It serves the 49-county North Texas SBDC region and is a partnership program of the Dallas County Community College District and the U.S. Small Business Development Center.

Often Small Businesses do not take advantage of intellectual property protection available in the law, for example, patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. If used properly, these can afford small businesses/individuals with a significant competitive advantage in the marketplace and substantial additional financial returns. It is the mission of the TASBDC to aid the small business community with the knowledge necessary to explore intellectual property, new product/process development, market and financial research through our >900 databases. Additionally, we aid with other adjunct services, as listed below.


The center assists clients with all stages of new product development, from the idea stage to the finished product. We conduct preliminary patent searches on the Internet, and show clients how to conduct their own searches. Additionally, the center has access to fee-based databases for additional patent information.

Through database searches, the center can provide clients with a list of potential manufacturers to build their prototype. The center may also refer clients to the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) for free or low-cost assistance with the product design, materials and manufacturing.

The center assists clients with intellectual property strategies, including conducting database searches of registered and pending trademarks. TASBDC counselors will explain the application process, the protection offered, and fees involved.

We conduct various types of market research using online databases. Additionally, we provide clients with a listing of potential customers for their product or service. You can receive training and counseling from an SBDC near you on topics such as starting your own business, financing a business, business management, legal issues, marketing, business planning, tax compliance, record keeping, business accounting, and other subjects of interest to small businesses.

TAC counselors advise clients on the pros and cons of licensing, as well as provide assistance with locating a licensee and negotiating a license agreement. The center maintains various sample license agreements which may be used or adapted by the client. Click here for more information on License & Permits

We offer our clients a free legal consultation with one of the intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights) attorneys who volunteer time with us. We also maintain a list of intellectual property attorneys in the Dallas area.

Resources available to our clients include: computers with internet access; application forms, fee schedules, and informational handouts; pro-bono (free) consultation with intellectual property law attorney; customized searches for market research, product development, and marketing purposes; and government/commercial database access.

The center provides clients with access to the NASA database and the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for new technologies and research information.

Workshops and seminars are offered on a variety of intellectual property topics. These are presented by TASBDC counselors or intellectual property law attorneys. New training sessions related to intellectual property will be offered in January 2010.

In addition to the services described above, the Technology Assistance SBDC, in coordination with its host organization, El Centro College (DCCCD), provides business counseling and training services to the small businesses located in the Business Incubation Center (BIC) at the Institute. For more information on the BIC, including how to become a tenant, call 214-860-5900.