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Division of Research

  1. Division of Research
  2. Funding Opportunities
  3. Texas Research Incentive Program

Funding Opportunities

Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP)

NOTICE: This program has been repealed.
Senate Bill 2066, relating to the repeal of the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), was signed into law by the Governor on Monday, May 19, 2025, following its passage by the 89th Texas Legislature.  

Intent

The Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP) provided matching funds to assist in leveraging private gifts for the enhancement of research productivity and faculty recruitment. UH is one of eight institutions eligible for the program.

Eligibility

What qualified for the TRIP Match?
Gifts or endowments of at least $100,000 from private sources for the purpose of enhancing research activities at the University of Houston, including:

  • Endowed chairs
  • Professorships
  • Research facilities
  • Research equipment
  • Research program costs
  • Graduate research stipends or fellowships
  • Undergraduate research

Certain gifts are not TRIP eligible, including:

  • Federal/state funded
  • Sponsored research
  • Contract for services
  • Deliverables are required beyond standard financial and progress reports
  • Results/findings confidential
  • Shared IP or special rights to IP given to funded gifts

How much of a gift can be matched by the state?

  • 50% for gifts of $100,000 to $999,999
  • 75% for gifts of $1,000,000 to $1,999,999
  • 100% for gifts of $2,000,000 to $10,000,000
  • $10,000,000 for gifts over $10,000,000

Allocation

How much of the match will be distributed to the fund of the gift submitted?
For all matching funds received for any gift submitted to TRIP on August 1, 2017 or beyond, 50% will be allocated to the fund of the gift submitted and 50% will be allocated to the President’s Strategic Initiatives.

What can the funds be used for?
The University requires TRIP Match funds to be used to support research.

If I leave the University of Houston can I transfer my TRIP Match award to another institution?
No. TRIP Match funds are awarded to the University of Houston, not directly to a Principal Investigator.

Contacts

Who should I contact for questions?
To track the status of a submitted TRIP Match gift, contact Thu-Van Nguyen, Matching Gift Administrator, University Advancement.

Full list of university contacts >