SSTI Conference Sponsor Profile: The Advanced Technology Program

Are you looking for funding for high-risk research? The Advanced Technology Program (ATP), part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, bridges the gap between the research lab and the marketplace stimulating prosperity through innovation. ATP’s mission is to accelerate the development of innovative technologies through partnerships with the private sector.

Program Impact

ATP fills a gap between invention and innovation not substantially funded by private investors. About 80 percent of ATP funded projects have brought, or are soon bringing, one or more new products or processes into the marketplace. Eighty new products or processes are in the marketplace or expected soon. ATP accelerates technology development. Approximately 86 percent of 673 organizations in 347 projects reported that they are ahead in their R&D cycle as a result of ATP funding. Fifty-three percent said that they are ahead by one to three years. ATP fosters collaboration.

Almost 85 percent of ATP projects engaged in collaborations with other companies, universities, federal laboratories, and non-profits. Over 60 percent indicated they would not have done so without ATP funding. ATP awards lead to a “Halo Effect" All else being equal, a firm that wins an ATP award is more successful in securing additional funding from non-ATP sources that are non-winners.

Program Outcome

Since 1990, ATP has selected 602 projects for its public-private partnerships including 414 single company projects and 188 joint ventures. Through ATP partnerships a total of $3.65 billion of advanced technology research has been funded with over 50 percent of the funding being provided by ATP. Small businesses have led 62 percent of all projects and have received $920 million in federal funding. Over 160 universities have participated in ATP projects and have received an estimated $154 million through STP grants.

ATP Selection Criteria

ATP splits their selection criteria for awards between two categories weighted equally. The first criterion is on the scientific and technical merit consisting of the innovative technology, high technical risk & feasibility, and quality of R&D plan. The second criterion is broad-based economics benefits consisting of economic benefits, need for ATP funding and pathway to economic benefit.

ATP Headlines

ATP awarded $53.9 million in ATP funding with industry matched funding of $40.6 million in June of 2002. The amount was spread among 21 awards selected from proposals submitted to the ATP 2001 competition.

NIST will accept proposals for the 2002 competition until Sept. 30, 2002. All proposals received before the Sept. 30 deadline will be evaluated and considered for future funding. This year, for the first time, NIST is offering all ATP applicants the option of submitting proposals electronically through digitally signed documents.

Dow Chemical Company recently received the US National Medal of Technology for its innovation in the fabrication of high performance integrated circuits. Dow, in partnership with IBM, received a cost share award from ATP for its work in the semiconductor industry.

ATP is a gold sponsor of SSTI's annual conference, Building Tech-based Economies: From Policy to Practice, on October 2-3, 2002. To learn more about ATP, visit its exhibit and attend its session at the conference or check out its website: http://www.atp.nist.gov/