Innovation

The University of Maryland has established a vibrant campus ecosystem that nurtures and supports innovation and entrepreneurship, which has been nationally recognized for its excellence. The Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development in the Division of Research oversees the innovation, entrepreneurship, intellectual property, and technology commercialization enterprise at the University of Maryland, including UM Ventures and the Discovery District, providing support for inventors, entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses.

The University of Maryland offers faculty, staff, and students a broad variety of resources to help them learn about and actively engage in all aspects of innovation & entrepreneurship. Whatever you needs are, we can help you find collaborators, develop solutions, validate business models, disclose and protect your research and inventions, , find and apply for grants, meet investors, launch new commercial and social ventures, find office and lab space, get advice from experienced innovators and entrepreneurs, team with external and community partners, and maximize the overall impact of your innovation.

For faculty interested in bringing their ideas or research to market or launching a new commercial or social venture, there are a multitude of resources: market and technology validation funding, startup mentors, industry experts, business fundamentals workshops, market research databases, and many more.

For students, resources can be found campus-wide to learn, engage, practice, and apply innovation and entrepreneurship skills, including classes, programs, clubs, consulting groups, maker spaces, hackathons, accelerators, internships, mentors, pitch competitions, funding, and more.

For startups and small businesses, the University of Maryland offers a multitude of resources throughout the entire state that span everything from workshops to business counseling services, networking to recruiting events, and access to funding through grants, loans, and private and institutional capital.

UM Ventures is a joint initiative of the MPowering the State Program, bringing the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park together to commercialize discoveries, and create economic impact by engaging partners in industry and social ventures. 

The Discovery District is the University of Maryland's dynamic research park, which brings together a vibrant and inclusive community of university stakeholders, corporate partners, government researchers, entrepreneurs, and local residents. We are activating fearless ideas for transformational impact by fostering research and industry partnerships, supporting small businesses, and nurturing the growth of next generation technology ventures.

For more information, explore the University of Maryland Innovation Gateway or the UMD I&E Quick Reference Guide. 

Innovation Resources and Offices:

Innovation Highlights: