CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) and the Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium (FMMC) are partnering on a new program to help manufacturing businesses grow through international trade. The International Registration Grants Program will allow small to medium-sized Florida manufacturers offset the costs of obtaining international product registrations, certifications or markings that may be required to do business overseas and access new international markets.
“This is a great initiative and we’re thankful to the FMMC for partnering with us in this program,” said Manny Mencia, senior vice president of international trade and development for EFI. “Florida’s medical device manufacturers create some of the most innovative and exceptional products in the world, and this new program will help them find new international opportunities for growth.”
The FMMC, the statewide association of medical device manufacturers, is a key promotional partner of this initiative and will market the availability of this program to Florida’s nearly 700 medical technology manufacturers.
“The FMMC is pleased to be a key promotional partner of the International Registration Grants program,” said Geary Havran, FMMC Chairman and President of NDH Medical, Inc. “Florida’s medical device manufacturers are predominantly small, entrepreneurial firms, employing fewer than 25 people. This unique resource will help many of our manufacturers penetrate new international markets and grow their workforce and their bottom-line.”
Florida medical device manufacturers confront a myriad of regulatory and sometimes cost-prohibitive administrative hurdles to sell their products in foreign markets. Under this new program, qualified applicants will be reimbursed 50 percent of the international registration/certification application fee for their product, up to a maximum of $10,000.
Florida is home to the nation’s No. 2 largest medical device manufacturing industry, No. 2 largest pharmaceuticals manufacturing industry, and No. 5 largest biotech R&D industry. More than 28,000 Floridians work in Florida’s biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and medical device manufacturing industries, and the state’s universities are among the nation’s top producers of STEM graduates.
For more information about the International Registration Grants Program, contact Michael Schiffhauer at MSchiffhauer@enterpriseflorida.com or John Ray at director@FloridaMedTech.com.
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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention; small business growth through international trade and exporting programs; promotion of sporting events; promotion and protection of Florida’s military bases; and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses.
The Florida Medical Manufacturers Consortium (FMMC) is Florida’s statewide association of medical technology manufacturers and allied firm. The FMMC exists to unite, promote and grow the Florida medical device industry, and to enhance the business success of its member companies. Florida is home to one of our nation’s largest medical device economies – encompassing 683 device manufacturers employing nearly 21,000 Floridians, paying an average annual wage of more than $60,000. Florida ranks 2nd nationally in the number of FDA-registered medical device establishments. Go to www.floridamedtech.com for more information.