Tech at the Gap will return for its ninth year this fall, bringing industry professionals, students, and entrepreneurs from across the Mid-Atlantic to explore the future of technology in Western Maryland. Hosted by the Western Maryland I.T. Center of Excellence, Tech at the Gap 2025: Pioneering Possibility will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Rocky Gap Casino Resort in Flintstone, Maryland.What began as a small-scale event of around 100 participants has more than doubled in size, evolving into a top-tier regional showcase for innovation and technology. “It's hard to believe that we’ve been holding this conference for nine years,” said Autumn Becker, Executive Director of the Western Maryland I.T. Center of Excellence. “It's incredibly rewarding to see how we've grown and how we've fostered some great relationships. Some of which include our sponsors, Allegany County Economic and Community Development, TEDCO, and the Maryland Tech Council, which have been supporting us since the very beginning.”Beyond its growth in attendance, Tech at the Gap has expanded in scope. Originally focused on highlighting tech trends in IT, the conference has evolved into a platform that elevates the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem of Western Maryland. “We've been able to highlight what's happening in the IT, tech, cyber, and AI industries,” said Becker. “But, we've found our niche in being able to highlight what's really happening in Western Maryland and what's unique to our region that makes us stand out.”This year’s theme, Pioneering Possibility, emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurial thinking as a catalyst for innovation. The idea is simple: whether it’s applied within emerging tech startups or established organizations, adopting the entrepreneurial mindset empowers individuals to drive change, develop new solutions, and lead with agility in an evolving digital landscape.“All of our keynote and breakout presenters are entrepreneurs in their own right,” noted Becker. “Or they've embraced that entrepreneurial spirit within the organization they work for—taking new, cutting-edge technology, a lot of times related to AI, and implementing it into their workplace. They're developing new products and new processes within their organization and really being key players in that realm.”The same spirit extends to the next generation of innovators as well. While not designed specifically as a student conference, the event draws emerging talent and fresh ideas and offers a launching point for those looking to innovate, build, and contribute to the region’s growing tech economy.Each year, Tech at the Gap features expert voices across cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence, and innovation. From seasoned executives to creative technologists, the conference offers insights that resonate with both creative technologists and emerging leaders. Here’s a preview of the dynamic keynote speakers who will lead this year’s conversations:

When Clym Environmental Services announced its plans to bring a new kind of medical waste facility to Frostburg, Maryland, the promise was forward-thinking: a zero-emission, solar-powered system that could eliminate the need for incineration or autoclaving while keeping plastics out of landfills. Now, about a year and a half later, the project is entering its final phase thanks to a strong network of state and local partners. According to Clym President and Managing Member Charles Watts, the company spent the past 18 to 24 months pressure-testing its model with industry partners and technical benchmarks, and the results have been promising.“We have been quietly approaching the pharmaceutical industry, and we've been testing the concept to see if sustainable regulated medical waste management is something that is indeed of interest to the pharmaceutical industry,” said Watts. “We've been able to prove that it's achievable and readily achievable.”

Aquatic Circle, an emerging leader in sustainable aquaculture water filtration technology, has secured a major boost in funding from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program—an award that will help fast-track its entry into the industrial aquaculture sector. The funding supports a new collaboration with researchers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Laboratory (UMCES) to develop and evaluate a self-cleaning water filtration system designed for brackish and saltwater shrimp farming.This MIPS award is the latest in a series of strategic investments backing Aquatic Circle’s work, including support from TEDCO, the University of Maryland, and Allegany County’s CleanTech Research & Development Grant. These resources have enabled the startup to expand research, build and test prototypes, and move its innovative technology closer to commercialization.“It always feels good when other people actually believe in what I believe in,” Minh Dung Hoang, founder of Aquatic Circle, said. “It’s hard to convince people that there’s new technology out there that actually might change the industry since the industry has existed for thousands of years.”

In its seventh year, the Pathways in Technology Early College High (P-Tech) program has empowered high school students to attain cybersecurity degrees alongside real-life work experience. With eleven alumni and another twelve students set to graduate this May, the program is forging a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity workers in Allegany County. This initiative aims to bolster Western Maryland as an up-and-coming technology-centered region.Allegany County Public Schools (ACPS) and the Western Maryland IT Center of Excellence (IT Center) established the program in 2017. It is one of the seven P-Tech programs currently established in Maryland.