Bruce Heugel, Senior Vice President of B. Braun Medical and Team PA Board Director, speaks to an international audience about Life Science industry opportunities in PA.

Capitalizing on a unique opportunity to blend culture and business, the PA Office of International Business Development quickly sought funding and regional support to coordinate a business development mission to Europe, which took place May 26 through June 5 as the team pursued opportunities for increased trade and investment in the European cities of Berlin, Dortmund, Lyon, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam and London.

Leveraging the Philadelphia Orchestra as a global Ambassador for Pennsylvania proved to be a most successful model: 23 meetings with investment prospects, 6 planned in-bound visits to Pennsylvania, and 11 meetings with multipliers in the two week window have created a multitude of relationships for OIBD. Investment success announcements are anticipated as early as August 2015.

Doors were opened to new businesses in Europe, thanks in part to the generosity of the Philadelphia Orchestra in providing complimentary tickets for senior executives and regional partners to join PA officials at the concerts. The international attention Pennsylvania received throughout the tour has been evidenced by the number of online articles, newsletters, and tweets captured by the team.

Pictured left to right: Renewal signing the official PA-Rhone-Alpes MOU, Wilfred Muskens, Deputy Secretary of OIBD, President Jean-Jacque Queyranne of the Rhone-Alpes Region, and Clayton Stanger, US Consul in Lyon.

Cultural engagement occurred through events like the “Sounding of the Liberty Bell” in Lyon which featured a full-size replica of the historic icon being rung to announce the launch of the Orchestra. This marked the convening of Pennsylvania and Rhône-Alpes leaders around a very special “side-by-side” performance featuring musicians from Philadelphia and Lyon playing together on the same stage; a symbolic representation of the recently renewed MOU.

This best-practice share of knowledge, culture, and new ideas took place, inspiring change for the future and a strengthened bond between communities in each market visited. The incredible ROI and relationship building that occurred would not have been possible without the time, dedication, and support of the following strategic partners:

  • Philadelphia Orchestra
  • Team Pennsylvania Foundation
  • City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce
  • PA Authorized Investment Representatives
  • Lehigh Valley Economic Development Council
  • Global Philadelphia (Global Philadelphia 2015)
  • Select Greater Philadelphia
  • British American Chamber of Commerce
  • French American Chamber of Commerce
  • German American Chamber of Commerce
  • En Route Marketing
  • Grimm and Grove Communications