Industry - BioScience

Tech Showcase Features Emerging Technologies

The annual Tech Showcase offered networking on the patio and tours of FITCI. 
On June 14, 2016, the Fort Detrick Alliance hosted its annual Tech Showcase at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) in Frederick, Maryland. The event featured FITCI's new Executive Director Kathie Brady; County Executive Jan Gardner; Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement; and Dr. George V. Ludwig, the Acting Principal Assistant for Research and Technology, USA Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick. 

 “This annual event is an excellent opportunity to learn about new technologies and is an opportunity to connect with industry professionals,” said Richard Griffin, Director of The City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development.

 Fort Detrick Alliance President Dr. Harry Modrow opened the event with a welcome to attendees, followed by remarks from other speakers.

 The evening concluded with tours of FITCI, Frederick County’s only business incubator. Attendees had the opportunities to meet with the entrepreneurs currently operating out of FITCI and learn more about their research and technologies.  
From left to right: Fort Detrick Alliance President Dr. Harry Modrow; Executive Director Kathie Brady; County Executive Jan Gardner; Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement; and Dr. George V. Ludwig, the Acting Principal Assistant for Research and Technology, USA Medical Research and Materiel Command, Fort Detrick. 

BIO Recap: 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions at BIO 2016

Carroll Creek and Cycling Photo Credit: Visit Frederick

The BIO International Convention is the largest biotechnology trade show in the world and was recently held in San Francisco.  Each year, the City and County economic development offices jointly exhibit within the Maryland Pavilion and prospect for new businesses and educate attendees on why biosciences thrive in Frederick.  Following the show, we compiled a list of the five most frequently asked questions by attendees at BIO. 


1. Which Bioscience Companies are located in the Frederick, Maryland area? 


Frederick is home to Fort Detrick, the National Interagency Biodefense Campus and the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research as well as private industry such as AstraZeneca, Lonza, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. Frederick is the second largest bioscience hub in Maryland and the Northern anchor of the 270 Technology Corridor. Download a list of all 80bioscience companies that are in the Frederick area. 


2. What can you offer start-up bioscience companies?

Start-up companies benefit from Frederick's incubator, the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), a facility serving up to 40 clients with 25 offices and 10 wetlabs. In addition to the incubator, our community offers networking opportunities and access to business support through the Frederick Economic Development offices and the Maryland Department of Commerce's biohealth and life science specialists. Our teams are ready to help connect you with state and local resources to help your company grow. 



3. Why should we locate our business in the Frederick area?


Proximity to Washington, D.C. Access to federal regulatory agencies. Business-friendly environment. Great schools. Educated workforce. Nationally acclaimed, award-winning communities. These are just a few of the reasons the biosciences thrive in Frederick County.  Learn more about why 80 bioscience companies call Frederick home. 


4. How can I connect with bioscience companies in your area? 

Businesses looking to connect with our bioscience community can attend or sponsor one of the many networking events hosted throughout the year. Popular ways to connect include:

To participate in or sponsor these events, connect directly with the host organizations. 

5. How can I stay connected? 

Connect with Frederick Economic Development to discover news, updates, networking events, and more:


Tech Showcase Focuses on Importance of Research in Frederick

U.S. Congressman John Delaney gives his remarks to the crowd at the 2015 Tech Showcase.

On June 4, 2015, Fort Detrick Alliance hosted its annual Tech Showcase at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) in Frederick, Maryland. The event that featured keynote speaker Major General Brian Lein, Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and Fort Detrick and Deputy for Medical Systems to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, and Congressman John Delaney, U.S. Representative Maryland’s 6th District.

“This annual event is an excellent opportunity to learn about the newest technologies to come into the marketplace,” said Fort Detrick Alliance Executive Director Gloria Parsley. 

Fort Detrick Alliance President Tom Gladstone opened the event with a welcome to attendees, followed by remarks from Major General Lein and Congressman Delaney.

