Aberdeen deal a boost to Md.'s homeland security hopes

This week's launch of a $1 million federally funded technology-transfer program at the U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground is part of a larger statewide economic development strategy designed to make Maryland a leader in the emerging homeland security marketplace.

State officials and technology entrepreneurs believe another key piece is in place to build on Maryland's wealth of federal government laboratories and the billions of dollars in research funding their scientists attract annually.

The $1 million was secured by members of Maryland's congressional delegation -- U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D), in particular -- as a so-called "plus-up" written into a military budget bill.

Critics call that pork-barrel spending, but proponents note the funding will support not only the mission of Aberdeen Proving Ground but also economic development efforts in Maryland.

Most of the money will be used for business development: $50,000 grants awarded to young companies to collaborate with lab scientists.

The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development and the Maryland Technology Development Corp., or Tedco, have been focusing on three federal facilities in particular as anchors of the state's future technology economy.

Aberdeen and the Army's elite infectious disease research outpost at Frederick's Fort Detrick give the state intellectual capital in chemical and biological defense; the National Security Agency brings the state a wealth of information security expertise.

Economic development officials have been incrementally laying the groundwork for new ways to spur collaboration between the private sector and lab scientists, so that innovations can be licensed and startups created in hopes of creating a thriving base of homeland security companies.

"How do we turn [homeland security] into a sustainable business, instead of a fad business? To build that as a sustainable business we need to build a major cluster around that and we need to [expose] those companies internationally," said Christopher C. Foster, deputy secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. "This can scale worldwide."

The state, and the Greater Baltimore region in particular, is buzzing with activity geared toward building just that type of thriving cluster. The Chesapeake Innovation Center in Annapolis is filled with a dozen startups developing technologies for homeland security customers in the government and private sectors.

The director of the National Security Agency, Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden, has been meeting with business groups across Maryland, communicating his agency's need for professionals with high-level security clearances.

Now there are signs of momentum in finding money to put behind these efforts. The May 25 announcement at Aberdeen Proving Ground featured several Maryland companies that have had research agreements with the lab the last several years instrumental in helping them gain traction in their markets.

The state has a similar program in place at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Lexington Park.

Chesapeake PERL, a College Park biotechnology company, used a $20,000 grant to test its protein manufacturing technology with APG scientists. The company is developing a botulism antibody with chemical warfare researchers at the lab.

Abingdon-based QuickSilver Analytics began working with APG scientists four years ago on sampling kits that could analyze possible chemical warfare agents. Today, the company employs 20 and sells its kits to the U.S. government and first responders in public safety agencies across the country.

"Without that [relationship with APG], I'm not sure we'd be in business, quite honestly," said QuickSilver President Rodney Hudson.

"That's what we're trying to facilitate," said Phillip Singerman, executive director of Tedco (www.marylandtedco.org). "This initiative is another piece of that effort designed to provide the early-stage seed funding."