As part of BioBuzz’s Off the Record event —hosted at the EMINENT Life Sciences Campus in Frederick, Maryland—the second fireside chat brought together two powerhouse voices working at the intersection of policy, science, and biomanufacturing.
Titled “Manufacturing to Impact,” the conversation featured Kelly Schulz, CEO of the Maryland Tech Council and former Secretary of Commerce and Labor, alongside Dr. Tim Fouts, Chief Scientific Officer at Advanced Bioscience Laboratory(ABL). Together, they explored how Maryland can strengthen its biotech infrastructure and scale scientific discoveries into therapies that transform lives.
With Schulz’s deep-rooted experience in economic development and workforce policy, and Fouts’ extensive background in virology, translational research, and CDMO innovation, the dialogue spotlighted the critical need to unite investment, infrastructure, and storytelling to fuel the region’s biotech potential.
Key Highlights
Manufacturing Is Mission-Critical to Maryland’s Bioeconomy
As CEO of the Maryland Tech Council, Kelly Schulz emphasized the state’s role as the third-largest biotech ecosystem in the U.S. — yet still often overlooked on the national stage. She noted the need to build beyond innovation into scalable commercialization, workforce development, and infrastructure investment.
Cost, Complexity & Customization — Finding The Right Model
Fouts explained the growing divide between academic CDMOs (faster, lower cost) and commercial CDMOs (more rigorous, but expensive). Academic manufacturing can help accelerate early-stage innovation, but transitioning to industry-grade production often requires a complete overhaul.
The Biggest Bottleneck? Infrastructure Investment
Maryland has talent and IP — but lacks targeted funding for biomanufacturing infrastructure. Fouts noted that while many investors support products, few support the tools and platforms that make those products viable. He likened it to farming: “If you teach someone to grow, they can feed themselves forever.”
Scientists Must Speak Up
Both Schulz and Fouts challenged the biotech community to embrace advocacy.
“If these therapies work, they can be life-changing,” said Fouts. “But we can’t stay quiet. We have to advocate.”
They argued that scientists and executives alike must learn to tell the human stories behind the science—making the case not just for new treatments, but for the systems and funding that make them possible.
“It’s going to take an entire community to step up and ask: Who are we, what do we want, and how do we continue to make progress—just like other leading regions are doing?” — Kelly Schulz
A Regional Call to Action
The chat closed with a rallying message to the ecosystem. Schulz called on attendees to become active stewards of Maryland’s biotech future, driving bold ideas with bold infrastructure.“It’s not just about research or innovation,” she said. “It’s about building an ecosystem that moves with purpose — from bench to bedside — and telling the stories that inspire belief.”
That message left an impression on many in the room
“I’ve been thinking about a few biotech business ideas lately,” shared Sneha Saggurthi, “and the panel on distributed manufacturing gave me a new lens to revisit them. It shifted how I see the future of the industry and where I might fit into it.”
As the Off the Record series continues, conversations like this are laying the groundwork—not just for new therapies, but for a stronger, more connected innovation economy. One where Maryland doesn’t just follow the path forward—it helps shape it.
