Tampa Bay’s innovation ecosystem impresses UK delegation

The United Kingdom's trade commissioner recently led a delegation of 23 life science companies across the pond – and Tampa Bay – to explore potential expansion, collaboration and partnership opportunities.

The extensive contingent met with the U.S. Commercial Service and leadership from local academic institutions, tech incubators and accelerators, industry associations, hospitals and health systems. They also toured research and lab space at the University of South Florida and participated in a pitch night at the University of Tampa Sept. 10 and 11.

Multiple participants told the that the trip helped fill knowledge gaps and expand business networks. Anna Worsley, director of Innovation for FABRX , a U.K.-based pharmaceutical 3D printing company, called the hospitality she experienced on her first visit to the U.S. refreshing.

"It is a very collaborative environment," Worsley said. "Everyone is really happy to help. You don't see that very often in the U.K., either."

The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council ( TBEDC ) partnered with the U.K. Department for Business and Trade and the British Consulate-General Miami to organize the trip. Niall Mackenzie, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for North America, discussed his country's local business relationships at the University of South Florida's Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS).

The U.K. and Florida traded $6.4 billion worth of goods in 2023. U.K. companies employ over 67,000 Floridians, and stakeholders believe these excursions will foster further economic success.

Worsley said "warm introductions" will help her company find new clients. She now has relationships with healthcare networks that were significantly more extensive than she anticipated.

Those include USF Health and Tampa General Hospital. "We're really excited to start collaborating with the (USF) Taneja College of Pharmacy," Worsley said.

According to its website, London-based Tympa Health created the world's first holistic hearing healthcare platform. Its founder, Dr. Krish Ramdoo, called the U.S. a "huge beast" and said Florida is "just as big as the U.K., if not bigger."

He explained the benefit of foreign companies establishing a presence in one state rather than immediately attempting nationwide expansion. Ramdoo said his team chose Florida. Worsley believes that local organizations also appreciate the narrow focus.

Ramdoo compared Tampa Bay to the U.K.'s golden triangle, a science, technology and innovation ecosystem encompassing Oxford, Cambridge and London. "Everything I've seen here this week is comparable."

David Horowitz, vice president of sales at Tympa Health, operates from the Miami office. He left New York for Florida and found "this great collaboration between academia and both public and private industry" that "just creates a huge opportunity" for tech and life science-focused businesses.

"It really opens doors for us to succeed as a company here."

Ramdoo, a former London-based surgeon, said the U.K.'s national health service is severely under-resourced, and frontline clinicians often lack the support they deserve. He also noted that walking through the door is the only requirement to receive treatment.

Ramdoo believes U.S. healthcare is more robust, but patients must jump through "lots of different hoops" before receiving costly care. A common theme, he added, is that "everyone is super stressed and busy."

"They want to have that patient focus," Ramdoo said. "And the only way to have that is through innovation."

Worsley agreed. She said technological advancements allow FABRX to create personalized medications, and noted the benefits of tailoring healthcare to the patient rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

Horowitz said Tympa Health now has a burgeoning relationship with insurance giant Florida Blue, which frequently partners with other local public and private organizations. That has led to a meeting with USF's Global Hearing and Speech Research Center.

Horowitz called TBEDC's initiative "priceless." Worsley said a newly established network of "really helpful people" in Tampa Bay "mimics a team in a way" and helps mitigate avoidable mistakes.

Ramdoo said he and Horowitz are already looking forward to their next visit. He plans to capitalize on the newfound momentum and connections.

Craig Richard, CEO of TBEDC, said his organization has intentionally focused on cultivating Tampa Bay's life sciences industry for the past 15 years. In a prepared statement, he also noted the "strong interest" from U.K.-based companies that have "ultimately chosen to expand to our area."

"With a diverse and multilingual talent pool and home to Florida's largest deepwater seaport and top-rated international airport, we have a compelling business case ...," Richard added. "We're thrilled to see our strategy coming to fruition by hosting such important delegations as this one."

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