High Technology : Innovation + Job News

Constellation Energy, the parent company of Baltimore Gas and Electric,  will be offering Maryland consumers the option to lease solar panels through BGE home. The company will be offering solar panels, manufactured by Maryland-based Astrum Solar, to homeowners throughout the area as an addition to its menu of retail services. The panels are available through leasing programs in either a low money down or 20 year prepaid format.

"Leasing can sharply reduce the upfront costs for solar, and in this economy that's an important consideration," says Mark Huston, head of Constellation Energy's retail business.

Green power has been a major growth and investment point for Constellation Energy. The company recently dedicated wind turbines in Garrett County, and is an active participant in Maryland's Generating Clean Horizons Program. Constellation currently owns and operates 95 megawatts of solar energy production installations, and is planning greater expansion in the field.

Another entrant in the local energy market, Champion Energy Services, announced this week that it has been approved as an electricity supplier in Maryland. Champion Energy Services filed for approval with the Maryland Public Service Commission in March. The company is now licensed to begin supplying customers in the service territories of Allegheny Power, Baltimore Gas and Electric, Delmarva Power, and Potomac Electric Power Company. Service will begin in the fourth quarter of 2011.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Scott Fordham, Champion Energy Services; Christina Pratt, Constellation Energy

Advanced Technology & Research Incorporated has launched a new line of solar car chargers. The newest addition to ATR's solar product array was installed at 10401 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda, MD on August 8th, in a ceremony attended by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. The ceremony marked the debut of Maryland's first high-efficiency, small-footprint solar system for EV charging. The product launch included an on-site demonstration with electric vehicles of The Solar Power Pole, a sun-tracking EV-charging system.

"Using renewable solar energy to power up electric vehicles is one of those closed loop systems that is hard to resist. ATR looked to fill a niche with a very efficient, sun tracking solar array, perched on top of a single monopole. This configuration provides the most power with the smallest footprint and it is much easier to site in the typical parking lot," says ATR Vice President of Energy Systems Rob Lundahl

The Solar Power Pole features an 18-foot tall elevated six-panel solar array that utilizes ATR's GPS-based sun-tracking technology for efficiency gains of 30-45% over conventional rooftop solar arrays. The pole-top mount keeps the panels well overhead and the curbside footprint very small. The systems are grid-tied to assure continuous availability of charging power.

"We want to install more units in high traffic and high visibility locations. These chargers are attractive and high tech. We believe that the early adopters of electric vehicles are forward looking and they will seek out the solar chargers as the next step in zero  carbon commuting," Lundahl continues.

The car charger launch adds a new product to ATR's expanding lines. ATR also offers a single panel tracker, a pole mounted tracker designed for use by homeowners that holds 2 solar panels, and a large solar tracker that can be retrofitted to wind turbine poles.


Writer: Amy Mcneal
Sources: Rob Lundahl, Alan Cohen, Advanced Technology and Research, Incorporated

Go Long Wireless, part of a consortium of MVDDS spectrum holders and investors who partner with broadband service providers, has chosen Baltimore as the launchpad for its new MVDDS pilot. The program is designed to demonstrate that the wireless FTTH option can increase connectivity and options for business customers.

MVDDS, fixed wireless broadband technology, uses 500 MHz of licensed spectrum in the 12.2 -12.7 GHz band. MVDDS frequencies in this spectrum are the same as the frequencies used to provide satellite TV signals by companies like  DirecTV and Dish Network. However, while those companies use satellites to distribute their signal, Go Long Wireless's signal transmission and transfer stations are all on the ground. The signal for the Go Long Wireless MVDDS pilot in Baltimore uses a transmission antenna at the World Trade Center in the Inner Harbor. The receiving antenna for the signal is located at the Emerging Technology Center in Canton. The system is currently capable of delivering up to 50 Mbps in downstream broadband, 3+ Mbps in upstream broadband, multichannel 1080p HD video, and voice services.

One concern with the technology is that in order to receive a signal, an outdoor antenna is required. This may prevent some consumers from being able to access the service. Go Long Wireless is not entering the market as a service provider. The company plans to lease the technology and spectrum to existing wireless service companies.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Bruce Fox, Go Long Wireless

NASA is studying air pollution in the Baltimore/DC area. In flyovers of the region, the agency is measuring air quality in several spots throughout the corridor. The flights are intended to measure the accuracy of air quality measurements taken from satellites.

Measuring air quality from satellites can be a challenge. Satellites that measure air quality can have problems distinguishing between pollution that is measured high in the atmosphere and pollution closer to the ground that affects quality of life. NASA is using P-3B research aircraft to conduct the flyovers.

The measurements will be coordinated with satellite measurements to test the accuracy of the satellite equipment and help air quality scientists determine ways to refine the technology to provide better measurements. NASA's DISCOVER-AQ, which stands for Deriving Information on Surface conditions from Column and Vertically Resolved Observations Relevant to Air Quality, is led from the Langley Research center in Hampton, VA. The mission is an Earth Science Team research program in concert with the Maryland Department of the Environment and the EPA.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Maryland Department of the Environment

American Dynamics Flight Systems is working on big things for the military of the future. The  aeronautic technology company has developed both a new Vertical Take-Off and Landing unmanned aircraft and a next generation missile launcher.

The AD-150 unmanned aircraft features High Torque Aerial Lift technology designed to maximize control over the aircraft. It also features a modular mission payload design, to enhance the aircraft's usefulness in carrying different payloads. Company president Wayne Morse points out that the versatility of the payload system design is a a key factor in making the unmanned aircraft useable for a variety of missions.

"A UAV can't be a one trick pony. It needs to be able to carry different cargo and weapons," says Wayne Morse, president of American Dynamics Flight Systems.

American Dynamics Flight Systems is also testing a next generation launcher, the LH-320, designed to work with Predators and other drones. The launcher is intended for use with smaller munitions than the commonly used Hellfire missile, allowing the drones to focus more precisely on targets. Smaller munitions and more precise strikes would mean minimized collateral damage.

A native of New York, Mr. Morse chose Maryland as the home of his firm for several reasons, including proximity to Washington D.C. and the testing facilities available at Aberdeen Proving Ground and The University of Maryland. The AD-150 is being developed for the US Navy Air Systems Command.

"I chose Maryland because I want to be close to my clients. University of Maryland engineering has been a great to work with," says Morse.

American Dynamics Flight Systems will be building these next generation weapons at their production facility in Jessup.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Source: Wayne Morse, American Dynamics Flight Systems

Integrated BioTherapeutics, a firm that specializes in developing vaccines for infectious diseases and countermeasures for bio-terrorism threats, is growing. The company recently moved into a new, larger facility in the Gaithersburg Accelerator.

The move to a larger facility was spurred by the need for more secure, dedicated lab space as the company develops new vaccine technology. Integrated BioTherapeutics was recently awarded a grant from The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases to develop a second-generation Ebola vaccine in partnership with the University of Texas Medical Branch. The company also received a grant from NIAID in 2010 for research and development of a Staphylococcus vaccine. The second phase of that research project is due to wrap up this year. Integrated BioTherapeutics is currently working on projects to create vaccines for a host of infectious diseases, including Dengue Fever, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Marburg Viruses and Ebola. 

"We have a drive to make something that changes the world, to create a vaccine that mutes something that effects people. We strive to help others do that too," says Rob Galioto, Director of Business Development at Integrated BioTherapeutics.

Integrated Bio Therapeutics was recently honored at the inaugural TEDCO ICE awards as Company of the Year. The award was given in recognition of the company's growth. Since its launch in 2008, Integrated BioTherapeutics has secured over $30 million in government research funding, and increased its staff size from one employee to 30. The company is expecting to add five to ten staff positions in the next year.

Author: Amy McNeal

Source: Rob Galioto, Integrated BioTherapeutics

The imaging satellites in use today are huge, expensive pieces of technology. One local aerospace firm aims to change that with its design for a smaller, cheaper satellite to provide better on-demand imaging.

Maryland Aerospace's Kestrel Eye satellite is designed to provide imaging on-demand, at a fraction of the cost of a regular satellite. While an average satellite can cost tens of millions of dollars to build, a Kestrel Eye satellite will only cost approximately one million dollars. This means that more of these small satellites can be put into orbit, providing faster and more accurate imagery for users.

"It represents a quantum leap forward in low-cost tech," says Maryland Aerospace President Steven Fujikawa. "You can build 30 of these for the less than the cost of one big satellite."

Maryland Aerospace began working on the Kestrel Eye in 2006, with a sponsorship from the Army. The electro-optical imaging satellite has 1.5 meter ground resolution. Using a PDA or smartphone, individual soldiers could use the imagery provided by a Kestrel Eye satellite to see what's behind the next building or ridge line.

"We originated this concept. The U.S. has big satellites. Because they are so expensive, they really can't provide enough on-demand imagery for both government and the commercial sector," continues Mr. Fujikawa.

The first Kestrel Eye satellite was scheduled to launch in November 2011. Due to cuts to the NASA budget, the launch has been rescheduled. Maryland Aerospace will now be launching its first Kestrel Eye satellite in the fourth quarter of 2012.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: Maryland Aerospace Inc.; Steven Fujikawa, David Park, Don Tatum

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation held its inaugural ICE Awards ceremony and conference at the National Electronics Museum in Linthicum on May 11. In addition to the awards ceremony, the program also featured a keynote speech by Peter Corbett, founder and CEO of iStrategy Labs.

TEDCO was established by the Maryland General assembly in 1998, with the mandate to be a leading source of seed capital funding and business assistance for entrepreneurs specializing in technology. In addition to funding, TEDCO also facilitates relationships between start-up tech firms and federal laboratories, research universities, and business incubators. Over 300 Maryland firms are associated with TEDCO.

"TEDCO is the largest seed investor in the region," says Robert Rosenbaum, president of TEDCO. "We thought it was about time that we should recognize the hard work of these folks."

The ICE Awards honor emerging industry leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship. The 2011 Innovation winner was Oculis Labs of Hunt Valley, a developer of encryption technology. Also honored as the 2011 Entrepreneur of the year was Dr. Chuck Daitch of Akonni Biosystems, a firm that develops and markets integrated molecular diagnostic systems. 2011 Company of the Year award winner Integrated BioTheraputics Inc. was honored for its growth and community involvement.

"This is a great forum for our community of collaborators to come together. Everything you see here, this is all 'wow' technology," continues Mr. Rosenbaum.

TEDCO is focused on finding the technologies and entrepreneurs of the future. The quasi-public company is looking to expand beyond state funding into venture capital.


Writer: Amy McNeal
Sources: TEDCO, Robert Rosenbaum & Kathleen Shaffer

Maryland's got Seoul. Governor Martin O'Malley inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Thursday, April 21 with the mayor of South Korea's capital city that focuses on bilateral cooperation between biotechnology institutions and companies.

Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon visited the State House with a delegation of Korean business and government officials to sign the MOU, and O'Malley will see Oh again during his 10-day, junket to China, Korea, and Vietnam in late May and early June.

"Korean companies invested around $5 billion in the U.S. last year, and that number goes up every year," says John Brinkley of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington, D.C.

As the research commercialization process ramps up at Maryland institutions like the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda and Baltimore's Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland labs, Korean biotech companies are raising their sector's own profile in a national economy dominated by conglomerates like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG.

The Korean Biotech database counts over 20,700 biotech enterprises in South Korea, and Brinkley adds that Maryland's high concentration of biotech companies and research dollars is a major attraction for emerging life-science businesses from around South Korea, including the financial and political center Seoul, to establish connections to the state.

Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: John Brinkley, Embassy of the Republic of Korea

As participants in the Baltimore area economy at all levels -- consumers, producers, and workers -- continue to explore what manufacturing means in the 21st century, one of the world's foremost experts in industrial profitability and growth will hold a free talk at the Community College of Baltimore County on Thursday, April 14 to share his insights. Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt, an Israeli citizen with a Ph.D in physics, has made a name internationally with his Theory of Constraints, which hinges on operational expense, throughput, and inventory as key factors that businesses need to weigh to ensure expansion.

