UTDF Fact Sheet (PDF file)

Proposal Guidelines for the UTDF Grant (PDF file)

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The goal of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation's (TEDCO) University Technology Development Fund (UTDF) is to provide resources to Maryland universities to support pre-commercial research on university intellectual property to increase the likelihood of commercializing that intellectual property. The program helps universities to license early stage technologies more effectively and serves as a source of technology development projects for Maryland companies that are eligible for additional TEDCO and other State financing programs.

Eligible Institutions
All institutions of higher education in Maryland are eligible for UTDF grants. Institutions that operate offices of technology transfer have the infrastructure to participate effectively in the program and to manage intellectual property developed with UTDF funding. TEDCO can assist other institutions in establishing technology transfer infrastructure.

Revenue Sharing
Universities are obliged to share revenues with TEDCO on intellectual property created or developed with a UTDF grant. A university must pay TEDCO 25% of all revenue received for rights to intellectual property developed with UTDF funding until it has repaid two times the UTDF funding provided. Thus, a university that receives a $50,000 TEDCO grant to develop patented or copyrighted intellectual property would pay TEDCO 25% of revenue received after the UTDF grant award until it had repaid $100,000. After this the university has no obligations to TEDCO. TEDCO does not control any of the terms of a license or exact any royalty of its own from a licensed technology. TEDCO will assist institutions in finding a licensee to the extent the university wishes and provide licensees access to other TEDCO and State programs.

Application Procedures
University faculty or staff must apply for UTDF funding in cooperation with the technology licensing office or other entity that performs the same function. A proposal must include a detailed work plan, specific milestones to be achieved, a timeline and a budget. UTDF grants are usually limited to $50,000 total cost, including 10% of direct cost for overhead.

For more information on this program please contact Linda Saffer, Ph.D., Technology Analysis Specialist, at 410-715-4175 or lsaffer@marylandtedco.org.