Sec. 62.164. GRANT AWARD CRITERIA; PRIORITIES. (a) The office may award grants only to grant proposals that involve the recruitment of distinguished researchers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine. The office shall give priority to proposals that:

(1) demonstrate a reasonable probability of enhancing Texas' national and global economic competitiveness;

(2) demonstrate a reasonable probability of creating a nationally or internationally recognized locus of research superiority or a unique locus of research;

(3) are matched with a significant amount of funding from a federal or private source that may be transferred to the eligible institution;

(4) are interdisciplinary and collaborative; or

(5) include a strategic plan for intellectual property development and commercialization of technology.

(b) The office may award a grant to a proposal that:

(1) supports the recruitment of a distinguished researcher distinguished in, or to be engaged in, basic, translational, or applied research; or

(2) proposes the recruitment of a distinguished researcher for new research capabilities of the eligible institution or to expand the institution's existing research capabilities.

(c) A grant proposal should identify a specific distinguished researcher being recruited. In addition to the factors considered in evaluating proposals considered a priority under Subsection (a), the office may consider:

(1) the likelihood that the researcher being recruited will not accept a research position with the applicant eligible institution without the institution's receipt of a matching grant under this subchapter;

(2) the extent to which the subject matter of the researcher's research offers the opportunity for interdisciplinary and collaborative research at the applicant eligible institution and with other eligible institutions; and

(3) any commercialization track record of the researcher being recruited.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 448 (H.B. 7), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2015.