BALTIMORE, MD., Oct. 02, 2015 – BD Life Sciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) have entered into a Corporate Partners Sponsorship Agreement for the university’s business accelerator program, FastForward, which serves as a catalyst for the advancement and commercialization of an array of innovations derived both at the university and elsewhere in Baltimore.
Through the sponsorship, BD will have access to the FastForward innovation hubs including FastForward East in the John G. Rangos Sr. Building located in close proximity to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, as well as the flagship hospital. As a FastForward sponsor, BD will support programs that can accelerate business startup efforts, host social networking events, hold round-table discussions and workshops, and offer lectures on areas likely to be of interest to the startups.
“Together we can accelerate the startups spearheading the type of innovation that is important to Baltimore and effective health care technology globally,” said Dave Hickey, vice president and general manager of Global Microbiology, BD Life Sciences. “This is a great way to partner with an institution like Hopkins, which is known throughout the world for excellence in health care research.”
Christy Wyskiel, senior advisor to the president at Johns Hopkins University added, “Sponsors help to enhance our ecosystem by providing additional resources at the disposal of our startups. We welcome BD into our FastForward community and look forward to working more closely with them in the days and months ahead.”
Johns Hopkins University has reported that more than 120 business-startups are currently working with FastForward in such areas as therapeutics, medical devices, medical software and health care IT. JHU related startup companies, have secured more than $20 million in translational grant funding and $800 million in venture capital funding.
About BD
BD is a global medical technology company that is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. BD leads in patient and health care worker safety and the technologies that enable medical research and clinical laboratories. The company provides innovative solutions that help advance medical research and genomics, enhance the diagnosis of infectious disease and cancer, improve medication management, promote infection prevention, equip surgical and interventional procedures, optimize respiratory care and support the management of diabetes. The company partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. BD has more than 45,000 associates across 50 countries who work in close collaboration with customers and partners to help enhance outcomes, lower health care delivery costs, increase efficiencies, improve health care safety and expand access to health.
For more information on BD, please visit bd.com.
About FastForward:
FastForward is an accelerator at Johns Hopkins that serves as a catalyst for the advancement and commercialization of an array of innovations derived at the University and elsewhere. The program helps early ventures increase the probability of realizing their potential and bring innovative and life-changing technologies to market by providing companies with education, mentorship and affordable space. FastForward operates locations in East Baltimore, on the Homewood campus and in Montgomery County as well as offering virtual assistance provided for those ventures that are not ready to move into their own space or have secured space elsewhere. Corporate sponsors include AbbVie, BD Diagnostics/Diagnostic Systems, Healthways, MedImmune, Microsoft, Premier and Roche. www.ventures.jhu.edu/fastforward
