TEDCO, DBED and USM Secure State Science and Technology Institute Conference
Columbia, Md. (January 4, 2007) - The Maryland
Technology Development
Corporation (TEDCO), the Maryland Department of Business and Economic
Development (DBED), and
the University System of Maryland (USM) are proud to announce that the
State
Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), a national science and
technology organization, has selected Maryland as the location for its
11th
annual conference. The event, which has grown to become the nation's
premiere event for sharing ideas on the best ways to encourage
technology-based
economic development and
foster regional prosperity in a global economy, will be held at the
Renaissance Harborplace
Hotel in Baltimore, Md., on Oct. 18 and 19, 2007.
"We are thrilled
that SSTI has selected our state to host its next
annual conference," said Aris Melissaratos, secretary of DBED. "Maryland's commitment to technology dominance has
resulted in new innovations and jobs in the State's science and technology industry
sectors. Combining this investment with
world-renowned academic and research organizations and an unparalleled
workforce, will ensure that Maryland remains a leader in technology
development.
Maryland was selected after a national
competitive bid process. Key to winning the bid was the joint efforts of TEDCO,
DBED, and USM in demonstrating the state's commitment
to technology research and development, and the commercialization of these
innovations to spur economic growth in the local technology industry.
"We look forward to sharing with
attendees the practices that have made our state a national leader in
technology-based economic development," said Renée Winsky, interim executive
director of TEDCO. "The fact that companies in the state that have received
support from TEDCO's Maryland Technology Transfer Fund are able to leverage
this to secure downstream funding from federal agencies, venture capitalists,
and angel investors at a ratio of nearly $37 per state dollar invested, is
testament to the success of the strategies and processes we have here."
The conference enables business leaders and entrepreneurs to learn
from the nation's
leading thinkers and
practitioners in technology-based
economic development. Previous conference topics have addressed areas
such as: university research commercialization; manufacturing
excellence; angel and venture capital; university research parks
and technology incubators; globalization's impact on local economies;
math and science education; and public-private collaboration for
science,
technology, and engineering.
"With superb
research universities, numerous
federal labs, a thriving private-technology sector and successful economic
development tools, Maryland is a perfect choice to showcase technology-based
economic development practices and strategies before a national and
international audience," said Brian Darmody, associate vice president for
research and economic development at the University of Maryland, College Park,
who helped organize the Maryland bid.
The conference
topics at the 11th annual conference will
draw on the experiences and needs of SSTI's 38 state sponsors, and more
than 100 affiliates and supporters from across the country. The agenda
for the event will be set in early summer 2007. In recent years,
attendees have come from more than 45 states and four continents.
Previous SSTI annual conference locations have included: Atlanta,
Philadelphia, Seattle, and Chicago.
"Maryland provides an excellent backdrop for SSTI's 11th
annual conference," said Dan Berglund, president and CEO at SSTI. "The
state has made science and technology a central focus for its economic
development investments,
and proximity to Washington, D.C., ensures a focus from national policy
makers."
Representatives
from SSTI made a site visit to Maryland during the fall of 2006, touring
potential facilities and meeting with regional economic development, science
and technology leaders, and county technology organizations to discuss potential topics, speakers and
logistics. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association helped
organize the SSTI site visit. A local host committee made
up of state representatives, universities, federal laboratories, technology
organizations, Research Parks Maryland (RPM), and county economic development
offices will be formed to help facilitate planning for the conference.
About the
State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI)
Based in Westerville, Ohio, SSTI is a national nonprofit organization
dedicated to improving government-industry programs that encourage economic
growth through the application of science and technology. More information about SSTI's 11th annual conference will be
forthcoming on SSTI's website www.ssti.org.
The Maryland
Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), an independent entity, was established by the Maryland
General Assembly in 1998 to facilitate the creation of businesses and foster their growth in all
regions of the State. TEDCO's role is to be Maryland's leading source of funding for seed
capital and entrepreneurial business
assistance for technology transfer and development programs. TEDCO connects
emerging technology companies with federal laboratories, research universities,
business incubators, and specialized
technical assistance. For the third consecutive year, TEDCO was recognized as
the most active early/seed stage investor in the nation in the July 2006 issue
of Entrepreneur Magazine. For more
information on TEDCO and its programs and resources, visit www.MarylandTEDCO.org.
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development's (DBED)
mission is to attract new businesses, stimulate private investment and
create jobs, encourage the
expansion and retention of existing companies, and provide businesses in
Maryland with workforce training and financial assistance. The
department promotes the State's many economic advantages and markets
local
products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development,
international
trade, and tourism. For more information, visit www.choosemaryland.org.
About the University System of Maryland
Governed by a
17-member Board of Regents, the University System of Maryland (USM) comprises 11 universities, two research
institutions, two regional higher education centers, and a system office
serving more than 140,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. USM provides access to excellent higher
education opportunities, performs groundbreaking research, offers vital
services to communities and individuals, and fuels economic and workforce
development. As a public system of higher education, USM advances the State of Maryland and benefits all of society.
Contact: John Buettner
Phone: 301.445.2719
Email: jbuettner@usmd.edu
