Want to keep up with local life sciences events, funding opportunities, and more? The Maryland Department of Commerce creates a monthly newsletter featuring a variety of opportunities for local life sciences businesses.

Past issues

• October 2024 
• September 2nd Edition 2024 
• September 2024 
• August 2024 
• June 2024 
• May 2024 
• April 2024 
• February 2nd Edition 2024 
• February 2024 
• December 2023 
• November 2nd Edition 2023 
• November 2023 
• October 2023 
• September 2nd Edition 2023  (bi-weekly update)
• September 2023 
• August 2023 
• July 2023 
• June 2023 
• May 2023 
• April 2023 
• March 2023 
• February 2023 
• January 2023 
• December 2022 
• November 2022 
• October 2022 
• September 2022 
  

Maryland offers a wide range of opportunities to the life sciences community. Check out the latest list of programs, competitions, financial incentives, and more to see which you can leverage on your path to success!

• SBIR and STTR Funding Opportunities 
  • SBIR and STTR grant funding opportunities offer small business entrepreneurs a chance to obtain non-dilutive funding for early-stage research and development.
• Promoting Diversity in SBIR/STTR 
  • The NIA SBIR/STTR programs offer administrative supplements to further support your journey to commercialization. The Diversity Supplement is designed to provide support for research and entrepreneurial experiences for individuals from the diverse backgrounds throughout the continuum from undergraduate to the faculty level.
• Techstars Accelerators 
  • In each three-month program, Techstars helps entrepreneurs find product-market fit, get traction, and access capital and mentorship. Small class sizes and a world-class network is a proven model that’s better for founders. Explore programs and start your application today.
• Request Your Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Needs Assessment Report 
  • Recent Phase I SBIR or STTR awardees (grant, contract, or Fast-Track) of NIH, FDA, or CDC, can request a free, third-party assessment of a Phase I project’s progress in technical and business areas that are critical to success in the competitive healthcare marketplace.
• Tech Stars AI Health Baltimore 
  • Apply by November 20
    Techstars AI Health Baltimore powered by Johns Hopkins University and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield brings together their respective expertise to create a flagship healthcare accelerator program in Baltimore, MD. Adam Phillips, the former managing director of Techstars Equitech, will lead the intensive, 13-week program focused on supporting entrepreneurs leading healthtech, medtech, and biotech startups. Startups will receive capital, guidance from experts, and other support required to navigate the complexities of the healthcare ecosystem and regulatory environment.
• I-Corps at NIH 2025 Cohort 
  • Apply by November 22
    I-Corps at NIH is accepting applications for the first 2025 cohort from companies with an active Phase I SBIR/STTR grant held by the 19 participating NIH/CDC institutes and centers. This 8-week experiential program offers participants the opportunity to conduct 100 customer development interviews and provide hands-on entrepreneurship training to help biotech innovators develop a comprehensive business plan, fine-tune their target market, and build new partnerships.
• Solutions to Enable Diagnosis and Treatment of Adverse Health Consequences of Non-Disordered Drug Use Grants
  • Apply by December 2
    • STTR  - This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) encourages Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) proposing research and development of accessible and affordable solutions targeted to improve health outcomes and reduce the impact of adverse health consequences of non-disordered drug use.
    • SBIR  - This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) encourages Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) proposing research and development of accessible and affordable solutions targeted to improve health outcomes and reduce the impact of adverse health consequences of non-disordered drug use.
• 2025 NIA Start-Up Challenge and Accelerator: Stimulating Aging Innovation 
  • Apply by December 9
    NIA is seeking early stage entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for technologies to improve healthy aging. Up to 21 finalists will receive entrepreneurial training sessions, one-on-one mentorship, sponsored attendance at a life sciences entrepreneurship conference, and cash prizes. The accelerator program will run May to November 2025. A pre-submission webinar will be held Oct. 9 at 1:00 p.m. 
• Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund  
  • Apply by January 13
    MSCRF offers seven programs to accelerate discovery and commercialization of human stem cell-based technologies. 
    • Clinical  - Intended for companies or Universities/Research Institutes that wish to conduct human stem cell-based clinical trials in the State of Maryland. 1:1 match of non-state money is required. IND required
    • Commercialization  - Intended for start-up companies or established companies developing new human stem cell-based products
    • Validation  - Intended for faculty at Maryland-based Universities/Research institutes (not federal labs) with IP for human stem cell-based technologies that require additional validation before creation of start-up companies.
    • Launch  - Intended for new faculty (within 5 years) or researchers, of any rank, who are new to the field of human stem cell research at Maryland-based Universities/Research Institutes (not federal labs). The applicant should not have been previously funded by any of the MSCRF programs.
    • Discovery  - Intended for faculty at Maryland-based Universities/Research Institutes (not federal labs) with innovative ideas to develop novel human stem cell-based technologies and cures
    • Post-Doctoral Fellowship  - Intended for exceptional post-doctoral fellows who wish to conduct human stem cell research in academia or in industry in the State of Maryland. The applicant must have completed the doctoral degree within the past 3 years.
    • Manufacturing Assistance  - Intended for organizations that wish to advance GMP production of their stem cell therapy products in the State of Maryland. 1:1 match of non-state money is required.
• MedTech Innovator 2025 Cohort
  • Apply by January 15
    The MedTech Innovator suite of programs is the world’s largest and highest-performing accelerator of medical technology. They offer unparalleled access to top-tier mentoring, coaching, and education in a four-month program tailored to help innovators address obstacles and maximize opportunities to bring their products to market quickly and effectively.
    • MedTech Innovator (MTI)  - For medical devices, diagnostic, and digital health companies entering the US market.
    • BioTools Innovator (BTI)  - For life science tools and enabling technologies.

Maryland’s incubators and accelerators offer early stage companies shared resources, business assistance, and access to equipment and facilities.

Use the Maryland Entrepreneur Hub to explore available incubators  and accelerators .