Small Business Innovation Research Program
Why?
With SBIR & STTR, inventors and small businesses can:
- Fund innovative, high risk, early stage projects to start or expand a business
- Receive funding quickly -- in as little as 4 months from application
- Apply for funding with very little paperwork, time or effort
- Retain full ownership of their technology & intellectual property
- Receive additional, active support for business planning, commercialization at NO COST
- Establish a bid-advantaged, sole-source marketing position with the world's largest, ready-made customer
- Gain credibility with their marketplace and their potential investors
- Receive real cash revenues, usually paid in advance of the work required
| Phase I | ||
| Funds: | up to $100,000 (some less) | |
| Time: | 6 months (some 9 months) | |
| Purpose: | demonstrate feasibility (can be on paper) | |
| Product: | report and Phase II Proposal (can us Phase I funds) | |
| Phase II | ||
| Funds: | up to $700,000 (some less) | |
| Time: | up to two years (or more) | |
| Purpose: | refine, test & evaluate the concept | |
| Product: | report and /or prototype | |
| Phase III | ||
| Funds: | unlimited (no SBIR funding BUT can market sole-source to US | |
| Time: | unlimited (no graduation, no size limit) | |
| Purpose: | commercialization of the concept | |
| Product: | product or service for sale |
| Participation Requirements | Project Should Offer |
| No more than 500 employees | Solution to agency's problem or enhancement to agency's mission |
| Organized as "for profit " firm | Early stage, innovative, technology-based idea/concept |
| Independently owned and operated | Actual research (needed to show feasibility --real possibility of failure) |
| 51% owned by US citizens /resident aliens | Feasibility determined within the funds available ($50k - $100k) |
| Principal place of business in USA | Prototype evaluated with limited Phase II funds ($225k - $750k) |
| Principal investigator must be primarily (51%) employed by the proposing firm | A demonstrable business opportunity for the applicant |
THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO:
- Acquire funds for plant /equipment, advertising, patent writing, etc.
- Get unsolicited proposals funded - MUST be responsive to solicitation
