Montgomery County Seeks Experienced Organization to Manage County Innovation Centers and Expand Resources for Tech Startups

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 3, 2025

The Montgomery County Government announced the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP), today, seeking an experienced and visionary organization to manage the County's four Innovation Centers (located in Germantown, Rockville, North Bethesda and Silver Spring), and expand the commercialization resources available to tech start-ups in these Centers and throughout the County. The selected partner will play a pivotal role in advancing the County's position as one of the nation's leading hubs for biotech and other advanced technologies and entrepreneurial growth.

The County's Innovation Centers are home to a wide range of entrepreneurs, emerging companies and successful alumni. Through this new opportunity, the County intends to strengthen support for innovators by enhancing commercialization programming and resources, and ensuring that technology entrepreneurs across Montgomery County have greater access to shared facilities and expertise.

The selected operator will:

• Manage entrepreneur recruitment, onboarding, graduation, and commercialization support services.
• Oversee operations of County-owned wet labs, office and coworking spaces, meeting facilities, and shared biotech and prototyping resources.
• Deliver coordinated, branded education, networking and showcase programs to fuel startup success and elevate the County's innovation ecosystem.
• Support international soft-landing services and expand regional and global innovation partnerships.

"Now more than ever we need to diversify our economy," said County Executive Marc Elrich. "This is a unique opportunity to strengthen Montgomery County's entrepreneurial ecosystem by expanding resources for startups across a wide range of industries, including biotechnology and medtech to advanced manufacturing, AI, space engineering and communications, and cybersecurity."

Having a space where many different types of startups can work is beneficial to both the entrepreneurs and the County.

"When our Committee visited the County's innovation centers last year we met with entrepreneurs there who spoke of the value they were receiving and the significance that expanded resources - including technical expertise, shared equipment and more networking - would have for them as they grow their businesses," said Councilmember Natali Fani-González, chair of the Economic Development Committee.

The RFP is open to organizations with demonstrated experience managing incubators and delivering substantive entrepreneurial support programming-such as educational sessions, networking and pitch events, technical expertise and advisory services. The selected operator will be supporting startup growth, product commercialization, and job creation in the County.

Full details of the RFP can be found online here: 1186827Scope.pdf.

Proposals must be submitted by Sept. 22. An optional but recommended pre-submission meeting, including a tour of the facilities, will take place Sept. 11.

For more information, contact Stephanie Sawyer by email to [email protected] or by phone at 240-777-8830.

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