10/10/05

UMBC News
Office of Media Relations • University of Maryland , Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle • Baltimore , MD 21250 • 410-455-3922

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Mike Lurie
Oct. 10, 2005 Office: 410-455-6380
Cellphone: 443-695-0262
mlurie@umbc.edu

‘ACTiVATE' PROGRAM RECRUITING WOMEN
FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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 second year. The program's second year will begin in January, 2006.
The Program is recruiting women with strong technical or business backgrounds who have an interest in high-tech entrepreneurship. Applications may be sent to Barbara Breslau, Program Manager, at breslau@umbc.edu, or by calling Ms. Breslau 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 16 or December 6, 2005. For more information about the ACTiVATE Program, visit the Web site at http://www.umbc.edu/activate . Leaders in the Greater Baltimore business community are encouraged to recommend candidates to Ms. Breslau.

*ACTiVATE – A chieving the C ommercialization of T echnology i n V entures through A pplied T raining for E ntrepreneurs