The Old Line State is luring high-tech investment by making key
resources available to enterprises seeking proximity to the nation's
capital and the many research institutions in the region.

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ompanies looking to establish themselves in such high-tech industries as biotechnology and health sciences consider proximity to leading research institutions, like Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, to be a significant advantage.
      Will they come if you build it? In Maryland the answer appears to be yes. Harford County officials had proposed the Harford County Higher Education and Applied Technology Center (HEAT Center). They went looking for a likely tenant and found one in Battelle, a Columbus, Ohio-based technology development company. The firm has opened a US$22 million research and development facility in the HEAT Center. The 73,000-sq.ft. (6,781-sq.ft.) site will house 200 Battelle science and technology staff, and will provide technical and engineering services to the Dept. of Defense. The facility will also include offices, 16 chemistry and biology labs and a conference center. The added attraction to the center is its proximity to the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds.
      "This move makes strategic sense for both Battelle and Harford County, and we look forward to increasing our participation in Maryland's family of technology-based industries," says Doug Olesen, president and CEO of Battelle.
      Battelle's move into Harford County in northern Maryland made sense since the county is home to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, the U.S. Army's oldest ordinance testing facility and site of the U.S. Army's Biological and Chemical Command, as well as the U.S. Army's Center for Health and Preventative Medicine. The location of Battelle's new site follows a trend that Maryland officials hope to capitalize upon. Development officials anticipate that by offering research and development facilities, multiple firms may begin to invest in certain areas and build off each other's research and associations with academic institutions.
      "Maryland is playing to their strong suit," says Art M. Wegfahrt, corporate managing director for Julien J. Studley's office in Philadelphia. "They already have incredible educational institutions and they have the closeness to the capital." Wegfahrt also feels the Old Line State is capitalizing on the recent concentration of pharmaceutical and biotech firms between Washington and Boston. "Firms are looking to locate in the same general area and yet decrease their windshield time," he adds.
      Harford County officials are moving ahead with a master technology plan to continue to attract high-tech investment. "Our future lies in generation of high-quality, high-tech business growth for Harford County," says James M. Harkins, a Harford County executive. The plan is also being developed in conjunction with an incubator feasibility study. Funds for the plans were partially financed by a grant from the Maryland Technology Development Corp. (www.marylandtedco.org).