Below is a list of economic development organizations in NEO and their international activities. We invite you to explore them even further by visiting their websites.
Akron Global Business Accelerator
Contact: Mike Lehere
Email:
mlehere@akronincubator.com
Website:
www.akronincubator.com
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: Biomedicine, Advanced Materials (Nanotechnology), Alternative Energy Sources, Information Technology and Instruments-Controls Technology
Country Focus: 50% ownership in Netanya Israel biomedical incubator; partnership with Chemnitz, Germany; technology bridge with Helsinki, Finland
Primary International Activity: mine technologies overseas and attract entrepreneurs to launch their products in the U.S. through the incubator
The Accelerator offers 200,000 sq. ft. of improved office, manufacturing, assembly, wet labs, and conferencing facilities in a secured building with 24 hour, 7-day-a-week accessibility. Staff helps new companies avoid the three root causes of failure – poor management, lack of market understanding and underfunded/undercapitalized production processes
Bridge Investment Fund
Contact: Michael Goldberg, Managing Partner
Email:
mgoldberg@bridgefundllc.com
Website:
www.bridgefundllc.com
Footprint: Nationwide, with an emphasis on Cleveland and NEO
Industry Focus: Medical device companies
Country Focus: Israel
Primary International Activity: business and investment attraction
Bridge Investment Fund is a private venture capital fund which invests in Israeli medical device companies that have strong synergies to Ohio medical institutions. The fund invests in companies which already have venture backing in Israel and works closely with each company until an exit strategy/plan is executed.
Case Western Reserve University
Contact: David Fleshler, Associate Provost
Email:
david.fleshler@case.edu
Website:
www.case.edu/bulletin/09-11/international_student_services.htm
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: Advanced Energy research and commercialization
Country Focus: China
Primary International Activity: Major international education, research and service institution
One of the central goals of the CWRU strategic planning process was to “enhance the international character of the university” while “increasing involvement in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.” The Office of International Affairs was created to develop a university-wide international strategy. Alongside the planning process, the Dean of Engineering, Norman Tien, and David Fleshler, Associate Provost, have forged a relationship with Tianjin University to facilitate the exchange of students and explore research and commercialization opportunities in the advanced energy space.
City of Akron, Economic Development
Contact: Robert Bowman, Deputy Mayor of Economic Development
Email:
bowmaro@ci.akron.oh.us
Website:
www.ci.akron.oh.us/ed/index.htm
Footprint: City of Akron and Summit County
Industry Focus: Biomedical, Alternative Energy, Polymers
Country Focus: Europe, China
Primary International Activity: business and investment attraction
Create attractive export opportunities for existing Akron companies to successfully grow their businesses and assist companies and entrepreneurs looking to start-up or relocate new business operations in the Akron area.
Cleveland Council on World Affairs
Contact: Richard Crepage, Interim Executive Director
Email:
rcrepage@ccwa.org
Website:
www.ccwa.org or
www.globalcleveland.org
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: N/A
Country Focus: all
Primary International Activity: International relations/foreign policy education, hosting international visitor groups
The Council organizes speaker programs to discuss current international events and runs the nation’s oldest Model UN Conference for high school and middle school students. It also serves as a host organization to professional international visitor groups through the U.S. Department of Education and Cultural Affairs. The Global Cleveland initiative provides information about international resources and activities in Northeast Ohio.
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
Contact:
Email:
Website:
www.portofcleveland.com/
Footprint: Cuyahoga County
Industry Focus: logistics
Country Focus: Canada and Europe
Primary International Activity: maritime-international movement of goods
The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s focus is on helping its maritime customers improve their logistics efficiencies. It also supports the city’s and county’s efforts to attract international investment and businesses.
The Cleveland Foundation
Contact: Jorge Delgado, Director of International Relations
Email:
gdelgado@clevefdn.org
Website:
www.clevelandfoundation.org/
Footprint: Cuyahoga County
Industry Focus: Economic and Community Development opportunities in Northeast Ohio
Country Focus: Support partner initiatives in China, Germany and Spain
Primary International Activity: Thought leader, convener and partner
The Cleveland Foundation is working to connect foreign governments and firms with officials from the State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County, the City of Cleveland, economic development intermediaries and universities to make them aware of opportunities in the greater Cleveland area.
