The Arizona International Soft Landing Experience (AISLE), a soft-landing program for international companies seeking United States expansion, announced its expansion to a second site in Greater Phoenix. AISLE, anchored at SkySong, the Arizona State University (ASU) Scottsdale Innovation Center, will open a new location at the Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) in partnership with Wexford Science & Technology.
Led by ASU and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), AISLE provides low-risk, expert-guided support and resources to international firms considering entrance to the U.S. market. With complimentary and discounted office and lab space, exclusive networking opportunities, and connectivity to business resources, the soft-landing program helps international firms navigate processes for scaling in the U.S.
“International healthcare and bioscience companies considering U.S. expansion often experience challenges integrating into the market without having direct access to a variety of support and resources,” said GPEC President & CEO Christine Mackay. “Building off the success of AISLE – Scottsdale presents an opportunity for Greater Phoenix to provide unique, discounted and immersive offerings to companies looking to join one of the country’s fastest-growing ecosystems. Behind GPEC, ASU and Wexford, Greater Phoenix is strengthening its standing as a global healthcare innovation and bioscience hub.”
“The expansion of the AISLE program to Phoenix marks a major milestone for our City’s thriving innovation ecosystem,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. “By uniting the resources of the City of Phoenix, Wexford Science & Technology, GPEC, and ASU, we are creating a premier launchpad for global bioscience innovators that will make it even easier for international companies to scale, create high-quality jobs, and strengthen our local economy.”
At the PBC, medical technology and bioscience companies within AISLE will operate at Connect Labs by Wexford. This expansion extends AISLE’s reach into Arizona’s premier life sciences and healthcare innovation district, with access to discounted flexible office, private lab or shared lab dedicated bench space with amenities including hoods, biosafety cabinets, BSL-2 enabled lab spaces and laboratory manager support, as well as other local resources.
“Expanding AISLE to Downtown Phoenix and the Phoenix Bioscience Core is an important step forward in the continued growth of Arizona as a hub of biomedical innovation,” says Neil Calfee, Executive Director of Economic Development at ASU. “By adapting the program and offering healthcare and life science international companies access to tools and resources through ASU, GPEC, and Wexford, as well as co-location in the heart of Phoenix to jump-start their efforts, we will make it easier for companies to hit the ground running and to succeed in a place they want to be a part of.”
The new offerings at Connect Labs build upon existing AISLE support including data and research, events and networking, liaisons from each lead organization, marketing support and more.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with ASU and GPEC. Together with ASU, GPEC and the City of Phoenix, we have brought international companies into Connect Labs from the UK, Canada, Taiwan and Switzerland over the past few years,” said Kyle Jardine, Market Executive and VP of Wexford. “We look forward to continuing to bring more international companies to the PBC in Connect Labs with the stronger structure and partnership that AISLE brings.”
SkySong will continue to serve as a cornerstone of AISLE, which has operated at the innovative mixed-use space since the soft-landing program’s inception in 2024. The access to workspace, university resources and regional business connections through SkySong serves as an entry point for international companies across a wide range of industries and strengthens ASU’s ability to support business growth throughout its Innovation Zones network. Companies in industries including semiconductor sales and office spaces, software and IT, regional and national headquarters, and other administrative offices operate at SkySong.
Participants at either location can enter agreements of three, six or 12 months.
Past and current companies within AISLE include Allring, Brillian, China Airlines, Crest Technologies, MiiCare and NeuroCatch from countries including Canada, France, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and more.