“Small business is what runs America,” said Major General Lein as he emphasized that groundbreaking research is done in partnership with the community, including the small businesses that Fort Detrick relies upon for collaboration. Fort Detrick’s research has focused on combat casualty care, Ebola vaccines and therapeutics, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

In Congressman Delaney’s remarks, he described Fort Detrick as “a singular economic asset” for the region and underscored the importance of the research it conducts. Investing in research is the number one multiplier of any dollar spent, he explained.  For every $1 spent, $2.40 is returned on that investment.


The evening concluded with tours of FITCI, Frederick County’s only business incubator and accelerator.  Attendees had the opportunities to meet with the entrepreneurs currently operating out of FITCI and learn more about their research and technologies.  


Growing our Region to Become a Top 3 Biotech Hub by 2023

Maryland Regional Biotech Forum Discusses Growing the Biotech Ecosystem

 The City of Frederick's Economic Development Director Richard Griffin recently participated in the Maryland Regional Biotech Forum held on March 30-31, 2015 at the MedImmune campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The first event of its kind, the forum included private sector companies; federal, state, and local government; nonprofit institutions; investors; and academia. Griffin was on a panel entitled "The Role of State and Local Government in Increasing the Return on Our Biotech Assets." 

 "It was an honor to participate in this forum and discuss the role of local municipalities as the region grows this industry," said Griffin. The importance of collaboration and building the biotech ecosystem is essential to our success, said Griffin. "The rising tide lifts all boats." 
Follow the #MDBiotech15 Twitter hashtag to see tweets from the event. 
The DC Metro area is a biotech hub with more than 800 life sciences companies, 70 federal labs, and numerous world-class academic and research institutions. The focus of the forum was to chart the future of growing the regional biotech ecosystem.

 Forum discussions focused on how the MD/DC/VA biotech cluster can become a Top 3 Biotech Hub by 2023. Currently, the region is ranked in the Top 10 and frequently ranks between 5th and 7th depending on the source. 

 Frederick is the northern anchor of the I-270 Technology Corridor with approximately 80 biotech companies in and around the city. It is an integral part of the regional biotech ecosystem and is poised to grow this industry. To learn more, visit the Business in Frederick website. 

AstraZeneca Announced Plans to Expand its Biologics Manufacturing Center in Frederick

2011 Grand Opening
On Friday, November 21, 2014, AstraZeneca announced plans to expand its biologics manufacturing center in Frederick, Md. The more than $200 million project will increase production capacity at the facility to support AstraZeneca’s maturing pipeline, and will help position the company to keep pace with a growing demand for the development and use of biologics, which currently represent nearly 50% of AstraZeneca’s overall pipeline. The expansion is also expected to bring a total of 300 new jobs to Frederick.
“We’re very pleased by AstraZeneca’s demonstrable commitment to our local workforce and to our growing biotech community,” said Frederick City Mayor Randy McClement. “This expansion will help bring even more high-caliber life science jobs and career opportunities to Frederick and the surrounding region.”
For more information, read the AstraZeneca press release. 

Economic Development Advisory Committee to Focus on Attracting Business Investment

The 15-member Economic Development Advisory Council (EDAC), recently appointed by Mayor Randy McClement, is poised to provide advice and specific recommendations on how to help ensure The City of Frederick, today and in the future, is a preferred community on the Baltimore-Washington region to attract private business investment, jobs and economic opportunity.

The group will be focusing providing guidance on:
  • Sound regulatory policies affecting business & industry
  • Annual economic development work program & budget
  • Business development incentives
  • Evaluation methodology to determine efficiency of economic development programs
  • Special issues/projects assigned by the Mayor & Board of Aldermen
  • Community education on economic & business development topics
The EDAC has had several preliminary meetings and co-chairs have been appointed by the Mayor as well, April Reardon and Rocky McIntosh.

“Guidance from Economic Development Advisory Council members can help ensure that The City of Frederick, both today and into the future, is the preferred community in the region for attracting private business investment, jobs, and economic opportunity,” said Mayor McClement.

The 16-member council has representation from the following sectors in Frederick: manufacturing, biotechnology, advanced technology, information technology, healthcare, tourism, retail, financial institutions, commercial brokers and developers, and major employers. The Council will have additional multi-organizational representation from its economic development partner organizations to round out discussion and input on issues/policies from varying perspectives.

