The $2B Ripple Effect: Scaling Maryland’s Bioeconomy
This event is part of BioBuzz’s Insights to Impact Series, a curated program designed exclusively for life sciences industry leaders and ecosystem builders. Our guest list is intentionally built to foster a high-quality, peer-driven experience.
Overview
Frederick, MD, is a central anchor in Maryland’s life sciences ecosystem. AstraZeneca’s recent $2 billion expansion announcement isn’t just a capital project — it is a strategic inflection point that will reshape workforce dynamics, manufacturing capacity, and regional competitiveness in Frederick, Gaithersburg and across the state.
Join us to explore how large-scale life sciences investments like this create ripple effects that extend far beyond a single facility, uncover gaps in workforce, infrastructure, and ecosystem alignment, and reveal how leaders can capitalize on these opportunities. Senior executives from biopharma, advanced manufacturing, investment, and economic development will discuss:
Workforce and talent strategy: How major expansions influence regional hiring, skill development, and retention
Operational readiness and scale: How to design and operate capital-intensive, highly regulated facilities
Ecosystem alignment: How cross-sector coordination between industry, government, and investors drives sustainable growth
Strategic growth decisions: How site selection, infrastructure investment, and long-term planning shape regional competitiveness
This session is designed for executives and ecosystem stewards responsible for scale, strategy, and stewardship, offering insights into how Frederick’s expansion is actively reshaping Maryland’s life sciences landscape and the opportunities it creates for the broader ecosystem.
Agenda
4:00 PM Check-In + Networking
5:00 PM Welcome + Opening Remarks
5:10 PM Building the Future: AstraZeneca’s Frederick Expansion [Fireside Chat]
AstraZeneca isn't just expanding in Maryland — they're making one of the most significant biopharma manufacturing bets in the country. With a $2 billion investment in Frederick and a bold 2030 growth vision driving it, this conversation goes behind the headlines to explore what this milestone really means.
From the strategic thinking that brought AZ back to Maryland in a major way, to the rare disease capabilities this new facility unlocks, to the ground-level realities of executing a project of this scale — this fireside chat gets into it all. We'll also dig into the workforce and vendor ecosystem this expansion demands, and what it signals for the future of Frederick and Maryland's broader bioeconomy.
Speakers:
Mark Benesch, Sr. Director Capital Projects Portfolio Americas, AstraZeneca
Chris Frew, CEO, BioBuzz (moderator)
5:30 PM Industry Ripple Effects — Leveraging Big Expansions for Strategic Growth [Panel]
Large-scale life sciences expansions create ripple effects across workforce, manufacturing, and commercial strategy. In this panel, industry leaders explore how Maryland companies are scaling operations, building talent pipelines, and aligning resources to capture the full potential of new investments.
Speakers:
Kelly Schulz, CEO, Maryland Tech Council
Trushar Agrawal, Sr. Director, Head of Manufacturing, Kite Pharma
April Boulton, PhD, Associate Provost & Dean of the Graduate School, Hood College
Tarek Geblaoui, Vice President, Heffron Company (moderator)
6:15 PM Networking
Venue
I-270 Innovation Labs
The leading choice for Flexible, Research Grade Lab Space in the Washington/Baltimore region.
For Tech and Biohealth organizations of all kinds that do not want to build, manage or over-commit to facilities that are neither specialized nor cost effective, the strategically located I-270 Innovation Labs provides flexible, purpose built growth space, with key tools and resources that are reliable and right-sized.
We are business people, scientists and engineers with a passion for Technology, Science and Innovation. The team identified the potential, and set out to independently build, and professionally run, Flexible/Multimodal Labs to accommodate or incubate Biohealth and Technology organizations in the Washington/Baltimore region.
The I-270 Innovation Labs is the natural progression of combined decades of business and technical experience in R&D facilities and equipment, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Learn more at i270tech.com.
Partners
This event is made possible by the TEDCO Equitech Growth Fund, which empowers Maryland’s innovation economy through strategic grants for infrastructure and workforce development.
And our incredible sponsors:
BaneBio (banebio.com)
City of Frederick (businessinfrederickblog.com)
Conner Strong & Buckelew (connerstrong.com)
CRB (crbgroup.com)
Frederick County (discoverfrederickmd.com)
Fulton Bank (fultonbank.com)
Heffron Company (heffroncompany.com)
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc. (HJF) (hjf.org)
Kymanox (kymanox.com)
Neu-Ion (neu-ion.com)
Pharmaron (pharmaron.com)
TEDCO (tedcomd.com)
Workforce Genetics (workforcegenetics.com)
Xcellon Biologics (xcellon.bio)
Important Information
We encourage you to share this with those in your network who are passionate about strengthening the BioHealth Capital Region’s biotech ecosystem and would benefit from attending.
NOTE TO VENDORS + SERVICE PROVIDERS
Vendor and Service Provider attendance is limited to ensure a high-quality, peer-driven industry experience. A select number of Vendor / Service Provider tickets ($75) are available using access code VENDOR.
Vendors and Service Providers operating in the same category as any of our sponsors will require pre-authorization from the associated sponsor. BioBuzz reserves the right to restrict registration and entry as necessary. Refunds will be provided when tickets cannot be honored.