Overview
Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) promotes the development and commercialization of products and processes through industry/university research partnerships. MIPS provides matching funds to help Maryland companies pay for the university research. Projects are initiated by the companies to meet their own research and development goals.
Through MIPS, Maryland firms have the opportunity to leverage their research and development funds and gain access to the creative talents and extensive research base of the University System of Maryland. MIPS matching funds are awarded on a competitive basis for projects based on proposals submitted jointly by Maryland companies and researchers from any of Maryland's public universities.
next: ApplyingAmount of Awards
The maximum MIPS award for any single project is $100,000 per year for large and small companies and $90,000 for start-up firms.
Types of Projects
Research and Development
Research may be in the broad areas of engineering, computer science, physical sciences and life sciences.
Education and Training
Projects may also help a company plan and develop industrial training programs for its employees.
Benefits of the MIPS Program
The potential benefits of MIPS projects to the state, to its companies, and to the university are many.
Benefits to Maryland Companies:
- Cost-effective research with world-class university faculty
- Access to university students, state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories and equipment
- Companies can select research capabilities to meet specific requirements
- Non-dilutive, non-debt funding for research
- Opportunity to work directly with talented students—potential future hires
- Rapid proposal evaluations—MIPS notifies award winners within 60 days of the proposal deadline
- Student participants are potential future employees
- Makes companies more competitive, domestically and internationally
Benefits to Faculty:
- Research translates directly to new product development
- Potential for published papers and improved university facilities
- Students gain valuable experience working on commercial technologies
Benefits to the State of Maryland:
- Self-funding economic development program
- Helps create and retain jobs
- Helps to diversify and strengthen the state’s economy
- Helps to improve the state's business climate and to enhance its reputation
- Makes a more attractive environment to firms considering relocation to Maryland
Benefits to University System of Maryland:
- Provides faculty with the opportunity to perform commercially relevant research leading to new products and processes
- Helps to improve university research facilities
- Improves university academic programs to meet industry needs
- Students gain experience in industrial environments
