Industry

UWM supports research and innovation by strengthening its ties with industry through research partnerships and commercialization of UWM technology. UWM is an important force in the economic health of the Milwaukee region and can provide industry with the talent and technology needed to maintain global competitiveness. With a commitment to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin, UWM is well positioned to partner with industries who share our vision.

UWM Research Foundation, Inc.

The UWM Research Foundation (UWMRF) is the entry point for companies wishing to do business with UWM. An overview of services available to industry partners appear below. For more information on industry collaboration opportunities with UWM, please contact Jessica Silvaggi, UWMRF President or Brian Walsh, Senior Technology Commercialization Manager.

Corporate Strategic Partnerships

UWMRF works closely with companies in the Milwaukee region and beyond to help provide a pipeline of talent, access to technology developed at UWM, and collaborative relationships with UWM researchers in basic and applied research.

Corporate Sponsored Research

UWMRF works with companies to identify researchers working in areas that complement their internal research and development capabilities. Working closely with the UWM Office of Sponsored Programs, UWMRF can help to develop confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements, and sponsored research agreements that make corporate research partnerships possible.

Intellectual Property Agreements

UWMRF assists with the development of intellectual property framework agreements that recognize the importance of intellectual property to a company’s competitive position while ensuring that UWM’s academic and research mission is not restricted.

Technology Licensing

UWMRF facilitates the licensing of certain technologies developed at UWM. License terms and a template patent license agreement are available for review.

UWM Industry Collaboration Partners

UWM has a number of internal partners (including centers, institutes, colleges, schools, and departments) available to support collaboration opportunities with industry.

Centers and Institutes

UWM is home to more than 70 scholarly centers, institutes, and laboratories. As one of only two doctoral-degree granting public universities in Wisconsin, UWM‘s R1 (very high research activity) status by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching attracts both emerging and established scientists, entrepreneurs, researchers, and students.

UWM‘s 14 schools and colleges offer many collaboration and research opportunities. Individual departments within each school and college also provide support to a number industry collaborations; details are available at each link below. If you are uncertain as to whom to contact, it may be best to start with the Associate Dean for Research in each school or college.

Other Affiliated Institutions

UWM partners with a number of other local industry partners to support technology commercialization within the region.

Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI)

UWM is part of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI), a regional biomedical collaboration involving clinical and translational science between UWM, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, the Blood Center of Wisconsin, Children’s Hospital, and Froedtert Hospital.

The CTSI collaboration advocates, facilitates, and fosters the continuum of research from bench to bedside to community practice. The CTSI point-of-contact for UWM is Dr. Mark Harris.

Mid-West Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC)

UWM is a member of the Mid-West Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC), one of America’s largest clusters of energy, power and control companies, educational and research institutions, and other key industry stakeholders. M-WERC acts as a catalyst for the growth of these companies and industries, located in the greater Midwest region, through technology, innovation, advanced research, market development, information sharing, workforce development, and strategic collaboration.

Water Equipment and Policy I/UCRC Research Center

Located at UWM, the Water Equipment and Policy (WEP) is a research center that operates under the auspices of the National Science Foundation. It is a collaborative organization of member universities and businesses pursuing pre-competitive research that will benefit the water industry.

WEP serves as a catalyst for synergizing the region’s assets to create the next generation of products and processes and advance the water industry. The center provides its industry members with exclusive access to world renowned university scientists and their state-of-the-art laboratories. Faculty researchers work with industry members and teams of graduate students and post-docs to advance precompetitive research important to the members.