A Novel SBIR Program Experiment by NIST

[Editor’s Note: The following article is reprinted from the June 1 issue of the SBIR Gateway Insider Newsletter, with permission from the author, Rick Shindell at Zyn Systems. The entire issue is worthy reading and is available, along with archived issues, through the SBIR Gateway that Shindell maintains as a free, public resource for all things SBIR. The SBIR Gateway is http://www.zyn.com/sbir/.]

 

As many of you know, the NIST SBIR program was severely impacted by the loss/reduction of funding for the NIST ATP program (considered extramural research by which NIST SBIR obtains its 2.5 percent funding).

 

NIST SBIR is trying a pilot program that is somewhat unusual. NIST's SBIR Program is asking small business owners to examine NIST patents as well as other NIST-developed technology for commercial viability, and to identify technological gaps that impede the patent's transition to the marketplace. NIST intends to incorporate technologies of special interest to industry in its 2008 SBIR research and development solicitation for proposals.



NIST's pilot effort to secure small business participation in formulating the SBIR solicitation is aimed at increasing private-sector commercialization of innovations derived from federal research and development.

 

The NIST SBIR Program is inviting small, American-owned companies to scan NIST patents and technologies and offer research suggestions in advance of the 2008 SBIR solicitation. In that competition, NIST will offer awardees a non-exclusive research license and the option to a non-exclusive commercialization license. The company or companies selected for the SBIR award, with access to NIST technology and personnel knowledgeable about the NIST patent, will be expected to add research to the NIST innovation and develop a commercial product based on the NIST patent. The deadline for private sector suggestions to the solicitation is Aug. 31, 2007; the formal solicitation is expected to be issued in November 2007, with proposals due in late January 2008.

 

To search for specific technologies, go to: http://patapsco.nist.gov/TS/220/sharedpatent/index.cfm

 

For a data dump, go to: http://patapsco.nist.gov/TS/220/sharedpatent/patents_keyword.cfm

 

To browse through NIST's Tech Beat, visit: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/archive.htm

 

If you identify NIST-held patents, or other NIST technologies that are not patent protected, and wish to explore opportunities to conduct research to further the technology to transition to the commercial market, please call Clara Asmail, NIST SBIR Program Manager, (301) 975-2339 or e-mail her at asmail@nist.gov.

 

Editor’s Addition: On June 12, at 1 p.m. eastern time, the NIST SBIR Program Manager Clara Asmail will be discussing plans for a fall SBIR Solicitation that will, in part, support subtopics to extend technologies described by a specific NIST patent or research activity (see http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tb2007_0524.htm#sbir). This web cast, conducted in concert with the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, is to seek industry input in establishing subtopics. For further information regarding the web cast, please contact Tab Wilkins at twilkins@nist.gov or 301.646.4069.