The Mid-Atlantic-Russia Business Council Host
8^th and 9^th Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Weeks

 Philadelphia, PA - The Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council will host the 8^th Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week (RANIT) in the Mid-Atlantic States beginning June 11, 2008, and the 9^th RANIT beginning mid-November 2008. The Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week (RANIT) is designed to bring together entrepreneurs, scientists, venture capitalists, and established corporations from the American and Russian technology communities. Based on past success, RANIT is now held twice a year, and includes an even greater number of regional technology events, seminars, panel discussions, roundtable meetings, trade shows, conferences, and networking events. Russian delegations representing the foremost Russian technology companies will take part in the various regional technology events of RANIT.

RANIT is supported by leading regional businesses and governmental organizations, including the administrations of the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the States of New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, as well as Mid-Atlantic regional organizations focusing on international business and technology development. The Mayor of Philadelphia has officially proclaimed the Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week in Philadelphia.

The 8^th Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week, organized by the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council (MARBC), will begin with events in Philadelphia and Washington on June 11-14, 2008.  The 8^th RANIT formally opens with a welcoming ceremony in the Mayor’s Reception Room at Philadelphia City Hall on June 11, 2008.  Highlighting the biotechnology sector, the keynote speakers for the 8^th RANIT will include presidents of both American and Russian biotechnology associations.  Aside from roundtable discussions with members of biotechnology associations in the Mid-Atlantic region, other special events planned for the Russian delegation at the 8^th RANIT include a meeting with Pennsylvania state officials, a seminar with members of venture capital funds specializing in biotechnology, and a visit to the International Incubator at the University City Science Center.  On June 12^th, a reception dedicated to the celebration of Russia’s Day will be held at the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C.  This will be preceded by a round table discussion with members of the Virginia and Maryland states biotechnology and venture associations.   

The 8^th RANIT will conclude with BIO 2008 from June 17-20, 2008, at the Convention Center in San Diego, with an extensive Russian program organized by the Mid-Atlantic – Russia Business Council.  The MARBC is the official organizer of the Russian delegation at BIO, which is the largest and most significant biotechnology event in the world. A Russian exposition will display information on the vast array of Russian science and technology capabilities in biotechnology and related industries.  During BIO’s International Day on June 18^th, MARBC will present the Russian biotechnology industry in the International Marketplace, where the most promising achievements of Russian scientists and manufacturers in the biotechnology field, as well as pressing issues concerning Russian-American biotechnology cooperation will be highlighted.

The 9^th Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week will open in mid-November 2008. The 9^th Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Week will focus on information technology, alternative energy technology, nanotechnology, robotics, chemical engineering, safety and security technologies, technology in education, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. Following the opening ceremonies, the Biennial Russian-American Business Opportunities Symposium will be held. Taking place within the framework of the 9^th RANIT, the Symposium will include discussions on the challenges of doing business in Russia and opportunities in specific industrial sectors. 

Building upon the success of the first Russian Chemical Industry delegation organized by MARBC in 2007, the chemical industry will be one of the highlighted sectors through the 9^th RANIT, including Russian participation at the AIChE Annual Meeting.  Additionally, there will also be a RANIT-associated program on technology in education organized by the MARBC.   The program will present multiple opportunities for furthering communication and cooperation between Russian and American universities.  Another leading event will be the 4^th Annual Russian-American Technology Entrepreneurship Conference.

The 9^th RANIT will once again include an extensive MARBC-organized Russian program at Philadelphia ITEC.  The Philadelphia ITEC is part of the nation’s largest series of regional business technology events for IT and business professionals, featuring a combination of national vendors and local suppliers, and a conference program with seminars on the newest issues in information technology.  The Mid-Atlantic - Russia Business Council will organize the participation of Russian companies in the exhibition and will also present panel discussions highlighting Russian information technology capabilities and other topics related to Russian technology and business.

Additional events during the 9^th Russian - American Innovation Technology Week will include a visit and roundtable at the International Incubator at the Science Center. The week will continue with visits to other states in the Mid-Atlantic region, and will end with a final reception at the Pyramid Club in Philadelphia.

 "The focus of the Russian-American Innovation 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 talent with American entrepreneurial and managerial skills. Many companies in the Mid-Atlantic region are finding Russian counterparts and are developing successful business ventures. We hope this 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 further details about the Semi-Annual Russian-American Innovation Technology Weeks in 2008, 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