“It’s important for us to hear directly from our business community,” said Alderman Josh Bokee, who was instrumental in developing the ad-hoc committee. "They're participation is key in helping the City to be one of the best places for both private investment and job creation to occur", said Bokee.
Richard Griffin, Director of Economic Development for the City of Frederick shares,“The Council is intended to provide multi-discipline expertise to supplement staff skills and identify ways to improve its business services, programs, incentives, policies, and advocacy,” he added. 

Questions, contact the DED office at 301-600-6360.

5 Benefits of Doing Bioscience Business in Frederick, MD

Dr. J.J. Lin of Imagilin Technology, LLC got his start at Frederick's biotech incubator, FITCI.
Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Frederick is the second largest city in Maryland. It has much to offer growing, expanding businesses in bioscience.

Each year, the City of Frederick's Department of Economic Development (DED) attends the world’s largest biotechnology gathering, the BIO International Convention. Here, they network with high-level executives and influential decision makers who come to BIO to discover new players in the industry, form partnerships, and evaluate emerging technologies. 

 At BIO, and at home, DED represents Frederick's role within Maryland's largest bioscience cluster, and lets businesses know why Frederick is ideal for this industry.  There are many reasons these companies are attracted to our area. Below are some of the top reasons the biosciences thrive in Frederick, Maryland. 

5 Reasons the Biosciences Thrive in Frederick, Maryland

Frederick City and County economic
development professionals at BIO 2014. 
1. Location-Frederick is the northern anchor of the I-270 Technology Corridor in Maryland, which is the third largest bioscience cluster in the U.S. It is home to Fort Detrick, the Frederick National Laboratory, 3,400+ businesses, and over 80 bioscience companies. Frederick also offers close proximity to federal regulatory agencies. 

2. Opportunity & Collaboration-Businesses enjoy strong biotechnology transfer opportunities from the federal labs at Fort Detrick and the National Cancer Institute; a local biotech incubator (FITCI); available state-of-the-art labs & offices, and local networking opportunities with partners.  

3. Educated Workforce-Ranked the 2nd Smartest City by Forbes.com, 36% of the workforce holds a bachelor's degree or higher.

4. Transportation-Major highways and mass transit connect Frederick with Washington, D.C., the I-95 corridor, and the Port of Baltimore. 

5. Quality of Life-Historic Downtown Frederick ranked #6 in Livability.com’s “Top 10 Best Downtowns 2014” list. 

Want to learn more? Contact us and we can assist you with more information, site selection assistance, and information about the biosciences in our area.  

Frederick Biotech Company Participates in Governor’s Trip to Asia

Dr. J.J. Lin, founder of local Frederick biotech company Imagilin Technologies, joined a Maryland delegation lead by Governor Martin O’Malley in an economic development mission trip to Asia earlier this month. The mission trip took the 68-person delegation to China, Korea and Vietnam.

Imagilin Technologies, one of the first companies to graduate from the Frederick Innovative Technology Center Inc (FITCI), Frederick’s high-tech business incubator, specializes in innovative products and technology development for human and animal health and nutrition.

Dr. Lin traveled to Asia to develop relationships with existing partners and forge new business opportunities and he was successful in achieving both these goals. Since returning from the mission trip, Dr. Lin has received approval of his product registration from the Chinese government.

“To do business in China, it is very important to develop relationships and trust between business partners,” stated Dr. Lin. “It is also important for a U.S. business to show support from their local governments, and traveling with Governor O’Malley allowed me to demonstrate that support to my partners in China.”

Dr. Lin is no stranger to international business, having development distribution partnerships in both South America and Asia for the sale of MitoMax, a probiotic product line for animals intended to improve the health of pets.

“Imagilin Technologies is a terrific example of how entrepreneurship and innovation creates opportunity in our community.” said Richard Griffin, director of economic development for the City of Frederick. “Through the City’s support of entrepreneurs and small businesses, we are able to grow jobs and attract foreign-direct investment to Frederick and to the state. We’re proud that Imagilin Technologies calls Frederick, Maryland its home.”