Cleveland State University Global Business Center
Contact: Colette Hart
Email:
c.hart@csuohio.edu
Website:
www.csuohio.edu/business/global/
Footprint: Cuyahoga and surrounding Counties; support businesses from Akron, Kent
Industry Focus: Manufacturing, Biomedical
Country Focus: University partnerships with Chile, Germany, Spain, Sweden, India and China
Primary International Activity: Preparing companies to compete in the global marketplace
The Global Business Center was created to sustain education and training programs in global business. The center is committed to promoting the region’s global competitiveness and to expanding the presence of our region’s entrepreneurs in the global market.
Cleveland State University International Services and Programs
Contact: George Burke, Director International Students
Email:
g.burke@csuohio.edu
Website:
www.csuohio.edu/offices/international/
Footprint: Cleveland
Industry Focus: Higher Education
Country Focus: India, China, Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, Brazil; new focus is Indonesia
Primary International Activity: education and talent attraction
The International Services program strives to increase and diversify the university population through international student attraction. It develops and nurtures partnerships and joint degree programs with universities throughout the world. The Center also provides support and guidance to faculty and staff in their international endeavors.
CSI Advisory Services
Contact: Chris Schmid
Email:
schmidc@nvi.net
Website:
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: The company is a serious contender for Northeast Ohio if it’s revenues are between $200M and $300M Euros and if it already does $5M worth of business in the U.S.
Country Focus: Europe – Germany and France; Japan
Primary International Activity: Business Attraction
CSI is a consulting business which focuses on providing financing and project management support to midsize companies that have an economic necessity/justification to come to the U.S.
Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center (GCIC)
Contact: Tom Sudow, Director Business Development
Email:
tsudow@teamneo.org
Website:
www.clevelandclinic.org/gcic/
Footprint: State of Ohio
Industry Focus: start up and existing small companies focused on cardiovascular innovations; also works with established medium sized biomedical companies with some emphasis on cardiovascular
Country Focus: Ireland, Israel; plan to focus more on Italy, India, France, Hungary and Japan
Primary International Activity: Business attraction
GCIC strives to attract and retain cardiovascular companies to NEO by capitalizing on the region’s institutions, expertise and capital. GCIC collaborates with partners like CWRU, UH, OSU, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, Team NEO, BioOhio, Bio Enterprise and Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation to nurture and grow its companies.
Global Markets Division, Ohio Department of Development
Contact: Scott Kuehn, Assistant Director Global Trade Division
Email:
Scott.Kuehn@development.ohio.gov
Website:
www.development.ohio.gov/itd/
Footprint: State of Ohio, offices and staff in 11 foreign companies
Industry Focus: Ohio manufacturers and service providers
Country Focus: Historically, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Western Europe; greater focus now on India and China
Primary International Activity: Export assistance and FDI attraction
The Global Markets Division is extending Ohio’s economic reach into the global marketplace. Ohio’s trade managers and network of international offices – in Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, Israel, South Africa, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and India – promote the exports of Ohio goods and services and work to solidify Ohio’s position as a premier location for investment.
Greater Akron Chamber
Contact: Gregg Cramer, Senior Director Business Development
Email:
cramer@greaterakronchamber.org
Website:
www.greaterakronchamber.org/
Footprint: Summit, Portage, Medina and Stark
Industry Focus: Biomedicine, Polymers and Plastics, Liquid Crystals, Back Office/Producer Services, Metal Fabrication, and Instruments-Controls Technology
Country Focus: Countries that align with GAC’s industry clusters
Primary International Activity: Business Attraction
Attract and retain businesses that match industry clusters domestically and internationally. GAC’s focus is on companies making the final location decision. The chamber’s value proposition is in helping companies understand the Greater Akron Market.
International Business Network
Contact: Donald Esarove, President
Email:
desarove@cypresscorp.com
Website:
www.neoibn.org/
Footprint: Northeast Ohio International Business Network
Industry Focus: Manufacturing
Country Focus:
Primary International Activity: Export
The mission of the IBN is to stimulate economic growth in Northeast Ohio through international business. The all volunteer group organizes networking opportunities among current international business practitioners, attracts young people to international business, hosts international groups and educates the community on international business opportunities.