Goldratt will come to CCBC's Catonsville campus on April 14 from 9-10:30 am to discuss his seminal 1984 book The Goal and take questions. Goldratt's visit to CCBC is primarily the result of work by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland, which encourages growth in the state's industrial economy and workforce through educational initiatives and networking events. RMI head Mike Galiazzo says Goldratt has "transformed many companies to be more competitive. He's really known for his no-nonsense approach, saying basically, 'we're gonna figure out what's holding your company back from growing.'"

"This is a great win for Maryland to have someone of his international stature come to town to do a free presentation for business leaders," Galiazzo adds.

The event is free to the public, but registration is required via www.rmiofmaryland.com.

Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Dr. Michael Galiazzo, Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland

Can you build a booming business in a couple of days? The organizers of Baltimore Startup Weekend think it's possible. Over the weekend of Friday, April 15 to Sunday, April 17, more than a hundred business-types of all stripes -- programmers, designers, number-crunchers, and marketing gurus -- will assemble in small groups of five to ten each and seek to launch a business in one weekend.

Everyone starts on Friday at the Emerging Technology Center in Canton with individual ideas, and that evening teams start to coalesce around the best kernels of a company that are pitched to the group. By Saturday, work begins in earnest. The majority of that day is devoted to setting up enough of a company that by Sunday night each team can present a fully-formed enterprise to the plenum at the University of Maryland BioPark.

Aside from the knowledge that you've got what it takes to go through a 54-hour entrepreneurial gauntlet, successful participants will also compete for a piece of a cash prize pool estimated at around $10,000, in addition to non-cash prizes like workspace and free legal advice.

Organizers of Baltimore Startup Weekend include Sunrise Design founder Mike Brenner, Monica Beeman of Funding Universe and Startup City, Fulya Gursel of the Emerging Technology Centers in Canton and on 33rd Street in Waverly, and Edcosystem.com founder and CEO Khalid Smith.

"You don't have to know anybody. Just bring an idea or even just your talent," Brenner says.

"Startup weekend was an original concept developed by entrepreneur Andrew Hyde who lived in Boulder, Colorado and then New York, and sold the concept," Brenner explains. Startup Weekend now unfolds in 5 cities each weekend. With funding from the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, which promotes entrepreneurship, and sponsors like Red Bull, which promotes staying awake, Startup Weekend participants are provided with enough resources to allow them to focus on developing ideas into products. What follows the weekend can quickly become a real market force: within weeks of formation at a recent Startup Weekend in Los Angeles, Zaarly raised $1 million in venture capital funding.

Brenner is optimistic about what could come out of Charm City's Startup Weekend.

"I think it's great proof that we can do something in town in a weekend that can be viable, and that we can rapidly prototype it in the week or so after the event." When asked what kind of person might be attracted to such a short-term business incubator, he adds, "It's people like me that think they can spend a weekend dedicated and work their asses off and make something cool."

Writer: Sam Hopkins
Sources: Mike Brenner, Baltimore Startup Weekend

Tidal TV, a Baltimore-based web video company with about 70 employees nationwide, is looking to expand its local workforce by up to 60 as it prepares for a move into a 16,000 square-foot facility in the new mixed-use McHenry Row development in South Baltimore. Tidal TV was one of the first tenants in Tide Point, the rehabbed industrial building on the Locust Point side of the Inner Harbor. Now Under Armour is taking over all of Tide Point and driving many tenants to seek new digs nearby.
 
Tidal TV was started in 2008 by Scott Ferber, who with his brother John founded Advertising.com, which is now a division of AOL. Vice President Rich Morrissey says that the company is drawing in new talent to help it continue to compete in the fast-growing online video advertising sector, including mobile video advertising.

"The online video market space is exploding," Morrissey says, with 40% market growth forecast in each of the coming three years. Morrissey adds that the Baltimore employment scene is highly competitive, citing job search site Indeed.com, which ranks Baltimore as one of only four metropolitan areas with a 1:1 ratio of job seekers to positions (the others are Washington, DC, New York, NY, and San Jose, CA). Some Tidal TV employees currently commute from as far as Bethesda, MD and Erie, PA, but more than doubling office space in its move, Tidal TV will begin close to home to occupy more positions with Baltimore-based talent while drawing out-of-towners with experience monetizing web video content closer to headquarters.

"As a startup we always look for the best and brightest," Morrissey says.
 
Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Rich Morrissey, Tidal TV

Speaking at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School on February 16, Veolia Transportation CEO Mark Joseph highlighted the past and present of his company's involvement in Baltimore transportation, and what other cities are doing with technology to improve mobility. Veolia operates the Johns Hopkins shuttle, the city's free downtown Circulator buses, airport Super Shuttle service, and the city's Yellow Cab, which is the oldest in the United States.

Veolia also operates the T system in Boston and the Las Vegas bus system, which has been one of the most successful models nationwide for getting tourists to ride buses. Joseph says that as 2-way radio enabled faster pickups of cab fares and replaced hub-based taxi dispatch systems, greater data availability via GPS is leading to more efficient public transportation. Veolia plans to make an increasing amount of data on its Baltimore operations available over the internet in the near future.

In the larger market of Boston, iPhone app developers and other technologists have taken hold of Veolia and Massachusetts Department of Transportation data to provide precise location services to transit riders and cab customers. In addition to smart phones with app capabilities, any SMS-enabled phone can send and receive information about T service in Boston via resources like T Tracker, and nearby taxis are now visible to customers with Taxi Magic. Baltimore's public transportation efforts are likely to get a boost in 2011 from greater open-source development of similar tools and Veolia's work to make transit data more transparent.

Writer: Sam Hopkins
Source: Veolia

The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), celebrated the funding of its 200th company. American Dynamics Flight Systems (ADFS) in Jessup, Md., which received $75,000 from TEDCO's NAVAIR Technology Insertion (NAVTI) program was lucky No. 200.  Over the course of TEDCO's 12-year history, the organization has provided more than $8.5 million in funding to Maryland businesses through its signature Maryland Technology Transfer and Commercialization Fund (MTTCF), which makes up over 75 percent of TEDCO's portfolio.

"TEDCO's has done an outstanding job in making Maryland one of the premier locations for technology-based economic development, bringing high-skilled, high-paying jobs to Maryland," says Senator Benjamin L. Cardin. "Today, I join TEDCO as it features its 10 most innovative companies and celebrates the funding of its 200^th company, American Dynamic Flight Systems. TEDCO understands the importance of nurturing high-tech companies with the capital they need to succeed so that we can ensure good paying jobs for Marylanders."

TEDCO is independent entity, was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1998 to facilitate the creation of businesses and foster their growth in all regions of the State. TEDCO's role is to be Maryland's leading source of funding for seed capital and entrepreneurial business assistance for the development, transfer and commercialization of technology.

TEDCO connects emerging technology companies with federal laboratories, research universities, business incubators and specialized technical assistance. For the fifth consecutive year, TEDCO was recognized as the most active seed/early-stage investor in the nation in the August 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine and received the national Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development award from the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI) for the Maryland Technology Transfer Fund (MTTF) program in October 2008.

"I congratulate TEDCO on this important and significant milestone," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "TEDCO is a valuable resource which attracts companies to our state and sustains our reputation as a national leader in technology development. We are fortunate to have TEDCO in our backyard and I thank the organization for its role in moving Maryland forward."

 ADFS develops Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including its next generation AD-150 which is a maritime aircraft system capable of vertical take-off and landing, and high speed flight. As a result of TEDCO's funding and support, the company is currently working with NAVAIR and the Patuxent Partnership to assess the viability of its technologies with the U.S. Navy.

Since its inception TEDCO has provided funds for an array of the state's  most innovative companies including Fyodor Biotechnologies, which is developing novel technologies to improve the management of malaria, including a malaria test kit; HeMemics Biotechnologies, Inc., which developed a technology to dehydrate biologics (proteins, cells, etc.) in dried or partially dried format; Spiralcat, which developed a technology that recovers water, energy and third-generation biofuels using harvesting systems; and Oculis Labs, which developed a computer security technology that protects computer screens against eavesdropping.

""It's an honor to be the recipient of TEDCO's 200^th funding award," says Wayne Morse, president of ADFS. "TEDCO provides access to exclusive partnerships and resources which are hard to come by. Through this funding, we were able to advance our technology and gain a greater presence in the marketplace, which helped bring ADFS to the next level."

Source: The Maryland Technology Development Corporation
Writer: Walaika Haskins