ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has returned from an 11-day diplomatic European Trade Mission, where he joined a delegation of Howard County representatives led by Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA). The trip focused on strengthening global partnerships, fostering economic growth, building academic collaborations, and strengthening business opportunities in cybersecurity and innovation with Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Pictures from the trip can be found here.
This mission trip was historic for HCEDA, which has not previously engaged in sister city or county programs. By identifying Galway, Ireland and Cheltenham, United Kingdom as potential sister cities, this trip laid the groundwork for building connections based on trust and mutual interests. This trip also set the stage for Howard County's long-term, strategic global engagement and collaborative growth. I would like to thank Jennifer Jones and her Howard County Economic Development Authority team for this opportunity, and I look forward to watching them build upon these international initiatives, encourage foreign direct investment, and further establish pipelines for future export opportunities for Howard County businesses.
Organized by the Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA), Ball was accompanied by representatives from HCEDA, Howard County Government, Howard Community College (HCC), and the local business community, including:
- Jennifer Jones, CEO, HCEDA
- Bob Zhang, Director of International Business, HCEDA
- Marcellous Frye, Jr., Board Chair, HCEDA
- Dr. Daria Willis, President, HCC and Board Member, HCEDA
- Chris Anthony, CEO, TeamWorx Security
- Tom McNamara, CEO, Hopr
- Annette McNamara, CEO, Hopr
- Jeremiah Jensen, COO, Intelligenesis
- David Leeds, Chief, Information Security Officer, Department of Technology and Communication Services, Howard County Government
- Angela Cabellon, Chief of Staff, Howard County Government
- Safa Hira, Director of Communications, Howard County Government
Ball also recognizes those who helped prepare for this mission, including the Office of International Investment and Trade (OIIT) of MD Department of Commerce and the U.S. Commercial Service.
During this international trade mission, Ball launched the Maryland Innovation Center Global (MIC Global) program. This program offers virtual services such as mentorship, business resources and connections to potential clients and partners. It also helps international businesses navigate the complexities of entering the U.S. market before physically setting up shop in the region. This new program was received favorably by businesses in Europe, and it will continue to expand in the future.
Howard County is the gateway for businesses to grow and expand in the United States. During this trade mission, HCEDA was able to strategically place Howard County at the forefront of innovation, expertise, and collaboration to bolster our business community. We mean business in Howard County, and we are committed to advancing our economy through the connections made in Europe. With the launch of our MIC Global program, we will become the premiere hub for not just local businesses, but for international businesses to grow and thrive.”
“Howard County has a thriving economy and is known for its consistent support for our local businesses. In addition, we are expanding our presence even more to bolster our cyber and business connections for mutual benefit,” said Marcellous Frye, Jr., Board Chair, HCEDA. “This European Trade Mission provided us the opportunity to connect with international businesses to bring them to Howard County, while also situating our County as the Cyber Hub for the world. I know that, in partnership with HCEDA and County Executive Ball, we will be the premiere gateway for our economy to truly thrive for generations ahead.”
Nuremberg, Germany
Ball kicked off the trip at the prestigious It-Sa Expo&Congress in Nuremberg, Germany, which is the largest cybersecurity conference in the world. He was invited to speak about “Exploring U.S. Market Entry: A Gateway to the Capital Region’s Cybersecurity Ecosystem.” During his lecture, Ball discussed ways to enhance cyber cooperation, promote business and academic exchanges, and encourage mutual economic support.
During the conference, Ball and the delegation engaged with industry partners, including the German Cybersecurity Council and stopped by the exhibit space belonging to Tenable, a leading cybersecurity firm based in Howard County. This visit underscored Howard County’s commitment to supporting its entire array of businesses, from innovative startups to established industry leaders. The conference was also an opportunity to strengthen economic ties and showcase Howard County’s robust tech ecosystem on an international stage.
Ball also joined German Cyber Cluster’s Dr. Matthias Kampmann to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HCEDA’s Maryland Innovation Center (MIC) and IT-Sicherheitscluster e.V. The MOU outlines a framework for advancing the cybersecurity sector through shared resources, joint initiatives, and mutual support for cluster management.
While in Nuremberg, Howard Community College (HCC) President Dr. Daria Willis met with Christof Mühlberg, Director of Technology University of Nuremberg’s International Office to discuss how a partnership with HCC can help generate future cyber and trades workforce. Howard Community College has long been a leader in preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow. With the recent groundbreaking of its new Workforce Development and Trades Center, the college is taking workforce education to the next level, especially in the field of cybersecurity. When completed in 2026, this center will be a state-of-the-art facility, designed to provide students with hands-on experience in careers that are both growing and critical to our community, and ultimately produce future employees who have the portable and stackable credentials to immediately contribute.
Consistently ranked among the nation’s top 150 community colleges in publications and trade magazines, HCC is the fourth largest employer in and an economic driver for Howard County. Ranked number one in Maryland in registered apprenticeships and a preferred recruiting partner for top research institutions, including the University of Maryland, University of Maryland Baltimore County and Johns Hopkins University, HCC offers academic and workforce pathways for students across the globe.
“Howard Community College is a campus community of faculty and students representing 104 countries worldwide. Every opportunity that we can create or in which we can collaborate to broaden the teaching and learning experience not only represents our community’s best interests, but those of people and nations around the globe,” said Dr. Willis. “We are best in class in industries ranging from healthcare to hospitality, cybersecurity to construction management, and education to early childcare. The world is taking notice of the quality of our programs and graduates, and we invite them to see and learn more about what we have to offer.”
