Maryland Innovation Initiative

The Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) was created as a collaboration between the State of Maryland and five Maryland academic research institutions (Johns Hopkins University; Morgan State University; University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; University of Maryland, College Park). The program is designed to promote commercialization of research conducted in these universities and leverage each institution’s strengths.

MII was created to foster the transition of promising technologies having significant commercial potential from Qualifying Universities, where they were discovered, to the commercial sector, where they can be developed into products and services that meet identified market needs. Specifically, it is the intent of the program to foster the commercialization of such technologies through technology validation, market assessment, and the creation of start-up companies in Maryland based on a technology from a Qualified University (a University Start-up), and to accomplish this through collaborations between various schools, departments, and institutions within and among the Qualifying Universities and among other research organizations in the State.

Funding Levels

MII funds up to $430,000 for "Sole Applicants" through two phases of the program: 

• Technology Assessment — Technology Validation and Market Assessment, 9 months, up to $130,000 for a sole application and up to $180,000 for a joint application
  • A grant award totaling up to $180,000 may be made for Technology Assessment proposals with two Qualifying Universities submitting a Joint Application directed toward the commercialization of Technologies existing at more than one of the applicants’ Qualifying Universities or activities that would take place at more than one Qualifying University.
• Company Formation — Commercial Launch, 9 months, up to $300,000

Who Can Apply

Full-time Faculty Members at Qualifying Universities are eligible to apply for Technology Assessment grants.

The following Qualifying Universities are eligible to apply for funding for the Technology Assessment phase of the program:

• Johns Hopkins University
• Morgan State University
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland, College Park

Maryland-based Start-up Companies that have licensed technology from a Qualifying University within twelve (12) months of submitting a proposal and meet all criteria specified in the respective RFA are eligible to apply for Company Formation investments.

Across each phase, applications must be directed toward the commercialization of a technology or group of technologies: owned by a Qualifying University; disclosed to a Qualifying University’s technology transfer office (TTO); and for which there exists appropriate intellectual property protection.

When To Apply

Applications for MII funds are considered on a quarterly basis. Complete applications for each project must be submitted by 5:00pm on the 15th day (or first business day thereafter) of each submission month.

MII Application Deadlines

• January 15
• April 15
• July 15
• October 15