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Office of Innovation

The University of Maryland has established a vibrant campus ecosystem that nurtures and supports innovation and entrepreneurship, which has been nationally ranked in the Top 5 for its excellence. The Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Vice President for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Economic Development in the Division of Research oversees the Office of Innovation, which: 

  1. Helps students and faculty develop their entrepreneurial mindsets to pursue their innovative ideas and inventions, and 
  2. Helps launch and scale startups and social ventures that spur inclusive economic development and impact. 

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, the Office of Innovation 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
  • 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, 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 reach out directly to an EIC member.


Office of Innovation Team

Portrait of Dean Chang

Dean Chang

Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Vice President for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Portrait of Anntoinette Barbour

Anntoinette Barbour

Business Office Manager, Quantum Startup Foundry
Portrait of Lora Brown

Lora Brown

Executive Director of Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Programs
Portrait of Rob Cohen

Rob Cohen

Program Manager, Mtech Ventures
Portrait of Bijan DaBell

Bijan DaBell

Coordinator to the Chief Innovation Officer
Portrait of Josh Doying

Josh Doying

Startup Success Manager, UM Ventures - College Park
Portrait of Piotr Kulczakowicz

Piotr Kulczakowicz

Director of Quantum Startup Foundry (QSF) at the University of Maryland (UMD)
Portrait of Dan Kunitz

Dan Kunitz

Mtech Ventures Director, Mid-Atlantic I-Corps Hub Director & Maryland Innovation Extension Director
Portrait of Alla McCoy

Alla McCoy

Director, Startup Support, UM Ventures - College Park
Portrait of Felicia Metz

Felicia Metz

Associate Director, UM Ventures - College Park
Portrait of Ken Porter

Ken Porter

Director, UM Ventures - College Park
Portrait of Sammy Popat

Sammy Popat

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Catalyst
Portrait of Stan Smith

Stan Smith

Director of Venture Investments, UM Ventures and Dingman Center
Portrait of Kimberlee Wallace

Kimberlee Wallace

Director, Finance & Operations, Economic Development for the Academy of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the Office of Innovation