The event began with opening remarks from East Bay EDA’s Chair, Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen. Supervisor Andersen emphasized the significance of international investment to the East Bay, which is home to approximately 1,500 foreign-owned companies from over 40 countries, supporting more than 55,000 jobs in the region. Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii then welcomed guests to the city and talked about how the city has been a place that has supported and sustained a community that embraces business innovation and culture.
Keynote speaker Caroline Winnett, Executive Director of Berkeley SkyDeck, UC Berkeley’s internationally recognized accelerator, highlighted how their model has evolved and started a venture fund that has made over 130 investments globally in the past three years. She talked about how the Bay Area and Silicon Valley have effectively converged in identity and place, citing how their culture of innovation, unparalleled access to talent, and weather have made it an attractive place for people from around the world to live, work, and play.
Following the keynote address was a panel featuring senior business leaders from Amber Kinetics, AVEVA, Bayer, and Ripcord, companies that are part of the East Bay’s innovation industries, including manufacturing, life science, and technology. The speakers emphasized the appeal of the East Bay as a sought-after region for global investment and expressed confidence in the continuance of those trends in their respective industries, while also acknowledging the uncertain economic and political landscape.
The international panel featured speakers from California’s top partners – Canada, Germany, Japan, and Mexico. Each talked about how the current climate of uncertainty has added layers of complexity and slowed or stopped investment in projects. The Consuls General of Canada and Mexico specifically highlighted the scale and significance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and how its framework has wired North American supply chains, making new tariffs and other trade policy shifts difficult to implement, much less to rewire and sustain.
The scale and scope of international partnerships in the tech, manufacturing, and startup spaces in the East Bay exemplify so much of what makes California a vibrant global hub – world-class logistics infrastructure, unparalleled educational institutions, and cutting-edge research facilities. We encourage people to stay connected to East Bay EDA’s ongoing work with our business, city, community, international, and other partners to help our region’s innovation ecosystem through our Resilient East Bay initiative and our website.
