Salt Lake City — Eight Utah life science companies are representing the state in Dubai this week as part of the Arab Health trade show. The delegation, which is exhibiting in a booth showcasing the companies and Utah’s life science industry, is the first of its kind from the state to travel abroad since February 2020 due to the pandemic. The delegation is focused on building Utah’s global brand, growing Utah businesses, and strengthening Utah’s network of partners worldwide. 

Utah has the fastest-growing life science community in the US and is ranked sixth for medical devices, fifth for diagnostics, and is a rising force in bio-pharma. The exhibiting companies are presenting some of Utah’s most innovative healthcare products and biotechnologies, many of which will be shared worldwide for the first time.

“Utah’s life science industry is growing rapidly, and we’re proud to have these companies represent the state in this dynamic and life-enhancing industry,” says Dan Hemmert, executive director at the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). “International relations are an important part of Utah’s culture, and this is a unique opportunity for these companies to showcase innovative products worldwide and create global relationships.”

“The state’s presence at the Arab Health trade show, one of the first of its size to be held in-person this year, solidifies Utah’s place as an emerging healthcare innovation hub on the world stage,” shares Miles Hansen, president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah). “The participating Utah companies not only make Utah look good, but they are also prospecting potential partners, winning contacts, and generating sales they would not have access to otherwise.”

Utah and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have a strong trade relationship. The UAE is the largest market for US product exports in the Middle East with the healthcare sector as one of the six pillars of its national agenda. Utah’s fast-growing life science community is supported by Biohive, which serves as an industry advocate for the life science and healthcare innovation ecosystem in Utah. BioHive contributes to Utah’s national-leading export growth rate and is ready to support international expansion into Dubai, the Middle East, and worldwide.

“We have attracted world-class scientists, researchers, and engineers to Utah for the last 65 years,” shares Katelin Roberts, interim director of BioHive and General Partner for MedMountain Ventures. “Utahns have changed millions of lives through better patient outcomes with life-saving catheters, advancements in surgical imaging, and now we are leveraging new technologies for novel drug discovery and therapeutics.” 

The following companies were selected to represent the state of Utah at Arab Health:

• MDUB LLC – Braces including the flagship product known as the CROSSTRAP
• Neonatal Rescue – Respiratory care through NeoLife and AdultLife ventilators
• Rhodes Global – Connecting Utah to the Middle East healthcare industry
• Quansys Biosciences – Development and manufacture of multiplexed assays for protein qualification
• Sunwarrior – Plant-based protein and superfoods
• Turner Imaging Solutions – X-ray/fluoroscopic imaging systems giving a user the ability to acquire X-ray images whenever and wherever needed
• Vitalpax, Inc. – Private label supplement and vitamin manufacturer
• Zehn-X LLC – “Wiping the World Clean” by formulating and manufacturing sanitizing and disinfecting products

On the first day of the trade show, Rhodes Global was recognized by Arab Health as one of nine COVID Warriors from the US Healthcare Pavilion. Selected for their contributions to the global war on COVID-19, this prestigious award garnered additional attention for the Utah booth. 

“We are very excited with the interest and attendance at Arab Health so far,” shares Todd Kimball, co-owner of Zehn-X. “Zehn-X’s sanitizing and disinfecting wipes have generated tremendous interest from the international healthcare community, and we are actively meeting with several distributors interested in bringing our Zehn-X brand to the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asian markets this year. We have handed out over 1,000 sample wipes and face masks in the first two days. Our presence in the USA Partnership Pavilion with WTC Utah and GOED is a significant advantage that has not only increased Zehn-X’s exposure but also resulted in forming many new valued connections with other Utah small businesses.”

Here’s a quick look at how Utah stacks up against the rest of the best in the life science industry:

• World leader in genetic research
• Nation’s fastest-growing life science community since 2012
• 2nd in the nation for medical device employment concentration
• 6th in the nation for per capita VC investments
• 538 bioscience-related patents in 2019
• $13 billion direct and indirect GDP from industry
• Accounts for 8 percent of Utah’s total GDP
• Contributes to Utah’s nation-leading export growth rate

The delegation was selected, trained, and led by GOED, WTC Utah, BioHive, and BioUtah. 

The Utah booth and company participation are supported by the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant. The federal initiative assists eligible small businesses increase exports. STEP is funded in part through a grant with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and is administered by World Trade Center Utah. 

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About World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah)

wtcutah.com

World Trade Center Utah leads Utah’s international business development and elevates Utah’s global status to promote prosperity and build economic resilience. WTC Utah accomplishes this mission by pursuing three key objectives: 1) Empower Utah businesses to expand international sales to increase revenue and create jobs, 2) Attract foreign investment and facilitate international partnerships to fuel innovation and business development, and 3) Mobilize Team Utah’s international engagement to elevate Utah’s global status.

About Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

Under Gov. Spencer J. Cox’s direction, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) provides resources and support for business creation, growth, and recruitment. It also drives increased tourism, film production, outdoor recreation, and mixed martial arts in Utah. Utilizing state resources and private sector contracts, GOED administers programs in economic areas that demonstrate the highest potential for development and the most opportunity for Utahns. Learn more at business.utah.gov or by calling (801) 538-8680.