Funds Approved for Nat'l Cybersecurity Center

Gov. O’Malley and U.S. Senator Mikulski recently announced Appropriations Committee approval for the creation of a National Cybersecurity Center for Excellence, which is expected to spur huge private-sector growth around Fort George G. Meade if the legislation passes. The Center will connect businesses to federal research, providing companies with a central hub charged with developing, evaluating and transferring the technology needed to fight cyber crime. The bill includes $10 million for NIST, headquartered in Maryland, to develop the Center. READ MORE.

 

Biotech Establishes New HQ in Gaithersburg
Integrated BioTherapeutics, a Maryland biotechnology company focused on the infectious disease and biodefense markets, signed a multi-year lease for a new corporate headquarters at the Gaithersburg Accelerator, which is making more than $6 million in lab-related renovations. IBT senior executives chose the Accelerator because there are numerous other companies nearby that could become potential collaboration partners. Last year, Integrated BioTherapeutics won the 2009 Emerging Company of the Year at the Tech Council of Maryland Annual Awards Celebration. Complete story.

Montgomery Co. Firm Finalist for Intl Competition
Robotic Research's lead team RASR was one of only three teams from the U.S. to be selected to compete in the unmanned systems competition MAGIC 2010 in Australia. Robotic Research is a small engineering firm founded by Alberto Lacaze and Karl Murphy who worked together at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The two decided to form a company and move across the street to pursue their own interests in unmanned vehicles and artificial intelligence and now have a staff of nearly 20. READ MORE.

 

UMBC Breaks Ground on Performing Arts Building
The University of Maryland Baltimore County broke ground on a $170 million performing arts and humanities building that will be the Catonsville school's largest building to date. The first phase, the Department of Theater and English, will open in 2012. The building will also include the Dresher Center for the Humanities, which will host public lectures and events. The second phase, which houses the Department of Dance, Music, Philosophy and Ancient Studies, will open in 2016. Complete Story.

Restored Bay Offers Seafood, Recreation
Summer in Maryland wouldn't be the same without the picturesque Chesapeake Bay, which offers residents and visitors the opportunity to kayak through tidal marshes, skim across on a catamaran or indulge in delicious seafood, including Maryland's oysters and treasured blue crab. Earlier this year, Gov. O'Malley announced a dramatic 60% increase in Maryland’s crab population and efforts are underway to restore the oyster population. With more than 7,000 miles of Maryland coastline, adventures are always awaiting on or near the water.