economic development/business Archives - Page 3 of 4

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

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

Indoor farm with racks of vegetables and purple grow lights; logos of event partners; title, date & time of the webinar

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

Event page

Video recording

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).

Maryland bluetech | greentech business delegation to Europe

The Maryland Department of Commerce and several Maryland environmental tech and water tech companies are participating in a business delegation 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 expo 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. EWTW attendees include universities, research institutes, innovative companies and corporate end-users, government representatives, and water clusters from Europe and around the world, including water clusters from the U.S. like the Milwaukee Water Council. European Water Technology Week takes place in Leeuwarden in the northeast region of the Netherlands. The Maryland Department of Commerce has a pavilion at Water Tech Europe for environmental tech businesses from Maryland.

2. Site visits — Maryland has planned 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 is tailored to the focus sectors of the participating companies. Maryland Commerce consultants in Europe are providing free networking assistance to participants.

3. Maryland break-out session and networking event — Free, in-person event on September 22, 2022 at 5-8pm CET at Venture Café Rotterdam. An opportunity for Dutch entrepreneurs to meet the Maryland delegation and learn about opportunities to soft land their business in Maryland, your gateway to the U.S.A. Event info page

Delegation goals

Help Maryland firms explore business opportunities abroad
Find international business partners to bring innovative technologies to Maryland
Network with U.S. and European firms, innovation hubs, and research institutes
Raise the international profile of Maryland companies

Focus sectors

The program and topics is tailored to the focus areas of the participating companies, but it includes topics like:

Drinking water and wastewater management
Urban water management and climate resilience
Water in agriculture
Maritime technologies
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 events in Rotterdam/The Hague region
The Green Village at Delft Technical University (field lab for sustainable innovation)
Port of Rotterdam; Port XL maritime tech accelerator
Envirotech testing facilities
Stormwater water infrastructure; storm surge barriers
Aquaculture sites
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.

Eligibility

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 cover a portion of their trip expenses (up to $5,000 reimbursement). The deadline to apply for this grant has passed.

Participating Maryland companies

Early Charm • Tetrahedron, Inc. • Innovatreat • Blue Sources • GaiaXus

Are you a Dutch company looking to do business in Maryland?

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 which is available to companies in any sector, not only environmental technology.

The soft landing program is available year-round, but if you apply by Oct 31, 2022, your company may be eligible for additional financial assistance and support (press release about the Oct 31 application deadline)

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 for information).

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

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

Logos of the Maryland companies in the delegation: Early Charm, Tetrahedron, Innovatreat, Blue Sources, GaiaXus

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?

Cover of el Kaliouby's book; photo of el Kaliouby; title of event and brief info about it; logos of the hosting organizations

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.

Architecture & Urban Design Webinars

This lecture series features speakers from the U.S.A. about Baltimore’s cityscape and urban design, and speakers from the Netherlands about innovative construction materials and circular design systems such as reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling in the built environment. Lectures are 1 hr followed by 20 min discussion with Q&A. Open to the public. Admission is free. Advance registration required.

SCHEDULE

(subject to change)

FEBRUARY 8 | Reinventing the Industrial Legacy City: Baltimore

Klaus Philipsen, FAIA, ArchPlan (Baltimore)

This event is past. Video recording: youtu.be/nTBox73wil8

MARCH 8 | A vessel for change: Floating Office Rotterdam

Albert Richters, Powerhouse Company (the Netherlands)

This event is past. Video recording: youtu.be/GDgFNEn_W7s

MARCH 17 | Applying circular economy principles to the built environment

Nico Schouten & Andrew McCue, Metabolic (the Netherlands)

This event is past. Video recording: youtu.be/pm_IRDtKs1I

APRIL 7 | Write it down instead of writing it off: Materials passports for the built environment

Marijn Emanuel, Madaster (the Netherlands)

Originally scheduled for March 15, this event has been MOVED to April 7.

This event is past. Video recording: youtu.be/PzDrvGZpJfQ

APRIL 15 | An Ecology of Equity

April De Simone, Co-Founder, Designing the WE (producers of the Undesign the Redline interactive exhibit, workshop series and curriculum) (USA)

This event is past. Video recording: youtu.be/esT5QCtMYdg

WEBINAR SERIES SPONSORS

Thank you to our bronze-level sponsor: Brennan + Company

RELATED WEBINAR SERIES

2023 webinar series

2022 webinar series

Lecture series organized by Cristina Murphy, Assistant Professor at Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P) with assistance from Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC).

2020 Year in Review: Baltimore Sister Cities

Annual Report & Plan

Baltimore Sister Cities Annual Accomplishments Report for 2020 (PDF, 2mb)

Baltimore Sister Cities Annual Plan for 2021 (PDF, 1mb)

Kampai! A Sake Appreciation Event

Film strip with sake cups and a film camera on it

Sake Tasting & Film Screenings

This event is now over

Schedule

Feb 5-7, between 5-8pm — Sake sampler pickup dates at participating restaurants in Baltimore region
Feb 9 (Tue), 7-8pm — “Why NOW is the time to drink sake” by Monica Samuels. Followed by sake tastings!
Feb 10 (Wed) – Feb 12 (Fri) — Kampai! Sake Sisters Film Screening
Feb 13 (Sat) – Feb 15 (Mon) — “Koi no shizuku” (For Love’s Sake) Film Screening

About this event

The Baltimore Kawasaki Sister City Committee invites you to join a socially distanced Sake and Film event. We are almost there…. Let‘s Stay Home and enjoy experiencing Japan’s favorite beverage, SAKE!