International Community Council
Contact: Ken Kovach, Executive Director
Email:
KennethJKovach@wowway.com
Website:
www.internationalcommunitycouncil.org/
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: N/A
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Convening and Facilitation of International community leaders
ICC convenes summits of International community leaders to promote collaboration and discussion of issues that face Cleveland’s International community. The organization also strives to further the conversation around international strategies that will strengthen the Northeast Ohio region.
International Services Center
Contact: Ken Kovach, Board President and Karin Wishner, Executive Director
Email:
KennethJKovach@wowway.com
Website:
www.internationalservicescenter.org/
Footprint: City of Cleveland
Industry Focus: N/A
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Resettlement of refugees
ISC has been an official federal refugee resettlement agency since 1916, helping refugees find housing and employment and connecting them to support services in the Cleveland area.
MAGNET
Contact: Randy Nemetz, Director Business Development
Email:
randy.nemetz@magnetwork.org
Website:
www.magnetwork.org/
Footprint: 33 counties;
Industry Focus: Small and medium sized manufacturers - 14,000 in the footprint;
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Export preparation
MAGNET strives to be the one stop shop for manufacturers to streamline their businesses to be competitive in the global marketplace. Services include product design (ideation through design validation) and development (prototyping to market research) and process reengineering (six sigma, factory floor redesign).
NEOTEC, Trade & Economic Consortium
Contact: Ron Debarr, President & CEO
Email:
rdebarr@neotec.org
Website:
www.neotec.org
Footprint: Joint Office of economic development (JED) - 10 counties; ITAC footprint is 12 counties
Industry Focus: Export, supply chain/logistics, transportation, alternative energy, plastics, metals, ICE
Country Focus: Western Europe
Primary International Activity: Export and business attraction
NEOTEC helps businesses export products and optimize their supply chain through the International Trade Assistance Center (ITAC). It is also part of a ten county joint office of economic development that works to attract businesses to NEO. In addition, NEOTEC operates Foreign Trade Zone 181.
Team NEO
Contact: Jay Foran, Senior VP Business Attraction
Email:
jforan@teamneo.org
Website:
www.clevelandplusbusiness.com
Footprint: 46 counties
Industry Focus: Advanced Energy, Aerospace and Advance Manufacturing, Biomedical, Food Processing, Insurance, Professional and Financial Services, Polymers, Plastics and Chemicals, Logistics and Distribution, Data and Contact Call Centers and Flexible Liquid Crystal Displays
Country Focus: Germany, Spain, Mexico and Canada
Primary International Activity: Business Attraction
Team NEO plans to follow a two pronged strategy in its International Relations efforts – support and leverage existing economic development efforts by enabling coordination, allowing cohesive marketing, and offering experienced lead execution assistance; proactively promote Northeast Ohio to target rich geographies and industries that build upon existing NEO business and institutional strengths and relationships.
TiE Ohio
Contact: Reka Barabas, Executive Director
Email:
reka.barabas@ohio.tie.org
Website:
www.tieohio.org or
www.ohio.tie.org
Footprint: Ohio (mainly NEO)
Industry Focus: Entrepreneurship
Country Focus: all
Primary International Activity: Support of international entrepreneurs
As the local chapter of a global network, The International Entrepreneurs (TiE) Ohio creates the necessary eco-system for international entrepreneurs to become successful. The chapter offers educational events, networking opportunities, and mentoring.
U.S. Export Assistance Center Cleveland
Contact: Sue Whitney, Office Director
Email:
swhitney@mail.doc.gov
Website:
www.buyusa.gov/northeastohio/
Footprint: 46 counties
Industry Focus:
Country Focus: presence in 81 countries
Primary International Activity: Export assistance
With offices across the United States and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration utilizes its global network of trade specialists to connect U.S. companies with international buyers worldwide.
Wayne County Economic Development Corporation
Contact: Rod Crider, President
Email:
rcrider@waynecountyedc.com
Website:
www.waynecountyedc.com/
Footprint: Wayne County
Industry Focus: Agbioscience
Country Focus: Germany and Israel; long term – Asia
Primary International Activity: Business and investment attraction
The Wayne County Economic Development Corporation works with corporations, partners and site selection consultants to market Wayne County. The organization won approval to establish the Northeast Ohio Regional Investor Center, an EB5 foreign investor zone open to the 16 county NEO region which will initially be utilized to fund the BioOhio research park.