College Park Startups Among 17 MIPS-Funded University Research Projects

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships program, run by the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute in the A. James Clark School of Engineering, approved funding for 17 new or second-phase projects that connect University System of Maryland faculty with companies across the state. The awards were announced January 7, 2026, and mark the program’s 77th funding round. Projects span locations including College Park, Baltimore, Germantown, Salisbury and Rockville and address technologies from cryotherapy device modeling to AI-enhanced additive manufacturing.

Several College Park companies were among the selectees. Alchemity LLC will work with Professor Eric Wachsman on benchmarking and scaling a membrane reactor, and NewCopper LLC will partner with Professor Shenqiang Ren on alloy-reinforced copper for high-temperature electronics. Both of those Phase 1 projects reflect a typical MIPS funding structure of $90,000 from MIPS with a $10,000 company contribution directed to university research. Redhelm Labs Inc., also based in College Park, will collaborate on integrating laser power beaming with unmanned aircraft systems.

Phase 2 awards in the group support applied development and maturation tasks, including small-scale urban hydroponics and tunable automotive safety materials. Some projects in this round received additional support from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, pointing to coordinated state backing for technologies that intersect economic and environmental goals. All projects remain subject to final contract negotiations before funds are disbursed.

For Prince George’s County residents, the approvals underscore concrete connections between the University of Maryland research base and local startups. MIPS funding is structured to move university science closer to market, which can raise the probability that prototypes and pilot production take place nearby, supporting local suppliers, technicians and engineering talent. Projects in advanced materials, energy systems and sustainable aquaculture align with broader economic trends toward decarbonization, resilient food systems and automation in manufacturing—areas where demand and private investment have been growing nationally.

Policy-wise, the continued operation of MIPS in its 77th round signals sustained state-level commitment to technology commercialization as an economic development strategy. By channeling funds directly into university research and requiring company partnerships, the program lowers early-stage development costs for Maryland firms while keeping research activity anchored in-state. That dynamic can amplify long-term benefits for Prince George’s County through job creation, upskilling of the local workforce and increased attraction of venture and corporate investment to the region.