Maryland’s Defense Technology Commercialization (DefTech) Center has received the 2020 State & Local Economic Development Award by the Federal Lab Consortium. The recognition highlights the success that the technology transfer accelerator has had in its partnership with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) and Harford County government.

The DefTech Center – an initiative of the Maryland Department of Commerce – was founded in 2018 through a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment, in partnership with Harford County Office of Community & Economic Development and U.S. Army labs at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Originally funded for 13 months, the program aims to help local economies grow by helping entrepreneurs utilize federal lab and defense technologies or resources to develop a product for a non-federal, commercial market and/or to be utilized by the government, also known as technology transfer. DefTech is currently funded by a three year grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.

“The DefTech Center provides valuable economic diversification, networking, and resource services to our local businesses. The program has eased the sharing of information with federal laboratory systems, providing a much needed service to the state of Maryland,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “Congratulations to all those involved for the tremendous recognition of this successful program.”

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