Baltimore Sister Cities

November 11, 2022 | Application Deadline for Global Gateway Program

September 2022 – November 2022

Applications Being Accepted from Overseas Companies to Maryland’s Global Gateway Program

Applications for the new Maryland Global Gateway program are now available. This program will provide incentives for the first 50 eligible companies, including:

  • Funding towards rent costs for six months for more than 20 business incubators and accelerators across the state
  • Assistance with business registration costs for foreign companies who choose to stay in Maryland
  • Training, mentoring, matchmaking, and networking through both state government and local incubator programs

Applications are due by November 11, 2022.

See Press Release here.

November 16, 2022 | 16th Annual CHINA Town Hall

The 16th annual CHINA Town Hall will be hosted nationwide by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) and in Baltimore by the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee. The 2022 event will feature former (2009-2011) Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman Jr. in a national conversation on how the U.S.-China relationship affects our cities, towns, and communities.

Date: Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free

Register for this virtual event via Eventbrite.

December 7, 2022 | 13th Annual State of the Ports

Want to hear the latest on transportation and trade in the Mid-Atlantic? Leaders of the Port of Baltimore and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will headline this event, where they will talk about challenges they are grappling with and innovative solutions they are putting in place. Joining them will be other transportation and trade experts, all who will lead sessions on a variety of issues related to the engines that power global business in the Mid-Atlantic. The annual event is hosted by the World Trade Center Institute, Ports America Chesapeake, and the Maryland Department of Transportation. This year’s event will be in person, with the option to attend virtually. The event includes a reception with international drink tastings provided by embassies.

Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Time: 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm EST
Location: World Trade Center Baltimore, 401 E. Pratt St. Baltimore, MD 21202
Register and learn more here.

Sep. 8-11, 2022 | Xiamen China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CFIT)

The BXSCC and our partners return to China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT) this year!

Baltimore and Maryland will be represented in-person at the China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT), the largest investment and trade promotion activity in China, which takes place annually in Xiamen.

Our booth at this year’s fair is presented in partnership with the Maryland Department of Commerce and Maryland Center China, with the assistance of Baltimore Development Corp. and Visit Baltimore.

All flyers from Maryland and Baltimore will be accessible to attendees via a QR code that leads to this landing page.

Supported by Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee (BXSCC).

Maryland, USA Delegation September 2022

Maryland is Open for Business: Your Gateway to the U.S.A. (Photo of downtown Baltimore, with Maryland's logo and USA flag

Maryland state’s Department of Commerce leads a business development mission to the Netherlands in September 2022, with visits to the European Water Technology Week in Leeuwarden and to the Rotterdam/The Hague region.

About Maryland

Maryland is a state located on the east coast of the United States next to Washington, D.C. It is home of the Chesapeake Bay, the port of Baltimore, extensive river tributaries, forests, agricultural lands, ocean-front beaches and mountains.

Maryland is a leader in innovation, implementation, and manufacturing in advanced technologies related to water, also known as “blue tech”, which is one of Maryland’s emerging industries. Maryland is very concerned with climate change issues, environmental sustainability and water quality. New focus has been placed on reaching carbon reduction targets, building alternative energy sources, rebuilding its natural ecosystem (including oysters), purifying its water and reducing urban heat islands.

Maryland is your gateway to the USA

Maryland is the ideal place to expand your business to the USA, and for you to find Maryland partners to assist in addressing the environmental challenges facing us all.

