About
The Maryland Defense Technology Commercialization Center (DefTech) is a joint initiative between TEDCO, the Maryland Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that connects businesses to the federal labs in Maryland for product development, testing, IP licensing, and more to help businesses bring their innovation to market faster.
DefTech provides proprietary business services to its member companies that are developing or are interested in developing commercial products and services using Federal Laboratory intellectual property, equipment, facilities, and expertise. Members receive proprietary professional services, including access to technical experts, intellectual property and technology due diligence, business support services, and research tools to support business creation, growth, and operations. In addition, DefTech will work with the Federal Lab Education Accelerator (FLEX) program to provide DefTech members with well-researched market and tech assessments of selected DoD IP.
Through DefTech, Maryland companies receive the professional expertise they need to work with Federal labs while driving the growth of Maryland’s innovation-based economy and strengthening the defense industrial base.
Please note: DefTech membership is highly competitive, with limited membership each year, with a focus on high technology and bio innovation sectors.
Once completed, graduate companies are eligible for alumni membership.
DefTech Member Services
Proprietary DefTech services are available to members only.
- DefTech Academy & Certification:
Credentialed courses on technology transfer and government-related contracting, open only to Members.
Completion of the program allows the Member to be DefTech Certified.
DefTech will “certify” to Federal Labs and partner programs that the Member has met criteria demonstrating the capability and capacity to advance technological objectives through engagement with the federal lab. This criterion has been defined in partnership with DefTech Federal partner labs.
- Pre-Lab Engagement Training:
Applicants who need additional knowledge and/or resources will be admitted as DefTech Members and connected to support with TEDCO’s Venture Development Programs and other ecosystem services.
- Access Federal Funding Opportunities:
Proprietary monthly distribution of federal funding notices and other industry engagement opportunities.
Initial distribution will include information on Federal Lab programs and opportunities specific to technology companies that are non-traditional defense contractors.
- Private DoD Lab Engagements:
Private meetings with Federal Labs for DefTech Members only.
Federal labs will present preferred work structures and requirements, featuring collaborative research areas, in addition to competitive intellectual property available for license.
Partner federal labs are notified that Members are vetted and receiving professional-level education and services related to technology transfer and government-related contracting.
- Private Office Hours:
Members may participate in DefTech virtual monthly office hours, where DefTech Advisors will be available to assist companies working with federal labs.
*Program cost waived for initial 30 companies in the first program year only due to funding through the DoD Office of Local Community Cooperation (OLDCC), the Maryland Department of Commerce, and TEDCO.
Application Procedure
Online application follows an initial screening by a DefTech Advisor.
Accepted applicants go into one of two categories:
1. Resource-ready for immediate Federal engagement and commencement of DefTech services.
2. Preliminary training followed by the commencement of DefTech services.
Program Objective
- Outreach & Engagement
- Connection with Federal Labs
Connect With Us
Register below for our Monthly Office Hours
Join us monthly for office hours to learn more about what DefTech has to offer.