by providing technology-based and early-based businesses with traditional seed capital, access to alternative funding, skilled human capital, commercialization assistance, entrepreneurial resources, and intellectual capital.

About Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council. Since 1994, MARBC has worked to foster business relations between Russia and the Newly Independent States (NIS), and the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region, while cultivating mutual appreciation of political, economic, cultural, and educational interests. Throughout the past ten years, the goal of MARBC has been to enable companies based in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region to enhance their positions in Russia and the NIS, and to attract Russian businesses to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic Region.