Maryland has developed innovative programs and incentives to help international companies interested in developing a presence in the U.S. market, including the Maryland Global Gateway soft landing program: https://commerce.maryland.gov/softlanding

Learn more about doing business in Maryland:
https://open.maryland.gov/information-for/international-business

Meet the Maryland companies

Maryland’s September 2022 delegation to the Netherlands includes:

Early Charm — A venture builder that converts science to business. It specializes in turning brilliant scientific discoveries into companies focused on growth. With a decade of experience, its companies have grown into manufacturers of specialty products, innovators for aquaculture farms, and builders of engineered products for use in healthcare.
Website: www.earlycharm.com

Innovatreat — Innovatreat’s miniMBR is an extremely efficient pre-engineered system excelling in decentralized nutrient removal and water reuse applications. The miniMBR utilizes externally mounted, vertically-oriented tubular ultra-filter membranes for biomass separation. Its one-of-a-kind, hydraulic pattern contributes to the highest energy efficiency of any MBR available on the market today.
Website: innovatreat.com

Tetrahedron, Inc. — Provides environmental services in the USA and internationally. Its services include drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater management. Its expertise has been in conducting water quality assessments with respect to all contaminants including organics, inorganics, disinfectant by-products, explosives, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microorganisms.
Website: tetrahedron-inc.com

Blue Sources — Provides real-time, early warning systems that detect toxic chemicals in drinking water distribution and raw water systems. Additionally, its products and services are used for monitoring wastewater effluent and EPA superfund sites discharging water. In support of water security monitoring tasks, it provides consulting, technical, and managed services.
Website: www.bluesources.com

GaiaXus — Develops water environmental monitors for citizen science, school education, and academic research. Its first system is an IoT water quality system with integrated educational content. The system measures common water quality parameters such as salinity, temperature, and turbidity and is open for collaborators to add their specialized sensors.
Website: gaiaxus.com

Ranging from off-the-shelf options to bespoke solutions, these companies provide wide ranging blue tech services including water quality testing, recycling, monitoring, education, security, management and more. Large or small, on the ground or over the web, these leaders can meet your needs.

For more information

Contact the delegation’s leader:
Andrew Kreinik, Regional Manager for Europe and Australia at Maryland Department of Commerce: andrew.kreinik@maryland.gov
(or contact Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee)

Maryland Commerce’s blog post:
https://open.maryland.gov/blog/maryland-blue-tech-sector-on-full-display-at-european-water-technology-week

About the delegation trip:
https://baltimoresistercities.org/blue2022/

Venture Cafe Rotterdam September 22 networking event:
https://venturecaferotterdam.org/sessions/break-out-learn-more-about-maryland-and-opportunities-to-land-here/

Logos of the Maryland companies in delegation: Early Charm, Tetrahedron, Innovatreat, Blue Sources, GaiaXus
Logos of the promotion partners: Maryland Department of Commerce; BlueTechMD; Baltimore-Rotterdam 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.

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.

Members of Baltimore-Odesa Sister City Committee and Baltimore Sister Cities presenting gifts from Odesa to Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott.

Baltimore+Rotterdam: Designing Cities

Baltimore+Rotterdam: Designing Cities - Conversation Series 2022. Baltimore Inner Harbor and Rotterdam waterfront by the Erasmus Bridge, looking towards Rotterdam Zuid.

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 ExS 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

Event info page

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

Event info page

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

Event info page

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

Event info page

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

Event info page

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

Event info page

RELATED WEBINAR SERIES

2023 webinar series

2021 webinar series

Co-hosted by Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC).
Event Partners: AIA Baltimore, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst (RAvB)

Logos of Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee, AIA Baltimore, Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst, Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning

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

Photos of container ships, containers, plane, and train; photos of the panel speakers

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.

Contact Baltimore Sister Cities


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Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc. is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. No goods or services were provided for this gift. Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your deductions.

 

Web site copyright © 2023 Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc.

logo-baltimoreBaltimore sister city committees operate under the auspices of the City of Baltimore’s Office of the Mayor.

 

Brandon M. Scott, Mayor

 

Previous mayor’s Dec 2015 press release about Baltimore Sister Cities.

 

Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc. is a 501c3 organization incorporated in the State of Maryland.
Member of  Sister Cities International, Maryland Nonprofits, World Trade Center Institute, Visit Baltimore, & affiliate of Maryland International Education Consortium.
Recipient of 2016 Innovation Award from Sister Cities International.