For more information on Imagilin Technologies, visit http://www.imagilin.com/. To learn more about the City of Frederick’s Department of Economic Development visit www.businessinfrederick.com.

Spotlight on Industry - Biotechnology

In our last blog, we covered the Frederick economy in a very general sense - including job growth and important industry sectors. Beginning this week, we will take a closer look at each of those important industry sectors.

We begin with bioscience. Over the last 10 years, bioscience and life science have become economic development buzz words. And why not - everyone wants their community or region to be innovative and high-tech, moving toward that knowledge-based economy (another buzz word) of the future.

In Frederick, bio is not simply a buzz word - it's a growing cornerstone of our economy. Maryland is home to the 2nd largest biosciences cluster in the country and within the state, Frederick ranks #2 in total biotech companies.

Since 2002, Frederick's bioscience industry has more than doubled -from 30 companies to more than 70 companies. As we saw in last week's look at job growth, the Professional, Scientific and Technical industry sector has led the way for job creation in the Frederick region - growing 60% from 2003-2007, and in 2010 this industry sector grew 4% or 278 net new jobs. Impressive when many other industries were flat or declined.

Frederick's bioscience industry has its first roots from Fort Detrick. Companies moved to Frederick as a result of contracts with the federal government - Dynport Vaccine Company, Charles River Labs, SAIC-Frederick, Southern Research Institute, Midwest Research Institute, Battelle and others.

Frederick also has a strong private-sector bioscience base. MedImmune, Life Technologies, Qiagen and Lonza are all global life science companies with a strong and growing presence in the City of Frederick and surrounding area.

Entrepreneurship is also an important component of Frederick's bioscience industry. Small, innovative start-up companies with their own technologies, or technologies that have been developed in federal labs and are being commercialized through technology transfer agreements, have proven incredibly effective at advancing research, developing products and creating new jobs here in Frederick.

Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI) - a technology incubator in Frederick - is an important element of entrepreneurship and job creation. FITCI, through partnerships with the City of Frederick, Frederick County and the State of Maryland and many corporate sponsors, offers affordable office and lab space, business mentoring and other programs to bioscience and advanced technology companies, to help budding entrepreneurs build successful businesses.

We continue to see great opportunity in the life sciences industry for Frederick. NCI/SAIC-Frederick is building a 330,000 SF advanced technologies research facility at Riverside Research Park. Planned for completion in late 2012, this initiative will facilitate public-private research partnerships with the intent of expediting the drug development process for cancer and HIV research and accelerating the timeline from discovery to patient bedside. Coupled with the entrepreneurship at FITCI and technology transfer opportunities at Fort Detrick, the life sciences industry is certainly a growth sector for the City of Frederick.

Tech Council of Maryland 9th Annual Frederick County Tech Awards

Do you work for or know of a Tech or BioTech company in Frederick County that has made an impact in the community? Done something innovative in the last year? How about a a really awesome boss? Then get moving and nominate that company for the Tech Council's 9th Annual Frederick County Tech Awards. Its easy and best of all, FREE! Categories this year include Executive of the Year, Firm of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Service Provider of the Year and CFO of the Year.

Each year TCM honors those companies that have made a difference in Frederick County. Don't miss this great opportunity to showcase your company and be recognized for your achievements. Nominations MUST be received by COB February 23, 2011. To nominate, please click on the following link: 2011 Frederick County Nomination Form or contact Todd Hayes at thayes@techcouncilmd.com or 240-243-4049.

Award winners will be honored at the 9th Annual Frederick County Tech Awards Celebration on March 29th, 2011 at Holly Hills Country Club, Ijamsville, MD 21754 from 6-8pm.

Don't wait, nominate and join TCM, Frederick County Leaders and the best of the best of the IT and Biotechnology communities at the 9th annual Frederick County Tech Awards. Click here to register.

Thank you to the sponsors: Platinum - Comcast
                                         Host - Frederick County Office of Economic Development
                                         Gold - MedImmune
                                         Media - 270inc Business Magazine
                                         Bronze - City of Frederick Department of Economic Development