The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program was established in 1982 with the enactment of the Small Business Innovation Development Act.
In 1992, Congress authorise it till 2000; SBIR was designed to stimulate technological innovation among small private-sector enterprises; it offer new, cost-effective, technical, and scientific solutions for challenging problems. SBIR also encourage small enterprises to market their technology in the private sector.
Small businesses have played a huge role in developing critical technology innovations for the Department of Defense. This further benefits The United States Air Force by “partnering” small business R&D in meeting challenges across the spectrum of aerospace technology requirements.
Over the years, the SBIR program has compiled various records for both government and small businesses across the country. The program provides a competitive opportunity for qualified small businesses; there are various innovative concepts that adhere to the federal government’s R&D needs. Furthermore, the results of the SBIR program have been important for national defense and to other federal agencies.
SBIR, A COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY
Research and development are key factors in the growth and progress of the industry. However, the cost of carrying out a serious R&D program is beyond the scope of many small business concerns. Hence, it puts such enterprises at an immediate competitive disadvantage.
The SBIR program helps even the playing field. At the front end of the process, small R&D firms are offered the opportunity to compete for federal research contracts. The government’s front-end funding of high-risk research enables the best ideas to surface. At the end of the process, the SBIR Program offers small businesses an incentive and an exceptional opportunity to commercialize the results of the SBIR project while at the same time helping to reduce the risk to most private investors interested in commercializing the technology. Hundreds of small businesses across the country have already acquired public and private sector contracts through SBIR.
THE SBIR SYSTEM
Eleven (11) federal agencies show their research and development budget for SBIR and a smaller part for STTR awards; They are:
- Departments of Agriculture
- Trade
- Defense
- Energy
- Education
- Health and Human Services
- Homeland Security
- Transportation
- EPA
- NASA
- And, the National Science Foundation
Each year, these agencies identify various R&D themes for small enterprises under the SBIR program. Subjects are scientific and technical issues requiring innovative solutions. Therefore, the topics are then combined in groups for interested small businesses.
After reviewing the solicitation material, a small business may identify an appropriate subject that it wants to pursue and, in response, submit a proposal/grant request. In addition, the format for sending proposal/grant requests (we will only use the term proposal) are different for each agency. However, you ca request each information from the agency.
Moreover, technical experts in federal laboratories or research centers then review each proposal. Each agency then selects the best proposals, awards contracts, or grants to the most highly qualified small businesses with the most innovative solutions.
This blog was written by Linda Rawson, who is the founder of DynaGrace Enterprises (dynagrace.com) and the inventor of WeatherEgg (weatheregg.com). She, along with her daughter, Jennifer Remund make up the mother-daughter duo of 2BizChicks (2Bizchicks.com). For further information, please connect with Linda on LinkedIn, or contact her at (800) 676-0058 ext 101.
Please reach out to us at GovCon-Biz should you have any questions.
