High tech science and biochemistry have made their mark on the Maryland economy, from the Human Genome Project in Rockville to the growing band of stem cell research firms forming in the Baltimore region.
This week the Maryland Technology Development Corp. brought together 250 people working in the field of informatics ? high-tech data mining and analysis ? to discuss how they can share their resources and the technology being developed through private industry, the government and academics.
“You?ve got information technology and medical devices and biotech all converging together around informatics,” said Renee Winsky, deputy director of TEDCO. “They all have lots of information the way they look at it and analyze it is very similar.”
Using computing to enhance human abilities to think, reason and discover is driving the state?s computer and electronic industry ? the state?s largest manufacturing employer, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics.
Computer manufacturing jobs in Maryland number 22,934, or nearly 17 percent of the state?s manufacturing work force.
Workers in the field take home more than $1.7 billion in wages.
The second-largest industry is food production, with more than 14,000 workers, while printing ranks third with nearly 13,000 workers.
These industries each generate about $500 million.
This is the first year the census has separated the computer and electronics industries in compiling their statistics.
The statistics indicate Maryland?s push to move away from traditional manufacturing toward more high-tech industries may be working.
Staff Writer David Francis contributed to this report.
Stem cell companies operating in Maryland
» Osiris Therapeutics Inc.
» Theradigm Inc. -East
» Cognate BioServices Inc.
» RNL Biostar (The Korea-based firm established a local satellite office in Rockville.)
Source: Maryland Stem Cell Commission
