Baltimore Business Journal

Competition. Without it, we all would get a little soft, somewhat complacent.

In the case of University of Maryland, Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University, fierce competition, friendly or not, is a boon for the region's health care and the city's redevelopment efforts.

Both universities have embarked on planned biotech parks on opposite sides of downtown -- Hopkins on the east and University of Maryland on the west. Some economic development leaders say the two parks could have pitted the rivals in a nasty battle for funding, clients and attention. Instead, the two schools so far are working with local economic development officials to find ways to promote the entire region, not just their individual parks, as a bioscience mecca.