​Join us for the Community Connect, Montgomery College’s signature biotech networking event hosted by the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science + Technology (PIC MC).

​OVERVIEW

​A look back at 2026 - and look ahead for 2027.

​Maryland's innovation economy didn't stand still in 2026. It reorganized.

​Federal employment contracted. Capital stayed cautious. And yet companies kept choosing Maryland: building here, hiring here, and betting on what this state can become. Across life sciences, healthcare, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing and aerospace, decisions made this year will shape the next decade of this economy. Most didn't make headlines. All of them matter.

​This morning is where we make sense of it together: what actually moved in each sector, where Maryland stands right now, and what it positions us to build in 2027.

​Join us for:

• ​Four sector presentations. Short, focused talks from leaders in life sciences and biotech, healthcare and health tech, cybersecurity and IT, and advanced manufacturing and aerospace.

• ​Sector roundtables. Pull up a seat at the table for your sector and keep the conversation going with the speakers and peers who were part of the year's biggest decisions.

​Join us to celebrate the progress this community made, and to close out the year the way it deserves: together.

​AGENDA

​Stay for the whole program or drop in at your convenience. Networking will be ongoing throughout the morning.

​8:00 AM — Registration + Networking

​9:00 AM — Welcome + Open Remarks

​9:05 AM — The State of Maryland's Innovation Economy

​The big picture: how Maryland's innovation economy shifted in 2026, where it stands today, and what it's positioned to build in 2027.

​9:20 AM — Beyond the Headlines: Maryland's Year in Innovation

​Four focused, TED-style talks, one from each sector, on the decisions that defined the year and what they mean for what comes next.

• ​Life Sciences & Biotech: How Maryland's life sciences community built, hired, and raised through a cautious capital market, and where the next wave of growth is coming from.

• ​Healthcare & Health Tech: How health systems and health innovators are using data, AI, and new technology to respond to a changing landscape, and what it means for care, jobs, and investment in Maryland.

• ​Cybersecurity & IT: What shifting federal priorities meant for one of Maryland's defining industries, and how the sector is adapting.

• ​Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace: How Maryland's manufacturers and aerospace companies navigated shifting federal support, and how AI, automation, and new technology are reshaping what they build and who builds it.

​10:30 AM — Networking

​11:00 AM — Site Tours

​SPEAKERS

​ANNOUNCEMENTS FORTHCOMING

​...

​

​THE VENUE

​BIOSCIENCE EDUCATION CENTER

​Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus is home to 6,000+ students and offers leading programs in biotechnology and cybersecurity. The BioScience Education Center features laboratories, classrooms, meeting spaces, and a conference center tailored for biotech education and research.

​To learn more, visit montgomerycollege.edu.

​PARTNERS

​HOLY CROSS GERMANTOWN HOSPITAL

​Montgomery College is the only community college in the U.S. with a full-scale hospital on campus, providing unparalleled real-world learning opportunities.

​To learn more, visit holycrosshealth.org or follow them on LinkedIn.

​HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS

​An EchoStar company delivering broadband and network services to millions globally.

​To learn more, visit hughes.com.

​GERMANTOWN INNOVATION CENTER

​Montgomery County's incubator in partnership with Montgomery College featuring premier office and laboratory space for life science companies.

​To learn more, visit montgomerycountymd.gov.

​BIOTRAIN

​A workforce partnership shaping the region’s biotech talent pipeline.

​To learn more, visit montgomerycollege.edu.

​BIO-TRAC

​Over 17,000 Scientists Trained • 300 Scientist Instructors
Open to the scientific community, each Bio-Trac® workshop is designed by active researchers for bench and research scientists with focus on the latest relevant techniques necessary for laboratory research. Bio-Trac clients represent every major sector of the biotechnology industry and include attendees from across the globe.

​Our 30+ year wealth of relationship capital and program management expertise enable us to develop, implement and deliver training on up-to-the-minute relevant innovations in biotechnology.

​To learn more, visit biotrac.com.