The Texas Ignition Fund (TIF)
A significant gap, referred to as the “valley of death,” often exists between a researcher’s disclosure of an invention and actual product development. Many potentially viable research discoveries are lost for lack of funding to test and prove a concept or put it into practice. A total of $2 million of U. T. System Administration funds are available through the TIF to help overcome this considerable barrier to commercialization.
The TIF will be used to fund grants of up to $50 thousand for costs such as personnel, equipment, supplies, instrument use fees, market studies and business plans. We believe that TIF grants will both ignite and accelerate the movement of discoveries in our institutions into the commercial domain.
A UT faculty member or researcher must collaborate with the technology transfer officer(s) at his/her institution,
and each institution must implement a review process to screen faculty proposals. Please refer to instructions and application.
Round 5 proposals have been announced - see Awardees for Round 5.
See list of current TIF Awardees
Tips for the TIF - Cathy Swain and Mickey Stevenson present progress report and future goals for the UT System grant program; Texas Ignition Fund (TIF). See presentation.
