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Publication Date - 12/3/1999

71. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

Eleven U.S. agencies participate, on the basis of their R&D budgets, in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program which provides a fixed annual percentage of federal research and development dollars to qualified small firms. Since the program was begun in 1982, there have been approximately 29,000 SBIR awards totaling nearly $4 billion. In 1992 the Congress increased the award amounts for both Phase I and Phase II grants to $100,000 and $750,000, respectively.

University researchers may wish to review the various agency SBIR program solicitations and encourage small businesses with which they have a relationship to participate in an SBIR program. Two-thirds of the Phase I (feasibility stage) work must be done in-house by the small business, but the remaining one-third may be subcontracted out. University consultants can also be hired out of the business's two-thirds.

ORTGE's Research Support Unit has current SBIR program solicitation(s) from the following agency(ies):

• U.S. Department of Energy* - FEBRUARY 29, 2000