Bridging the Gap
- The Federal Lab Leveraging Innovation to Products (FLLIP) Pilot Program connects Maryland’s entrepreneurs and small businesses with the state's extensive federal laboratory resources. FLLIP bridges the gap between public research investments and commercial success through a structured approach of Connection, Assessment, Support, and Engagement (CASE). The program demystifies complex federal lab interactions through tailored education, expert guidance, targeted matchmaking, and comprehensive technical assistance. By fostering collaborations with federal labs such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research (FNL), and the Defense Health Administration (DHA), FLLIP empowers Maryland businesses—particularly those traditionally underrepresented—to accelerate innovation, improve healthcare outcomes, and drive economic growth.
- Through this program, Maryland companies receive valuable education and support to pursue working relationships with federal labs, along with continued support for those companies that develop formal relationships with federal lab partners.
TEDCO's Solution
- Navigating relationships with federal laboratories can be daunting, creating a gap between available resources and the knowledge needed to use them. FLLIP was created to solve this problem.
- Connection: Connect technical experts with labs to identify commercial opportunities and company needs.
- Assessment: Identify and assess small, innovative medical or health-related businesses ready to engage with federal labs.
- Support: Provide technical assistance, market research, patent strategy, and other targeted support.
- Engagement: Facilitate formal relationships between lab scientists and entrepreneurs through agreements and lab tours.
- Collaborators
- Defense Health Agency (DHA)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNL)
- Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc (FITCI)
- Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation