CONTACT:
Mike Lurie
Office: 410-455-6380
Cellphone: 443-695-0262
mlurie@umbc.edu

BALTIMORE -- The UMBC ACTiVATE* Program, an innovative, year-long program sponsored by a grant from the National Science Foundation to train women to become technology entrepreneurs, is accepting applications for its third year. The program’s second year will begin in January, 2007.

The Program is recruiting women with strong technical or business backgrounds who have an interest in high-tech entrepreneurship. Applications may be sent to the ACTiVATE Program Manager at techcenter@umbc.edu. Questions can be directed to the Program Manager at 443-543-5594.

Participants will access technology inventions from universities and research institutions in Maryland, put together plans to commercialize suitable technologies and, potentially, start new companies. The ACTiVATE Program will provide technologies, training, and support infrastructure for participants, including instructors, entrepreneurs in residence, and advisors from the local business community.

Classes will be held on Thursday evenings and one Saturday a month at techcenter@UMBC, located just minutes from Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

Interested women are invited to attend one of our open houses on November 8 or December 7, 2006 at the techcenter@UMBC or, on Nov. 28 in Rockville at Rockville Economic Development, Inc., 95 Monroe Street, Rockville, Md. For more information about the ACTiVATE Program, visit the Web site at www.umbc.edu/activate. Leaders in the Greater Baltimore business community are encouraged to recommend candidates to the Program Manager.

For additional information, please see www.umbc.edu/activate/openhouse.htm.

*ACTiVATE – Achieving the Commercialization of Technology in Ventures through Applied Training for Entrepreneurs