Looking for funding for your technology startup? In this informational workshop, you’ll learn specific tips for preparing a winning Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal to federal agencies. Included will be an overview of the programs, search techniques for finding funding sources, best practices for applying and a summary of the changes to the recent SBIR/STTR rules.

When and where:
Tuesday, April 3, 9am to 12pm
at the Bond Life Sciences Center,
no cost to attend

To register:
Please contact the MU Small Business & Technology Development Center office at 573-882-7096 or email gillos@missouri.edu.

For more information, download this workshop flyer.

SBIR Insider Newsletter Update

Dear SBIR Insider,

I am pleased (a gross understatement) to inform you that SBIR HAS NOW BEEN REAUTHORIZED for a period of 6 years, ending September 30, 2017, and that includes STTR, and what was the Commercialization Pilot Program (CPP), now to be known as the Commercialization Readiness Program (CRP).

This was all done under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA) HR.1540. All that’s left is for the President to sign the bill into law, and he has said he would.
There are many changes and additions to these programs, many you will probably like, some, perhaps “not so much. What you won’t read in press releases or the main stream press is that the SBIR program was a stone’s throw from being laid to rest.

The fatigue factor from several years of battling for reauthorization, and fighting for 14 continuing resolutions led some powerful forces to question the validity of a program that can’t be reauthorized. “If it can’t be passed, let it die” was the word from one source. And die it would, had there not been serious compromises.
(more…)

The following updates come from Rick Shindell and his excellent SBIR Insider newsletter. Rick’s website and contact information are below. Consider subscribing to his updates as Rick serves as one of the most knowledgeable and informative sources of data on SBIR and the reauthorization process.

Dear SBIR Insider,

Here’s a quick update on SBIR reauthorization as of 11/29/11. The news is somewhat encouraging with an emphasis on “somewhat.”

You would not believe the extent of the effort Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) went through today, fighting for your SBIR program. The House Small Business Committee (HSBC) was once again dragging their feet on reauthorization talks and the program once again found itself in trouble. (more…)

The following excerpt is from Rick Shindell’s excellent SBIR Insider Newsletter…

SBIR Insider Newsletter Update
November 17, 2011

Dear SBIR Insider,

Good news, SBIR/STTR/CPP are now extended through December 16, 2011. Both House & Senate have just passed H.R. 2112 which amongst many other things extends SBIR/STTR/CPP through December 16, 2011. The President is expect to sign the bill Friday, when the current CR funding the government expires.

Reading between the lines reveals more good news judging from congressional action on this bill. The major thrust of this bill is to fund Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs through the end of FY-2012 (September 30, 2012).

Rick Shindell
SBIR Gateway
Zyn Systems
40 Alderwood Dr.
Sequim, WA 98382
360-681-4123
rick@zyn.com
www.zyn.com/sbir

This and back Issues of the SBIR Insider are available at www.zyn.com/sbir/insider

Some interesting quotes in this article regarding the effects of cuts in funding at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would have on SBIR grants and innovation in general. Such drastic reductions in SBIR awards further limits small businesses interested in participating in government research and development efforts.

A new Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge grant award was made recently to a consortium of organizations in the St. Louis region. The St. Louis County Economic Council, the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment and the St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council will all share in the work of assisting the bioscience industry cluster in the region. The funding for this grant initiative comes from three federal agencies: the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The MoFAST office in St. Louis, will be a community partner with these agencies in providing technology commercialization training classes and some ongoing business counseling to some of the companies that will be assisted in this effort. Look for more information soon about events in late 2011 and early 2012.

Since the St. Louis region possesses world-class assets in both medical and plant sciences, the successful execution of the proposal is designed to create high-growth enterprises and high-wage jobs in one of the nation’s fastest growing industries. In addition to top research medical schools and independent research institutes, the region also has several large, mature biosciences corporations including concentrations of non-profit and corporate plant science research.

More information about this program can be found here:

Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge Project

Despite the recent uncertainty regarding the federal reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer grants (STTR), the 2011 National Fall SBIR/STTR conference is set for early November in New Orleans, LA. This conference is especially useful to small businesses who may be new to the grant process and would like to meet directly with program managers from the various federal agencies that participate. There is sure to be plenty of information regarding the reauthorization process as well. For further information please visit the conference home page which can be found here: 2011 National Fall SBIR/STTR Conference

Registration is now open for the Missouri Technology Expo 2011 held on September 8, 2011 in Columbia, MO. The Expo will feature exciting and promising inventions developed at universities throughout Missouri and be a catalyst for economic development.

You can find information regarding registration and other details at:

tmir.missouri.edu/mte2011.

Below is some information about an exciting workshop taking place later this month at the Skandalaris Center at Washington University in St. Louis.  Please consider attending.  A full description of the event can be found here:

http://sc.wustl.edu/Events/Pages/diversity.aspx

SUMMARY:

Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Under-Represented Innovators to Regional Resources

On Monday, July 25, the Skandalaris Center, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Partners for Innovation program, will host a day-long workshop entitled “Diversity as a Catalyst for Innovation in the Sciences: Connecting Women and Under-Represented Innovators to Regional Resources.”

The workshop is a follow-up to a grant from the NSF in 2008. The grant created a number of tools, concepts, and approaches that enhance regional innovation ecosystems. This workshop will broaden their impact by introducing the tools and approaches to under-represented groups. As part of the workshop we will publish and make available online a guidebook of resources available to innovators and entrepreneurs, to connect them to existing innovation support systems in the St. Louis region. The workshop will provide four learning tracks and include multiple opportunities to learn about and connect with resources in the region.

We recommend this workshop for the following groups:

• Women and other under-represented researchers who want to meet others and investigate how their ideas may move forward
• Service providers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who want to support underrepresented groups
• Students who want to learn more about St. Louis scientific startup ventures and regional entrepreneur support systems
• Community members who are part of, or wish to contribute to improving, the region’s innovation ecosystems
  Investors and funders who want to support early stage technology ventures
• Organizations and companies who support diversity
• Executives, mentors, advisors, and other people who might want to advise or join new technology ventures led by underrepresented groups

The following comes from Fred Patterson regarding the latest Continuing Resolution:

To My SBIR Clients and Friends,

The calls you made did help! A lot! Thank you.

The House of Representatives did overwhelmingly vote in favor of extending the SBIR Program through September 30, 2011, the end of the current government fiscal year.

The vote for this twelfth Continuing Resolution in the current string was 387-33 along bipartisan lines, with 12 members not voting. For a complete breakdown on who voted yea or nay, see the information posted on SBIRreauthorization.com.

What this means is that all funds allocated to SBIR, STTR and the DOD’s CPP for this Fiscal Year 2011 should now be released to the Agency contracting and granting offices, and we all can get on with our business.

But this isn’t over. We must get an SBIR Reauthorization bill acceptable to everyone passed by the end of September, so we’ll continue to educate and inform. If your Representative is one of those who voted NO, you should find out why, and get them some information to, hopefully, change their mind.

Here’s the current SBIR/STTR solicitation landscape:
SBIR/STTR PROPOSAL DEADLINES:
CURRENT OPEN AGENCY SOLICITATIONS:
NSF (SBIR): June 10th
DOT (SBIR): June 13th
DHS (SBIR): June 28th
DOD (SBIR): June 29th
NIH/CDC/FDA/ACF (SBIR/STTR): Aug 5th/Dec 5th
ANTICIPATED FUTURE SOLICITATIONS:
DOD (SBIR): Sep 28th/Jan 11th
USDA (SBIR): Sep 1st
NASA (SBIR/STTR): Sep 8th
NIH (SBIR Contracts): Nov 4th
DOE (SBIR/STTR): Nov 15th
NSF (SBIR): Dec 1st
DHS (SBIR): Jan 9th
DOC/NOAA (SBIR): Jan 12th
DOEd (SBIR): Jan 18th
DOC/NIST (SBIR): Jan 28th

For details on these monitor the SBIR Gateway. And, of course, you know where to come for help.

Thanks again for your support of the SBIR Advocacy.

Best regards,

Fred Patterson
The SBIR Coach