I just returned today from two days at an SBIR conference in Indianapolis. This new annual conference was well done and informative and provided the impetus for me writing today.
The SBIR program or Small Business Innovation and Research program. This federal program is offered through 11 agencies including those I typically work with in agriculture and energy. The idea behind the program is to aid small business in a variety of industries in researching concepts and business ideas and technologies and helping them, through a three phase process to launch them commercially within a couple of years.
The program offers grants, though they are not particularly large-phase I grants are for $100,000 and for $750,000 for phase II. Still, the grants help established or new companies prove a concept and bring it to market. The program is nationally competitive-only about one in six grants are funded out of the phase one applications that are annually received. Odds increase to one out of every two applications when applying for phase II as only phase I applicants are eligible to ask for phase II funds.
I’ll be posting my thoughts and the program’s opening dates as they approach. For the agriculture program funded through USDA, it will be expected to open in June and close in September 2009.
Call me if I can be of service.
To your prosperity!
Sarah
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