The life sciences media and events company and Frederick entrepreneurial incubator and accelerator will work together to fuel growth in the life sciences industry and BioHealth Capital Region.
MARYLAND, March 23, 2023 — BioBuzz, the media outlet of Workforce Genetics, and the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) have announced a strategic partnership to fuel industry growth in the BioHealth Capital Region and growth for both parties.
FITCI CEO Kathie Callahan Brady says she is excited to move forward. “We both focus on the biotech space, but the perspective is different. It is exactly the type of collaboration we want to infuse into our new EDGE@321 entrepreneurial innovation center opening later this year, bridging competencies and markets to strengthen the whole community.”
The partnership between the two parties will consist of shared programming to boost local business and entrepreneurial development, complemented with mutual cross-promotion to fuel further recognition and growth. Plans are in the works for co-hosted events, such as quarterly happy hours, panels, networking socials, workforce development and DEI events, and meetups for specific niches of the biotech industry, even a technology showcase.
The partnership will also help bring awareness of FITCI partner companies outside of the Frederick region, thanks to BioBuzz’s regional presence. Meanwhile, FITCI’s forthcoming expansion and significant presence in Frederick County will help bring new eyes to BioBuzz as the go-to platform for industry professionals and job seekers.
BioBuzz’s Head of Business Development Adam Van Bavel says, “BioBuzz is invested in the long-term economic health of this region, with a focus on the local life sciences ecosystem, because we started here. Maryland is our home. As a media platform, we have the rare privilege of being connected to the very leading edge of industry. FITCI represents the next generation of emerging entrepreneurs. So, this joint effort is a great way to strengthen those community ties.”
Frederick’s workforce ecosystem is dedicated to workforce development and building talent pipelines in the region for both established and start-up companies. Additionally, BioBuzz will help support FITCI in the new pilot internship program to offer hands-on training to students and recent graduates in a start-up environment.
Andrew Starvaggi recently visited the FITCI with fellow students in Frederick Community College’s Biotechnology Internship Program through Frederick County Public Schools. He told the FITCI team, “I believe that this is a wonderful place to gain pertinent hands-on experience in the fields of scientific research and entrepreneurship. Opportunities like this don’t come often for high schoolers.”
Classmate Annaelle Le Guellec echoed the thought in her “Creating a Pipeline” document. “An additional value is that students aren’t just conducting research and lab work, but they are working in startup labs → entrepreneurial experience.”
Find more information about FITCI at www.fitci.org or 301-694-2999. Explore BioBuzz’s articles and event calendar, or sign up for their free weekly newsletter at biobuzz.io/news/newsletter/.
About BioBuzz
BioBuzz Media is a division of Workforce Genetics and is the go-to community platform for industry professionals and job seekers looking to plug into regional biotech communities and achieve fulfilling careers with leading employers. BioBuzz creates experiences through content, events, and media that enable its readers to learn about the employers, companies, and individuals driving biohealth innovation forward in their regional markets.
About FITCI
The Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI) is a business incubator and accelerator designed to cultivate entrepreneurship in Frederick, Maryland. FITCI specializes in the strategic business support of local entrepreneurs in the early stages of their journey, especially within the realm of science and technology industries such as biotech, information technology, renewable energy, and cybersecurity. Since 2004, FITCI has helped launch hundreds of successful companies through its programming, which includes business training, mentorship, CEO roundtables, and input from advisory boards.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Ellinwood or April Bartel
Phone: (540) 958-1011 or (301) 694-2999
Email: media@biobuzz.io or info@fitci.org
