Rio Grande Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization
In September of 2005, the five workforce development areas of the Lower and Middle Rio Grande Valley (Region 27 - Middle Rio Grande, Region 21 - South Texas, Region 22 - Coastal Bend, Region 23 - Lower Rio Grande Valley and Region 24 – Cameron County) and the institutions of higher education in the region, University of Texas – Brownsville, Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Sul Ross State University, Laredo Community College, Texas A&M International, South Texas College and The University of Texas- Pan American signed a Memo of Understanding to collaborate in the implementation of the Rio Grande Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization (RGRCIC). The RGRCIC was created by Governor Rick Perry, who had previously signed House Bill 1765 , which created the $200 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF). The fund provides capital targeted to encourage the development of start-up and growth stage technology companies.
The goals of the ETF are to:
- Expedite innovation and commercialization of research;
- Attract, create or expand private sector entities that will promote a substantial increase in high-quality jobs; and
- Increase higher education applied research capabilities.
The fund is divided into three areas of investment:
- Incentivizing Commercialization - Provides selected, early-stage investments in new, technology-based, private entrepreneurial entities that collaborate with public or private Institutions of Higher Education in Texas, and which, if successful, may provide significant economic benefit to the state.
- Matching Research Grants - Provides matching grants to private sector companies that receive funding from outside of Texas for the development of emerging technologies with substantial commercial potential. (Consortium and Non-Consortium Lead projects)
- Acquiring Research Superiority - Provides matching funds to enable Texas' public Institutions of Higher Education to attract, established, "high profile" applied researchers as faculty.
The State of Texas was divided into seven geographic regions, each designated to have a Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization (RCIC) to manage regional access to the fund. Additionally a state-wide Texas Life Science Center was designated to focus on applications in life sciences and biotechnology.
Each calendar quarter the RCIC’s receive applications for ETF awards under the Incentives for Commercialization area of the ETF from companies within their regions. Then they evaluate the applications and recommend the best ones to the state-wide Emerging Technology Fund Advisory Committee. After additional evaluation, this committee of 17 individuals makes funding recommendations to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House, who finally determine awards. The RCIC’s also subsequently assist the awarded companies with commercialization activities and monitor their conformance to their contracts with the state..
For a complete list of all eight Centers of Innovation and Commercialization click here.
The RGRCIC encourages new, early and mid-stage technology ventures in the region that qualify for funding to apply. The Rio Grande RCIC covers the counties of Val Verde, Edwards, Kinney, Real, Uvalde, Maverick, Zavala, Dimmit, La Salle, Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron.
Applications will be accepted by the RGRCIC from companies that are commercializing technology in collaboration with an Institute of Higher Education (IHE) within the following industries: Semiconductors; Information; Computer and software technology; Energy; Manufactured energy systems; Micro-electromechanical systems; Nanotechnology; Biotechnology; Medicine; Life sciences; Petroleum refining and chemical processes; Aerospace; and Defense companies. Companies commercializing technology in biotechnology, life science, or medical devices should be submit proposals directly to the RGRCIC, but evaluation will also involve the state-wide Texas Life Science Center of Innovation and Commercialization (TLSCIC).
The first step in the application process is to complete a Pre-Proposal Counseling Information Sheet. Completion of the Pre-Proposal Counseling Information Sheet helps potential applicants to understand the objective requirements of the Emerging Technology Fund and to determine their eligibility to apply for funding.
After pre-proposal counseling, “Pre-applications” will be accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted within two weeks of the application deadline - see below. (Note, the submission of a Pre-application is only the first step and does not constitute a full and valid application to the ETF.) The RGRCIC will review each Pre-application to determine eligibility and schedule a pre-proposal counseling session with each applicant that turns in a pre-application form.
Applications for the quarterly funding rounds for Commercialization Awards and Non-Consortium led Rearch Grant Matching Awards must be submitted to the RGRCIC by the following deadline dates by 5pm CST:
- December 19, 2006
- March 27, 2007
- May 29, 2007
Applications for investments in Consortium led Research Matching Grants and Research Superiority Grants are made directly to the Governor's office and are not accepted by the RGRCIC.