South Texas Technology Management

News Release

Spring 2008 Sparc POC Grant Program
Proof of Concept
Short Proposal to Accelerate
Research Commercialization
Funding for inventions sponsored by STTM

Ignite Texas! A UT System initiative

Recognizing the strength of the 15-campus University of Texas as a robust research and commercialization engine, the UT System Office of Research and Technology Transfer is implementing Ignite Texas! to support a wide variety of technology commercialization aspects, i.e. from funding scientists and inventors to the creation and maintenance of start-up companies. Ignite Texas! is expected to enhance existing programs, leverage existing resources, and launch new services to establish UT as a global leader in innovation.


Texas Ignition Fund, early stage funding for UT inventions

The Texas Ignition Fund (TIF), a new $2M grant program, was approved by the UT Board of Regents in December 2007 and is designed to stimulate commercialization of research discoveries at the 15 UT institutions by providing very early stage grants for the development and maturation of those discoveries into marketable intellectual property. Read Press Release


UT faculty may request, through STTM, up to $50k to accelerate the commercial development of a UT invention. (An IDF must be on file at STTM prior to submission.) TIF goals are to:

  • Support a culture that promotes innovation, translation, and commercialization of new ideas and technologies;
  • Nurture viable inventions;

  • Create a robust infrastructure for developing UT inventions, support validation of discoveries, and promote commercialization.

Invention Disclosure Form
TIF Application
Application Instructions


For more information about the TIF and to find out if your invention is a candidate for this grant, please talk to your STTM Technology Licensing Associate directly or Contact Us.