Maryland Industrial Partnerships

• Before You Apply
• Application Requirements
• Funding Requirements
• Selection Process & Criteria

Before You Apply

Help with Proposals and Matchmaking

We strongly suggest that you meet with a member of the MIPS staff before writing your proposal, even if you are familiar with the MIPS program.  A staff member can advise you on planning a proposal and assist you with submitting the application.  A preliminary review could be invaluable; for example, some applicants fail to include readily available information that might make the difference in qualifying for an award.

MIPS personnel and other professionals in the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) can assist companies in finding and selecting appropriate faculty researchers for the companies' projects.

University of Maryland, College Park:

• Clark School of Engineering Departments, Institutes, and Centers
• Clark School Research Facilities by Department
• College of Life Sciences Research
• College of Computer, Math, and Physical Sciences Research
• College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research
• Robert H. Smith School of Business

University System of Maryland and Additional Colleges and Universities

• Bowie State University
• Coppin State College
• Frostburg State University
• Morgan State University
• St. Mary's College of Maryland
• Salisbury University
• Towson University
• University of Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore
• University of Maryland University College

The researcher and the company will jointly prepare the proposal. If a proposal is not funded, a MIPS staff member can debrief the proposal team and assist the team in making improvements for re-submittal in the next round of awards.

Eligibility for MIPS Funding

There are four basic criteria for funding under Maryland Industrial Partnerships. They are:

1. Maryland Companies
   To be eligible for a MIPS award, a company must be a Maryland business, in good standing with the state Department of Assessments and Taxation; and, it must have a manufacturing, service or research and development operations within the state or it must set up operations in Maryland within the year in which an award is received (see APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, "Out-of-State Companies"). The industrial sponsor may be a company, a group of companies, a business association or a nonprofit organization.

2. University Participation
   Each proposal must be co-authored by a faculty member of any of the institutions of the University System of Maryland, and the university researcher must be the Principal Investigator (adjunct faculty members are eligible). MIPS funds will be applied only toward work performed by university researchers (MIPS funds do not go to the participating company).

3. Technology-Based Projects
   While all Maryland companies are eligible for MIPS awards, and while traditional as well as high-technology end products and processes can be addressed, the proposed research projects must deal with innovative technological or scientific concepts. These are usually in the areas of: engineering, computer science, physical sciences, environmental sciences or life sciences. MIPS does not fund non-technology-based projects such as market research.

4. Matching Funds
   Company matching funds include both "cash" paid toward the university's project budget, and "in-kind" which is the company's effort on the project. The minimum requirements are specified in detail here.

• Before You Apply
• Application Requirements
• Funding Requirements
• Selection Process & Criteria

Quantum Sail Design Group is now the number two sail maker in the world, thanks in part to MIPS. The company partnered with the university to create the first wind tunnel-based sail testing facility. MIPS-developed technology is used in nearly all of Quantum’s sail products.