The Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) is the only organization on campus authorized to manage university-owned IP (trademarks excepted). The OTC works with researchers to define the technology, assess its development stage, strategize potentially valuable patent claims, and as necessary, file patents to protect the IP in advance of publication. The OTC also supports technologies that are not patentable, such as software and copyrighted works that may be commercialized via license.

Interested in SBIR/STTR funding but not sure where to begin? Writing your proposal and looking for expert guidance? On-demand webinars about SBIR/STTR programs and agency proposal requirements are available to the UT Austin community at no cost through our collaboration with BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting.

The Office of Technology Commercialization helps UT researchers monetize software and creative content they develop while at the university. The Office of Technology Commercialization can help researchers find the optimal license type and distribution strategy for such work, which includes open sourcing. The Office of Technology Commercialization also helps with finding commercialization partners, negotiating licenses, and supporting startups.

HKEC-funded travel grants allow undergraduate and graduate students to participate in national and international business startup competitions and share their vision with the world. Grant applications must be submitted by the last day of the month in order to receive a grant by the 15th of the following month. Only one $750 travel grant will be awarded per startup per year. All current, UT Austin undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.

StartupTree is an online platform that aggregates entrepreneurship events, opportunities, mentorship, and startup jobs and internships at UT Austin.

The Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS) connects academic, public- and private-sector partners to support companies working towards pandemic preparedness and response in Texas. TEXGHS is developing a health security innovation ecosystem that supports innovators and innovations fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics. UT Austin entrepreneurs should contact TEXGHS when they are seeking to commercialize infectious disease-related innovations at any stage of development.

The Texas Innovation Center offers a personalized environment for faculty and students to explore entrepreneurship that includes educational workshops, speaker series, coaching sessions, and direct guidance for technology commercialization pathways; from ideation to market validation to fundraising. We accomplish this through Startup-In-A-Box Resources, TxIC Friends and Mentors Network, Innovation Lab, and co-working space. A place to inspire, create and commercialize.

The Texas Institute for Discovery Education in Science (TIDES) aims to catalyze, support, and showcase innovative, evidence-based undergraduate science education in the College of Natural Sciences. TIDES serves a variety of connected roles: creating and connecting students to experiential learning opportunities; facilitating curriculum reform efforts and faculty development across the sciences; and collecting, curating, and analyzing data to steer TIDES and college evaluation efforts.

The Texas Proof of Concept (POC) Awards provide internal funding to researchers on a competitive basis. Awards serve as a bridge to demonstrate the feasibility of a technology to either attract a commercial partner through licensing or validate the case for establishing a startup. POC Awards (up to $25K) and Texas+ POC Awards (up to $125K in 1:1 match) are focused on helping de-risk inventions to an inflection point in value. Click Learn More for details on the current application cycle.