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Mtech News, Opportunities and Events
April 27, 2010
News
Maryland Biotechnology Center Supports $270,000 in MIPS Projects
Opportunities
MIPS Funds for Tech Product R&D: 3 Days Left to Apply!
Free Legal Services on Intellectual Property and Related Matters for
Entrepreneurs and Emerging Tech Companies
Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund: Financing Available for
Qualifying Green Companies
High School Students: Earn College Credit and Explore
Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Innovation or Biopharmaceutical
Production this Summer at the University of Maryland
Upcoming Mtech Events
May 7: University of Maryland $75K Business Plan
Competition Finals
May 11: Free, Open Entrepreneur Office Hours for University of
Maryland Students, Faculty and Staff, and Regional Entrepreneurs
with Tech-Based Startups or Ideas
May 14: Executive Education Course: Essentials of Financial
Analysis
June 7-11: Hands-On, Practical Training in Biopharmaceutical
Processes in a Working Scale-Up Facility
Partner Opportunities and Events
Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards
April 27: Startup Lab: Winning High-Tech Government Contracts
April 28: Health IT Conference
April 29: Social Matchbox
April 29: 2010 Fischell Festival: A Celebration of Bioengineering's
Potential to Improve Life for Millions of People
April 29: Biomedical Engineering for Improved Health Care,
Reduced Costs and More U.S. Jobs
April 29: Multinational Development of Women in Technology's
(MDWIT) Annual Conference
April 30: CyberMaryland Forum
April 30: Pitch Dingman Competition
May 3: Fischell Lecture Series featuring Dr. Alfred E. Mann:
Creating a Successful Medical Device Enterprise
May 3: "Green Monday" at McCormick and Company
May 4: Creating Extraordinary Customer Relationships with Your
Existing Clients
May 7: Cupid's Cup Business Competition
May 13: TCM Tech Awards Celebration
May 14: TEDCO Funding Briefing
May 19: Mid-Atlantic STEM Policy and Education Summit
May 19: Startup Lab: Coming to America!
May 19-20: MAVA Capital Connection 2010
June 9: Selling to NSA
June 15: 2010 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards
June 23: Tech Council of Maryland Government Contracting
Academy
Mtech venture programs' valued 2009-2010 sponsors are Fish &
Richardson P.C. and Nixon Peabody LLP.
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News
Maryland Biotechnology Center Supports $270,000 in MIPS
Projects
The Maryland Biotechnology Center, the State of Maryland’s portal to
programs and resources intended to grow and strengthen the state's
bioscience community, has enabled biotechnology product development
projects to be funded through the Maryland Industrial Partnerships
program through $270,000 in support. The Center recently signed off on
initial funding for three projects. Each was in the second year of a
two-year (phase 2) project. Three additional first-year projects were also
made possible by freeing up MIPS funds to support them. Press release »
Opportunities
MIPS Funds for Tech Product R&D: 3 Days Left to Apply!
Mtech's Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program provides
research funding, matched by participating companies, for
university-based research projects that help companies develop new
products.
Benefits to Maryland companies include:
cost-effective research through university collaboration;
access to expert university faculty, students, state-of-the-art
facilities, laboratories and equipment;
efficient transfer of technology from university to companies; and
the opportunity to work with students--potential future hires.
Benefits to Maryland faculty include:
research leads directly to new product development;
potential for published papers and improved university facilities;
students gain valuable experience working on commercial
technologies; and
rapid proposal evaluations.
Applications are due April 30!
Read more and learn how to apply!
Free Legal Services on Intellectual Property and Related Matters
for Entrepreneurs and Emerging Tech Companies
The Maryland Intellectual Property Legal Resource Center (MIPLRC),
which offers free legal services on intellectual property and related
matters to entrepreneurs and emerging technology companies and
explores relevant legal, ethical and policy issues in the high technology
and intellectual property areas, is now at the university and Mtech.
MIPLRC's legal services are available at no charge to university
faculty and students, as well as to regional entrepreneurs and startup
companies. The MIPLRC is part of the University of Maryland School of
Law. For more information, visit www.mtech.umd.edu/miplrc/.
Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund: Financing Available for
Qualifying Green Companies
If your company or technology could improve air or water quality around
the Chesapeake Bay area, consider applying for investment from the
Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund. Supported by the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources and administered by Mtech, the fund
will invest $250,000 annually over a three-year period into
Maryland-based startup companies with innovative technologies that may
help improve air and water quality in the Chesapeake Bay area. Fund
recipients are jointly selected by Mtech and the Maryland Department of
Natural Resources. More»
High School Students: Earn College Credit and Explore
Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Innovation or Biopharmaceutical
Production this Summer at the University of Maryland
Mtech, in conjunction with the University of Maryland's Young Scholars
Program, is offering exciting courses this summer from July 11-30 for
high school students:
ENES 140: Discovering New Ventures--Foundations of
Entrepreneurship
ENES 141: Introduction to High-Tech Product Development and
Marketing
ENES 142: Introduction to Innovative Thinking & Creativity
BIOE 160: Biopharmaceutical Production
The Young Scholars Program is an excellent opportunity for students to:
Earn 3 college credits in 3 weeks
Test academic interests and explore career options
Meet new friends who share similar interests
Discover college life at Maryland!
Read more and register here»
Upcoming Mtech Events
May 7, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: University of Maryland $75K Business
Plan Competition Finals
A technology to eliminate external noise during phone calls, video
searching, lighter, safer, flexible batteries, and solar thermal
energy--these are just a sampling of the ideas that will be presented at
this year's UM $75K Business Plan Competition!
Come see nine compelling technologies and ideas for companies
developed by University of Maryland faculty and students.
Finalists give presentations to a team of expert judges and the public
from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., while the awards ceremony is held at 12:30.
Support student and faculty entrepreneurs at Maryland by attending!
Register to attend or read more about the competition.
May 11, 10 a.m.-noon: Free, Open Entrepreneur Office Hours for
University of Maryland Students, Faculty and Staff, and Regional
Entrepreneurs with Tech-Based Startups or Ideas
Location: Room 1103, Technology Advancement Program building
Mtech is hosting free office hours to help aspiring and current
entrepreneurs with tech-based startups or ideas get advice on how to:
build and finance a startup company
develop and protect intellectual property
navigate the technology transfer process
refine your business strategy for rapid growth
tap into other entrepreneurial resources
Representatives from the following organizations and groups are typically
on hand to speak with you one-on-one regarding any questions you
might have about starting a company:
Mtech VentureAccelerator Program
Mtech Technology Advancement Program
Office of Technology Commercialization
Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship
Maryland Intellectual Property Legal Resource Center
Maryland Biotechnology Center
Experienced Entrepreneurs
Representatives from the following investment and grant
organizations are also often on campus to participate in
Entrepreneur Office Hours or other Mtech events for new ventures:
RedShift Ventures, CNF Investment, New Markets Growth Fund,
Amplifier Venture Partners, LP, Novak Biddle Venture Partners, HIG
Ventures, LLC, Grotech, Maryland Venture Fund, and TEDCO.
Read more and register at: www.eoh.umd.edu
May 14: Executive Education Course: Essentials of Financial
Analysis
Friday, May 14, 2010, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Faculty: Joseph Perfetti
Financial analysis is a fundamental component of setting strategic
direction, evaluating marketing and product development investments,
understanding your competition, and just about every other aspect of
your business. After completing this module, you will be able to
confidently make informed decisions based on a variety of essential tools
including analyses of financial statements, net present value, internal
rate of return, return on investment, discounted cash flow, and break
even.
In this module, you'll learn:
How to communicate about finance more effectively through
understanding fundamental terminology of finance and accounting
How to read and analyze the financial statements of your firm and
others
How to assess the financial health of a firm based on its financial
statements *
How to value investments in the different options your firm faces
(such as outsourcing to determine the best use of capital)
This course can be applied towards the Certificate in Innovation
Management. Register for the course and read more about the Certificate
in Innovation Management Program at: www.innovation.umd.edu.
June 7-11: Hands-On, Practical Training in Biopharmaceutical
Processes in a Working Scale-Up Facility
Mtech's Biotechnology Research and Education Program will offer
back-to-back workshops in Fermentation Microbiology and Downstream
Processing & Protein Purification Workshop this June.
Fermentation Microbiology Workshop: June 7-8, 2010
This workshop provides hands-on experience and instruction with various
fermentation systems and acquaints attendees with the techniques,
methodologies, principles and applications of aerobic bacterial and fungal
fermentation. The workshop provides an opportunity for participants not
only to learn the principles of bacterial and fungal fermentation scale-up
at the bench, but also recent advances and up-to-date applications of this
methodology.
Downstream Processing & Protein Purification Workshop: June
9-11, 2010
This workshop will provide hands-on laboratory exercises and classroom
instruction on recovery and purification strategies for biotechnology
products, especially proteins. Participants will integrate theory with
practice in areas such as cell separation, cell disruption, chromatography
theory and systems, sample preparation, columns and packing,
adsorptive chromatography, and elution optimization.
Read more about both workshops and register here. Sign up for both and
receive a 15% discount.
Partner Opportunities and Events
Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards
The Maryland Green Registry, a voluntary program launched by Governor
Martin O'Malley as part of the State's Smart, Green and Growing
initiative to promote and recognize sustainable "greening" efforts by
organizations throughout the state, is now accepting applications for the
program’s first Leadership Awards. To apply: 1.) Join the Registry for free
at www.green.maryland.gov/registry, and 2.) submit a statement (200
words or less) describing how your environmental practices distinguish
you as a leader in terms of commitment to continuous improvement of
environmental performance and results achieved to date.
Statements should be submitted to MarylandGreen@mde.state.md.us and
are due May 7, 2010.
The Maryland Green Registry was launched in June 2009. It is a part of
Smart, Green & Growing, an initiative introduced by Governor O’Malley
in October 2008 to foster a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for
Maryland families. The Initiative brings together state agencies, local
governments, businesses and citizens to revitalize communities, improve
transit, create green jobs, address climate change, conserve energy,
preserve land, and restore the Chesapeake Bay.
More information»
April 27, 6:30-9 p.m.: Startup Lab: Winning High-Tech
Government Contracts
Location: National Rural Electric Cooperative Assoc. Conference Center,
4301 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22203
This Startup Lab will focus on successful approaches and strategies to win
government contracts, both as primes and as subs, within the high-tech
space.
More information»
April 28, 7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Health IT Conference
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery County Campus, 9605
Medical Center Drive Rooms 112-121, Rockville, MD 20850
The Health IT Conference is an event featuring a Keynote Speaker, state
and federal officials, industry representatives from IT and healthcare,
educators and other stakeholders in the delivery of quality healthcare
and the power that IT has to revolutionize the health industry. The goal
of this conference is to introduce IT companies that provide the
infrastructure and technology solutions to their next great business
opportunity, health IT, and show that when the IT and health industries
converge, they create solutions that improve the quality of health
delivery throughout the country. Get informed, grow your business and
make a difference for the future at the Health IT Conference on April
28th.
More information»
April 29, 6-10 p.m.: Social Matchbox
Location: US Navy Memorial Heritage Center, 701 Pennsylvania Ave
NW, Washington, DC 20004
Social Matchbox is the bi-annual “State of Startups” for the Mid Atlantic
emerging tech community, fusing startup launches with the most
exclusive tech networking in DC.
More information»
April 29: 2010 Fischell Festival: A Celebration of Bioengineering's
Potential to Improve Life for Millions of People
Location: Jeong H. Kim Engineering Building, University of Maryland,
College Park
Engineers play a crucial role in devising new technologies to expand and
enhance the capabilities of physicians, dentists, pharmacists and other
health care providers, and ultimately to improve life for people around
the world. To learn what the future holds in bioengineering and
biomedical devices, and how engineers and healthcare providers can work
together to achieve that future, join us for the Fischell Festival.
