Over the years, many contacts have been created between Israeli BioMed companies and American state or counties. Such contacts serve the interests of both parties – while the American want a boost of fresh Israeli technology, the Israeli start up companies are looking for research support and/or marketing and distribution assistance.
One city that actively seeks various ways of collaborations with Israeli companies is Kalamazoo, Michigan. Members of the Kalamazoo team have visited Israel three times in the past few years, and Last October, eight Israeli companies, eight of them technological incubators, have visited Kalamazoo, in order to get informed over local partnership opportunities.
Kalamazoo is home to Western Michigan University, a nationally recognized research institution that has benefited from the local presence of large BioMed corporation like Pfizer and Stryker Corporation.
The private economic-development organization Southwest Michigan First is the organization that had initiated this visit. It's first priority is to attract Israeli companies, especially from the medical device sector, and help them integrate with the local industrial scene.
"We have the capacity to manufacture these (medical) devices in this region”, says Ron Kitchens, chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First.
Southwest Michigan First has also been partnering with the Michigan/Israeli Business Bridge, a trade association of business and governmental people who want to foster trade between Israel and Michigan. | 
