As we get ready to head into fall, the eighth annual Baltimore Innovation Week is approaching.

This year’s celebration of the local tech, innovation and entrepreneurship is set for Oct. 5-11. Returning as lead organizer for the second year, ETC (Emerging Technology Centers) is taking a collaborative approach, bringing together more than 55 partners from around the community to work together as they planned events.

With more than 40 events now scheduled, ETC is offering a first look at what to expect. Each of the seven days will be organized around a specific area. The goal was to create a calendar that makes it easy to attend multiple events throughout the day, at venues that are easy to reach. Plus, events are free (with the one exception being the closing Innovation Celebration).

And for the third year in a row, local coworking and makerspaces in the city are opening their doors for free drop-in day passes, tours and a caffeine boost as part of Coworking & Coffee.

Below, ETC provided info on each day’s theme, and some of the events that are on the schedule. Register and show where you’ll be with the hashtag #BIW19!

Saturday, Oct. 5:  Civic

• Theme: Developing Community Partnerships and Local Investment
• Presented by: Baltimore Tree Trust and Break A Difference

By working together, educating, empowering, and investing in the local community, change is possible. Attendees will experience firsthand how the newest technologies and dedicated community groups impact the people that live and work in Baltimore. Kicking off the week, volunteers will join nonprofit partners to plant trees in East Baltimore. Learn more about giving back to your community at a non-profit volunteer showcase and BBQ. In the afternoon, hear from a panel of experts about what new blockchain developments mean for Baltimoreans. Don’t miss the chance for you and your families to get involved in an immersive learning experience of robotics, drones, and coding.

The day’s events are co-led by Baltimore Tree Trust and Break A Difference. Partner organizations include Trekk Consulting and The Be Org.

Events include:

• Let’s Plant Trees & Volunteer Resource Fair (Baltimore Tree Trust & Break a Difference)
• What Is Blockchain For Baltimore: Putting Content in Context (Trekk Consulting @ The Startup Nest)
• Youth Tech Con (The Be Org)

Sunday, Oct. 6: Explore

• Theme: Showcase Baltimore’s Neighborhoods, Architecture, and History
• Presented by: Doors Open Baltimore

This is your chance to explore Baltimore’s neighborhoods and peek inside the city’s most stunning spaces, while meaningfully connecting with the built environment and the people who design, build, preserve and carry out amazing work for our city. Gain access to Charm City’s wealth of architecture and explore its neighborhoods during a citywide open house. Get the inside story on Baltimore’s iconic buildings on special tours led by architects and designers at Doors Open Baltimore, organized by Baltimore Architecture Foundation & AIA Baltimore.

Monday, Oct. 7: Science & Education

• Theme: Building a Pipeline for Meaningful Change
• Presented by: University of Baltimore andStartup Maryland

Every day, technology is being developed to provide people with the knowledge and tools to successfully execute ideas and build products that make a difference. At the University of Baltimore, watch students pitch their ideas to the University’s entrepreneurial experts on the Startup Maryland Bus. Then head over to Impact Hub Baltimore and enjoy a happy hour while learning from the Teachers Founders Network about how former teachers are using their skills to improve all areas of education; from digital lesson planning to budget management, and mental health support for teachers and students.

The day’s events are co-led by University of Baltimore and Startup Maryland. Partner organizations include Common Curriculum, Lifebridge Health, Johns Hopkins FastForwardU, and Teachers Founders Network. Events include

Events include:

• Startup Maryland Bus @ University of Baltimore (UB, Startup Maryland)
• Happy Hour & Teachers Founders Network Panel (Common Curriculum @ Impact Hub Baltimore)

Tuesday, Oct 8: Creative & Media

• Theme: Designing the Future of Technology
• Presented by: Enradius, MICA/BCAN

Technology has evolved into a fully immersive and necessary part of our everyday lives. Learn how Baltimore is creating and using new technology to impact the world in physical and digital art, marketing, and product development. Visit MICA in the morning to see how students are turning artistic vision into biotechnology by exploring intriguing ideas and projects where creative thinking grounded in science can generate significant change. Then, spend the afternoon at the B&O Railroad Museum, where you’ll hear expert panelists discuss ecommerce, shipping, online marketing and the 2020 election. Afterwards, experience the advances of AR and VR and see how the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund in Film is connecting the Baltimore creative community.

The day’s events are co-led by Enradius and MICA. Partner organizations include Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund in Film, Byte.lion.

