Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and local dignitaries recently wrapped up an 11-day European Trade Mission aimed at bolstering cybersecurity and IT collaborations and fostering academic and business opportunities. Howard County Government's news update reported that the mission encompassed stops in Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, making it a strategic push for international alliances and economic development.
One of the trade mission's highlighted accomplishments was the launch of the Maryland Innovation Center Global (MIC Global) program. The program, structured to guide international businesses effortlessly through the complex U.S. market terrain, provides virtual services such as mentorship and business resources.
Howard Community College, represented by its president, Dr. Daria Willis, found the trip suitable for nurturing potential academic partnerships. "Howard Community College is a campus community of faculty and students representing 104 countries worldwide. Every opportunity that we can create or in which we can collaborate to broaden the teaching and learning experience not only represents our community’s best interests, but those of people and nations around the globe," Willis said, underscoring the college's commitment to global education and workforce preparedness, per county's press release.
Local Howard County businesses participated actively in the mission, with companies like Teamworx Security and IntelliGenesis finding potential growth opportunities in the UK market. "The overall trip was a great use of time which led to a solid understanding of potential opportunities to introduce US based cyber security companies and technology to the UK commercial market and the UK government," Chris Anthony, CEO of Teamworx Security, told Howard County Government. Likewise, IntelliGenesis COO Jerimiah Johnson highlighted the promotional impact of the trip for their cybersecurity platform, CYBERSPAN®.
