Commentary: MD aims to be business-friendly state

Maryland is a national leader in the area of high-tech business.

Maryland ranks third in the nation in the number of biotech companies, and the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan region ranks second overall in the United States in terms of IT professionals certified in cyber defense technologies. Also, Maryland ranks fourth in investments in science and technology infrastructure, as well as how those investments are leveraged for economic development purposes.

While these statistics are impressive, I believe we have only scratched the surface of what's possible. I want our record in this area to be one not just of success, but rather hegemony.

We have all the tools we need to get there. The Ehrlich-Steele administration is committed to providing the leadership that will take us the rest of the way.

We have the workforce, the facilities, and the funding to be the technology capital of the nation, and I am confident we can be.

Resources: Maryland's population has the highest percentage of professional and technical workforce in the nation and currently ranks third among states in the percentage of the population with a bachelor's degree. Our unique concentration of laboratories, research facilities and institutions of higher learning gives Maryland access to the intellectual power of more than 200 major research labs. In order to remain competitive, however, we must look at ways to utilize the financial investments we have made and leverage all of the assets we have across our state.

Partnerships: One of the best ways to foster any goal is to find partners, especially with the private and public sectors. Our university system and other institutions of higher education routinely join forces with regional technology councils, federal labs and the Maryland Technology Development Corp. Through these kinds of partnerships, we can establish ourselves as innovators and leaders in developing and utilizing new technologies.

Technology transfer: By enabling the transfer of technology from the lab to private business, our economic engine can perform at its peak. Our infrastructure includes a highly successful incubator system, which helps nascent technology groups take their products and businesses to the next level of entrepreneurship.

Investing in technology: Investment in collaborative research with universities, the federal government and commercial partners is key. We have approved $10 million to develop research centers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park and equip a Bioprocess Scale-up Facility in College Park. We approved a $50 million expansion of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute's (UMBI) facility, state-of-the-art science laboratories to support the commercialization of the leading edge technologies developed at our universities and research centers.

New leadership and new ideas: I knew it was important to name a secretary of Business and Economic Development who worked in and understands the needs of the business community. With nearly 40 years experience in business leadership, Aris Melissaratos has earned a national reputation as a well-respected business visionary and corporate executive. He is committed to eliminating the perception of Maryland as an "anti-business" state and promoting Maryland as the new, ideal place to expand or locate a business.

We're off to a strong start, but we can and should do more.

That is why I asked my friend George Pappas, a Baltimore technology attorney, to chair a commission charged with helping Maryland achieve its goal of high-tech hegemony.

The members of the "Pappas Commission" represent a cross section of the academic, entrepreneurial, financial, business and legal communities. Each brings a unique perspective and set of experiences to the panel. I have asked them to develop a road map for success, and recommend legislative proposals that I will introduce during the 2004 legislative session.

We must encourage entrepreneurial excellence above everything else. Businesses should have the freedom to thrive, grow and prosper, rather than simply keep their heads above water.

Maryland's high tech community is strong, but we can do better to meet all the future's possibilities. We are committed to proving that Maryland once again means business -- both today and 100 years from now.

Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican, is governor of Maryland.

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