GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY TO HIGHLIGHT MARYLAND’S ‘INNOVATION ECONOMY’ WITH VISITS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY TODAY

Governor to meet with Novavax leadership and employees following multi-million dollar federal contract award;

Governor to help break ground on Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 7, 2011) – Governor Martin O’Malley will highlight Maryland’s “Innovation Economy” this morning with visits to two locations in Montgomery County that showcase our state’s competitive advantage in this new economy.

Governor O’Malley has championed initiatives to further expand Maryland’s biotech and life sciences industries, which spur innovation and create jobs even in tough times.  During this legislative session, Governor O’Malley has introduced legislation to create InvestMaryland, a $100 million venture capital initiative aimed at investing and growing Maryland’s innovation economy and creating jobs.

First, Governor O’Malley will stop by Novavax, a major life-sciences and biotechnology company headquartered in Rockville, on Monday to congratulate them on the award of a contract valued at up to $170 million for the advanced clinical and manufacturing development of vaccines for prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza.  Novavax has been awarded the three-year base contract by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an entity within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Novavax, Inc., founded in 1987, is a publicly-owned company headquartered in Rockville.  In 2010 Novavax was named one of the ten most innovative companies in the biotechnology industry by Fast Company magazine.

Then, Governor O’Malley will join Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and others at a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bioscience Education Center at the Germantown Campus of Montgomery College.  The Bioscience Education Center is part of a collaboration between the State of Maryland, Montgomery County, and Montgomery College called the Germantown Biotechnology Project.  The 127,000 square foot facility will feature state-of-the art laboratories and facilities that will house a unique and innovative education program – the Bioscience Education and Training Continuum – to provide bioscience education opportunities from middle school through post-doctoral work.  This facility is part of the campus’ overall plan to provide an instructional focus on the biotechnology industry, which will help supply a biotechnology workforce for the Montgomery County area.

“To make this new economy ours, we must make the right choices and investments to create jobs by spurring innovation, including innovation in the classroom, in science, discovery, healing, manufacturing, green energy and trade, and innovation in public health,” Governor O’Malley said during his 2011 State of the State address.  “We must heed President Obama’s call to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to visit Novavax, congratulate company on federal vaccine contract

WHEN:           TODAY, Monday, March 7, 2010 at 9:15 a.m.

WHERE:        Novavax

9920 Belward Campus Drive

Rockville, MD

WHAT:           Governor O’Malley to participate in groundbreaking of Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College

WHEN:           TODAY, Monday, March 7, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:        Montgomery College

                        Germantown Campus

20200 Observation Drive

Germantown, MD