The UWM Research Foundation was launched in 2006 to complement the UWM Foundation and support Research and Innovation at UW-Milwaukee. The UWM Research Foundation is an independent non-profit corporation that exists thanks to the support of business and community partners in Milwaukee and throughout Wisconsin.

undefinedResearch, the process of creating knowledge from investment, is at the heart of UWM's mission as one of Wisconsin's only two public research institutions. Innovation, the commercialization of the knowledge, complements research at UWM. By fostering innovation, the UWM Research Foundation seeks to create additional resources and investment at UWM that can further the development of knowledge.

The UWM Research Foundation is developing specific programs aimed at fostering both research and innovation at UW-Milwaukee. The Research Foundation is seeking to develop catalyst grant programs and fellowships program to support high potential research. The Research Foundation is also working to support commercialization by partnering with corporations, supporting the patenting and licensing process and assisting in the formation of spin-out companies based on UWM research.

The UWM Research Foundation provides an entry point for companies seeking partnerships with UW-Milwaukee. Working with the UWM Technology Transfer Office, the Research Foundation supports industry partnerships in the following ways:

Corporate Strategic Partnerships

The Research Foundation is working to develop corporate strategic partnerships with companies in the Milwaukee region and beyond by helping provide these companies a pipeline of talent, access to technology developed at UWM and collaborative relationships with UWM researchers in basic and applied research.

Corporate Sponsored Research

The UWM Research Foundation works with companies to identify researchers working in areas that complement their internal research and development capabilities. Working in partnership with the UWM Tech Transfer Office, the Research Foundation can develop confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements and sponsored research agreements that make corporate research partnerships possible.

Intellectual Property Agreements

Intellectual property is a key competitive element for companies seeking partnership with UW-Milwaukee. The Research Foundation helps develop intellectual property framework agreements that recognize the importance of intellectual property to a companies competitive position while ensuring that UWM's academic and research mission is not restricted.

Technology Licensing

The UWM Research Foundation supports the licensing of certain technologies developed at UWM.

SBIR/STTR Grant Support

The UWM Research Foundation is seeking to develop research partnerships with early stage companies and leverage SBIR and STTR grant mechanisms to advance basic science to the commercial marketplace.