News Archive

Wed, Mar 29, 2017 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT

USDA ARS and the USDA SBIR program formed a partnership to encourage USDA SBIR applicants to develop research collaborations with ARS scientists and/or to license ARS technologies. The purpose is to increase the likelihood of success by providing both money and technologies to small U.S. businesses. The relevant language in the SBIR’s “Request for Application” states: “Additional factors that will be considered in the review process include whether an application involves a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with a USDA laboratory, or a license to a USDA technology, or is a resubmission.”

This webinar will include an overview of the USDA SBIR program and crafting a competitive SBIR proposal. Also an overview of ARS and how to develop a successful research collaboration (CRADA) with an ARS scientist and/or license an ARS technology will be discussed. The webinar will address coordinating the statement of works in an ARS CRADA and a USDA SBIR proposal.

A new 40,000-square-foot accelerator space for Johns Hopkins is officially online in East Baltimore, and set to be home to nine startups by April.

FastForward is housed in the newest, $65 million building in the Hopkins biotech park, at 1812 Ashland Ave. It was designed to help young companies with all of their growing business needs, from conference rooms to office space to lab space. The new space replaces the former six-office hub near the Hopkins medical campus.

SineWave Ventures wants to bring money and ideas together. Vornado’s got the office space to make it happen. And Arlington County wants to back the pairing to boost jobs, tax revenue and the economy.

The three are working together on The Venture Hub, which will locate at Vornado Realty Trust’s (NYSE: VNO) 2231 Crystal Drive in Crystal City — the same building where stalwart incubator 1776 leases space.

Under Armour has hired a former General Motors executive to serve as chief innovation officer.

Clay Dean, who will help the Baltimore sports apparel brand shape its global innovation vision and strategy, will work from the Baltimore headquarters and report to Kevin Haley, president of category management and innovation, the company said Monday.

The University of Maryland is planning to expand entrepreneurship space and activities at its campus in Baltimore, and a new innovation center on the southwest side of the city is part of the plans.

The aim is to open a new space during the summer, UM Ventures Director Jim Hughes said at a President’s Symposium event at the UMB campus. The location of the new space has yet to be finalized.

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) Program provides funding for university-based research projects that help Maryland companies develop technology-based products, combining the creative expertise of Maryland’s university faculty with the drive of the state’s entrepreneurs and companies. Up to $100,000 per year is available for each project.

If you are a seed, early stage or start-up high technology company in the areas of Life Sciences, Biotech, Alternative Energy or Cyber Security, then you do not want to miss this seminar. This year the MWBC is rolling out a new Advanced Technology Program, and we want you to join us for our FREE introductory session on the resources that will help you grow. We will feature a panel discussion with representatives from TEDCO, MTECH, and MD Department of Commerce to discuss competition, alternate sources of funding, tech transfer/licensing, and commercialization. Also to be featured are incubator programs and their services in Montgomery, Frederick and Prince George’s Counties. This informative seminar will acquaint you with resources and programs that will help lay out a strategic approach for your company to take it to the next level. Register today as space is limited.

Bill Schmidt, Managing Partner of Cultivation Capital’s Life Science Fund, is optimistic about the future of Life Science investment in St. Louis. He said,  More capital is flowing in St. Louis, with us, BioGenerator, RiverVest Venture Partners, Lewis & Clark Ventures, Ascension Ventures, iSelect Fund, St. Louis Arch Angels, Missouri Technology Corporation, and others. And, we are starting to get attention from upmarket VC firms on the coasts, which is great, as our companies are going to need it.”

For industries that depend on innovation, sustaining it is a constant challenge. This is particularly the case in biopharmaceuticals, where turning molecules into medicines is notoriously fraught with risk, and failure.

When one of us (Vivek) and his team launched Roivant Sciences in 2014 and began developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease — they were determined to learn from the pharma industry’s innovation issues and build a more sustainable innovation engine. After extensive assessment, they settled on two initiatives: realigning incentives for employees and systematically introducing outside talent and practices.

I’m in the process of writing an e-book for publication this summer called A Bold Approach to Grants Research. This book encourages grantseekers to challenge their thinking when it comes to identifying funders for a particular program or project.

I am writing this book because I think we often get stuck in a rut when it comes to seeking support. We tend to drift toward those grantmakers who have supported us in the past, or grantmakers we think should have supported us! We rely on the regional community foundation, or the family fund that is most active in our area. We turn to those two or three businesses that seem to support everything (even if it is a small amount). It is hard to break out of this mold not only because we are familiar with these grantmakers, so approaching them seems easier, but also because we really don’t know where else to look or how to think about funding in a different way.