Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has pre-released its list of 2010 SBIR Topics. There are 42 research topics that include subjects like Cryocoolers, RFID-Integrated Sensors, Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes, 3-D Imaging Ssensors, and Barrier Fabrics for Fire Safety.
Full Solicitation will be released on November 2nd, but a list of 42 intended topics is available now. Proposals will be due on January 22nd and Phase I Awards will have a maximum value of $90,000.
The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (DOC-NOAA) released details of its FY 2010 Program Solicitation. Budgets may not exceed $95,000 or six months for Phase I research. NOAA anticipates making 10 Phase I awards. Physical deliver of the proposals must be made before 4:00 PM on January 14th. Topics fall within the following broad categories–see the full solicitation for details:
- Ecosystems
- Climate
- Weather and Water
- Commerce and Transportation
Four seasoned SBIR/STTR recipients will relay their experiences in obtaining SBIR/STTR funding. On October 21st, the ATDC Brown Bag Panel Discussion will allow you to glean from their knowledge.
Hearing about the SBIR or STTR award process is one thing, but hearing from someone who actually went through the process (and was successful), is even more beneficial. SBIR/STTR Awards can provide your company with up to $850K to conduct research. Why not learn how others have done it and reap valuable knowledge from their experiences? Come hear them relay how they did it, problems they had, and things they wish they had known. Don’t forget to bring your questions too!
Panelists:
- Karol Hatzilias is the President, ShapeStart Measurement Systems, Inc. Phase 1 and 2 SBIR grant from the Navy.
- Nikil Jayant is a Chaired Professor in the School of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Georgia Tech, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, and Co-Founder of VQLink. Phase 1 and 2 SBIR grants from NSF.
- Ron Garmon is CEO of VueLogic. VuLogic has received Phase 1 and 2 NSF SBIR funding.
- Thanh Doan is Vice President of Operations at Vivonetics. SBIR and STTR awards from NIH.
Please note: This is a FREE event (for ATDC Members only), therefore it is a TRUE Brown Bag – meaning, bring your own lunch. If you forget to pack one before you walk out of the house, there are plenty of great restaurants in Tech Square to patron just before you enter this program.
Not an ATDC member? Join now!
Today, the Department of Transportation released its FY10 SBIR Program Solicitation. Proposals will be due by November 16th with a budget not exceeding $100,000. Details and proposal instructions can be found in the solicitation. Topics fall within the following areas:
- FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
- FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION
- FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION
- FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION
- NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
- PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
SBIR and STTR awards are sometimes described as “free government money”. People hear this and immediately start lining up with their hands out. Not so fast. Just because the money doesn’t have to be repaid (like a loan), it doesn’t mean that it is automatically given to every person who wants it. Before you too jump in line with your hand out, make sure you qualify—no need to spend a lot of time, only to find out down the road that you are ineligible.
First, SBIR and STTR awards are for businesses—not individuals. Even then, they are not appropriate for every business. The awards are intended for serious, risky research with a high potential for commercial success—meaning, customers will actually pay you money for your innovative, end-product. Obtaining an award is a competitive process—make sure you CAN submit before you spend time preparing a proposal. So what are these qualifications? Well, here is a list of the minimum qualifications—specific agencies might have additional qualifications or expectations:
- Business is set up For-Profit
- No more than 500 employees in the business (including all affiliated entities)
- Satisfy ownership issues of the business:
- Business must at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Resident Aliens
OR
- Business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by another small business that satisfies the above “a” requirement
- Business and proposed research location must be in the U.S.
- The Principal Investigator (PI) must be credentialed (education and experience) in the area of research that the business is proposing—must demonstrate on paper that he/she can lead a formal research study
- The PI must be employed fulltime (usually at least 51%) by the company (NOTE: sometimes for STTR, the PI can be employed by the company OR the partnering Research Institute)
- The proposed research must address a specified agency topic or area of research interest outlined by the soliciting agency—unsolicited proposals are NOT accepted.
