Technology Transfer Assistance Grant (TTAG)

Technology Transfer Assistance Grant (TTAG)

Funds early tech-transfer pilots in Arkansas through grant-backed development support.

The Technology Transfer Assistance Grant (TTAG) is a micro-grant programme administered by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) Division of Science and Technology, originally established under the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority (ASTA) before that body was reorganised into AEDC in 2015. TTAG provides awards of up to $5,000 — with a minimum AEDC-funded share of $2,500 — to support technology transfer pilot activities in Arkansas. Applications are submitted through the AEDC Formstack portal (formstack.io/BAFAA) on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline.

The programme is intentionally broad in eligible applicant types: for-profit companies, not-for-profits, universities, and research organisations based in Arkansas may apply; only individuals are excluded. The micro-grant size positions TTAG as a seed instrument for early-stage technology-transfer activities — proof-of-concept tests, licensing feasibility studies, or initial pilot work — rather than as a vehicle for larger development projects. AEDC's companion instruments for more substantial needs include the SBIR Matching Grant (up to $100,000 for Phase II federal award holders) and the Technology Development Program (up to $100,000 in royalty financing).

For Arkansas-based organisations exploring the commercial potential of a new technology, TTAG offers an accessible, low-overhead first step into the AEDC funding ecosystem. The Formstack application pathway is intended to be straightforward, and the rolling intake means applicants are not constrained by annual competition cycles. Organisations that successfully complete a TTAG-supported pilot activity are well positioned to progress to larger AEDC instruments or to leverage the pilot data in federal SBIR or STTR applications.