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Key Tech and University of Maryland Alumni Event

Key Tech recently hosted an alumni and friends networking event for the University of Maryland at our office in Federal Hill. Speakers included Key Tech CEO Jenny Regan, the Dean of the A. James Clark School of Engineering Dr. Darryll Pines, and the Provost and Interim President of the university Dr. Nariman Favardin.  The event was well attended with a mix of entrepreneurs, engineers, students and alumni, and university faculty and staff.  Besides networking opportunities, the event was highlighted by Dr. Favardin’s remark on achievements of the University of Maryland’s entrepreneurship and technology commercialization programs and their social-economic impact in Maryland.

Dr. Favardin, a strong proponent of entrepreneurship and an advocate for technology commercialization, talked about the various programs the university currently offers that help drive economic growth in the state of Maryland.  The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) supports the state’s technology economy by educating the next generation of technology entrepreneurs, creating successful technology ventures, and connecting Maryland businesses with university resources.  Mtech has had a $22.5 billion economic impact within the state since 1983.  Specifically, some high profile products such as MedImmune’s Synagis and Hughes Communications’ HughesNet, and billion dollar companies such as Martek Biosciences, and Digene Corporation all found its start from the university programs.  Recently, the entrepreneurship programs offered by the university were ranked 11th nationwide by the U.S. News and World Report.

Key Tech already has strong ties with the academic powerhouse.  Two out of the four founders graduated from Maryland, and Key Tech currently employs seven Maryland alumni from the Clark School of Engineering, which accounts for roughly 30% of the staff.  In addition, Key Tech CEO Jenny Regan currently serves as the chair for the Women in Engineering (WIE) Advisor board at the university.

Besides the existing relationship, Key Tech looks forward to an array of future collaboration opportunities with the school, and welcomes any suggestions on how to facilitate tech commercialization between the university and small businesses like Key Tech.

A special thank you to the event planners on the UMD side: Asante, Ted & Jess!

Lei Zong


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