Technology Transfer Assistance Grant (TTAG) Program
Ross Herpin
Senior Manager Commercialization
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
900 West Capitol Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-8695
rherpin@arkansasedc.com
Stephanie Johnson
Finance Program Manager
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
900 West Capitol Ave.
Little Rock, AR 72201
(501) 682-4409
sjohnson@arkansasedc.com
The Technology Transfer Assistance Grant Program (TTAG) provides limited financial support for the transfer and deployment of innovative technology to Arkansas-based enterprises. The program’s goal is to increase Arkansas industry’s regional, national, and global competitiveness through technical and operational advancements.
TTAG grant awards can be used to fund costs associated with engineering or technical support fees, database searches, travel, responses to the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR), or the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), and other costs to be decided on a case-by-case basis. TAG grant awards will not fund costs associated with fixed assets for an enterprise or costs associated primarily with training.
The TTAG program is intentionally flexible and broad in scope. It is intended to provide financing that allows a technology to better compete for support in other Division programs.
Qualified eligible applicants include one or more technology transfer resource providers who possess or have the capability to locate innovative technology to transfer to a specific Arkansas-based enterprise. Resource providers must be approved before submitting an application.
TTAG grants are awarded to the technology transfer resource provider. The resource provider must possess the capability to locate and transfer innovative technology and to transfer it to a specific Arkansas-based enterprise. In certain cases, to be determined on a case-by-case basis, the resource provider could be the company requesting assistance if they have the capability to locate and transfer the innovative technology. The technology being transferred must resolve a company’s technology-based problem, issue or concern.
All qualified applicants must complete the On-line Application. The application must address the transfer of innovative technology from a qualified Resource Provider to an Arkansas based enterprise.
The resource provider and designated Arkansas-based enterprise should work together to complete all questions on the application form, which must be signed by the resource provider and the assisted enterprise. By completing and signing the TTAG application, the resource provider agrees to provide the stated services to the enterprise, and the enterprise agrees to pay the cash match, and respond to (within 24 months from the project’s completion) up to two post-project surveys.
All TTAG Applications must be submitted by the Friday previous to each TTAG Review Committee Meeting to be covered.
Projects will be evaluated by AEDC on every other Thursday (see Schedule of TTAG Meeting Dates). Evaluation criteria include the demonstration of support resources available to ensure probable project success, as well as technical and commercial feasibility of the project. The project must have a time frame of no longer than 90 days.
The total maximum funding available is $5,000 per project. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) will award the first $2,500 of project cost, and the remainder will be cost-shared equally (50:50) between AEDC and the enterprise being assisted by the applicant. The enterprise being assisted assumes all cost in excess of $5,000. As a rule, preference will be given to the projects that have a company cash match. A maximum of two TTAG grant awards can be received for a given enterprise in one state fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).
Delta I-Fund
Amy Hopper
Program Officer, Delta I-Fund
2101 Riverfront Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 280-3000
amy.hopper@winrock.org
The Delta I-Fund™ is an early stage, proof-of-concept accelerator formed to train entrepreneurs in the eight-state Delta Regional Authority territory. Each startup team accepted into the program will be matched with a mentor from the business community, complete 12 weeks of rigorous training alongside other startup teams, and receive technical assistance or access to seed stage capital, depending on the team’s geographical location. The mission of the Delta I-Fund is to positively impact the low-to-moderate income communities throughout the Delta Regional Authority territory. The program seeks to provide a platform for the creation and launch of high-growth companies, spurring economic development and job creation in the region.
The Delta I-Fund seeks very early-stage ideas and companies that need validation, including pre-revenue startups and entrepreneurs still in the ideation stage. Teams must have at least two team members, though a minimum of three is preferable (single-founder companies are ineligible). It is recommended that teams have a balance of business and science-based backgrounds. Each team will be eligible to receive funds for technical assistance, and will be assigned an experienced mentor from the business community.
The types of ideas and startups targeted by the Delta I-Fund are those based on innovative business models including:
- Patented university research, including medical, biomedical, science, and engineering applications.
• Software and other IT-based platform solutions.
• Any other patented or proprietary technology or innovation which provides a competitive advantage.
The Delta I-Fund offers multiple cohorts through June 2019. Please click the Apply Now link for application deadlines and start dates.
The Delta I-Fund provides both funds for technical assistance and training to enable entrepreneurs to make their ideas, research, and inventions a reality.
Updated: March 2018, Diane Meade