Economic Engine

bwtech@UMBC boosts state and local economies through jobs, revenue and vision.

The Great Recession, the worst economic downturn since the 1930s, hit the United States in 2006 with the burst of the housing bubble. The country has been struggling to return to pre-recession levels since then, but new numbers reveal a different story at bwtech@UMBC: our research park has been working as a vibrant economic engine for the State of Maryland.

A new study from the Sage Policy Group reveals that the bwtech@UMBC research park has grown at a remarkable pace. The park contributes nearly 2,500 jobs to Baltimore County today, an increase of 41 percent since last measured in 2006.

The park started in 1989 with two trailers and five companies. By 2006 bwtech@UMBC was a major player, with 42 companies generating $100 million in income for the State of Maryland. Now, eight years later, with 120 companies, the park is generating $165 million for the state.

bwtech@UMBC is the first university-affiliated research and technology park in Maryland. It’s situated on 71 acres and has a total of 525,000 square feet, including 80,000 square feet of wet laboratory space. The remaining 445,000 square feet house technology and office space.

There are about 28 incubators in Maryland, but bwtech@UMBC is one of only two working to grow the region’s cybersecurity industry. The other is the Chesapeake Innovation Center in Odenton, Maryland, home to 50 cyber companies. Today, bwtech@UMBC cybersecurity community the largest cluster of early-stage cybersecurity companies at a university-affiliated research park in the nation.

In November 2010 the park formed a partnership with Northrop Grumman to launch the Northrop Grumman Cync program. The program focuses on commercializing technology to protect the nation from a growing range of cyber threats, building on bwtech@UMBC’s successful business-incubation framework by offering a scholarship program for companies with the most promising cybersecurity ideas.

But it’s not all about cyber. For bwtech@UMBC diversity is key. While cyber accounts for 40 percent of the companies, the life sciences make up 40 percent and clean energy 10 percent. The remaining 10 percent are organizations dedicated to training and research.

“This is the result of the solid partnership formed between industry, state government, local government and the university system,” says Ellen Hemmerly, president and executive director of bwtech@UMBC. The location isn’t bad either. Close proximity to BWI, the NSA, NIH, FDA and Fort Meade make the park an attractive option for cyber and biotech companies.

Anirban Basu, chairman and CEO of the Sage Policy Group, says that bwtech@UMBC’s “focus on life sciences and cybersecurity” really is “a natural for Maryland.”

But the defining characteristic that draws all the park’s activity together is a focus on early-stage companies.

Kimberly Brown, CEO of Amethyst Technologies, values the opportunities to connect with other companies. Other CEOs, such as Delali Dzirasa ’04, computer engineering, of Fearless Solutions, say that having access to entrepreneurs-in-residence is key to learning about business. Kathleen Turano, President of Plant Sensory Systems, says that when her company first came to the park the most attractive feature of the park was its mentoring service.

With all this success, what’s next for bwtech@UMBC? The Sage Policy Group report notes that as the park continues to concentrate on cybersecurity and the life sciences, and further develops models to support early-stage businesses, their needs for physical space, funding and financial support will continue as well.

But, says Basu, “While there are many other industries among tenants, the number of cyber and life sciences companies at bwtech@UMBC helps to clarify its position as a specialist in these industries.”

Video here: http://umbc.edu/window/bwtech_2014.html

Sunil Dasgupta, director of UMBC’s political science program at the Universities of Shady Grove, recently published an article in the International Relations and Security Network (ISN) digital library. In his article titled “What is Asia? A Security Debate between Alfred Mahan and Barry Buzan,” Dasgupta argued that Chinese and American security policies are making “one Asia” a more distinct reality. He compares the viewpoints of naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, who was a defender of national power, and Barry Buzan, the influential Canadian and British scholar of international relations, who was an advocate for the regional security complex.

“Those who, like Mahan, believe in the immutability of geography see the rise of China—the only power that physically connects four of Asia’s five regions—as leading to the rebirth of Asia as a singular strategic entity, returning the continent to the days before the Vasco da Gama epoch,” Dasgupta wrote.

“But Buzan’s construct of many Asias remains resilient. From a theoretical point of view, the concept of balance of power requires a defined set of balancers, or a security complex. Without clear referents and limitations on who should be counted as part of the balance, there can be no game,” he added.

To read the full article published November 21 in the ISN digital library, click here.

Tom Beck, Chief Curator, Library & Gallery, recently spoke at the Library of Congress commemorating the photographs of David Seymour. He is a biographer of the famous photographer who in 1947 co-founded Magnum Photos with Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and George Rodger. Magnum Photos is the internationally important photojournalist’s cooperative whose members are among the finest photographers in the world.

The Library of Congress program occurred on the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Seymour and celebrated the donation of 112 of Seymour photographs to the Library of Congress.

The Student Experience: University Strategic Planning Discussion on Applied Learning, Mentoring, and the Campus Experience

As part of the Student Experience Strategy Group, our team was tasked with answering the question, “What are the student experiences that influence preparation for the lifespan and the careers of undergraduate and graduate students? What roles do civic agency, academic support, health and fitness play in this preparation?”

Based on our research we have concluded that student preparation and success both in and out of college revolves around three main areas:
1. Advising and mentoring
2. Meaningful applied learning
3. Student campus experience

We have decided to run a set of discussion meetings where we can bring together a few members of our community to talk about these topics and how they tie back to our charge question. We also will be asking for recommendations from participating members on what can be done at UMBC to support these areas.

The Advising and Mentoring discussion will be held on Wednesday, December 3 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on the 7th floor of the Albin O. Kuhn Library. To RSVP, please complete this form.

The Applied Learning discussion will be held on Tuesday, December 9 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Commons 331. To RSVP, please complete this form.

The Student Campus Experience discussion will be held on Wednesday, December 10 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Commons 331. To RSVP, please complete this form.

If you cannot attend a session but would like to contribute, please indicate so on the appropriate RSVP form and a survey will be sent to you at a later date.

Thank you for your support!

Team Members include: Craig Berger, Student Life Office; Michael Moubarek, Student; Christine Routzahn, Career Center; Ally Yang, Student