Dublin, Ireland
Following their time in Germany, the delegation spent two days in Ireland. First, County Executive Ball and HCEDA CEO Jennifer Jones spent the morning with hundreds of businesses at the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland as Ireland celebrated 100 Years of Partnership and Prosperity with the United States. While establishing diplomatic relationships at the economic summit, they heard remarks from Taoiseach Simon Harris and U.S. Ambassador to Ireland Claire D. Cronin. Ball and Jones made several connections with Irish-American companies and created stronger diplomatic ties.
It was then followed by a visit to the Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC) in Dublin. Since opening its doors in 2000, the GEC has become Ireland’s entrepreneurial superhub. Similar to the MIC, the GEC provides office space, technical support, national and international networking reach, and a peer community for startups and scaling companies to learn and grow. The delegation met GEC companies to discuss opportunities with the MIC and Howard County companies, including Columbia’s Hopr.
“The trade mission exceeded expectations,” said Tom McNamara, CEO, Hopr. “It afforded Hopr the opportunity to efficiently meet prospective future partners, in person, who were best aligned with Hopr capabilities. Introductions and recognition from HCEDA lowered Hopr.co’s barriers to entry in Europe when that time comes.”
The delegation also visited Trinity College, where members discussed opportunities for promoting education pathways, workforce and innovation collaborations between Maryland, Trinity and Dublin. Trinity students receive world-class education in a research-centered, collaborative environment and can work with global leaders in their field. This aligns with HCC’s mission to prepare students today for the challenges of tomorrow.
Ball wrapped up his time in Dublin with a visit to The Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan, where he met with the Lord Mayor to establish diplomatic and economic ties.
Galway, Ireland
Ball and the delegation finished up their time in Ireland with a trip to Galway, where they met with trade professionals and Platform94 tech and cyber cluster centers. Ball established a formal, mutually beneficial partnership between the MIC and Platform94, focused on advancing the cybersecurity sector, supporting startups and promoting innovation within the two respective regions. Earlier this year, through House Bill 1206, the State established a “Maryland-Ireland Trade Commission” in the Maryland Department of Commerce to study and make recommendations regarding certain trade relations between Maryland and Ireland. Since the signing of House Bill 1206, Howard County’s delegation is the first in the state to promote this initiative with its visit to Ireland.
Additionally, Jennifer Jones and Galway City’s Economic Development Administrative Officer Caitriona Morgan established an agreement that reflects a mutual interest in building a partnership between HCEDA and Galway. Focused on economic development, innovation and collaboration in the cybersecurity/IT and health tech sectors, the two parties agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation that would support Howard County's Global Gateway program and other initiatives that encourage business expansion and economic ties. This commitment lays the foundation for future formal agreements and collaborative projects.
Finally, the delegation visited the University of Galway, to discuss its growing international reputation based upon the quality of teaching and the global impacts of its research. With a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, MedTech, and the trades, the University and HCC will further discuss and foster collaborations to increase student opportunity.
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Ball and the delegation wrapped up their European Trade Mission in the United Kingdom (UK), where they visited Midlands Cyber in Birmingham. Currently, the State has an MOU with Midlands Cyber which has paved the way for a range of benefits for both regions. The Howard County delegation was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to promote this initiative.
The delegation then met with leaders from Birmingham City University to establish a relationship between the university and HCC. While at the university, the delegation toured STEAMhouse, a place where new ideas become reality. It is the city’s first center for collaborative innovation – a home to offices, digital labs, a makerspace, creative studios and co-working. With emphasis on the integration of arts into STEM, the delegation learned new and innovative ways to repurpose waste into purposeful use.
Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Finally, the delegation traveled to Cheltenham, UK, where members visited the city’s coworking space Hub8 MX to meet with local cyber cluster leaders, including the National Cyber Security Centre (equivalent to the United States’ Cyber Command) and CyNam, to establish business relationships.
Ball and the delegation also established a Letter of Intent (LOI) between the County, HCEDA, and Gloucestershire County Council and Cheltenham Borough Council, to work collaboratively on economic development initiatives. The LOI focuses on key sectors such as cybersecurity, digital technology, advanced engineering, agri-tech and health technologies, and emphasizes sharing knowledge and best practices in promoting startups, trade and workforce development. Ultimately, the LOI will serve as a precursor to a more detailed and binding agreement, symbolizing a mutual commitment to strengthen ties through joint activities and programs.
The delegation finished with a trip to the University of Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire College to learn more about the college’s apprenticeship program.
Here’s what others say:
“Howard County Maryland and the State of Maryland introduced Maryland based companies to the United Kingdom,” said Chris Anthony, Founder & CEO, Teamworx Security. “The overall trip was a great use of time which led to a solid understanding of potential opportunities to introduce US based cyber security companies and technology to the UK commercial market and the UK government. The UK boasts a quickly growing cyber security industry which is attractive to TeamWorx Security and other Maryland based technology companies.”
“IntelliGenesis, in collaboration with the Howard County Economic Development Authority, showcased CYBERSPAN® in the UK, engaging with key industry leaders to demonstrate how our AI-driven cybersecurity platform empowers companies to detect threats early and secure their operations,” said Jeremiah Jensen, COO, Intelligenisis. “CYBERSPAN® is designed to give these vital businesses the peace of mind needed to focus on growth without fear of cyber threats and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding businesses that are the backbone of the economy.”