Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County looks to share its

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Mar 24, 2003 by Patrice Dickens

Despite the nation's war with Iraq, state technology officials said they expect Wednesday's technology showcase at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County to be equal to, if not greater than, the turnout in 2001.

Aberdeen Proving Ground, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command and the Maryland Technology Development Corp., (TEDCO) will host a technology transfer showcase on "Emerging Technologies and Opportunities: Bioscience, Health and Medical Technologies."

The showcase will feature the latest research being done by researchers at the two military facilities, and give businesses and entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect.

The hope is that compatible researchers and businesses will be able to move more products through the pipeline and eventually hitting the commercial market, bringing more money into the state's economy.

In 2001, Aberdeen Proving Ground and TEDCO partnered on a similar technology showcase event. But this year's event, said Phillip Singerman, TEDCO's executive director, is much bigger and encompasses a much broader scope of federal entities and technology.

More than 115 people attended the event in 2001. Ten partnerships were created, resulting in a total of $110,000 in TEDCO funding for four companies, Singerman said.

"We are expecting twice as many people, over 200 people," at Wednesday's event, he added.

The event is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 a.m. with networking and a continental breakfast.

Thirty-one researchers will then present seven-minute-long presentations on their individual technology. The event will also feature a poster session, displaying more than 50 companies.

Stephen Clark, director for business development at Aberdeen Proving Ground, emphasized that there will be "civilian friendly" as well as military-related technology at the showcase.

One of the featured technologies includes candidate replacements for DEET, the active ingredient in most tick and insect repellents. It is used to repel these biting pests that may carry Lyme disease.

The Environment Protection Agency, on its Web Site, said DEET products are safe for humans. But, according to Clark, DEET has been known to cause skin rashes.

Another technology that will be on display at the event is the first "bioscavenger" for protection against nerve agents, Clark said.

"Aberdeen has really taken a lead role in connecting to the private sector," Singerman said. The base has been spinning technology in to help it accomplish its mission, and spinning technology out for commercial use, he said.

Serious about its technology sector, Harford County last year conducted a Technology Development Strategic Plan, which identifies Aberdeen Proving Ground as a key player.

According to Singerman, the state has a valuable concentration of federal institutions -- Aberdeen, the National Institutes of Health, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and others.

"This is our ... technology advantage," Singerman said.