Activities and speakers scheduled so far include:
Lectures by distinguished guests and experts from the fields of
bioengineering and biomedical engineering
Breakout sessions showcasing current bioengineering and
biomedical engineering research by A. James Clark School of
Engineering and University of Maryland faculty
A live, streamcast medical procedure with commentary
Bioengineering Senior Capstone Design Project presentations and
contest
Poster session
Announcement of the 2010 Fischell Fellow by Robert E. Fischell
More information»
April 29, 5 p.m.: Biomedical Engineering for Improved Health
Care, Reduced Costs and More U.S. Jobs
Location: 1110 Kim Engineering Building, University of Maryland,
College Park
Speaker: Robert E. Fischell, chairman and president of Fischell
Biomedical, LLC
At this time in history, there is a great deal of interest in improving U.S.
health care while decreasing medical costs and creating jobs. Medical
costs are rising much faster than inflation in part because new medical
therapies have become available that can prolong life. These new drugs,
devices and medical procedures have a significant associated cost.
However, biomedical engineers can create new medical devices that can
actually decrease the cost for patient care while improving the care that
those patients receive. For example, a new medical device that is in
clinical trials has the capability to essentially eliminate congestive heart
failure--the single greatest medical expense category in the United
States. There are new stents in clinical trials that can significantly
decrease the cost of stenting. There is a new medical device that can cure
migraine headaches without requiring expensive drugs. These three
devices are just a very short list of what biomedical engineers have
already created and there are many more to come. Each new medical
device creates new jobs, which helps to offset the high unemployment
rate that the United States is experiencing.
More information»
April 29, 9 a.m.-5p.m.: Multinational Development of Women in
Technology's (MDWIT) Annual Conference
Location: Columbia Sheraton, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia,
Maryland 21044
Multinational Development of Women in Technology (MDWIT) invites you
to participate in the 2010 women and technology conference, "Global
Diversity: Enriching Technology." Now in its 4th year, this conference is
expected to draw more than 250 women technology professionals from
state and federal agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits and the
business community.
More information»
April 30, 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.: CyberMaryland Forum
Location: Mount St. Mary's University, Frederick Campus, 5350
Spectrum Drive, Frederick, MD 21703
Understanding that the conversation about cyber security needs to
continue among all stakeholders, the Tech Council of Maryland is
launching a CyberMaryland Forum open to anyone with an interest in the
cyber security industry. Our content will cover the latest developments in
the state's initiative to be the "Epicenter for Information Security and
Innovation" and other hot topics in the cyber security industry.
More information»
April 30, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Pitch Dingman Competition
Location: 3570 Van Munching Hall (Smith School of Business)
Do you have a good idea for a venture but need some help from the
experts to transform it into a thriving business? Pitch Dingman is a great
program for UMD students who want to explore the opportunity to own
and operate their own business. The first three Fridays of the month,
between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the Dingman Center team makes its
professional investment staff and Entrepreneurs in Residence available to
hear and evaluate new business ideas. Students give a short (3-5
minute) "pitch" or a persuasive overview of their idea and we provide
actionable feedback based upon The Dingman Process. On the last Friday
of the month, students can compete for $2,500 in start-up funding at the
Pitch Dingman Competition. If you're interested, bring your "A" game and
a polished pitch. Not ready to compete? Attend one of the competitions to
see how other students do it.
Sign up: PitchDingman@rhsmith.umd.edu
May 3, 4 -5 p.m.: Fischell Lecture Series featuring Dr. Alfred E.
Mann: Creating a Successful Medical Device Enterprise
Location: University of Maryland, Horvitz Lecture Hall CSIC Building,
College Park, MD
Why do so few startup companies succeed? Over the past 54 years of my
entrepreneurial career I have started 15 companies, sold 8, taken 2
public and 6 are still evolving. I will briefly describe these ventures and
will share with you some of the lessons learned from this career. And I
will especially describe how I have used my recipe to build one of these
companies, how it was sold, problems that were generated, how the
problems were addressed and the sequel to all this.
More information (pdf) »
May 3, 6 - 9 p.m.: "Green Monday" at McCormick and Company
Location: McCormick and Company, Inc., 226 Schilling Circle, Hunt
Valley, MD 21031
Join CSBA and RMI at McCormick and Company to hear Jeff Blankman,
Sustainable Manufacturing Manager, talk about how the spice company’s
green manufacturing initiatives helped them reduce energy consumption
and waste and deploy renewable energy.
More information»
May 4, 8:30 - 10 a.m.: Creating Extraordinary Customer
Relationships with Your Existing Clients
Location: Tech Council of Maryland Offices, 9713 Key West Avenue,
9713 Key West Avenue, MD 20850
Sales and business development are the lifeblood of any organization. In
order to survive, you need to keep growing. Whether you are new to
sales or business development or you have been at it for a number of
years, this seminar will offer you a new perspective on how to grow your
current business regardless of your target market. This module will detail
the importance of creating and maintaining the type of service
relationships necessary with your clients that speaks directly to your
value proposition and separates you from your competition in an
increasingly competitive business environment.
More information»
May 7, 2-4 p.m.: Cupid's Cup Business Competition
Location: Hoff Theater, Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland,
College Park, MD
Then the battle is on! Watch the five finalists compete for the Cupid’s Cup
and $25,000 in prizes during the Fifth Annual Cupid’s Cup Business
Competition, beginning at 2 p.m. The contestants will be judged on their
business pitch presentations and evaluated by a panel of judges,
including UM alumnus Kevin Plank '96, Founder and CEO of Under
Armour. See who takes home the Cup! The audience will vote for the
People's Choice Award.
More information»
May 13, 5:30 - 9 p.m.: TCM Tech Awards Celebration
Location: Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701
Marinelli Road, Bethesda, MD 20852
Our signature TCM Tech Awards Celebration is one of Maryland's largest
and most prestigious award ceremonies and is Maryland's Best Night of
Networking. The evening brings the very best of technology,
biotechnology, government, academia, and supporting businesses
together at one place at one time. The only kind in the industry, the TCM
Tech Awards honors the dedication and outstanding service to Maryland's
technology community. TCM proudly takes this opportunity to recognize
their excellence and thank them for being an integral part of business
development. Join us this year, build your relationships and honor the
future winners at the best ceremony that is always attended by more
than 800 industry professionals in the Mid-Atlantic region.
More information»
May 14, 2-3:30 p.m.: TEDCO Funding Briefing
Location: 5565 Sterrett Place, Suite 214, Columbia, MD 21044
TEDCO Funding briefings provide detailed information about TEDCO's
primary funding programs for seed stage companies, including:
Fort Detrick Technology Transfer Initiative (FDTTI)
Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF)
TechStart
Johnson and Johnson Joint Investment Program
University Technology Development Fund (UTDF)
Working Capital Loan Fund (WCLF)
Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF)
Rural Business Initiative (RBI)
NAVAIR Technology Insertion (NAVTI) Initiative
Attendees will learn about eligibility requirements, proposal submission
guidelines, review processes, award conditions, reporting requirements
and payback (MTTF, UTDF, and WCLF only). These briefings should be of
interest to economic development professionals, angel investors,
entrepreneurs, small technology-based businesses, small defense
contractors and university faculty inventors. Briefings are free, however
registration is required.
