Listen to SSTI's Interview with Martha Connolly of the Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program

SSTI has an effective new learning tool for TBED policymakers and practitioners seeking guidance in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. Through exclusive interviews with Excellence in TBED Award recipients, find out first-hand how these award winning initiatives successfully responded to a critical need by applying innovative approaches to generate substantial economic gains for their region. Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program (MIPS) 2007 Winner for the Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries category

Listen to a six-minute clip of SSTI's interview with MIPS Director Martha Connolly.

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program, an initiative of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) in the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, provides funding for research projects connecting Maryland companies with  university faculty to develop technology-based products. Funding supports research in the laboratories of participating University System of Maryland faculty, who work closely with partner companies to advance their products. All funding goes to the project faculty and often supports the work of graduate students.

Since 1987, MIPS has connected more than 400 companies in Maryland  with faculty in the University System of Maryland to develop products  in the fields of biotechnology, nanotechnology, engineering, computer  science, information technology, homeland security, defense, and  energy. MIPS has funded more than 600 individual projects worth a total value of $164 million, resulting in sales of MIPS-related  products of over $16.9 billion.

Listen to the six-minute condensed version of the interview or the full conversation (13:45 minutes).

Look for podcast interviews with the 2008 Excellence in TBED Award winners in the coming months.

For more information about the SSTI Excellence in TBED Awards, visit: http://www.sstiawards.org. View this page on the web at: http://www.ssti.org/media/connolly.html.