Midlands Engine concludes cyber security agreement with US specialists

Sir John Peace

The chairman of the Midlands Engine has signed a new agreement forging closer links between cyber security firms in Worcestershire and their counterparts in the UNited States.

Sir John Peace joined US Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Commerce in signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which strengthens a relationship first forged last year when a delegation from Worcestershire visited Maryland to sgare latest intel.

The agreement is designed to promote economic development, assist cybersecurity companies in Maryland and the Midlands, and attract investments in each region. As part of the agreement, an exchange program has been developed, by which UK cyber companies will visit Maryland to explore the US market and to establish or increase a presence in the US, and Maryland cyber companies will visit the Midlands region for similar purposes.

The MOU follows a five-day cyber event in Worcestershire earlier this month, where companies from Maryland visited the Midlands to learn more about the business opportunities currently available between the two regions.

Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Marches LEP and Skylon Park Hereford Enterprise Zone hosted the return mission from Baltimore, in partnership with the Department for International Trade and Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce. The delegation formed part of a programme of trade and investment missions between the Midlands and the US, which are scheduled to run unitl 2018.

Sir John Peace said: “I’m delighted that we have signed this Memorandum of Understanding with Maryland, an internationally recognised cyber-security leader, with the world’s largest concentrations of cyber security companies.

“This builds on the successful CyberMaryland Conference in 2016 and a reciprocal visit earlier this month, where companies from across the Midlands and Maryland forged mutually beneficial partnerships. The MOU will further business development opportunities between the two regions and build relationships to grow our internationally-renowned cyber-locations.”

Larry Hogan, US Governor, added: “Today’s agreement with Midlands Engine will foster economic development, build our cybersecurity sectors, and spur economic growth in both the U.S. and the U.K. This exciting partnership will open up markets and opportunities for our cyber companies, allow cyber experts to share information and technologies, and further cement Maryland’s standing as the cybersecurity capital of America.”

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