Sign In

Maryland Commerce Signs MOU With The Netherlands To Establish Bilateral Exchange Of Cyber Companies

Three-year agreement creates a ‘soft landing’ platform to ease companies’ entry in new market

BALTIMORE, MD (October 14, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) this week with two economic development agencies in The Netherlands to launch the Maryland-Netherlands Cyber and Security Technologies Soft Landing Platform. The agreement, which was signed with The Hague Security Delta (HSD) and InnovationQuarter, the regional economic development agency for the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland, establishes a ‘soft landing’ program where Maryland cybersecurity companies can explore the Dutch market, and Dutch cybersecurity companies can set up operations in Maryland on a trial basis.
 
Maryland’s Deputy Secretary of Commerce Ben Wu joined HSD Executive Director Richard B. Franken and InnovationQuarter Director of Foreign Investments Chris van Voorden at the Dutch ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C. Thursday to sign the three-year agreement.
 
“Maryland is the ideal place for foreign cybersecurity companies to establish operations as they explore the U.S market,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “We are home to many key federal agencies, including the National Security Agency and the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, as well as a critical mass of successful information technology and cybersecurity companies, and a highly-skilled and talented workforce.”
 
"The Hague Security Delta is the largest security cluster of Europe and a perfect place for companies to soft land,” said Franken. “The cluster comprises many companies, knowledge institutes, and government organizations and provides access to market, talent, innovation, knowledge, capital, events and education."
 
"We welcome security tech companies to make use of this wonderful program. They can come for a week or even stay for three consecutive months in bwtech or HSD,” van Voorden said. “We will make sure every company receives a tailor-made program in which they will meet our partners and get connected to the right business environment."
 
The first of its kind in Maryland, the program will provide participants with up to three months of incubation and mentorship services and help connect them with additional resources and partners.  Participating Dutch companies will spend time incubating at facilities such as bwtech@UMBC. After the initial trial period, lasting from January to March 2017, participants may choose to establish a permanent presence in either Maryland or The Netherlands.
 
Maryland is a leader in cybersecurity, with an estimated 1,220 private sector cybersecurity companies that employ more than 10,000 workers. Cybersecurity job postings in the state grew by 39 percent from 2010 to 2014, reaching the sixth-highest number of openings in the country with 11,406. The state is also home to 17 higher-education institutions that have been designated National Academic Centers of Excellence in Cyber Defense, as well as U.S. Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab.
 
About Maryland Com​merce
The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State's many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov​.
Close window
Close Disclaimer

Google Translate Disclaimer

The Maryland Department of Information Technology (“DoIT”) offers translations of the content through Google Translate. Because Google Translate is an external website, DoIT does not control the quality or accuracy of translated content. All DoIT content is filtered through Google Translate which may result in unexpected and unpredictable degradation of portions of text, images and the general appearance on translated pages. Google Translate may maintain unique privacy and use policies. These policies are not controlled by DoIT and are not associated with DoIT’s privacy and use policies. After selecting a translation option, users will be notified that they are leaving DoIT’s website. Users should consult the original English content on DoIT’s website if there are any questions about the translated content.

DoIT uses Google Translate to provide language translations of its content. Google Translate is a free, automated service that relies on data and technology ​​​to provide its translations. The Google Translate feature is provided for informational purposes only. Translations cannot be guaranteed as exact or without the inclusion of incorrect or inappropriate language. Google Translate is a third-party service and site users will be leaving DoIT to utilize translated content. As such, DoIT does not guarantee and does not accept responsibility for, the accuracy, reliability, or performance of this service nor the limitations provided by this service, such as the inability to translate specific files like PDFs and graphics (e.g. .jpgs, .gifs, etc.).

DoIT provides Google Translate as an online tool for its users, but DoIT does not directly endorse the website or imply that it is the only solution available to users. All site visitors may choose to use alternate tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use DoIT content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk. DoIT is not liable for any loss or damages arising out of, or issues related to, the use of or reliance on translated content. DoIT assumes no liability for any site visitor’s activities in connection with use of the Google Translate functionality or content.

The Google Translate service is a means by which DoIT offers translations of content and is meant solely for the convenience of non-English speaking users of the website. The translated content is provided directly and dynamically by Google; DoIT has no direct control over the translated content as it appears using this tool. Therefore, in all contexts, the English content, as directly provided by DoIT is to be held authoritative.