Seven Southeastern U.S. life science and medtech groups are joining forces to better promote and advocate for the region.

The Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA) on Wednesday announced the formation of an alliance with six individual state medtech and life science advocacy groups: BioAlabama, Bio Florida, Georgia Bio, ncbio, Life Science Tennessee and SCBIO.

“Industry and academic partners simply cannot invest enough in each individual state’s bio advocacy organization — nor travel to each organization’s annual event every single year,” SEMDA executive director Jason Rupp said in a news release.

“But they can come to SEMDA, where the entire region gathers every year bringing their leading investors, academic and industry partners including the best of their young, innovative, investable companies,” Rupp said.

No single state in the Southeastern U.S. can match the medical device and life science industry strength of the nation’s major hubs in California, Minnesota and Massacusetts. But taken together, the region is more competitive, according to industry advocates there.

“We are strongest as a region,” said Russell Allen, president and CEO of Georgia Bio. “If we are to advance medical technologies to improve care, reduce healthcare costs and create new jobs, our state associations must work closely together to connect innovators and share resources.”

The inaugural 2018 SEMDA Medtech Conference is ongoing through May 4 in Greenville, S.C.