Bertrand Comet-Barthe

The Georgia Institute of Technology’s Advanced Technology Development Center is increasing its efforts to recruit international companies, said Bertrand Comet-Barthe, director of international programs for Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute, which counts the ATDC as a component.

In addition, the state-funded science and technology incubator remains committed to helping its Georgia-based companies develop international relationships, Mr. Comet-Barthe told GlobalAtlanta.

“We want access to international research and intellectual talents, and vice versa—they want to be exposed to what’s happening here,” Mr. Comet-Barthe said.

Access to labs at Georgia Tech’s campus in Metz, France, and close ties with France’s National Center for Scientific Research are among the many competitive international advantages offered to companies setting up shop at the ATDC, Mr. Comet-Barthe said.

The ATDC also has developed relationships at the highest levels of government in many countries, and it works closely with international investors to “provide shortcuts” leading to more efficient operations for companies, he said.

Rafael Andino, president and CEO of Biofisica Inc., said ATDC was an “invaluable resource” when he launched his company, which develops solutions for wound healing and tissue regeneration.

Although headquartered in Atlanta, Biofisica has sales and marketing offices in the United Kingdom, and Mr. Andino said its international ties are crucial to its success as the company expands into the Europe and beyond.

“ATDC helped in many ways to ensure our international presence and operations move ahead,” Mr. Andino said, citing an ATDC introduction that led to $2 million in debt financing for his company.

Though ATDC companies like Mr. Andino’s must be based in Georgia and pay taxes to the state during their incubation period, they are not obligated to stay in the state once they leave the ATDC.

“Sometimes they are bought by companies that aren’t located in Georgia, and sometimes they move,” Mr. Comet-Barthe said. “We don’t take equity in our companies, so it doesn’t feel like a ball and chain.”

Still, many companies that have emerged from ATDC have chosen to stay in the state, and many ATDC entrepreneurs have returned to the center multiple times to develop new businesses.

“This is an ecosystem we keep feeding,” Comet-Barthe said. “We have serial entrepreneurs who keep coming back and creating new companies.”

More than 100 companies have emerged from ATDC since its founding in 1980, including MindSpring Enterprises Inc., which merged with EarthLink Inc. in 1999 to form the second-largest Internet service provider in the country.

Nikil Jayant said his company, EG Technology Inc., also benefited from joining ATDC. Dr. Jayant, a Georgia Tech Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, says he used ATDC’s vast connections and resources to turn his research on broadband technology into a thriving company with worldwide sales.

“As universities like Georgia Tech have become increasingly global, ATDC has enhanced the value proposition by connecting researchers, entrepreneurs and established industry at the international level, thereby strengthening the scale, quality and impact of innovations and economic development,” Dr. Jayant said.

Although EG Technology has administrative offices in New Jersey, the provider of broadband platform solutions has its base of operations in Atlanta, where Dr. Jayant holds the position of chief scientist.