Those are the minimum qualifications. If you DO qualify and you DO have an innovative idea that can realistically advance the mission of an agency, then submitting a proposal might be appropriate for your company. Talk to one of the ATDC Startup Catalysts specializing in SBIR (Connie Ruffner, Julie Collins, or John Mills) for more details.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the release of its 2010 SBIR Phase I solicitation. $45,000,000 will be available for 200-300 awards. These competitive research awards will be capped at $150,000 per award. Companies must outline how they will utilize these funds to conduct a 6-month feasibility study. Companies must prepare proposals that will address subtopics found under each of these main Topics:
Successful proposers will conduct R&D on projects that provide evidence of a commercially viable product, process, device, or system AND/OR meet an important social or economic need. All projects should have High potential commercial payback and High-risk efforts.
For more details and proposal preparation instructions, refer to the NSF solicitation.
All proposals will be due before 5:00 PM on Thursday, December 3rd (the registration process, necessary before you submit your proposal, might take a few weeks–Start early!).
If you recall, last month we announced that the incubator model in Atlanta (and Georgia) was changing. The SBIR Assistance Program for Georgia was merged into the newly expanded ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center). This new relationship has enabled (and will continue to enable) more Georgia companies and researchers to learn about SBIR and STTR as well as expose those seeking SBIR/STTR funding to additional resources/assistance outside of SBIR/STTR.
In a move that will help foster the awareness of the full range of services ATDC offers, the SBIRGA.com blog will be incorporated with ATDC’s existing blog and portal. You do not need to do anything differently on your part if you don’t want to. You will still be able to to read the SBIR/STTR posts by going to SBIRGA.com or you can go directly to the ATDC section dedicated to SBIR (http://www.atdc.org/sbir). We hope, though, you WILL stop and take a look at all the services and opportunities provided at ATDC as there might be additional services which could help your business.
The Department of Energy (DOE) has added $37 million to the pot for SBIR/STTR Awards ($8.5 million for Phase I awards). This is in addition to the $9 million already allocated to the SBIR/STTR Phase I awards. Thanks the Recovery Act, these additional funds will be awarded to technologies that improve energy efficiency. Topics include:
· Advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs
· Water usage in electric power generation and industrial processes
· Power plant cooling
· Advanced gas turbines and materials
· Sensors, controls, and wireless networks
· Advanced water power technology development
· Smart controllers for smart grid applications
· Advanced solar technologies
· Advanced industrial technologies development
· Advanced manufacturing processes
The deadline is still September 4th, so it will be VERY tight if you were not already planning on submitting (writing a quality proposal and registering for submission CAN take several weeks for first-time submitters). If you are submitting, these funds will allow an increased chance of funding.
Phase I awards are up to $150,000 for a period of six months to demonstrate the feasibility of the ideas that appear to have commercial potential. Read the DOE’s SBIR/STTR solicitation for proposal and submission instructions.
The Department of Energy released its SBIR/STTR combined solicitation. Proposals will be due at 8:00 pm, Friday, September 4th.The emphasis will be on investing clean energy technologies and U.S. jobs. Approximately 60 awards of $150,000 will be made for Phase I feasibility studies.
Topics include:1) advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs; 2) water usage in electric power production and industrial processes ; 3) power plant cooling; 4) advanced gas turbines and materials; 5) sensors, controls, and wireless networks; 6) advanced water power technology development; 7) smart controllers for smart grid applications; 
advanced solar technologies; 9) advanced industrial technologies development; and 10) advanced manufacturing processes
Unlike previous DOE SBIR/STTR, this funding falls under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act which might have additional requirements–read solicitation CAREFULLY. See the DOE SBIR site for application instructions, topic descriptions, and more details.
Once again the SBIR program has been saved by Continuing Resolution (CR). The House passed the Senate’s CR S.1513 which will postpone the program until September 30, 2009. Debates on the merit of VC involvement, increased award amounts and Phase III programming will continue.
Stay tuned …