October 2021 Industry Spotlight
Explosive Growth at Galen Robotics
Galen Robotics was founded in 2016 to commercialize the research done in the Laboratory of Computational Sensing and Robotics of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Kevin Olds and Dr. Russell Taylor invented the Robotic ENT Microsurgical System (REMS) at JHU to prevent the complications caused by hand tremor in minimally invasive otolaryngological interventions. Galen is expanding on this vision and technology.
Since relocating to Baltimore from Silicon Valley, Galen Robotics has experienced explosive growth, more than tripling the number of employees and quadrupling our manufacturing space while investing millions of dollars in the local economy. The City of Baltimore, Business Development Corp., has played an integral role in the success of Galen Robotics, and thanks in part to that support, Galen is very close to filing their first FDA submission for the Galen microsurgical robot, a key step to building a medical device ecosystem here in Baltimore.
"Since we moved here from California 18 months ago, Baltimore has shown us its wonderful communities, world-class universities and hospital systems, and impressive talent pool, plus a number of City and State programs that really work for startups. We have made incredible progress, and we truly thank the City of Baltimore, as well as our Baltimorean team members, several whom relocated to Baltimore from out of state. Our internship program continues to prove to be extremely effective for our Engineering and Marketing teams, who are helping to shape the future of Galen Robotics. We are proud to call this city our new home." - Bruce Lichorowic, President & CEO of Galen Robotics
Learn more about Galen Robotics here: https://www.galenrobotics.com/
Stanley Black & Decker is Driving Innovation
Greater Baltimore has a proud industrial heritage as the birthplace of many game-changing mechanical inventions. The Black & Decker Corporation was founded in Baltimore in 1910 by S. Duncan Black and Alonzo G. Decker. In 1917, Black & Decker established a larger factory in Baltimore County, where the company – which became Stanley Black & Decker after the 2010 merger with Stanley Works – continues to headquarter its Global Tools & Storage division.
Named by Fast Company as one of the 100 Best Workplaces For Innovators in 2020, Stanley Black & Decker CEO Jim Loree commented in the July 31, 2020 press release: "As we enter the fourth industrial revolution, we continue to aspire to be known as one of the world's leading innovators and serve those who make the world. In today's era, the acceleration of emerging technology and rapidly changing customer needs require digital tools, better analytics and extreme innovation. To us, that means innovation everywhere, of everything, by everyone."
Over the past three years, Stanley Black & Decker and accelerator program company Techstars have worked together in advanced manufacturing by accelerating startups that are building solutions using technologies such as 3D printing, bio-based materials, robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence. They recently announced the renewal of their partnership and the 2022 STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator investment theme: electrification.
After three years in Connecticut, the program is moving to Baltimore as part of Stanley Black & Decker and Techstars collaboration with UpSurge Baltimore. The expanded collaboration places high priority on building a diverse cohort of founders.
“Stanley Black & Decker is focused on being one of most innovative companies in the world and believes electrification creates new opportunities for design and function. We are energized by the strength of our STANLEY+Techstars partnership, which will leverage our joint global networks to advance the most disruptive innovations to revolutionize electrification and drive the sustainable energy economy for our commercial and industrial customers.” - Mark Maybury, Chief Technology Officer, Stanley Black & Decker
Learn more about the STANLEY+Techstars Accelerator in Baltimore: https://www.techstars.com/accelerators/stanley
Spotlight on New, Web-based Manufacturing Tools & Insights
The Maryland Department of Labor (MD DoL) has unveiled new, web-based tools developed in conjunction with Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland (RMI) to help manufacturers find solutions to workforce challenges. Tools include a map showing how accessible manufacturing jobs are via public transit, a tool to query detailed industry data, and occupational wage information.
As Adam Greeney, Chief Economist, Office of Workforce Information, MD DoL, notes in a video introducing the new tools (view video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZMS-GCxQRE), the Transit Accessibility Map reveals that "70% of the manufacturing establishments around the state are within a half mile of public transit." The new Map can be used by job seekers and by manufacturers as a recruitment tool in communications with potential job seekers.
Explore the new Transit Accessibility for Manufacturing Map: https://labor.maryland.gov/lmi/industrypublictransit/mfg.shtml
Other new tools from MD DoL include:
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Wage and occupation data: https://labor.maryland.gov/lmi/wages/
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Industry analysis tool: https://www.labor.maryland.gov/QCEW
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Recent employment by industry: https://labor.maryland.gov/lmi/ces/