Events include:

• Art & Biology w/ Ryan Hoover (MICA)
• Augmented Reality + Virtual Reality Event (MICA & Saul Zaentz Innovation + Media Fund)
•  Rails to the Online Highway – Marketing Innovation Redefined: E-Commerce & Logistics (Enradius @ B&O Railroad Museum)
•  Rails to the Online Highway – Marketing Innovation Redefined: Mobile Marketing (Enradius @ B&O Railroad Museum)
•  Rails to the Online Highway – Marketing Innovation Redefined: Vote 2020 (Enradius @ B&O Railroad Museum)
•  Rails to the Online Highway – Marketing Innovation Redefined: Happy Hour (Enradius @ B&O Railroad Museum)
• Ultra Lean Product Design & Happy Hour (Byte.lion’s @ Clark Burger Harbor East)

Wednesday: Oct 9 – Dev @ 1100 Wicomico

• Theme: Innovation Under Development
• Presented by: Harbor Designs & 1100 Wicomico

The day consists of educational programming regarding innovative technology, software development, tech projects, Maryland startups, LIVE Demos, an Entrepreneur Fair, and a Made In Baltimore Sourcing & Supplier Fair. Expect panel discussions showcasing technologies of the future, funding and startups, plus technology innovation in products and software. The interactive LIVE Demo area features EcoMap of Baltimore, a local Battle Bot from the Science Channel’s “Battle of The Beasts”, and Balti Virtual’s Virtual and Augmented Reality showcase. The day’s events are co-led by Harbor Designs & Manufacturing and 1100 Wicomico. Partner organizations include F3 Tech, Made in Baltimore, Smartlogic, and Startup Grind Columbia.

Events include:

• Networking & Coffee (1100 Wicomico)
• An Introduction to React Native (SmartLogic)
• Developing a successful engineering apprentice program (SmartLogic)
• 1100 Wicomico Company Tours (1100 Wicomico)
• 5 things you need to know about finding your customer (Startup Grind Columbia)
• Technology’s rise in the maker movement (Made in Baltimore)
• Made in Baltimore Sourcing & Supplier fair
• Entrepreneur Showcase: Inventions you had no idea were made here, featuring live demos with BaltiVirtual AR & VR, Mammoth Celebrity BattleBot, Baltimore EcoMap
• Agriculture and Technology (F3Tech & Mid-Atlantic Farm Credit)
• Technologies of the Future (MD MEP, Nemphos Braue)
• Show me the Money (Squadra)
• Technical.ly Baltimore Awards & RealLIST Engineers
• Dev Happy Hour (Nemphos Braue & Technical.ly)

Thursday, Oct 10: Business @ ETC

• Theme: Entrepreneurship Tools for Success
• Presented by: ETC and U.S. Commercial Service Maryland

The journey of growing a successful business is difficult to navigate when new technology is constantly being developed and changing faster than ever. Listen to industry leaders explain how attendees can use these new advancements to their advantage in a series of discussions and showcases. Hear how remote workers are changing the way we think about coworking and the future of the workplace. Marketing and business professionals share their knowledge on how CRM & Loyalty Marketing can generate company-wide adoption, success for the business, and most importantly, stronger, more meaningful relationships with their customers. Startups, small businesses, and freelancers learn how engaging in global markets can increase their chances of building a stable, sustainable business. In the evening, network and connect with local business owners at StartupGrind Baltimore.

The day’s events are co-led by ETC (Emerging Technology Centers) and the US Commercial Service Maryland. Partner organizations include Response Labs, Founders Approach, StartupGrind Baltimore and Towson Incubator.

Events include:

• The Future of CoWorking: Travel with Entrepreneurs & Remote Workers (Founders Approach)
• CRM & Loyalty Marketing Symposium (Response Labs)
• Simple Steps to Global Success (U.S. Commercial Service)
• Business Day Happy Hour (U.S. Commercial Service, Startup Grind)
• Startup Grind Baltimore
• EdTech Innovation Showcase (Towson Incubator)

Friday, Oct. 11: Access @ OpenWorks

• Theme: Increasing Equitable Access & Inclusion in Baltimore’s Social Innovation Ecosystem
• Presented by: Innovation Works

Baltimore’s neighborhoods and the Baltimoreans who call these neighborhoods home are the best source of how to innovatively transform Baltimore for the better. Expert panelists will explore how certain platforms are working to make data and technology more accessible and relevant to Baltimoreans. There will be a focus on best practice models and the challenges of making social innovation accessible through innovative funding practices. Hear from Baltimore’s own innovators who are using entrepreneurship disciplines to transform Baltimore equitably.

The day’s events are led by Innovation Works. Partner organizations include Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA), Think|Stack, and EcoMap.

Events include:

• Data & Technology in Social Innovation (Innovation Works, Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance (BNIA), Think|Stack, and EcoMap)
• Social Innovation at the Neighborhood Level (Innovation Works)
• Lunch & Social Enterprise Expo (Innovation Works)
• Bridging the Capital Divide: Investing in Social Innovation (Innovation Works)
• Baltimore Entrepreneurs: Faces of Social Innovation (Innovation Works)

BIW officially closes on Friday night at the Innovation Celebration.

This is the largest celebration of the BIW week, showcasing the city’s collaborative, forward-thinking people, products, and organizations. This celebration also serves as a kickoff for the National Society of Black Engineers’ Baltimore Metropolitan Area Chapter’s Minority Innovation Weekend, which includes amazing speakers, sessions, and culminates in a pitch competition, where the top two winners will each receive a complimentary six-month membership in the ETC’s IncubateBaltimore program.

Baltimore Innovation Week is organized by ETC (Emerging Technology Centers) with support from founder Technical.ly. Sponsors include Maryland Department of Commerce, Response Labs, Innovation Works, Andre Bean Brand Architecture, Boho Marketing Co., SmartLogic, Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Loyola University, University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate School.