The visit, aimed at bringing foreign investment to the United States, included virtual reality demonstrations from the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing.
On April 30, 2026, more than 30 visitors from around the world joined researchers from the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC) inside the HoloCamera studio, where 300 cameras are used to create virtual reality scenarios that enable viewers to “step into” a scene and view it from all angles.
Staff of the UM-IHC demonstrated three virtual modules: a “digital double” of an animatronic heart, an interactive human anatomical model complete with animated organs, and a 3D training simulation representing a common stroke scenario created for physician assistant students.
The demonstrations “made a clear impression about the university’s cutting-edge research in imaging, immersive media and next-generation visualization technologies,” said Sammy Popat, the University of Maryland’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem catalyst. “We were so pleased that the delegation got to witness these UM-IHC capabilities.”
The group—including business leaders from South Korea, Myanmar, Brazil, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Kenya, and Bulgaria—was a delegation of SelectUSA, a national forum led by the U.S. Department of Commerce dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment in the United States.
“For most of the visitors, it was the first time they’d seen what this type of technology can do,” said Sujal Bista, who directs UM-IHC’s immersive visualization research. “It was very exciting to introduce them to our work and see their positive reactions.”
The delegation visited ahead of SelectUSA’s Investment Summit—held in Washington, D.C., this year—and also stopped in UMD’s Discovery District.
“Events like this highlight our deep commitment to fostering collaborations among academia, industry and international partners,” said Amitabh Varshney, dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and a professor of computer science at UMD. “It is these partnerships that drive innovation, create economic opportunity and position Maryland as a premier destination for tech-based founders and investors.”
Adam Porter, UM-IHC co-executive director, also a professor of computer science at UMD, agreed.
“These visits and tech demonstrations are a great way to showcase UMD and the UM-IHC as high-level resources and value-add for any international businesses considering making Maryland their U.S. home,” he said.
