Updated 11/8/13(mw)

“FROM CONCEPT TO THE MARKETPLACE”

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM

Research Opportunities Reserved for Small Business

Presented by: Louisiana Technology Transfer Office

Louisiana Business & Technology Center

SBIR / STTR Participating Agencies

• DOD SBIR/STTR• HHS SBIR/STTR• NASA SBIR/STTR• DOE SBIR/STTR• NSF SBIR/STTR• DHS SBIR • USDA SBIR• DOC SBIR• ED SBIR• EPA SBIR• DOT SBIR

TOTAL ~ $2.6 BFY 2013

SBIR 3-Phase ProgramPHASE I• Technical Merit & Feasibility Study • $150K* and 6-month (SBIR) or 12-month (STTR) Award

PHASE II• Full Research/R&D and Prototype development• $1 Million* and 2-year Award (SBIR/STTR)• Additional assistance is available in some cases

PHASE III• Commercialization Stage • Use of non-SBIR/STTR Funds*Up to a 50% excess may be allowed

Phase III/ Commercialization

Phase IIB (1 Year)

Phase II (2

Years)

Phase I (6

Months)

Agency Differences

ALWAYS CHECK WITH AGENCIES

E

B/SB/S

Who Participates in SBIR?

• Firms are typically small and new to the program.• About 1/3 are first-time Phase I awardees.• Small hi-tech firms from across the country.

Firm Size Distribution*

SBIR Program Eligibility Checkpoints

Organized for- profit U.S. business

At least 51% U.S.- owned by individuals and independently operated

Small Business located in the U.S.

500 or fewer employees

P.I.’s primary employment with small business during project

Proposal Guidelines

• SBIR & STTR revolves around a solicitation schedule. Specific Opening and Closing Dates

• Many variables among the participating agencies. Some are contracts while others are grants

• You may want to utilize subcontractors and consultants to round-out your proposal team. This is allowable (Subject to restrictions) but all work must be done in the U.S.

• There are liberal patent rights. Recipient can apply for worldwide patents; federal government gets royalty free license.

• STTR – requires university/research institution as a partner

Finding SBIR & STTR Research Topics

• Each of the 12 participating agencies publish SBIR/STTR topics via solicitations

• Solicitations have strict opening/closing dates• Proposals must be responsive to a topic or they

will be tossed out.• Some agencies use contracts as funding

mechanisms for proposals selected, while others will use grants

Standard Phase I Process

• Agencies describe R&D topics in solicitations.

• Small business concerns prepare short (usually 25-page)proposals. Unsolicited proposals not accepted.

• Agencies evaluate based on technical merit, firm’s qualifications, and commercial potential / societal benefit.

• Agencies make Phase I awards.

Evaluation

Ph I award

SolicitationTopics

ProposalSubmission

Abo

ut 4

-6 m

onth

s

Phase II Process

• Focus on Commercialization • Level of competition changes • Industry partners/University collaborations• You’re now a “known quantity” and should have a

good relationships wish with the agency• Accounting systems/budget audits are likely• Prototyping, testing, clinical trials, etc…• Business plan is critical

Phase IIb

• How are you going to fund the gap between phase II and Phase III?

• 4-18 month gap between submission to award.• Match 1:2 of third party investment up to a limit of

$50,000– In some instances R&D tax credit can be considered

third party.

General SBIR Tips

• Talk to the program manager• Apply for a SAM System ahead of time. It can

take 4 weeks to register.• Be sure to have an accounting system in place.• Become familiar with Fasttrac or grants.gov and

register ahead of time.

UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

• Opportunities for valuable collaboration• Can be university or not-for-profit research

institution. Must be located in the US• May be consultants/subcontracts on SBIR/STTR• These institutions have expertise, labs and other

facilities for much needed support to your technology

• Need to manage your IP carefully with the institution!

LBTC Phase 0 Program

This is a Louisiana based program. Developed/Administered by the LBTC through the Louisiana Board of Regents. This is a Unique program that shows Louisiana’s Commitment to technology based small businesses.

Award amount of up to $2,000

Phase I

Award amount of up to $2,000

Phase II

Phase 0 Fund Uses

• Hire Grant Writer• Travel to Federal Lab• Travel to SBIR Conference• Supplies• SBIR Software

LBTC Phase Zero Rules

• Application is an electronic/online form• Only one award allowed per company per 12

month period. • Applicant must identify the specific SBIR Proposal

topic they are responding to.• Must apply for phase 0 at least 3 weeks prior to

solicitation closing date• All applications are reviewed on a competitive

basis by a selection committee.

R&D Tax Credit

Top 10 Reasons to Seek SBIR / STTR Funding Opportunities

10.Over 2.6 Billion Available

9. Not A Loan – No repayment

10. Provides recognition, verification and Visibility.

11. Potential Leveraging tool to Attract venture capital/other sources of funding

6. Fosters Partnerships (e.g. large corporations, academia)

Top 10 Reasons to Seek SBIR / STTR Funding Opportunities

5. Stimulates local and state economies = stronger national economy

4. Provides seed money to fund high risk projects

3. Intellectual property rights are normally maintained by the small

business

6. Small Businesses concerns are recognized as a unique national resource of technological innovation

1. Commercializes high tech products

Relevant Resources and Links

• www.zyn.com/sbir• www.sbir.gov• www.grants.gov• www.bbcetc.com (BBC Entrepreneurial Training

and Consulting)• www.cit.org Center for Innovative Technology• www.jamesoncpa.com Jameson & Company• www.gail-jim@g-greenwood.com Greenwood

Consulting Group

Contact Information

• Louisiana Business & Technology Center– www.lbtc.lsu.edu– (225) 578-7555– @LSU_LBTC– www.facebook.com/lsu.lbtc

• Roy Keller, Director LTTO– (225) 578-3985– rkeller@lsu.edu

• Vic Johnson, Manager LTTO Office Stennis Space Center– (228) 688-1117– Victor.o.Johnson@nasa.gov