Baltimore Sister Cities

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Baltimore-Rotterdam architecture exchange 2023

Morgan State University Students March 2023 Trip to Rottrdam in the Nethelands, the City of Architecture. Logos of MSU SA+P, Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister Cities, RAvB. Photos of Erasmus Bridge and Kop van Zuid; Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (designed by MVRDV); Rotterdam Central train station.


Students and faculty from Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning (MSU SA+P) will travel to Baltimore’s sister city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands during March 12–19, 2023. The trip includes visits to architecture / landscape architecture / urban design firms such as OMA and MVRDV, visits to architecture schools, architecture tours, lectures, and more. Side trips are planned to other cities such as Amsterdam or Antwerp in Belgium. Environmental sustainability will be a focus during the trip. The students will also participate in activities at Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Urban Design (RAvB).

In April 2023, RAvB students will reciprocate the exchange by coming to Baltimore to study infrastructure sites similar to the Rotterdam site in their design studio, and learn about Baltimore’s efforts to heal the divides caused by past infrastructure projects. The 2023 exchange continues an ongoing collaboration between MSU SA+P Professor Cristina Murphy and RAvB since 2019.

Related events

February–March 2023: Baltimore-Rotterdam Designing Cities webinar series
Coordinated by Professor Cristina Murphy, with speakers from Baltimore and Rotterdam; it is part of MSU SA+P’s spring lectures. AIA Baltimore continuing education credits are available for these webinars.

March 17, 2023: Baltimore lecture & reception at Rotterdam Academy of Architecture and Design
17.00-18.30 CET at Pieter de Hoochweg 129 in Rotterdam. A talk about Baltimore’s cityscape presented by Klaus Philipsen from Archplan, followed by an informal reception — free and open to the public. This special event is held during the visit of Morgan State University School of Architecture + Planning’s faculty and students to Rotterdam. Come meet architects and architecture faculty and students from both Baltimore and Rotterdam!
To register: Event page

Sponsorship opportunities

We invite your firm to become a sponsor to help cover the costs of Morgan State University students and faculty’s participation in this educational travel exchange program to Rotterdam. There is also an opportunity for sponsors to join us on the trip to experience the culture and innovative architecture in the Rotterdam region. Sponsors welcome to stay longer than the dates of March 12–19 and visit even more cities, such as Brussels, Delft, and Utrecht.

Experiential travel education is an impactful opportunity for students to gain global understanding and exchange ideas about architectural design, planning, resiliency, and sustainability. Students who attended past Baltimore-Rotterdam exchanges shared that it was “eye-opening” and appreciated the “exposure to different environments and design” and the “opportunity for creative dreaming.” Morgan State is a leading HBCU (Historically Black College / University). The architecture and urban design profession suffers from a longstanding lack of diversity — your support will help enrich these students’ education and thereby help bring more Black students into this profession.

The Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee is leading this fundraising campaign on behalf of the students and faculty.

Why be a sponsor?

  • Your support ensures that students and faculty will be able to travel abroad.
  • Opportunity for you to meet potential interns and new hires through this program.
  • Great visibility — reach people in the architecture and real estate industries in Maryland and internationally.

Sponsorship levels & benefits

Sponsorship levels: Bronze $300; Silver $500; Gold $1,000; Platinum $1,500. All levels receive: Promotion on social media and post-trip report; ticket to event in April 2023. Silver, Gold, Platinum levels also receive: CityScape sculpture made by the students*; recognition in the webinar series. Gold, Platinum levels also receive: opportunity to participate in the trip to Rotterdam in March 2023 **. Platinum has opportunity for custom meetings in Rotterdam ***.

* Sister CityScape sculpture  — Students are creating laser-cut sculptures of Baltimore and Rotterdam landmarks and city skylines as thank yous for the sponsors! For a $1,500 sponsorship your firm even has the option of requesting a unique building, e.g. one that your firm has designed.
** Opportunity to participate in the trip — Sponsors may take part in our customized tours and visits. You will be responsible for your own airfare, accommodations, and meals; we will be happy to point you to inexpensive options. This is a unique opportunity to partake in a low-cost architecture-focused overseas trip!
*** Custom professional meetings — If you have a special request for a meeting or sightseeing, we will do our best to help arrange it for you.

For more information

See our Sponsorship Benefits PDF

Contact us to become a sponsor

Email .

The Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee (part of Baltimore Sister Cities) is leading this fundraising campaign. Baltimore Sister Cities is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

The Morgan students are also doing fundraising!

The faculty and students have been creating charming Baltimore-themed “CityScape” ornaments and magnets to sell at holiday market tables and other events this winter.



THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT:


Trip Sponsors

PLATINUM

Logo for Penza Bailey, a studio of PRIME AE

PLATINUM

BSC Design Group

PLATINUM

VectorWorks logo (a Nemetschek company)


GOLD

Quinn Evans logo

GOLD

Twopoint Studio logo

Present Company logo

GOLD

Gary A. Bowden FAIA, Architect Emeritus

SILVER

brennan+company architects
CallisonRTKL
Jerome C. Gray Architect
Unknown Studio

BRONZE
hord | coplan | macht
Vertical Architecture


Promotion Partner

AIA Baltimore logo

Donor

The Doctrow Family Endowment Fund

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

Maryland bluetech | greentech business delegation to Europe

Green-and blue-wave made out of curved lines and dots, superimposed on blue photographic background with molecule-style pattern. Maryland Commerce logo. Summary of the business mission. September 2022.

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
Logos of the promotion partners: Maryland Department of Commerce; BlueTechMD; Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister Cities

Baltimore-Rotterdam Happy Hour April 19, 2016

Going Dutch happy hour flyer April 19, 2016

Join the Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee for our spring “Going Dutch” happy hour!

When:

Tuesday, April 19, 2016
7:00 pm – 9:00pm

Where:

The Valley Inn
10501 Falls Road
Lutherville-Timonium, MD 20193
(Located on Falls Road just north of 695)

“Go Dutch” with us on April 19! Support Baltimore-Rotterdam Sister City Committee at the historic Valley Inn. Come and find out who we are and how your support helps what we do. Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc. has just become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your donations are tax-deductible. Come celebrate the evolution of the sister cities program with us!

Enjoy refreshments like crab balls, chicken tacos, roasted veggies, smoked salmon, brownies, fruit, cheese, and ice tea. Cash bar. $40/person donation is requested at the door (proceeds cover the event costs and benefit the committee’s activities) – please bring cash or check made out to BSC, Inc.

We’d like to thank The Valley Inn for letting us host our event in this picturesque location, a historic landmark north of Baltimore city dating from the 1850’s.

Please RVSP soon to  or on our Facebook Facebook event page, so that we can get a headcount and know how much food to plan for. RSVPs are requested but not required to attend.

We look forward to our evening with you. Tot ziens op 19 April!


Printable event flyer (in PDF format)

For more info about Baltimore-Rotterdam, visit baltimorerotterdam.org

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.