The Office of Technology Commercialization is accepting requests for proposals for proof of concept funding for TTU research projects. The OTC will award $25,000 to five submitted projects that have potential commercial viability ($125,000 total). Deadline for submission is Feb. 15, 2009.
The mission of these funds is to enhance the Texas economy by creating and transferring intellectual property. It is important to note that these funds are state appropriated and therefore have quite a bit of restrictions tied to them. The main stipulation is that they contain a TTU component. The funds were appropriated to TTU and therefore must be spent through TTU not HSC or other components.
Restrictions on the funds are as follows:
The funds must be used on “proof of concept” of research that will result in commercialization. The funds shall not be used to pay any of the following:
• Tuition and fees
• Salaries
• Rent
• Facilities and administrative costs
• Fringe benefits
It is important to note that all the funds must be processed through the TTU purchasing department. This process can make it complicated and slow in processing payments using these funds. For example purchases above $5000 require a Request for Purchase and must be put out to bid. If they are “sole source” it must be justified to the purchasing department.
Typical purchases that are acceptable are capital or research equipment purchases.
We would like for you to submit requests for funds through the following proposal process:
1. A 500-word abstract
2. The project proposal should not exceed 3 pages (including figures and tables). Please allow one-inch margins on each numbered page and use size 12 or larger font. Project descriptions may be single-spaced or double-spaced and should address the following items:
a. Projected timeline with milestones
b. Regulatory approvals required (ex. FDA)
c. Predicted marketability
3. A budget, with justification. The funds that will be awarded are state funds (please note the stipulations mentioned above).
4. Documentation of any current or past departmental, college, or other contributions to the proposed project.
Deadline for submission is February 15, 2009. Awardees will be selected March 1, 2009.
Candidates will be selected based on (1) application and commercialization potential of research, (2) significance and impact of research, and (3) creativity and innovation.
Proposals may be e-mailed to Amber Dean, Associate Managing Director – Office of Technology Commercialization, at amber.dean@ttu.edu.
For questions, please contact Amber Dean at the address above or Ruben Ceballos at ruben.ceballos@ttu.edu.