In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Center” means the Center for Maryland Advanced Ventures established under § 12–305 of this subtitle. “Council” means the MPowering Joint Steering Council established under § 12–304 of this subtitle. “Presidents” means the President of the University of Maryland, College Park Campus and the President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus. “UMCEED” means the University of Maryland Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Development. “University of Maryland” has the meaning stated in § 12–101 of this title.

The General Assembly finds that: Fundamental research is the building block of a knowledge–based economy; Federal research grants that support fundamental research are transitioning from single–discipline grants to multidiscipline grants that span academic programs; A successful knowledge–based economy also depends on the transition of innovative research projects developed in research labs to companies in the private sector for commercialization; and The State must enhance its research and technology transfer programs to continue developing a strong knowledge–based economy.

There is a University of Maryland, which is a strategic partnership between the following two distinct campuses within the University System of Maryland: The University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus; and The University of Maryland, College Park Campus. The University of Maryland strategic partnership is a formal strategic alliance which leverages the resources of each campus within the University of Maryland to benefit the State and improve and enhance: Academic programs and experiences for students; Research, technology, technology transfer, and commercialization for economic development; and Public service and the commitment to community development. The University of Maryland, unless otherwise provided in this title, is subject to the provisions of Division III of this article. The University of Maryland shall ensure that the rights, privileges, and agreements of its employees under Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article or under any higher education personnel rules or policies are not impaired or reduced. In addition to the powers and duties established in this subtitle, the presidents shall have the powers and duties as provided in § 12–109 of this title. The president of each campus shall have the responsibility for that campus within the University of Maryland. The presidents jointly shall develop and implement a plan that encourages and promotes alignment, cooperation, and collaboration between the College Park Campus and the Baltimore Campus. The plan shall: Identify all undergraduate and graduate academic and research programs that may benefit from alignment and collaboration between the campuses; Identify competitor state peers for the University of Maryland to be used in the funding guidelines developed under §§ 10–203 and 11–105 of this article; Promote effectiveness and efficiencies between the campuses, including potential savings in human resources, procurement, and information technology; and Include any other information and implementation plans to achieve the purpose of the University of Maryland identified in this subtitle. Professional schools or their administrative functions may not be relocated out of Baltimore City. Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, there: Shall be collaboration with the professional schools located in Baltimore City; and May be professional school courses offered at a location other than Baltimore City. Nothing in the strategic partnership may be construed to prevent or restrict collaboration or coordination between the University of Maryland, other institutions, and entities including the University of Maryland Medical System. The presidents shall actively seek collaboration with other institutions and entities, particularly in the Baltimore metropolitan region, as appropriate, to benefit the State. The presidents shall report annually to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland regarding collaboration with the City of Baltimore, Prince George’s County, and the City of College Park in the area of community development.

There is an MPowering Joint Steering Council. The Council consists of members appointed by the President of the College Park Campus and the President of the Baltimore Campus. The Council shall: Develop guidelines for faculty appointments that are joint between the College Park Campus and the Baltimore Campus; Make recommendations to the presidents on joint faculty appointments; Make recommendations to the presidents identifying competitor state peers for the University of Maryland; Establish a process by which undergraduate and graduate programs are evaluated to determine whether the students, the University of Maryland, and the State would benefit from alignment and collaboration and make recommendations to the presidents; Carry out the programs and policies established under the MPower program as directed by the presidents; Explore opportunities to create registered apprenticeship programs in nursing and other fields that include integration of high school career and technology education programs and University of Maryland graduate and undergraduate programs; and Perform any other duties assigned by the presidents. The Governor shall include in the annual State budget for the Council a General Fund appropriation in the following amounts: $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2021; $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2022; $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2023; $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2024; and $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter. The Governor shall include in the annual State budget for the University of Maryland Baltimore County, to further its mission as a research university and to complement the economic development and research activities of the MPowering Joint Steering Council, a General Fund appropriation in the following amounts: $400,000 in fiscal year 2021; $800,000 in fiscal year 2022; $1,200,000 in fiscal year 2023; $1,600,000 in fiscal year 2024; and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter. The Governor shall include in the annual State budget for the Council to use exclusively on the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing a General Fund appropriation in the following amounts: $1,500,000 in fiscal year 2026; $3,000,000 in fiscal year 2027; $4,500,000 in fiscal year 2028; and $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2029 and each fiscal year thereafter. The money appropriated under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection is supplemental to and may not take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for the Council or the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

There is a Center for Maryland Advanced Ventures at the University of Maryland. The Center shall be located on the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus in Baltimore City. The Center shall: Pursue grant funding for the University of Maryland, including interdisciplinary grant funding; Develop and implement guidelines for the transfer of technology developed by the University of Maryland to the private sector; and Include in the guidelines a process to identify research projects occurring at the University of Maryland that may be viable for commercialization; and Facilitate the transfer of technology from the University of Maryland to commercial industries by: Assessing the viability and value of the technology; Defining and exploiting potential markets for the technology; Identifying funding sources to support the development of the technology; Developing commercialization strategies; and Assessing intellectual property issues, including licensing and patents. The Center also shall provide the services identified under subsection (b) of this section to any public institution of higher education that requests the services. Subject to the approval of the presidents, the Center may assess a reasonable fee for providing services to any public institution of higher education other than the University of Maryland. The presidents shall appoint an Executive Director of the Center. The Executive Director shall: Ensure that the provisions of this section are carried out; Develop a plan to appropriately staff the Center in order to effectively carry out the duties of the Center; Develop a working relationship with the Secretary of Commerce and the Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation; and Annually report to the presidents: The number of technology transfer transactions or projects for which the Center has provided assistance; The amount and source of funds the Center has identified to assist in the development of technologies; The public institutions of higher education for which the Center has provided assistance; The commercial value of technology that was transferred to the commercial industry; The estimated number of new jobs created as a result of the Center; and Any recommendations for improving the overall effectiveness of transferring technology that is developed by the University of Maryland. The Maryland Technology Development Corporation may advise the Executive Director of the Center on the development of the Center. For each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $3,000,000 to the Center. For fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $4,000,000 to the Center. For each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $1,000,000 to the Center to be used to encourage the development and location of University created or sponsored technology companies in Baltimore City. For fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $2,500,000 to the Center to be used to encourage the development and location of University created or sponsored technology companies in Baltimore City.

There is a University of Maryland Center for Economic and Entrepreneurship Development (UMCEED). UMCEED shall be located on the College Park Campus. Following all State law, regulations, and processes for program review and approval, UMCEED shall advance the education of students by developing degree and credential programs in the following fields of study: Virtual and augmented reality; Neurosciences; Biomedical devices; Data analytics; Cybersecurity; and Quantum technologies, advanced data computing, and information technologies. The presidents shall appoint an Executive Director of UMCEED. The Executive Director shall: Ensure that the provisions of this section are carried out; and Develop a plan to appropriately staff UMCEED in order to effectively carry out the duties of UMCEED. The Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least the following amounts to UMCEED for the following fiscal years: $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter. In addition to the appropriation required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, for fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of at least $2,500,000 to UMCEED to be used to encourage the development and location of University created or sponsored technology companies in Prince George’s County.