Annual Report & Plan
Baltimore Sister Cities Annual Accomplishments Report for 2021 (PDF, 3mb)
Baltimore Sister Cities Annual Plan for 2022 (PDF, 1.3mb)
Some of our 2021 highlights:
2021 Year in Review: Baltimore Sister Cities
Baltimore-Xiamen chair speaks at Baltimore Mayor’s “410 Report” event
Xin (Cindy) Wang (Chair, Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee) was one of the speakers in the 2022 Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month edition of Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s “410 Report.” Other speakers included HyeSook Chung (President, Baltimore Civic Fund), Cori Dioquino (Co-Executive Director & Co-Founder, Asian Pasifika Arts Collective), and Heang Tan (Deputy Commissioner, Office of Aging). Mayor Scott and these members of our local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community celebrated the contributions and experiences of our city’s AAPI communities. With a rich history in our city, AAPI communities continue to be a thriving source of what makes Baltimore, Baltimore. The program was originally broadcasted on Thursday, May 19, 2022, on the Mayor’s Facebook page, the CharmTV Facebook page, and the Mayor’s Instagram page.
To view a recording of this program, visit the CharmTV Facebook page.
Maryland bluetech|greentech business delegation to Europe
Maryland Department of Commerce invites Maryland environmental tech and water tech companies to participate in a business trip to the Netherlands, including Water Tech Europe trade show and other site visits, during the week of September 19 – 24, 2022.
The trip includes:
1. Participation in the Water Tech Europe trade fair and the accompanying Wetsus Congress at European Water Technology Week (EWTW) which brings together sessions and field visits focused on topics like sustainable water supply, wastewater treatment and reuse, circular economy, energy production from water, climate resilience, and new water sources. This is the place for professionals working on solutions for tomorrow’s water issues. Maryland Department of Commerce will have a pavilion at Water Tech Europe for environmental tech businesses from Maryland. Attendees include universities, research institutes, innovative companies and corporate end-users, government representatives, and water clusters from Europe, US, and around the world. European Water Technology Week takes place in Leeuwarden in northeast region of the Netherlands.
2. Site visits and networking — Maryland is planning networking opportunities and field visits to sites in The Hague / Rotterdam in the western region of the Netherlands for the delegation to learn about innovative technologies and meet potential business partners. The program will be tailored to the focus sectors of the participating companies.
Goals
- Help Maryland firms explore business opportunities abroad
- Find international business partners to bring innovative technologies to Maryland
- Network with US and European firms, innovation hubs, and research institutes
- Raise the international profile of Maryland companies
Focus sectors
The program and topics will be tailored to the focus areas of the participating companies, but it can include topics like:
- Drinking water and wastewater management
- Urban water management and climate resilience
- Maritime and port technologies
- Water in agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Renewable energy
- Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation
- Circular economy; water conservation and re-use technologies
- Pollution; plastic soup
- Digitalization
Potential site visits include:
- Business networking event in Rotterdam/The Hague region
- The Green Village at Delft Technical University
- Port of Rotterdam
- Port XL maritime tech accelerator
- Envirotech testing facilities
- Stormwater water infrastructure; storm surge barriers
- In addition, the EWTW Wetsus Congress includes field trips related to resource recovery from wastewater, energy production from water, circular water systems, and horticulture. Tours start from WaterCampus in Leeuwarden.
Who can participate
- Eligibility: Participation is open to Maryland firms — firms that have their business operations in Maryland.
- Financial assistance: Maryland businesses can apply for the Export MD grant to help cover their travel costs (up to $5,000 reimbursement). Deadline to apply for the grant: August 1, 2022.
Take your firm to new international opportunities!
For more information or to participate in this trip:
Contact Andrew Kreinik, Regional Manager for Europe and Australia at Maryland Department of Commerce at andrew.kreinik@maryland.gov (or contact Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee for information).
Space is limited, so contact us soon!
Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee Reignites Partnership Through Visit to Odesa
Karina Mandell, Chair of the new Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee, was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States as a young girl at the age of 7. She traveled to Ukraine recently to reunite with family members. During this trip, she met with the Mayor of Odesa on August 26, 2021, to explore ideas for mutually beneficial partnerships and potential avenues for further collaborations between Baltimore and Odesa (also known as Odessa).
In October 2021, Karina and other leaders of BOSCC met with Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and presented the gifts from Odesa City Council (photo below).
Baltimore and Odesa have been sister cities since 1974 and the relationship is managed by ‘The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore’. In coordination with The Associated, the Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee has recently been formed under the auspices of the Baltimore Sister Cites organization in order to broaden the relationship.
If you are interested in this initiative or want to be a volunteer member of our committee, please contact us at
March 2022 Update
To support the city of Odesa, Ukraine during its time of need:
Donate to our fundraising drive, organized by Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee.
Baltimore+Rotterdam: Designing Cities
A webinar series all about design — spanning Baltimore and Rotterdam!
Each week this spring, two design groups, one from Baltimore (Maryland, USA) and one from Rotterdam (the Netherlands), paired up to discuss architecture, urban design, and how design and policy can improve the built environment for all residents. We observed how different architecture offices operate, to design in the city and improve the inhabitants’ experience of space. This is a unique opportunity to hear how different types of architecture firms approach design in two cities with similar historical legacies (working class cities with port industries).
Designers were paired up to reflect similarities in size, projects and methodology. Through presentations, moderated dialogues, and exchanges with the audience, we explored if and how the environment (historical, political, economical, social, environmental, economies, …) is truly determinant to the fail or success of a project and what that really means for the city, its residents and their well-being.
This series was designed and coordinated by Cristina Murphy, Assistant Professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P) and Adjunct Professor at Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design’s Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center.
Dates: Every Tuesday from February 15 to April 12, 2022
Format: Online webinar; designers’ presentations followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A
AIA Continuing education credits: 1 LU
The series has ended, but you can watch recordings of each webinar below!
FEBRUARY 15
Jerome Gray Jerome C. Gray Architect (JCGA) (Baltimore)
Zico Lopes Spatial Codes – Studio for Architecture & Inclusion (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Roberto Rocco, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Spatial Planning and Strategy at Technical University Delft
Video recording: youtu.be/JMrRaw78Wg8
Event info page
FEBRUARY 22
Evan Wivell EastWing Architects (Baltimore)
Felix Madrazo IND [Inter.National.Design] (Rotterdam)
Moderated by coleman a. jordan Assistant Professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P)
Video recording: youtu.be/UZ3dpkwhASg
Event info page
MARCH 1
Pavlina Ilieva PI.KL Studio (Baltimore)
David ter Avest Urban Geographer; Lecturer, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Thijs van Spaandonk Dean of Urban Design, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst (RAvB)
Video recording: youtu.be/a0DMfnkYeAI
Event info page
MARCH 8
Megan Elcrat Present Company (Baltimore)
Elina Karanastasi EX.s Architecture (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Tonya Sanders, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P)
Video recording: youtu.be/gSn4-O4E-TM
MARCH 15
Paul Riley & Utku Akbulut Marshall Craft Associates (MCA) (Baltimore)
Duzan Doepel DoepelStrijkers (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Matteo Bettoni Barcode Architects
12-1:10pm ET (US) | 5-6:10pm CET (NL)
Video recording: youtu.be/M9JQtiA4-Vg
MARCH 22
Steve Ziger Ziger|Snead Architects (Baltimore)
Jan Knikker MVRDV (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Sinisha Brdar Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
Video recording: youtu.be/oyhBVyNgFXY
MARCH 29
Taejun Kim Hord Coplan Macht (HCM) (Baltimore)
Maarten van Bremen GROUP A Architects (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Chris van Langen Program Manager for Spatial Design Action, Creative Industries Fund NL
Video recording: youtu.be/1ua84VHCMtc
APRIL 5
Tyler Miller Gensler Baltimore (Baltimore)
Kees van Casteren Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Marc Verheijen Rotterdam City Architect
Video recording: youtu.be/imszYff-lU8
APRIL 12
Fiver Soraruf Design Collective(Baltimore)
Jan Jongert Superuse Studios (Rotterdam)
Moderated by Selina Abraham Doctoral Researcher, University of Amsterdam
Video recording: youtu.be/-bYhZOsUxlo
Co-hosted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC).
Event Partners: AIA Baltimore, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst (RAvB)
A special thank you to these firms for having supported Morgan State University SA+P students in their Baltimore-Rotterdam activities via sponsorships in 2019-2020:
Penza Bailey Architects
Quinn Evans
CallisonRTKL Inc.
