Maryland Tech Council Launches Rural Technology Network to Accelerate Rural Innovation

New Network Will Boost Partnerships, Networking and Innovation on the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland

ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Maryland Tech Council (MTC), the largest technology and life sciences trade association in the state, today announced the launch of the Rural Technology Network, a new initiative to accelerate growth in rural Maryland’s technology ecosystem.

The Rural Technology Network will strengthen economic growth in rural Maryland through strategic business development and by offering companies enhanced access to networking, cost savings, education, mentorship and other resources. It also seeks to foster partnerships between the private sector, educational institutions, and local governments to enhance commercialization and grow the pipeline of local businesses and talent.

The Network will host inaugural events in Summer 2025.

“As a physician who has conducted research, I understand the benefits innovation can bring to patients while also promoting startup formation and growing our economy,” said Congressman Andy Harris, MD (MD-01). “Small businesses employ the majority of workers in the 1st congressional district. The Rural Technology Network will give the most innovative entrepreneurs in rural Maryland a new way to connect, grow, and create good-paying jobs for Marylanders.”

“Rural Maryland has all the assets needed to be a top technology ecosystem – a deep pool of industry talent, low cost of doing business, and strong research base,” said Kelly Schulz, Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Tech Council. “We created the Rural Technology Network to build a unified voice for the rural technology ecosystem, strengthen ties between industry and research institutions, and enable entrepreneurs to achieve their biggest ambitions right here in Maryland.”

"We are very excited to announce our participation in the new Rural Technology Network in Western Maryland,” said Richard Police, Director, Business Development of Clym Environmental Services, LLC. “We are proudly headquartered in Frederick, and are also proud to be opening a new environmentally friendly regulated waste processing facility in Frostburg that will be the only one of its kind in the United States. We look forward to helping to expand and support the burgeoning technology sector in Western Maryland through the Rural Technology Network."

“Biotechnology companies are discovering the unique advantages of locating in rural areas like Maryland’s Eastern Shore—lower operating costs, access to agricultural supply chains, and a strong sense of community,” said Mike Thielke, Executive Director of the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC). “The Rural Technology Network would play a vital role in supporting the infrastructure, talent connections, and pilot-scale capabilities these companies need to thrive."

Rural Maryland is a rapidly growing technology innovation hub. The Eastern Shore is home to emerging leaders in agritech, aquaculture, information technology, and aerospace, and Western Maryland hosts leaders in biotechnology, regenerative medicine, cyber security, and agritech.

To learn more about the Rural Technology Network and how to become a member of the Maryland Tech Council, organizations in Western Maryland may contact [e-mail], and organizations on the Eastern Shore may contact [e-mail].

About the Maryland Tech Council

The Maryland Tech Council (MTC) is a collaborative community that is actively engaged in building strong technology and life science industries by supporting the efforts of our individual members. We are the largest technology and life sciences trade association in the state of Maryland, and we provide value by giving members a forum to learn, share, and connect. MTC brings the region’s community together into a single, united organization that empowers our members to achieve their business goals through advocacy, networking and education. The vision for the Maryland Tech Council is to propel Maryland to become the number one innovation economy for life sciences and technology in the country. For more information: mdtechcouncil.com.