Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) Program
Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) Program supports companies and university researchers through joint research to develop technology products and processes with commercial potential.
Funder: Maryland Industrial Partnerships
Due Dates: October 15, 2026 (Proposal) | December 10, 2026 (Selections) | January 8, 2027 (Agreements) | February 1, 2027 (Project start)
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 per phase; up to $90,000 for start-ups; one- or two-year projects
Summary: MIPS co-funds university research collaborations with companies to develop technology products and processes with commercial potential.
Key Information: Companies must provide cash and in-kind matching contributions; MIPS funds support only the university’s project work.
Description
Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) supports joint projects between companies and faculty researchers at Maryland’s public universities. Run by the Idea Factory and administered at the University of Maryland, College Park through the A. James Clark School of Engineering, it connects companies with researchers across 14 participating institutions. Research may address engineering, computer science, physical sciences, and life sciences.
The program combines company product-development needs with university expertise, facilities, and student involvement. MIPS and the company co-fund the university’s research, while the company pays for its own project work. Assessment considers technical merit, the economic case, commercialization intentions, and potential benefits to the company, Maryland, and the university. Companies receive the first option to negotiate a commercial license to intellectual property produced through the project.
