The Authority's Technology Transfer Assistance Grant Program provides limited financial support for the transfer and deployment of innovative technology. The Authority will fund up to $3,750 of costs associated with transferring new or existing technology from a qualified applicant -- such as a public or private enterprise, laboratory, college or university -- to an enterprise based in Arkansas. Up to $5,000 of total project costs will be considered, with the first $2,500 funded by the Authority; the remaining $2,500 is cost-shared equally (50:50) between the Authority and the enterprise. Each enterprise is eligible to receive assistance for two technology transfer projects per year. Projects are evaluated on a competitive basis.
Seed Capital
The Authority's Seed Capital Investment Program (SCIP) can provide working capital to help support the initial capitalization or expansion of technology-based companies located in Arkansas. The program can provide working capital up to $500,000 of the company's total financing needs. Investments made by the SCIP fund can be repaid through a variety of instruments, including direct loans, participations and royalties.
Technology Development Program
The Authority's Technology Development Program provides royalty financing for qualified projects possessing a well developed, comprehensive project plan, and which utilizes the benefits of science and technology to provide economic and employment growth potential in Arkansas. The maximum investment is $ 100,000 with terms negotiated on an individual basis. These terms are a maximum five percent of net sales for a maximum term of 10 years.
R & D Tax Incentives
Tax credits are intended to provide incentives for university-based research, in-house research of several kinds, and research and development in start-up, technology-based enterprises. It is important for the applicant to understand the different incentives and to select the most appropriate for the eligible research and development activity.
R & D Tax Credits
The Authority's Research & Development Tax Credit Program allows credits against a taxpayer's Arkansas state income tax for making certain qualified research expenditures as well as certain donations or sales below cost of new machinery and equipment to a qualified research program.
The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority's Centers for Applied Technology Program is a competitive effort to support applied technology in areas of advanced materials and manufacturing systems; agriculture, food and environmental sciences; biotechnology, bioengineering and life sciences; and, information technology. The benefits of establishing a center is that an income tax credit equal to 33% of qualified research expenditures may be allowed to an Arkansas taxpayer who invests in an active project under research and development programs offered by the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority.