The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce announced today that the newly-designated CenTex Regional Center of Innovation and Commercialization (CT-RCIC) is accepting funding applications for the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). On a quarterly basis, technology companies and research entities within the Central Texas region may submit applications requesting grants from the fund. The CT-RCIC will primarily serve a 15-county region and will act as the operational platform for the submittal and management of commercialization project applications. Applications are due by Tuesday, September 20, and only fully completed applications will be considered.

In June 2005, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law House Bill 1765, creating the $200 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund. The fund was established to develop and diversify the economy of this state by 1) expediting innovation and commercialization of research 2) attracting, creating or expanding private sector entities that will promote a substantial increase in high-quality jobs; and 3) increasing higher education applied technology research capabilities.

The $200 million focuses on fostering innovation, research and job creation in emerging high-tech industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, nanotechnology, environmental sciences and advanced energy. The TETF will include three major areas of investment:

• Increasing research and commercialization collaboration between public and private sector entities to develop new Regional Centers of Innovation and Commercialization where the seeds of an idea can take root and eventually grow into a new product marketed by a new firm.
• Matching research grants provided by both federal and private sponsors to help innovators acquire the capital they need to bring their idea to life.
• Attracting more top-notch research teams from other universities around the nation that will help put Texas universities on the cutting edge of technology research and development.

Governor Perry appointed an Emerging Technology 17-member advisory committee to make recommendations to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House on collaborations, investments, research grants and recruitment associated with the TETF.

Additionally, eight RCICs have been designated to assist with the administration of the fund by receiving applications, researching all applications and submitting recommendations to the TETF Advisory Committee. The eight designated centers at this time include: Central Texas RCIC, South Texas RCIC, Gulf Coast RCIC, The Rio Grande RCIC, El Paso/Trans-Pecos RCIC, West Texas CIC, North Texas RCIC, and a statewide Bio and Life Science RCIC.

"The new Regional Centers of Innovation and Commercialization I envision will become hotbeds of research and development activities, will be incubators for start-up firms, will lure existing companies that can commercialize their developments and will provide workforce training for employees in the area," Perry said.

The CenTex RCIC's governing board includes representatives of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, SEMATECH, The University of Texas at Austin Office of Technology Commercialization, Texas State University, the Austin Technology Council and Temple College. The counties included in the CenTex RCIC are Travis, Hays, Williamson, Caldwell, Bastrop, Lee, Fayetteville, Milam, Burnet, Bell, Falls, Lampasas, Mills, Hamilton, and Coryell.

"Supporting emerging technologies in Texas will help us cultivate and keep our home-grown technologies and also attract new business and research. This will create new jobs and enhance our competitive position as a global technology leader," said Mark Ellison, Director of the Emerging Technology Program.

The CenTex-RCIC is required to submit the first round of applications to the TETF advisory committee by October 1, 2005, and thereafter, on a quarterly basis. Consequently, the first quarter submissions are due September 20, 2005. Applications are available at www.centexrcic.org.