b'Our Jewish community is one of the oldest in the United States and hasshown impressive leadership both among the Jewish people globally as well as on behalf of all the people of Baltimore and Maryland.GOVERNOR LARRY HOGANaccording to the MIDC, including $221which excited me, those missions gave million in exports, $63 million in importsus the opportunity to develop and and more than $185 million in economicstrengthen educational and academic impacts from Israeli companies operatingrelationships with Hebrew University, Telus to investors, collaborators and future in Maryland. Top exports include computerAviv University, University of Haifa andearly-adaptors. and electronic products, chemicals andHadassah Hospital, which have mutuallyWhile COVID-19 slowed down transportation and equipment. Topenriched the education opportunitiesour plans, we are taking first steps of imports include computer and electronicfor students from each side, he says.commercialization in the U.S., Harari says.products, machinery and chemicals.Baltimore and Maryland have benefitedHe has already established a team based The MIDC has been a great partner tofrom these exchanges.in Maryland to help drive expansion in the Maryland Department of Commerce inAt UMBs BioPark, three high-tech Israelithe U.S. and expects rapid growth in 2021, promoting international trade with Israel,companies were awarded one year of freeespecially as the cognitive and physical Hogan says. A key achievement of our 2016office space to establish themselves hereramifications of COVID-19 on the elderly trade mission was Eltas announcementthrough the MIDCs holistic recruitment,become apparent. that they were going to expand their Northtraining and business accelerator program,Were looking to engage with early American headquarters in Maryland. EltaMarketReach America. Ten companiesadaptors in the U.S. during 2020, he says. develops advanced radar systems.went through the program in May 2019,We will manage our engagements and Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford got back fromwith the three top companies offeredobtain product feedback from the U.S. Israel in February, where he spoke at thespace in UMBs BioPark for one year.office, possibly at the BioPark. Cybertech Conference, Hogan adds. IsraelTwo out of the three companies areHarari sees the Baltimore-metro region B arry Bogage had a crystal-clear idea of howpairing Israeli companies with U.S. businessis one of the world leaders in cybersecuritymoving pretty quickly and have hiredas highly desirable for a company looking to link Israeli and Maryland businesses whendevelopment entities. Today, the mission continuestechnology, and Maryland is the cyberlocal business development executives into establish its presence in the U.S. he took the helm of the Baltimore-basedmostly virtually through its BizRepUSA program,capital of America. During my trip, I metMaryland and theyre going to house themThe ecosystem in and around Baltimore Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC) asuntil pandemic restrictions ease.with the leadership of Israels cybersecurityat the BioPark, Bogage says.that includes universities, leading executive director 29 years ago.Its entirely about trade and economichub in Beer Sheva. Theres a lot we can doThe three companies are DermaDetect,hospitals, the Centers for Medicare & Stay focused, Bogage says about his strategy atdevelopment, Bogage says of the MIDCs focus. Itstogether in cybersecurity.a developer of digital-analysis technologyMedicaid Services (CMS), the Food & the organization that is known around Baltimore aswho can you sign a deal with.Jay A. Perman, chancellor of thethat helps patients get accurate onlineDrug Administration (FDA) and national the economic matchmaker.In recent years, the MIDC has worked with 30-50University System of Maryland (USM) andskin-disorder diagnoses and GaitBetterorganizations such as the National CouncilThe nonprofit, in partnership with the Marylandcompanies on average at any given time. Frequentformer president of University of Maryland,with its fall-prevention technology. Theon Aging (NCOA) makes it attractive for BARRY BOGAGE Department of Commerce, The Associated: Jewishtrade missions to Israel, such as those in 2016 withBaltimore (UMB), went on two tradethird is TikTalk, a speech-language therapystart-ups in life sciences, he adds. Federation of Baltimore and Israels Ministry ofGov. Larry Hogan and in January 2020 with Lt. Gov.missions with the MIDC and Govs. Larrytechnology using artificial intelligence.Hogan touted the MIDC as one of Economy and Trade, guides Israeli businesses inBoyd Rutherford, get Israeli businesses in front ofHogan and Martin OMalley.At GaitBetter, CEO Hilik Harari says thethe oldest U.S.-Israel trade development putting down roots and growing and thriving ina Maryland delegation that includes Bogage andApart from start-ups and businessesMIDCs accelerator program focusing onorganizations in the country. the region. In turn, it sparks economic developmentthe MIDC staffers, state business agencies, businesscustomer discovery was crucial to theirThey have an impressive network in and jobs, while elevating the profile of theowners, public relations specialists, academics,understanding of the U.S. market andIsrael and have greatly raised the profile Baltimore-metro area and beyond as an energeticresearchers and others. healthcare system.of Maryland among Israeli high-tech hub for high-tech, forward-leaning industries suchIts very competitive, Bogage says. Israel hasThe program pushed us intocompanies, he says. as biotech, medtech, cybersecurity and more.become really famous for high-tech, and there areinterviewing all stakeholders related to our This year has been a challenge, Bogage says,a lot of states going after them.product and offering, he says from Israel.Visit marylandisrael.org to learn more.with travel and economies impacted by COVID-19.The economic impact of Maryland/Israel tradeIn addition to establishing and supporting Nevertheless, the MIDC continues its mission and investments totaled $469.6 million in 2017,the program, the MIDC did well to expose 36 associated.org|CENTENNIALCENTENNIAL|associated.org 37'