SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) programs are two competitively awarded, three-phase Federal Government programs. They are designed to stimulate technological innovation and provide opportunities for small business. These dynamic teamings of the private and public sectors include joint venture opportunities for small businesses and the nation's premier nonprofit research institutions. Intellectual property (IP) rights are protected under the SBIR program. With STTRs, IP rights are negotiated. These programs are highly competitive, and must be made with the ultimate goal of product commercialization in mind. Federal agencies maintain department-specific SBIR and STTR programs Web pages (see the “Government Contracting Agencies” section under the Resources Tab).
The SBIR program solicitations are issued by 12 Federal agencies; the majority are awarded by the Department of Defense. They are solicited to meet specific military technology requirements.
Approximately 15% of all entries win a Phase I SBIR process. 40% of Phase I winners go on to Phase II. 50% of Phase I winners are “one-man shows.”
5 Federal agencies reserve a portion of their Research and Development funds to be awarded via the STTR program to small business/nonprofit research institution partnerships.
For more information about the SBIR program, visit:
Minnesota Project Innovation, Inc.
www.sba.gov/sbir/indexsbir-sttr
www.sbirworld.com
For more information about the STTR program, visit:
www.sba.gov/sbir/indexsbir-sttr
See President Bush’s Executive Order on the SBIR/STTR Program
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040224-6.html
