An Investment in Germany Is the Key to Europe's Market for Medical Devices / Easier Market Access for Israeli Companies / German Investment Promotion Agency to hold seminar in Tel Aviv

Berlin (ots) - Germany is Europe's largest market for medical
devices, and recent trends are strengthening this position. Germany's
inward investment promotion agency, Invest in Germany, will discuss
the advantages of Germany as an investment location at a seminar in
Tel Aviv on June 25, 2008. Germany's market for medical devices has
grown by seven percent annually over the last 10 years. The
combination of a highly educated workforce in the sciences,
comprehensive public health care system, and internationally renowned
research networks is strengthening this leading position.
Furthermore, an investment in Germany opens the door to the nearly
500 million customers in the European Union (EU). Addressing this
vast market from a central EU location could boost EU sales of
Israeli medical devices companies, who have sometimes found it
difficult to enter Europe from their home base due to existing
regulations and bureaucratic hurdles. Invest in Germany will also
specifically address this topic at the seminar.

The seminar is being run in cooperation with the Israeli-German
Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Invest in Germany's representative
at the event, Dr. Tilo Mandry, is a trained attorney with a broad
knowledge of the international pharmaceuticals and medical devices
markets. He will discuss the German government's R&D programs as well
as other issues impacting upon investments in the health care and
medical devices industries: financial support, partnering, and
finding clusters.

Dr. Mandry will be joined at the podium by Dr. Hubertus Rosery.
Dr. Rosery is one of Germany's foremost consultants for medical
devices companies. His talk will address how global medical devices
firms can profit from Germany's health care reimbursement system and
benefit from Germany's regulatory framework. In particular, he will
elaborate on the importance of correctly coding a device within the
national coding system for correct manufacturer reimbursement.
Germany's stellar research and development (R&D) environment is
helping it stay on the cutting-edge of product development, and is
further maintaining its trusted position as an industry leader. The
average company in Germany commits nine percent of sales revenue to
R&D projects. Furthermore, the German government is working to ensure
that Germany maintains its leading position as a location for R&D in
the medical technologies industry. As part of Germany's "high-tech
strategy," public authorities are making EUR 800 million available
for R&D in medical technologies through 2009.

While Germany has many leading international medical technology
companies, such as Siemens Medical Solutions or Fresenius AG, there
remains plenty of room in the market for smaller entries. Eighty-six
percent of medical device companies in Germany have fewer than 100
employees. In addition, Germany's system of public incentives favors
smaller firms. In some parts of the country, 50 percent of investment
costs are covered by government incentives.

A large and growing market, a trusted name worldwide, and a strong
R&D framework are all reasons for Israeli companies to invest in
Germany.

Originaltext: Invest in Germany
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Pressekontakt:
To attend the seminar, please contact Beatrice Geier at the
Israeli-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce,
Phone: +972-(0)3-613 35 16 or email info@ahkisrael.co.il.