Biotechgate is in close partnership with the Maryland Department of Commerce. In an interview with Ulyana Desiderio, the Director of the Department’s Office of Life Science, she tells Biotechgate about her experience with the partnership and her work in the state’s life science ecosystem.
Ulyana Desiderio is Director of the Office of Life Science at the Maryland Department of Commerce, the state’s primary economic development agency aiming to stimulate private investment, attract new businesses, and promote Maryland’s local economy. Ulyana has been working at the Maryland Department of Commerce for more than two years and brings over two decades of experience in the life science industry. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
As part of Biotechgate’s collaboration with the Maryland Department of Commerce, it is for example providing the Maryland Life Sciences Directory – a free tool for exploring more than 1,400 profiles of companies active in Maryland’s robust life science market. Biotechgate also published the Life Science Trend Analysis for Maryland, with significant contribution from Maryland Department of Commerce.
Recently, Biotechgate had the chance to interview Ulyana about her role in supporting life science companies in Maryland, as well as her experience with Biotechgate and Digital Partnering conferences.
Biotechgate: Ulyana, what is your role in the Maryland Department of Commerce?
Ulyana: In my role as the Director of the Office of Life Sciences, at the Maryland Department of Commerce, I support the growth of Maryland’s life sciences community focusing on job creation, capital investment, new business formation, and business attraction.
B: How does Maryland Department of Commerce support life science companies?
U: As the state’s primary economic development agency, Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, as well as providing workforce training and financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department also promotes the state’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment and trade.
B: With this work, your department is setting an important foundation in Maryland’s life science business landscape. How do you use the Maryland Life Sciences Directory to support your companies?
U: We use the Directory to facilitate business-to-business connections between Maryland companies as well as connecting our companies with potential partners, clients or investors from outside of the state or the country. We also use the Directory in our business attraction efforts – our biotech and medtech sector statistics help us showcase the strength of our life sciences ecosystem.
B: Have you attended any edition of Biotechgate Digital Partnering? If so, how would you compare it to other life science conferences?
U: I have participated in several Biotechgate Digital Partnering events and made useful connections with potential partners. Importantly, many Maryland companies join these events and their feedback has been positive. It was very important to our companies to have access to partnering and other business development opportunities during the pandemic. I think everyone appreciates the flexibility of digital partnering events, and the quarterly schedule that is easy to plan for.
B: What has been your experience of partnering with Biotechgate to date?
U: We really appreciate our partnership with Biotechgate, it has been a wonderful experience to build, expand and maintain our Directory. Biotechgate provides excellent customer service and has continuously adjusted to the evolving needs of our industry. We are especially grateful for all the extra reporting and graphics Biotechgate provides upon request, which makes us understand and appreciate our sector even more!
B: To conclude with a more personal question: What do you enjoy most about working in the life science industry?
U: I trained as a biochemist, so I still very much enjoy being around the life sciences and keeping up with the latest advances in science and technology. Maryland is rich in biotech, medtech and everything in between, so I learn something new every day! I also respect and admire our industry for serving patients with life-threatening and debilitating diseases.
B: Thank you for your time, Ulyana! We greatly appreciate our close collaboration over the years and look forward to further supporting you in strengthening Maryland’s economic development!