SELECTUSA SpINOFF EVENT:
MARYLAND LIGHTHOUSE EXCHANGE
Illuminating Investment Opportunities Across Maryland’s Leading Industries
Join the Maryland Department of Commerce, April 30 – May 1, 2026 for an exciting SelectUSA Spinoff program in College Park with curated site visits across Maryland. The Spinoff will highlight Maryland’s innovative leadership in “lighthouse” industry sectors that are guiding Maryland toward a new era of economic growth including: Life Sciences, Aerospace, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Quantum, and Artificial Intelligence. Experience Maryland first-hand through site visits and virtual reality experiences.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required by the deadline of April 3, 2026.
Maryland Lighthouse Exchange: Program Snapshot
Maryland’s dynamic capital region will play host to the Maryland Lighthouse Exchange, a two-day, deal-driven experience designed for foreign investors seeking high-impact opportunities in the U.S. Identify soft-landing opportunities and connect in our Deal Room, where matchmaking sessions pair foreign investors with investment-ready projects in our high tech sectors. Experience Maryland’s Immersion Lab where virtual reality technology brings our innovation hubs and incubators to life. Network with Maryland leadership, industry reps, trade and investment partners at our Taste of Maryland Dinner celebrating Maryland’s culture and cuisine. The program ends with customized industry tours offering private site visits and partnering opportunities tailored to investors’ interests.
The Deal Room
Investors will participate in one-on-one curated matchmaking meetings with representatives of pre-vetted projects in Maryland’s lighthouse sectors. Over a series of targeted 20-minute sessions, investors will meet with project sponsors, state incentive experts, and financial advisors to evaluate opportunities. A dedicated Deal Lounge will be available on-site for legal, banking, and permitting discussions, enabling investors to move seamlessly from introductions to commitments.
Immersion Lab
Investors step into our Immersion Lab, a tech-forward showcase that positions Maryland as the most innovative and accessible destination for foreign direct investment. Virtual Reality technology transports foreign investors inside Maryland’s cutting-edge innovation hubs, labs, and incubators. Industry experts, attraction and investment incentive specialists as well as economic development partners will be on hand to answer “how-to-land” questions in real time.
Maryland’s Location
Don’t miss this opportunity to explore Maryland’s prime location while visiting the U.S. for SelectUSA.
In the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, halfway between Boston and Atlanta, you’ll find Maryland. We’re in the center of a booming commercial corridor. Global businesses capitalize on next-door proximity to the nation’s capital, with its 176 foreign embassies and key American and global decision makers. And they take advantage of three nearby international airports, providing their teams access to origin countries and new business opportunities.
Who Should Attend the Maryland Lighthouse Exchange?
Attendees should include foreign investors that are actively considering locations in the U.S. market in the next 12 to 24 months in the industries below. Government officials and representatives from foreign Accelerator or Incubator programs working in the following sectors are also invited to submit interest.
Life Sciences: Includes Biotechnology, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, MedTech, and more.
Information and Communication Technology: Includes Cybersecurity, IT, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Robotics, and more.
Aerospace: Includes Uncrewed Aircrafts and cutting edge technologies for Precision Guidance, Navigation, and Positioning Equipment in Aerial, Terrestrial, Maritime, Space Exploration, and more.
Life Sciences
Maryland is home to some of the biggest names in life sciences, along the sector’s most influential federal institutions.
Cybersecurity & IT
Here, you’ll also find a density of tech workers with skills to service your public sector clients and wow your private sector customers.
Aerospace & Aviation
Explore how Maryland can help your business take flight with a dense concentration of aerospace engineering talent and much more.
Quantum Computing
Maryland can put your business in a super position out in front of the quantum wave.
Artificial Intelligence
Maryland offers the tech and the talent for companies to hit the ground running with AI ambitions.
Full Agenda
Click below to see the full agenda for the program.
Transportation & Logistics
Attendees at the Maryland Department of Commerce Spinoff Event are recommended to stay at the Gaylord Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, the site of the SelectUSA Summit. All Maryland Spinoff events will be based out of the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Ground transportation will be provided from that location to the Maryland Lighthouse Exchange & the Curated Lighthouse Tours.
