Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Joins Maryland International Incubator

COLLEGE PARK, Md., March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy Sciences (SBRAS) has joined the Maryland International Incubator at the University of Maryland, university officials announce today.

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The Siberian branch, the largest in the Russian Academy of Sciences, plans to leverage its space at the incubator to collaborate with the University of Maryland, other educational institutions and businesses to develop joint technology and business projects to create new products for U.S. and international markets.

"I am very pleased that the Academy has joined the International Incubator and that our two great institutions are going to be working together," says University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh. "I look forward to many collaborations with our faculty and students resulting from this partnership."

The Maryland International Incubator, a program of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) in partnership with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED), is designed to spur economic growth, bring foreign investment to Maryland and create jobs in the state.

"We welcome the Russian Academy of Sciences to the Maryland International Incubator and look forward to strengthening ties in emerging health care technologies between Maryland and Russia as well as working with the Academy to help grow their presence in our state and in the U.S.," says Robert Walker, assistant secretary of business and enterprise development at DBED.

The Academy plans partnerships in the areas such as nanotechnology, energy technology, applied chemistry and biotechnology. SBRAS has 22,526 employees, with 8,725 researchers, of whom 126 are members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

SBRAS encompasses 74 research institutions and 13 design bureaus working in different areas of physical, mathematical, chemical, and biological sciences, earth sciences, humanities and economical science. The central location of the Siberian branch is Novosibirsk.

The Maryland International Incubator provides a gateway that helps foreign businesses and institutions in the technology sector set up operations in Maryland. Incubator tenants get office space and a base for development, proximity to talent and research facilities at the university and vital networking services from Mtech, which operates the facility.

"We are honored to have one of the top national academies of sciences in the world select our incubator as a launching pad for entering into intellectual and business partnerships in Maryland and in the U.S.," says David Barbe, director of Mtech. "Technology innovation and collaboration are key drivers for creating new jobs and new products in the Maryland and U.S. economies."

High-tech firms frequently seek locations close to a major research university to benefit from its expertise and talent. The Incubator encourages research collaboration in such areas as health care, environment, agriculture, energy and fire protection.

About Mtech (www.mtech.umd.edu)

The mission of Mtech is to educate the next generation of technology entrepreneurs, create successful technology ventures, and connect Maryland companies with university resources to help them succeed. Founded in 1983, Mtech has had a $25.7 billion impact on the Maryland economy and helped create or retain more than 5,300 jobs. Top-selling products such as MedImmune's Synagis®, which protects infants from a deadly respiratory disease, and Hughes Communications' HughesNet®, which brings satellite-based, high-speed Internet access to the world, were developed through or enhanced by our programs. Billion dollar companies such as Martek Biosciences and Digene Corporation graduated from our incubator.  Mtech offers three experiential learning programs, 30 entrepreneurship and innovation courses, served to 1,244 enrollees in 2010 for students from pre-college to undergraduate, graduate and executive education.

SOURCE Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech)