CHOOSE PENNSYLVANIA, ONE OF THE MOST
PROSPEROUS AMERICAN STATES

• For the opportunity to liaise with experienced professionals and key players who can advise you on strategies for penetrating the Pennsylvania market;
• To find out how to benefit from booming leading-edge industries including environmental and biotechnology;
• To learn tips and tricks for succeeding in this market.

Pennsylvania is one of the most prosperous U.S. states, thanks to strong growth in leading-edge economic sectors such as the environment and biotechnologies.  Its strategic location also provides it with access to several North American markets, including the East Coast and Midwest.

Pennsylvania has:

• Annual per-capita gross income among the highest in the U.S.;
• The worlds' 17th-largest economy;
• More than 6,000 foreign-owned companies, employing some 250,000 people.

Biotech sector:

• Pennsylvania is among the top five performers among U.S. states in the life sciences and medical equipment industries.
• The biotech industry cluster is well structured and strongly competitive, and accounts for 12% of the country's biotech facilities—more than 160 companies and 158 laboratories. One in six biotech firms in the United States is headquartered in Pennsylvania.
• Subsidies for basic research in Pennsylvania stood at US$1.4 billion in 2006.
• Key companies active in the biotech sectors in Pennsylvania include the following, among others:

   

  • UPMC Health System (http://www.upmc.com/)
  • Penn State Geisinger Health (http://www.geisinger.org/)
  • IMS Health (http://www.ims-global.com/)
  • Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals (http://www.wyeth.com/divisions/wty_pharma.asp)
  • Wellspan Health (http://www.wellspan.org/)
  • Muhlenberg Hospital Center
  • Click here for a detailed list of major biotech sector companies in Pennsylvania 

• Bilateral trade in prescription drugs between Canada and Pennsylvania amounted to $1.2 billion US in 2007. Of that total, US$764 million in drugs packaged and products in Canada was imported by Pennsylvania.

More information is available from the following websites:

• http://www.pennsylvaniabio.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=16
• http://www.acting-finances.com/offres/file_inline_src/188/188_P_1743_2.pdf

Environmental sector:

• Pennsylvania is the leading U.S. state in the renewable energies subsector, including wind, solar and biomass.
• The following subsectors also represent attractive growth potential for Canadian companies:

   

  • Environmental services, resources and equipment;
  • Wastewater treatment;
  • Solid-waste management;
  • Consulting;
  • Engineering.
• Pennsylvania is investing massively in development of alternative, clean and renewable energy sources. Since 2003, close to US$60 million has been earmarked for about 100 projects.
• The state government has set up the Wind Energy Supply Chain Initiative (WESCI) to stimulate growth of a wind-energy sector cluster. To attract world-class suppliers, it includes several tax incentive programs for local, national and international companies.
• The total budget allocation for the renewable energy industry in Pennsylvania is US$650 million.