One successful economic development program, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) continues to make strides in attracting new technology companies to the state. The ETF is a $200-million initiative that helps commercialize university research by taking it from the labs to the marketplace. In 2008, ETF invested $10.83 million in 14 early-stage technology companies, leveraging $3.8 million in matching funds.
Investments include: Institute for Cyber Security ($1 million), Center for Transitional Injury Research at the University of Texas Health Science Center ($5 million), the College of Engineering's Nano Tech Center at Texas Tech University ($2 million), Xintronix Corporation Inc. ($500,000), and Halsa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ($250,000).
The most recent example of the ETF's success is the University of Texas at San Antonio's (UTSA) Institute for Cyber Security (ICS) selection as a five-year $7.5-million Department of Defense grant recipient in June 2008. ICS, a leader in cyber security research, was created in 2007 with a $3.5-million grant from the ETF. ICS will develop and test security models to safeguard the transfer of data among government agencies. ICS is one of several components in San Antonio's effort to attract the Air Force Cyber Command Center, which could add 500 permanent jobs to the local economy.
