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Proof of Concept Awards

Technology Development

TEXAS PROOF OF CONCEPT AWARDS

These awards provide competitive funding for UT faculty members or permanent researchers with a principal investigator (PI) status to accelerate the tech commercialization process.

Texas Proof of Concept Awards

  • Maximum value of $25,000
  • No matching requirement

Texas+ Proof of Concept Awards

Requires the applicant to secure $125,000 in matching funds from an industry partner

Maximum value of $125,000

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants from any UT college, school, or unit may apply for one or both awards in any order; however, if a UT researcher wins both a Texas and Texas+ Proof of Concept award for a specific innovation, their total funding is limited to $125,000. In addition, applicants can receive a maximum of two Proof of Concept awards per year.

Email pocawards@austin.utexas.edu with questions. Application cycles occur during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Award Recipients

  • Alex Demkov Manufacturing Electro-optic Wafers for Silicon Photonics

    Synopsis:

    The rapid growth of global internet traffic is driving rapid growth in demand for computing power and data transmission but current silicon photonic technology cannot fully meet the demand. UT physicists have invented a new process that can easily integrate electro-optic material on silicon which can potentially provide a universal platform for next-generation silicon photonics with a 100X increase in modulation efficiency.

    Website

  • Christopher Rylander Therapeutic System for Brain Cancer

    Synopsis:

    Standard treatments for aggressive brain cancers are often ineffective and non-curative due to many challenges with treating tumors within the brain. UT engineers are developing a multifaceted catheter system that can deliver therapeutic agents and heat directly into desired positions in the brain tumor in order to maximize treatment potential.

    Website

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