Representatives from both Cleveland and Akron are in Israel this week connecting with technology companies.

The Jerusalem Post carries a story this morning about how the Cleveland Clinic is developing ties to Israeli companies.

“Israel has become a remarkable innovative place. This is a hotbed,” Tom Sudow, director of business development at the Cleveland Clinic’s Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center, said at a press briefing in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. “What Israel lacks is a market to expand. We are here to attract and help Israeli companies to set up partnerships or operations in the State of Ohio as a base for expanding their markets to North America.”

During the Ohio delegation’s visit at the Israel Biomed 2008 Conference this week, Sudow has scheduled 35 meetings with Israeli companies.

“We are very excited about cardiovascular research companies in Israel,” he said. “As a result of these meetings, we are now in the final stages to partner up with five local biomedical companies who will be able to expand their reach in the US.”

Cleveland Clinic to partner with local companies

Akron is also busy developing connections:

City officials visit nation, hoping to attract others to ‘biomedical corridor’