KEY INDUSTRIES
AT-A-GLANCE
Baltimore is home to thousands of institutions and businesses that foster an innovative spirit among locals and visitors alike . The city boasts world-class advancement across our key industries , thanks to continuing investment and growth among local makers and creative entrepreneurs who are making waves both in our neighborhoods and across the nation .
HEALTHCARE & BIOSCIENCES
• Maryland ’ s leading insurer , CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield , has its regional headquarters here in Baltimore , as do the federal government ’ s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Together , these companies provide more than 10,000 jobs to the Greater Baltimore area .
• Maryland receives more federal R & D dollars per worker than any other state , and has the highest concentration of employed science and health PhD holders .
• More than $ 700 million was invested in Greater Baltimore ’ s life sciences companies between 2019 and 2021 .
• A historic leader in the field , the University of Maryland Medical Center ( UMMC ) created the world ’ s first Shock Trauma center — and the firsts haven ’ t stopped there . In 2019 , UMMC pioneered drone-operated organ transportation for transplants , and in 2022 , doctors at UMMC performed the first pig-to-human heart transplant .
HIGHER EDUCATION
• Baltimore ’ s metro region has 15 four-year institutions that educate 100,000 students each year , plus seven two-year colleges with nearly 200,000 students .
• Baltimore is home to the # 7 national university ( Johns Hopkins ). JHU also ranks first among U . S . colleges and universities in total National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) awards , including grants and contracts for research , development , training and fellowships ($ 824.9 million ).
• Two of Maryland ’ s four historically Black colleges and universities ( HBCUs ) are based in Baltimore : Morgan State University and Coppin State University .
SOURCES : Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore , U . S . News & World Report
GOVERNMENT & DEFENSE CONTRACTING
• Maryland ranks # 7 in total defense spending and # 1 in grant spending per capita .
• Defense spending of $ 26.3 billion statewide works out to over $ 4,311 per resident , more than double the national average .
• Maryland has 20 military facilities supporting chemical and biological defense R & D , military intelligence , cybersecurity and more . Nearby Fort George G . Meade is the state ’ s biggest employer .
• Maryland ’ s 10,000 + aerospace and defense contractors generate more than $ 39 billion a year .
SOURCES : US Department of Defense , Maryland Department of Commerce , Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore
SOURCES : Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore , Maryland Department of Commerce
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