More information»
May 19, 7:30 a.m. - noon: Mid-Atlantic STEM Policy and Education
Summit
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Montgomery County Campus,
Gilchrist Hall, 9605 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
The Mid-Atlantic STEM Policy and Education Summit is a morning event
featuring a Keynote Speaker, Maryland legislators (both state and
federal), educators and students from Maryland's high schools,
community colleges and four year universities who are currently enrolled
in STEM programs. The VISION of this conference is to enlighten
leadership in education, industry, government and students as a whole,
to be catalysts for innovation and technology by uniting resources to
meet the increased demand in the workforce for STEM professionals and
future entrepreneurs. The goal of the program is to create action plans to
help educators and legislators inspire students to pursue STEM careers.
More information»
May 19, 6:30 - 9 p.m.: Startup Lab: Coming to America!
Location: Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology (CARB), 9600
Gudelsky Dr., Rockville, MD 20850
For most products and services, the U.S. is a large and attractive market.
Overseas companies looking to expand their operations into the U.S. can
partner with U.S. companies, set up a U.S. subsidiary, or even transfer
their worldwide headquarters to the U.S. Depending on your perspective,
these new market entries can be competitors, partners, customers, and
key sources of economic growth. Come hear how several overseas
companies chose their strategy, overcame obstacles, worked with state
and local economic development agencies, and found U.S. customers and
service providers to help them reach their goals. This event will show you
how it looks from the other side and give you insights into the challenges
and opportunities that await your own overseas expansion!
More information»
May 19-20: MAVA Capital Connection 2010
Location: Hilton Baltimore, 401 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
Join us at the East Coast's most respected and longest-running
conference for capital sources, technology entrepreneurs, and business
and government leaders. High-performance companies at all stages of
growth are invited to apply to be on the agenda. Deadline to apply is
April 7. Located at the epicenter of business, finance and key federal
policy-making, Capital Connection ‘10 brings together leaders from across
multiple sectors such as cybersecurity, education, software/IT, digital
media, alternative energy, and health services.
More information»
June 9, 8 a.m. - noon: Selling to NSA
Location: BWI Airport Marriott, 1743 West Nursery Road, Baltimore, MD
21240
The National Security Agency is on the frontiers of communications and
data processing. It is also one of the most important centers of foreign
language analysis and research within the government. As NSA continues
on its path to transform the U.S. Cryptologic System, the Acquisition
Organization must continuously modernize and improve the acquisition
process by implementing best business practices to satisfy mission needs.
The velocity of changes in technologies, along with an ever-increasing
variety of communications, challenges their ability to develop and deploy
systems that meet operational requirements. To meet these challenges
head-on, NSA is assessing and re-engineering their current acquisition
policies, procedures, and practices to eliminate inconsistencies,
redundancies, and steps that add no value. Don't miss this opportunity to
hear from officials within NSA about opportunities that exist for your
company to do business with the nation's leading security agency.
More information»
June 15, 6-8:30 p.m.: 2010 Maryland Incubator Company of the
Year Awards
Location: The Center Club, Baltimore, MD
Keynote speaker: Barbara Dreyer, President & CEO - Connections
Academy
The 2010 Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards publicly
recognize achievements by current clients and graduates of Maryland
incubators and provide a forum for nominees to increase their visibility in
the business, technology and investment communities.
More information»
June 23, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Tech Council of Maryland Government
Contracting Academy
Location: Tech Council of Maryland Offices, 9713 Key West Avenue
Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850
This intensive program offers companies the opportunity to get in-depth
training on the tools necessary to be successful in the government
contracting industry. Our five sessions led by experts in both industry
and the government will teach you how to be successful on contracting
issues, procurement processes and business processes in a small,
interactive, information-packed atmosphere. Whether your business is
just getting started in the Federal Marketplace or you have been selling
to the government for years, this program will provide you with the
knowledge you need to be successful.
More information»
Mtech Sponsors
Mtech's venture programs work closely with organizations and persons,
ranging from local entrepreneurs and angel investors to service providers
and large corporations, who share a passion for starting and building
ventures, as well as for training technologists to become founders. Mtech
venture programs' valued 2009-2010 sponsors are Fish & Richardson P.C.
and Nixon Peabody LLP.
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Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech)
A. James Clark School of Engineering
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742
301.405.3889