“This year has been challenging for businesses, but we are excited to bring a new opportunity to highlight businesses and help them connect to investments and discuss ways businesses can not only pivot during this time, but thrive." - Kathie Callahan Brady, CEO, FITCI
FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB) November 02, 2020
Our community celebrated the acceleration of technology from the labs at Fort Detrick to the Frederick business community for the 12th Annual Collaboration between FITCI and the Fort Detrick Alliance. The launch event was livestreamed on October 29 at 4 p.m. from the Frederick Innovative Technology Center Metropolitan Court Building in Frederick.
This year’s live stream launch event featured a keynote speech from Brigadier General Michael J. Talley, Commanding General United States Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick, who discussed the work the Fort has done in combatting COVID-19 and the technological innovations the military has produced to assist the pandemic. In addition to BG Talley’s speech, Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner, and City of Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor will also spoke at the livestreamed event.
Jennifer Staiger, Fort Detrick Alliance President, presented the Hoke Award, given to a person who has significantly contributed to the Fort Detrick Alliance’s mission to former Fort Detrick Alliance President Harry Modrow. “With nearly 40 years of dedicated and devoted service in USAMRMC, USAMMDA, SAIC, Leidos Biomedical, and as president of the Fort Detrick Alliance, Harry stands out as an exceptional person to achieve this award,” said Staiger. “Harry has committed himself to the mission of the Fort Detrick Alliance and served as a liaison between the Fort Detrick community and the biotech industry. He currently manages Leidos' Life Sciences Business Area, within the company's Federal Health Operation. He manages biopharmaceutical and medical research programs that encompass a spectrum of infectious diseases and other biomedical efforts. Prior to his time at Leidos he was a Senior Scientist at SAIC and Deputy Commander, USAMMDA, Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, where he was responsible for the day to day operation of the Army's only medical advanced development research organization.”
Staiger also presented the Innovator of the Year award, given to a company that has demonstrated exceptional advancements in STEM, to National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) for the work they are doing to evaluate the impact of conditions such as humidity and temperature on COVID-19’s survivability in the air, on surfaces, and in respiratory fluids. “This year our committee that selects the award recipient wanted to honor an organization that has been instrumental in research and innovation related to COVID-19. The results of NBACC’s research is assisting in protecting first responders and healthcare workers on the front lines of the pandemic, as well as providing individuals with ways to reduce contamination,” said Staiger.
Kathie Callahan Brady, FITCI CEO, announced the winner of the Edge Community Growth Accelerator, Nick Van Terheyden from Lissen Laboratories. The launch event, the technology showcase featured a series of virtual events to assist start-ups with technology transfer, including funding and marketing opportunities.
“This year has been challenging for businesses, but we are excited to bring a new opportunity to highlight businesses and help them connect to investments and discuss ways businesses can not only pivot during this time, but thrive,” said FITCI CEO Kathie Callahan Brady. “The technologies developed at Fort Detrick offer extraordinary opportunities for economic growth and development in our region,” added Amanda Johnston, executive director of the Fort Detrick Alliance.
The event was sponsored by Tunnell Government Services, City of Frederick Economic Development, and Frederick County Economic Development.