This new fund addresses the immediate requirement for the science, pharmaceutical, and government sectors to close significant gaps in global public health preparedness.

Over a three-year period we'll look to invest the fund in roughly 40 companies across a set of industry sectors that include mobile computing, Web-enabled software, biotech, medical devices, semiconductors, and then an area that we are highlighting this time that we call green tech, which is new energy sources and things like that.

We will invest in companies developing fundamentally new platforms for detection, prevention and treatment of global, pathogenic infectious diseases. More than 15 million people worldwide die each year from infectious diseases. Over one third of the world's population lacks access to essential drugs. This new fund addresses the immediate requirement for the science, pharmaceutical, and government sectors to close significant gaps in global public health preparedness.

The pace of innovation is accelerating, as three billion consumers enter the global marketplace. We are privileged to invest this fund in these exciting times. Entrepreneurs will make major improvements in health care, including in personalized medicine, medical devices and therapeutics.

We're concerned and alarmed by the lack of innovation in this area. There are very few manufacturers of vaccines today, and the plants are not distributed widely.

This is a call to action.