Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a series of new foreign direct investment partnerships during the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit, as the state continues efforts to strengthen its position as a hub for international business, technology and life sciences investment.
Held annually in National Harbor, the summit is organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and is the nation’s leading event focused on attracting foreign direct investment. According to organizers, last year’s summit contributed to $139 billion in investment projects and supported more than 32,000 jobs across the United States.
Governor Moore and Aruna Miller met with international business leaders and government delegations from Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Australia to promote Maryland as a destination for global investment.
“The companies represented here today are not playing for second, and neither is Maryland,” said Governor Moore. He highlighted the state’s research ecosystem, including institutions such as NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Johns Hopkins University, as key drivers of innovation and economic growth.
Among the announcements was the launch of a Maryland-Korea Trade Desk, designed to strengthen commercial engagement with Korean companies and support future investment opportunities. The initiative builds on Maryland’s recent trade missions to Japan and South Korea and comes as Korean firms continue expanding operations in the state.
Companies including Samsung Biologics and Nature Cell have invested in Maryland facilities in recent years, while Maryland-based IonQ is supporting South Korea’s national quantum technology strategy through deployment of advanced quantum systems.
Governor Moore also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Maryland Technology Development Corporation and Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. The agreement is expected to support startup collaboration, co-investment opportunities and international market expansion between Maryland and Jordanian technology companies.
In addition, South African life sciences startup Impulse Biomed joined Maryland’s Global Gateway soft landing program and will establish operations at The LaunchPort in Baltimore.
Impulse Biomed develops medical technologies focused on asthma and allergy treatment, including accessible inhaler devices and reloadable emergency injectors.
The announcements reflect Maryland’s broader strategy to attract international companies in sectors including biotechnology, quantum computing, aerospace and advanced manufacturing as competition for global investment intensifies across U.S. states.
