sbir

GAO urges action to prevent fraud in SBIR, STTR programs

In a report released this week, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the 11 agencies participating in the Small Business Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs have varied in their implementation of fraud, waste and abuse prevention requirements. The ten requirements were put in place as part of the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011, following a 2009 congressional hearing regarding fraud in the programs. The extent to which the agencies have implemented the requirements varies – all 11 agencies have fully implemented two of the requirements and more than half have fully implemented another six. Officials from nine agencies indicated they have gone beyond the minimum requirements. However, officials from the Small Business Administration, which developed the requirements, said they had not confirmed with all agencies that all the requirements had been implemented. Similarly, Offices of Inspectors General (OIG) varied in their implementation of the requirements which had been assigned to them, with the military services branches failing to implement them.

SBIR Road Tour highlights funding opportunities

The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced dates for this year’s SBIR Road Tour, a national outreach effort to highlight funding opportunities through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Combined, these two programs invest more than $2.5 billion annually as a way to spur innovation. At each of the road tour’s 16 stops, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and small technology firms will have the opportunity to meet directly with SBIR and STTR program managers at the state and federal levels to discuss the program. The tour begins in May 2017 and will continue through October. 

Arkansas targets science, tech growth

Arkansas has new tools targeting growth in the state’s innovation and technology sector after Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed legislation creating a $2 million accelerator grant program for startups and establishing a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) matching funds program. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s (AEDC) Division of Science and Technology will administer the programs and seek corporate sponsors to provide matching funds to create accelerator events throughout the state. Grants will be available to qualified applicants of up to $250,000 per event. The SBIR fund will provide funds to match up to 50 percent of federal grant funds for qualifying companies, up to a cap of $50,000 for Phase One and up to $100,000 for Phase Two. The program seeks to create and retain high-tech jobs, foster research, and increase the number of federal SBIR awards for startup and early-stage companies.

National Defense Authorization Includes SBIR Reauthorization

Congress approved the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2017, which now awaits the President’s signature. The bill includes several significant provisions for the innovation community, including:

SBA Announces $2M for Technology-Businesses Outreach, Assistance

As part of the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded up to $200,000 to organizations in 21 states to provide outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses.  With an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged firms, the FAST program provides funds to organizations helping businesses better prepare to compete for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding.

SBA Announces $2M for Technology-Businesses Outreach, Assistance

July 21, 2016

As part of the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, the U.S. Small Business Administration has awarded up to $200,000 to organizations in 21 states to provide outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses.

SBIR Award Programs Wrestle with Minority Outreach

Funded through a small tax on extramural research budgets, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards are offered by 11 federal agencies with an overall goal of backing innovation by small businesses. With a typical maximum of $150,000 for phase I awards and $1 million for phase II awards, SBIR programs have had varying degrees of success – especially when factoring in their explicit mandate to enhance opportunities for women and minorities. In particular, National Institute of Health (NIH) SBIR awards have struggled to reach underserved audiences, according to a new study by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Twenty Universities, Organizations Receive FAST Awards to Support Tech-Focused Small Businesses

The Small Business Administration announced the FY15 awardees of its Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. In FY15, 20 state and local economic development agencies, business development centers, and colleges and universities will receive $100,000 each to support programs to establish and/or sustain programs that provide support to innovative, technology-driven small businesses in their state and help them compete in federally funded research and development through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Activities supported by FAST awards include: research and development assistance; technology transfer efforts; proposals development and mentoring for small businesses applying for SBIR awards; and, the commercialization of SBIR/STTR-funded technologies.

Recent Research: What Kinds of Publicly Funded R&D Projects Fail?

SBIR projects are less likely to fail if research teams are smaller, have more experience and include women investigators, according to a new working paper by Albert N. Link and Mike Wright. The authors also found that larger SBIR awards lower the chances that a project will be discontinued before completion. While the study focuses on projects supported through federal SBIR programs, the findings could have implications for other kinds of public R&D support.

SBA Announces $2M for Organizations to Help Small Tech Companies Commercialize New Technologies

The Small Business Administration released its annual solicitation for the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, a competitive grants program for eligible organizations to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance services to technology-based small business owners. The program places particular emphasis on organizations that propose helping socially and economically disadvantaged firms compete in the SBA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Each state, through its governor office, may submit one proposal in FY15 for an eligible organization (e.g., state and local economic development agencies; Small Business Development Centers; and, colleges and universities). Applications are due April 10.  Visit the FAST Partnership Program website…

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