In an effort to accelerate growth in the cybersecurity and health technology industries in Montgomery County, BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) has partnered with The MITRE Corporation of McLean, Virginia—a not-for-profit corporation that operates federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), including the National Cybersecurity FFRDC.
BHI will serve as the primary manager for the Rockville Innovation Center (RIC), which is home of BHI's health tech startup accelerator, Relevant Health. MITRE will provide the resident RIC start-up companies technical mentorship and insight into the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing business and government today. This collaboration is an extension of a strategic initiative recently launched by MITRE to act as an innovation bridge between the private and public sectors.
The RIC will support start-ups and attract early-stage technology companies within these key technology sectors to graduate companies into commercial spaces in Montgomery County in a few short years.
"Adding cybersecurity thought leadership expands the supportive capabilities of the RIC and our broader regional partnerships," said Richard Bendis, BHI President and CEO. "While the RIC currently serves as a great resource for health tech and biotech startups, we plan to support the convergence that is happening across disciplines that is driving new technology development in the Internet of Things, personalized medicine and other connected health devices. Cybersecurity is a major consideration to be addressed."
Start-up companies will be aided by a variety of resources including BHI "Entrepreneurs-in-Residence," MITRE technologists, key-opinion-leader sessions, tactical workshops on technology development, and entrepreneurship support from various corporate, strategic and investment partners.
"Collaborating with an organization like BHI that excels in every aspect of managing an innovation center provides a unique opportunity for MITRE," said Dr. Mark Maybury, MITRE's Chief Security Officer, Vice President and Director of the National Cybersecurity FFRDC, sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. "This arrangement enables each party to focus on what it does best, while taking both the RIC and Montgomery County's business community to new heights."
MITRE will mentor RIC's startups in the areas of technology strategy and solution approach, as well as government and industry engagement.
"This agreement between BHI and MITRE marks the beginning of a cyber health tech explosion in Montgomery County," said Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer for Economic and Workforce Development Lily Qi. "It is only a matter of time before we become the envy of other communities and markets. We are excited to see what this partnership will bring."
This announcement comes on the heels of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) selecting and announcing BHI as the new manager of the Germantown Innovation Center (GIC) located within the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC).
Additionally, BHI has had a long-standing series of relationships with Montgomery County, and was created by the county in an effort to propel the commercialization efforts of local biotechnology and health startups.
About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.
BioHealth Innovation, Inc., is a regional innovation intermediary focused on commercializing market-relevant bio-health innovations and increasing access to early-stage funding in Maryland. BHI is known for providing commercial assistance to scientists and founders, educating and infusing Maryland's life science community with new and young entrepreneurs and fueling startups within Central Maryland's bio-ecosystem by connecting young companies to funding and business resources. Learn more at www.biohealthinnovation.org.
About The MITRE Corporation
The MITRE Corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates research and development centers sponsored by the federal government. Learn more at: www.mitre.org.