UMD Joins Greater Washington Partnership’s Capital CoLAB

The University of Maryland announced today it has joined the Capital CoLAB (Collaborative of Leaders in Academia and Business) in an effort to help drive innovation and groundbreaking digital technology education in the region. Launched by the Greater Washington Partnership, the collaboration is a first-of-its-kind alliance of university and business leaders who have come together to take action to strengthen the capital region­, spanning Baltimore to Richmond, and position the region as a leading global hub for innovation. The initiative is a milestone in the capital region coming together, across sectors and geographic boundaries, to harness the region’s unique strengths and growth potential.

Connecting the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia’s leading higher education institutions and employers through multi-university and multi-business initiatives, the CoLAB will help realize the full potential of the capital region’s assets at unmatched scale and drive future economic growth, opportunity and prosperity. The Collaborative’s overall efforts will center on three broad areas: developing the talent and workforce the region needs now and in the future; developing cutting-edge technology capabilities to position the region for global leadership; and improving awareness of the super-region as a leading innovation hub.

“Working together, we can prepare a new generation of workers and business leaders, as well as the technology that will create new industries,” said University of Maryland President Wallace D. Loh. “The power of this initiative can be seen in our many successful partnerships."

Capital CoLAB will initially work on two major initiatives. The first will create unique regionwide credentials to increase the quantity and quality of digital technology talent emerging from local undergraduate programs. Developed jointly by businesses and universities, the credentials will be recognized by regional businesses as differentiators in hiring and deploying talent. The Business-Higher Education Forum is partnering with the Collaborative to develop student pathways to earn the credentials. The digital technology credentials are part of the Business Roundtable’s new Workforce Partnership Initiative (WPI)to tackle current and future skills development challenges and drive economic growth in seven regions, including the capital region, around the United States.

The second will showcase the region’s leadership in important digital technology innovations. The Tech Showcase will highlight the “best of” innovative research, technology application and thought-leadership. The event will reinforce the value of strong partnerships between academic institutions, industry and government and elevate the perception of the capital region as a producer of digital technology research and top talent.

“Today’s launch of the Capital CoLAB is a landmark moment, signaling the progress our region has made in breaking down barriers and coming together. Our region has enormous potential to become a leader in the global economy for years to come, but only if we work together to leverage our strengths across sectors and disciplines. The strength of this group of leading businesses and educational institutions is profound and demonstrates the uniqueness of the capital region,” said Jason Miller, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Washington Partnership.

In addition to UMD, the Collaborative includes American University, Georgetown University, George Mason University, Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, University System of Maryland and University of Richmond, as well as Capital One, Exelon, EY, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Medimmune, MedStar Health, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, McKinsey & Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Under Armour.

The capital region has the third largest digital technology workforce in the United States. The region’s institutions contribute to one of the most robust and interconnected environments for innovation in the world.

About the Greater Washington Partnership

The Greater Washington Partnership is a first-of-its-kind civic alliance of CEOs in the region, drawing from the leading employers and entrepreneurs committed to making the capital region—from Baltimore to Richmond—one of the world’s best places to work, raise a family and build a business. Working in collaboration with leaders across our communities, the Partnership connects and leverages the region’s extraordinary assets to advance inclusive, actionable solutions that strengthen Greater Washington as a leading global region and center for commerce and innovation.