Registered attendees receive access to all three events: A Virtual Sake Tasting Experience, and TWO Sake Film Screenings.

A complimentary “Sake Sample Set” is available to participants who registered early to pick up from one of our participating restaurants in the Baltimore region. (PLEASE NOTE: There are no more complimentary sake sets left — they were available on a first registered, first served basis and have proven to be very popular!)

If you were chosen for a complimentary set, we will email a sake sample voucher with your restaurant pick-up location in the Baltimore region. Please be sure to pick up your sake set at your designated restaurant on your voucher; restaurants will verify your name on their respective lists. Pick up locations cannot be changed and we will do our best to accommodate your restaurant preferences. We thank you, in advance, for your understanding.

Learn more about sake!

In collaboration with NHK WORLD-JAPAN, we bring to you the additional programs related to sake:
SAKE R-Evolution: A Fever Brewing across the Globe
SAKE R-Evolution: Heady Milestones in a New Era
And please take the survey after watching NHK WORLD-JAPAN’s programs!

In collaboration with JETRO-Kanagawa, we bring to you the additional programs related to sake:
Crafting the Perfect Sake in Kanagawa

Event details

View event PDF

Participating restaurants

Organizers and supporters

Presented by: Baltimore-Kawasaki Sister City Committee (BKSCC)

Sponsored by: Embassy of Japan in the United States of America

Supported by: Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University, Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc. JETRO-NY and Kanagawa Office in NY, NNHK WORLD-JAPAN

Restaurants: Matsuri in Federal Hill, State Fare in Catonsville, Ramen Utsuke in the Inner Harbor

Breweries: Imada Brewery, Izumibashi Brewery, Tensei Brewery

Jan-Feb | Building a climate-resilient Maryland together

Building a Climate-Resilient Maryland Together (knowledge-exchange symposium). Photos of cities, towns, and coastal regions in Maryland and Netherlands. List of sessions. Logos of the partner organizations.

A knowledge exchange symposium with experts from Maryland and the Netherlands on urban, rural, and coastal resilience, followed by 1on1 resilience chats in the month of February

Maryland and the Netherlands are working together to proactively implement adaptation strategies, exchange lessons learned and best practices, and look for more opportunities to collaborate on climate resilience. There are 2 activities in January – February:

1) January 26 — Symposium

This event with Dutch and USA experts provided an opportunity to learn about innovative adaptation strategies, exchange your ideas on climate-resilience, and participate in lively group discussions with experts who have helped implement world-renowned and transformational resilience projects.

Features presentations on strategies for Coastal Adaptation, Resilient Cities, and Small Communities and breakout sessions on Nature-Based Solutions, Public-Private Partnerships for Resilience Projects, Citizen Engagement in Hazard Mitigation, Resilience Adaptation Manual for Small Communities, Engineering with Nature, and Port Resilience, led by both Dutch and US experts in the private and public sectors.

This event is designed for: product and service companies involved with environmental and water management technologies; architecture/engineering firms; planners; government agencies, economic development professionals and climate/environmental organizations.

Presentation slides and recordings: www.netherlandswaterpartnership.com/events/building-climate-resilient-maryland-together (Scroll to bottom of page to see videos of some of the slides
Event program: www.netherlandswaterpartnership.com/events/building-climate-resilient-maryland-together

2) February — Matchmaking for Maryland & Netherlands flood resilience experts

Ran out of time during the January 26 symposium to set up meetings with experts from Maryland & Netherlands, or did you miss it? Our matchmaking platform lets professionals arrange 1on1 chats with resilience experts throughout the month of February, providing an opportunity for US and Dutch resilience planners and environmental technology firms to network with each other. You do not need to have attended the Jan 26 symposium to participate in the 1on1 chats.

Register here: resilient-maryland-netherlands.b2match.io

This event is organized by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) in partnership with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Maryland Department of Commerce, and the Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (BRSCC). It is supported by the Partners for Water Programme.

Sep 8-11 / China International Fair for Investment & Trade

The China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) occurs in September of every year in Xiamen, China. CIFIT aims to focus on international business investment, promotion, development, and relations both in and outside China. The fair has been held annually for more than 30 years in the city of Xiamen in Fujian Province in southeast China. It is the largest such event in the country, regularly attracting more than 100,000 business people and 5,000 enterprises from more than 100 countries.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, CIFIT has elevated their 2020 platform to be both online and in-person.

This year, the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee (BXSCC) is partnering with the Maryland Department of Commerce to have a virtual booth to advertise and promote multiple aspects of Maryland industry and business. The BXSCC is celebrating 35 years of sister city relations with Xiamen this year.

More information

CIFIT website: www.chinafair.org.cn/CifitSystem/english/#/index

For more info on Maryland’s virtual booth at CFIT or other Maryland-China business opportunities: email at Maryland Department of Commerce or , BXSCC Business Sub-Committee Chair.

Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee: bxscc.org