Twopoint Studio
BCT Architects
hord | coplan | macht
Jerome C. Gray Architect
Vertical Architecture Enterprises
Jan 26 / Maryland State of the Ports
When: Wednesday, January 26, 2022
3:15pm ET / Panel Discussion – Port Technology and Security
4pm ET / Panel Discussion – Supply Chain
6pm ET / State of the Ports Presentation
Format: Virtual conference
Admission: Free; advance registration required
Register here: www.wtci.org/stateoftheports
About
For more than a decade World Trade Center Institute (WTCI), the State of Maryland, and Ports America Chesapeake have hosted the annual Maryland State of the Ports — a forum where senior transportation officials share an update on the latest results, major infrastructure projects, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Attendees learn about the latest developments at these key regional economic drivers and meet the many companies that help keep the people and cargo moving through our ports. In addition to the State of the Ports presentation, this year’s virtual conference includes two panel discussions – there is no cost to participate.
Attend this event to get the latest developments at Maryland’s ports.
Baltimore Sister Cities encourages people engaged in international commerce to attend this event and learn more about the current conditions and trends at the Port of Baltimore and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. This annual event features the region’s largest gathering of port industry representatives.
For more information and to register: www.wtci.org/stateoftheports
Baltimore Sister Cities is a member of WTCI.
Maryland soft landing program for international businesses
The State of Maryland has launched a soft landing program for international businesses. The program is coordinated by the Maryland Department of Commerce.
The program provides international companies with the opportunity to test out new markets at an affordable rate, with access to business resources, educational programs, mentors and advisors, networking events, and tailored advice. Co-working spaces, hubs, and incubators located around the state of Maryland provide office space and networking to international firms. Several sites are located in Baltimore. Some of the sites are focused on specialty sectors, and some are for tech in general.
Both in-person and virtual soft landing programs are available.
The program also supports Maryland companies, as reciprocal agreements with programs in other countries, to explore new markets abroad.
Baltimore Sister Cities encourages firms from our sister cities to try out this program, and for Baltimore firms to explore options to expand to our sister cities’ regions.
More information about the soft landing program
- commerce.maryland.gov/softlanding
- Interview with Deputy Secretary of Maryland Commerce in fDI Diaries
- Article in Technical.ly Baltimore news site
If your firm is interested in participating in the program, contact Jessica Reynolds, Senior Director, Office of International Investment and Trade, Maryland Department of Commerce: Jessica.Reynolds@maryland.gov.
For more info about doing business in Maryland and Baltimore
- About Maryland: open.maryland.gov
- Baltimore Development Corporation: baltimoredevelopment.com
- Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore: www.greaterbaltimore.org
Jan 27 / Growth Opportunities for AgriTech between Maryland and the Netherlands
Webinar for Dutch and Maryland agtech companies interested in expanding operations or finding partners overseas. Topics include:
- Overview of the AgTech landscape and expertise in both regions, with a focus on controlled environment agriculture and on cybersecurity in agriculture
- Areas of opportunities for Maryland and Dutch companies
- Resources and facilities available to support doing business in Maryland and the Netherlands
Speakers include:
- Signe Pringle / Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Commerce
- Eric Egberts / CEO, Dutch Greenhouse Delta
- Bert Feskens / Senior Security Programme Manager – Innovation Liaison, Security Delta (HSD)
- Steve Connelly / Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA)
- Ewing McDowell / Maryland Department of Commerce
- Chris Hlubb / Program Director, F3 Tech
- Nina Lamba / Assistant Director, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET)
- Andrew Rose / Managing Director, CyberAg
- Andrew Kreinik / Maryland Department of Commerce
- Rolf Karst / Project Manager Internationalization, InnovationQuarter
- Mike Thielke (Moderator) / Executive Director, Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC)
Co-organized by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC).
Sister Cities International Annual Conference
Date: July 15–16, 2021
Format: Virtual
Admission: Free (advance registration required)
More info & to register: www.sci-ac.org
This year’s theme is “Building Stronger Ties for an Interconnected World” and features breakout sessions on economic, education, humanitarian, sports, and other themes.
Apr 25 | Can our devices show empathy?
Virtual conversation with Egyptian American Rana el Kaliouby, CEO of the computer company Affectiva and author of her memoir, Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology. Rana is a lively speaker who surmounted numerous challenges from her childhood in Egypt to a career transforming technology and our devices in America.
Date & time: Sunday, April 25 4-5pm EDT
RSVP at tinyurl.com/GirlDecodedEgypt
More information: baltimoreegypt.org
Hosted by Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee (BLASCC) and Montgomery County Middle Eastern American Advisory Group.
