A business mission composed of the companies’ owners and top executives has had a series of meetings with local organizations recently to find out ways and means to forge closer ties and launch joint business projects in respective fields.

This US business mission, the first of its kind from Minnesota, was organized by BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota, a leading non-profit industry association and an organization of people representing Minnesota companies, academia, and government.

“The BioBusiness Alliance, with which the visiting US companies are affiliated as members, has the sole mission to ensure the long-term success of these companies and to serve mankind with new innovative products,” said Cheryl Matter, a BioBusiness consultant.

Speaking in an interview, Scott T. Jones, a board member and advisor of Exsulin Corporation, which was founded by diabetes industry professionals in Minnesota, also explained the objectives behind the visit of these companies to Riyadh.

Jones, while referring to the products of his own company, said that a clinical trial of Exsulin, an innovative new treatment that targets the underlying cause of type 1 diabetes, has begun.

This potentially groundbreaking therapy was made possible by fundamental research and in partnership with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, he added.

“We are seeking support from Saudi Arabia to ensure that more and more people will benefit from this groundbreaking new therapy,” said Lisa Jansa, CEO and founder of Exsulin. Jansa said that this new drug would be more important for the Kingdom, which has the third highest prevalence of diabetes in the world.

Another company in the mission was ODIN Industries, represented by the company’s chief executive officer Thomas Johnson. Johnson said that ODIN Industries is a molecular engineering company that helps reduce the time and cost to bring macrocycle-based technologies to market.

He said that ODIN was in touch with several Saudi organizations like King Saud University, Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Ministry of Higher Education and is seeking their support for joint initiatives. Referring to the products promoted by Easy Energy Systems in Saudi Arabia, Sam Roy, EES director of business development, said that Easy Energy Systems, an affiliate of Easy Automation, Inc. (EAI), specializes in the manufacture and support of Modular Ethanol Production Systems (MEPS).

Some of the benefits of Ethanol Production Systems include fully automated, self-contained, scalable, efficient production yields, higher by-product nutrient value, stainless steel construction and environmentally friendly technology.

Roy said that the EES model was right for the Kingdom, as the company offers energy solutions from waste also.

Another revolutionary product, the world’s first comprehensive blood analysis system that brings the laboratory to the patient’s side, was introduced by Ativa Medical, which was part of the business mission.

David Deetz, Ativa CEO and president, said that the new blood analysis system consists of rechargeable portable instrument and disposable test cards. “Tests may be performed by any medical professional by simply placing a single drop of blood onto the cartridge and inserting it into the instrument,” explained Dennis McFadden, Ativa vice president. He said that the machine will be commercially produced next year and will cost about $10,000 per unit.

Referring to the new American technology in food sector, Kris Sundberg, chief marketing officer of Fresh EcoHarvest Company, said that his company is offering a revolutionary greenhouse technology to the Kingdom that grows abundant food in any location, any climate, and with significantly less impact on energy and natural resources.

All these companies hail from the US state of Minnesota, whose economy has transformed in the last 200 years to emphasize finished products and services. The economy of Minnesota had a gross domestic product of $262 billion in 2009.