Following the Enterprise Florida-led trip to the MEDICA healthcare show, 23 small and mid-sized businesses reported more than $143 million in total actual and projected export sales. In addition to the 23 Florida Pavilion companies, 26 additional Florida businesses attended the event. MEDICA is the world’s largest healthcare trade show and is held annually in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“I want to congratulate and thank all of the companies that accompanied EFI to MEDICA 2018,” said Jamal Sowell, president & CEO of Enterprise Florida. “Florida was again the largest state at the tradeshow, and the Florida Pavilion has become a staple there. Florida companies have built a reputation for offering pioneering products and services, and healthcare executives worldwide recognize we’re a leader in the medical industry.”
Florida is a leader in workforce for the health and medical industry. Florida’s schools, community colleges, and universities are among the nation’s top producers of STEM graduates. In 2018, U.S. News & World Report ranked Florida the No. 1 state for higher education for the second consecutive year.
In addition to hosting businesses in the Florida Pavilion, the Enterprise Florida team held 45 meetings with global leaders in the healthcare industry.
Companies that exhibited in the Florida Pavilion:
- Airon Corporation– Melbourne
- Aspen Laser Systems– West Palm Beach
- Atlas Specialty Lighting– Hialeah
- Excite Medical– Tampa
- Gaumard– Miami
- Genadyne Biotechnologies– Fort Lauderdale
- Genicon– Winter Park
- GeoSurgical, LLC– Clearwater
- Gulf Fiberoptics– Oldsmar
- Infinium Medical– Largo
- Kollsut-USA– North Miami Beach
- Medas, Inc.– Miami
- MediSono– Miami
- MediCapture, Inc.– Stuart
- Mercury Medical– Clearwater
- Métier Medical Limited– Ponte Vedra Beach
- Orthomerica– Orlando
- Pegasus Medical Concepts Inc.– Lakeland
- Seal Shield– Orlando
- Sharn Inc.– Tampa
- Sunoptic Technologies– Jacksonville
- Tapmedic– Jacksonville
- US DEFIB Medical Technologies– Medley
“To be at the show is very important to meet new customers and build relationships with rights distributors,” said Gui Oliveira of US DEFIB in Medley. “Also, it’s very important to be aware of new technologies and see what the competition has to offer. The Enterprise Florida team is always ready to support us with anything we may need. It’s always a great and successful experience to participate at the MEDICA exhibition.”
Oz Ozkaya, president of Infinium Medical in Largo said, “We cannot stress enough the importance of MEDICA for our business. As a hi-tech company, we reached our clients and opened new dialogue with large potential customers. None of this would be possible without Enterprise Florida. Trade grants that we receive help us continue with our participation to these exhibitions. We have increased employment in our company by 20 percent since MEDICA 2017, and we expect to grow at the same rate after this exhibition.”
“We met quality leads while attending MEDICA this year and foresee it paying off in the coming months and years after,” said Sylina Barwick, international sales manager for GeoSurgical in Clearwater. “Qualifying for the Enterprise Florida grant makes this trip more affordable and profitable for us. We look forward to attending next year.”
EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. Last year, merchandise trade valued at $153.5 billion flowed through Florida’s ports with Florida-origin exports reaching $57.2 billion. Florida exported to more than 190 countries in 2017, making the state one of the world’s leaders in international trade.
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.
