Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive federal award program that encourages small businesses to explore their technological potential and provides the incentive to profit from its commercialization. Eleven agencies of the federal government are required to set aside a certain portion of their research and development funding for these awards, including the Departments of Agriculture, Defense and Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Proposals are judged according to small business qualification, degree of innovation, technical merit and future market potential. Funding is awarded in three phases:
• Phase One, start-up phase. Awards of up to $100,000 for approximately 6 months support exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology.
• Phase Two awards up to $750,000 for up to two years, for the purpose of expanding Phase One results. During this time, the R&D work is performed and the developer evaluates commercialization potential. Only Phase I award winners are eligible.
• Phase III is the commercialization of the technology developed during Phase II. No SBIR funds support this phase. The small business must find funding in the private sector or other non-SBIR federal agency funding.
The University of North Dakota Center for Innovation has been awarded state funding to assist businesses applying for SBIR funds. The Center provides technical assistance, helps to locate solicitations that fit with a particular business, give technical advice on how to write proposals, and offer assistance in writing and reviewing proposals.
For more information on the UND Center for Innovation’s SBIR services, please visit www.techconnectnd.com, call the Center for Innovation at 701-777-3132, or email Steph Blair at steph@innovators.net. For more information on SBIR, please visit www.sbir.gov.